Categoria: AS Roma Corner

Rubrica in inglese gestita dagli amici del Roma Club Dublino

0 Weekly review

26 Novembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Nicolò Zaniolo’s answer comes from the pitch, underlined by Josè Mourinho who doesn’t hesitate to let them know. An answer that should make some of the local press think that feeds on alleged insinuations that have nothing to do with reality.

After the beautiful victory in Genoa, seasoned by the usual useless controversies, Nicolò is there and plays a great game, in the position perhaps most congenial to him, as second striker behind Abraham. We said earlier, Nico needs space and in that more central position he manages to express himself at his best, contrary to the one seen so far secluded on the wing. In all of this, Tammy himself also benefits, despite a couple of incredible errors in front of goal. But in the meantime he too is more active and present, in the heart of the action, as demonstrated by the two goals, of which the reverse one is very nice.

In turn, the other great performances of a surprising El Sharaawy on the wing and a revived Mkhitaryan in the middle. Three-man defense with Smalling’s return to the centre. Roma turns, wins over and qualifies for the next round of the Conference League. Now it remains to be seen whether he will be able to finish first, with Bodo Glimt currently still ahead with a point above. Everything will be decided in Sofia.

In the meantime, it’s time to turn the page. Torino arrives on Sunday, a very difficult team. With Veretout suspended, already a second consecutive penalty failed, a trend like Jorginho, it will be interesting to understand how Mourinho will change. Same unscrupulous set-up, with the return of Pellegrini, or is it back to four or with the inclusion of another Darboe-type midfielder? We’ll see.

Meanwhile, the Special One is adapting to needs very wisely, looking for the right set-up in the hope of bringing better results at this time. At the moment it only counts to score points, to remain clinging to the train that leads to fourth place. Every year after the Christmas break that train leaves and never stops. So, in January a Dalot and a Zacharia are welcome. Meanwhile, we enjoy this victory with the awareness that a Zaniolo like this can be that extra weapon that could make us dream from here on out. In all this, an eye also to future prospects, among the various Bove and Zalewsky, here is Missori after the tale Felix. Come on Mou. Come on Roma.

0 Weekly review

7 Novembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Slow midfield, shaky defense and blunt attack, poor quality in the plays and especially in the last steps. Roma flounders even if the desire is not lacking. The score is the same as seen in the last few games, you enter on with the right foot, then you make many mistakes, things get complicated and you try to fix it in some way, to get out of the mess. We must take the blame, for not having exploited the opportunities, for the blunders but above all to give in with a crash even against weaker but definitely more dynamic and organized lower formations on paper.

But there is also another score. Some players are out of shape and are not performing, first of all Zaniolo, Mikitaryan, Veretout and Abraham. Others are not ready yet, perhaps too young or not up to par. Mourinho repeats it and not by chance. They are not “purged” but simply out for technical or disciplinary reasons. The most successful coach in football history is not crazy or incapable. If these guys do not lend themselves and do not adapt, it is right to focus on other profiles. And then there are the negative, conditioning and frustrating episodes for players and fans. It is not a theorem nor a whine. They are facts, irrefutable.

Jose Mourinho does not seek alibis, but like us he demands a fair judgment. Another result could have come out against Lazio, Juventus, Napoli and Milan, and now even with Bodo there were at least two clear penalties that prevented Roma from winning the game. Despite all this, Roma is still fourth in the league around with Juve, Atalanta and Lazio, a few points behind Inter. With “normal” refereeing we would be in third place. And we remain in the running in the Conference League, despite the bad fool against a very well equipped team that gives a hard time.

It is an experimental Rome to be reconstructed, incomplete, to be shaped. We need to be patient in this transitional year, maybe when our best players wake up it will go better, then with the transfer market in January and some additions we must hope to finish fourth, the absolute priority. Then the conference, one more reason to try to go all the way. A new project is about to be born, with a solid and ambitious owner, a leading and winning technician who did not come here to winter, who knows how certain things go around here. If they put a spanner in the works, this time we have those who defend us with a drawn sword. United we go. Daje Roma.

0 Weekly review

31 Ottobre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Roma coming back to Cagliari is a pleasant counter-trend. Yes, because in Sardinia we have seen all sorts in recent years, always in a negative sense. Three very important points not only for the purposes of the standings, victory for morale and self-esteem in view of the match against Milan.

