AS Roma 2013/14 Season Thread - Endorsed by Francesco Totti

Roma have dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half. A number of chances/efforts with Pjanic missing the best one. Starting to get a bad feeling that weā€™ll pay for these misses.

Michel Bastos for Florenzi.

Awful by Destro there. Should have been a tap in to win it but he inexplicably put on the brakes.

Full Time: Lazio 0-0 Roma.

We were much the better side today and should have won that.

Bastos got in twice late on but we didnā€™t take advantage. He messed one up himself by taking an extra touch and Destro was caught on his heels for the other one with the goal absolutely gaping.

Pjanic and Gervinho also missed a couple of very good opportunities in either half. Lazio didnā€™t create anything of note.

At least Juve were pegged back today so we didnā€™t lose any ground.

Lazio didnā€™t have a shot on target in either of the derby matches this season. :clap:

Any further thoughts on the game, lads? Iā€™m still really annoyed with Destro for his lack of predatory instincts at the end. I donā€™t think heā€™s Roma class and I understand why Rudi has chosen to go without a recognised striker in several games this season.

We have a fantastic clean sheet and general defensive record but we lack a striker of true quality. That must be the priority in the summer.

Unlike Sunday, Destro went in where it hurts there and conspired to miss a sitter. Somehow hitting Reina from 2 yards out.

Bastos for Maicon (with Torosidis switching flanks) and Destro for Totti.

Also Ljajic for Florenzi, of course. It was Ljajic who created that Destro chance.

Benatia will miss the final through suspension IF we progress.

Ljajic clearly fouled. Not given. Ljajic booked for dissent. Napoli have pinned us back here.

Brilliant move by Roma. Quality play by Pjanic and Ljajic and Gervinhoā€™s goalbound effort was blocked by a defender with Reina nowhere to be seen. Ljajic fired the rebound narrowly over.

Callejon heads Napoli in front from a brilliant Maggio cross. Their first clear cut chance. Roma have had the better chances and were having a particularly good spell despite Napoli earlier dominating territory. We must score now.

More superb interplay by Pjanic and Ljajic but the latterā€™s effort was comfortably saved by Reina.

The referee is a cunt. Allowing then to commit repeated cynical fouls and not showing yellow cards.

We need two goals now.

We need two goals to force extra time now.

Disappointing but it is always a tough ask to get the better of a Rafa Benitez managed side in a two legged cup tie

Pjanic had some game tonight. Heā€™s a truly outstanding talent. I remember @Rudi slaughtering him not so long ago.

Very good win last night on the back of the coppa defeat away to Napoli. I thought we played with great urgency in the first half and they couldnā€™t get out of their half from around the 20th minute onwards. Gervinho caused them problems with his direct running and pace and was unlucky not to score, while Pjanic was sublime.

Pjanic went by a cunt early on with a beautiful little shimmy down by the dug out and his class shone from there to the finish. His sharp passing, awareness, dribbling, vision etc was pure quality and the freekick was splendid too.

Destro reminds me of Kris Boyd but he rolled the defender very well for the second goal after more excellent Gervinho play.

Thanks to @ClarkeyCat for having the channel on and a cup of tea ready on my return from Ballycastle too.

Gervinho starts against Inter tonight as expected. Anyone who listened to Rudiā€™s press conference yesterday would have been aware that he was fit and always going to play. Should be a tough game given our other injury absences though.