Maran must unlock Catenaccio Chievo’s shackles

Date: 28th October 2014 at 3:00pm
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Genoa ChievoAfter a 2–1 home defeat at the hands of Genoa under new coach Rolando Maran’s first game, things looked bleak already for Chievo. Worryingly, the arrival of club legend Maran did not seem to provide the expected boost for the players, with the team blowing a first half lead and throwing away the points in the last 20 minutes of the fixture against Genoa.

Chievo’s defensive tactics look anachronistic and the side’s record of just six goals scored this season is the joint second-worse in Serie A. However, the main problem for Chievo is that their negative tactics are being fatally undermined by a general defensive weakness. Indeed the 14 goals conceded from eight games is not good enough for a team that relies on narrow wins and defensive prowess.

However, they are yet to be humiliated in the league and they still look competitive. Relegation is by no means a foregone conclusion.

Maran had mixed fortunes in his time at Catania but he is a good enough coach and popular enough figure at Chievo to lift the team. The 51-year-old did not look happy for much of the game against Genoa and was throwing water bottles around and shouting at his players even when they were in the lead. The side still played like the slow, negative and uninspiring outfit that took to the field under Eugenio Corini’s previous tenure; but Maran can and must change things quickly.

Rolando MaranThe first task must be to get the team to do the simple things well. Far too often against Genoa possession was lost because of sloppy passing. For a side that looks dangerous from attacking set pieces there are major questions about the defence’s ability to deal with high balls into their own box. Both goals against Genoa came from balls whipped into the area. Even when the Flying Donkeys were able to clear the ball, they struggled to deal with the second ball and repel the danger. They cannot continue to play such negative football if they are unable to be more composed at the back.

Central midfielders like  do a job in the middle but some extra imagination is needed. Too often the midfield play against Genoa was broken up by back-and-forth scrappy fouls and this is something Chievo have to avoid, especially at home. They must either trust in the ability of wide players like Ezequiel Schelotto or Valter Birsa to make something happen or try to play more directly and get the most out of their contingent of big-man strikers.

While the most pressing need is to stop conceding so many goals, it wouldn’t hurt for Maran to mould the side into one that looks to play a slightly more attractive brand of football. The obvious source for inspiration has to be Sassuolo. Neither Chievo nor Sassuolo are traditional Serie A sides but the Neroverdi are the far more progressive one of the two. Both are at risk of going down but Sassuolo have more of a positive aura about them whereas the best Chievo seem capable of at the moment is scraping a hard-fought draw.

Chievo’s dour style of football is simply no longer providing the results it once did. Although they can still be pragmatic enough to fight to survive, they need to try and offer something more going forwards.

Paloschi - ChievoAlberto Paloschi is a striker who can make things happen and while Riccardo Meggiorini isn’t the best technically, he can hold the ball up before flicking it on. He would also benefit from his teammates in midfield pushing on to support the attack. Schelotto isn’t the most consistent winger but he can beat a man or buy a foul.

Everyone in Serie A knows how to set up against a Chievo side that wants to sit back and exploit set pieces, with many capable of beating the Gialloblu at their own game. However, Maran’s future is still unwritten. It would be a risk to revolutionise the style but some change is necessary considering the side’s poor form so far this season.

His job will be to get some points on the board before January when reinforcements can be brought in. Most importantly, perhaps Maran will be able to inject some joy and attacking vigour to Chievo who look to be on course for a miserable slide down into Serie B.

The open sky awaits the Donkeys of Chievo, they just need to be brave enough to fly.

Follow Luca Gunby on Twitter at: @Gunbyzono

 

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