<div style="float: left;margin-right: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/new-genoa-striker-luca/image/9266986?term=Genoa" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9266986/new-genoa-striker-luca/new-genoa-striker-luca.jpg?size=234&amp;imageId=9266986" border="0" alt="July 01, 2010 - Genoa, Italy - epa02232416 Italian forward Luca Toni, new player of CFC Genoa 1893, poses with his new jersey during his official presentation in Genoa, Italy, 01 July 2010." width="234" height="351"></figure></div></a></div>
Italy’s oldest soccer club finished a disappointing ninth last season, and the management has made it clear this offseason that such a result is unacceptable.&nbsp; Disappointing play by a number of key players left the club outside the top six, one year after qualifying for the&nbsp;UEFA Cup and two years after returning to Serie A after a long climb up the Italian leagues.&nbsp; As is his style, club president Enrico Preziosi aggressively spent money this offseason, acquiring a list of talented players that he expects to lead his team back to the top six in Serie A.&nbsp; With one of the best managers in Italy, anything less would be a disappointment for the Griffin.
The Transfer Market: If Genoa does qualify for a European tournament next spring, the genesis of that success can be seen in July 2010.&nbsp; During the summer, the club brought in and sent out a number of players, with the end result being a balanced and competitive club.
A perfect example of this philosophy is the keeper position: Genoa spent the entire summer looking for a top-notch keeper, at times pursuing&nbsp;Chievo’s Sorrentino and Cagliari’s Marchetti.&nbsp; Finally, they bought Eduardo from Sporting Braga and sent Marco Amelia to AC Milan, and if Eduardo plays as well as he did in the World Cup for Portugal, this will be the signing of the summer.&nbsp; Genoa also followed Roma’s path from last season and signed Luca Toni to give them a tall attacking option in the middle.&nbsp; Backing him up is Mattia Destro, an eighteen year old on loan from Inter who has scored 21 goals in 29 matches for various Italian youth national teams!
A key player added for depth and the future is attacking midfielder <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/8-of-serie-as-best-prospects/2831" target="_blank">Franco Zuculini</a>, who is on loan from Hoffheim.&nbsp; The young Argentine had one goal in seven appearances as a nineteen year old in Bundesliga, and started for Racing Club at age eighteen.&nbsp; While he will likely begin the season on the bench, he is the type of key reserve that will be the difference for Genoa this season – a player talented enough to fill in and contribute if an injury occurs.
Rumors continue to surround the club, with the latest reports that it is still in the running for World Cup star Kevin Prince-Boateng and Tottenham Hotspur’s Giovani Dos Santos (although that rumor is being denied).
Key Players:&nbsp; If Genoa wants to make a run at a European tournament, it has to improve its defense – the rossoblu allowed 61 goals last season.&nbsp; Along with Eduardo, the club added Andrea Ranocchia (on loan from Inter) to bolster the defense.&nbsp; Look for Ranocchia to partner with Italian national team member Domenico Criscito and Rafinha (Schalke 04), but also in the mix are Dario Dainelli (Fiorentina), Salvatore Bocchetti, and&nbsp;a host&nbsp;of other players who have starting experience in major leagues.
In the middle will be captain Marco Rossi and new signed Miguel Veloso.&nbsp; The Portuguese holding midfielder/defender was in high demand this offseason, but the Griffin pried him from his home country by trading money and Alberto Zapater to Sporting Lisbon.
Expect Luca Toni to start in the middle of the 3-4-3 and provide a physical presence for the Genoa attack.&nbsp; On his flank could be returning forward Robert Acquafresca, who spent some time the past few seasons being traded to and from Genoa.&nbsp; Also likely starting is Rodrigo Palacio, who had partnered with the departed Hernan Crespo to form a potent attack.
Outlook:&nbsp; This team has invested heavily in the transfer market (and may continue to do so) with the goal of getting a European tournament spot.&nbsp; Defensively this team is greatly improved and the flexibility of the players they obtained will help Eduardo reduce the number of goals allowed this season.&nbsp; The club last season had balanced scoring, and you can expect the same this year as a number of players on their roster have the ability to score.&nbsp; This team has the talent and leadership to qualify for the Europa Cup OR the final Champions League position, but a top three finish may be out of their reach.

