Despite a positive pre-season that has raised confidence and expectation after finishing fourth in Serie B last term — by winning the play-off 4-2 on aggregate against Latina — the impressive 20-point margin between them and champions Palermo only serves to highlight the obstacle they will have overcome to simply challenge their fellow relegation battlers this season.
In their 74-year history, the Seahorses have participated in just over a dozen Serie A campaigns. While these include two notable extended spells after promotion in 1973 and 1987, they will struggle to repeat the feats as arguably the weakest of the three promoted sides this year.
With Alejandro Rodriguez as the team’s top-scorer last term with just eight, it also raises concerns on whether they have the firepower to register enough victories to secure their safety. Indeed we could see a repeat of their last Serie A outing in 2011-12 when they managed just 24 goals, winning just four games and conceding 60 — their worst tally in their brief Serie A history.
Transfers
Just as in their successful promotion last season the side will largely be made up of youngsters arriving on loan from fellow Italian clubs, none more so than Serie A rivals Atalanta supplying five. On the plus side however, the club has lost few major players from last year other than Marco D’Alessandro and instead brought in more experience to their youthful squad.
Franco Brienza and 33-year-old defender Stefano Lucchini arrived from Atalanta (on permanent deals!) with the latter could play a key role in finding some crucial defensive solidity, alongside another experienced campaigner Gabriele Perico coming in from Cagliari.
Given that coach Pierpaolo Bisoli has entrusted the goalkeeping gloves to talented 21-year-old Juventus loanee Nicola Leali, having some veteran heads around him will go a long way in the club’s fight for Serie A survival.
At the other end of the pitch Guido Marilungo has formed a good partnership with Rodriguez, while the return of Milan Djuric from Cittadella could also prove important for Cesena were they require his hulking frame to ruffle a few Serie A feathers in the scrap for points.
The Coach – Pierpaolo Bisoli
After guiding Cesena to promotion in 2009-10 during his first stint at the club, Pierpaolo Bisoli left to join Cagliari before the start of the season.
The move backfired for Bisoli however, as he was dismissed by the Rossoblu before the end of November, and despite later finding himself back in work at Bologna, his time there lasted only marginally longer.
Therefore, when he repeated his promotion heroics with Cesena last season, after taking back the reins in September 2012, he was sure to stick around in Romagna, at least while the going is good that is.
The 47-year-old has already admitted that survival this season will be the most difficult challenge of their Serie A history, but with an enthusiastic young group he will be confident that he can mould them into a team that at least will not wilt physically during their fight to retain Serie A status.
Another feather in his cap is his unpredictability. The coach rarely sticks to one formation, switching between 3-5-2 and 4-2-3-1 last term, which will make his side a somewhat unpredictable challenge for those not used to facing the Seahorses in recent times and could well help spring some early season surprises.
Season Expectation
Most neutrals already expect Cesena to have taken a round-trip ticket straight back to Serie B. However, despite coach Bisoli believing that this will be more difficult than previous attempts, they will know from Sassuolo’s performances last term that survival is not outside the realms of possibility and so Cesena will be keen to build some momentum and pick up early points.
With this in mind, that two of their opening three fixtures are held at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi, the last against fellow promoted side Empoli, will give them confidence that they can start the season on a positive note.
However, should they still be pointless by the time they travel to Turin on matchday four to take on reigning champions Juventus and welcome Italian giants AC Milan for the following fixture, it could suddenly look a long season for the coach and his players.
Prediction
Unlikely to get anywhere near their personal best sixth place Serie A finish from 1976 or even their debut campaign of 1973-74 when they came 11th, Cesena will likely end the season bottom of the pile.
Where will they finish? 20th [relegated] , for as much as they will make a fist of it.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
