<div style="float: left; margin-right: 5px;"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sampdoria-qualified-for/image/8817276?term=Sampdoria" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8817276/sampdoria-qualified-for/sampdoria-qualified-for.jpg?size=380&amp;imageId=8817276" alt="May 16, 2010 - Genova, Italy - epa02159649 Sampdoria&apos;s soccer player Antonio Cassano, today in Genoa, Italy, 16 May, celebrate the qualification of his team in Champions League after a 1-0 win against SSC Napoli." width="380" height="306" border="0"></figure></div></a></div>
Last season was a special one for the Blucerchiati, as they finished the season in fourth place in Serie A and qualified for the Champions League.&nbsp; The club also unveiled a striker-duo that could not only lead Sampdoria to further success but form the basis of a more potent attack on the Italian national team.&nbsp; But Sampdoria’s rivals have not sat still this offseason (including arch rival <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/serie-a-preview-genoa-aims-for-european-success/2939" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Genoa</a>) and the club must adjust to being one of the clubs on top, not only seeing if they can make a run at the Top 3 but hold-off much improved <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/serie-a-preview-the-resurrection-of-juventus/2945" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Juventus,</a> <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/serie-a-preview-palermo-wont-miss-cavani/3016" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Palermo</a>, and others.
Management: Luigi Del Neri did such a good job developing and leading Sampdoria last season that he was promptly <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/di-carlo-to-guide-sampdoria-into-champions-league/2448" target="_blank" rel="noopener">snatched away by Juventus</a> in the offseason.&nbsp; Into the void stepped former Chievo Verona manager Domenico Di Carlo.&nbsp; In an odd twist of fate, Sampdoria’s 2-1 victory over Parma in 2008 cost Di Carlo his first Serie A job, when he failed to lead Parma out of the relegation zone early in the season.&nbsp; He has received great praise for his ability to be so successful with Chievo, a club with a budget much smaller than most Serie A teams.&nbsp; This will only be his fourth year coaching in Serie A, however, and the expectations are much higher than they were at Chievo.
Transfer Market: The club had a quiet offseason save for reshaping the keeper position.&nbsp; Last year’s starter Storari is in Milan and his replacement is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianluca_Curci" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gianluca Curci</a> from Siena.&nbsp; He’s young at 25 and was at one time an heir apparent to Gigi Buffon on the Azzurri, although he has not been called up to the team since 2008.&nbsp; This season could be a chance for him to make his case for inclusion.&nbsp; Another player added to the roster is <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=41635&amp;cc=5901" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nicola Pozzi</a>, who is a depth addition to the front line.
Key Players and Formation: A concern going into the season has to be the defense after the disappointing Champions League play-in versus Bremen.&nbsp; A key starter on the backline is Daniele Gastaldello who has ninety-six appearances for the club since 2008.&nbsp; He will likely be flanked by a combination of Marius Stankevicius, Stefano Lucchini and Massimo Volta.&nbsp; I expect the young Swiss international Jonathan Rossini to also compete for substantial playing time.
Captain and Sampdoria stalwart Angelo Palombo returns to anchor a talented midfield after there was some speculation he could go in the offseason.&nbsp; On his right will be former Viola player Franco Semioli who notched two goals last season.&nbsp; Young star-in-the-making Andrea Poli also returns to gain valuable experience and could be a future member of the Italian national team.&nbsp; Depending on his injury sustained in Tuesday’s match, Argentine Fernando Tissone enters the Serie A season as a starter in a midfield where, depending on the match, Di Carlo could play four or five players.
Of course the big names for Sampdoria are the two strikers – Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini.&nbsp; Both had excellent ’09-’10 seasons and both legitimately deserved to play in South Africa, although only one did.&nbsp; They have picked up where they left off against Bremen, scoring all four of the team’s goals.&nbsp; If they stay healthy and motivated, Sampdoria again will have one of the most dangerous attacks in Serie A.&nbsp; If they do not, however, the depth is less spectacular.
Outlook: This week’s Champions League loss <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/championsleague/story/Samp-boss-saddened-by-CL-exit">was a heartbreaker</a> for the club, and showed some of its faults to an international audience.&nbsp; Nevertheless, this is essentially the same club that finished fourth last season, and they should be expected to compete for the top four again.&nbsp; A couple of keys for the season will be [a] how the players adjust to Di Carlo’s scheme and how Di Carlo adjusts to Top Four calcio, [b] if Cassano <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/the-fate-of-antonio-cassano/1775" target="_blank" rel="noopener">behaves himself</a> and is as productive as he can be, and [c] if this team can handle both a Serie A schedule and the Europa League.

