Restoring The Might of Rome

Great story! I'm two thirds of the way into the '15/'16 season with Roma and Lamela's just won WPOTY. Forza Roma!

Roma snatch another victory



Last updated: 16 December 2012

Hard game but the Giallorossi come out on top
Away to the traditionally difficult Catania, Roma faced a first half of struggle against the quick home side attackers, especially because the Giallorossi midfield didn't do a good job of possession, and thus failed to create chances to scare Catania off. At half time the score was 0-0 but only one of the two clubs welcomed the result.

In the second half, Roma showed more desire and most of all must have received some tactical instructions because their passing in midfield was more direct, and the two wingers were more dedicated to hug the touchline, firing crosses into the box; also, Osvaldo was brought in the middle of the frontline with Mattia Destro now operating on the left flank.

Roma managed to create a great number of chances and pushed Catania on the back foot, until a Piris cross found Destro ready for the header on the far post, the young striker gifting Roma three important points.

Rumours have it that after the match the manager criticised the players for the performance despite the win, soliciting controversial reactions from some of his men.



Scorers: 85' Destro

Booked: Marquinhos, Osvaldo, Florenzi (Roma)

Man of the match: Piris

Good to know that Lamela has the potential to become so strong, I have always been a huge fan of his, this season he's been on fire in real life too. Let's hope he'll get WPOTY for me as well Forza Roma!!

He's been an absolute monster, and already branded a legend alongside Totti and Conti apparently. I'm playing him on the right as an IF- 19 goals and 11 assists with average rating of 8.23!

Roma sink ten men Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico



Last updated: 22 December 2012

Destro shines once more as the home side sees off the Rossoblu
Bologna's Diego Perez decided to get on holiday early as he got sent off two minutes into Serie A's last match before Christmas as his side were hosted by Roma at the Stadio Olimpico. The Uruguayan midfielder elbowed Destro in the face and deservedly was shown the way from the referee.

The job got suddenly and immediately easy for Roma then, as the home side installed itself into Bologna's half of the pitch assaulting Curci's goal. Lamela provided the breakthrough converting a cross from Osvaldo into the 1-0 goal with a delicious volley from close range; Bologna held the disadvantage to only one goal till halfway through the second half, but then a so far lacklustre Destro woke up scoring twice in the last twenty minutes, first with a header on a cross from Dodò, then from the spot as Bradley, who had previously came off the bench to take Pjanic's place, was fouled into the box by Pazienza.

Roma can now go on holiday satisfied for a first part of the season which has seen them rise to the top of the table, albeit only thanks to Juventus having played two games less.





Scorers: 18' Lamela 70' Destro 80' Destro (pen)

Booked: De Rossi, Pjanic, Florenzi, Dodò (Roma) Gilardino (Bologna)

Sent off: 2' Perez (Bologna)

Man of the match: Destro

I'm playing him the same way, with Support duties and instructed him to not shoot from long range, and to go down the flank to cross from the byline; this because I noticed he kept cutting toward the middle, closing himself against three or four players, then lose the ball or pass it backwards. Now he still cuts through the middle but less than before, also because I've reduced his creative freedom a bit. Seems to work , so far 6 goals and 2 assists with an average rating of 7.41

So it continues, great to see you sitting top of the tree now mate!

Yeah, we will enjoy till it lasts although we are potentially four points off Juve if they win their two games in hand.

Stekelenburg: "It's all thanks to the manager"



Last updated: 26 December 2012

The goalkeeper thanks his manager for the award
Holland international Maarten Stekelenburg was awarded the "Serie A best goalkeeper of the year" award tonight in the traditional end of the year ceremony which has also seen awards for the other roles being dished out, as well as those for the best player and best young player of the year; the Roma goalkeeper then proceeded to thank his manager, and pointed at him as the main reason for the award.

"He's helped me a lot and I hope to keep improving under his guide" the player said as he was handed the prize. Roma will be delighted to have also placed Marquinhos as second best defender of the year, while Lamela was second both in the best foreign player and best young player awards.

