AS Roma have finished second on the Serie A table in the past two seasons, but with summer additions and a feel good factor at the Stadio Olimpico, could this be the year to end their wait for the Scudetto?
Summer Transfers
Roma have had a busy summer, with numerous players coming and going. Sporting director Walter Sabatini was under pressure at the end of last season, but he has once again put his stamp on the team as he looks to take the Giallorossi to the summit of Italian football.
Roma waved goodbye to Jose Holebas, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, declined to renew Davide Astori’s loan and ended the failed experiment of Ashley Cole. Seydou Doumbia was also sent back to CSKA Moscow, which provided some additional funds. After a solid season on loan at Sampdoria, promising defender Alessio Romagnoli was sold to AC Milan for a huge fee of €30 million. Andrea Bertolacci was also sold to Milan for another €15 million, and the club used those fees to reinvest in the squad.
Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was plucked from Arsenal and should challenge veteran Morgan De Sanctis, who will retire at the end of the season. Lucas Digne was bought from Paris Saint-Germain and should settle in at left-back, while a deal for Stuttgart central-defender Antonio Rudiger appears imminent after the club beat Chelsea to the German’s signature.
Though it is in the attacking third where Roma have done their main business, picking up Iago Falque from Genoa after the Spanish international won many plaudits last season, banging in 13 goals for the Grifone.
Joining Falque is Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah, who burst onto the scene in January with Fiorentina, and arrives after a summer long transfer saga between the Viola, the Giallorossi and Chelsea. Salah will add much needed quality in the attacking-third, supplying Roma’s strikers.
The stand out summer transfer, however, is Edin Dzeko on a loan deal that is almost certain to turn permanent based on appearances. The marquee signing gives Roma a proven target striker, who has a great success rate at both Wolfsburg and Manchester City.
Last season
Roma had a mixed season in 2014-2015. It started well, but October’s heavy 7-1 defeat against Bayern Munich in the group stage of the Champions League was a huge blow and the team never fully recovered. Rudi Garcia’s men failed to get out of Group E, after a final game defeat against Manchester City. Following Christmas, Roma dropped points which saw them fall away from Juventus on the domestic ladder, while they were also knocked out of both the Coppa Italia and Europa League by Fiorentina. Despite disappointing exits in cup competitions, Roma still showed glimpses and have plenty to build upon ahead of the new season.
Manager
Rudi Garcia came from Lille after winning Ligue 1 during his time at the club, and was expected to bring the Scudetto back to the Italian capital. In his two seasons at the helm seeing rivals Juventus dominating both at home and across Europe, Roma have been the Serie A’s ‘best of the rest’.
The Giallorossi fans have certainly got their money’s worth though. Garcia plays an attacking 4-3-3, which sees the fullbacks bomb forward. The wingers stretch defences by running in-behind and leaving space for the like of Francesco Totti and Miralem Pjanic to dictate the play. The Giallorossi’s defence can be exposed on occasions, but the ever reliable Daniele De Rossi is used as a screen and holding player.
Garcia has failed against Juventus, particularly away from home and amidst defeats, the Frenchman has blamed referee’s, going as far as labelling it a conspiracy. While he has not won a lot of fans across Italy, he is very highly regarded in Rome and certainly has the backing of the clubs and fans in the upcoming campaign.
Strengths
Roma have arguably the best midfield in the Italian league and one of the best that features across the whole of Europe, De Rossi, Pjanic and Radja Nainggolan being the favoured three last season. Amongst them they have everything – defensive ability, work rate, desire and creativity. Add to the fold Kevin Strootman, Seydou Keita and Alessandro Florenzi, and the Giallorossi’s strength lies in the squad’s depth. With the style of play that Garcia imposes on Roma, the core midfield trio are crucial.
Another strength is in the wide areas. With the additions of Salah and Falque, Roma have quality on the wings. If Gervinho can get back to the form he showed in his first season in the capital and if Iturbe can show the potential which was clear during his time at Verona, the Giallorossi have a formidable midfield which should cause plenty of trouble.
[interaction id=”55d4a5ed8768712c75d66ca7″]
Weaknesses
Last season there was a struggle for goals. No player reached double figures in Serie A, with veteran Totti the joint top scorer at just eight. The Roma captain still has a huge influence both on and off the pitch, but he will no longer score 15 to 20 goals a season. Roma fans will hope Dzeko can produce the goods, but the whole team will have to contribute around the net if they are to seriously challenge Juventus at the top of Serie A.
Roma also can look light at the back, with the feeling that De Sanctiis always has a possible mistake in him. Leandro Castan was not at his best last season, and even though Florenzi looked good at left-back at times, he is not the long term answer. Garcia has brought in players to strengthen the defence, but it could take them time to settle, especially as none of them have played in the Serie A before.
Key Player
Nainggolan’s combative style matched with ability to find his attacking teammates makes him a complete midfielder. He dragged Roma out of holes last season and was the embodiment of the gladiatorial spirit at the club, At the end of 2014-15, Nainggolan’s future was up in the air. But the Giallorossi pushed the boat out and secured his services for the foreseeable future. Despite all the newcomers at the side, if Nainggolan can reproduce his form from the last campaign he will be vital in Roma’s push for the Serie A crown.
Best XI (4-3-3): Szczenzy; Maicon, Manolas, Rudiger, Digne; De Rossi, Pjanic, Nainggolan; Gervinho, Dzeko, Salah
Prediction
Roma have recruited well in the summer and will be hoping to push on from last season to mount a serious title challenge on the Bianconeri. Roma have failed to win the Coppa Italia since 2008 and will be looking to improve on last year’s disappointing exit to Fiorentina, while in the Champions League the minimum aim will be to reach the knock out stages.
Despite the new players, Roma still look behind the imperious Juventus. They do, however, look clearly the second best side in Italy. They are more than capable to win the Coppa Italia and get past the group stage of Europe’s premier competition.
Predicted finish – 2nd
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
