I would also add Michael Cox to the list for tactical analysis.
Sid Lowe writes pretty good stuff about La Liga.
Marcotti and Bandini for Serie A and football in general.
James Horncastle is decent but at times he can be way off the mark.
There is also The Blizzard a magazine that many of these guys are involved in and is a pretty excellent publication. Goal.com seems to have hired new staff and I was surprised to read a couple of good editorials there recently.
Serie A 2015-16 opener ends with a tie. Verona 1-1 Roma.
Goal.com said that Romagnoli was surplus for their defense??? I know their style and ability, but still curious.
So could anyone please clarify this for me: Is Roma's defense THAT good???
(08-23-2015, 07:20 AM)Aficio Wrote: [ -> ]Goal.com said that Romagnoli was surplus for their defense??? I know their style and ability, but still curious.
So could anyone please clarify this for me: Is Roma's defense THAT good???
Personally, I'd say no on pretty much all accounts. He wouldn't be surplus to their defence (they sold quite a few defenders this summer), as much as he's not likely more than a bench player. Manolas and Castan are their starters, so Romagnoli probably wouldn't get a lot of game time. However, don't make the mistake that this means they have something special in defence, it's more that they're a club who sells. They sold Marquinhos and Benatia before and they've shown that if offered the price they want, they will pretty much sell anyone (barring Totti and De Rossi, possibly Florenzi).
That's what happened with Romagnoli and Bertolacci. They weren't likely starters at the club anyway, as the club already has those areas fairly set, and they received a huge sum of money for them. They are running kind of like a business in this aspect, they buy low (in this case youth) and sell high for a large profit. They also had to sell these guys to purchase their targets, notably Dzeko. Fundamentally, it comes down to looking to achieve short term targets and trusting your scouts to find adequate and possibly lucrative replacements.
As for us, we're doing the opposite, we're spending big on these guys for the possible long term benefits, trying to build a competitive side in the long run where these guys fulfill their promise. It's a risk, but I think that's the attitude that can be the difference of being a side that competes for Serie A today, but cannot do anything of note in Europe and a side that can feasibly be a dominant force in Europe in the future. You look at the construction of today's Barca and Bayern, even Real, it was anything but an overnight job, they spent years building for what they've become.
(08-22-2015, 11:24 AM)somedevil Wrote: [ -> ]I would also add Michael Cox to the list for tactical analysis.
Sid Lowe writes pretty good stuff about La Liga.
Marcotti and Bandini for Serie A and football in general.
James Horncastle is decent but at times he can be way off the mark.
There is also The Blizzard a magazine that many of these guys are involved in and is a pretty excellent publication. Goal.com seems to have hired new staff and I was surprised to read a couple of good editorials there recently.
Pretty much completely agree on all those people and I've heard about The Blizzard, though never really read it. Michael Cox of ZM was probably the first to really start the trend of detailed tactical analysis.
Thank Dev.
Roma are doing business (and quite successful). I heard that they bought Rudiger, a CB who can be comparable to Romagnoli. I know nothing about Manolas and Castan, but it seems they are solid enough.
EDIT: I think Roma must have great scout(s) for CBs, I envy that
No problem. Someone suggest Rudiger on this forum, I personally am not convinced he's as good as made out, but certainly an interesting prospect.
(08-23-2015, 10:02 AM)Aficio Wrote: [ -> ]Thank Dev.
Roma are doing business (and quite successful). I heard that they bought Rudiger, a CB who can be comparable to Romagnoli. I know nothing about Manolas and Castan, but it seems they are solid enough.
EDIT: I think Roma must have great scout(s) for CBs, I envy that
I also think about that. How come are they so good at finding quality CB?
I saw highlights, it was literally all Juve chances and then the Udinese goal
I was surprised most games today are this evening, I thought most had already been played.
Juventus had never lost at home when they opened the season (33 wins, 7 draws). It is now history.