Opinion: Four things to look out for as new season begins

Ahead of the start of the new season, we asked our columnist to pick out four key things he is looking forward to seeing from the Giallorossi this term…

Roma get their 2019-20 season underway on Sunday evening, as Genoa come to the Stadio Olimpico. With a new coach and a host of new players, it promises to be an intriguing campaign for the Giallorossi.

Here are some things to look out for from Paulo Fonseca’s side as the competitive action kicks off in earnest…

1. Cengiz, Zaniolo and Kluivert continue their development

With Roma possessing three of the most talented youngsters in Italy - Cengiz Under, Nicolo Zaniolo and Justin Kluivert - it will be fascinating to see how they continue their development under Fonseca's guidance.

Likely to be used regularly in the Portuguese's plans, they should help form a fearsome frontline alongside Edin Dzeko.

Full of quality and determined to stamp their mark for the Giallorossi, the trio have all shown flashes of their class over the past 12 months – and will now be looking to take that next step and deliver such quality on a regular basis.

While there's every chance they'll do that, all three are still young – and thus will suffer the growing pains all players go through - and patience needs to be exercised as they hone their craft further.

In addition, they need to be given some time to fully assimilate to Fonseca's methods and the new signings around them.

For Cengiz, who's just signed a new contract and is now in his third season with the Giallorossi, his dynamism on the dribble, wicked speed, rapid changes of direction and technical qualities will be crucial components for Roma this term – especially as he is likely to be the regular starter on the right flank.

Capable of both scoring and creating, Cengiz has shown he has the ability to be a real game changer in the final third, as his 14 goals and 13 assists from his two seasons illustrate.

After a breakthrough campaign in 2018-19, Zaniolo will be looking to build on this for the crusade ahead. Another one who has just penned a new deal, Zaniolo will be deployed either out wide or centrally within Fonseca's framework – although he may be in and out of the team on occasions.

Zaniolo’s form perhaps dipped late on in his eye-catching last season, but the vital experience and confidence he gained from that – and the stability provided by that contract extension - should lay the groundwork for him to start to address that this term.

Meanwhile, in Kluivert's case, the Dutchman will be hoping to cement his place and improve on his first year in the capital, where he showed glimpses of his tremendous talent but didn't play as much as he would have liked.

Boasting good close control and such a threat in 1v1s, this allied with his speed, two-footed passing (and crossing) skills and smart movement, should mean Fonseca has attributes to work with as he plans his tactical approach. Tracking his progress will certainly be intriguing, as the confident forward looks to make a step up after a season of adjustment in Italy.

2. Fonseca begins long process of implementing his philosophy

Throughout the pre-season, there's been promising signs of just how effectively Fonseca is starting to implement his philosophy at Roma.

To start with the defensive side, and the high pressing has been fierce and well-coordinated, as he wants his team to force turnovers high and make life as difficult as possible for opponents to build attacks. Accompanying this with some aggressive counterpressing and solid mid block organisation, and there's been many signs that Roma will be a tough outfit to face off against.

Meanwhile, on the attacking end, his tactics are bedding in nicely too. Asking his team to build out from the back whenever possible, they've impressed when doing so. Able to cut through opponents with their boldness with the ball and sound structures, they've created chances and scored goals with some superb end-to-end passages.

With Dzeko leading the line with aplomb, the fullbacks relentlessly bombing on to provide width and the wingers drifting infield, they've persistently asked questions of their adversaries throughout the summer. The way he's asked for plenty of rotations across his frontline and got many players in key central areas has enhanced their threat too.

The early signs have been promising, but competitive action is a different beast altogether. Every coach needs time to implement his philosophy and, while Fonseca will certainly need that, it will be interesting to see how the progression goes.

3. Fans get behind evolving side

It's been interesting to see the fans start to embrace this new-look Roma team. With sporting director Gianluca Petrachi bringing in many quality players with Serie A experience to bolster the squad ahead of the new term, the Roma faithful have reasons to expect something different from the past campaign.

Bringing in a strong core of Italian players like Leonardo Spinazzola, Gianluca Mancini and Davide Zappacosta to go with Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Zaniolo and Alessandro Florenzi, Roma are setting themselves up to be key contributors to the national team over the coming years – and perhaps the looming European Championships will provide an extra incentive for those players to perform to their best.

Also acquiring proven Serie A performers in the form of Jordan Veretout and Amadou Diawara, plus an elite goalkeeper in Pau Lopez, the transfer dealings have addressed some of the needs within the squad.

After a disappointing conclusion to last season, work has been done to change things ahead of the new campaign.

With new players and new approach some growing pains are inevitable – hopefully the fans remain patient as the playing staff work towards getting the club back to where it wants to be.

4. Dzeko aims to hit ground running after future is resolved

With uncertainty surrounding whether or not Dzeko would remain at Roma for much of pre-season, his recent decision to stay underlines his strong connection to his teammates, the club, the supporters and the city.

"It makes me happy to know other people are glad that I’ve remained here along with my teammates. I don’t want to call them just that, they’re friends, brothers," the player himself insisted.

So delighted that the Bosnian chose to remain with the Giallorossi, club captain Alessandro Florenzi even offered him the armband as a token of his gratitude, which Dzeko politely declined.

But now with his future sorted, he will be keen to repay the faith of everyone around him.

Having impressed during pre-season on his way to bagging three goals and two assists, he's now right up to speed with Fonseca's system and what he expects from his forward – with both parties likely to benefit from the clear understanding they have already developed.

Feeling respected, appreciated and loved in Rome, Dzeko is primed to be an integral component of this interesting Roma team.

A former Serie A top goalscorer, Dzeko has shown how he can thrive when he is feeling good and the team is built to play to his strengths - and will be looking to rediscover that sort of groove this term.

Come the weekend against Genoa, he'll be looking to put on a show in front of the Olimpico faithful to kick off the season in style.