Chiesa Di Totti - Roma 2014-2015 Season RatingsCautiously Optimistic Since 2007https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48469/totti-fave.png2015-07-14T21:17:47+02:00http://www.chiesaditotti.com/rss/stream/86808862015-07-14T21:17:47+02:002015-07-14T21:17:47+02:00Season Ratings: The Forwards
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<figcaption>Paolo Bruno/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Given all the attention paid to the position this summer, it's only right that we analyze how Roma's forwards fared this past season.</p> <p>Although I didn't plan it out this way, we end our season ratings series with perhaps the hardest group to judge, the forwards. Aside from <span>Francesco Totti's</span> transformation into the most lethal sixty minute player the world has ever or will ever see, Roma's forwards were bad, like, baaaaad, at least compared to the previous season's dizzying highs. In fact, Roma's forwards scored ten less goals than they did the prior season. Making matters worse, <span>Mattia Destro</span> accounted for 18% of this season's haul, so of course it makes complete sense he was dispatched in January.</p>
<p>Roma's attack was completely punchless this season—only 54 goals scored and a collective 46% shot accuracy, both of which were out of the top five—so, grim as it might be, let's revisit this menagerie of mediocrity.</p>
<p>Because they had less than ten appearances between them, Roma's youngest attackers, Daniele Verde and Antonio Sanabria, will be left out of this rundown, while Victor Ibarbo will be considered a forward in this instance.</p>
<p>Once again, stats are inclusive of all competitions and players are ranked from 1 (Adriano) to 10 (Totti's 26 goal campaign).</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Seydou Doumbia</h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> Two goals scored, 74% passing</p>
<p>Good god, where to begin? If this wasn't the worst transfer in Sabatini's tenure, I don't know what was. There's a reason the stat line above is so short; he didn't do shit. Quite frankly, I cannot even recall his two goals. Give me a second....Ah yes, Doumbia's debut for Roma, the one where the keeper set it into the net volleyball style</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WbunojoydQA" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>To be fair to Doumbia, his <a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz9-OHEx8hY">second Roma goal</a> (against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/genoa" class="sbn-auto-link">Genoa</a>) featured some pretty nifty moves and showcased his dribbling and agility, but you can't piss on my foot and tell me it's raining. Doumbia was awful for Roma, and the fact that Sabatini thought he was the ideal winter reinforcement says a lot about his job performance, too.</p>
<p>I wouldn't go so far as to say he's beyond redemption, but he has an awful lot of demons to exorcise before he wins over the Roma faithful.</p>
<h5>Rating: 4.50</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Victor Ibarbo</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 11 appearances, 1.3 key passes/match, one dribble/match, 83% passing</p>
<p>Coming a close second to Doumbia for Roma's <i>Worst Transfer of The Sabatini Era Award </i>is Colombian forward Victor Ibarbo, brought to Rome on loan from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/cagliari" class="sbn-auto-link">Cagliari</a> during the winter <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors" class="sbn-auto-link">transfer window</a>, which was then inexplicably renewed this summer.</p>
<p>While Doumbia failed the eye test in horrific fashion, there is actual empirical evidence supporting Ibarbo's suckitude. Let's start with his shooting, which was putrid. Ibarbo only put 14% of his shots on target (granted, he didn't take that many), which was tied with Kostas Manolas, a 23-year-old centerback, for worst on the squad. Ibarbo, however, has always been renowned for his dribbling, so let's move the discussion there. Ibarbo was fucking awful, leading the club in dispossessions and unsustainable touches per game, while only succeeding in 43% of his dribble attempts, third worst on the club.</p>
<p>And yet, Sabatini saw fit to extend this loan for one more season. I just don't understand this move whatsoever. For you NFL fans of a certain age (say early to mid-30s), you might recall a trend during the late 1980s and early 1990s when teams, namely the Raiders, collected hordes of failed track athletes and attempted to convert them into wide receivers. Needless to say, it didn't work out too well; speed and athleticism can only cover up tactical inefficiencies for so long, eventually you're going to be found out.</p>
<p>Victor Ibarbo is Walter Sabatini's <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Graddy">Sam Graddy.</a></p>
<h5>Rating: 4.51</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4><span>Juan Iturbe</span></h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 37 appearances, four goals, three assists, 1.7 dribbles per match, 77% passing</p>
<p>I have a separate Iturbe-only piece queued up for later this summer, but suffice it to say Manu did not live up to his €22m price tag, even when we consider his age and adjustment to a new, larger club. Beyond simply struggling to adapt and live up to his new contract, Iturbe actually seemed to take a step backwards this season, falling behind his Verona performance across a host of categories, including his calling cards, dribbling and crossing.</p>
<p>There were flashes of brilliance, however. Take, for example, his one goal two assist performance in Roma's 5-1 beatdown of CSKA Moscow in September or his man of the match performance against <a href="https://www.violanation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Fiorentina</a> in January where he absolutely ripped apart the Viola defense, pulling off seven dribbles and setting up Roma's lone goal in this 1-1 draw.</p>
