TNS are in Italy to face Conference League runners-up Fiorentina in the first match of their campaign.
As tests go, this is the hardest test that any side will face. Fiorentina for the last two years have gone all the way but to lose to West Ham, and then Olympiacos earlier this year.
Vincenzo Italiano has gone, and now Raffaele Palladino is in charge, and there have been some changes. The most notable names to British football fans in the Fiorentina team is goalkeeper David de Gea who was at Manchester United, as well as Moise Kean who was at Everton.
Viola Nation of the SB Nation network gives us the lowdown on TNS’ first league phase opponents.
What’s the opinion of manager Raffaele Palladino so far? What’s his style of play and management style
It’s probably too early to have a really strong opinion about Palladino in Florence but the early returns haven’t been great. He’s guided Fiorentina to just one win this season to go with six draws and a loss.
In fairness to him, a large portion of the squad arrived very late in the transfer window and is trying to digest his tactical approach, but it’s a bit worrying for Viola fans.
He started the year using a 3-4-2-1 and talking about the importance of counterattacking, but that hasn’t been the case thus far. Things have looked a bit stodgy going forward, but the defence is the real concern. Fiorentina’s leaked 11 goals across eight matches in all competitions and has generally looked completely lost at the back, making a succession of unforced errors that have supporters tearing their hair out.
The good news is that Palladino’s at least trying something different, moving to a 4-2-3-1 shape over the past couple of weeks. It’s been a big improvement but the fragility at the back is still a real concern (more on that later) and a smart opponent will figure out how to create some chances.
Fiorentina of course have been in the final two years in a row. What’s Fiorentina’s expectation in the Conference League? Do they have to win it this time around?
It’s a bit of a transition year for Fiorentina so the Conference League final isn’t as big of a goal. Team owner Rocco Commisso has spoken about his desire to finish seventh or eighth in Serie A (the team’s currently 11th) and that feels reasonable.
If that sounds unambitious, well, yeah, that’s fair. Fiorentina had a very good three-year run under Vincenzo Italiano, who moved onto Bologna last summer, and the brass decided to shake things up, spending a boatload of money on an entirely new midfield and a new attack.
With so many unfamiliar faces, it feels like this is more of a transition season than one in which silverware is a requirement, although hoisting the first major trophy since the 2000-2001 Coppa Italia would feel just fine, thanks.
What players should TNS be most fearful for?
Fiorentina’s best players this year have been striker Moise Kean and right back Dodô. The former is very strong and very quick and makes most defenders look very uncertain. The latter is a tiny fullback who’s extraordinarily quick and excels at getting Fiorentina out of pressure in its own third and carrying the ball through the lines, often darting infield to jump-start attacks.
The kicker is that neither is likely to start here as they both went 90 minutes in the scoreless draw against Empoli on Sunday and, with a big game against AC Milan looming, Palladino may rest them. Some rotation is probably in order but it’s tough to know how much he’ll go for, as this is his first career game in Europe (let’s not count the play-off last month). He’s figuring it out on the fly, which makes it hard to predict who’ll play.
That’s a real cop-out answer, so let’s settle on a name or two. Yacine Adli is a former wunderkind who didn’t quite stick with Milan but is a silky passer who can control the tempo and create chances. Cristiano Biraghi has scored more free-kick goals than anyone in Europe’s top five leagues over the past three seasons and will is a masterful set-piece taker.
Jonathan Ikoné is a left-footed right winger who has every gift–pace, ball control, flair, quickness–but is chaos incarnate, just as likely to tie his shoestrings together and faceplant into the turf as he is to dribble three defenders.
Ranieri and Comuzzo, the two starting centre-backs against Empoli will miss out due to suspension. How much of a blow will that be?
It’s not just Ranieri and Comuzzo. Lucas Martínez Quarta got himself a red card from the bench in that wild game against Puskás Akadémia, so he’s out too, and Marin Pongračić (who’s been woeful so far) has a calf issue and may miss out too. That means that Fiorentina will be fielding a very rickety backline, especially as the team transitions from a back three to a back four.
That likely means a debut from new signing Matías Moreno, who arrived late in the window and just turned 21 last week. He’s enormous and athletic and decently technical but he’s definitely a bit raw. The question is whether Biraghi will kick inside to partner him, or if young right-back Michael Kayode will fill in. It could be midfielder Rolando Mandragora, too.
Fiorentina’s predicted line-up
The defence is the tricky bit but, as previously mentioned, guessing how Palladino will rotate his side for a midweek fixture is hard to guess without much precedent.
Amir Richardson and Adli should man the engine room, with Riccardo Sottil and Ikoné on the wings. Lucas Beltrán will lead the line (he’s not a real nine and prefers dropping towards play, which is a problem) with Albert Guðmundsson or Andrea Colpani getting a chance as the 10.
Kean, Dodô, Danilo Cataldi, and Edoardo Bove need a break and should start on the bench, although one or two may sneak into the XI.
Fiorentina (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Parisi, Biraghi, Moreno, Kayode; Adli, Richardson; Sottil, Colpani, Ikoné; Beltrán
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