It must be said that it was not a good first half, rather slow, cumbersome and predictable, at least from the midfield up, especially with Miki still off and Veretout running in circles. The game almost always passes from the outside and few balls arrive playable for Tammy. And then Zaniolo, is growing rapidly but still seems to be caged, put to one side, out of sight.

It is clear that he is looking for an open field, if put in condition it can become devastating. In defense well, with R. Patricio demonstrating that he knows how to do his job, even if he can do nothing about the blunder of Viña. And who knows what about Pavoletti’s failure to double, which slipped only face to face. But Roma returns to the field in the second half with another attitude, creates chances from the goal, Ibañez takes the deserved draw and Pellegrini makes you the masterpiece on a free kick.

And that’s how we get the three points home. In addition Mourinho still amazes with the young spring Felix Afena on the field instead of Perez, Shomurodov or Zalewsky. Good approach of the Ghanaian. Yet another found of the Special One. Another reinforcement for the attack. Here, despite everything, Roma are now fourth above Juve, Atalanta and Lazio, only two points below Inter. Napoli and Milan go head to head.

But if there are 4/5 more equipped and tested teams, for now we are there to have our say, despite the short blanket. In the eleven we play it, as long as there is gasoline. January will come. Now head to Milan, a team as fearful as it is fortunate, with Napoli certainly very good so far but the episodes on the pitch have all turned in their favor even when they did not deserve it. Waiting for our turn of grace. Daje Roma.

0 Weekly review

24 Ottobre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

The unthinkable. What no one would ever have expected anything like this with Josè Mourinho on the bench. Another colossal loss. Biblical. Perhaps the worst, because this time there were no Manchester, Barcelona or Bayern in front. Nor Fiorentina. Roma not only take 6 goals home minnow by Norwegian Bodo Glimt, but are crushed and humiliated for all 90 minutes in a small stadium north of the Arctic Circle, with 400 Romanistas heroes left like this, stunned and in the cold, after a long trip.

A very heavy defeat for the immediate future, starting from Sunday, the clashes with Napoli, Cagliari and Milan are the crossroads of this first part of the Mourinho era. We play a lot for the rest of the season, and we are only in October! If with Juve we lost due to negative episodes but also due to lack of sharpness, today the concern is much greater.

The team has lost the plot but above all that desire and determination seen in the first games. It is a team that has returned to be moody and unreliable resembling the one seen so many times last year. Also because maybe it is the same squad? It is certainly not Mourinho’s squad. From Norway at least we return with a certainty.

A line has been drawn, the team is made up of 13 players, the others can be go elsewhere if possible. The coach reiterated this once again. The possibility given to these 7/8 reserves was the last degree of appeal, unavoidable also due to the need to rest the others. Mourinho did not trust them, but he decided to field them hopefully in a positive response. A total disaster, yes, but even with the changes in the second half we went even worse. Reason for this great concern.

In the meantime, we now know that it will no longer be necessary to ask the coach why the various Reynolds, Villar, Mayoral, Diawara and Kumbulla are never used even when the others are run out of steam. Unless of injuries, it is likely that we will never see them on the pitch again, waiting for the January transfer market. Forward with these 13 players already for Sunday’s difficult challenge with the Neapolitans, at this point it is a must, apart from the result, to get the performance eto give us back respect for this shirt.

0 weekly review

15 Ottobre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Roma are back into the game after the Derby, also immediately after the success in the Conference League. Against Empoli the team finds itself again and the 3 points earned are essential to prepare the challenges at the top after the international break.

The trip to Turin against Juve is the first major test that Mourinho will have to face. Then immediately Napoli the league leaders at the Olimpico. In between, the trip to Norway at Bodo’s. We will think about Milan later. Apart from the Conference league match where we will certainly see a lot of changes, it is essential to come out unscathed from these two great challenges.

Juve are back on track, with Chiesa the greatest threat. Juventus at the J-Stadium is now a continuous taboo, apart from the picnic at the end of the season last year, in between Garcia’s violins, referees and so on. Winning in Turin right now would be an incredible driving force for the Mourinho gang, but also a half miracle. Allegri’s team has many internationals playing around the world, Roma gets along with only Vina in South America, and Tammy’s injury. What we know is that Juve makes a few mistakes at Allianz Arena, Roma will have to be good at making the perfect match to come out with at least a positive result.

