re: AS ROMA 2014-15 Season Thread

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Do you think Pjanic will be a Roma lifer? He's becoming my favorite player.

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Yeah, I really like him a lot as well.

It's so hard to say when players aren't Roman born like Totti and De Rossi and just have Giallorosso in their blood to a degree you seldom see at any other club with somewhat modest success historically.

I think it really all depends on the club continuing to take steps forward since Pjanic has really been the most vocal, with Strootman often expressing the sentiment as well, about loving the idea of being at the center of building a real CL contender at Roma more than moving to an established glamour side.

If he leaves before 2017 and the opening of the new stadium though I think it would be the last of our worries since it would probably mean some other major breakdowns of the project precipitate it. Or, I suppose, on the bright side, that a player like Paredes had blossomed into a bigger star at the same position.

That his recent wage increase was beyond what many thought Roma could/should be offering though speaks volumes to how crucial Sabatini/Garcia think he is.

Strootman concerns me much more than Pjanic as far as eventually renewing and staying long term since he's going to command Pogba type money if he fully recovers.

However, sadly, De Rossi won't be around forever and that's going to at least open up a lot of salary leeway to at least offer him a somewhat comparative salary to what he could get from a third world oligarch's toy team.

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Earlier in the thread, you mentioned you'd be back in Rome. You live there seasonally?

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Yeah, I lived there permanently from 1997 til 2008 but then moved to NY. I had a used record business / reissue label when in Rome. I still go back and spend a few months here and there.

I think De Rossi, much more than Totti, is evidence of how strong the pull of AS Roma is for Roman players. Just gleaned from many of De Rossi's comments, I think he's wanted to live somewhere like the USA for a long time--not for football at all really but just the different life experience. He just can't tear himself away from the club.

In addition to just being an AS Roma fan though it's good that he's stayed insofar as he's an extremely smart guy and has been really quick to speak up against all the backwards-arse mentality from people in high places that often plagues about everything in Italy.

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MLCLyons

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The EPL pays considerably more than Serie A even after you take in to account that Italian teams pay the players taxes. Bradley was making around 800k at Roma and he was an established European veteran. Yedlin would walk in to Spurs making about that.

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I still think you're slightly mistaken about the wages Roma pays their younger players, probably because Bradley's salary wasn't a good indicator:

Guys like Ucan, Florenzi etc and Dodo and Jose Angel (the last two young fullback we signed) make/made €700-800k after taxes (or 25-30k a week as the English oddly put it). That seems similar to what Tottenham players that age make.

The big difference in payroll compared to the English clubs is that there are far less higher end salaries in Serie A both for carrying numerous "star" plays and for depth players.

That Bradley was signed as a depth player from a bottom of the table side is why he was on a salary of €800k after taxes but that salary was the same as most of the contributing 19-23 year olds on the roster.


Yedlin's Roma salary would likely be around the same €600-800k range you mention if he were to be signed with the idea that he would make the club. If he were signed to go on a year and half loan stint--much much more likely-- then the salary would probably start around €400-500k with incentives.

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How is Tottenham more prestigious than Roma?

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I didn't intend to compare Tottenham to Roma at all in terms of prestige.

My point was simply that it is a prestigious, big club and in the English speaking world. It's that last part which seems most American players main motivation.

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I do think he'd get plenty of minutes, but probably more at wing than RB,

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I get what your saying since he's a defensive liability, especially for a team competing for a title.

However, I really doubt he would play much at all at wing for Roma this season either. There's Gervinho, Iturbe, Florenzi, Ljalic, Destro (when Totti starts) and Sanabria (who we payed a ton to Barca for and may be loaned out due to limited PT). Plus, Roma just loaned out another promising young winger in Ricci, sold another outright and have the young Swede striker Valmir Berisha pushing for first team chances.
Also, since Serie A is still 3 weeks out I wouldn't rule out Roma dealing for another difference making winger/striker with a bit more experience since we were really seriously after Konoplyanka et al.

It's certainly possible that Yedlin could be a useful last 10 minute sub when we have the lead since Rudi Garcia loves pace on the wings in those situations but he already has a real problem keeping all the attacking wingers happy with PT as it is.

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Maicon is on a steep downslide though

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Maicon just had his best season in years. He was absolutely fantastic last year for Roma. I suppose he could slip into aging Brazilian superstar coke and ho party mode now that the WC is done but I'd be surprised if it happens this soon.

Torosidis would be starting for all but a handful of clubs in Europe is probably the most starter-worthy depth player we have.
Yedlin would only be a rare spot sub barring injury.

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Little known fact about the Serie A's "foreign Player" rules: It doesn't matter what the players country of origin is, it's all about where they are transferring from.

