Roma vs Lazio #1921

Rome Derby

Uninspiring Derby

The Rome Derby didn’t exactly live up to the billing. It is one of the most important fixtures on the Italian football calendar. It’s quite unique not only due to individual importance. For Roma and Lazio, the first objective of any season is to finish ahead of the other. You can’t really say that about any other rivalry in Italy. There may be other rivalries that are more competitive, however the teams associated with that also have the objective of winning trophies. This is just not the case to the same extent for the Roman derby. They’re always is a bit of tension associated considering the level of disdain the teams have for one another. After the 90 minutes played last night, there still isn’t much to take away. It was a rather uninteresting Derby. There were certainly moments of aggravation from a physical standpoint, it very much met the standard. The several altercations that we witnessed was expected. However, outside of those moments there was really nothing there. Cristantes 12th minute disallowed goal was as close as it got to excitement. Usually in the derby there is some sort of controversy or end-to-end excitement. Sometimes horrible mistake. However, regardless of what has occurred in the past, it is usually interesting. Last night was not. It was a hard game to get through because not much happened throughout the 90 minutes. A goalless draw can be incredibly exciting, however last night was not one of those times. What we witnessed last night was one of the worst derbies that we’ve seen this decade. No goals. Very little action and not a whole lot that went on. However, Roma get a point that takes them into the top seven, but outside of that there’s nothing really outstanding to point out in what was an overall uninteresting Derby on Sunday night.

Jose Mourinho needs to trust his bench

There’s been a level of improvement from Jose Mourinho’s side since the start of the season, there’s no doubt about that. Last night especially defensively Roma have looked sharp. Ever since the inclusion of Evan Ndicka to the back line there’s been far less mistakes and they have been very competent in that. Regard. Rui Patricio last night performed very well. Wasn’t asked to do a ton but when he was he made the necessary saves. However, the one thing that Jose Mourinho has failed to do is using his substitutions in an effective way. Now he’s made changes that have come off the bench and done well for him. However, the range in which it’s been used has been hyper-critical. Roma was in control yesterday but I would say this Lazio made changes to try to tip the game into their favor. Roma didn’t make a single change until the 82nd minute. He didn’t feel it was necessary to make a substitution until it was almost too late for them to get a goal. Maybe he satisfied with the point in the context of the match. It is a good point, but this is the derby Roma expect wins. I’m not criticizing him for not winning the game but far too many times in the season. He has waited too long to make the change. Belotti Should have been called upon last night. He did not make an appearance off the bench. Lukaku showed us last week that it’s a risk taking him out. However, Jose needs to take some risks at times. Once again, he did not perform in a big match. The criticism surrounding that seems to be completely valid. Houssem Auor being brought into midfield would not have been a bad idea but to just sit there and just wait it out all the way until almost the end I think is a dangerous thing to do. Roma didn’t lose last night. They did get a point but in other games. Jose, simply can’t be waiting this long to try to make the change. Lazio tried to do multiple things. Made changes quite often. It didn’t help their case at all. It didn’t do anything but at least Sarri felt he could rely on the bench. Jose didn’t this is not just an issue about last night this season. He needs to be making these changes much earlier than he does. Roma mostly have gone back on track. They’re back in the European picture again, but this is something that needs to be adjusted and fixed. It didn’t affect Rome last night, but in other matches down the road it might. He needs to trust his bench more than he does.

Sarri on the HOT seat

Maurizio Sarri over the last two seasons transformed Lazio into a serious team. He came in immediately helped Lazio finish 5th That first season he led them to finish second in their Europa League group that featured Galatasaray, Marseille and Lokomotiv Moscow. In the round of 32, they were nearly beaten by FC Porto 4–3 on aggregate. In the league they didn’t make the champions league but they split the season series with Roma. He got Immobile playing at his best that season with 32 goals and all competition 27 in the league. Despite Rafael Leao being rewarded with player of the season I believed that Immobile was the best that season. Last season he finished Second, the highest Lazio had finished in over a decade. Finished ahead of Inter Milan. The team that went to the Champions League final which is wildly impressive since Inter Milan squad is way better than theirs. Immobile didn’t have a great season. Only 14 goals but still managed to get the best out of his team. Last season he qualified them for the Champions League for the first time in 3 years ends up in the Europa League. Didn’t get through the group stage but only on goal difference drop down in the conference leg got themselves to the round of 16 after beating CFR Cluj and losing to Dutch side AZ. All things considered, they had an unbelievably successful run over these last two years under him. The expectation was another Champions League appearance next season. However, everything is falling apart. As of this moment he is on the hot seat. He cannot in good conscience go through this entire season outside of European football and still gain employment from Lazio. Roma hasn’t been that much better, but at least they’re on the doorstep of European football. Even at their worst possibilities. I think the majority believe that they’ll at least finish in a European position even if it is a conference League spot. Roma has made some changes and it’s taking time to get it right. Lazio lost Savic but then went on to bring in. Kamada from, Frankfurt, Rovella from Juventus and Mateo gunduzi from Marseille. It is possible to say that Immobile truly doesn’t have what it takes to be a consistent option in attack. However, they still have enough attack to be doing better than they are. However, my main critique is the midfield. You cannot have three high quality midfielders in a team like this and be sitting in 10th place. They have all the resources possible, particularly in midfield. The fact that it is not working to his liking is not the fault of the three midfielders. They can take a portion of the blame but Sarri mostly at blame for this. It is his job to figure out the right way to play the additions. He simply isn’t doing that. Kamada is one of the best playmakers in the league if he is used correctly. He has failed to unlock this and that’s a big problem. As for the other two, he’s having the same issue. They have an identity crisis in midfield and he needs to fix it. Not enough. People are talking about the heat that should be on his back this season. If things don’t start to improve, a conversation will have to be made at the end of the season. They cannot go from second to 10th. Truly finishing outside of the top six would be devastating. Not to mention right now Roma is in front of them. If they finish the season outside of the Europe and Roma finishes above them, then we all know that a decision must be made. He has time to turn it around but his job right now is the furthest thing from secure.