Categoria: AS Roma Corner

Rubrica in inglese gestita dagli amici del Roma Club Dublino

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24 Febbraio 2022
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Restart from a new project. Mid-caliber players to support youngsters. Lower the mound. Take a coach-trainer to teach football. Reset everything to remake a team from the Europa League area for the next few years. In short, Roma should undertake the Sassuolo model to try to become the new Atalanta in three or four years. Basically what we had already tried to do at the time with some coach who has passed through these shores, which ended with the usual failure. This is what is being trumpeted in the Roman media today just to attack Josè Mourinho. Roma are not a provincial team, even if they are on the pitch now.

Roma already has a three-year project which is another one, to raise the level of competitiveness in three years. The truth is that many in this team have already pulled the plug knowing that next year they will go elsewhere. As happens every year in February. They don’t run, they play with little concentration and a lot of superficiality. They do not follow. The new arrivals were also sucked into the chaos. Those two kids made them blush with shame. Volpato and Bove are proof that they follow the coach, they enter the field concentrated with another attitude, desire and determination. Twenty minutes of competitive fury in spite of those who earn a hundred times more, those who walk, go to the disco or are interested only in posting stories on social media.

It’s a championship that has been waiting for you, so many great lost chances wasted. You win the crazy game versus Juve, beat Genoa, and there you are in 4th place. But here we are, regardless of how it turns out, in June we will see the change. Mourinho does not have the magic wand but he came to try to do this, in the meantime to bring Roma “mentally” to the next level. Mou doesn’t have unlimited credit, he has three years. Most of the fans understood this. Taking the likes of Dionisi, De Zerbi or Italiano leads you to see maybe some good games, beat the odd top team, but then you always remain there in sixth, seventh place. Watched and seen before. The ambition is another, here there is a hunger to compete, perhaps lift a trophy, so if I really have to wait, I’ll do it with Josè Mourinho. Our only hope. Forza Roma.

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13 Febbraio 2022
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Roma loses at Meazza stadium and exit the Italian Cup. No alibi. Agree. But Sanchez’s second goal is spoiled by a clear foul against Oliveira on the restart. Again ignored. A clear and obvious mistake not even mentioned by the Var. How ridiculous is yet another yellow to Zaniolo, how ridiculous also that given to Mourinho. While both Barella and Brozovic deserve the yellow card at least a couple of times and nothing happens. In short, two weights and two measures for a change. The same old story.

Then we should talk about the media attention we receive in this sense. Mourinho and Zaniolo are the symbol of “whining” Rome and of that which must be “educated”. From the “respectables ones”. Too bad that when the thanks happen to “their teams” they are the first to complain. Not to mention the good manners shown so far, from Rebic to Bonucci, Lautaro, Theo and all those players, managers and various sideline attendants who argue, insult or do even worse during or after a football match.

But above all the yardstick. The referees. But also the insiders, those who speak and write off the playing field. Zaniolo is young, impulsive, sometimes even indolent. Like so many others, he must learn to manage himself. But he is an easy target because he plays for Roma, and surely if he changed his shirt he would go from rude to an Italian football heritage that must be protected. He is right Mourinho. He suffers mountains of fouls and is punished always and in any case. He has to understand, that they have targeted him, and he has to learn to shut his mouth. When we will see all those who protest warned or expelled, often even more “lively”, then we will regain a thread of trust for an increasingly unbearable referee class.

It would be enough to take an example from rugby, only the captain talks to the referee, if the referee whistles no player can go to the referee to protest. And when there is an episode from Var, the conversation on the headset is heard from all over the stadium in a transparent way. But football is ruled by the powerful. We need a total change, a serious FA that dictates the rules and the referee who always enforces them.

And then there is our team, which has its faults and limitations. Soft, flat, without qualities, without attributes, lacking in ideas, personality and leadership, with players who are good to be carried away but not pushy. More experienced people like Smalling, Miki, Pellegrini don’t turn around, with Oliveira already sucked into the chaos. Dzeko had understood this for some time, and he left the boat. He was angry with Fonseca but perhaps the problem is another. These are the same performers with the same problems and the results of the past years, Mourinho is not a magician, but he had initially managed to convey a little more malice and determination, now everything is back as before. But he remains the only one he can rebuild. A lot of players have to be sent away to start over. And above all take others, but of another thickness. A message to the property. If, on the other hand, the intention is another please let us know as soon as possible.

