The feeling at Lazio's home ground was anything but joyful this past Saturday. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had conceded 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their latest protest in a continuous dispute with president Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season coming unstitched, or did there exist a thread holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team in the summer transfer window, before he to later acknowledge that the management had not mentioned a ban on new signings they were facing for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were without basis, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
Lazio became as messy during matches as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in their other initial five matches, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it has been hard to determine if they are improving or imploding.
The Youngster's Surprising Presence
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his parent club were attempting to remain there for another season. The signing restriction forced a rethink. The club couldn't risk to thin their squad with no new signings.
Cancellieri arrived initially during Sarri's previous tenure, at that time a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 matches in the league with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."
Discovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was still trying to determine the specific characteristics of his skill set. Billed as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
