Three draws out of three. Some will say that not much has changed since Corini’s management and maybe so. But this draw came against the league leaders and has a higher value than the previous two against Sampdoria and Cosenza. The playoffs are getting closer and closer and in the next four games remaining until the end we will be able to dare more.
I leave the door open to hope. The impression is that to overcome the technical and athletic crisis Mignani has chosen prudence as the lesser evil, waiting to be able to work in depth on his athletic condition and perhaps try something new in terms of tactical deployment.
With Parma we have seen a rather flexible 4-4-2 more often with the somewhat surprising exclusion of Ceccaroni and the ‘promotion’ of Henderson in place of Segre. Directions? Attempts? We’ll see it in a few days. In the meantime, let’s be satisfied with the policy of small steps, while recognizing that we have seen something better in terms of athletic performance.
PALERMO: Pigliacelli 6.5; Diakité 6, Lucioni 6, Nedelcearu 6; Di Mariano 6 (from 33′ pt Buttaro 6), Henderson 6 (from 18′ st Segre 6), Gomes 6, Di Francesco 6.5, Lund 6.5; Mancuso 6 (from 18′ st Traorè 6), Brunori 6 (from 44′ st Coulibaly sv).
PARMA: Chichizola 6; Delprato 6, Osorio 6.5, Circati 6, Di Chiara 6.5; Estevez 6, Cyprien 5.5 (from 1′ st Charpentier 6); Man 6.5 (from 37′ st Ansaldi sv), Bernabè 6, Mihaila 6 (from 18′ st Sohm 6); Benedyczak 5 (from 34′ st Hernani sv).
Pigliacelli 6.5: The save on Di Chiara’s shot (deflected by Diakité) is a great masterpiece of reflex and explosiveness, skills in which he had recently had some deficiencies. Immediately afterwards he closes the door on a close shot from Delprato. On a Man shot it is stylistically revisable but effective.
Diakite 6: As has been the case for some matches, he guards a specific area of the pitch and never ventures forward. But he is not in great danger and seems to have found a better physical condition.
Lucioni 6: He returns after a one-week suspension and his athletic condition has already improved a little. He leads the defense with a good personality, keeping his attention high on the positioning of the entire defensive line but when it comes to running in wider spaces he suffers a bit.
Nedelcearu 6: He plays as a central defender but this time he acts as Lucioni’s ‘wingman’. It takes him a while to settle into the centre-left but he doesn’t suffer too much because the team is rather covered and Parma rarely accelerates. He only goes into crisis when Man challenges him in the open field and makes him see green mice at speed: on this occasion, however, the Romanian is good at not committing a penalty foul.
Di Mariano 6: Very unfortunate. In a game contrast recovers from a serious injury which forces him to leave the field. He had been among the liveliest, trying to penetrate the last sixteen meters thanks to a certainly good physical condition. He also tried the goal of his life with a flying overhead kick – a little too ambitious – which however ended in the square in Mondello.
(from 33′ pt Buttaro) 6: He comes in coldly to replace Di Mariano on the right wing and immediately commits a very serious naivety when coming out which almost costs him the goal. It takes him a while to perk up and his second half is positive overall. On a cross from the left he would also have the opportunity to repeat Cosenza’s goal but this time he hits the ball badly.
Henderson 6: Deployed as a right midfielder but compared to Corini’s time he is a little less advanced. Step… staid, some attempts at verticalization but nothing substantial. In the second half it’s a little more continuous but it comes out half an hour before the end.
(from 18′ st Segre) 6: It’s clear that Mignani ‘sees’ him a little less well than Corini. This time he also starts from the bench and when he comes on he doesn’t have the impact he has on other occasions. Sufficiency was limited, also because the match was already quite blocked.
Gomes 6: The player of order remains, the one through whom many balls pass to sort and who does not lose contact with the back department, in order to provide greater coverage when not in possession. It does everything well but at a slow pace.
By Francesco 6.5: Mignani doesn’t want to give up on him and does well, even at the cost of deploying him in a left midfield role which has never been his thing. Since he is very well physically, Di Francesco is one of the most concrete and unpredictable players in a match with few shocks. The dialogue with Lund worked well this time too.
Lund 6.5: It’s difficult to say whether he plays the defensive fourth or the midfield fifth: it doesn’t matter. He has regained the luster of the beginning of the season, more dynamic and also more concrete in the finishing phase thanks to an excellent understanding with Di Francesco. He drops a little in the second half.
Mancuso 6: He is very active in the offensive phase and also does many good things, at least in intention. He knows how and where to move but should be a little more ruthless in the final phase. He came close to scoring in the first half with a ‘dirty’ shot but the goalkeeper deflected it for a corner.
(from 18′ st Traoré) 6: He doesn’t have the explosiveness and speed we would have expected from someone who takes over with half an hour to go. But she does not demerit, playing in practice as a second striker.
Brunori 6: He is no longer Palermo’s only attacking midfielder. Indeed, he often retreats or withdraws depending on the circumstances and in good harmony with Mancuso. The fact remains that he is always one of the most technical and intelligent in his play, two good balls for Di Mariano and Mancuso. But in front of goal – which is his main job – he isn’t flawless: he wastes an excellent opportunity favored by a header from Henderson who deserved better luck. And shortly after he has another good opportunity (less simple) but he doesn’t hit it well.
(from 44′ st Coulibaly) sv
READ ALSO
THE MATCH CHRONICLE
SERIOUS INJURY FOR DI MARIANO
SCAFFLES BEFORE PALERMO – PARMA
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