<p>We'll save the finer points for the separate piece, but Iturbe did save some face in the more nuanced statistics, but he was a disappointment this year, there's no denying that. But trust me when I tell you, there may be no player more important player to Roma's success next season than Iturbe.</p>
<h5>Rating: 5.5</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4><span>Gervinho</span></h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> 34 appearances, seven goals, five assists, 2.9 dribbles per match</p>
<p>Where do we begin on this one? While he wasn't infallible last season, Gervinho had seemingly shed his Arsenal demons and emerged as a nearly unparalleled attacking threat for Garcia last season, terrorizing opponents with his speed, playmaking and goal scoring ability, turning in a 10 goal, 10 assist campaign.</p>
<p>Yao has always been a frustrating player to analyze. Take, for example, his dribbling and playmaking statistics. Despite the headaches his decision making caused this season, Gervinho's key passes per 90 minutes were exactly the same as last season (1.21), while his dribbling success rate actually increased by 13%. Similarly, if we look at his cockups, the stats are just as confusing, as he was actually dispossessed less this season, though he did have a 33% increase in unsustainable touches. However, if you want to pinpoint a major, major area of concern, focus on his shot accuracy and conversion rate, which fell 21 % and 52%, respectively.</p>
<p>Gervinho is always going to be able to blow past opponents, that's just what he does, but this past season, much like his days in London, brought an old ailment to the forefront, his pitiful finishing, a byproduct of which are his dribbles to nowhere.</p>
<h5>Rating: 6.2</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Mattia Destro</h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> 19 appearances, five goals, 1.4 shots per match, 76% passing</p>
<p>While Destro was never likely to live up to his torrid 2014 performance where he put 63% of his shots on target, converting 37% of those into goals, 13 to be exact, scoring 0.95 goals every 90 minutes, there was every reason to expect a solid season from Mr. Right in 2014-2015. Even if we accounted for some subtle regression, given consistent minutes on Garcia's frontline, Destro could have easily grabbed 15-18 goals on the balance of the season.</p>
<p>Indeed, his performance prior to his January loan to <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">AC Milan</a> bears this out. Through 16 league appearances, Destro was up to his usual tricks, putting 67% of his shots on target, scoring five goals (28% conversion) and even creating three scoring chances. When all was said and done, Destro's 0.55 goals per 90 minutes still led Roma and, as we mentioned, he accounted for 18% of all goals scored by Roma forwards this season.</p>
<p>He may not be the world's most complete footballer, but was there anything in that performance that suggests Roma should have jumped ship? He may not be a multifaceted forward who creates oodles of chances for his teammates, nor is he a hulking presence like <span>Luca Toni</span>, but Destro has an eye for goal and a keen understanding of movement and spacing, traits which have proven successful in Garcia's schemes.</p>
<p>We still don't know what the future holds for Destro, but he was as effective as ever during his brief respite in Rome this season.</p>
<h5>Rating: 6.5</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Adem Ljajic</h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> 41 appearances, nine goals, two assists, 1.4 key passes per match, 89% passing</p>
<p>The man affectionately known as Nutella took another step forward in what promises to be an extraordinary career, besting his 2013-2014 numbers in goals, key passes, and chances created per 90 minutes, with slight dips in dribbling success and shot accuracy. A further sign of encouragement was the sheer amount of minutes he racked up, eclipsing the 2,500 minute mark for the first time in his career.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8PLWUHCvQ8M" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Beyond tying Totti for the club lead in goals scored, Ljajic was third in goals per 90, third in shot accuracy, third in passing accuracy, third in key passes, fourth in assists and fifth in dribbles. Any way you slice it, Ljajic is one of Roma's three or four best offensive talents, and all this at only 23-years-old.</p>
<p>What we're essentially dealing with here is Totti's direct replacement. No one on this club possesses an iota of Totti's brilliance of course, but Ljajic comes closes to replicating his skill set, which will make the inevitable Post-Totti transition far easier.</p>
<p>If Roma can hang onto him, five years from now we might have one of the top 20 attacking talents in the game, if not, I'll lose my fucking mind.</p>
<h5>Rating 7.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Francesco Totti</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 36 appearances, 10 goals, seven assists, 1.7 key passes per match, 1.9 shots per match</p>
<p>At the risk of beating a dead horse, I'll keep this one simple; Totti is still Totti, you just have to make more economical use of the magic. From our analysis <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/7/6/8900675/francesco-totti-still-shines-in-reduced-role">earlier this summer:</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Totti's eight goals in league play amounted to 0.42 goals per 90 minutes, tied for 19th in the league. In other words, at damn near 40, Totti was still one of the 20 most efficient goal scorers in Italy, where scoring was up across the board, I might add...</p>
<p>Totti's 2.13 key passes per 90 minutes was good enough for 13th in the league, while his 0.36 assists per 90 minutes was tied for third in Italy....Cast that net a bit wider, into Europe's top five leagues, and both those figures still fall within the top 100. Furthermore, if we limit the population strictly to forwards in the top five European leagues (that's what Totti is, after all), Totti's numbers place him among the 20 most creative forwards.</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/krwHKzrIZCs" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>What else is there left to say? Francesco Totti is one of the best athletes ever, and with every touch and every goal scored, his legacy multiplies.</p>