Roma looking to offload some dead wood



Last updated: 26 December 2012

League leaders trying to make up some cash by offloading useless players
Roma will need to sell before they can buy in the January transfer market and the club's Director Franco Baldini is at hard work to try and find a new club to Stefano Guberti, Valerio Virga, and a couple other players the manager has indicated as unwanted. It is understood that Guberti might have some fans in Serie B clubs, as well as the other winger Virga, and Roma hope to get up to 4 million euros for the pair.

The Giallorossi plan to use the cash to secure at least one between Destro and Marquinhos who are currently on loan at the club and have been amongst their top performers.

Roma duo sidelined for three months



Last updated: 29 December 2012

Balzaretti and Perrotta out injured
The two players got injured today during training, Perrotta reporting a hernia problem while Balzaretti will be out due to a torn hamstring. It will be a blow for Roma especially because Balzaretti has featured quite often in the starting eleven and they find themselves a bit uncovered in that position with only Dodò and the adapted Taddei.

This means that the manager will be forced to look around for a short term solution, the loan of a youngster is the most probable way he will try to pursue.

Guberti and Virga say farewell



Last updated: 2 January 2013

Both wingers set for a permanent transfer away from the Olimpico
Stefano Guberti has agreed terms with Brescia for a fee around 2M euro, while Virga was sold to Grosseto for 300k euro, the club deciding to save up on their wages even if the offer was below the value of the player in both cases.

"We wish them luck" Roma's manager said in the press conference announcing the sales. "We will now look to reinvest the money in a couple deals we have been lining up"

Roma sets the basis for next season with free transfers



Last updated: 4 January 2013

The Giallorossi pounce on players with contracts running out in six months
In a transfer market were funds are hard to find, especially in Italy, Roma was shrewd to acquire three important players with contracts running out at the end of the season; the Giallorossi got the signatures of young Italian keeper Mattia Perin, centre back Bruno Martins Indi, and most of all Mattia Destro, at the club on loan from Genoa and who's been on fire for the Capital side this term.

It's frankly unbelievable how Genoa could let such a gem go without a fight and on a free.

As for the other two, Perin is labelled as the next Walter Zenga and everyone in Italy firmly believes in the future of the keeper being quite bright; Bruno Martins Indi instead is a solid young Dutch centre back.

Marquinhos - Roma, it's done!!



Last updated: 6January 2013

The Brazilian defender completes his permanent transfer to the Rome club
Defender Marquinhos has been one of the top performers for Roma in this campaign so far and the club had decided to invest the money coming from the recent sales to secure the young Brazilian's services on a permanent basis, paying Corinthians the 3M euro fee agreed when the loan deal was completed back in the summer. At this price, it's surely a great piece of business by Roma, which has seen the 18 years old feature in most of their matches so far, scoring two goals, one of which gave the Giallorossi the win in the local derby against Lazio.

Rumours want the wages to be in the region of 750k euro per year, 350k after tax.

Young loanee for Roma



Last updated: 8 January 2013
Jack Robinson makes the switch from Liverpool to Roma
The Giallorossi put a stop to their full back problem following Balzaretti's injury by loaning 19 years old Jack Robinson from Liverpool till the end of the season; the Anfield club hopes this will help the youngster's development while Roma hope he can provide the cover for Dodò until Balzaretti is back, plus his ability to play on both flanks will prove useful to now and then rest Piris too, who so far only had Loic Nego as cover.

Demolition job in Tim Cup for Roma



Last updated: 9 January 2013
Roma brush aside rivals Inter in the Quarter Final encounter
It was a triumph for Roma at the Stadio Olimpico when they clashed with Inter for the Tim Cup quarter final; Mattia Destro scored from the spot in the seventh minute following a foul on Lamela by Chivu; then Lamela's shot was deflected by Silvestre past his own goalkeeper to double Roma's lead, which extended even more in the 27th minute when Destro held up the ball and then laid it for the oncoming Pjanic who ran into the box and beat Handanovic with a precise shot on the far post.

Things got even worse for Inter when Gargano earned himself an early shower for a second yellow in the 31st minute.

In the second half, Roma controlled the match allowing a couple of chances for Inter but further extending the lead with Bradley's first goal for the club, an header following a free kick from Pjanic.

Roma will face Catania in the semi-final.





