Inside Sudtirol: Zaffaroni’s Tactics, Transfer Window and Best Players

After finishing last season in 12th place, expectations were at the lower end of the scale for Sudtirol this term, but even the most pessimistic of Tyroleans supporters would have struggled to expect such a dire campaign.

The Biancorossi find themselves 19th in Serie B with 13 points in 15 matches, off the bottom of the table on goal difference alone and have lost their four matches, collecting just one point in their last seven fixtures.

With 27 goals conceded, Sudtirol have by far the worst defensive record in the division, an issue exacerbated by a worrying profligacy at the other end of the pitch.

Sudtirol have failed to score in the last four matches and have found the net just twice since the middle of October, a dismal run of form that shows no sign of stopping.

The defeat against Cesena at the beginning of November cost Federico Valente his job, with the 49-year-old replaced by former Feralpisalo boss Marco Zaffaroni.

The managerial change, however, is yet to pay off with Sudtirol conceding eight goals without reply in Zaffaroni’s first three matches in charge.

And to think it all started well for the Tyroleans, who mounted a surprising play-off in the early stages of the season, flying under the radar to head into the October international break sixth in Serie B, just four points behind then second-placed Spezia.

In truth, the Biancorossi‘s form never looked sustainable as their defensive fragility was already glaringly obvious back then, with 12 goals conceded in the first eight matches of the season, the second-worst record in the division alongside Frosinone and Cittadella.

It is no coincidence that the pair are level on points with Sudtirol, whose only silver lining is that safety is only three points away for now. But the Tyroleans must shift gear if they’re to avoid being cast adrift before the calendar turns to January.

Transfers: Sudtirol spent just under €500,000 in the summer transfer window, with the bulk of their investment used to sign central midfielder Alessandro Mallamo from Atalanta Under-23, while right-back Hamza El Kaouakibi arrived from Benevento for €150,000. Elsewhere, attacking midfielder Mateusz Praszleik and striker Valerio Crespi arrived on loan from Hellas Verona and Lazio respectively, while central midfielder Tommaso Arrigoni joined from Como.

Best performers: Matteo Rover is Sudtirol’s top scorer with three goals, while Salvatore Molina and Daniele Casiraghi have two apiece. Beyond them, it’s very slim pickings when it comes to single out the Biancorossi’s best performer this season.

Arrigoni has settled in nicely since his move from Como and is a regular starter, while veteran striker Raphael Odogwu remains a handful.

Tactics: Under Federico Valente, Sudtirol switched from 3-5-2 to 3-4-2-1 and even 5-3-2 depending on the opponent and Marco Zaffaroni has remained similarly flexible from a tactical standpoint. Unfortunately, that hasn’t yielded any results yet.