Articoli Stefano Sale

0 Cagliari 3-4 Roma “Sardinian poker”

3 marzo 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Positive vibes after the display at the Sardegna Arena. Four goals scored and it could have been eight. Yet, conceded three, and never sure of secured three points.

Roma went on to play some great aggressive football in the first 20 mins. Sparkling and unlucky not to score thanks to a superb Robin Olsen in the Cagliari goal. Then, ironically Cagliari taking the lead on their first approach. A super goal by Joao Pedro. Typical Roma.

However, this time it didn’t flop. Fonseca’s men went on to regain the lead with some great moves by Mkhitaryan finished off twice by Kalinic. Yes. Him. The same one who did not feature before even with Roma down in desperate need to score.

Fonseca ignored him every time. This time starts in place of tired Dzeko. Weird. Not a minute on the pitch when we needed him, nowleading the attack from the start. Scoring twicw with some passing. Michi is the star on the night with Nic just behind. Well done to show such committment after all.

Overall, Roma played well annd showed some resilience at last. Only thing, the usual, unnecessary sleeping time, allowing Cagliari to get back in twice, when the match was really over. Simply cannot. Work still to be done there. Else, Serie A calendars are in chaos for the Corona virus, thanks to a sloppy Italian FA, a governing body in the hands of the top teams who rule the roost for their own interest alone. Forget about your health. Forza Roma.

0 Gent 1-1 Roma ” Wake up”

29 febbraio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Roma are in the last 16 of Europa League. Sevilla in the the next round. A very tough draw against Monchi. And the game against Gent did not bring any good news.

Awful performance. A step back from the victory against Lecce. The usual lack of concentration or just not good enough. Luckily, Gent does not exploit the situation. Also in the first leg.

Roma are the shadow of a team, unable find continuity. Embarrassing in defense and on the flanks, especially Mancini, Kolarov and Spinazzola, all very bad. But also those who replaced them. Positive notes from Mkhitaryan and nothing more.

It is a Roma that must change quickly, if it truly aims to get to the top of this competition. In these conditions you have no chance. Now we move on to a higher level. Sevilla are dangerous team waiting for us.

The draw in Nyon did not do us a favour. The ghost of Monchi looming upon us. Fonseca must shake up the players. Starting this weekend at Cagliari. This cannot be the real Roma. Come on!

0 Roma 4-0 Lecce ‘Long last’

26 febbraio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Long last. Redeemed with convincing evidence. Dzeko was everywhere, many assists and goals, Smalling good at the back and forward, Mkhitaryan, a goal, paasses, proactive, insightful and incisive. Great Carles Perez when he was called up.

Two words for Pellegrini and Kolarov. Lorenzo misses an incredible chance, nothing turns well for him at the moment, and Kolarov will also have his faults .. everything is fine, criticism and so on, maybe in the post-game … but to whistle any Roma player with our jersey on the pitch is indecent.

Gent and Cagliari now, two fundamental games, to reiterate that the elusive physical-mental problem is behind us. P.S. Corona Virus. Why aren’t all Serie A matches play behind close doors? From Florence downwards, is it all ok? Surely makes sense healthwise but also to avoid any fan discrimination or even “favours” to some football clubs..Forza Roma

0 Roma 1-0 Gent “Euro recovery”

21 febbraio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Roma continues along the same lines as the beginning of the year. Not yet recovered. Even in Europe. Were it not for the result of skimpy victory, which makes us breathe. But also thanks to a sleepy opponent who forgives you several times in front of goal.

For the rest, so little. Team messed up once again by a confused coach, who now relies on turnover, shuffling the cards, hoping to find solutions. Even the change from the bench is wrong, they tried to change Carlos Perez, a good positive note on the night. Scores the goal and the only one who always try to create something.

Unfortunately, however, the music does not change. Defense in great trouble, fear in playing the balls, trivial errors in support, frightening gaps when the opponent starts again. Upfront, not much created, stuttering balls on the flanks and not good enough passes. Very bad still Pellegrini and Kolarov. In midfield there is no balance, no support for the backline or moving forward. No filter and a lack of a metronome, like Diawara.

It was important to win, says Fonseca. But a quality team would have you done tonight. They will be even more aggressive in Gent, so there will be a lot of pain to go through. In the meantime, there will be a battle with Lecce on Sunday. Difficult team. And with this Roma team of today you can not rest easy with anyone. We hope all to go well. Forza Roma.

