Genoa have made their second coaching change of the season, moving on from Thiago Motta after nine games and appointing Davide Nicola, who agreed to a six-month contract with a conditional second season. The new manager previously helmed Crotone and Udinese in the top league, guiding the former to an improbably successful bid to avoid relegation in 2016/2017 and resigning the following season, while he lasted 15 games on the Friulani bench. The Griffon is currently at the bottom of the standings, four points below the 17th-placed cross-town rivals of Sampdoria.
The former midfielder, who was making his debut in the pros after managing PSG’s U-19 team, won just once in the past two months, in the debut game versus Brescia, then going on to collect five losses and three draws. December 21st’s 0-4 rout at the hands of Inter proved to be the final straw.
Despite being touted for his offensive-minded schemes, Motta did not manage to bring significant improvement on that end after taking over from Aurelio Andreazzoli, as they scored more than once in just two games in his tenure. They instead continue to struggle defensive and have kept just two clean sheets in the season, allowing 35 goals, a clip that is tied with Lecce for worst in the League.
Motta lost Christian Kouame to an ACL tear right away, unearthed Kevin Agudelo and got good performances out of Goran Pandev, but could not get their two main summer acquisitions, Lasse Schone and Andrea Pinamonti, going despite jostling between different formations. The ex-Ajax man was even benched in the last fixture, with few youngsters being picked ahead of him.
The contrast in style will be stark as Nicola, who played here for six seasons, is known for a pretty defense-first and style. With the Squali, he usually utilized 3-5-2, which was the formation the roster was built for over the summer. It should in particular enhance the wing game, where Paolo Ghiglione has been excellent on the right flank. Should they decide to deploy him there, Domenico Criscito’s usage could tick up and also Marko Pajac is a prolific crosser on the left. The switch in the philosophy might not be very helpful fantasy-wise for their strikers and midfielders, although they had not really produced also under a supposedly proactive style in the previous two regimes. The alternative plan could be a 4-4-2, but they would need more wingers. It is likely that the roster will be overhauled during the January window.
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