Pax Romana is the period in Ancient Rome which was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Likewise, this is a period of A.S. Roman growth which has seen the former Empire's club, lead by Emperor Totti, enter into a new age few of us could have seen 4-5 years ago. From setting a club record for most points in a Serie A season to Roman hearts outplaying and outsinging an oil fueled Manchester City crowd, this is truly an age of Roman prominence. Now please Sabatini and Pallotta, add to Roma's grace with optimal acquisitions
Though to think about subs after such a spectacular performance from all of our defense. GK: I think we're pretty much set there as Skoru did really good , i'd like us to buy Perin next summer though. WBs: Set here too , we've got 4 really experienced players and i loved how Rudi Garcia told Balzaretti on TV that we're waiting for him (He was a pundit for Sky Sports IT last night.), for the summer ... need a Maicon replacement for the long term , same with Cole. CBs: Set here too , all of them have been great so far , breaks my heart to say so after last night's performance but , shit back Yanga'mbiwa and get Romagnoli back in next summer. MF: I'd like to have a Ninja sub and a Pjanic sub , but Stroot is gonna come back soon and i don't think there's many players who could effectively be Pjanic's sub. RW&LW: This is the only spot where i'd like us to do something , sell ljajic asap and buy another winger. CF: Nothing to do here pretty much , still think we could've used Drogba/Eto'o as a freebie in the summer, just to put some pressure on Mattia.
We don't necessarly have to bring PEA or Shaquiri or any big name winger , just someone who can be a good replacement , like Nainggolan/Keita/Mapou/Florenzi are doing.
I think the team is close to perfect, but one thing was evident from last night at the Etihad: wWithout Totti we lose shape, the whole team seems to lose not just the quality that Totti brings but the overall shape of the team and the dynamics. More than a stamina issue, I think this is just due to the fact that we don't have anyone that we can exchange like for like. In short — we need a Trequartista. Destro is good when we want to change to bomber tactics (i.e. vs. teams that park the bus), Iturbe and Gervao are brilliant wide forwards, but yesterday our tactics were perfect up until Totti got subbed out and I know I sound like a broken record but we need a player that will not change our tactics and play the exact same trequartista role Totti plays. C'e Solo Un Capitano, but we need a lesser version of Francé maybe not one that will have his legs blessed by the gods of football upon birth (there is only one and his name is Francesco) but one that is able to play in a similar style so that we don't lose our shape. There's very few players that can play the trequartista role, but it is imperative we get one by next summer. For me there's only two players that we have a chance at getting that have the ability and the experience to (partially) cover the massive abyss that is left when Totti is subbed off: Eriksen and Pastore. This role should be our main focus in the coming markets as Totti edges closer to retirement
I don't think Pastore is anything special these days. Eriksen would be great, but I'm not even entertaining the thought of signing a guy who would cost 30+ mil at a club that doesn't sell their best unless Real Madrid come knocking with ridiculous fees. A sleeper guy, if we're talking vice-Totti, would be Firmino. He's a CAM/FW who isn't quite fantasy like Totti but a pretty great playmaker. Personally, I don't think we try to replace Totti when he's gone. I think committing to a formation with a traditional CF, and working with that all through preseason, will be effective when we're not flip-flopping because Totti is unique. There really isn't much sense in Unicorn hunting.
Hahaha I knew it was coming. Who else is there thoguh? I mean sure there's Hazard, but there's no way we'd get him. Even Eriksen in the hands of Levy will be difficult to get. I agree with what you say and the unicorn hunting, but we just become such a different team when Totti is not in, it pains me. We did pay 30m for Iturbe though.
I just can't conceive a Roma without a similar player with his kind of creativity, there's only one Capitano, but I feel the hole he leaves when he is subbed is so massive. Maybe I'm in denial, and just can't see a Roma without that role. Some thing don't change
It is difficult to know whether our performance dropped because of Totti being subbed or secondary to the fact that we were tired and barely ran. I personally think it is the latter. Our midfield is more than equipped to maintain position and create chances without a classical trequartsita.
There are few and far between trequartiste in the world because the world hasn't been using it in common formations
They'd be idiots not to pick up one of the two Ukrainian wingers since they'll both be free in 9 months. That way making a loss on Ljajic won't be that big of a deal
Konoplyanka current market value at transfermarkt.com is 17 mil. I admit I have never seen him play but is her seriously that good to warrant such value? transermarkt is usually very reliable with their estimation. It would be nice to have him for free.
I'm sure there are people who've watched him more than me but I've seen him play at least 6-8 matches and I think he's certainly a good enough prospect to justify that valuation considering what other similar players are going for. He mainly plays left wing but also moves centrally and plays a bit more of a second striker/#10 role at times (or complete matches there for Ukraine). His game, I suppose, is a bit similar to Jovetic's when he played out left at Fiorentina though not quite the forceful finisher in the box. In how we're set up, Konoplyanka would certainly be fit the role that Ljajic should be playing as the option out left that provides more passing vision and control in tighter spaces but can also spell Totti in the center without changing the dynamic of having a "creator" in that role.
I hope this winter mercato turns out to be a quiet one, I'm fine with replacing Ljajic but not much more. Just don't sell Strootman please, Rabiot is not needed.