Milan teams. The opposite can be seen with Andrea Agnelli and Juventus.
However, every club must have a solid base in the squad in order to be effective. A strong goalkeeper, central defenders, midfielders and a top striker can make all of the difference in the world.
This rings true for everyone, even relegation candidates like Catania. The Rossazzurri welcomed back their old deep lying playmaker Francesco Lodi, who they sorely missed while he was flopping at Genoa.
He completed the spine of the squad. Mariano Andujar represents the bottom vertebrae, providing clutch goalkeeping and command of his penalty area. Nicolas Spolli, arguably the Elefanti’s best player this season, makes up a third of the middle portion of the structure.
Lodi is another third and Pablo Barrientos is the remaining portion. At the top, Gonzalo Bergessio delivers the goal scoring exploits. So why have the Etnei been so abysmal this season compared to their record breaking 2012/13 campaign?
President Antonino Pulvirenti made a mid-season coaching change, which isn’t always the best idea. Rolando Maran was sacked in October, but his replacement Luigi De Canio didn’t fare much better, so the former was brought back. However, that hasn’t been the main issue for Catania.
Lodi’s return has certainly injected a rush of confidence within the squad, but there’s more to it. It’s the fact that the five pillars have only played together three times.
Of course, Lodi didn’t arrive until January, plus Andujar had already left for Napoli, but was called back after Alberto Frison picked up an injury. However, the numbers don’t lie. In the three matches all five have started for Catania, the Rossazzurri have won once (3-1 against Lazio on February 16th) and drawn twice (0-0 versus Parma, 1-1 with Cagliari in their last game).
In the Parma game, Spolli delivered a man of the match performance for the Sicilians, completing 11 clearances (nine of them with his head), and making three interceptions. The Argentine had a similar showing against Lazio, but he also scored the decisive second goal. When he faced Cagliari, he had a 91% pass completion rate, seven interceptions, four tackles, and 15 clearances.
Bergessio scored the goal in that match, while Lodi was the engine keeping it all flowing in attack. Barrientos was the spark plug that attracted opposing defenders so his strike partner could get free space from his marker.
It’s no coincidence that when these five combine, Catania look like a much different team. They’re organized at the back, the counter attack is ruthless and their offence is lethal. Injuries, transfers and suspensions have put a damper on the season, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be salvaged.
Assuming they all stay healthy, then the Rossazzurri have a great chance at survival. Their old tactician Maran is back at the helm, so if anyone is going to get the best out of all of them, it’s the Italian. As long as they’re working together, then Catania are in safe hands.
