Parma’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Udinese in the last match was, by coach Roberto Donadoni’s own admission, the worst game he had overseen as coach at the Ennio Tardini. “It seemed like we were participating in another event, not a football match,” said the coach.
If that event was attempting to make the game as comfortable as possible for the Zebrette, the Crociati were thoroughly impressive. Unfortunately, that probably wasn’t the original aim, and in light of the dismal display, captain Alessandro Lucarelli came out and apologised to the fans. This time last season Parma had begun their record-breaking run-in, which would see them win every game from now until the end of the season. Now, they’ve delivered this.
While bad defending – principally from the ever-unpredictable Fabiano Santacroce, but also from the usually-excellent Gabriel Paletta – was partly at fault, the team struggled to create offensively too. The absence of box-to-box midfielder Marco Parolo was felt hugely. A player who works hard off the ball and is fairly unspectacular on it, he doesn’t always get the credit he deserves. It’s a case of not knowing what you’ve lost until it’s gone.
His energy always helps to link play, and rarely does he give it away. In his absence, Donadoni decided to play Jonathan Biabiany – a nominal winger – in the centre of midfield – a decision which unsurprisingly didn’t play dividends. In a midfield already comprising of two creative players – Jaime Valdes and Marco Marchionni – the absence of someone to add steel and defensive awareness meant Parma struggled hugely.
However, the decision to start with Biabiany as a central midfielder revealed something interesting about Donadoni’s faith in the midfielders he has at his disposal. Sotiris Ninis still clearly isn’t trusted, as he retained his position on the bench. January arrival Alvaro Ampuero hasn’t yet done enough to warrant a place in the starting eleven, and Daniele Galloppa and McDonald Mariga are still not yet fully fit after their injuries.
Combined with recently disappointing performances from Valdes and Marchionni, and things look worryingly shallow in the centre of midfield. Considering how revelatory Valdes was last season and Marchionni earlier this campaign, their recent decline has been quite alarming. Valdes has gone from being the Crociati‘s Andrea Pirlo – the heartbeat of the team – linked with Inter in the January transfer market, to a midfield liability.
Struggling to carve chances open as he was with long, raking passes last season, it means Parma have come to rely on the box-to-box energy of Parolo instead. The upshot is that when he’s unavailable – and his ready-made replacements are unfit – the situation is bleak.
Still a Cesena player, this game has served to demonstrate just how important Parolo is to Parma, and should hopefully encourage president Tommaso Ghirardi to get his wallet out and make the deal permanent. Floating in mid-table in Serie B, Cesena won’t be in Serie A next season, though the Gialloblu need to make sure the former Italian international still is.
