Naples, emergency on the left. Conte's countermoves: from Raspadori to 3-5-2

Naples, February 13, 2025 - Two stops on the field, matured in a very painful way (goal conceded in injury time at home by Roma and disappointing draw at Maradona imposed by aUdinese which at times would have deserved something more), contemporary recovery of theInter in the second act against the Fiorentina, but not only that: in these days that are anything but positive for the Napoli the critical issues are increasing by the hour and many have their roots in the recent transfer market session that has left more than a few grumbles. Almost like an involuntary Dantean retaliation, precisely the left lane of the Azzurri, the one where until a few weeks ago he was running around with alternating fortunes Khvisha Kvaratskhelia, is experiencing a deep emergency. For the match of theOlympic against Lazio in fact, they will be out of action in one fell swoop, unless there is a lightning recovery, Mathias Olivera, Leonardo Spinazzola e David Neres, the last to have reached his companions in the infirmary: practically a sort of epidemic that will force Antonio Conte to try to study some countermoves that will necessarily concern the men on the field, but perhaps even the module.

The hypotheses with the 4-3-3

In the first hypothesis, therefore the permanence of the 4-3-3, at the moment on the left there is only one two-way ballot standing which sees James Raspadori in pole position on Cyril Ngonge, with both of them being fitted into a less than congenial role. Ironically, a full-blooded left-handed winger the Napoli he has it at his disposal, even if only for a few days, and it goes by the name of Noah okafor. Tuttavia, to the microphones of Radio Crc the Swiss himself thought about solving the mystery, confirming what had been said for weeks, practically from the medical tests not passed with the Leipzig: currently the former Milan he is struggling with a delay in his physical condition which sees him practically out of action with regards to a possible start, especially on a pitch which is never banal like theOlympic and against one Lazio which, with Coppa Italia and the first leg, has already shown that he knows how to hurt the Azzurri. Therefore, as already happened againstUdinese, to Okay the rosiest prospect speaks of an entrance during the match, perhaps this time with slightly increased playing time thanks to the work of the last few days. A Breakers, in all likelihood, the task of occupying a position on the pitch that had become red-hot and shaky after having been one of the fixed certainties in the last two seasons, first in the year of the tricolour and then in that of the collapse: in both cases the law of kvaratskhelia, for better or for worse for the team and for the former number 77's own streak, not exactly the poster boy for continuity but still always in the heart of a team that has tried to metabolise his departure as best as possible and quickly. Almost as if to punish those who dared to try to turn the page so suddenly, unceremoniously archiving another of the symbols of the Scudetto after having already done so with Victor Osimhen, bad luck has played a part in mutilating all the left-handed full-backs. As has already happened several times in his now long but sobbing adventure in blue, it could therefore be the turn of Breakers confirming himself as both a wild card and a talisman: a thankless double task for a player who in recent times has made no secret of demanding more space and more consideration after an all too long apprenticeship in the shadow of Vesuvius.

The hypotheses with the 3-5-2

Ironically, despite the thankless role of eternal backup, almost a stopgap, Breakers Saturday at 18 all 'Olympic could still start from the bench. This time, however, the internal hierarchies of a Napoli who never see the 2000 class in the top positions of the grid. Under consideration Tale there is also a change of module to overcome the shortage of left-footed full-backs. The alternative idea of ​​the Salento coach for the matchOlympic is to temporarily turn to 3-5-2, the most used module in his career but which ended up in the attic in what has been the homeland of the 4-3-3. The choice was rewarded by the Napoli leader, who today however is called to lick several wounds, with that of the infirmary being the most bloody. The possible return of the 3-5-2 would in fact also affect the other departments, in addition to the attack and the disastrous left lane. Up front it would be up to the tandem composed of Romelu Lukaku e Matteo Politano, with the latter in the unusual role of finisher. The fifths would be Giovanni Di Lorenzo e Pasquale Mazzocchi, with the latter who could also play in the trio behind in place of Juan Jesus, who appeared to be struggling in the last few outings after a two-month period at very high levels. Of course, now he also has at his disposal Alessandro Good morning, who has been back with the group for days now, but throwing him into the fray after a very long absence in a very complicated match could be too big a gamble: especially at a time when the Lady Luck of injuries has turned her back on Napoli. Better to play it safe, where 'safe' means limiting the damage in a moment of forced choices that is uncovering a criticality of the squad that has been known for some time, perhaps well before the collapse in Coppa Italia precisely at the hands of Lazio: the quality of the second lines is not always up to the expectations that the Napoli, little by little, he has been good at building himself up during the season. He improved a little bit in the January transfer market, but perhaps not to the level hoped for by Tale for the short-term future and for the more distant one that will see the Azzurri also competing in European competitions. Premature speeches: first we have to disentangle ourselves from the trap ofOlympic, a field that so far this year between Coppa Italia against Lazio and championship, with the goal conceded in the last second by Angelino, has brought more sorrow than joy.Read also - 2025 Ski World Championships, Brignone gold in giant slalom