Lads, Cristante sucks....end of. Sorry. Thankfully with Diawara and Veretout in our ranks we have, hopefully, far better options in that role. Positives were Dzeko, but how long that lasts remains to be seen. Lo Pelle had a very solid game for me and looked like prime Pjanic at times out there. Pau Lopez distribution was refreshing, almost saved the pen and cant be blamed for us shipping 3 goals in any way. With a couple of competent CBs we win that game at a canter. Unfortunately John Jesus and Fazio are walking mistakes most of the time and so....................3-3.
True, but we are far away from what this team should be in a couple of months. Pau Zappa - Mancini - New CB - Spina Veretout - Diawara/Pellegrini Other than the attacking four, this a completely a new team and some patience is needed. Even Lorenzo is playing in a new position. It remains to be seen if the defensive issues will be solved, but I wouldn’t write off this team just yet.
He had some bad turnovers and wasn’t great defensively, but I saw improvement from him today. Unlike last year when was hiding from the ball, he was shouting for passes and making himself available. He also played progressive passes that he didn’t last year. I think he should have moved this summer since I doubt he will get the time he needs at Roma, but he’s not a lost cause.
Speaking of Pellegrini, he had a great game yesterday apart from defensive duties. I’ve been calling to move him back since early last season, but a shiny start blinded everyone from how useless he was as no.10. He needs improve his awareness and be more active in winning 2nd balls/winning duels, but I think he can develop into a nice pivot player. Looking at Roma's pass map yesterday, good start to the season for Pellegrini who is probably their best player. CBs were a bit too isolated, which caused issues on Genoa's goals (h/t @BetweenThePosts) pic.twitter.com/C7yevkiv0O— BM (@wideunderload) August 26, 2019
I think that’s very harsh on Pellegrini. He is young and at times looked great as a 10. He faded out just as everyone on the team, but he was better Zaniolo who might as well not have been on the pitch when he wasn’t scoring last year. He’s doing well deeper but I’d be intrigued to see him as a 10 with Veretout and Diawara behind.
Maybe I'm glorifying Pjanic's time when he was here but besides LoPel's killer ball into Under, there wasn't much else that was prime Pjanic for me. Admittedly I don't rate LoPel as high as most others seem to on this board. At times he is a difference maker and has shown quality, too often I feel like he is a decent player that's just out there putting in a shift. I haven't seen much to think he could be the protagonist in a really good midfield, I see his ceiling at more likely a piece in a really good midfield not necessarily the focal point. He is young and certainly dealt with some obstacles in his development with coaching/position changes etc...so maybe I'm completely off base.
I think so. He is 23 so consistency game to game with difference making quality is not fair to expect from him yet. At 25/26 I expect to see a truly top class/world class midfielder who can be captain material. If he's still putting in hit and miss performances like what we see today then he will never go beyond being just a solid player. That would still be a very useful player though all things considered.
5⃣ goals in 2019 and counting... 🗓️ No defender in one of Europe's top five leagues has scored more goals this calendar year than Aleksandar Kolarov. 🎯🐺👏 #ASRoma pic.twitter.com/YUHPSCZpsg— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) August 27, 2019
If he scored there, we would have been guarenteed to see no more Florenzi at fullback this year. Sad.