Roma vs Juventus Talking Points #2295
A.S Roma 0 Juventus 0FT
Evan Ndicka
One of Roma's main issues last weekend was the defensive performance. It was highlighted extensively through marking and overall defensive errors. Although the center backs themselves may not have been the diagnosis of the defensive issues it was primarily why Roma couldn't collect maximum points last Sunday. That changed against Juventus. It was one of Roma's biggest strengths. It was a polar opposite in terms of overall performance. the fear going into Juventus away from home yesterday was how the defense was going to handle Juventus's attacking pieces. they had won their previous two games with attacking players that have looked very strong in the first couple of games under Thiago Motta. Dusan Vlahovic, Antonio Cambiasso Along with Nicholas Gonzalez. It was a much more organized defensive performance all around. However, Evan Ndicka was a brick wall back there. Juventus despite having a good amount of opportunities in and around the Roma area, the vast majority of them fail to reach the target. Most of them ended up affected by the defense but furthermore by Evan Ndicka. He was named one of Roma's untouchables going into the summer. One of Roma's most vital pieces defensively. Even in poor defensive performances, He has stood out. He has put together a decent partnership with Mancini. Neither of them was the blame for the previous result. Both of them played very well against Juventus on Sunday. Evan Ndicka continued his consistency. Last season when he had to go to the Africa Cup of Nations. Roma missed him. Defensively anytime he has not been available. Roma have suffered to a degree. Sunday night he was terrific He was everywhere. He was named man of the match after an incredible defensive performance. It wasn't just him though. The entire backline played very well. Mile Svillar was let down by the defense last weekend. This time it was the back line that caused him to have a very uneventful and easy 90 minutes in Turin on Sunday. The Serbian only had to make one save in 90 minutes because they could not crack the code being put up by Evan Ndicka. The defense felt an obligation to perform at many different points. Sunday night they were excellent at Juventus in hostile territory. All of them deserve credit Evan Ndicka busted it up constantly. This allowed Mancini to occasionally join the attack as an extra body the fullbacks did very well, not necessarily exceptional but primarily no mistakes from any defensive player on Roma. although the plaudits and the flowers will be put for Evan Ndicka and completely rightfully so.
De Rossi's risky adjustments pay off
Roma have not started the new season on the right foot. through the first two games, they only sat there with one point. Roma currently featured in the bottom part of the table. It is only two matches so realistically it doesn't mean a whole lot. However, neither of the first two performances provided anything other than disappointment, frustration, and occasional flashes of unique talent. This is why the timing of Juventus wasn't the best. After dropping points in each of the first two games against two opponents from which they should have taken six points Not exactly what they would have had in mind. a defeat would have led to one point from the first three matches. It's still very early in the season to be displaying any sort of panic. Nevertheless, highlighting some of the potential concerns was something that affected De Rossi. Even though he was well aware of the risk The need was there to make some adjustments even if it could have backfired it was worth doing so. De Rossi dropped Dybala to the bench leaving a big-time playmaker and Roma's best player as a substitute was an interesting handful of choice. Paredes was also dropped after his bad performance. He left Cristante in with an opportunity to redeem himself next to him he gave Niccolo Pisilli His first start has the 19-year-old getting a run at it against Juventus in Midfield. A very risky move to make but a big chance given to one of Roma's biggest primavera products coming in last night. He had played just three matches for the club scoring once in the Europa League. He put new Winger Alexis Salaemakers immediately into the starting lineup. However, the big controversial move was keeping Dybala out of the starting lineup and moving the young Niccolo Pisilli Along with cristante who had played very poorly against Empoli. However, it worked out excellently. Niccolo Pisilli showed a level of promise In 72 minutes of play orchestrated two chances did a good job holding the ball up and overall had a good performance. He didn't blow anyone away but he stabilized the Midfield alongside cristante didn't make any mistakes and did reasonably well for a 19-year-old to be thrown into the fire against Juventus Is high pressure. He managed to handle the moment very well and didn't seem to miss a step in the 72 minutes that he played. He is one of the players this season that may occasionally be featured. Chris, Dante at a much stronger performance after the disaster class than before. So the Midfield pairing that he did put together turned out to work out very well. on top of that, Dybala came off the bench and did well. also had good contributions from new signing Manu Kone That helped Roma regain control after he had come off. Alexis Salaemakers The one who opted to start instead of Dybala did well and had Roma's only shot on Target in the first half. overall, Roman did very well last night and I don't think there are too many complaints but to make the changes that he did and see them pay off proves to a degree that de Rossi was right about the adjustment. In addition to that, we saw another productive performance from Mattais Soule and Lorenzo Pellegrini This team has something special in it. They just haven't quite unlocked it yet, but it is on its way. Smart adjustments were risky but smart and the right subs made Juventus uncomfortable as Thiago Motta sang the praises of Roma's performance at the press conference.