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29 Gennaio 2022
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Two good additions in January were enough to already see a substantial difference. Empoli’s victory is proof that this team can hope to make that blessed leap forward. But to finally become competitive you will first need to listen to Josè Mourinho. That right mentality that the coach is desperately trying to bring to this team.

Something can already be seen with Sergio Oliveira, the attitude of a leader, one who as soon as he arrived did not hesitate to immediately take on certain responsibilities. But also Maitland-Niles, immediately adapted into multiple roles, very confident and fearless. The team really needed it. It is the beginning of a growth process that will lead to further changes.

Empoli’s second half is another proof that there is still a lot of work to do. Other players will leave such as Carles Perez and Diawara, after Mayoral and Villar, without counting the exodus Fazio, Santon and those who are still there on the sidelines. From these sales, combined with those of Pau Lopez, Olsen, Under and perhaps Kluivert, a 50m treasure could be obtained. Money that could be invested right away or in June. The primary target is the famous midfielder-playmaker. A metronome to dictate the times in front of the defense. The impression is that Xhaka was the player of choice for Mourinho.

The Swiss Arsenal is a mastiff, very proactive, with charisma and personality but with a mole, he is very slow. At Arsenal he is no longer a column and can be taken with about 15 million. The Kamara option, on the other hand, is less credible, it is much younger but also much more expensive, and Roma would have a lot of competition to beat, were it not for the good relationship with Marseille and the business with Lopez and Under. The third option could be a player not yet out of the transfer market deck, given that Pinto prefers negotiations out of the spotlight.

In the end we believe that Mourinho decides, based on the budget, as well as what will happen in the summer, with the beginning of the second phase of the cultural revolution by Josè. In view of what will happen from now until Monday, with the closure of the transfermarket, attention will then shift to the match against Genoa. Gimme three points and ask me nothing. The same goes for the next matches against Verona and Sassuolo. Making a row of victories would be the beginning of a new second round, to dream again. Forza Roma.

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22 Gennaio 2022
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

On target. Roma overcomes Lecce almost easily and enters the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup, despite an embarrassing first half hour. Mourinho makes changes thinking about the next match in the league, a risk given the previous ones, but against a Serie B team it was legitimate to take a risk to let some big players catch their breath. But like a film that has already been seen, the bogeyman of the negative evening is back, with yet another certification that certain players are out of form and others simply are not up to standard.

Once again the technician has to run for cover. With the likes of Zaniolo and Miki in, the music definitely changes. And so comes the well-deserved victory. In the quarter-finals we will meet league leaders Inter Milan, certainly the strongest team at the moment. An Inter that is scary even when deploying the second lines as happened against an excellent Empoli. The same Tuscan team that Roma will face on Sunday at Castellani. A decidedly difficult and dangerous game led by the old acquaintance Andreazzoli, unwelcome here.

Mourinho himself will then return to the Meazza for the first time against the Nerazzurri, he will gather applause from his old audience. But we Roma fans are not so interested. More interesting is the fact that it is time for the team to find more conviction and results, with Sergio Oliveira who will not be Falcao but who is already showing signs of a leader on the pitch. Good also the inclusion of Maitland Niles. The two have certainly brought freshness and solidity to the field. Now it’s time to meet again, after the various tumbles and all the failed opportunities to get closer to fourth place.

Mourinho says it openly, he does not hide. There is an ambitious project, he reiterates that he does not move from Rome, for the next 3 years he will be here with us, but the squad needs to be improved. Too many errors, technical and attitude, those who are not ready or unable can go elsewhere. There is now a line of easier matches in Serie A, but only so to speak. With Cagliari it went quite well, a well-deserved victory but with the usual final trouble, perhaps it is better just to think game by game. No calculations. Then forward with the Italian Cup and the Conference League. Daje Roma.

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15 Gennaio 2022
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Seven minutes of ordinary madness. The season of Roma collected in a handkerchief wet with tears and blood. A tumble that you do not expect. The most unlikely. An achievement within the achievement itself.

For seventy minutes Roma ruled, Juve just really little thing, lit only by a flick by Dybala for the goal of the momentary equalizer, but then the situation is settled in the second half with the goal of Miki and the jewel of Pellegrini on a free kick. We are ahead three to one and in total control, with Tammy’s opening goal that immediately unlocked the game at the start. Then something happens.

