I was right to want more 442 and it seems like Miha is coming to the same conclusion.
Monto-De Jong need to play together in CM to maximize the effectiveness of both players. Monto can't survive alone in CM and De Jong is ineffective in possession.
We don't have a good AM and in a 4312 everything depends on him.
Those two details kind of force our hand into playing either a 4231 or a 442. Since our strongest players are our attackers and we don't have ANY real wingers, we're basically stuck with a 442.
The great thing is that Balotelli plays like an AM in the forward position. He won't be stepping on Honda's toes and he'll have the freedom to roam.
I'm expecting this 442 to be a pretty narrow one, meaning it's not a traditional 442 where the full backs stay deep and the wingers hug the touchline. Bona/Berto/Honda/Kucka would be the options for a RM/LM that would cover for the fullbacks but cut inside more often than going out. Balotelli would occupy the opposition fullback while ours overlaps and the side midfielder cuts in. In that case, expect the Inzaghi method of having the wingers playing in the opposite flank of their best foot (to cut and shoot). So Berto/Honda RM and Bona/Kucka LM.
Would have been nice to have El Shaarawy to give us more options on the left flank, though. Betting the house on 4312 and not having a plan B was a risk and it failed.
So against Napoli it might be this:
---------Bacca
Balotelli-------
Bonaventura-------------------------Berto
Monto-------DeJ
Anto----------------Ely------Zapata------------DeS
Lopez