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re: AS Roma 2013-14 / Serie A Thread

Posted on 11/7/13 at 1:44 pm to
Posted by wm72
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2010
7803 posts
Posted on 11/7/13 at 1:44 pm to
Well, the winning streak ended at 10 games with a 1-1 draw away at Torino ironically done in by a stellar performance from our own former youth player Alessio Cerci.

Bradley started but didn't really have that great of a game. However, it was a tough match for him since Pjanic was moved forward and Bradley slotted in with Strootman and De Rossi in an "emergency formation" since we're missing all three of our first choice front line of Totti, Destro and Gervinho.

It's been the first Garcia move of the season that didn't turn to gold but Garcia probably did even did more to enhance his growing cult-ish status with Roma fans by brashly going Zeman-esque balls out and playing the last the 20 minutes with 1 defender on the pitch to desperately avoid an away draw to a solid mid-table side.

November's going to be a tough month since Roma's not the deepest club to begin with and we'll at very least be without Totti and Destro until December and likely Gervinho until after the International break.



Posted by wm72
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2010
7803 posts
Posted on 1/7/14 at 2:49 pm to
AS Roma intermezzo thoughts:

Il Brutto:
The loss at Juve was disappointing but any Roma fan should be pleased sitting 2nd in the table at this juncture of the season.



Such a complete meltdown including the obligatory rash De Rossi tackle for a red card, a comically intentional handball, an offsides goal to one of the Big Three and a Pjanic nagging injury probably should also do much toward helping longtime Roma fans realize a more comfortable emotional bond with this year's squad. It happily dissuades any concern that our favorite players have been clandestinely replaced by rational, clear headed professionals or something so un-Roma-like as that.



Il Cattivo: The steep decline in form following Totti's injury and his slow return to form throws into stark relief what most already realize: he's the creative impetus that makes players like Gervinho, Florenzi (or Borini or Lamela etc etc etc) so effective. There's still no one that can take up that slack.




Il Buono: Benatia, who some already thought was one of the few best CBs in Europe while somewhat hidden at Udinese, has been even better than expected. He may well be the most indispensable player on the squad. The defense isn't quite as great as the numbers from the record setting start suggested but it's still very good and easily the best Roma has had in a decade.





Seconda Parte: Roma looks to be following the excellent summer market with a strong statement this winter: Radja Naingollan was signed today from Cagliari. Not only is this a good sign that money is committed to address some weak areas but also that Roma was able to get Naingollan over Juve, Milan, Inter and Napoli who were all in hot pursuit of his ball winning expertise.

That we're doing this while also continuing to add highly rated younger players like Abner and Leandro Parades this winter is even better.


If death is the mother of beauty, Roma's ritual suicide at Juventus Stadium may well see La Lupa Capitolina happily nursing a CL return.


This post was edited on 1/7/14 at 2:51 pm
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