Posted on Friday, 3rd February 2012 by Drew Farmer

Throughout this January transfer window, corrected several mistakes they had made in last summer’s market. Other than in goal, where Sebastien Frey has been a guarantee all season, there have been no certainties on the pitch.

Manager Pasquale Marino’s first signing as Grifone coach, was striker Alberto Gilardino. Whether or not previous boss Alberto Malesani or president were behind the incredibly poor summer purchases of frontmen Lucas Pratto and , the club has finally got the type of player they needed all along.

Gilardino’s presence has enabled the club’s leading scorer to return to form, as defences are no longer targeting Genoa’s lone scoring option.

With the plethora of injuries the club has endured, they desperately needed to address the backline. Step forward centre back Roger Carvalho who has arrived from Brazilian side Figueirense. Though only six foot tall, Carvalho has been compared to fellow countryman Thiago Silva of AC Milan.

Due to Genoa’s injury problems, it may take Carvalho time to settle in alongside Kakha Kaladze or . Carvalho and Granqvist will most likely be the preferred centre back pairing in 2012/13, giving the Brazilian a chance to bed into Serie A. In Carvalho, the Grifone now have a centre back who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and has pace to keep up with the league’s quickest attackers.

Possibly the club’s best signing in January, was that of midfielder . The 29-year old joined from Cagliari where he spent the last six years and played 124 matches. The Italian has already added a steady hand (and foot) to a midfield that routinely gave the ball away.

During last week’s win over Napoli, the midfield looked exponentially different than that of six weeks ago. The ball movement was quick and played with purpose. A definite result of Biondini’s presence and Marino‘s tactics.

To compensate for ’s return to Milan, Genoa have brought in the loan signing of Fernando Belluschi from Porto. The 28-year old should slot in as cover to Juraj Kucka, who has once again found his best form under Marino, and when returns from injury, will continue in this back up role.

Along with the new players, Genoa have brought back an old face with the loan signing of Giuseppe Sculli. Sculli has already slotted into the team on the left side of the attack, and combined well with Gilardino and Palacio. The club’s third goal last Sunday was a well worked move with Sculli playing in Gilardino before laying the ball off to Palacio to slot home.

While Genoa have brought in the likes of Gilardino, Carvalho, Biondini, Belluschi and Sculli, they have allowed several of their under performers to leave. Caracciolo has been loaned out to Novara, Sebastian Ribas to Sporting Lisbon, to Catania, to Chievo and as already mentioned, Merkel has returned to Milan. If the club wasn’t besieged by injury that list may have also included Kevin Constant.

Compared to the beginning of the season, Genoa have a more talented and experienced squad. The club deserves high marks for the five acquisitions they have made. The moves should help Genoa solidify a mid-table finish and if Marino and the team stay intact for next season, the club may push for a top-five finish.

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Drew FarmerAuthor Drew Farmer  (57 Posts)

Originally from the USA, Drew has been living abroad for over four years in such diverse places as South Korea, England, Hungary and now Qatar. Originally, converted to the beautiful game at the age of 11 during World Cup 1994 after seeing his first professional match, Drew has been a follower ever since. He contributes to websites such as EPLTalk and MLSTalk, and is a columnist for the USA sport website The Bleacher Report. Drew is known to watch and be interested in football leagues that most people could care less about, but spends most of his time watching and writing about Serie A. Drew supports AC Milan and Liverpool. Drew Farmer can be found on Twitter @Calciofarmer.


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