<p><b>Rating: Timeless</b></p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Areas of Need for Next Season</h4>
<p>Well, the simple and apparently-more-expensive-than-they-thought-option is Edin Dzeko, but the truth is they just need to make up their fucking mind. Between Gervinho, Mattia Destro and Seydou Doumbia, Roma could have upwards of €40m worth of strikers rotting on the bench or sulking on the pitch this season, and with each passing minute that these men remain in Rome, the situation becomes more intractable, as that much money invested in so many useless assets could lead to desperate sales of more useful and talented players.</p>
<p>This much is certain, they cannot, despite his performance, continue to rely on Totti to bail them out time and time again. If given minutes and a consistent role, look for Adem Ljajic to take another step towards stardom, if not, then he's just the latest in a litany of players to suffer due to Garcia's tactical intransigence.</p>
<p>Bottom line, they need to cut the deadweight, bring in a new striker and increase Ljajic's role.</p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/7/14/8963093/roma-2014-2015-season-ratings-the-forwardsbren2015-07-11T01:43:26+02:002015-07-11T01:43:26+02:00Season Ratings: The Centerbacks
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<figcaption>Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Led by new signee Kostas Manolas, Roma's defense conceded only 31 goals last season, but who was the best among Roma's patchwork back line? </p> <p>In keeping with this morning's ratings-based theme, we move our post-season review to the core of Roma's defense, the centerbacks. While Roma hasn't had too many world class central pairings recently, Philippe Mexes and Juan provided years of stability and stellar play, protecting Roma's smorgasbord of keepers from utter ruin, while Marquinhos and Mehdi Benatia will forever haunt our dreams, teasing us with what might have been.</p>
<p>This past season was another banner year for Roma's backline, as the Giallorossi conceded only 31 goals, trailing only <a href="https://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Juventus</a> for the league lead. Despite those shiny statistics, did it really feel like Roma was <i>that </i>solid at the backline at any point last season? Whether it was down to the simple inexperience of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/245469/kostas-manolas" class="sbn-auto-link">Kostas Manolas</a>, <span>Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa's</span> acclimation to the Italian game, or <span>Davide Astori's</span> untimely errors, often times it felt like Roma's defense was on the brink of chaos.</p>
<p>Fortunately, they did just enough to keep Roma in many matches they would have otherwise lost, so let's take a look back at the highs and lows of Roma's centerbacks. As always, players are ranked from 1.0 (Think Simone Loria) to 10.0 (Juan at his best) and the stats are inclusive of all competitions, except where noted.</p>
<p>For the sake of this particular section, we'll omit Michele Somma and Leandro Castan, who totaled only 87 minutes this season. And while we're at it, we'll pass on Nicolas Spolli, who played only 90 minutes this season.</p>
<p>Moving along...</p>
<h4>Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 37 appearances, one goal, one assist, 1.9 tackles/match, 2.2 interceptions/match, 90% passing</p>
<p>Taken on loan on September 1 from <a href="https://cominghomenewcastle.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Newcastle</a>, Mbiwa was supposed to be nothing more than a depth move. However, thanks to Castan's season-ending brain surgery and Roma's general lack of depth at the position, Mbiwa ended up making over 30 starts in all competitions.</p>
<p>MB, as he came to be known around these parts, was second among Roma defenders in tackles per 90 minutes (1.76) and tackling success (52%), though he was dead last in aerials, both in terms of number per 90 minutes and success rate. Mbiwa fared no better in terms of defensive actions (interceptions, blocks, and clearances) either, ranking last among centerbacks with 8.39 defensive actions per 90 minutes.</p>
<p>Mbiwa was actually pretty astute offensively this past season, however. Among central defenders, MB was first in passes, assists and key passes per 90 minutes, while trailing only Astori in the accuracy department.</p>
<p>Without a doubt the highlight of Mbiwa's season was his derby winning header from this past spring.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LLXf0alhT0A" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><b>Rating: 6.95</b></p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Davide Astori</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 30 appearances, one goal, 1.4 tackles/match, 3.1 interceptions/match, 7.1 clearances/match</p>
<p>We pretty much wrapped up Astori's season a month ago, so if you'll permit me to plagiarize myself, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/6/6/8739705/davide-astori-romas-savior-or-statistical-anomaly">here was my summative assessment</a> of what has become Astori's lone season in the Capital:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>If you read all of this, you're probably going to hate what I'm about to say; Roma's Davide Astori is the same Davide Astori the league has always known. What Astori does well—passing, winning the aerial battle, and picking off passes—he does exceedingly well. Where he's always faltered—discipline and tackling efficiency—he still struggles. Simply put, he's solid defender. He won't win many awards, but he'll seldom be the reason you lose a match.</p>