0 Atalanta 2-1 Roma “Black hole”

16 febbraio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Weak. Shaky. Crippled. Mid February. Is this the end? Are we back to last year with Di Francesco and Ranieri? Is Fonseca going to resign if we don’t beat Gent and Lecce this weekend?

Is this team dissolved? Unable to win games. Unable to react. The worst run of 2020 after Spal, Brescia and Cagliari. Lost against Torino, Juve, Sassuolo, Bologna, Atalanta. Draw with Lazio. Only won with Genoa, at the last gasp. Out of Coppa Italia. 4th place far away. Europa League the only thing left. With Friedkin looming.

If only told we would be facing Atalanta with Peres and Spinazzola on the flanks, the former booted away to play in Brazil’s second division, the latter already sold to Inter only a few weeks ago. The January signings, C. Perez instead of Politano, the unknown Ibañez, and a young kid called Villar, playing in the Spanish segunda division until the other day. Not to mention the disappeared Mr. Kalinic.

Fonseca and Petrachi are hostage to each other, no money to spend, so need to rely on young fellas or recall B. Peres from Brazil. Let alone the mysterious injuries of J. Pastore and co. The coach seem resigned, his comments to the press are a clear examples he’s trying but cannot find solutions.

There’s an obvious gap between the coach and sporting director. No one else from the club showing their face at Trigoria. Missing important figures and their presence. Too casual is the behaviour, players oblivious to what is happening, no concern we have lost against all minnow teams, that losing to Atalanta today is perfecly fine. As it was in previous weeks. We have dismantled a team. Yet, these are the questions that nobody seem to know how to answer. No one. God bless. Forza Roma.

0 Roma 2-3 Bologna “Dead End”

11 febbraio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

That was not the plan. After Sassuolo we heard the usual reaction from coach and players. To work hard and bounce back. Well, it was another disaster.

Mancini is the shadow of the player we admired until recently. He was fooled agaib the same way, a simple move to put him out of action, Boga last week, Barrow this time. Awful defending.

But it’s the same team that put Lazio under pressure two weeks ago. What happened? No words to describe the disappointment. Bologna were simply superior. As for Sassuolo, embarassing football. While we are busy analysing this and that,Lazio are back to winning ways and are battling to win the league!

Roma arw now trailing behind Atalanta, who are a true force at the moment. 4th place is seriously at risk. The clash this weekend will be a sentence. Roma must win in Bergamo. Can we do it? Of course we can. Just play the same way we did against Lazio.

Roma are capable but we haven’t got that thirst and hunger for some strange reasons. Fonseca must show he’s capable to turn this around, or we are back to the last Rudi Garcia or Eusebio. The wolf lose the skin but not the habit! Forza Roma. Always.

0 Sassuolo 4-2 Roma “Crumble”

3 febbraio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

I said it after the derby. Be careful not to let your guard down, to the usual drops in concentration. But then I understand that this is an old story, said and repeated, that we have been carrying for too long. Players, coaches, managers and presidents pass by. And only when people with the right winning mentality arrived did certain things change.

Yesterday was the worst Roma game of the year, only the week before the best of the year. Many balls lost in midfield, many counterattacks suffered by Sassuolo, a shocking performance. Three goals taken in the first half, another instead in the second half: an unwatchable and distant Rome relative of that seen last Sunday against Lazio.

Just underestimated the opponent? Mental issue, says Fonseca. But who does it depend on? who should motivate them? who puts them on the pitch? Evidently he had not understood how Sassuolo plays, an offensive team that starts again quickly with many. Top in every department. Mancini, Cristante and Santon, the worst ever for the many mistakes. But also all the others. Perhaps Spinazzola is the one who is most committed, and Dzeko the most frustrated by the behavior of his teammates.

A terrible 2020 so far. Another opportunity thrown away, to stay hooked to the top three. Luckily Atalanta’s draw, but the rest of the front are now unattainable. Fourth place is at risk. There will be a battle with the Atalanta players, but if we continue to lose points so there is a risk that we will be sucked in by those who pursue us. All that remains is to beat Bologna in advance before the Europa League with Gent.

Not to mention the January market window, which brings three young men of good hopes, but not ready immediately. Not to mention Kalinic, the deputy Dzeko but who never plays, even when nobody is there. But what is it for? Why didn’t they get anyone, perhaps liked by the technician? Meanwhile, our former full back-captain has suddenly risen in Valencia. On dry loan. I see a Petrachi a little confused, or simply related to certain market dynamics. We’ll see. Meanwhile, let’s move! Always Forza Roma.

