The mythology and the guru halo that sometimes surround a coach, even before he succeeds in establishing himself and working continuously, often end up clipping the wings of a coach and representing a useless deformation.
The case of Thiago Motta, in its relationship with the A league, is partly affected by the price already paid to Genoa of having to lead a team for the first time beyond the context of the youth teams, to do it with all the expectations related to the career as a footballer and, above all, to deal with the well-known issue of the so-called “2-7-2” (the 4-3-3 seen from left to right).
With all the irony of the case. All without counting additional difficulties, those connected with the arrival at the helm of the Spice orphan of Italian: arriving after the coach who brought a team to Serie A for the first time and who even managed to save it (in a convincing way) is not an easy prospect to measure against. There was no shortage and no shortage of aspects that make Thiago Motta’s profile the typical one of the technician put at the goal, perhaps replaced by a more experienced coach, but at the same time the reasons for not giving life to overturns, not to change leadership, could be more evident. technique.
Saying that the Spezia season is so far in line with the objectives set could be obvious but, certainly, it helps to put a question at the center of everything: the Ligurians are fourth last, yes, but they have 5 points ahead of Genoa third from bottom in the standings. Last year, after the first round, Spezia was further ahead in the standings (fifteenth, with 2 points more than the current 16) but the third from last place was closer, the points of advantage over Cagliari and Parma were in fact 4.
At the same time, Thiago Motta’s team sees Venice ahead of them (just one point higher) and the Udinese-Sampdoria team (3 points). A ranking situation certainly not compromised, far from it, for a team that obviously started with the ambition of aiming for another historic salvation. Looking at the results obtained in the middle of the championship we can see how the Spezia scored points in several potential head-to-head matches: 2-2 with Cagliari, 2-1 wins with Venice away and with Salernitana at home, 1-1 with Genoa and Empoli.
But not only: victories like those on Turin and Naples and draws like the one with Sassuolo add points in some surprising and unexpected ways, decisive for this +5 on the red zone. At the same time it can be seen how, compared to the teams that occupy the last three places (Genoa, Cagliari and Salernitana), Spezia tried to develop a game identity, showed personality even away (in part this is also shown by the data on average ball possession away from home).
Compared to Genoa and Cagliari, then, Motta’s Spezia manages to score more players: 10 different elements on the net for Spezia, 8 for Genoa and just 6 for Cagliari. Then there is the theme of the turning point marked by transition to 3-5-2 versus 4-2-3-1: with the new form, Spezia scored 5 points in 5 games, with the surprising victory of Napoli and excellent draws with Empoli and Sassuolo; with 4-2-3-1 (the most used form up to now) 6 points had arrived in 9 games overall.
Certainly the initial assumptions, those of a brighter football on the groove traced by the Italian, hinted at something different on the game front but, considering internal discontent and the overall value of the squad, even a more conservative metamorphosis (paying attention to the point when needed) does not thus it appears deleterious or unforgivable. The downside, the less bright one, concerns the presence of “cases” such as the one linked to Nzola (late to a meeting and left out as a result) and a difficult relationship with the square, also considering the dispute after the defeat of Cup with Lecce.
Alongside the internal issues there are some assessments that, in the broadest sense, affect the entire panorama of Serie A. Already mentioned about the points of departure from the third from last, today 5, it should also be noted how so far the exemptions are certainly not paying positively: Salernitana, Cagliari and Genoa have already changed their coach but the situation, in all cases, has remained critical or has even become more delicate.
Would a change of course at La Spezia have different and more comforting results? Difficult to imagine, that is, difficult to imagine such a strong impact from a new coach to be able to achieve better results than Thiago Motta. At the same time, while underlining a less brilliant game in recent releases, the current coach must be accounted for in the first part of the season having given away a Spezia that is anything but catenacciaro, therefore no speculation and no desire to become a priori waiters.
The fact that Salernitana, Genoa and Cagliari are behind La Spezia both as ball possession and as shots on goal is not accidental, just as it is clear that – compared to those who follow in the standings – there are singles capable of showing themselves positively inside of the collective. The process of “pacification” with the square and society, the overcoming of cases and rumors about new coaches, will therefore be a vital stage to better approach a second round that will start with already fundamental clashes, with Verona and above all Genoa, which will say a lot about the actual possibility of keeping the distance on the third last place.
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