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<p>Tangentially, I feel like I've used that last line around here quite a bit, which might help explain Roma's in ability to advance past second place; too many middle of the road players. Any discussion of Astori inevitably exposes my bias towards him--I was pretty excited when Roma stole Astori from <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/lazio" class="sbn-auto-link">Lazio</a> last summer, and I think he fit the bill as a third choice centerback. The unfortunate part, and the part that heaped all the criticism on his svelte shoulders, was that he became a de facto starter from day one, making his errors more egregious and more frequent than they otherwise would have been. However, as I mentioned in that piece, he wasn't that bad as a starter either, so I'll give him the slight nod over Mbiwa.</p>
<h5>Rating: 7.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Kostas Manolas</h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> 40 appearances, 1.8 tackles/match, 2.4 interceptions/match, 6.0 clearances/match, 90% passing</p>
<p>Finally, we get to the real standout, the best of Roma's Hellenic Heroes, Kostas Manolas. While I may have shot the moon suggesting he made us <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/3/10/8180329/kostas-manolas-romas-new-mexes-and-more">collectively forget about Benatia</a>, he looks and plays an awful lot like Mexes (which was my real thesis in that piece), and if his Roma career panned out the same, I dare say we'd all be pretty stoked, right?</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsI9K09_U4A" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Manolas was second among Roma centerbacks in tackles and aerials won per 90 minutes, while also falling second in defensive actions per 90 minutes, though he led in blocked shots by a pretty substantial margin. He also committed the fewest errors per 90 minutes among Roma's defenders, as defined by Squawka.</p>
<p>Offensively speaking, Manolas didn't compile a ton of impressive stats, though he did complete 91% of his passes in league play, which is really about all one can ask from a central defender, at least in terms of open play.</p>
<p>Ultimately, this was about as good a debut season as we could have expected from Manolas. He tackled efficiently and was solid in the air, while his poise and understanding of the game, at least as evidenced by the statistics, was way better than we could have hoped for a defender his age.</p>
<p>Simply put, Manolas, along with <span>Alessandro Florenzi</span> and hopefully Adem Ljajic, are <i>the</i> building blocks of this team.</p>
<h5>Rating: 7.25</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Areas of Need for Next Season</h4>
<p>Now that Davide Astori has shuffled off to <a href="https://www.thesirenssong.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Napoli</a>, Roma will need a body of some sort to slot behind Manolas, Yanga-Mbiwa and hopefully Castan. The name pursed on everyone's lips is the thirty million dollar man...err, kid...Alessio Romagnoli. If he remains in Rome, which, dear lord, he better, he is at least the third choice centerback behind Manolas and Castan. More likely, he fills the Astori role next season, serving as a sort of second-and-a-half choice. Remember, Castan is coming off BRAIN SURGERY...once more, BRAIN SURGERY...we cannot assume anything with Castan, not in terms of minutes or performance; consider him an undefined variable, which should pave the way for plenty of playing time for Romagnoli.</p>
<p>With or without Castan at 100%, Roma's backline is in solid shape. Manolas and Romagnoli are each a year older and a year wiser, and at this point, look like future superstars, with Alessio playing the good cop to Manolas' bad cop. Mbiwa, on the other hand, was actually a pleasant surprise last season, perhaps due to the low expectations with which he entered the season, but he's capable, athletic and versatile enough to help Roma anywhere along the backline.</p>
<p>It's a pretty sturdy group, one that can only grow stronger if Roma resists Milan's mega offer(s) for Romagnoli.</p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/7/11/8931605/roma-2014-2015-season-ratings-the-centerbacksbren2015-07-08T23:49:20+02:002015-07-08T23:49:20+02:00Season Ratings: The Midfield
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<figcaption>Paolo Bruno/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Midfield has always been a source of strength for Roma, but how did Miralem Pjanic and friends fare this season? </p> <p>Admittedly, we rolled out our season review/player ratings a bit late, but thus far we've discussed <span>Morgan De Sanctis</span>' continued professionalism and the eternal struggles of Roma's fullbacks, but today we arrive to an area of relative strength, the midfield. Although there were periods of intermittent stagnation (see all of 2015), led by Miralem Pjanic and <span>Radja Nainggolan</span>, Rudi Garcia's midfield was once again the heart of the matter; determining all that Roma was able to accomplish this past season.</p>
<p>With a few exceptions here and there, Roma's midfield has always been pretty stacked, featuring some of the game's most creative and combative players, serving up goals to everyone from <span>Antonio Cassano</span> to Mirko Vucinic and, of course, <span>Francesco Totti</span>, but how did this season's version stack up?</p>
<p>As always, players are rated from 1 to 10, those with fewer than ten appearances were given ratings of not applicable. So let's start with a trio of men who, for a variety of reasons, barely featured this season.</p>
<h4>Leandro Paredes</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 11 appearances, one goal, 1.1 tackles per match, 87% passing</p>
<p>If the entry on last season's sixth rated prospect seems a bit light, there's a good reason for that; he barely left the bench. After making a few token appearances as an 80<sup>th</sup> + minute sub early in the season, Paredes fell off Rudi's radar until January when he became a semi-regular member of the rotation, getting steady(ish) minutes throughout the winter.</p>