Serie A Preview &#8211; Sampdoria Adjusts to Life At the Top

Serie A Preview - Sampdoria Adjusts to Life At the Top - World Soccer Talk

Serie A Preview – Sampdoria Adjusts to Life At the Top

<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/soccer-inter-milan/image/9476821?term=Coutinho" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignright" style="border: 0px initial initial" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9476821/soccer-inter-milan/soccer-inter-milan.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9476821" border="0" alt="July 31, 2010 - Inter Milan&apos;s Coutinho in action during International play at M&amp;T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The team from Milan won the match, 3-o." width="210" height="316"></figure></div></a></div>
Seeing a young Roberto Baggio, Ronaldinho, or Fabregas is always&nbsp;exciting, but noticing young players which in 5 years can become one&nbsp;of the world’s best is rare. With Serie A’s relative downfall compared&nbsp;to other European leagues, it’s time to find some new stars, starting&nbsp;from these eight prospects:
1. Phillippe Coutinho (Inter Milan)
While he looks a lot like AC Milan’s Brazilian wonderboy, Alexandre&nbsp;Pato, Coutinho is a different type of player, very similar to&nbsp;Ronaldinho. The young Brazilian has already scored for Inter in a&nbsp;friendly against Panathinaikos, a stupendous volley with his left&nbsp;foot. He can play in a variety of offensive positions: while his best would be behind the strikers as a number 10, he can also play as a&nbsp;second striker or start from the left wing and cut inside, like&nbsp;Ronaldinho used to do in his Barcelona days. Coutinho loves the&nbsp;acceleration of pace and isn’t afraid to shoot, and with already a&nbsp;very advanced tactical sense at 18 years-old, Coutinho will replace&nbsp;Sneijder in the future to then one day play for Brazil in the 2014&nbsp;World Cup.
2. Davide Lanzafame (Juventus)
With Juve’s bad performance last season, the club has decided to rely&nbsp;on more Italian youth, and Davide Lanzafame has earned himself a spot&nbsp;in the starting 11 coming from Parma. He’s also played for Bari and&nbsp;Palermo at just 23 years-old, and his friends nicknamed him&nbsp;“Lanciafiamme”, which means flamethrower in Italian. Lanzafame is a&nbsp;winger, often playing on the left side of the midfield in a 4-4-2, but&nbsp;he can also play on the right side with little trouble. While Juventus&nbsp;are looking to buy Krasic for the left wing, maybe they could stick&nbsp;with Lanzafame for this season.
3. Abel Hernandez (Palermo)
Hernandez has big boots to fill, now that Edinson Cavani has left&nbsp;Palermo for Napoli, the new Uruguayan has to help Miccoli in attack at&nbsp;just 19 years-old. Hernandez has already had 27 appearances in Serie A&nbsp;for Palermo, and the youngster has also scored 7 goals for the&nbsp;Sicilian team. A fast center-forward who knows how to finish in front&nbsp;of goal, and next to an experienced and creative player like Fabrizio&nbsp;Miccoli, Hernandez will be an important player for Palermo this&nbsp;upcoming season, and maybe for years to come.
4. Andrea Poli (Sampdoria)
Poli has a very bright future ahead of him, at just 20 years-old the young Italian is what could be described as a “Spanish” midfielder. A player with a smart tactical mind, which was inspired by Fabregas and Gerrard, both great role models for a midfielder. While he could best be described as a mix between Xavi and Iniesta, he’ll be playing behind Cassano and Pazzini, ready to provide assists and maybe score a goal or two. While he still has a long way to go, Poli has already played in Serie B for Sassuolo where he scored 5 goals in 32 appearances, and if that isn’t enough experience, he lost a U-19 European Cup final playing for Italy, not bad for a 20 year-old.
5. Franco Zuculini (Genoa)
Zuculini was a relatively unknown name among Genoa’s super-transfers which now include Schalke 04’s Rafinha (paid about 9 million Euros), but after a few friendlies for the rossoblu, the Argentinean showed his worth. Zuculini was bought from German club Hoffenheim, where he had 7 appearances and one goal, which isn’t bad for a 19 year-old. While Zuculini would be classified as a defensive midfielder, like a new Thiago Motta, the Argentinean with Italian origins loves to serpentine up the field with great dribbling ability. While he might be slightly obscured in a midfield comprised of the new signings Miguel Veloso, and Rafinha, Zuculini shouldn’t be underestimated.
6. Adem Ljajic (Fiorentina)
Fiorentina have always cultivated young talented players, and now that one of their biggest stars, Jovetic, will be out for at least 6 months after damaging his knee ligaments in practice, it’s time for young Ljajic to step up to the plate. There’s an empty spot which the 18 year-old could fill perfectly, he plays as a “trequartista”, or number 10, and he would be a perfect player to put behind Gilardino in Fiorentina’s 4-2-3-1, next to Vargas and Marchionni on the wings. Ljajic is already being compared to Baggio, they say he has the same feet and the same eyes, and the way he curls the ball into the back of the net from free kicks is certainly a wonderful sight. At just 18 years-old Ljajic could be inserted into Fiorentina’s starting 11, playing an important part in replacing Jovetic, another player who once, was a prospect like Ljajic.
7. Libor Kozak (Lazio)
Kozak is Lazio’s gem right now, having scored seven times this pre-season in friendlies, the 21 year-old is an important player for&nbsp;Lazio’s future. The striker from the Czech Republic is a true center-forward, strong and tall, often using his head to score goals. Libor&nbsp;Kozak has already played for Brescia in Serie B where he scored four&nbsp;goals in 26 appearances, and while he might not play that much this&nbsp;season, he’ll grow to be an important player for Lazio’s future.
8. Alexander Merkel (AC Milan)
A young midfielder among an aging team, Merkel is a shining light for AC Milan who need to inject some youth and pace into the team. The 18 year-old with Belorussian parents was born in Kazakhstan, but then immigrated to Germany at six years-old, letting the player choose among three national teams to play for in the future. A player who runs and works in a midfield which is slowed down thanks to old players like Gattuso, Pirlo, and Ambrosini. Merkel is the beginning of a young generation that AC Milan hopes to bring through the ranks, and one day call the winning generation.
What are your thoughts on these eight players? Who are you most excited to see this upcoming season? Share your thoughts by commenting below!

8 of Serie A's best prospects

8 of Serie A's best prospects - World Soccer Talk

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Serie A Preview – Sampdoria Adjusts to Life At the Top

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8 of Serie A's best prospects