Allegri makes the changes of desperation, Mou responds with a simple alternation, which unfortunately will be fatal. With the exit of the young Felix and the entry of Shomurodov, the light suddenly goes out. The team stops, stops playing, defensively they fail, they don’t fight, we leave spaces, open fields. We take one hit, two hits, three hits. Stunned. Like a boxer on the ropes.

In 7 minutes we are incredibly down 3-4. Then we get up, incredulous, a reaction is triggered. A chance to catch her again, despite everything, with another 10 minutes plus injury time, theoretically there would also be time for a possible counter-reversal. And instead our history, very much Romanista, says once again that we are not cut out for these things, that it is not in our DNA to straighten certain matches in this way.

And here is yet another crucial penalty wrong with so much lightness and naivety. Mourinho is right, on the pitch he lacks the strength to react, charisma, personality and leadership. This team does not reflect in the slightest with what our coach is, our true leader. Our only hope that we can see this club move to a higher level. Investments in players of a very different caliber will be needed, it is now clear. Many players have obvious limitations, both technical and temperamental.

This team wouldn’t make it even if Klopp or Guardiola came along. We are missing a lot of points due to referees, true, maybe now we would also be above Juve in fifth place. But this does not change the current scenario. In the squad we have five-six players with excellent potential, but the others are good only for the bench. To make the leap in quality you need investments, right grafts with a right mentality, in the image and likeness of the technician, therefore at another level.

This team needs to be remodelled, it will take a couple of years to compete with the first four, a three-year project as already set out. Even Inter and Milan took years to return from the dungeons of some time ago, if anyone remembers. Calling another coach like Fonseca or an emerging one makes no sense, if the ambitions are different.

Josè Mourinho is the only hope to be able to return to the levels that compete with us, this is a challenge for him too, which is different from everything he has done so far. Rome is a place famous for its fans and the city it represents, certainly not for the trophies to showcase. So why come here to ruin a reputation with a team, let’s face it, poor, almost the same as last year which finished seventh? Because there is a project, with an ambitious ownership, because he knows that winning here would be different, a unique taste.

And then, we must try to be patient, now we are neither from the championship nor from fourth place, but maybe we will be. Let’s help him instead, instead of calling him obsolete or whatever … if anyone, he’ll be someone like Allegri, overpaid too, but with other availability and demands, but beware to say it around or make fun of him, thanks to the press.

Here we need a strong figure, a strong club and maybe one day even a strong press, as they have it in the North, who can put their face to it, to defend us from wrongs, from those who attack us, from those who do not respect us. Then a Totti, De Rossi, Boniek or Nela are welcome too, a Romanista to lend a hand, who goes in front of the TV to when they put their feet up on our heads. This is, if we want to be ambitious and grow seriously, otherwise we are open to young people, let’s take people like Italian, De Zerbi or Dionisi, or bring back Andreazzoli too, with the good game of Empoli or Sassuolo. But the results won’t change. Always Forza Roma.

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7 Gennaio 2022
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Two goals down after only 17 minutes for a penalty awarded by the Var followed by a mistake by Ibanez. Game immediately uphill. Some dodgy decisions once again by the referee quite questionable. Two reds for Karsdorp and Mancini. Milan v Roma would seem all enclosed here. And instead in the middle there is also a performance below expectations, despite the almost complete team with a Milan instead decimated by very important absences.

The referee certainly influenced the progress of the match at some point but this time Roma are the main culprits for this defeat. As Mourinho says, the quality seen on the pitch was of a very low level, with approximate gameplay, many errors in the assists, not good enough when try to finalize the opportunities. We expected a very different desire and determination.

On the contrary, Milan made a ‘virtue’ of necessity’, with a bench that is obviously of a much higher level. We are as disappointed as the draw at home with Sampdoria before the break, Sampdoria who promptly lose at home against a battered Cagliari. Another opportunity thrown to the garbage bin, to make that qualitative leap’ and to stay attached to the fourth-place train. But at this point it is reasonable to think that the squad is not competitive enough, that we need reinforcements of a very different depth, which Mourinho perhaps expected more at the beginning of the season.

