Only two points in the last six games for Palladino, a tactical system that doesn’t hold up: the Viola need to recharge
Conceding goals and not scoring any in numerical superiority is a more unique than rare case in the Italian championship. Fiorentina achieved the opposite on Sunday against Torino, giving the unequivocal and definitive signal of a crisis already creeping. Viola have scored just two points in their last six games, the splendid revelation of October seems lost, far away: the tactical system has imploded, the climate in the locker room seems anything but serene, judging by Pradè’s recent statements ( “We’re pissed off”) or by Captain Ranieri (“We miss going an extra run for our teammate”). The victory in Serie A has been missing since December 8th.
The turn
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Fiorentina’s season could be described with a sinusoidal graph: slow start, sensational autumn rise, winter decline. Lunges and bounces. Perhaps the eight consecutive successes in the championship were an illusion and raised expectations too much, but we still haven’t understood who the real Viola is: after almost thirty games of the season this is probably the real alarm. The beginning was difficult: Palladino he has almost completely changed the tactical approach of the last three years with Italiano, trying to import “his” 3-4-2-1. A system that has proven to be poorly suited to the characteristics of the squad, full of wingers and little in the way of attacking midfielders in the strict sense. Having overcome the Conference playoffs with difficulty (on penalties with Puskas Akademia) and after 4 days of Serie A without a win, the turning point came at half-time of the match against Lazio: the 3-4-2-1 was set aside and change to 4-2-3-1. And first success in the championship (with a double penalty from Gudmundsson). From that moment on, it was as if Fiorentina recognized themselves in the tactical outfit they were wearing. In October the take-off and the best Viola: 2-1 against Milan, 6-0 against Lecce, 5-1 against Roma. Agile, easy-going, quick Fiorentina. Pretty. And even third after the success of Como. But some November creaks had already been felt: the forward tension weakened, the tendency towards long balls for Kean to get back into the open field increased. Moise has been in very good shape for a long time, but also sole terminal of the offensive maneuver. And a slight decline has lowered the team’s effectiveness.
Problems and solutions
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What was supposed to be the graduation exam then turned into a nightmare. Against Inter, fear for Bove. And the loss. Very heavy. On a psychological and also tactical level. In the “new” 4-2-3-1, Edo was the element of balance, a left winger but also an added midfielder. Very useful. From there, the rebound against Cagliari, the eighth victory, then the decline. Without Bove, Fiorentina was no longer able to support and endure a de facto structure with 4 tipsincluding two external players who don’t help much. And statistics in hand do not have enough impact not only in goals but also in terms of creating chances. The quality midfielder is no longer able to cover the space even when sliding, the defense found itself exposed. And the group, cohesive thanks to the results, was also fragmented due to the retirement of the old leaders (Biraghi, Mandragora, Martinez Quarta sold). They were legitimate choices by Palladino but the Viola must quickly find new leaders. And maybe get more from new purchases: Colpani, GudmundssonRichardson, Pongracic who has seen little or nothing. The solution, as at the beginning, could be another tactical adjustment, after all Palladino has already shown that he knows how to be flexible and Folorunsho has the pace and physique for the two phases: perhaps 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 sacrificing the wingers but with very high full-backs. Kean would have “closer” assistance, the midfielder more solidity. But the most demanding work is psychological, on the group. Since the loss of Bove, Viola has never been the same. He must find himself.
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