<p>Due to that paucity of playing time, there wasn't much to write home about, beyond his match winning goal against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/cagliari" class="sbn-auto-link">Cagliari</a> in February, which was actually quite lovely.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l5VFGQKW0U4" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Still just 21-years-old, Paredes remains very much a developmental prospect, but did he do enough this season to earn Garcia's trust, or is he due for another loan spell? Time will tell, but the kid is undeniably talented.</p>
<h5>Rating: 5.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Salih Uçan</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: Four appearances, one assist, 78% passing</p>
<p>Take everything I said about Paredes and apply it to Uçan, minus the actual sample size. Uçan, also 21-years-old, is just beginning his professional career, and much like Paredes, this coming season will be crucial for his development. If his boyish afro is left to wilt on Roma's bench for one more season, the returns on this investment will already diminish. If, on the other hand, Uçan gets steady minutes anywhere on the peninsula, we may start to unravel this enigma; is he an attacking midfielder, a winger, some sort of hybrid?</p>
<p>We simply have no idea at this point, but he needs to play, simple as that.</p>
<h5>Rating: n/a</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4><span>Kevin Strootman</span></h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: Seven appearances, two assists, 86% passing</p>
<p>The reasons for the dearth of data on Strootman are obvious. After succumbing to another knee injury in January, Strootman was shelved for the remainder of the 2014-2015 season, the second straight year he had to be shut down early due to knee issues. Despite all that, the 300 or so minutes we saw of Strootman this past season was sublime. You really can't even ascribe an adjective to how important he is to everything this club can do offensively and defensively.</p>
<p>Needless to say, a healthy Strootman makes this an entirely different club.</p>
<h5>Rating: n/a</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Seydou Keita</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 35 appearances, three goals, one assist, 90% passing, 1.2 interceptions per match</p>
<p>Seydou Keita isn't going to overwhelm anyone with an array of stepovers, blaze past anyone on the wing, or even make you cringe when he tackles someone. Due to this ambiguity, it's hard to affix any one label or definitive playing style to Keita, but in a word, he's professional. Keita came to Rome with the reputation of being a glue guy—the kind who does a bit of everything and does it quite well; he won't win you many matches, but he'll never be the one to lose them either.</p>
<p>Really, aside from being complicit in Roma's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/2/24/8095241/are-seydou-keita-and-miralem-pjanic-slowing-down-romas-midfield">midfield malaise in the winter</a>, Keita was as expected and should remain a versatile asset in Garcia's midfield, filling in for either <span>Daniele De Rossi</span> or Radja Nainggolan when needed.</p>
<h5>Rating: 6.7</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Daniele De Rossi</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 33 appearances, three goals, 2.5 interceptions per match, 2.4 clearances per match, 87% passing</p>
<p>It's hard to believe, and almost hard for me to even say, but Daniele De Rossi is starting to become a bit of a divisive figure in Roma circles, with a certain contingent of fans clamoring for his benching in the wake of declining performances, while the rest remain enthralled with the player De Rossi was in his youth. While DDR isn't quite the man he was a few years ago, but really who among us is, the truth is, he's still Roma's best option as a defensive midfielder.</p>
<p>Part of the problem is simply that we're not seeing as much De Rossi as we once did. DDR turned in only 2,154 league minutes this season, down from 2,724 minutes in 2013-2014, and yes some of this has to do with Roma participating in the Champions League for the first time in several years, but trace it back a bit further and you'll notice a trend.</p>
<p>From De Rossi's heyday (around the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/fifa-womens-world-cup" class="sbn-auto-link">World Cup</a> victory through Ranieri's stint earlier this decade), he averaged nearly 3,000 league minutes a season, or roughly 34 appearances. Couple those with Italy's deep run in World Cup 2006 and Euro 2012, not to mention all the qualifying matches therein, and we're talking about an additional 7,000 minutes on De Rossi's legs, which is roughly the equivalent of an additional 75 league matches, give or take a few. And this is Daniele Mother Flippin De Rossi we're talking about here, not some poseur merely trotting around the field; those were some hard-ass minutes added on his soon-to-be-32-year-old legs.</p>
<p>Despite all that wear and tear, DDR was pretty efficient this past season. De Rossi led Roma's midfielders in interceptions, blocks and clearances per 90 minutes, for a total of 6.49 defensive actions per 90 minutes. DDR was also heavily involved in the passing game, averaging 67 passes per 90, third among midfielders, completing nearly 88% of those, all while averaging 22 meters per pass, most among his position and further evidence of his ability to effectively distribute from the back.</p>
<p>You're getting the picture, right?</p>
<p>While some of the edge has worn off (his tackling was particularly troublesome this season, both in volume and success rate), De Rossi is still remarkably strong on the ball, particularly in front of the defense, and remains an incredible thorn in the side of opposing attackers, as his timing, understanding, and instincts remain incredibly sharp.</p>
<h5>Rating: 7.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Radja Nainggolan</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 46 appearances, six goals, four assists, 2.4 tackles per match, 87% passing</p>
