Lazio 2-0 Palermo: Cosmi Refuses To Change System

Date: 6th March 2011 at 11:56pm
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Serse Cosmi, newly appointed Palermo manager was saddled with the task of ending Palermo’s three game losing streak. Cosmi, a manager who likes his teams playing with 3 centre-backs decided to employ the same system today with Palermo. Palermo played a 3-5-1-1. Nocerino began at the base of the midfield. Migliaccio played as a shuttler on the left. Ilicic and Pastore played similar roles as playmakers but Ilicic was positioned deeper and had defensive duties.

Edoardo Reja played a 4-2-3-1. Zarate played on the left flank looking to cut inside. Sculli started on the right with the intention of making inside runs behind the defence. Matuzalem and Ledesma both held their position ahead of the defence with Ledesma playing as regista (deep lying playmaker) for the side.

PALERMO AT A DISADVANTAGE

As seen in the formations, Palermo were bound to have problems playing with 5 defenders against 3 forwards. This scenario was exploited by Lazio on both goals.

Early on in the game, Palermo allowed Lazio the space to control the ball in deep positions, with Matuzalem and Ledesma being unmarked at times. Ledesma utilized his passing ability to release Guiseppe Sculli whose inside run was unpicked by neither Cassani nor Munoz and Sculli scored. This exact scenario was replicated on the second goal scored by Sculli, once again assisted by Ledesma. There was confusion between Munoz and Cassani on whose duty it was to mark Sculli. These goals came 7 and 18 minutes into the first half.

PALERMO’S ATTACKING GAME

As Cosmi played with 3 centre-backs, the intention was to utilize the overlapping runs of Balzaretti and Cassani to stretch Lazio. This tactic had mixed success for two reasons:

– Defensive Wingers: Sculli did a good job tracking back and this reduced the threat of the overlapping full-back. Sculli switched flanks with Zarate from time to time. Zarate rarely did track back and whenever Zarate played on Lazio’s left, Cassani’s wing-play was successful and threatening. The result was the same when Zarate played on the right, Balzaretti looked more threatening on the attack.

– Lack of double shuttlers: Palermo usually play with two shuttlers, usually Nocerino and one of Acquah, Kurtic and Bacinovic. This time, there was only one, Migliaccio and his combination with Balzaretti was not so productive. Cosmi would have done better to swap Migliaccio and Nocerino in his starting line-up as Nocerino usually works with Balzaretti.

PASTORE, ILICIC AND HERNANDEZ

Pastore and Ilicic were covered by Ledesma and Matuzalem who tracked them even when they moved wide. Hernandez was man-marked by Biava and due to the presence of a spare man in Stendardo, anyone that got through was closed down or crowded out. At the other end, the presence of a redundant centre-back for Palermo was telling as 3 players, Andelkovic, Bovo and Munoz were up against only Floccari. Cosmi would have done well to pull off one centre-back and bring on an extra-shuttler to help Palermo’s wing-play.

SAME STORY IN SECOND HALF

At the start of the second half, Cosmi pulled off Andelkovic for an experienced regista in Fabio Liverani. He then moved Migliaccio into the centre-back role with Bovo at right centre-back. Nocerino moved into the left shuttler role for Palermo.

Liverani’s influence on the game was limited as he was covered by both Hernanes and Floccari. The switching between Sculli and Zarate finally stopped. Sculli stayed on the Lazio’s right while Zarate was on the left. Sculli was resigned to defensive duties until he got tired and was replaced by Alvaro Gonzalez in the 52nd minute. Alvaro Gonzalez and Scaloni did a good job covering Balzaretti and any movement by Nocerino. This meant Cassani was the more dangerous wing-back for most of the 2nd half for Palermo putting in a number of crosses. Palermo also did more pressing from the front thereby limiting Ledesma/Matuzalem impart on attacking play for Lazio who seemed resigned to defensive duties for most of the second half. This though didn’t help break down Lazio, it only meant Lazio created little in attack apart from individual brilliance from Hernanes or Zarate.

BRING ON THE SUBS

Paolucci came on for Hernandez who had been marked out of the game by Biava. Mark Bresciano came on for Hernanes and Acquah came on for Ilicic with 15 minutes left to play. Bresciano played deeper than Hernanes with Floccari and sometimes Zarate covering Liverani. Gonzalez and Scaloni contained Nocerino and Balzaretti who had very little joy on this flank. Acquah failed to get forward/wide and combine effectively with Cassani but Cassani still enjoyed more success in his duel with Radu than Balzaretti ever enjoyed. The centre defensive pairing of Biava and Stendardo always managed to beat Paolucci to any crosses though and Lazio saw the game out.

OVERVIEW

– Cosmi’s system was bound to experience problems with wide players making runs behind the defence and the presence of a redundant centre-back was always going to make the side suffer elsewhere.

– Cosmi brought on Liverani but still decided to play Migliaccio in defence. Moving Migliaccio into midfield when Ilicic was still on might have brought more rewards as Lazio rarely looked to attack. A return to the 4-3-2-1 with two shuttlers and two trequartisti would have been more attacking and as the saying goes, “Audere est Facere”

– Edoardo Reja and his players have to given some credit. His system (though not specific for this game) was spot on and he selected and managed his players well with the right line-up and substitutions.

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