Roma NEED More than just Dezko to Defeat Juventus

I wasn't impressed by Roma in their game against AC Milan. They won the match, and at the end of the day, results are all that matter.

But they will be playing the best team in the league, and a group who have some serious killers that can hurt Roma. And if all Spalletti can give me is Eden Dzeko and the occassional midfielder making a run to support him, then they best stay in Rome and save us all the trouble.





Dzeko was once a really good striker. He had that old-skool target man swagger about him. You put a ball in the box, he could head it home. A ball played into him would be trapped by the big man, with a quick turn, he'd put in a shot.

That's no longer the Dzeko we now see. These days, he may get at the end of a cross and you can forget about him providing any quality if you play the ball to feet. These days he is labored, void of any skill and any defender smart enough to anticipate his movements, will completely shut him out of the game.

This means Spaletti needs to give Nainggolan and Salah more offensive duties, instruct De Rossi to hold onto that midfield and relieve the burden on Dzeko. There needs to be more movement and unpredictability when Roma are attacking because against Milan, it was far too obvious.

In fact, Roma's goal didn't come from any incisive play. It was the bit of space Nainggolan saw that he could run into, and he delivered a strike from far out. The goal was more of his own making than a product of tactics and team-play.

Roma are going up against not only the best defence in Italy, but probably the world, so that kind of space Nainggolan ran into to score his top goal most likely won't occur. There has to be more dynamism, and players willing to take risks, and putting Bonnucci, Barzagli and Chiellini on their toes.

Dzeko is not completely pointless, mind you. The man has his uses, but he cannot be the focal attacking point of a team. Not anymore.

It's about having options. So if Roma want to play a through ball, they can slice it in for Nainggolan, Salah or El-Shaarawy. And if they won't cross it into the box, that is where Dzeko can come in.

Variety is the name of the game.

Roma are going to have to play their best game tomorrow. Anything less and the best they can hope for is a draw. A point is not a bad result and that's perhaps what they should aim for, but with Juventus looking to end this Scudetto early, Roma will have to counter whatever offensive artillery the boys in black and white throw at them.

That can only be done with a multitude of options when they hit Juventus.








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