<p>A simple search on CDT indicates a whopping 141 results for <i>Radja Nainggolan, </i>which should give you an indication of how ingrained he's become in Roma culture, both in terms of actual production on the pitch and that ineffable quality that keeps us entranced by this club. Whether you call it grinta, balls, machismo or simple charisma, he's got "it", and though it cost Roma a pretty penny to retain it, they'd be worse off without him.</p>
<p>As we mentioned many times this season, Nainggolan added a level of offensive refinement previously unseen in his career. No longer was he simply a box-to-box runner, Nainggolan became a legitimate offensive weapon, ranking among Roma's five most efficient playmakers and goal scorers this past season, while leading the club in shots per match, including an astounding and aggravating 1.94 shots outside the area per match. Defensively speaking, Nainggolan was superb as well, as he lead the club in tackles (total, per match and per 90), while ranking in the top ten in blocks, clearances and interceptions.</p>
<p>He accomplished all of this while leading Roma's outfield players in minutes and appearances, and one would imagine in meters covered as well. Look for his role to increase in the coming seasons, particularly as there is precious little behind him other than wet behind the ear prospects.</p>
<h5>Rating: 7.5</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Miralem Pjanic</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 44 appearances, five goals, 10 assists, two key passes per match, 90% passing</p>
<p>Pjanic followed his impressive World Cup performance with arguably his best year as a Giallorosso yet, as he set or tied career bests in assists, passing percentage, long balls and even dispossessions. Pjanic's five goals tied him for third on the club, while his 10 assists nearly doubled Francesco Totti for the club lead and placed him in a five-way tie for the league lead.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jIXNw40KyDQ" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Simply put, from a creative stand point, Pjanic <i>is</i> Roma's midfield, leading the club in total passes, key passes and assists, while only marginally trailing in passing percentage. Shoot, he was even top ten, and in some cases top five, in shots per match, shot accuracy and, of course, goals scored. He's no slouch in the defensive phase of the game either. Among midfielders, Pjanic was second in total tackles, third in aerials won, second in interceptions, third in blocked shots and fourth in clearances. He really is becoming the complete package, and he's only 25-years-old.</p>
<p>This past season was just the latest step in the ascendency of Miralem Pjanic, one that should eventually see him deemed among the world's best creative midfielders, if he isn't already. In four seasons in Rome, Pjanic has already amassed 18 goals and 33 assists, and that's even accounting for his lost season under Zeman.</p>
<p>As far as this current crop of Roma players are concerned, there may be no one quite as irreplaceable as Pjanic.</p>
<h5>Rating: 8.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Areas of Need for Next Season</h4>
<p>A healthy Kevin Strootman.</p>
<p>Honestly, beyond a viable backup for Pjanic, there isn't much missing from this midfield. De Rossi does the heavy lifting at the back, bailing out the defense and pushing play along to Pjanic, while Nainggolan and Strootman are the ties that bind, allowing Pjanic and De Rossi to excel in their respective roles, while also wreaking havoc in their own third and threating the opposing keeper from all angles. The only other storylines worth watching are what becomes of Paredes and Uçan; one would assume there are only enough developmental minutes for one of them, but who has earned Garcia's trust the most?</p>
<p>Whatever the case may be, midfield remains a source of strength for Roma, one in subtle need of refining, but a strength nonetheless.</p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/7/8/8916773/roma-2014-2015-season-ratings-midfieldbren2015-07-05T15:00:02+02:002015-07-05T15:00:02+02:00Season Ratings: The Fullbacks
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<figcaption>Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Fullback was not a bright spot for Roma this season, so much so that their best fullback in 2014-2015 isn't even really a fullback. </p> <p>For as much as we've focused on Edin Dzeko, Stevan Jovetic and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic lately, we all know what Roma's perpetual source of weakness is, fullbacks, and this season was no exception to that rule. <span>Rudi Garcia</span> trotted out no less than eight fullbacks this season, ranging from the divinely malleable <span>Alessandro Florenzi</span> to the forgettable Urby Emanuelson. Beyond Florenzi's switch to fullback, which is a separate debate in and of itself, nothing Garcia tried on the flanks seemed to work, as Roma's fullbacks were often offensively ineffective and defensively deficient.</p>
<p>In the interest of time, we'll limit this review to Roma's nominal fullbacks, the ones Garcia leaned upon most this season, starting with the Greek brigade.</p>
<p>All stats are inclusive of league, cup and European play. Ratings range from 1.0 (think <span>Aleandro Rosi</span>) to 10.0 (Philip Lahm).</p>
<h4><span>Vasilis Torosidis</span></h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 28 appearances, two goals, three assists, 1.3 tackles per match, 1.5 interceptions per match, 83% passing.</p>
<p>Torosidis' reputation as a solid and versatile backup was reinforced this season, as the 30-year-old Greek featured on both flanks, though he was much more effective on the right hand side. When utilized correctly, Torosidis proved to be an active and effective defender, as his 7.25 defensive actions per 90 minutes (INTs, blocks, clearances) was fourth on the squad.</p>
<p>Without a doubt, the "highlight "of Torosidis' year was his match winning goal against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/udinese" class="sbn-auto-link">Udinese</a> from May. Yes, it was a garbage tap in, but give him credit for being in the right place at the right time.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zw-abf_lY40" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Torosidis was also instrumental in Roma's 2-1 Europa League victory over Feyenoord, setting up both goals.</p>
