Chievo – Back to basics with Di Carlo
By David, BettingExpert.com | Published
Before heading to pastures anew towards Sampdoria, thinking that that would be just one step ahead in a series of many that would lead towards fast career advancement, Di Carlo had lead Chievo through a solid and safe season where they proved themselves dominant with the smaller sides and eager to surprise occasionally with the bigger teams. We would expect nothing else from them this year.
Manager: Di Carlo
Tactics: 4-3-1-2
Players In: Hetemaj, Paloschi, Cruzado, Bradley, Fatic, Acerbi, Bassoli, Silvestri
Players Out: Constant, Granoche, Mantovani, Rickler
Current Probable Formation: Sorrentino, Frey, Andreolli, Cesar, Jokic, Bradley, Rigoni, Hetemaj, Cruzado, Pellisier, Moscardelli
This club has surprised us year after year with the ease with which it secures its Serie A targets, faithful to its philosophy and built on a framework that stands out as an example to all small clubs seeking long term success.
Once again their market has been nothing to get excited about. The discovery of Constant from the lower division of French football has paid out as a good investment. He was very important for the team last season and that attracted the attention of a number of clubs. He was finally sold to Genoa. Chievo were good at looking around and getting players with similar characteristics to replace him. From relegated Chievo they got Finnish international Perparim Hetemaj, adding on to the list of internationals at Chievo having already acquired the services of 24-year old American Bradley. Both should be starters in Di Carlo’s midfield requiring much pace to handle both the attacking and the defensive duties he will be imposing on them.
Inspiration may be coming from the gamble they took on Cruzado. The South American is still young and may need time to figure out how to entangle himself from the tight defensive lines in Serie A but he should be useful given that he is the only real alternative behind the strikers.
Speaking of strikers the team has also managed to get hold of one of the more promising prospects in Italian football, Paloschi. He was originally owned by Milan but the Rossoneri have been sending him out for loan spells to increase his level of maturity in the league. Frequently mentioned in the same sentence alongside the name ‘Inzaghi’ his style does in fact resemble the veteran’s. Comparisons do hold up really well as you can witness Paloschi sitting on the offside line waiting for a ball he can finish into the net. His off the ball runs make him a nuisance for defenders and there is no doubt he can become useful for the team. His only shortcoming may be that he does not possess the strength usually appreciated by latter versions of Chievo.
The trick at Chievo is handing over the reins to a manager that will do just what the squad is constructed for. There is no room for much experiments at Chievo, affording at max a playmaker with his wings held in check lest he wanders inefficiently on the green surface for too long. Defence means a lot in Italian football and having a solid backline will eventually take you to that 40-point mark that guarantees permanence in the top flight.
Legendary are Del Neri’s teams of 2001/02, making their debut in Serie and finishing fifth, and that of the subsequent year, confirming themselves at high levels against all odds and finishing seventh in the final standings. That team was aggressive, feared nobody and looked no one in the face when pushing on with its attacking game. Taking those kind of risks today has been something left in store for the braver of managers.
Pioli was the kind to keep faithful to Di Carlo’s ‘defend and counter attack’ policy. The team has now assimilated those teachings and will not be keen to unlearn any of that. 4-3-1-2 will be the formation utilized by Di Carlo – the set up he knows best – with Cruzado asked to inspire captain Pellisier and another striking partner who will often change as the season goes on.
There are no glamour names in defence but they know how to stand firm and keep it tight. Sorrentino is a goalkeeper Di Carlo can rely on and the same can be said about a midfield that will not shy away from burning out the lungs in order to keep opposition at bay. Both Hetemaj and Bradley will have to help in getting the ball forward as well but goals should mainly be coming from the captain, Pellisier.
Predicted finishing position: 14th
The main defect in this set up is the dependence on very few players for goals. Pellisier and Cruzado, the latter mainly to increase the pace and sudden change from defensive to offensive. Expect a lot of low scoring matches and quite a number of clean sheets. Whether the three points come their way will depend a lot on how their key attacking men perform. Perhaps with Paloschi they may be able to grab more but we will have to wait and see if Di Carlo will prefer the young striker’s positioning qualities to the raw power of the other attacking alternatives in the squad.
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