0 Roma 1-1 Lazio ‘Victory, not’

29 gennaio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Roma crushed Lazio. The Giallorossi dominated the biancocelesti or 90 minutes. Pity not having won. The usual, Roma in command, produces a lot but too many chances wasted. An old story. But this time I do not feel like criticizing it, everyone gave everything, a great desire, on the field and in the stands.

Cengiz is back to be the unstoppable goblin, Smalling continues to do extraordinary things, excellent performances by Santon and Spinazzola, Pellegrini churns out passes, and Dzeko always leading up front, scoring but also unlucky with some creazy chances. And above all, a pity for a ridiculous goal conceded, a paradoxical gift, with Pau Lopez with his fists stretched to the wrong place. Acerbi celebrates. Lazio say thanks.

In the end, Roma can only regret for a missed victory, for the city’s pride, but also three points that could move up the ranking. I feel like saying that Fonseca has put in the best lineup, even if unpopular, but then making mistakes in the last 10-15 minutes. Perotti touched a ball and Pastore zero in toal, in the last 10-15 minutes on the pitch. Although almost never played so far, I would have put Kalinic in, he could go in and get in the way, and maybe he could try more, with a shot, lucky deflection, or a header, who knows.

Now Ibañez, Villar and Perez are the new January signings, with Florenzi on the way out to Valencia. Three young guys with little experience and not really ready to do the job. The politics of youngsters continue, ok, but then we also need readily experienced players there.. Maybe Perez is a little more ready, already seen at times playing for Barcelona …

The important thing is to understand that Florenzi was the fourth choice defender, with the blessing of Fonseca, but 15 million for him at 28 years old and 10 spent for the twenty year old Ibañez with only 15 minutes played at Atalanta, fourth choice there.. well …it seems to me a little risky. Pity for Alessandro, but he gets sacrificed considering Fonseca rates more Santon and Spinazzola, and with Zappacosta coming back soon, there you go…

Meanwhile, we start again this weekend in Sassuolo. It won’t be easy, so better stay focused, not to let our guard down. Forza Roma!

0 TIM Cup: Juventus 3-1 Roma ‘Backwards’

23 gennaio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

The curse of the Juventus stadium continues. And Roma does little or nothing to change this trend. Despite expectations, given that we say that Juve this year is not so invincible. After losing in the league last week, now also in the Italian Cup. A bitter cup, this too is a trend that does not change. Roma come out in the quarterfinals also this year.

Roma comes on the field frightened, embarrassing first half, too much difference in quality with Juventus, but also wrong approach and attitude. If Parma had managed to give the Bianconeri a hard time just three days before, it is mainly because they played it fighting. But Roma don’t. Taken on the pitch without conviction, then in the second half enters with a better attitude but it is always not very concrete. Down three goals, trying to catch up the result. After the goal by Under, something has been seen, but there are many, too many mistakes the front door.

Bad performance by Cristante, Kluivert, Mancini, Kalinic, many others under tone. but above all Diawara, injury to the external meniscus, at least two months out. Another curse. Unbelievable. Better to turn the page right away, there is no time to make trials or cry on yourself. Derby on Sunday. We must fight with sacrifice, everyone, Lazio is a period in which everything is fine, apart from the exit in the cup with Napoli. You need a Roma with a ‘Testaccio heart’. We need Fonseca to give that right charge. Come on guys!

0 Genoa 1-3 Roma ‘Down and Under

22 gennaio 2020
Stefano Sale
· As Roma Corner

Roma bags three point in Marassi, with some second half-scares. Goals from Under and Dzeko were enough to win the day for Roma. Spinazzola with the other goal, deflected. ‘Spina’ was in really good mood and spirit, happy to play for the giallorossi and not for Antonio Conte.

It was a good display with some good play, Dzeko back to his standards, Under bouncing around, Pellegrini delivering passes, Diawara very well, but mainly it was Pau Lopez my man of the match. One big mistake and two/three superb goalkeeping. The last two shots from Genoa were just heading in the back of the net. Two miracles. Luckily, Roma bring three points back home.

Coppa Italia tonight against Juve, in Turin. We need to go there without fear, Parma showed that the bianconeri are vulnerable at the back, they are not invincible. Actually, if Roma do not repeat the silly mistakes seen at the Olimpico I think we have good chancesd to beat them tonight.

Lazio lost to Napoli last night, thankfully, but still looked impressive and dangerous. Some clumsy mistakes and unlucky situations, finally…They have been far too lucky, so we hope it’s the flip of the coin, now. Derby on Sunday! Daje Roma!

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