Football Manager 2021 SSC Napoli tactic and team guide. Club culture, board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and transfers in FM21.
Football Manager 2021 SSC Napoli tactic and team guide. Club culture and
board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and potential
transfers in FM21.
Here is a brief analysis of the Napoli squad, their club structure, the relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and possible tactics any FM21 player can use.
About SSC Napoli
Napoli are a professional football club that ply their trade in the Serie A.
The club has won two league titles, five Coppa Italia, two Supercoppa
Italiana titles, and one UEFA Cup.
Napoli saw relatively little success in its early years. Napoli then saw
increased success in the 1980s, after the club acquired Diego Maradona.
During his time in Naples, Maradona helped the team win several trophies,
which led to the club retiring his number 10 jersey.
During this period, Napoli won their sole league titles, in 1987 and 1990.
Following his departure, however, Napoli struggled financially, and endured
several relegations, prior to being refounded in 2004. Napoli now have
stabilized, which has led to renewed on-field success, winning the 2012 and
2014 Coppa Italia titles.
Board Requirements
Napoli came close to winning the Serie A in 2018-2019 and eventually
finished in 2nd place. However, their 2019-2020 season was very
underwhelming and Napoli managed to finish a disappointing 7th. However,
they did make it to the Europa League qualification.
The board requirements once you take over will be;
2. Make it to the final of the Europa League.
3. Make the Final of the Italian Cup/Coppa Italia.
Additionally, you will be required to play entertaining football, sign players from direct rivals and sign young players who can be developed for the future.
Napoli have good training facilities and a good youth system that will churn out the occasional potential star player. However, you would need to improve this once you stabilize your position with the club.
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Napoli are a pretty versatile team with it comes to tactical style. You can use the vertical tiki-taka or the fluid counter-attacking depending on the opponent or how you see fit to line your squad up.
A 4-2-3-1 is the best-suited formation for Napoli considering the strengths of their current squad of players. However, you can also play a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 depending on how you wish you change your midfield.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows;
Squad, Formation and Tactical Style
Napoli are a pretty versatile team with it comes to tactical style. You can use the vertical tiki-taka or the fluid counter-attacking depending on the opponent or how you see fit to line your squad up.
A 4-2-3-1 is the best-suited formation for Napoli considering the strengths of their current squad of players. However, you can also play a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 depending on how you wish you change your midfield.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows;
Alex Meret as a sweeper keeper.
Konstantinos Manolas & Kalidou Koulibaly as your 2 centre backs with Koulibaly operating as a ball playing defender.
Hysaj & Mario Rui as the 2 fullbacks, with Rui playing as a wingback.
Bakayoko playing as a ball-winning central midfielder and Piotr Zielinski as the deep playmaker on support duty.
Lorenzo Insigne as the left winger in an inside forward role & Hirving Lozano as the right-winger.
Dries Mertens can either play alongside or just behind the striker in an attacking midfielder/shadow striker role.
New signing Victor Osimhen should be played as a pressing forward.
There is also the option of using Milik as the second striker and playing a 4-4-3 formation or introducing an extra midfielder like Fabian and playing a 4-3-3.
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Mertens is an experienced Belgian international who is versatile. He has a
real eye for the goal and has scored over 100 goals for Napoli.
Koulibaly is widely regarded as one of the best central defenders in the
world. He is fast, makes excellent tackles and is a threat from set-pieces.
Note that Koulibaly is transfer listen upon request at the start of the game
and manager should aim to extend his contract.
Insigne is the club captain and is a major attacking threat for Napoli. He
regularly scores 15+ goals every season. His performances are vital in
achieving the board targets.
Key Players
1. Dries Mertens
2. Kalidou Koulibaly
3. Lorenzo Insigne
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Weaknesses
1. The quality of backups in the squad may not be up to the quality and could prove fatal if your squad is affected by injuries.
2. You run the risk of some talents being poached by other clubs especially in search of higher wages.
3. Some key players are ageing and quality replacements may be hard to find especially considering the budget constraints that the manager will be forced to work with.
Youth Prospects
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
1. Victor Osimhen
Osimhen is a club-record signing for Napoli is one of the best striker
wonderkids in the game. Under the right approach, he could rack up goals and
will be a crucial player for any manager.
The Macedonian central midfielder has the potential to become one of the most
influential players at the club. Despite being just 20, he already good enough
to be a backup for most Serie A sides and will only improve with more game
time.
2. Eljif Elmas
3. Gianluca Gaetano
Another Attacking midfielder who is 20 has the potential to develop into an
influential player for Napoli. Gaetano’s versatility makes it easier to fit
him into any system.
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Napoli are not the best squad in the league with respect to squad depth, these players could be welcome additions to the side.
· Sebastiano Esposito
· Lorenzo Pellegrini
· Emerson Palmieri
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Elseid Hysaj
· Faouzi Ghoulam
To summarise, Napoli are one of the best clubs in Italy and have been very consistent recently. However, titles have been hard to come by, will you as a manager be able to turn this around?
Potential Transfers (in)
Napoli are not the best squad in the league with respect to squad depth, these players could be welcome additions to the side.
· Sebastiano Esposito
· Lorenzo Pellegrini
· Emerson Palmieri
Potential Transfers (Out)
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Elseid Hysaj
· Faouzi Ghoulam
Summary
To summarise, Napoli are one of the best clubs in Italy and have been very consistent recently. However, titles have been hard to come by, will you as a manager be able to turn this around?
