As we enter the November international break, our series of 2015-16 team progress reports continues with an examination of AS Roma’s season so far.
What has gone right?
Attack, attack, attack. Manchester United fans might be crying out for some creative football at Old Trafford but the Giallorossi have no such problems. Roma have scored a Serie A high of 27 goals in their first 12 games and have only gone scoreless in one of those matches. Their front line has been firing with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Gervinho leading the way. Despite missing a month due to injury, new signing Edin Dzeko has hit the ground running as Roma’s new number nine and, importantly, Roma do not rely on one man for all the goals with 12 different players getting on the scoresheet. I Lupi‘s fire power has translated into results. Roma have only lost two games in Serie A this season, twice away from home at Sampdoria and Inter. With reigning champions Juventus lagging behind, this could well be the season for Roma to end their wait for a Scudetto.
What has gone wrong?
Roma’s defence has been unable to match its attacking counterpart and the side has looked top heavy. Despite bringing in on-loan goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny from Arsenal in the summer, Roma have only kept two cleansheets so far this season in Serie A. However, the fact that these two clean sheets came against Juventus and Lazio shows Roma’s defence is capable. At this point last season, the Giallorossi had only conceded seven times; the year before that only three while this year, they have conceded 13. Roma’s defence has had a major reshuffle this season and although new signings including Lucas Digne have impressed individually, a coercive unit has not yet been formed.
In the Champions League, Roma have stuttered too. After a famous draw at home to Barcelona on matchday one, the Giallorossi lost away to BATE Borisov and threw away a two-goal lead in the last 10 minutes at Bayer Leverkusen. Their home win against the German side in the last round of fixtures has given the side a chance of progression though.
Best player so far – Miralem Pjanic
The Bosnian has been in superb form for the Giallorossi, averaging an assist or a goal every game with seven goals and six assists in his 13 appearances for Roma this season. He scores important goals too, breaking the deadlock in the win against Juventus as well as scoring the winner in the home fixture against Leverkusen. Pjanic’s free kicks have also been a feature of his start to the season, with four finding the net all from completely different angles and distances. Often outshone by Radja Nainggolan last season in the heart of the Roma midfield, Pjanic has been the main man for Roma this season. The one blip was his red card in the defeat against Inter. The Giallorossi, however, coped well in absence beating arch-rivals Lazio 2-0.
What’s next?
Roma have a busy schedule until the two-week Serie A Christmas break. Their first test is away at Bologna, who have excelled since new coach Roberto Donadoni joined the club last month. Their major challenge in Serie A before Christmas, however, is on 13 December when they travel south to face Napoli. The Partenopei have been in superb form this season and this game could go some way to deciding who claims the Serie A crown this season. In the Champions League, Roma travel to Barcelona before finishing the group stage at home to BATE. Roma are currently second in group E but by just one point and could well need four points from their two remaining games to qualify. The Giallorossi also have an easy-looking home tie against either Spezia or Salernitana in the last 16 of the Coppa Italia.
Roma coach Rudi Garcia does have a big injury concern in the run up to Christmas. Winger Salah was injured in the derby against Lazio and will miss four to six weeks of action. The Giallorossi also have the continuing saga of fan protests disrupting their season.
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