With Serie A in its midseason break, Genoa find themselves flying high close to the top of the table. Forza Italian Football brings you a review of all that has happened over the first half of Genoa’s excellent campaign.
When the Serie A season started in September, Genoa supporters would have hoped the team were
both competitive and could challenge for a place in the top eight. Four months on and fans’ expectations have not only been met, but have most likely exceeded those original dreams.
Not since 2009, have Genoa’s curva nord believed the team could make it into Europe this late in the season. Those dreams were helped by wins over Juventus and AC Milan as well as a nine game unbeaten run. Though that streak ended prior to Christmas, the Grifone are now looking to reload and put together another strong campaign in the second half.
Transfer Hit & Flop
As always, Genoa brought in numerous players during the last transfer window. Several players brought in were hoping to revive their stagnating careers when pen was put to paper. One of those players was Alessandro Matri, who has since been a huge success in red and blue.
His six goals and five assists have been key in Genoa’s push for a top five position. Once caveat, Matri’s goals have all come on the road; he must begin scoring at the Marassi if Genoa are to make Europe.
While Matri has excelled at Genoa, the same couldn’t be said for Mauricio Pinilla. The Chilean was expected to be a sudden impact rather than Matri. However, as plans tend to do, they didn’t go as perceived.
Pinilla’s three league goals were all important, but that didn’t convince Gian Piero Gasperini and company. Pinilla has already been loaned to Atalanta for the remainder of the season. The Bergamo club will send Genoa around €2.5 million for him and will pay out the rest of his €700,000 a season salary.
Coach
Since returning to Genoa last season, Gasperini has revitalised the club. With that said, it hasn’t always been rosy. Genoa took their foot off the pedal to end last season, having a mediocre second half of the term after safety was secured. Though the team had a nine match unbeaten run this autumn, Genoa looked anything but convincing against some of the lesser sides of Serie A.
Though the Italian is regularly praised for his tactical changes and tic-for-tac style of coaching, Gasperini is quite stubborn with his formation.
In addition, Gasperini’s personnel moves leave some scratching their heads. He has got it right with the youngsters Armando Izzo and Rolando Mandragora this term, but his decisions to rotate players rather than to start players in good form has cost the team points one or two times.
Best Goal – Luca Antonini v Juventus
Hands down, Genoa’s best goal of the season was Luca Antoni’s stoppage time winner against Juventus. Though the Italian was slightly offsides, the goal counted after a dogged Genoa performance claimed all three points in October. That win helped raise both the profile of the team this season and the club’s confidence going forward.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXCwQY-Wyhg[/youtube]
