The Friedkin Group: Roma Fan’s Point Of View - Q&A
- Spirit of The News
- Dec 19, 2024
- 4 min read
Today I spoke to Roma fan @road_to_bilbao24.25 (Instagram) regarding their opinion on The Friedkin Group and the work they have done during their ownership of Italian giants Roma.
Here are the questions and responses I received:
1. How would you describe the overall impact of the Friedkin Group on AS Rome since they arrived?
“AS Roma hasn't won a European trophy since about 1960. When Dan and Ryan arrived we managed to triumph in the first edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Thanks to them José Mourinho, Dybala and Lukaku landed in the capital. Important is not only the path of the Conference League, but also of all the other European years, such as the final in Budapest, last year's semifinal... In short, they gave a lot back then Rome, but they make mistakes in many points of view.”
“Unfortunately, after exonerating José (a choice I don't agree with), they took an inexperienced coach like Daniele De Rossi. It was a bet and it went great, so hats off. The problem comes after they made a 110 million market based on the De Rossi program, and after renewing it for three years, they dismissed it after four league games. Shameful. Replaced with an incompetent and hated technician throughout Rome. Unfortunately, the bet didn't go well this time and they had to replace him with Claudio Ranieri, the only good choice made in the last two seasons. In short, they are great entrepreneurs, from this point of view they are impeccable, but they don't understand much about football. If I had to give him a vote we are on the 5½.”
2. What are the most significant changes or improvements you've noticed at the club under their management?
“The changes since their arrival have been many, but the most important is that thanks to them some football stars have arrived (Dybala for example), this then helped Roma to climb to the top of Europe. There haven't been many generic improvements, but all in all they are doing better than Pallotta. Also with regard to the tradition of the Club, reported a little higher up through vintage "gadgets". This means a lot to us.”
3. How do they deal with the relationship with the fans and communication? Do they seem connected to the supporters?
“They never talk, there is never a press conference, never a complaint to referees and/or situations created to disadvantage the club. They make everything go well in short. There is no communication. As for the relationship with the fans, he is hated throughout Rome. Everyone wants me to sell it to someone more competent and any choice I make is considered wrong. Rome is a very hot square, but actually many of the things he decides to do are negative, as well as the relationship with us fans.”
4. What was their approach to investment, both for team development and infrastructure?
“They have never had money problems, they have always been available to pay off debts and renew the ASR structures. The sports center of Trigoria della Roma has been renovated to try to improve it. In this respect you can't say anything to him, even with regard to the expenses for the players. We have the 4th salary in Serie A, with expensive players who get a very high salary. There are never problems in the economic aspect, for every situation.”
5. Are there aspects where you think their management has been deficient or that they need to improve?
“They should be more present with the fans and put themselves in their shoes. Their problem here in Rome has always been this. For us, our old coat of arms (capitoline wolf with the ASR below) means everything, as it represents us from every point of view. Even if they put it on some special jersey every now and then, they have never decided to set it as Roma's official coat of arms. Also the date of birth. The Roma Sports Association was born on 07/22/1927, but the meeting for the foundation took place on 06/07/1927.”
“Unfortunately they put this last date as our birth, or rather, they didn't change it after Pallotta set it. We have made many protests and requests about it, but they still haven't given us anything back. Moreover, as I have already said several times, they are too far from Rome, AS Roma and the Romanisti. They could do much better with very little. They began to become more hated in Rome after the dismissal of José Mourinho, in fact that was the point of no return, and since then they are increasingly "unfriendly" to all the fans here in Rome.”
6. Based on their work with Roma, do you think they can be successful in making Everton competitive in the Premier League?
“In my opinion, since they are great entrepreneurs, they focus more on Everton than on Roma, as Everton is in the Premier League and brings more money. Anyway, I still have confidence and I'm sure that their intent is to make the teams more competitive. Surely with them there will be more chances that high-level and experienced members will arrive. In addition, we have more possibilities to make player exchanges with you, which can be suitable for both companies. In short, two priorities are better than just one. I am sure that both you and we will be able to take advantage of this situation.”
Some really interesting answers and some things to look out for in the future for both Everton and Roma under the ownership of TFG.
Comments