AS ROMA 18/19 : Scout Report by Branko Nikovski [creator of the Method 5x5 and the Tactical Atomism]

1. by BrankoNikovski
[creator of the Method 5x5 and the Tactical Atomism]

2. GENERAL :
Totally renewed and rejuvenated team in confront of the last season :
1. Continuing with Di Francesco's 4-3-3 as a pillar system [switch to 4-2-3-1 in depending
of the result]. 3-4-1-2 is the secondary system used for more coverage.
2. The fundamental experience of De Rossi, Florenzi, Dzeko and Kolarov.
3. Bringing the new internationals Pastore and N'Zonzi as a qualitative inforcement in the
midfield.
4. The new lymph of qualitative youth as Kluivert, Cristante, Coric near the last year
''discovery'' of Under.
5. The reevaluation and re-intergretion from the last season : Schick [bad intergretion in
the system 4-3-3], Karsdorp [long injury], Santon [bad seasons at Inter].
*The Goalkeeper position, after the sell of Alisson, gives at the new come Olsen a great
responsibility, but in the first two matches he showed a decent positioning and leadership
during the defensive phase. With Mirante as a decent substitute.
*The defensive line is re-confirmed with Florenzi and Kolarov as fullbacks and Manolas and
Fazio an inseparable central duo. The new left footed player Marcano and Jesus are a decent
CBs substitutions , also offering an opportunity to swap to three man defense. Santon and
Karsdorp will try to show their qualities as FBs substations during the long season.
*The selling of Nainggolan and Strootman gives the opportunity of an Italian Midfield with
De Rossi-Cristante-Pellegrini + Pastore that can act not only as CM but also as AM in 4-2-3-
1and LW moving centrally near Dzeko, N'Zonzi as DM, and Coric as CM.
*The wingers , that very often move to play centrally near Dzeko are Under, Kluivert, El
Shaarawy, sometimes Pastore, the injured Perotti and Schick [that can try to act also as
vice-Dzeko].

3. 4-3-3 as a pillar system

4. 3-4-1-2 as a secondary system

5. TACTICS
1. Offensive Phase
1.1 Construction Phase
1.1.1 The construction phase in the 4-3-3 system offers that the De Rossi drops
between Manolas and Fazio receiving the ball from Olsen and starting the
action. With Florenzi and Kolarov offering width plus one of the CM dropping
also if a help is needed. In this phase Kolarov is an added ''weapon'' thanks to
his playmaker abilities offering not only an alternative if De Rossi is blocked,
but also filtrated passes between the line for the CMs and diagonal long passes
for the RW [change of play on the other flank]. Often when the opponent is
playing with low barycenter.
1.1.2 MAJOR PROBLEM ! :
The problem during the construction phase starts when the opponent is
applying a high pressing often man marking oriented, that creates a lot
of problems wrong passes for Roma's players and fast offensive
transitions for the opponent. In this case Olsen tries the long ball for
Dzeko and winning the second balls.
When Roma cannot construct from behind, their fundamental game
principles lose their significance.

6. The opponent is applying a high pressing often man marking oriented, that
creates a lot of problems.

9. Kessie

10. 3-4-1-2, but same problem during the construction

13. TACTICS
1. Offensive Phase
1.2 Creativity Phase :
1.2.1 Attacking between the lines
In the creation phase , the CMs [Pastore, Cristante, Pellegrini] wait
for central passes behind the opponent's midfield line [one of them
drops to help, if De Rossi is marked], ready to attack the opponent's
defensive line. De Rossi , Fazio and Manolas apply this principle with
vertical passes [penetration], Florenzi and Kolarov through their
wide positioning try with diagonal passes toward the central areas.
Di Francesco's philosophy is not based on possession, but on fast
verticalization and attacking in depth. When the opponent is playing
with low dense barycenter , this philosophy can suffer a lot.
Attention ! - wrong and blocked passes in this phase, can
create a very dangerous situation for opponent's offensive
transition !

16. Kolarov

18. TACTICS
1. Offensive Phase
1.2 Creativity Phase :
1.2.2 The winger move centrally
The main reasons for the wingers to move centrally :
1.2.2.1 Playing near Dzeko and combining one-two passes with him.
1.2.2.2 Attacking in depth when Dzeko drops down and expecting
long balls
1.2.2.3 Playing between opponent's lines and combining one-two
passes with the CMs
1.2.2.4 Bringing the opponent's fullback centrally and out of the
opponent's defensive line, creating a empty lateral space for the
overlaps of Kolarov and Florenzi.
Attention ! – Inaccurate passes during this phase can
cause an opponent’s offensive transition and a lot of
problems

27. Karsdorp

28. TACTICS
1. Offensive Phase
1.2 Creativity Phase :
1.2.3 Dzeko’s Fundamentality
Dzeko's Fundamentality :
1.2.3.1 Dropping down to receive a pass , bringing
the opponent's central defenders out of position,
creating empty spaces that the wingers and the
CMs can attack in depth.
1.2.3.2 When the CMs receive the filtrated passes
between the lines or , Dzeko attacks in depth.

