There are many, certainly too many defects and contradictions that Reggina is revealing. It is not easy to establish what had the greatest impact on the disastrous beginning. The most popular causes in public debate are now known. In no particular order: not having three “ready” unders in the positions chosen for the young players, players out of role, protagonists who have disappointed and the possible faults of the club. However, there is one fact which, more than any other, shows that Reggina is currently paying the price also and above all for a head problem: that of goals conceded on dead balls. That’s six out of seven total.
One is the penalty kick that caused Favara’s defeat. The fact that it was born from a restart generated by an outgoing error by the defense does not shift the focus to a Reggina team that concedes goals mainly due to avoidable errors of its own or carelessness.
All the others come from corner kicks like the one that resulted in Messina’s three-point goal in the derby, free kicks or even a throw-in, as in the circumstance that led to Gelbison’s victory at the “Granillo” in the 90th minute. And at the start of the championship it was certainly unthinkable that Reggina could concede goals with a strong defense, being able to count on a physicality and experience that has no equal in Group I.
These are not circumstances in which the average age, physical brilliance or tactical positioning of individuals have an impact. Elements that can also represent the basis on which to question what seemed to be the absolute objective strength of amaranth. The goals conceded are a mix of placement errors, lost individual duels and lack of reactivity. In the locker room it is probably known whether or not everything arises from things prepared in training and then not carried out on the pitch.
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