Scorers: 7' Destro (pen) 11' Silvestre (own goal) 27' Pjanic 61' Bradley

Booked: De Rossi (Roma) Gargano, Nagatomo (Inter)

Sent off: 31' Gargano (two yellows)

Man of the match: Destro

Roma struggle to go past Atalanta



Last updated: 13 January 2013
Destro gifts Roma the three points in hard match
Just like in Tim Cup, Roma found it hard to beat Atalanta at home, and once again it was just in the dying minutes of the game that the home side found the winning breakthrough, this time thanks to a header from Mattia Destro who received on the far post the cross by Ivan Piris and sent it into the net to the joy of the Roma fans who were resigned to a goalless draw, seeing the super form of Atalanta's keeper Consigli, which won the man of the match award.



Scorers: 86' Destro

Booked: Dodò, Florenzi (Roma)

Sent off: 89' Raimondi (violent conduct)

Man of the match: Consigli

Goal Party at the Tardini



Last updated: 16 January 2013
Roma almost give away a four goal lead
Roma started the match concentrated and Osvaldo gave them the lead with a fine volley, then Destro doubled the lead with an header on a cross coming from Osvaldo; Pjanic further increased the lead directly from free kick in the 36th minute, and with the teams looking toward half time Destro mae it four, again on a cross from Osvaldo.

At half time Roma was cruising with a 4-0 lead, but whatever was said in the locker rooms changed the game because Parma looked fired up while Roma lost their focus and allowed the home side to close the gap with goals from Gobbi, Belfodil and Ninis; luckily for the Giallorossi, the game had to end and Parma could not find a shock equaliser before it did.



Scorers: 3' Osvaldo, 22' Destro, 36' Pjanic, 43' Destro, 57' Gobbi, 66' Belfodil, 83' Ninis

Booked: Acquah, Parolo, Belfodil (Parma) Piris (Roma)

Man of the match: Osvaldo

Fantastic cup win over Inter buddy! Really got some good names in over January, Jack Robinson should do well on loan!

Yeah, I didn't expect us to beat Inter so easily to be honest. Just like I couldn't believe my eyes when we almost gave away a four goals lead at Parma

I'm pleased with the January transfer market, good to know Marquinhos and Destro will be with us permanently from now on, hopefully Robinson can cover well for Dodò and for the other two, they are quality signings for the bench, we will need all the depth we can get next season if everything keeps going so well in the league.

All square in Florence



Last updated: 19 January 2013
The Viola stops league leaders Roma onto a 0-0 draw
The congestion of fixtures might have played a part in a lacklustre Roma performance in Florence, where the home team had a better first half but could not convert their chances; in the second half Roma's manager tweaked the formation changing all of the midfield trio trying to freshen things up for his side in the middle of the park, but while Roma's display was improved, it was still not enough to put one past Viviano and take the lead.



Scorers: none

Booked: Robinson, Dodò (Roma)

Man of the match: Paletta (Fiorentina)

Catania holds Roma to draw



Last updated: 22 January 2013
The Tim Cup semifinal first leg ends all square at the Massimino
Roma were held onto a 0-0 draw tonight in the first leg of the Tim Cup semifinal in Catania; the Giallorossi suffered the counters of the home side and their solid back line. The Roma front line was particularly uninspired today and could not find a way to breakthrough, although it must be said that the Roman side had the best chance of the game with Destro, but the young striker missed it. The tie will be then decided at the Stadio Olimpico one week from now.



Scorers: none

Booked: Paglialunga, Alvarez (Catania) Tachtsidis, Castan, Burdisso (Roma)

Man of the match: Izco (Catania)

Roma goes past Genoa



Last updated: 26 January 2013
The Giallorossi get the win, but it's not an easy one
Roma had their fair share of troubles in beating Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico tonight, especially because once again their forward players were not in their best night so far; it was up to Miralem Pjanic to resolve the match then, as the Bosnian headed into the net a confused exchange in the Genoa's box; Osvaldo crossed the ball from the left, but it was too long for Lamela to head directly toward goal, so the Argentinian headed it toward the oncoming Pjanic which on the far post corrected it into the net.

Roma then kept the pressure up but the two defensive midfielders Genoa had fielded managed to stifle most of their attacking moves, albeit this meant Genoa weren't so dangerous at the other end of the pitch; despite that, Borriello and Pratto managed to test Stekelenburg a couple times.