The January transfer market will bring a couple of players on loan like Maitland-Niles and possibly Sergio Oliveira. Not just two good players but potentially ready to play. The first is a very versatile player of level, from the Premier League, even if this year he played little as a starter at Arsenal, but who can certainly make a difference in Serie A. He will be very useful, and not only to make Karsdorp catch his breath but also in midfield. As well as Oliveira, great with the ball with a lot of stamina and personality, even if he was not all the time at Porto, however he is what is needed at the moment. Waiting for Juventus at the Olimpico, we need to raise our heads immediately, but we will need another head. Always Forza Roma.

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24 Dicembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

From euphoria to depression. From heaven to hell. All in just four days. The great victory against Atalanta had awakened the Giallorossi fans. In these four days nothing else has been talked about. Roma were back in the fight for fourth place, then we see, perhaps with some insertion in the transfermarket, with the direct clashes for the resumption of the league in January, with a favourable calendar to follow, here is already the great “catch up”. And instead here we are to comment on yet another step back and not forward.

A badly prepared and worse game played, which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. A tie that none of us had budgeted for. A huge disappointment. Perhaps Bergamo’s performance now needs to be reviewed and perhaps even resized. Perhaps we have taken some credit beyond what is due, considering what Atalanta has done in Genoa. Perhaps Roma play better when they don’t have to lead the match, also given their recent home form. Perhaps Roma is a team where they perform better when attacked, strong on the counter, with Zaniolo, Abraham and co. Perhaps Roma are not yet a team capable of competing at certain levels, and as Mourinho says, this is the place we are in at the moment, from fifth to sixth place.

Having said that, Sampdoria did a bit like Roma in Bergamo, but without the same quality , therefore not able to come here to win. But in defense they played a great game, with Yoshida and Colley amazing, a little like Smalling and Ibanez in Bergamo. Certainly, but the regret remains, also because after the advantage we had at least a couple of good opportunities to go 2-0, badly not exploited. And now maybe we were talking about something else. But the blame cannot be given to the young Felix, guilty of having failed an easy goal, rather to players like Mkhitaryan, who has never made a difference even as a playmaker.

A Roma team that had sprung up as it had been against Spezia up to a certain point. And then we must take note. This team is not yet equipped, in personnel, gameplay and attitude. You have to build it with a couple of pieces at a time to take it to a higher level and then try to compete, hopefully in one or two years. Jose Mourinho knows this well and only he is able to make us grow to bring us to that level. Now it is up to the Club to make further efforts, if that is the goal.

The arrival of Grillitsch or whoever for him, with a deputy Karsdorp and perhaps another central that can guarantee continuity and solidity as deputy Smalling, given that Kumbulla is not really a favorite of Mou. All the more reason. The englishman is a certainty when he is well, the whole department plays better with him on the pitch. With the return of Pellegrini and co. and Spinazzola on his return there are the conditions to do something good again. There remains the Italian Cup and the Conference League, two real targets, much more than the fourth place, now faded away. Waiting for the new year, a wish for everyone. Happy Christmas. Forza Roma!

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20 Dicembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

The promise. We are going there to win. And he won. Mourinho sensed something before departing to Bergamo. The players responded on the pitch. The best performance so far. The first against a big team. Roma looked sharp and focused like never before. Compact and solid in defense thanks to a magnificent Chris Smalling, once again on the scoresheet. Mancini and Ibanez also play better alongside the charismatic englishman. Since coming back from injury things have improved big time at the back.

In the middle Cristante and Veretout worked very hard to fight tight against their opposition, while on the flank Karsdorp and Viña blocked any avenue for the nerazzurri. Miki moved up and down to help out in both directions, with Zaniolo breaking through the lines with Tammy to attack deep. Yet, all helping each other tackling anywhere to stop Atalanta anytime moving forward. The team played as a team. Mourinho prepared his game tactics in the best possible way.

And it worked. Roma thrashed Atalanta scoring four goals with only 23% possession. A record. Atalanta retained the ball for most of the match but without creating much in 90 mins. Rui Patricio made a couple of saves but always with confidence. Their goal came late for a deflection. The backline was perfect, the attacking force was lethal on the break. Their other goal was correctly disallowed as per clear game rules for obstruction offside.

Nothing else to declare, as Roma cruised to victory with overwhelming force. Well deserved. If it is a turning point must be seen. It is a good sign, waiting for Pellegrini and Spinazzola coming back, we must think positive for the second part of the season. First of all, let’s beat Sampdoria in midweek to end the first run. Not quite close but getting there. Forza Roma.

