It was all set to be such a promising season at the Stadio Olimpico. You could argue that it has been, just not for the side that so much excitement and hype surrounded at the end of the summer.
Lazio have enjoyed an outstanding start whereas Roma have struggled badly. After the Sensi era ended in the capital, new owner Thomas Di Benedetto was brought in with fresh ideas, enthusiasm and a transfer budget as was a new manager in promising young Spaniard Luis Enrique.
He set about revitalising the squad with what seemed like some very astute signings in Bojan Krkic, Simon Kjaer, Miralem Pjanic, Maarten Stekelenburg, Fernando Gago, Pablo Osvaldo and Erik Lamela.
It seemed that this season was going to be one in which the Giallorossi set about establishing themselves once more as a credible Scudetto-challenging outfit. However, things have not at all gone to plan for Roma and Luis Enrique.
In fact, things have gone so badly that reports in Italy suggested that a crisis meeting took place yesterday between the man in charge and the directors at Trigoria (Roma’s training ground) in which he managed to convince the hierarchy that he is the right man for the job.
The team though have been nothing short in awful with their poor results on the field not being the only problem for Enrique as he continues to deal with dissent, petulance and other off the field troubles not making the former Barcelona B boss’ job any easier.
Off the field, last week’s dressing room incident in which Osvaldo punched his Argentine teammate Lamela for not passing him the ball during the defeat to Udinese before telling him that “you are not Maradona” was enough to indicate that Enrique perhaps does not have as tight a rein over his team as he should do but after the antics of Bojan at the weekend, it seems the Spaniard has definitely lost control of the dressing room.
Antonio Conte too is still a very young, inexperienced manager who, like Enrique, has taken on the demanding task of one of the biggest jobs in Italy and one that comes with its own particular pressure.
But would one of the Juventus players have dared to assault a teammate or throw their jersey to the ground in disgust as Bojan did against Fiorentina? No, because Conte commands a certain respect and discipline from his players. Something that unfortunately seems to be lacking for i Lupi at the moment.
Even when it comes down to footballing matters, things have been equally bleak for Roma. Every time that the team seem to be gathering a bit of momentum, they lose it almost immediately.
It has been a classic case of ‘one step forward then two steps back’ for them this season. A stuttering start was followed up with two straight wins before derby defeat set Enrique’s ‘project’ back further.
Unconvincing wins last month over Novara and Lecce seemed to signal hope which was short lived as they slumped to two successive defeats on the road to Udinese and Fiorentina.
The Udinese loss was by no means a calamitous result because the Zebrette have been fantastic this season and are more than deserving of their lofty position in the Serie A standings.
However, if there was one team aside from Roma (and Inter obviously) who have massively underperformed this season then it is Fiorentina. The Viola have been weak at the back and static in attack and it ultimately led to the sacking of Sinisa Mihaijlovic.
Yet they stormed to an easy 3-0 victory over Roma in which their dreadful defending was combined with an outrageous display of ill-discipline, another indication that Enrique cannot control the group at his disposal.
During the defeat in Tuscany, not only did the team manage to ship three goals, create few clear cut chances, bring out a childish strop in Bojan but also had three players sent off to compound the misery for Enrique.
The fans were quick to voice their displeasure at the performance and have actively been campaigning for the manager’s sacking but he seems safe for the future at least and vice-captain Daniele De Rossi has assured fans to “give Enrique time” but he will need to reassert his control over his club, and fast, if he is to be afforded that luxury.
Follow Padraig Whelan on Twitter @PWhelan88 and be sure to check out padraigwhelan.wordpress.com
Join Forza Italian Football on Twitter and Facebook.
I really hate to think that Enrique has lost control, but after last week’s performance it’s hard to argue a case for him. In my opinion he has one thing in his defense, there is a pretty large injury list right now. Especially with the defense, Burdisso, Kjaer, and Rosi all out at the moment. That is really hurting the team, and I know they keep courting Lopez from Nacional, but they really need to invest in some extra defenders.
I’m not quite sure that Enrique has lost control of the squad, both De Rossi and Stekelenburg have been full of praise for Enrique, but then not many players slag off their current boss.
Considering the massive upheaval at the club in the summer it was alweays going to be a difficult ask for Roma to challenge for the Scudetto straight away. New owners, new manager, and an inexperienced one at that, a whole teams worth of new players.
Di Benedetto has invested a lot to bring the Bracelona style to Roma and he won’t and shouldn’t give up so easily when the going gets tough.
I agree that even in victory Roma have looked far from a side capable of Champions League qualification but it’s still early days and only a third of the season gone.
Roma are currently 8th but some would have you believe they are in the relegation zone!!
It’s been a poor start but once Enrique figures out his best team then the squad looks, on paper at least, capable of playing good football and challenging for honours in the not too distant future.
Patience is not a virtue amongst the majority of football supporters but in this case it might be wise for the fans and press to cut him a bit of slack.
I am willing to give Enrique some more time, as a romanista, mostly due to all the injuries the team is plagued with right now. Any coach would have a tough time with so many of your top players injured. There’s not much a manager can do about that. I really hope the season turns around for them in the second half. I agree, new owners, new players, new manager, it can take some time before we see the fruits. However, I can not sit through another match so many red cards.
Agreed Jay. A number of the players aren’t doing their bit at the minute and the lack of discipline at Fiorentina was worrying. Let’s hope it was a one-off.
As long as Roma stay in and around 4th – 8th position then I think he will stay until the end of the season at least. A manager deserves that long at least, unless he drags us into a relegation battle but I can’t see that happening.
I would be very worried if Di Benedetto pushed the panic button so soon. It wouldn’t bode well for the future if he got rid of managers every time the team got in a rut.
The nucleus of the side looks good and the squad is stronger than last season. It just hasn’t clicked yet.
The early Europa League exit didn’t help matters initally, although in the long term I think it might be beneficial come Springtime.
The main problem is that Enrique has no particular track record to speak of so no one has seen how he copes under pressure and after poor performances. He’s been unlucky with injuries, but that’s what a big squad is for.
Stability and a clear direction on where the club is going is what’s called for now. We just need to ride out the first few difficult months and get the foundations for future success laid.
Also it doesn’t help Enrique that Lazio finished above us last season either and haven’t been put back in their place yet.
Forza Roma.
Luis Enrique should take his experiment elsewhere – Milan, Juve or Inter would have long since fired him, thats a fact. I for one have had enough of this disorganised team, with too little time spent on the defensive phase. You wont win anything unless you are defensively sound. We are a long way from that.