We had a great season guys. We beat expectations, secured second place and we're set up for a scudetto challenge and Champions League campaign next season. That should be celebrated. Use this thread to share your favorite moments from the 2013-2014 season. Here are a couple of questions to get you started: Favorite goal? Favorite win? Favorite moment? Biggest surprise? Best signing? Best overall player? Best performance by a player in a single game? Best tactical move by Rudi? etc . . .
Favorite goal? Pjanic chip goal vs Verona or his goal vs Milan. Favorite win? Juve in Coppa Favorite moment? Gervinho goal vs Rube Biggest surprise? 10 game winning streak Best signing? Benatia probably. Strootman, Gervinho and Maicon deserve a mention Best overall player? Benatia Best performance by a player in a single game? Totti vs Inter Best tactical move by Rudi? Any time he didn't play Bastos
Favorite goal? Pjanic goal vs Milan Favorite win? Derby win Favorite moment? Balza's goal vs Lazio Biggest surprise? Gervinho's performance Best signing? Benatia Best overall player? Benatia Best performance by a player in a single game? Cant name 1. Best tactical move by Rudi? Ljaji as substitute
I'm not typically one to get hung up on derbies, but there was something liberating about that 2-0 win against Lazio. Balzaretti's reaction to his goal basically summed up all of our feelings. 1. Pjanic's chip shot against Hellas. 2. 2-0 against Lazio 3. Balzaretti's run to the curva 4. Tie between how good Maicon was after two years off and how quickly Destro made an impact (five minutes?) 5. Benatia, though I could see the argument for any signing but Ljajic. 6. Benatia. 7. De Rossi either against Lazio or Fiorentina. He smothered Hernanes and Borja Valero. 8. I don't know all of his tactical moves by heart, but that game where he ran a 4-2-4 with Pjanic and Bradley gave me grey hairs until it worked.
I think this season overall has been great. It really hurt being in the chase for the scudetto and coming up short, but it was fun to be able to hope for it again. for goals I have 3 memorable ones this year which will probably show up on most lists, Strootman's blast against Naboli, Pjanic's chip against Hellas, and Balza's goal against nazio. Florenzi's bicycle just missed out. Biggest surprise this season would have to be the cohesiveness of the team itself. The way we had new guys come in to a new system with a new coach and just completely gel together right away. The best signing goes between Rudi, Benatia and Strootman for me. Player of the season for me was Benatia, there were others who had some great games but Benatia did it game in and game out. I don't think I could pick out a best performance by a player in a single game. Totti, Gervinho, Benatia, Castan, De Rossi, etc all had more than one game where they were unstoppable. As for a best tactical decision, I don't know that I can pick anything specific out in terms of formations, subs, or the way he changed tactics mid game to adjust to another team. So I'll just pick the moment he entrusted the LB position to Romagnoli, as I think that gave the kid a huge amount of confidence and could really propel his career. Might be one of those things that pays off later on. Great year for everyone. Credit also to Saba for putting together a great mercato, something we desperately needed this season or we could have been in real bad shape. Can't wait for next season.
Favorite goal? Gervinho's karate kick Favorite win? 2-0 over Nazio Favorite moment? Seeing Mazzarri eating a plastic bottle Biggest surprise? Gervinho Best signing? Benatia Best overall player? Totti Best performance by a player in a single game? Totti vs Inter Best tactical move by Rudi? Sending Ljajic to the bench until he improved
Favorite goal? I loved every goal we scored equally. (Tho there's a chance I enjoyed Strooty's blast v Napoli and Flo's 3rd v Inter a little more than the others, and of course Balza's volley). Favorite win? Derby. Favorite moment? Any time Castan was stoked after a good challenge. Biggest surprise? Has to be the contribution of Gervi. Best signing? Garcia Best overall player? Can't answer. The team was excellent. Best performance by a player in a single game? Can't answer. Plenty of great performances throughout. Best tactical move by Rudi? Giving Gervi his freedom again.
Favorite goal? Florenzi vs Genoa Favorite win? Roma 2-0 Lazio Favorite moment? Balzaretti crying after he scores against Lazio Biggest surprise? Gervinho Best signing? Rudi Garcia Best overall player? Mehdi Benatia
Favorite goal? Florenzi vs. Genoa Favorite win? Juve in Coppa Italia Favorite moment? The moment Gervinho scored that winning goal against Juve OR when Balza scored against Lazio and start to cry OR Taddei's goal and his emotions OR Florenzi's last minute goal against Torino and his emotions (So many great moments this year!) Biggest surprise? Why Bastos played almost every game after he got signed Best signing? Gervinho Best overall player? De Rossi Best performance by a player in a single game? Gervinho vs. Bologna Best tactical move by Rudi? Purchasing Gervinho
Favorite goal? Gervinhio karate kick vs juve in the coppa Favorite win? The derby win Favorite moment? Balzaretti crying after he scored Biggest surprise? Destro's form after injury Best signing? Benatia Best overall player? De Rossi. He was really our rock and we owe him most for the defense. Not enough credit being given i think. Best performance by a player in a single game? De Rossi smothering every AM... Best tactical move by Rudi? The tactical switches when we lacked wingers or forwards. Particulary the false nine at the start of the season.