re: Roma v. Cagliari, beIN

quote:

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Most managers could field a side significantly different than Zeman's with the same players.

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Exactly, more than simply a run with a few disappointing results, this is what's behind his firing.

Zeman is totally fixed on running his system, his way. The fans have turned on his leaving out quality players too often that aren't "fitting" like De Rossi and Pjanic.

If you win with these type players on the bench it's one thing but you can't drop points to Bologna, Chievo and Cagliari without creating an angry mob.


Zeman may have been his own worst enemy in this regard. He employed a 3-4-3 (for him, the first time ever) to get both DDR and Pjanic on the pitch together to a pretty good result but then abandoned it.


The idea that a 3-5-2 or 4-2-3-1 may be a much better fit for Roma's roster has been a constant media topic.




On the other hand, one wonders how it's possible that the directors thought they'd get anything else with Zeman.

Attacking 4-3-3 with fullbacks camped in the opposing box all day every day . . . Scoring a ton . . . conceding a ton . . . playing/developing young players over veterans . beating top teams 4-1 and losing to bottom dwellers 5-4. . that's Zeman.



Roma's quality, aside from Totti and De Rossi, are all extremely young and the only reason to have expected a CL spot was the idea that some top Serie A sides are way down but that's hardly proven to be the case with Fiorentina, Napoli, Lazio and even Inter and AC Milan all either moderately or drastically improved.