Serie A Preview &#8211; Genoa Aims for European Success

Serie A Preview - Genoa Aims for European Success - World Soccer Talk

Serie A Preview – Genoa Aims for European Success

<div style="float: left;margin-right: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-january-2010/image/7574824?term=Chievo+Verona" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/7574824/sports-news-january-2010/sports-news-january-2010.jpg?size=234&amp;imageId=7574824" border="0" alt="Jan. 17, 2010 - 05358096 date 17 01 2010 Copyright imago Sesa Gennardo Sardo Esultanza 1 0 Verona 17 01 2010 Stadio Bentegodi Chievo Juventus Campionato Italiano Series A 2009 2010 Photo Nicol Zangirolami Inside photo PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITAxFRA NicoloxZangirolami men Italy Series A 2009 2010 Verona Action shot Vdig 2010 vertical premiumd." width="234" height="355"></figure></div></a></div>
Looking back on our 2010-2011 Serie A preview to this point, it is interesting to see the number of teams that have failed to actively work the transfer market for improvements to their clubs, even though they are in danger of finishing at the bottom of the table.&nbsp; Whether due to money or management, some clubs sit back and hope that they are doing just enough to survive.&nbsp; But this has not been Chievo Verona’s style over the past decade – careful management of the transfer market by acquiring veteran Serie A players or low-cost young players that are a steady and long-term presence for the club.&nbsp; The result has been success in the early part of the decade, and survival in the latter half.
Last season, Chievo finished fourteenth in the standings, an impressive finish for such a small club.&nbsp; It was their second year in Serie A and the second year they had to battle late into the season to remain in the top league.&nbsp; It is hard to believe that since 2000-2001, the club has spent only one season in Serie B after taking 71 years to reach the top flight.&nbsp; Based simply on their creative management and smart signings, Chievo excelled in Serie A at the beginning of the last decade, but it will be interesting to see if their moves this year can keep them in Seria A.
Management: Because of the names that have managed Chievo this decade, saying that Domenico Di Carlo was the best is high praise.&nbsp; Di Carlo took over the club during its Serie B season and led them to a second place finish and promotion, then over the past two seasons helped the club stay afloat in Serie A.&nbsp; He has moved on to coach Cassano and Pazzini at Sampdoria, and his replacement is Stefani Pioli.&nbsp; Pioli was the former manager at Parma who coached them near the bottom of the Serie A table and has been in Serie B ever since.&nbsp; Despite his lack of success at the top level, he is well regarded in the sport and has promised the club will play “beautiful calcio”.
The transfer market: Rather then trying to buy one or two big name players or rising stars, Chievo has been stocking the club with veteran Serie A players and holding on to their best players.&nbsp; A perfect example of their acquisition strategy is Mariano Bogliacino, a Uruguayan midfielder who has spent the last five seasons in Napoli and was acquired on loan in July.&nbsp; His numbers are ok but he has played in 130 plus Serie A matches the past five seasons. &nbsp; Another loaner is holding midfielder Roberto Guana, who started thirty-four matches last season for Bologna on loan from Palermo.&nbsp; Their biggest move, however, may have been the permanent acquisition of defender Gennaro Sardo, who came over at the beginning of last season on loan from Catania and excelled for the Flying Donkeys.
The players: The name mentioned most this offseason was keeper Stefano Sorrentino, a first class keeper who excelled in his return to Serie A last season.&nbsp; He appeared in thirty-eight matches and was rumored to be a potential call-up for Lippi’s national team.&nbsp; Despite this, he was almost sent to Genoa in a deal that would have netted the Flying Donkeys striker Riccardo Meggiorini and freed the club to sign Rubinho.
The almost-acquisition of Meggiorini highlights the club’s need for offense this season.&nbsp; Last year’s leading scorer was captain Sergio Pellissier with eleven goals – the player with the second most had four!&nbsp; The Chievo captain is truly the backbone of this club – he scored 22 goals when they were promoted in 2007-2008, but struggled to score the beginning of the next season when the club looked headed back to Serie B.&nbsp; His dedication to the club and success since 2000 in Serie A was rewarded with a national team call-up in 2009.
The most consistent part of this club is the backline, manned by Andrea Mantovani, Nicolas Frey, and Gennaro Sardo.&nbsp; Mantovani has played with Chievo since 2005 and Frey (brother of Fiorentina’s keeper) since 2008.&nbsp; The Flying Donkeys allowed 42 goals last season, but only scored 37.
Outlook:&nbsp; Chievo has a history of being well managed and playing well, the only way a club from such a small town can consistently compete with some of the best clubs in the world.&nbsp; Based on their last ten years, it would be a mistake to simply assume the Flying Donkeys are doomed to spend the entire season near or in the relegation zone.&nbsp; However, looking at the roster and their lack of scoring ability, the club looks in danger of returning to Serie B.&nbsp; In order to excel this season, they need the veterans they acquired to produce (preferably with some goals) and the club needs to repeat its September 2009 form, where they had two wins and two draws to give their season a good start.&nbsp; With their first five matches against Catania, at Genoa, versus Brescia, at Napoli, and hosting Lazio, a similar start is possible and needed.

Serie A Preview &#8211; Can Chievo Verona Do It Again?

Serie A Preview - Can Chievo Verona Do It Again? - World Soccer Talk

Serie A Preview – Can Chievo Verona Do It Again?

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Serie A Preview – Genoa Aims for European Success

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