Every team needs a good striker and thankfully Italian football has been blessed with some of the all-time great, and this season in Serie A we have seen young guns and old timers firing in the goals like never before, so Forza Italian Football has chose the best from last season.
For years Italian football built its reputation on solid defending and a pragmatism that may not always have been pleasing on the eye but was brutally effective.
But as any avid Calcio fan can tell you this perception under close scrutiny has become outdated.
Serie A has become the league of talented forwards, creativity and a hotbed for goals with the 2014/15 season witnessing a staggering 1024 goals, which is more than can be said of La Liga or the Premier League.
It would be easy to diagnose such changes into the alleged death of defending but Serie A’s attacking evolution can be attributed to the many talented front-men plying their trade in the league and making life difficult for even the most accomplished of defenders.
Here are Forza Italian Football’s top five attackers of the season.
5. Jeremy Menez – AC Milan
In another bleak campaign for the Rossoneri where they failed to achieve European football for the second successive season, many thought the signing of Menez was indicative of Milan’s decline.
A free-transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, whilst the enigmatic Mario Balotelli departed for Liverpool, Menez has silenced his critics and probably stunned even Filippo Inzaghi himself after a phenomenal first season with the Rossoneri where he has racked up 16 goals in 33 Serie A games for the club.
That tally would likely be higher had the Frenchman not missed the closing stages of the season through suspension and latterly injury, but he very much set the tone for his year with a hat-trick against Parma in September including one of the goals of the campaign with a sensational backheel.
With Sinisa Mihajlovic primed for the Milan coaching role, Menez will likely be crucial to any hopes the Italian giants have of returning to the Champions League any time soon.
4. Paulo Dybala – Palermo
Nearly all the top leagues can boast incredible Argentine forwards such is the nation’s strength of attacking options, and Serie A is no different, with Córdoba born Paolo Dybala of Palermo the latest South American sensation to rise to stardom.
As a teenager Dybala was nicknamed La Joya – the jewel – and he has certainly done the name justice with 13 goals and ten assists, ensuring that the Rosanero’s first season back in the top-flight was comfortable.
The incredibly versatile 21-year-old has a gift for dribbling and can be strong too as witnessed by his goal in November away to AC Milan .
The Argentine’s stunning creativity caught the eye of many top European clubs but we’ll be seeing him in Serie A next season possibly forging a partnership with Carlos Tevez for Juventus.
3. Carlos Tevez – Juventus
In summer 2013, Manchester City could not wait to get rid of Carlos Tevez, a player who epitomized Roberto Mancini’s downfall in England and departed Manchester soon after the current Inter coach when he was snapped up by Juventus for just €10 million.
It is clear now that the Bianconeri struck a phenomenal bargain as Tevez has already racked up an incredible 50 goals for the Old Lady, and the 20 Serie A goals he has scored this season were instrumental in securing the club’s fourth successive Serie A title.
His phenomenal work-rate characterises the hunger and desire of Massimiliano Allegri’s side as they chase a historic treble, despite their illustrious history, the Bianconeri have never accomplished the feat.
One accusation often levelled against Tevez at previous clubs was that he could not transfer his goalscoring prowess from domestic competitions into the Champions League and make a name for himself in Europe’s premier competition.
But it is no coincidence that Juventus’ comeback as a European force has also been down to the fact that Tevez has scored seven goals in Europe this season – more than doubling his tally of goals in the competition over his entire career.
2. Mauro Icardi – Inter
Yet another Argentine in our selection and this time it’s Inter’s Mauro Icardi who, after much deliberation, fractionally loses out on our top spot.
The former Sampdoria striker has been a revelation for Inter in what has been yet another stuttering campaign for the Nerazzurri, who, like their city rivals, have also missed out on European football.
Icardi however will be gracing the Stadio Meazza for many years to come after penning an extension to his Inter contract.
A decisive factor in gaining over a third of Inter’s 60 Serie A points this season, his importance in the side cannot be overstated.
Quick, powerful and a deadly finisher Icardi has benefited greatly from Mancini’s return to Inter with an improved work-rate and with the guidance of his compatriot Rodrigo Palacio.
The youngster will be hoping to see off competition from Argentina’s embarrassment of attacking riches to become a regular for his national team.
1. Luca Toni – Hellas Verona
After finishing a close second in our review last season, the former Bayern Munich man has made it all the way to our number one spot after an electric campaign, where he has clinched the Capocannoniere crown, along with Icardi, at the grand old age of 38.
Paulo Dybala wasn’t even one-year old when Toni joined Modena professionally as a 17-year-old, but fast forward two decades and the striker’s 22 goals have again guided Hellas Verona to safety in Serie A.
But it is not just goals that Toni has contributed to the Verona team, his strong physical presence gives them a focal point and a clear target to aim for, that can be utilized to develop the defensive side of their game as he relieves pressure on his teammate, as much as it is useful for providing the Gialloblu with a cutting edge in attack.
The former Azzurri forward has experienced a renaissance in a career that looked to be all but over after he joined Al-Nasr in the United Arab Emirates.
Andrea Mandorlini will be desperate to keep Toni at the club for at least another year, but after such a prolific season the striker is still unsure where his future lies.
How did Toni end up 1st and Icardi 2nd lol? Icardi contributed more to goals (22 goals + 6 assists) vs Toni (22 goals + 2 assists)?
Good but Felipe Anderson should be on this list at number 1.