With the halfway stage of the season now upon us in Serie A, it is fair to see here at TCF, we can look back on a expectation-exceeding first five months for Torino.
For Torino fans this season it was always going to be about survival after a summer of change at the Stadio Olimpico. Two club stalwarts in Rolando Bianchi and Angelo Obgonna departed, coach Giampiero Ventura had employed a tactical shake up and a string of new faces arrived to aid the club’s assault on remaining in the top flight.
Alessio Cerci picked up exactly where he left off last season, allaying any fears of possibly suffering with second season syndrome in the claret jersey with a goal on opening night helping his side to a 2-0 win against Sassuolo.
They would lose only two of the following seven games but unfortunately one of those was a defeat in the Derby della Mole against Juventus. The wait for a win and even just a goal goes on.
Early in the campaign there was a frustrating failure to see out games from point-winning positions with AC Milan, Sampdoria and Hellas Verona all benefiting from naivety in the ranks.
However, since that derby defeat at the end of September, the Granata have lost just twice and have gone on a four game unbeaten run at home.
Ten points from the last 12 on offer have been collected as Toro have ended the year with a bang and ensure a more festive fan feeling at the Christmas period.
Tactical Changes
Last season, Ventura’s unwillingness to depart with his beloved 4-2-4 formation without question cost Torino points on more than one occasion.
He seemed set in his ways with the tactics, too stubborn to change it despite the glaring need for it. Another criticism that was fairly levelled at the former Bari was handpicking certain ‘favourites’ particularly those who he had coached at his old club.
Riccardo Meggiorini and Paolo Barreto being among those who seemed inexplicably awarded places in attack ahead of players much more deserving – or at the very least capable of hitting the back of the net.
Gone is that trademark 4-2-4, replaced with an organised 3-5-2 that seems to have raised the level of every player in the side’s game.
Cerci, Ciro Immobile, Omar El Kaddouri, Alexander Farnerud and Danilo D’Ambrosio have all thrived at times in the system and it is no coincidence that the goals have stopped being leaked at the back with as worryingly a regularity while they are flowing a little more freely in attack too having scored 26 and conceded 23.
Star Performer So Far: Alessio Cerci
Well, this may surprise some but TCF is not going to award this to the man you all think… As if. There is only one man who can take this honour and that is the outstanding Alessio Cerci.
As a result, the 26-year-old has been linked with everyone from Juventus to Manchester United and the way he is playing, he could have an impact on any side.
Of Torino’s 26 Serie A strikes, he has been involved directly in exactly 50% of those as he has scored eight times and has five assists so far this campaign.
The stats do not tell the story either because, having sat in the Curva Maratona this season, the effect he is having is that rare kind in football today.
An exciting winger whose unpredictable dazzling feet always have supporters on the edge of their seat, he has been a joy to watch since the moment he first pulled on the jersey.
Worst Performer: Daniele Padelli
Step forward Daniele Padelli for you have earned this. It would be unwise to hand him the award though in case he dropped it which says it all about the confidence had in the ‘keeper.
Time and time again the finger of blame has continually been pointed in his direction and with good reason too.
AC Milan at home, Inter (twice), Livorno and Cagliari have all been games this season in which Padelli’s inept attempts at keeping the ball out of the net have cost Toro a point or more.
Simply not good enough. The Granata missed a major coup in not managing to tempt Gianluca Pegolo from Siena in the summer and he joined Sassuolo instead.
Transfer of the Season: Omar El Kaddouri
There are a few contenders. Alexander Farnerud has been consistently good throughout the season after a somewhat slow start while the defensive recruits have also settled well.
Nicola Bellomo’s belter against Inter shows the potential that he possesses while Ciro Immobile could also stake a strong claim for this award.
In the end, the real standout so far has been Omar El Kaddouri who arrived on loan from Napoli and who looks like he has recaptured the form shown at Brescia that made him such a sought-after talent.
At 23, you get the sense that it is now or never for coming good on his promise, and he has certainly gone about establishing himself in the top flight with two goals and an assist in his 10 starts this campaign.
Often though, the metreonome in the middle of the field and responsible for many of the side’s better forays forward.
Milestone Moment
Cagliari 2-1 Torino. In mid-November, Toro went to Cagliari and bossed the contest and after Padelli fumbled to allow the Isolani to go ahead, they hit back through Immobile.
They were superb in doing so and looked favourites to go on and win it until a Conti thunderbolt two minutes from time stole the win prompting a angry tirade from Ventura about how his side could not be letting games slip away from them, a problem which haunted them last year.
It was followed up by a 4-1 thumping of Catania at home in the following game, from as focused a Torino side as you will ever see, and a draw after that to in-form Genoa was followed up by excellent wins against Lazio and Udinese.
What Must Happen Now
The fixture list at the start of the year is kind to Torino. They must try and hold on to Danilo D’Ambrosio in January and ensure interest in Cerci is also firmly swatted away.
Points picked up in early 2014 against Parma, Sassuolo and Atalanta would prove key in not only ending any lingering hopes of plummeting down the table as they did late last season and who knows? Ignite hopes of a Europa League finish?
You are allowed to dream!