The same goes for the next match with the Neapolitans, in the lead with full points, with the return of Spalletti who probably can’t wait to silence those whistles that will once again pour down on him from the stands of the Olimpico. If in Turin a draw would also go well, with Napoli at home it is hoped to be able to win despite Osimhen and his teammates are in great shape.

But the Napoli seen on the pitch so far is really scary, to beat them will need a masterful test, few distractions in defense, a solid and free-range midfield, ready to press to go on the break. I would like to be able to take at least 4 points from these two challenges, but I think that two draws would still be positive results for this team, right now, for technical and structural values, for the morale and to hold on to the train that leads to fourth place, the real objective of the season. In my opinion Jose ‘Mourinho thinks so too. Daje Roma.

0 Weekly review

30 Settembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

After the disappointment of the derby, Roma returned to victory in the Conference League with three goals against Zorya in Ukraine, a panacea after the post-Lazio controversy. The defeat in the derby left a lot of bitterness in the mouth for how it arrived, condemned by the episodes but also the feeling that the team made the same mistakes as the last derby last year.

I was hoping that Mourinho had taken notes and warned the team, but instead of the Special One and Sarri, the ghosts of Inzaghi and Fonseca were seen again. Pellegrini’s absence weighed heavily, and it shows. In Ukraine Lorenzo got the team back and despite the turnover there was another attitude. Pellegrini will never be Totti but in this team he makes the difference, and in my opinion the departure of Edin Dzeko has freed him mentally also for the captain’s armband and the leadership. Smalling also met in Ukraine, scoring with Tammy Abraham, two English players, with El Shaarawy.

Well Darboe, minus those who had been excluded and replaced as Villar and Mayoral, now clearly not very motivated and on the sideline with Diawara, with Cristante instead once again on the field. A game of ordinary administration against a very modest team, but which brings three points to for head the group. So a test that is not very reliable, against Empoli it will be another match.

It will take a good test to get back in the race, as Mourinho says there will be other tumbles during the season but absolutely we must not repeat the match in Verona, much less that of the derby. You need humility and compactness but also the awareness that you can’t always line up the same ones, the team has the obligation to try to finish fourth and they all serve to hit the target. Daje Roma.

0 Weekly review

25 Settembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Ridiculous, as José Mourinho says. The second yellow given to Lorenzo Pellegrini is the umpteenth wickedness of the referee class to the game of football, and not only for the damage caused to Roma. Now the Giallorossi captain will not be able to play on Sunday in the derby against Lazio.

As known, Roma will not be able to appeal as it is not provided for by the regulations in force. An actually wrong regulation that must be corrected immediately otherwise one wonders what the Var is for. In this case the referee makes a huge mistake that the Var must be able to correct since it is a second yellow card and therefore red, which alters the course of the game. Having said that, however, Roma must be able to do without the presence of its captain and face the game in the best way since there is no shortage of options up front.

Mourinho will have to be good at shuffling the cards. Motivations anddesire will not be lacking for sure. After the bad defeat in Verona we needed a reaction against Udinese, which there was, but only partially in the first half. In the second half the team struggled and suffered from a physical and athletic point of view in the end, however, conceding only a couple of chances to the bianconeri.

It seems quite evident, however, that the team is short in the changes in midfield and on the flanks. It also seems clear that Mourinho does not consider Diawara Villar and Reynolds reliable subs, and in fact he does not use them even when the regulars run out of gas. This is a very important aspect in the long run because Karsdorp, Cristante and Veretout will not be able to play every game every week. Not to mention the injury situation, finger crossed. Waiting for January with the reopening of the transfer market.

So far, Roma have always won 3 points apart from the match in Verona, alternating flashes of good aggressive play at intervals and breaks with related risks. This is Mou’s Rom in this first phase of study and adjustment, in search of amalgamation and automatisms between the various departments, so we just need time. For now the important thing is to achieve results, concreteness regardless of the beauty of the game, starting as early as next Sunday. Daje Roma!

0 Weekly review

18 Settembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner · Rubriche

Francesco Totti is right. Lorenzo Pellegrini is now a worthy captain, the undisputed leader of this team. The one seen so far this year is another Lorenzo. He has finally taken confidence in his great potential, he has taken the team in his hand, provides assists, dribbles and scores in great class. A bit like Totti, with the proper proportions.

