Assessing What Maurizio Sarri's Napoli Line-Up Could Look Like
Maurizio Sarri’s appointment as Napoli coach will likely herald significant changes in the way the Partenopei line up.
As this recent article discussed, Sarri gained success with Empoli with a specific formation and style, and he will probably attempt to transpose that to Naples this season.
While his predecessor, Rafa Benitez, opted for a 4-2-3-1, Sarri prefers to use a 4-3-1-2 with a diamond midfield. As well as the differing positional requirements this change will bring, there are also specific areas of the Napoli team that need to be addressed regardless of the system.
Sarri will need to formulate a way to impart his ideas to a Napoli squad brimming with individual quality but lacking cohesion. Here is how he could achieve that.
Goalkeeper: Luigi Sepe
1 of 6
Luigi Sepe spent last season under Sarri’s management on loan at Empoli and impressed. At just 24 years old, he was part of a very young back line, but he showed more than enough to warrant receiving a new contract with Napoli.
Empoli conceded fewer goals than Napoli last season despite finishing in the other half of the table, and Sepe had much to do with that. A strong shot-stopper, he could be the man to whom Sarri and Napoli will turn to cure their goalkeeping ills, with other options Rafael Cabral and Mariano Andujar erratic at times last season.
Per Squawka, Sepe made more saves, catches and kept more clean sheets than both Rafael and Andujar. He also punched far less, and his distribution accuracy was higher. The statistics show Sepe simply cannot be overlooked by Napoli any longer.
It is worth noting that, according to Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia), Pepe Reina could be set to join Napoli, something that would potentially put paid to Sepe’s hopes of regular first-team football in Naples.
Central Defence: Raul Albiol and ?
2 of 6
The centre of defence is arguably the area of Napoli’s squad most in need of improvement. Spain international Raul Albiol is a capable centre-back, though he is in need of a partner.
Kalidou Koulibaly often played alongside Albiol in his debut season with Napoli. Although the Frenchman is physically imposing, at 23 years of age he is still raw and needs plenty of technical improvement.
At times, Koulibaly appeared cumbersome on the ball, and Napoli occasionally paid a price for his errors, such as when he gave possession away on the last day of the Serie A season against Lazio, handing the ball straight to Senad Lulic, who set up Antonio Candreva to put Lazio 2-0 up.
Per Squawka, Koulibaly made more defensive errors than Albiol and won fewer duels per 90 minutes.
Potential Signing: Kamil Glik (Torino)
Kamil Glik would be an excellent signing to partner Albiol at the back for Napoli. Last season, the Polish centre-back won more of his total duels, made fewer defensive errors, made more interceptions, had a higher pass-success percentage and a higher defensive score than Koulibaly, per Squawka.
Glik has a market value of just over £7 million, according to Transfermarkt, and he would therefore be an affordable target for Napoli.
Full-Backs: Christian Maggio and Faouzi Ghoulam
3 of 6
Fortunately for Sarri, he has plenty of solid options at full-back. On the right, he will be able to choose between Christian Maggio and Juan Zuniga; on the left, he has Ivan Strinic and Faouzi Ghoulam.
One issue may be that, at Empoli, Sarri liked his full-backs to provide good defensive coverage, as opposed to the rampaging full-backs that are often seen in 4-3-1-2 formations. The current Napoli full-back roster is used to getting forward to support attacks, so this is not something they will be used to.
This is only a minor problem, however, and may be rendered completely irrelevant if Sarri wishes to go with more offensive full-backs now he is coaching a bigger club.
Maggio is a near certainty to start on the right-hand side, while Ghoulam may get the nod over Strinic thanks to slightly more stable performances. The Algerian’s statistics are slightly better—per Squawka, he wins more tackles and a higher percentage of duels, while he also has a higher pass-success percentage.
Central Midfield: Mirko Valdifiori, Gokhan Inler and ?
4 of 6
Sarri’s preference for a diamond midfield necessitates the use of a deep-lying midfielder. At Empoli, he opted to use Mirko Valdifiori as a regista. Given he made Valdifiori his first signing after taking over at Napoli, that is likely to continue.
Valdifiori is an exceptional addition. He became an Italy international during the 2014-15 season, and his wonderful passing range will make him an integral component of Sarri’s Napoli.
His class was shown in last season, during which Valdifiori created more chances and made more key passes per Serie A game than Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo, as recorded by Squawka.
They key question is, who will play alongside Valdifiori in the Napoli engine room? Given the likely need for ball-winners to accompany the playmaker, Gokhan Inler and Walter Gargano’s battling qualities could be crucial, although there is perhaps a need for a fresh face in that role.
Potential Signing: Allan (Udinese)
Allan acquired a reputation as one of Serie A’s best ball-winning midfielders last season, his performances being one of few positives in a poor season for Udinese.
Per WhoScored.com, he made more tackles than anyone else in the league. Valued at £6.6 million by Transfermarkt, he could be available at a reasonable price and would add solidity to the Napoli midfield.
Trequartista: Marek Hamsik (or Riccardo Saponara)
5 of 6
Marek Hamsik may be a Napoli hero, but he was not a regular under Rafa Benitez during the Spaniard’s final season in charge. The Slovakian failed to obtain a regular starting place, though he could fit into Sarri’s plans.
Hamsik is more than capable of playing at the tip of the diamond Sarri will likely use, although the new coach may want someone more dynamic for this role.
Potential Signing: Riccardo Saponara
In this sense, Sarri may return to Empoli once more to sign Riccardo Saponara, something that is rumoured to be in the offing, according to Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia).
As seen in statistics provided by Squakwa, Hamsik is a better passer of the ball, but it is worth noting he was playing in a more successful team last season. Saponara scored more goals and has a higher attack score.
Saponara seems more of a natural trequartista. Therefore, if Sarri does indeed go for him, expect him to be the focal point between attack and defence. Where exactly that leaves Hamsik is ambiguous.
Strikers: Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon
6 of 6
Sarri will certainly not be short of options when it comes to deciding his strikeforce. In Gonzalo Higuain he has a sharpshooter on the back of one of his best seasons to date.
However, Higuain’s future appears uncertain, according to George Bellshaw of Metro, so Sarri may have to plan without him.
Outside of Higuain, Napoli have a forward line that includes Manolo Gabbiadini and Jose Callejon, both proven finishers in Serie A, as well as wide players Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens.
Additionally, while Eduardo Vargas may not have fitted in at Queens Park Rangers, he may be suited to Sarri’s tactics, with the two forwards expected to pull wide and free up space for the trequartista to move into.
Keeping hold of Higuain will be crucial to Napoli’s hopes, but it will be comforting for Sarri to know that, even if the Argentinian departs, he has plenty of quality to choose from for his two striker positions.
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
