Continuing from this post where it was mentioned that Sampdoria had found themselves with two goal scorers, but without an adequate replacement for Cassano in the side, it was stated that Pazzini would have to leave Sampdoria for Macheda to play well. Also suggested was that a Marilungo-type player was more suited to partner the centre forward at Sampdoria.
It came as a surprise when Marilungo was sold off. More surprising was the acquisition of Massimo Maccarone. The squad now had four prima punte in Pazzini, Maccarone, Macheda and Pozzi.
As explained in the previously mentioned post, the Sampdoria system is a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 system. Cassano would constantly drift wide left/right receive the ball and work some magic, yes magic, on it for Pazzini or another team-mate to score. The system has now been changed to a broken system with none of the current forwards adequate enough to play as an effective seconda punta, considering how the Sampdoria system is built.
On Saturday, 29th January, Inter’s acquisition of Pazzini with Biabiany moving in the other direction was announced. While the loss of one of Italy’s best centre forwards is not exactly good news for Sampdoria, as they do have an adequate replacement in Federico Macheda.
While some do not believe the Pazzini deal to be a good one for both Inter and Pazzini, it presents Inter with an above-par sub for Diego Milito who has had problems with injuries this term. Eto’o has had problems combining effectively with Pandev, as Pandev is more suited to the liberated role Eto’o occupies rather than the Milito back-to-goal role.
This happens to be a good deal for Inter as they compete in three competitions. They now have Pazzini available whenever Milito is injured or finds his fitness needing management (though Pazzini is cup-tied in the Champions League). Pazzini for all his “accomplishments” is still a young striker who can still learn a thing or two from El Principe.
Moving back to Sampdoria, this deal leaves Sampdoria with three first-team centre forwards and one winger/forward in Jonathan Biabiany who is an extremely skillful player and whose education can be considered a bit “unorthodox“. Having developed outside a youth academy, his tactical attributes are somewhat lacking. Given this, it is unlikely he will play as a winger for Sampdoria.
The current side is the same from Delneri’s time at the club barring the Cassano-Pazzini pairing. Biabiany will probably come in as that needed seconda punta in the Sampdoria system.
Biabiany’s pace, trickery, and flair will prove crucial to Sampdoria. Just as this period is crucial for Macheda, as explained in the post mentioned above, it is also crucial for Biabiany. For him, it is a chance to develop a better understanding of the game. He can break from the mold of the pacey youngster prone to making poor decisions.
Coach Domenico will have to work with the youngster to create a better footballer. Biabiany ,if played as a striker, would naturally drift wide to receive the ball and then come inside. Being the live wire he is with the ball at his feet, his creative attributes would be key to supplying whoever his strike partner is. Hopefully, that player is Macheda (there’s also Maccarone and Pozzi) and the young duo show their national team coaches (both in experimental modes) that they just might have a future with their respective national sides.
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