It wouldn’t be unfair to consider that the Italian top flight is still dominated by one side and one side only.
Juventus have won the Serie A for seven straight seasons, and brilliant transfers such as the Cristiano Ronaldo acquisition only means that I Bianconeri will strengthen the already-tight vice grip that they already have on the Italian top flight.
While Juve’s consecutive victories is an undeniable fact, it cannot be denied that Napoli gave them a run for their money up until the final days of the previous season. It wouldn’t be surprising to see one of the other big clubs to try and make a stand against Juventus’ rampage.
Will this be the year that Roma gets to challenge Juventus on the throne? Or will they struggle to keep themselves up in Champions League contention after being drained of key talents?
This piece will help you clear your mind as you look at SBOBET tips on I Giallorossi this coming season.
Key Strengths
The previous Serie A season was one for scoring as almost every club was able to reach the 30-goal mark. However, there were only a few teams that conceded less than 30 goals for the season. Roma are one of the top defensive sides of the season. Thanks to the solid defensive work of the Roman backline, La Lupa were able to easily secure third in the league.
Eusebio Di Francesco is also blessed with quality players up front to help the strong efforts of the defence. Edin Dzeko, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Diego Perotti were playing outstandingly as a front three to help pull the team forward. Dzeko, who was tempted to return to the Premier League in January, will still the key figure of the Roma attack moving forward.
The club has also done superb deals in the summer transfer window. The acquisition of Sevilla’s Steven N’Zonzi and Paris Saint-Germain’s Javier Pastore are great coups for the team. The purchase of promising Dutch winger Justin Kluivert will add depth and youth to an already effective attacking three.
Major Weaknesses and Concerns
However, there are several reasons as to why you should reconsider your Serie A 2018 betting options before you go all in with this year’s Roma team.
The biggest concern would have to be the talent drain they went through in the summer window. Previously a key figure in their defence, he is now the biggest summer signing in a revamped Liverpool team. Radja Nainggolan left for Italian rivals Inter for €38 million. Second-choice keeper Lukasz Skorupski also departed for Bologna.
While N’Zonzi and Robin Olsen were brought in as key replacements on the defensive end, there is still no assurances that the backline will perform as well as possible. There will be growing pains, and I don’t think that they will struggle to kick the season off with an impenetrable defence.
The second problem is the midfield. A strong midfield is important for a 4-3-3 to work as they will have to cover a lot of ground on their own. While Nainggolan was a strong presence in the middle, he had to carry the weight as his mates in the midfield struggled. With the Belgian gone, N’Zonzi needs to find his groove immediately and make sure that there will be no hitches on the defensive end.
Finally, age should be a concern for La Lupa. Of the players most used last season, Dzeko is 32, Daniele De Rossi is 35, and Federico Fazio is 31. That’s an entire spine of the team at the tail-end of their peaks. Di Francesco needs to find a proper exit plan within the next three years if he wishes for the club to remain competitive in the next decade.
Key Players to Watch
Pastore is probably the most important man to take note of in this squad. The Argentine has provided quality for Les Parisiens moving forward on the left while also remaining defensively stable on the middle of the pitch. Roma legend Totti has high hopes for him, and fans will definitely be on the lookout for him during the Serie A 2018 updates.
N’Zonzi is also worth keeping an eye on. Nainggolan left a gaping hole in the midfield with his departure. The team hopes that the momentum of winning in Russia with France should boost his confidence and carry over to his play at the club level.
Finally, it is also important to keep an eye on Dzeko. Of course, the man will still score like nobody’s business. However, Father Times gets the best of us, and Di Francesco should have contingency plans at the ready if Dzeko’s form begins to dip starting this season.
Fearless Broadcast
While Roma made a lot of good moves before the Serie A season, I don’t think that they’ve brought enough quality to put an end to Juventus’ domination at the top of the Italian football pyramid.
No, they will still not get the Scudetto at the end of this season. Moreover, they will also likely finish the season one or two spots below their third-place finish last year. I think the talent drain they experienced over the summer was a bit too much to bear.
However, football is beautifully odd. A team that is meant to go down can begin to mow down teams and do the impossible. Maybe Di Francesco made the right signings. I would love to be corrected by I Giallorossi with a dominant display in the league. However, I will stand by my word until that happens.
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