Once again player of the match, with R. Patricio in the crazy match against Sassuolo, even with CSKA there is his hand in everything that revolves around the new Roma of Mourinho. Meanwhile Josè is busy racing around the fans, Lorenzo delights the crowd with his magic on the pitch. Six out of six. The team is hungry for victory, like its coach. If Sassuolo turned out to be a great team tamed only at the last breath, the CSKA case was easily fixed but some subs did not convince.

Villar and Diawara aren’t doing as good with Mou quickly reverting to the regulars. El Sharaawy and Perez are well in the loop, Calafiori is decent change for Viña while Mayoral is not getting much play this season with Shomurodov well ahead in the pecking order. Reynolds is a mystery and possibly Mou will sign another right back in January. A strong playmaker is badly needed in the middle. The squad is way too short and tight to carry on this way Josè keeps saying.

All good so far but wont work long term. The team has lots of confidence even though we are only at the beginning, and it will not always be like this. With Sassuolo we won but we could have also lost. The important thing is to have everyone available, build to aim high, then let’s see if something more comes along. Match by match. Next in Verona. Go on, daje Roma, keep going if you can, like this.

0 Salernitana 0 Roma 4 “The Four Courts”

1 Settembre 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

Four out of four. Roma flies on the wings of enthusiasm thanks to its driver, a character of great media depth but also of a lot of footballing wisdom. Mourinho hasn’t made a mistake so far, both on and off the pitch. The trip to Salerno presented some pitfalls on paper instead it was the easiest and most convincing match so far, at least in the second half, with the sumptuous performances of Capt. Pellegrini and Jordan Veretout, more and more leader and goalscorers, and of Tammy Abraham at his first seal in the yellow and red jersey.

Many beautiful actions and four wonderful goals. In short, a great Roma that looks like another team compared to last season, the mirror of his coach who leads and pushes the team and fans in pure symbiosis. Josè knows that it will not always be victories and a good games, sooner or later there will also be bad games, draws and defeats. The important thing is to always stay on track, aware of your strength to achieve the goals, which at the moment no one can yet decipher. No calculations or predictions, you play to win, always. Everyone is identifying with Mou, from Tammy to Lorenzo, then Miki, Jordan, Eldor, Mancini and co., all seem ready to battle on the pitch.

The owners continues to work in silence in a confidential way away from the spotlight, for that there are Mou and Pinto, in total control of the technical-tactical media operations. Transfer market closed without a bang in midfield and even less a reinforcement for the right wing, even if Reynolds is already there, signed by the Friedkins themselves. The same ones who had accustomed us to certain last minute operations.

Perhaps we expected the theatrical coup, but this time we preferred to wait for January and see how it will end with the redundancies, with the exit of Pastore then we will see what will be with Nzonzi and Fazio, as well as the various Villar, Diawara and Santon. Perhaps a missed opportunity, because there was the possibility of completing the squad to give even more annoyance to those teams that on paper are better equipped to win. But surely there were no conditions, and then on like this. Now, international break and then we start again with Sassuolo and CSKA. Daje Roma.

0 Roma 3 Fiorentina 1 “Tammy up”

23 Agosto 2021
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner · Rubriche

Great start of the campaign by Josè Mourinho. Second win in a row following success in Turkey. And what a start by Tammy Abraham only days after his arrival from Chelsea. Gets the opposition keeper sent off, provides two assists for two goals, goes close to scoring by hitting the crossbar with an impressive header, runs like a wild horse with some fine touches. And what a great surprise is Eldor Shomurodov, class movements and power, unlucky not to score its fourth goal in four matches.

The starman is nonetheless Jordan Veretout winning the match with a fine brace. Mkhytarian also on target. Pity for Zaniolo for a stupid red card that might have cost us dear. Fiorentina looked very good and it was an even match at some stages, so it took a stubborn Roma team to secure the three points. Thanks to the new manager for bringing a new winning mentality. His appointment is crucial to see this team moving forward. He wanted those players and he got them. Next, sign a strong central midfielder like Xhaka and a solid defender to support the shaky backline. The future looks good. Next Trabzon and then to Salerno. Forza Roma!

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