Four thoughts on Roma-Lecce

Distribution of play

Direction of attacks

Luis Enrique has weathered the storm 

After a summer of speculation and an underwhelming start to the season, Luis Enrique – and his ideas – have finally seemed to have taken hold at Roma. The performance against Lecce was wasteful and frustrating, but it showed progress. The players now seem to be on the same wavelength as their boss, and the positive to be taken from the fact that they only managed to scrape a 2-1 win against the third-from-bottom Salentini despite dominating is that they, well, dominated. 10 of the Giallorossi shots were wasted, but good things can only come of a team that can string together almost 700 successful passes and control 68% of the possession and 64% of the territory, regardless of the opposition. Enrique's style is different from that of Barcelona, and commentators who suggest otherwise are either lazy or just stupid, but the Spaniard has brought something of his previous employers with him, and if that Cruyffian magic can be imported to Rome from the Amsterdam of yesteryear via Catalonia and fused with the tactical astuteness and steely physicality embodied by local players like Daniele De Rossi, than Roma could really become a beautiful – and terrifying – thing.

“I am satisfied with both the performance and the result," the Spaniard said afterwards. "You have to put the ball in the net for it to count, but I saw the team is improving. Knowing how to suffer under pressure is also an important quality.

Disappointment should be tempered with optimism 

That fans and media alike could be a little underwhelmed about a 2-1 win in which Roma had a (gorgeous) goal incorrectly disallowed for off-side shows how high expectations are in the capital, and while it would be easy to lament the wasted chances or lambast those who wasted them, it should be noted that Roma won the game with only two recognised defenders (two and a half, if you give Rosi that much). The two centre backs were third and fourth choice, and the left-back was a converted winger.

Then there was that goal. "It’s a terrible shame for Osvaldo," said Luis Enrique of the forward's disallowed goal, "as he played a very complete game today and I am told the goal was valid. It was an incredible finish." In fact, it was a terrible shame for the whole side, as a 3-1 scoreline looks much more certain and would have done much to impress fans, media and perhaps even some future opposition.

Bojan needs to grow up – fast 

The comment about not lambasting those who wasted the chances being said, Bojan needs to impress quickly if he's to keep his place. Though his loan deal is quite convoluted, the value Barcelona have put on Krkic is a simple, round and rather large figure: €40 million. So far, he's done little to prove he's worth it. Setting club records – even at a powerhouse like Barca – will only get a player so far; eventually, he'll have to prove that he's able to adapt to Serie A, ready to be the sort of leading figure a €40 million price tag would suggest – and show all and sundry that he's capable of finishing. His squandered chances against Lecce drew derision from the Roma faithful on Sunday night and if he continues to squander goals it won't be too long before they're calling for him to be shown the door.

Julio Sergio is a liability that Lecce can ill-afford

One good season – even if it did include a key penalty save against fierce rivals Lazio – does not a good keeper make, and Roma fans were undoubtedly delighted that the Brazilian liability is no longer on their books. Gago's goal was an impressive piece of opportunism, but any keeper with a serious claim to being of top-flight quality should have done better. The former Roma stopper made a couple of good saves too, and that's part of his problem – you just don't know what Julio Sergio you're going to get. Lecce no doubt thought that taking a gamble on a player that had a lot of experience at European football's highest levels would be a boon in their battle at the bottom of the table, but now, in 18th position, they can ill-afford to ship the silly goals that he'll be responsible for. Little wonder that Lecce are the 33-year-old's 11th club.