In the new 2015 Serie A year, Udinese find themselves in midtable. Forza Italian Football brings you a review of all that has happened in Udinese’s quietly average 2014 year.
Despite at one point sitting an impressive fourth in the Serie A table, Udinese closes out 2014 in pretty average form.
This is not particularly a criticism, but rather an honest statement that reflects the Zebrette’s efforts in the season thus far. After the “retirement” of former head coach Francesco Guidolin last season, Udinese have taken the rest of 2014 to readjust under new head coach Andrea Stramaccioni; and all things considering, Udinese have done well.
Other quick highlights of 2014 include: defender Silvan Widmer winning the title of Switzerland’s Newcomer of the Year, Simone Scuffet being named Top Young Goalkeeper to Watch in 2015 by both Futbol Sapiens and Outside the Boot (despite minimal playing time), and Antonio Di Natale forgetting that he retired last season.
Transfer Hit & Flop
Cyril Thereau, the Donkey-turned-Zebra, has been a positive force on Udinese this season. With five goals so far — not including two in the Coppa Italia — Thereau has been a massive impact in the short time he has been with the Udinese.
Signed for a reported €2 million from Chievo Verona earlier this year, Thereau has been the complimentary striker to play up front with — and also as a substitute for — Di Natale.
Despite being quite opposite of the Udinese talisman, both in size (6ft 2in) and playing style (favouring strength over speed), the 31-year-old Frenchman has added his own flair to the fast-moving, precision-hitting, attacking style of Udinese’s play.
And then there is Marco Davide Faraoni… Who? Exactly.
Interestingly, this is actually the second time Faraoni has been transferred to Udinese. The first was in 2012, when Udinese signed the Italian fullback from Inter as part of the Samir Handanovic deal to Inter.
However, after playing only a handful regular season game with Udinese, Faraoni was then transferred to owner Giampaolo Pozzo’s pet team, Watford. After playing a fairly successful season in England, it was announced in July 2014 that Faraoni would be re-joining the Zebrette.
However, he has yet to play a match.
Coach
Andrea Stramaccioni always had big shoes to fill when coming to Udinese. Guidolin is not an easy coach to replace, on both a tactical and an emotion level. However, the novice Roman has only managed to keep to the status quo thus far.
To read a more in depth analysis on Strama, click here.
Best Goal — Antonio Di Natali v Chievo
November 23, 2014. That date will forever be etched into every Furlan mind: the day that Antonio Di Natale scored his 200th goal, in his 400th Serie A appearance.
While the goal itself was not particularly mind-blowing, especially on the scale of “Amazing Di Natale Goals,” the feat alone — and the fact he is tied in second for Top Goal Scorer this season — easily makes Di Natale’s 200th the best goal of the Udinese season.
That is, until he surpasses Roberto Baggio’s goal scoring record, with his 206th.
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