Football Update: Roma’s defensive woes continue
AS Roma were off to a poor start last season under Coach Luciano Spalleti. As the poor run of results continued, Roma directors were forced to act and the coach left the club through mutual consent. Spalleti took over the wobbling Roma ship after the club
was in disarray following Fabio Capello’s untimely departure to Juventus in 2004. The club changed four managers in an effort to find some sort of consistency but it all failed until Spalleti arrived with his one touch passing philosophy. With the limited
budgets and a small squad that Spalleti had at his disposal, he did extremely well. The club finished second in the Italian Serie A rankings on three occasions under his guidance. Spalleti’s charm on the squad was veining, the teams had learnt how to tackle
Spalleti’s attacking Roma and the club was in need of managerial change.
Claudio Ranieri; a lifelong Roma fan, was appointed in the first half of the season. Ranieri for all his years of experience has been the perennial second best. He has never won a major title in his years of managing top level clubs. Many were critical of
his appointment but Roma started producing results. In the second part of the last season, Roma were undoubtedly the best team in the peninsula. Roma won an impressive 16 out of 21 Serie A matches that were played after winter break. In that time, Roma had
one of the best defensive records in the league. Nicolas Burdisso, on loan from fierce rivals Inter Milan, was an ever present rock in the heart of the defence. So much so, that AS Roma made him their primary transfer target coming in the new Serie A season.
After much hassle, the Argentine was bought for 8 million Euros. Roma were able to strengthen their squad with acquisitions of Fabio Simplicio, Adriano and Marco Borriello.
The current Serie A season started on high hopes. Goal scoring has rarely been an issue for the Roman club. With attacking talents of Club legend Francesco Totti and Mirko Vucinic ably aided by an attacking midfield, Roma would score bundles past their opposition
on their day. It has always been the defence that causes managers headaches. The pattern continues in the early part of the season. Roma has conceded seven goals in three Serie A matches.
The concentration levels of the defenders leave a lot to be desired as Ranieri said
“we want to improve but right now we are unable to. It’s either because people who played last year are not playing or because they are not careful. The players lack attention and concentration on dead ball situations as demonstrated against Cagliari.”
AS Roma have put the contract renewal plans for the coach on hold, after the team’s poor start to the season and a managerial change is already being talked about.
Cagliari scored five past the Roma defence and exploited Roma’s frailties on dead ball situations. Against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, the defence did well until the 78th minute, where loss of concentration again proved their undoing.
With a wealth of attacking players at their disposal, AS Roma is sure to score goals. The likes of Totti and Pizzaro assisting Borriello and Vucinic will make sure the scoring charts don’t go blank. It’s the defence that will make or break Roma’s season. Roma
along with equally disappointing AC Milan are Challengers to Inter Milan’s throne but they must get their defensive act straight if they are to make an impact this season.
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