Roma in need of a Quicker Tempo
Roma take a point away at Juventus something very difficult to do. they only have collected two points from a possible nine points to start the season. Perhaps not exactly What they had in mind. However, it was a very good point to earn, especially at Juventus a place in which Roma has struggled to get any sort of result whatsoever. Roma's next four League games are against Genoa, Udinesse, Venezia & Monza before Inter Milan on October 20th. Roma also has two Europa League games in between against Athletic Bilbao & Elfsborg. So perhaps in some of those matches, Roma will be operating on less rest. However, Roma does have the flexibility with a bit more depth and young pieces that they can use in those circumstances. However, Roma should win all of those games in the league at least, so that's potentially 12 points. Even if it's not 12 points, even if it's like 10 points from that way of going about it. Roma can be well positioned within the league table before the big clash against Inter Milan. Sunday was an excellent performance. It's the best Roma I've played this season. Even though they've only One goal to their name. it was a strong performance. However, there's one aspect of this team that needs slight modification for them to get the goal-scoring flowing with the attacking pieces that they have. Artem Dovbyk had a slightly better performance from the week before so he is improving and becoming a little bit more active within the attack. The Ukrainian Striker has not played poorly. His lack of goal-scoring this far or chances to a similar degree isn't on him personally. The reality is he is a goal-scoring Striker. In the spaces from inside the box and around the area, he is deadly. The problem is Rome is still having difficulties getting the ball to him in those areas. So due to that fact, he's not going to be as effective. That's not even to say he's one-dimensional but if you want to see the best version of him, you got to have him in the areas where he is displaying more strength. Most of the attacking play is coming from the left and right wing cutting in from the outside. The two big chances in the first half came from Alexis Salaemakers cutting in from the left and Lorenzo Pellegrini cutting in centrally from the left side. their inability to do so is not because of the players that they have at their disposal. However, on Sunday night in Midfield they had cristante and Niccolo Pisilli. Cristante on occasion can loop some big balls across the top and the 19-year-old. We can't expect him in his first start to be dropping balls through the middle. The attacking midfielders as well as a more attacking centric pairing will allow more chances to happen. such as Enzo Fee Lee & Tommaso Baldanzi For example. however, I don't think it's just completely down to the type of midfielders that Roma had through the metal. obviously Lorenzo Pellegrini is a part of that but also. from my vantage point, the issue is not the personnel. Roma over the first few games when they go on the attack are too passive too strategic or too tactical. De Rossi mentions this in his post-game press conference. To unlock the attacking pieces that Roma have and to a larger extent, get the Ukrainian the ball. It's down to tempo and Pace. Roma needs to be much more aggressive and quicker with it. When they get into an attacking situation. the priority should be moving the ball quickly. Roma's current ball movement is effective, but it's just a little too slow. it's a little too passive. What Roma needs to do to get these sorts of players involved in a big way is be much more acceleratory with their movement as they push it up the pitch. It's going to start and end with how quickly they can get the ball off. I'm not suggesting they should overdo it or do nothing but quickness. however, Roma should be shooting out like a cannon when they have the balls in the attacking areas. This will allow the attacking piece to unlock a little more now depending on the opponent and depending on what their approach is, they're going to have to adjust but when they start taking it towards the opposition's area They need to move the ball at a much faster Pace. creating a scenario ahead of the opposing defense where it's primarily around quick ball movement. I'm not saying tiki-taka. I don't think that's necessary, but it should just be a more rapid way of approaching. It's a great way to cause the opposing defense to get unorganized and they will be harder to track when they move it. if they can manage to do that after the international break, especially against these four winnable matchups, They will be able to unlock their attack much more precisely. If you look at what Roma has to their disposal in the attacking areas, this is a team that should be scoring a lot of goals this season. they have quality left right and center. they just have to figure out the symptom and how to use it to their advantage. Fast pace, more tempo and we'll start seeing goals fly in the back of the net much more frequently and to a further extent, we'll get to see the Ukrainian in His preferred area starting to inflict damage.
