re: AS ROMA 2014-15 Season Thread

Watching Roma play is a joy. Garcia has it going on.

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Benatia dodging flares.

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I'd be in favor of this just for the entertainment value!

Just one thing the EPL and Bundesliga are simply missing out on....

Let´s hope García is a good motivator. That could be demoralizing. I want them to win Serie A.

I think Roma played well,maybe a few mistakes at the back and second half they missed chances, but what Bayern did was amazing and playing like that they could beat any team. There attack was clinical and nuer was a wall in goal. Also benatia had a great game which kinda sucked to see.

I may be biased but I felt nothing was going romas way. Everything was on for Bayer. They played lights out but it seemed every ball and call was going to Bayer. Not that the calls were as bad as the juve game but you could just tell no matter what Roma did it wouldn't work. Even when Roma would attack it wasn't working. Hitting the post or nuer would step up and make a spectacular save.

Point is they shouldn't be too down about the lose. They can still get out the group and like I always say its better to lose a game 7-0 than 7 games 1-0.

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Roma really looked like hammered s^*#.....are they missing most of their defense ?

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Roma's defense: Missing our best CB Castan and his first choice backup Astori. Yanga-Mbiwa is 4th choice. Not sure that matters all that much as Mbiwa played fine against Man City and Juventus.

Maicon was injured as well and I'm not certain Ashley Cole (who was the worst field player on the pitch by a large distance and taken off at halftime) would have played otherwise.

However, it wasn't really injuries that were the problem but simply that Roma went at Bayern's press wide open in a way that I really never see anyone do and players who should be better like Pjanic, Naingollan, Manolas etc made turnover after turnover.

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Let´s hope García is a good motivator. That could be demoralizing. I want them to win Serie A.

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I'm not worried about this match having much effect on the league race. That's been the goal this season with CL as an extra instead of focus. If anything it may mean less chance of taking some tricky upcoming league fixtures during the CL like away at Atalanta and Sampdoria too lightly.

I watched Bayern get beaten just as badly last year by Real, Barca the year before by Bayern and also Rudi Garcia's Lille side by Bayern when they won a league title so I'm not worried about any residual negativity.

Also, to take it too negatively takes away from Bayern having played the best half of football I may have ever seen.

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I think Roma played well,maybe a few mistakes at the back and second half they missed chances, but what Bayern did was amazing and playing like that they could beat any team. There attack was clinical and Neuer was a wall in goal.

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I agree though wouldn't say Roma played well even if the scoreline was a bit more indicative of about the largest difference in GK play I've even seen in a single match. I would also guess that Bayern fans are saying that first half may have the best they've ever see them play. Even Roma fans at the match clapped a couple of their goals in the first half.



Neuer saved at least 4 shots --including the Gervinho strike from about two feet away which is probably the save of the season. It's reasonable to think 2 or 3 of those get past any other GK in the world and 1-2 even Neuer on a different night. Add to that De Sanctis having as much of a disaster as Ashley Cole. I saw in both the Roma papers this morning that he had the lowest GK grade they've ever given since I've been reading and it's justified.

Also agree that the penalty was a bit harsh as it's not easy to slide into a tackle and not put down a hand just before your head hits the ground. That the Swedish referee let so many borderline fouls go uncalled certainly favored Bayern's pressure and ability to slow Gervinho every time he raced by them but that's something you have to deal with. I don't think his calls really affected the outcome but it's fair to say the scoreline could have looked a lot better.



However, just that we're talking about the difference in saves with so many open looks on goal highlights that Roma played far too open. With every goal Bayern scored Roma opened up their midfield more and played even riskier passes. I bet you won't see that again.

But, all in all, as I said above it's not some big disaster going forward in league (or even getting to the CL knockout rounds). Everyone realized that 1) we were a bit stretched with injuries in the backline and the midfield 2) we need a real top notch LB as the Ashley Cole stop gap isn't working like Maicon 3) as much as I like De Sanctis as person and team leader, we need to sign a world class GK.

Finally a win away at Cagliari that has ironically been a fixture Roma where never gets 3 points. 18yo Primavera team winger Daniele Verde was called up due to the crisis and had 2 assists.

After Ljajic left with a knock, the attack consisted of Verde 18yo, Sanabria 18yo, Paredes 19yo and Totti 38yo.



This is AS Roma's team of players that were missing due to injury or ACON for matches during the string of draws in January:

It's only a winter signing of a couple of injured backup defenders away from competing for a CL spot by itself:

GK Lobont

RB Torosidis -- CB Manolas -- CB Castan -- LB Florenzi

MF Keita -- MF De Rossi -- MF Strootman

FW Gervinho -- FW Duombia -- FW Iturbe



Bench: Ucan, Sanabria, Ibarbo, Borriello

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What can you tell me about the defender they just signed in Jan Spolli

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He's a 31yo solid backup that has a ton of Serie A experience. Has played with Catania for ever it seems.

I guess he could surprise but I think it's likely just competent, backup depth.

He came on a loan with option to buy that most likely won't be picked up since we'll have Castan and Romangoli back next year along with Manolas, Mbiwa and Astori (if he's retained).