with "lazy" Kostas Tsimikas critiqued

Kostas Tsimikas‘ loan spell at Roma is not on an upward trajectory, having been substituted at half-time for the second time this season.

Tsimikas has featured six times for Roma across all competitions but has played just 90 minutes once, which was in his first start for the Italian side.

Since then, the 29-year-old has been in and out of the team, and another opportunity to stake a claim for a regular position was thwarted with what has been described as a “lazy” performance.

Tsimikas returned to the starting lineup in Roma’s 1-0 win against Sassuolo on Sunday after going unused in Europa League action during the week.

Operating as the left wing-back, Tsimikas had 20 touches, miscued his two crosses and made just one defensive contribution, as per FotMob, and he never came out for the second half.

Italian outlet Il Romanista rated his 45-minute outing 5.5-out-of-10 as he “fails to capitalise on the opportunity” having been “lazy in his runs and crosses, despite his ideal position.”

Siamo la Roma, meanwhile, pulled no punches, writing the Greek international was the “protagonist of many wrong crosses, little reliability in the defensive phase and several lost balls.”

Tsimikas was also pulled at half-time earlier this month during Roma’s Europa League defeat to Lille, with manager Gian Piero Gasperini proving he is prepared to be ruthless.

He was not the only time a Liverpool loanee was subbed at half-time this week, though, as James McConnell also only played the first 45 minutes of Ajax’s 3-2 win against Twente FC.

It was a tactical double substitution from manager John Heitinga, who saw some pressure relieved as his side scored three goals in seven minutes to secure their first win since September.

Fellow loanee Vitezslav Jaros watched the victory from the bench as 41-year-old Remko Pasveer instead took on the role of starting goalkeeper.

Heitinga explained his choice after the match, saying, “I’m going to take it one match at a time. I felt it was important to play with the same lineup, including the goalkeeper.

“Remko has some experience, including his coaching. In the phase we’re in, things can be fragile, so it’s 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 that secured European football for next season.

Liverpool loan roundup

• Kostas Tsimikas (Roma) – 45 mins vs. Sassuolo

• James McConnell (Ajax) – 45 mins vs. Twente

• Lewis Koumas (Birmingham City) – 29 mins vs. Bristol City

• Luca Stephenson (Dundee United) – 67 mins vs. St. Mirren

• James Norris (Shelbourne) – 8 mins vs. Bohemians

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