From heaven to hell. In between, the now cursed fifteen minutes of halftime, where it seems clear that a sort of short circuit often occurs, which no one on the pitch or the bench can remedy.
In the hours following the defeat in Manchester, still on the comeback trail, with a clear defensive hemorrhage compared to the very first part of this season (14 goals conceded in the last 7 official matches compared to 4 conceded in the first 7 of the season), the analyses and attempts to find plausible explanations have mounted like a tsunami of comments on social media, on the radio, and in the streets of the capital.
The first to attempt a clear analysis was coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who many blame for yesterday's disastrous result at Old Trafford. The Giallorossi coach spoke of intense disappointment over a victory that seemed assured, some shortcomings in competitive spirit, and an inability to regain his bearings in the second half. It's clearly not a matter of substitutions, as the Mora-Pisilli swap can't have affected the performances of ten other players, but rather of their actual characteristics and absences.
Decisive starters, an incomplete squad, and a lack of leadership: where Roma can improve
Undoubtedly everyone has injuries, but Roma by its very nature, with a squad already short in some crucial roles, cannot afford to lose players of the calibre of Svilar, Konè and Dybala himself in the medium to long term , in the absence of suitable replacements.
Despite this, the Giallorossi have shown clear growth, both individually and as a team, compared to a year ago, and one defeat cannot negate everything that's been written and said for almost a month. They're producing three times as many goals as a year ago, they've held their own in some matches, and they've been able to respond to negative incidents on occasion, but at certain levels they're failing to climb that final step. The question is why? Gasperini must certainly address the overall psychological aspect and revise some of his technical and tactical approaches on the fly.
Sometimes, based on the strategies or tactical changes adopted by opponents, like United yesterday, you can try to oppose a modification of the system, for example a back four or a couple of closer attackers in a 3-5-2, to encourage a move up the pitch or easier support forward.
Notes from laymen, of course. Especially since at 68, the Grugliasco-born coach certainly can't be expected to transform into a new Allegri or Mourinho. His football was born and will die with the pirate-like quality of constant, full-field aggression. It's the intensity and desire to score one more goal than their opponents, and that's why today Roma knows how to play openly and fearlessly against teams of the caliber of Inter, Real Madrid, and Manchester United on the road.
However, the clear feeling remains that we need to learn to better understand certain moments in certain matches. Yesterday, in the second half, after Manzano's penalty, no one on the pitch was able to instil calm into their teammates, to take responsibility for leading the group. You either have personality or you don't; it's not acquired on the pitch, and the club's primary task is to give Gasperini those two or three players in January who will round out the squad, and then try to make a significant leap forward in July.
Winning requires four or five top-notch players, not just a specific increase in resources. Roma's history speaks for itself, and it would be wrong to seek an explanation in the mystical and futile refuge of the club's loser DNA, which has somehow shaped the club for nearly 100 years. When Roma built top teams and found its strong identity on the pitch, it won. The first half of the season has supported the idea that the path taken is the right one, in terms of modernity, evolution, and overall ability to perform on the pitch, but it has also made it clear that winning still requires adding, in key roles, players capable of definitively shaping a strong and consistently competitive Roma.
the path is right when you win.
It doesn't seem to me that this one – the gasperino – has won anything!
You know who the only one to win, we had it, now Real Madrid has it... shall we bet that he will win the Champions League?
I've already written it and I'll repeat it, Roma hasn't won anything this year either.
I just hope Lazio doesn't win the championship, otherwise I'll have to criticize the Americans even more and honestly I'm tired, because these guys won't move away from here because they just go to the cash register and cash in.
With the players he has, Gasp has created a game with a precise physiognomy. The squad just needs to be completed according to his requests. That said, we've only had a few unfavorable incidents, including the referee.
You have feuds in your head
Without those refereeing decisions they would never have overturned the result.
It seems to me to be an objective fact.
Let's move on!
🤣🤣🤣🤣 deluded since 1927