Let’s Get This Party Started…

By: Neil | October 18th, 2009

Napoli 2-1 Bologna
A Napoli side that showed determination for the whole 90 minutes got an injury time winner from Cristian Maggio to give new manager Walter Mazzarri a win on his debut. Playing an unusual 3-3-2-2, the Partenopei controlled most of the game but had to wait until Quagliarella’s goal on 72 minutes to cancel out Adailton’s clinical free kick. With an animated Mazzarri driving the team from the sidelines, Napoli pressed for a winner and were rewarded when Maggio side footed a Lavezzi cross to send the fans home happy.

As usual, here are the Auriemma highlights:

I always love it when Raffaelle Auriemma gets hysterical, but this game he was better than usual as Mazzarri’s first game provided a special atmosphere.

Mazzarri started a lineup Napoli fans have never seen before:

De Sanctis
Campagnaro – Cannavaro – Contini
Maggio – Gargano – Aronica
Hamsik – Datolo
Quagliarella – Lavezzi

Although there’s still five midfielders, the single five man line is broken up into two lines of three and two. This gives Napoli’s game a more balanced dimension and allows for more creative combination play. Early on I noticed the ball movement in the midfield was not as predictable as past games, and it seems like Mazzarri’s tactical adjustment paid dividends as Napoli showed more bite in attack.

It was Bologna who opened the scoring though as Adailton hit a perfect free kick from just outside the box. This free kick went over the wall at just the right height, dipped at just the right time, and hit the side netting as a stunned De Sanctis could only stand and watch. If I ever do a clinic on free kicks I’m going to show this one as an example of flawless execution.

On a side note, you’ve got to wonder why a player with Adailton’s skill isn’t more prolific? I think he’s a throwback player who would have been considered great in the 80’s/early 90’s when the game wasn’t as fast. The speed and physical nature of the game today is so much sharper. The sheer pace takes skilled players like Adailton and makes them look ordinary. But today Adailton gave us a glimpse of why it’s called the beautiful game.

At halftime Mazzarri took out Datolo and put in Pazienza. I was a little suprised at this move because an attacking player went out for a more defensive player. I think Datolo was subbed because he ballooned a shot well over the bar when he should have at least got it on net. I understand that part of the move, but I just couldn’t see Pazienza adding anything to Napoli’s attack.

Napoli continued to control the game and the sustained pressure paid off when Zalayeta of all people couldn’t clear a corner and the ball was eventually poked in by Quagliarella. It was the kind of timely goal that Napoli just wasn’t scoring earlier in the season. With a little over 15 minutes left a hungry and motivated Napoli side pressed forward in search of all three points but it was Bologna who should have wrapped up the points when Di Vaio was on a mini-breakaway but shot right at De Sanctis’ head. Saves like that will earn De Sanctis a plane ticket to South Africa next summer.

Given that Napoli played well and and showed more creativity than in recent games I wouldn’t have been upset with just a point but in the 91st minute Lavezzi went round a tired Bologna defender and sent a low cross across the six yard box that Maggio drove home with authority. A game winning injury time goal is hardly magical, but these kinds of stories have been in short supply for Napoli and it was great to see the game end on a high. The players and fans celebrated after the whistle, and if Napoli continues improving today’s victory will take on a symbolic role as the one that got everything started.

In his post match interview Mazzarri gave a warning that even though the team won, he was still dissatisfied with some parts of the game.

“They were a little tense and wasted some really clear scoring opportunities.”

I really like this quote. Napoli did very well to attack and penetrate the Bologna backline the entire game only to see some good scoring chances count for nothing. In the end the team was able to grind out a victory, but wasting some good attacks could have cost Napoli points.

I also like how Mazzarri started Lavezzi and let him play until Napoli took the lead. You have to give your best players the chance to make a difference, and sending Lavezzi a message by keeping him on the bench would have taken some quality out of the lineup. Lavezzi wasn’t man of the match, but he got a partial breakaway that could have won the game and set up Maggio’s game winner. If he can play like that every week I don’t think Napoli fans will want to see him sold.

Who gets man of the match then?? It wasn’t an easy decision but Superbyke controlled the right side of the field for Napoli and held his nerve in front of goal to give Napoli the three points. I really like Maggio’s position as a deep lying midfielder and if Mazzarri can get the best out of him he might join De Sanctis in South Africa.

Here’s my version of le pagelle:

De Sanctis: 6.5 came up big when called upon
Campagnaro: 6.5 how has he never played for Argentina?
Cannavaro: 6.0 Canna is not on form
Contini: 5.5 the obvious weak link in the Napoli lineup
Maggio: 7.5 Superbyke motored all game
Gargano: 6.5 needs to be more precise
Aronica: 6.0 nowhere near as good as Maggio
Hamsik: 5.5 invisible for much of the second half
Datolo: 6.0 needs to find his comfort zone
Quagliarella: 6.5 ended his goal drought
Lavezzi: 7.0 more inspired than past weeks

Subs: Pazienza 6.0, Pia 6.0, Rinaudo N/A

Allenatore: Mazzarri 6.5

It wasn’t a perfect game, but it was an important victory. If Napoli can start to pick up results when they’re not at their best, they’ll climb slowly but surely up the standings.

Can’t wait for next week and a visit to Florence. Cesare Prandelli’s team has shown its going to be tough in both Serie A and the Champions League. Let’s hope Mazzarri can turn around Napoli’s road problems. Forza Napoli!!