5 Issues Napoli Need to Work on During November International Break
A season that started out in a shaky manner for Napoli has taken a positive turn in recent weeks.
Rafael Benitez's side were knocked out of the Champions League in the qualifying stages and suffered a couple of early losses in Serie A, as Roma and Juventus streaked away at the top of the table.
Well, Juventus and Roma are still looking good to claim the first two spots in the ladder by season's end, but now Napoli have fought their way up to third, which is where they finished last year.
They have gone seven league matches without a loss and have a decent foundation to build the rest of their campaign on.
There are still issues to address, however, so here are five things that Napoli need to work on over the international break.
Finding a Balance of Youth and Experience in Midfield
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In Gokhan Inler, Christian Maggio, Giandomenico Mesto and Walter Gargano, Napoli have four midfielders in their squad over the age of 30.
In the early part of the season, some of those players appeared to be lacking in desire and intensity and as a consequence the club suffered in matches they should have won.
Giving game time to the likes of Jorginho and David Lopez freshens up the side and keeps the veterans on their toes.
That being said, Benitez may want to think about brining in a few more youthful players in the next transfer window to further revitalise his squad.
Keeping Gonzalo Higuain Happy
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Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain is crucial to Napoli's success under Benitez's system.
Even if midfielders or wide players such as Jose Callejon are contributing goals, it is vital for the side's big-target man to be giving his all every time he takes the park.
While he looked to be off his game earlier in the season, whether due to discontentment or simply a World Cup hangover, Higuain appears to be getting back to his best form now.
He has hit the net six times in the last four matches, and if that kind of form continues, the Partenopei should remain near the top of the ladder for the rest of the campaign.
How to Cope Without Lorenzo Insigne
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Just before the international break, attacking player Lorenzo Insigne suffered a torn ACL which will rule him out of action for a number of months.
This is a terrible shame for the player on an individual level, as he was hitting top form. He combined brilliantly with Higuain and Callejon from his position on the left of midfield and created plenty of chances for his teammates.
As a team, Napoli will have to figure out a way to replace his dynamism and creativity.
Dries Mertens is the obvious like-for-like swap, but he has not been as consistently outstanding as Insigne in 2014-15.
If the Belgian is not up to the task, other players are going to have to step up and contribute more.
The Continued Improvement of Kalidou Koulibaly
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With the right nurturing, Kalidou Koulibaly could develop into one of Serie A's finest defenders.
The 23-year-old has improved almost with every game since joining Napoli from Genk at the start of the season, and if his upward trajectory continues, he will be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
Benitez and his assistants must do everything they can to bring him along at the right pace.
An Over-Reliance on Marek Hamsik
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Despite an abundance of attacking talent in the squad, Napoli often struggle when Marek Hamsik is not at his best.
The Slovakian has become an institution at the club now and has earned a reputation as one of the most devastating attacking midfielders on the peninsula.
When he was low on confidence earlier in the season, however, Benitez's side had trouble finding ways to break down opponents.
Hamsik was ill before the recent game against Fiorentina and was a shadow of himself on the pitch. As a result, the whole side struggled until Higuain capitalised on a defensive error to steal a goal.
If Hamsik is having an off game, others need to take command of the midfield.
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