Kostas Tsimikas’ loan spell at Roma is not on an upward trend as he was substituted at half-time for the second time this season.
Tsimikas He made six appearances for Roma in all competitions, but only played 90 minutes once, which was his first start for the Italian side.
Since then, the 29-year-old has been in and out of the team, with another chance to stake a claim for a permanent job thwarted by what has been described as a ‘lazy’ performance.
Tsimikas returned to the starting line-up in Roma’s 1-0 win against Sassuolo on Sunday, having remained unused in Europa League action for a week.
Tsimikas acted as a left wing-back and made twenty ball contacts, made two crosses and made only one defensive contribution. FotMoband he never came out for the second half.
Italian outlet The Romanist rated his 45-minute performance 5.5 out of 10, as he “failed to capitalize on the opportunity” as he was “lazy in his runs and crosses, despite his ideal position.”
We are RomeMeanwhile, making no bones about it, the Greek international was, according to him, the “protagonist of many wrong crosses, little reliability in the defensive phase and several lost balls.”
Tsimikas was also subbed off at half-time during Roma’s Europa League defeat to Lille earlier this month, with manager Gian Piero Gasperini proving he is prepared to be ruthless.
However, he wasn’t the only time a Liverpool loanee was substituted at half-time this week James McConnell also only played the first 45 minutes of Ajax’s 3-2 win against Twente FC.
It was a tactical double change from manager John Heitinga, who saw some of the pressure eased as his side scored three goals in seven minutes to secure their first win since September.
Fellow borrower Vitezslav Jaros watched the victory from the bench as 41-year-old Remko Pasveer took on the role of starting goalkeeper instead.
Heitinga explained his choice after the match, saying: “I’ll take it one match at a time. I thought it was important to play with the same line-up, including the goalkeeper.”
“Remko has some experience, also with his coaching. In the phase we are in, it can all be vulnerable, so it is good to have a goalkeeper you can rely on for that.”
Elsewhere, James Norris featured in the final minutes of Shelbourne’s impressive two-goal comeback in the Dublin derby which secured European football for next season.
Liverpool Loans Overview
• Kostas Tsimiks (Roma) – 45 minutes versus acid
•James McConnell (Ajax) – 45 minutes vs. Twente
• Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City) – 29 minutes vs Bristol City
• Luca Stephenson (Dundee United) – 67 minutes vs St. Mirren
•James Norris (Shelbourne) – 8 minutes vs. Bohemians
Unused: Vitezslav Jaros, James Balagizi
Omitted: Harvey Elliott, Harvey Davies (injury), Isaac Mabaya (injury)
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