<p>Ultimately 2014-2015 was another solid year for Torosidis, and we should expect nothing but the same next year. He is what he is, a solid backup; expect anything more and you'll be disappointed, but as 1,700 to 2,000 minute player, he's as good as we'll get at that cost</p>
<h5>Rating: 6.5</h5>
<p></p>
<div class="read-more">
<strong>More</strong>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chiesaditotti.com/2013/11/21/5131210/romas-fullback-problems">Roma's Fullback Problem</a> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chiesaditotti.com/2014/9/11/6135733/alessandro-florenzi-roma-fullback">Can Florenzi Make it as a Fullback?</a>
</div>
<h4><span>Jose Cholebas</span></h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> 33 appearances, one goal, one assist, two tackles per match, 2.5 interceptions per match, 82% passing</p>
<p>Cholebas is an interesting case study. Based on standard metrics, he was all aces, even making WhoScored's Serie A team of the season, but who among us had that much faith in him in the moment? In other words, were your eyes buying what the stats were selling?</p>
<p>Cholebas' 6.51 defensive actions per 90 minutes were fifth on the squad, ditto for his 2.01 tackles per 90 minutes, though he did win 53% of his tackles, which led the squad. Offensively speaking, Holebas was Roma's most efficient attacking fullback. Through 24 league appearance, Holebas led the club in key passes and dribbles per 90 minutes (among defenders), while trailing only Maicon in assists per 90 minutes, though he played significantly more than Dougie.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jX_m1wgsiLY" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>The trouble with Cholebas is that he is exclusively a left back, a capable one, yes, but is he enough to help Roma take the next step?</p>
<p>That's really the essential question, one which looks increasingly likely to be answered in Watford...maybe, just don't ask him.</p>
<h5>Rating: 6.9</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4><span>Ashley Cole</span></h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> 14 appearances, 1.7 tackles per match, 2.1 interceptions per match, 89% passing</p>
<p>Cole, much like Cholebas but for very different reasons, presents a curious case, pitting stats, perception and age against one another. To the outsider, it appeared as though Cole was simply on a Serie A retirement cruise, blessing us with his presence while collecting a hefty paycheck, but was that really the case, or was his mercenary image merely a mirage caused by misuse?</p>
<p>34-years-old or not, Cole's performance warranted more than 14 appearances, making his spot in Garcia's presumably luxurious dog house indecipherable. Cole averaged 1.45 tackles per 90 minutes, third among fullbacks, winning 53% of his tackles, tied with Cholebas for the lead. These aren't overwhelming numbers, but were they so poor as to deem him unworthy of playing? Offensively speaking, there wasn't a ton to write home about, beyond his impressive accuracy, but Cole was never meant to be an offensive dynamo.</p>
<p>And that's really the heart of the matter; what Cole has historically done well, he continued to do this past season (though not at quite the same level, of course), and should have earned far more playing time than he ultimately did.</p>
<p>Cole will never repeat his Chelsea days, but he should be more than afterthought.</p>
<h5>Rating: 6.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Maicon</h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> 17 appearances, two goals, one assist, 1.9 tackles per match, 1.8 interceptions per match, 1.3 dribbles per match, 84% passing.</p>
<p>When we read the autopsy report of Roma's 2014-2015 Scudetto chase, the cause of death very well may have been the absence of Big Dougie, whose renaissance was so instrumental in Roma's record run through the previous season. Little though we saw of him this past season, it was clear, he's still a difference maker.</p>
<p>Maicon was Roma's most active defender in the passing game, averaging 62 total passes, 0.73 key passes and 0.09 assists per 90 minutes, each of which was either first or second among Roma's defenders. He was particularly instrumental in Roma's limited Champions League success, averaging over two dribbles and two key passes per European match, best among Roma's defenders by a country mile.</p>
<p>Given his injury struggles this season, it's tough to holistically judge Maicon, but when he was fit and available, he damn near replicated his 2013-2014 form.</p>
<h5>Rating: 7.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Alessandro Florenzi</h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> 44 appearances, five goals, five assists, one key pass per match, 1.1 crosses per match, 2.5 long balls per match, 80% passing</p>
<p>First things first, given the variety of roles and positions he played this year, it's difficult to appropriately gauge his performance against his peers; he was a little of everything, so it's not entirely fair to stack him up against his peers who weren't thrown around like an old piece of tupperware.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-ERsWiD9CQ" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>Having said that, Florenzi was fantastic, doing just enough to make you believe he can do the unthinkable; successfully transition into a top fullback, becoming Roma's very own Gianluca Zambrotta.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="read-more">
<strong>More</strong>: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.chiesaditotti.com/2014/12/7/7348001/florenzi-the-fullback-shines-against-sassuolo">Florenzi The Fullback Shines Against Sassuolo</a>
</div>
<p>To truly appreciate how versatile and how effective Ale was this season, consider the following. Based on per 90 minute figures, Florenzi was top ten in the following categories: goals, shots, key passes, assists, dribbles, crosses, long balls, blocked shots, clearances, fewest dispossessions and fewest defensive errors.</p>