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12 Dicembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Miracle Zorya but also a miracle in Sofia. Roma conquers the head of the group in the last sprint thanks to the victory in Bulgaria, mainly thanks to the draw of the Ukrainian team which surprisingly stops Bodo Glimt. An almost unexpected result against all odds. Roma thus avoids the play-off obstacles in February and enters the final phase in March. However, Roma leads three to zero in a match without history, manages to get two goals back together and risks seriously in the last minutes. Yet another inexplicable blackout. Indeed very easily explained. The worst in the field are the reserves that took over in the second half, that is, those players blatantly ignored by Josè Mourinho. For the umpteenth time we understood why, despite the usual questions at the press conference.

Separate chapter, Borja Mayoral, this time in front with Abraham. A good intuition, a good performance, a goal. Rarely used this year, the Spaniard seems in excellent condition and also well motivated, despite everything. Quite the opposite of Villar, Diawara and co. It remains to be seen if everything is already written, if he will strengthen Fiorentina in January. A Real Madrid player on loan, Roma should shell out 20m to redeem him, money already spent on Shomurodov. Mourinho has now focused on Uzbek, but who knows if he is now still convinced of the choice, given the bad performance last night too. It is very likely Borja will be back alongside Tammy again on Monday against Spezia, with Eldor on the bench. Mourinho will then have to deal with injuries, with yet another stop by Zaniolo, even if already disqualified along with Mancini.

Some players are just not as good enough. Karsdorp always plays and has no substitutes. On the other hand, Edoardo Bove put there in the fray proved to have ringworm and personality, one of the best in Sofia. Together with Felix one who will play a lot. Then the time will come also for the various Zalewski, Darboe, Calafiori, Tripi and Volpato. Mou sees them and tries to figure out who is already mentally ready. He certainly prefers them to those who thought they had already arrived, without having done anything.

After the defeat with Inter, more for the non-game than for the result, there is a change of attitude on the part of the coach, the mood is no longer the same, the waving on the pitch, the enthusiasm and the races underneath. the south a few months ago. Mourinho is in a delicate phase of study, in the meantime to find results and serenity, and to mitigate the risks of the case given the latest precedents. Strengthen and reshape the team, to advance that growth process as early as January. But one step at a time. Three points with Spezia are a must. A different result does not have to exist. Despite all the Roma supporters he is priceless, always omnipresent in the stadium singing at the top of his voice, even after having conceded three goals. Don’t be an excuse for the club, management and players. Mou knows. Daje Roma.

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2 Dicembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

We were so deluded. After the victory with Genoa and Torino, the impression was of a team that had finally assimilated the teachings of Mourinho, a new set-up and determination in bringing home the result. In Bologna we expected a vigorous and combative Roma, aware that a victory against the Bolognesi was much more important than the next matches with Inter and Atalanta, that maybe taking two points would have been excellent results with two teams destined to fight for the Scudetto.

Against Bologna, on the other hand, it was a decisive match, essential to remain attached to the train that leads to fourth place, already a very difficult goal in itself. Instead, at the Dall’Ara gets one of the worst defeats against a medium-sized team. Not exactly unbeatable. But the team takes the field inexplicably deflated, soft, imprecise and without ideas, it never imposes itself on the opponent, who immediately understands the situation and takes advantage of it.

Zaniolo finds no compassion among the referees who are now determined not to whistle a foul in his favour, even when it is evident. But he too has to complain less, evidently not so appreciated to certain attitudes, but a referee cannot be conditioned in this way. But the defeat is also the result of wasted opportunities, Diawara and Veretout’s slowness, Miki’s poor streak, Abraham’s bad luck, El Sharaawy’s injury and Karsdorp’s naivety in the final.

Double blow as we lose other pieces in view of the engagement with the Milanese Nerazzurri after having already lost Pellegrini and Felix. In just a few days, a situation that had seen enthusiasm skyrocket was reversed, and instead we return from the Via Emilia quite resized and depressed. Josè Mourinho has a very difficult task now, scoring points with Inter and Atalanta so as not to slide back sucked into the big group that follows in the middle of the standings. Finding the strength and the right spirit to react is the only way. Struggle and suffer. To give everything. For Roma.

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