Scorers: 21' Pjanic

Booked: Dodò (Roma) Pratto (Genoa)

Man of the match: Marquinhos (Roma)

Tim Cup final for Roma



Last updated: 29 January 2013
Roma rise to see off Catania's challenge at the Olimpico
In front of their fans, Roma managed to beat Catania and grant themselves a place in the Tim Cup final tonight, despite having to rest some players due to fixture congestion and a couple small injuries in training.

Despite having a number of chances, the home team had to wait almost half time to find the breakthrough, with Piris crossing the ball from the right and Bradley seeing his run into the box awarded with the ball falling perfectly for him to head into the net.

In the second half, Roma secured the result with a Burdisso header from a Pjanic corner.



Scorers: 45' Bradley 62' Burdisso

Booked: Piris (Roma) Salifu, Biagianti, Izco (Catania)

Man of the match: Bradley

Torino valiantly fight



Last updated: 10 February 2013
Roma had to find a last gasp goal to get the three points
Torino almost upset Roma as the home side played a brave game and threatened to end Roma's unbeaten run; however, despite a greater number of shots, the Granata could not convert their chances, both because of Stekelenburg's saves and their bad aim at the goal.

The home side dominance was more evident in the first half, while in the second part of the game Roma managed to steady things up and create some good chances of their own, finally grabbing a probably undeserved lead in the dying minutes of the game with substitute Tachtsidis who had replaced Florenzi during the second half.



Scorers: 88' Tachtsidis

Booked: Basha, Gazzi, D'Ambrosio (Torino) Piris, Pjanic (Roma)

Man of the match: Burdisso

Relegation-threatened Inter stop Roma



Last updated: 17 February 2013
Injury-stricken Roma can't find a way past Inter
It was a Roma side hit by a series of injuries, including centre backs Burdisso and Castan, that faced the relegation-threatened Inter at the Stadio Olimpico tonight; the Giallorossi's manager was forced to play youngster Alessio Romagnoli from the off in the heart of the back line, but the lad responded well even if faced with experienced strikers like Milito and Palacio; at the other end of the pitch, it was Ranocchia who led Inter's back four in the battle against Roma's attackers, who created a lot of chances but almost exclusively from long range.

With Juventus winning their match, Roma are now back in 2nd place, one point off the league leaders.



Scorers: none

Booked: Dodò, Romagnoli, Destro, De Rossi (Roma)

Man of the match: Ranocchia

Totti saves the Giallorossi from defeat



Last updated: 24 February 2013
The club captain equalises at the end of the game
Palermo got incredibly close to a surprising win against Roma as they controlled the first half and found a deserved lead in the 43rd minute with defender Munoz, following a corner kick that the Roma back line could not properly defend. In the second half the Giallorossi came out of the locker room more determined and started to make things happen up front, but it was only in the 88th minute that they found an equaliser with Totti who was quick to correct into the net a cross from Osvaldo.

Palermo will feel they might have deserved the win, but their lapse in concentration at the end of the game cost them two points. Roma snatch a precious draw which allows them to match Juventus at the top of the table as the Bianconeri lost their game against Milan.



Scorers: 43' Munoz 88' Totti

Booked: Lamela, Piris, Dodò, Pjanic , Osvaldo (Roma)

Man of the match: Osvaldo

Well done on the cup victory mate, however relegation threatened Inter? Really :O

Yeah, Inter sits in 16th place and Lazio is 17th...the relegation zone starts from 18th place so both clubs are at high risk

Roma gets the double over Napoli



Last updated: 28 February 2013
First half display gifts the Giallorossi the three points
Roma controlled the first half of the game against Napoli, creating a number of chances and finding the lead with a splendid Osvaldo goal, the striker getting the ball on the left flank, then cutting inside and unleashing a fierce drive from just inside the box; in the 35th minute Erik Lamela had to be subbed due to injury, he reported a torn hamstring which will keep him out for three months.

Totti subbed the Argentinian and immediately set Destro's goal, which ended the young striker's drought and gave Roma a comfortable lead. In the second half though, Napoli were the better side and could have scored if not for Stekelenburg's fine form, the Dutch keeper even saved a penalty from Cavani in the 59th minute.





Scorers: 24' Osvaldo 36' Destro

Booked: Bradley (Roma)

Man of the match: Osvaldo