<p>And those are just the things we <i>can</i> measure; there's simply no accounting for the effect his effort and timely runs have on Roma's performance. Florenzi is such an intelligent and versatile footballer, that it shouldn't come as a surprise that he played as well as he did out of position.</p>
<p>But is the best use of his skills going forward, or should he be (and this was purely coincidental) a forward?</p>
<h5>Rating: 7.5</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Areas of Need for Next Season</h4>
<p>Make no mistake, fullback remains a pox on Roma's reputation. With Cholebas on the way out the door, and with Cole and Maicon another year older, the Giallorossi are in dire need of reinforcement on the flanks. This is nothing new, though. The Salient point is what do with Florenzi. He proved that he can hack it as a fullback, and given another year or so of full time duty in that role, he might very well be the next Zambrotta, but would that rob the frontline of its best off-the-ball attacker, a crucial element in Garcia's tactics, incidentally.</p>
<p>If Florenzi moves back to his customary role up front, then what? There are very few affordable, effective options on the transfer market, and with Matteo Darmian's price tag soaring past €20m, he may prove cost prohibitive for Roma, especially if they sink that same amount into Dzeko.</p>
<p>This much is clear, a patchwork approach won't work anymore, they've ignored this problem for too long.</p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/7/5/8894933/roma-2014-2015-season-ratings-the-fullbacksbren2015-07-03T17:15:14+02:002015-07-03T17:15:14+02:00Season Ratings: The Goalkeepers
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<figcaption>Paolo Bruno/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Roma's goalkeeping in 2014-2015 was essentially the Morgan De Sanctis show, but how good was he? </p> <p>We jumped so quickly into transfer season that we glossed over our traditional season reviews. We won't rehash the season holistically; you were there, you know what went wrong, but on the balance of things, we can't complain <i>too</i> much about a second place finish and an automatic berth into the Champions League group stage next season. So, rather than taking the view from 10,000 feet, let's weigh up the squad man-by-man, assessing their season match rating style.</p>
<p>First up, the goalkeepers; ratings will range from 1 to 10, or in other words from Mauro Goicoechea to Gianluigi Buffon. Ostensibly, Roma had four keepers on their roster this season, <span>Morgan De Sanctis</span>, Lukasz Skorupski, <span>Gianluca Curci</span> and <span>Bogdan Lobont</span>, but the latter two didn't play at all, so we'll set them aside for now.</p>
<h4>Morgan De Sanctis</h4>
<p><b>Stats</b>: 39 appearances (all comps), 16 clean sheets, 2.54 saves per goal, 0.74 goals conceded per match</p>
<p>MDS turned in another solid season, assuming his usual role as starter between the sticks and Roma's most vocal leader on the pitch. Even at 38-years-old, De Sanctis remains one of Serie A's best keepers. For the second straight season he trailed only Gigi in clean sheets, keeping opponents scoreless in 45.7% of his league starts, the league's third best mark. De Sanctis conceded a goal, on average, every 121 minutes, second only to Buffon's 149 minutes per goal conceded. His 3,150 minutes played was fourth in the league, some 200 more than Buffon.</p>
<p>All in all, his performance wasn't that far off his remarkable 2013-2014; the clean sheets were down slightly and he conceded more total goals, but his total saves and saves per match were actually higher this season. Honestly, those differences can probably be chalked up to the absence of Mehdi Benatia and Leandro Castan as much as they can any age-related deficiencies in his game.</p>
<p>Point being, despite our clamoring for a keeper of the future, Roma's man in the moment is still quite good and most definitely deserved that one year contract extension. De Sanctis will turn 39 next season, so there's no telling when the wheels will fall off, but his Roma tenure has been nothing short of spectacular and, at the very least, he won't cost Roma any matches next season.</p>
<h5>Rating: 7.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Lukasz Skorupski</h4>
<p><b>Stats:</b> Nine appearances (all comps), One clean sheet, 0.6 saves per goal (League) Two saves per goal (CL/EL), 1.67 goals conceded per match</p>
<p>Young Lukasz had a decent season, given how inexperienced and seemingly irrelevant he was. He went from making two total appearances last season to nine this season, including six appearances in European play; so if nothing else, he gained some valuable experience. At this stage in his development, there is still so much for him to learn. From positioning, to reading an attack as it unfolds, to simple distribution (he averaged nearly 25 meters less per distribution than MDS), Lukasz has a lot to learn, but his merits remain the same; the kid is a freakish athlete, particularly for a keeper. If he can infuse that brute force with a more nuanced understanding of the position, Roma might have themselves a gem, so hopefully his time at <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/serie-a/teams/empoli" class="sbn-auto-link">Empoli</a> will be formative.</p>
<h5>Rating: 5.0</h5>
<p> </p>
<h4>Areas of Need for Next Season</h4>
<p>This past season was essentially the Morgan De Sanctis Age Defying Tour 2015, as MDS was more than up to the task and was once again a steadying influence on what was basically a patchwork defense. Now that Skorupski is out on loan and Curci has been relegated to a forgotten man, the goal on the transfer market remains the same: barring a blockbuster acquisition like <span>Hugo Lloris</span> or even Mattia Perin, they need to get a keeper to bridge the gap for a three to five year stretch, as well as a suitable backup, barring some leap forward from Curci.</p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2015/7/3/8889659/roma-2014-2015-season-review-morgan-de-sanctisbren