29. Dzeko dropping down

31. Dzeko attacks in depth

32. Cristante

33. TACTICS
1. Offensive Phase
1.2 Creativity Phase :
1.2.4 Lateral Crossing
Thanks to the wingers' attacks in depth and the fullbacks' overlaps,
often Roma creates empty spaces in the lateral areas, especially
used for crossing in the penalty area.
The penalty area is attacked by Dzeko, the wingers and the CMs.
In this situation, the fullbacks try to remain asymmetrical, offering
the adequate support to De Rossi, Manolas and Fazio for blocking
eventual offensive transition of the opponent.
But sometimes, when the opponent is playing with low dense
barycenter , Kolarov and Florenzi are symmetrical, both wide and
high, leaving De Rossi and the CBs alone.
Attention ! – Inaccurate passes and losing the second balls
during this phase can cause an opponent’s offensive transition
and a lot of problems !

40. TACTICS
2. Defensive Phase
2.1 4-1-4-1 Zonal Density
2.2 High Pressing
2.1 The defensive phase is constructed by 4-1-4-1 zonal density and
compactness. De Rossi as a pivot in front of the defense protects it
from opponent's passes between the lines and drops down covering
one of the CB when is out of position.
Problem! - Their passivity and lack of aggressivity is
causing them a lot of problems even when they’re in
numeral superiority! – without pressing the opponent’s ball
carrier, their density is pointless and useless!
2.2 High pressing : A mix of zonal and man marking
The main purpose is to block and cover the possible pass trajectories
between the opponent's players. Aggressive toward the opponent’s
ball carrier. The midfielders are man marking the opponent's
playmakers. The defensive line is high and ready for offside traps.

41. 4-1-4-1 Zonal Density

44. Problem! - Their passivity and lack of aggressivity is causing
them a lot of problems even when they’re in numeral
superiority! – without pressing the opponent’s ball carrier,
their density is pointless and useless!

52. High Pressing

56. TACTICS
3. Offensive Transition
If and only if their defensive zonal density is
effective and aggressive, plus winning the second
balls, their Offensive Transition can start.
Often starts with Pastore, and the wingers attack
wide in depth, while Dzeko centrally in depth.
They aren't very efficient in this situation.

60. TACTICS
4. Defensive Transition
4.1 Positive Defensive Transition
4.2 Negative Defensive Transition
As we said before : losing the ball during the Offensive Construction and Creativity
Phase , can cause enormous problems for Roma.
Everything depends how fast they will react to recuperate the ball and with how
many players they will defend against the opponent's offensive transition :
4.1 Positive : Fullbacks Asymmetry: fast reaction after losing the ball or the second
balls, plus De Rossi, Manolas and Fazio are supported at least by one of Florenzi or
Kolarov and one of the CMs.
4.2 Negative : Fullbacks High and Wide: Kolarov and Florenzi are in late to
return, the CMs are attacking the penalty area for eventual crosses ; De
Rossi, Manolas and Fazio are left alone, often playing against very fast
opponent's players that with two-three passes can be in front of Olsen.
Attention ! - The Negative Defensive Transition and the opponent's high
pressing during Roma's construction Phase are the main problems ! - plus
the problem of losing the second balls and inaccurate passes.

61. Positive Defensive Transition

63. Problem ! - Negative Defensive Transition

70. TACTICS
5. Set Pieces
5.1 Offensive
5.2 Defensive
5.1
Offensive : the ''towers'' Fazio, Dzeko, Manolas, De Rossi, Cristante,
Schick attack the penalty area :
Corner kick's takers :
lx : Pastore or Kolarov , with Under offering short option
rx : Under, with Pastore offering short option
Free Kick's takers :
lx : Kolarov
rx : Florenzi or Under
5.2
Defensive : Zonal defending
Corners : Zonal defending with the winger blocking eventual short
pass by the opponents.
Free Kicks : Zonal-horizontal-positioning line.

71. Offensive Free Kicks

72. Offensive Corner kicks

74. Defensive Free Kicks

77. Defensive Corner kicks

79. Summa Summarum
This squad had and will still have an enormous developing
process. The mix of experience and youth will be their
catalyzer.
The consistency of performance is still turbulent and with a
lot of problems to solve.
The passivity and lack of aggressivity during the dense
defensive phase without pressing the opponent’s ball
carrier, plus the problem of handling the opponent’s high
pressing during the construction phase, plus the negative
defensive transition are the cause of the performance’s
turbulance
Di Francesco's job will be to improve the squad in this
context, growing mentally as a team and tactically as a
unit.