A defeated Latina returns from Cava de’ Tirreni, with little or no convincing and with a ranking that relegates them to the margins of the play-out zone. More was expected from the Nerazzurri, even if signs were not lacking even in the home match against Messina, where Padalino’s men had only expressed themselves in flashes, granting the Sicilians the possibility of obtaining the first point away from home as well as the satisfaction of a good performance.

Padalino in Campania abandoned the 4-3-1-2 to try the 3-5-2 card, with Crecco and Ercolano initially proposed as wingers with reversed feet and Ndoj in the center of the midfield completed by Riccardi and Di Livio. A legitimate, even desirable change, which however did not yield the desired results.

In defense, Vona initially suffered in the central position and then recovered admirably during the match, something that Berman was unable to do, having a bad start in the supporting role, skewered several times by the lively Sorrentino. Cortinovis was better on the opposite side, net of the evidence that Cavese hit the right wing less frequently.

However, the greatest doubts were caused by the midfield which ruined Padalino’s tactical plan. The department did not find continuity, it got lost in the finalization phase. Ndoj is not yet at his best and it has been seen, he needs playing time but giving it to him currently comes at a price that is too high for the current version of Latina. Di Livio’s performance was slightly more convincing and, as had already happened to him against Messina, he was only intermittently active, looking not so much for a position but for a role. Complete failure for Ercolano who, just like last season, struggled to find his feet at the start of the championship, not very effective as he was in the proposition phase, and then proved embarrassing in coverage with a couple of poisonous balls lost when setting up the maneuver. Riccardi’s game must be saved: he worked hard, guaranteeing coverage and at the same time the breaks required to advance the line close to the strikers, one of the few to attempt a shot on goal. However, too many times he ended up in the net of the opponent’s pressing, betrayed by the lack of inclination of Bocic and Capanni in dictating the depth.

The midfield unit was convincing only when it managed to stay high, preventing Cavese from leaving its midfield. An attitude which, however, was able to hold up at times, forced as he was to find shelter from excessive exposure to the opponents’ counterattacks. And it’s not as if the grafts of Petermann and Improta brought who knows what benefits.

The margin for further tests is reducing as the season progresses and Latina still appears uncertain about what and how to be a player in the championship.