With Serie A winding down for the winter break, how have Roma fared so far?
Grade: B-
Your Season So Far -- In A Sentence
Roma may be within touching distance of first in Serie A but have lacked confidence and were dumped out of the Champions League in the group stages.
Highlight
The 5-1 thrashing of CSKA Moscow at home offered hope that Roma could make an impression in the Champions League, but it turned into a false dawn. Drawing away at Manchester City was a fine result that really put destiny in Roma's own hands regarding their European prospects. Ultimately, though, these two highlights only serve to show how frustrating the campaign was in Europe as Roma fell short in the end.
Low Point
Following up a 4-2 victory over Inter Milan with a 2-2 draw against Sassuolo was simply unacceptable, but being embarrassed by Bayern Munich has to be the low point of the campaign so far. Roma were utterly humiliated 7-1 in Europe's grandest competition, and the defeat highlighted just how far the Serie A giants are from the continent's best.
Surprise Star
With Kevin Strootman battling back from injury and then seeing Mehdi Benatia leave for Bayern in the summer, Roma were expected to be brittle in midfield and at the back. Kostas Manolas and Radja Nainggolan have stepped in manfully to fill the duo's shoes, though, and the latter has emerged as the side's real talisman this campaign.
The Belgian has been Roma's man of the half-season so far, scoring winners against Fiorentina, Atalanta and Genoa while controlling the middle of the pitch with a tenacious presence. His tackling has been superb and his ability to urge the side forward adds spark to an attack that's often been lacking.
Must Do Better
Fans must surely be wondering why Morgan De Sanctis seemed to regress just after signing a contract extension, how Juan Iturbe can justify his hefty price-tag or when Daniele De Rossi will return to form.
However, the biggest disappointment is surely Mattia Destro, who is not scoring goals like he was last season. He's no longer offering smart, energetic runs when he does make a rare appearance. His confidence seems to be at an all-time low. Last season, selling the striker would have seemed unthinkable but with Roma really struggling for goals, replacing Destro with someone more consistent and involved in build-up play could jump-start the second half of the season.
Great Expectations
A deep run into the Europa League knockout stages will provide vital experience in Europe but the sights will be firmly set on Serie A. Second place seems like a bare minimum for a side who are currently nine points clear of third without playing anywhere near their best, but smart reinforcing in January -- particularly in goal, left back, and attack -- could see a serious push towards a Juventus side who are only three points out of reach.