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Roma fans know this rule as well as SEC football fans probably know all those obscure oversigning rules.
Any roster conjecture among fans has to deal with the many young non-EU signings our DS Sabatini "launders" around the league every year. Paredes and Sanabria were last year's examples.

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From what I read today, Roma is apparently still in the hunt, it seems the deal to Spurs isn't a forgone conclusion.

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I gather that Pallotta, our American owner, really wants him badly. I still have my doubts Yedlin will turn down speaking English no matter what the offer is as long as a good English club is interested.

Why are they trying to sell Benatia? I know he was unhappy with the money he's receiving, but is he not worth the bump? Is the motivation solely to get a big splash attacking option?

AS Roma seems close to signing 23yo winger Carlos Carbonero from River Plate for €8-10m.

I think he only made a couple of substitute appearances for Colombia in the WC, being behind Cuadrado.

He seems to fit the mold Garcia has wanted on the wing to backup Gervinho: blazing speed, excels at getting by his marker in space and is a decent finisher who works hard defensively. He seems more of true winger in that he doesn't create a lot but puts in good crosses (even if Roma seems to seldom partake of that particular strategy).

He'll need a loan spell since he is non-EU but may be eligible for added depth for Roma after Christmas when Gervinho will play in the ACN.

A great start to the season with the 2-0 victory over Fiorentina.

A few standout players:

Naingollan probably had his best match yet for Roma and he's had a lot of good ones. Both goals really encapsulate what he's all about. The first where tirelessly hounds 3 opposing players around a 15 meter triangle until he finally wins the ball, then picks out a fine through ball and finally out hustles his marker into the box for a nifty finish.


Gervihno: had 3 excellent chances and they resulted in 2 goals. Not much more really needs to be said but when considering the degree to which he works his arse off pressing and tracking back, it's another world class performance in a line of many.


Pjanic: I think he's as good as any creative true midfielder in the game. So so silky and he's continually showing a meaner little streak in defending that Garcia demands from all his players no matter how much the "create".

Manolas: due to Castan's injury he was a surprise starter after only 2 days of practice and played well with a lot of confidence.

Iturbe: getting better and better. He created a lot of turnovers pressing and dribbled through 2-3 guys pressing into open space multiple times.

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he might be my new favorite player. Looks like a bad mfer with the hair and tats.

my only complaint is that I had to watch on a shitty internet stream

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I have BeIN and BeIN Espanol and they carry every single Roma match.

If you don't have BeIN Sports, I've noticed that the Roma forum on Big Soccer and also Chiesa di Totti websites are good places to find links where someone else has already figured out the best ones.

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Now another 2 weeks before they play again...

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Yeah, I hate the international break at the beginning of the season. I wish Serie A would start the season at least one week earlier. It's such a disadvantage to Italian teams in CL/EL that every one else is 2-3 weeks ahead in match preparation.

That said, this season it may be a blessing since Castan is injured and we have so many new faces in defense.



ROMA deadline day transfers:

Roma's purchased CB Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa from Newcastle and sent Romangoli on loan so Mbiwa will be the 4th choice CB. I think it may turn into a good deal since Sabatini had his eye on Mbiwa for a while. That he didn't win a starting spot at Newcastle could be a concern but it could just as easily be that Newcastle's manager isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer.


Roma wants to sign MF Adrien Rabiot from PSG and have reached an agreement with Rabiot but PSG/ROMA are reportedly still a long way from agreeing on a price.

WM

I think you might enjoy this.

Kind of a sluggish performance against Empoli yesterday but we got the three points in what was a bit of a trap match. The atmosphere was pretty electric in Empoli for their first home match since being promoted and we rested some key players ahead of the CL match Wednesday.


The very bad:

Ashley Cole has been pretty awful so far and yesterday was his worst match yet. One fully expected time to adjust to the more tactical approach of the Italian game so I guess it's not shocking how often he's out of position defensively. However, it's hard to excuse how many times Empoli wingers simply took the ball off him in dangerous positions.

Since he's less more than Dodo in the attack buildup, he at least to needs to be competent defensively and not lose the ball so often.

LB is far and away the biggest concern since Cole was supposed to be a stop gap until Balzaretti recovered and Roma really found the younger guy they want longer term.

Balzaretti may not be back anytime soon, if ever, after more serious setbacks in his recovery. I pray that Holebas, who just arrived and really seemed more of a depth type buy, will be better than Cole, if he doesn't improve dramatically, until January when it seems that Roma absolutely has to buy someone.


The mediocre: Ljalic needs to be consistently better if we're depending on him in these type matches.

The good: Radja Naingollan has been the best player in Serie A through two match days. It may end up being harder to fend off mega offers for him than Strootman from Roma's stacked midfield if this form continues.

Kostas Manolas: Benatia's replacement has looked up to it so far. Man of the match after Naingollan.