Palermo are back with a bang. Okay, so the the reverberations of that ‘bang’ may have become decidedly less audible since around the turn of the year but nonetheless, they’re back.
Despite perhaps slowing down a little in 2015, the 2013/14 Serie B champions have followed in the footsteps of previous champions Sassuolo and survived in the top league following their promotion, ultimately finishing in a very respectable 11th position, one place above Eusebio Di Francesco’s men.
The Rosanero however have done it with a little more style than the Neroverdi did in their first season and since pulling away from the relegation zone in week nine of the season they never looked like falling back into it.
Indeed the 1-0 victory over Chievo that pulled them clear was the catalyst for a 10-game unbeaten run which included an impressive win away to AC Milan and a 5-0 thumping of Cagliari.
Week 20 saw Giuseppe Iachini’s men reach a season-high position of seventh in the table but it was around this time they took their foot off the gas, perhaps content in the knowledge they had secured their place in Serie A for next season.
Regarding the players who have made the newcomers’ return to Serie A so successful, no review of the Aquile’s season will fail to mention the two shining lights of their attacking play; Paulo Dybala and Franco Vazquez.
The 21-year-old Dybala and 26-year-old Vazquez, both Argentine-born, were responsible for 23 of Palermo’s 53 league goals, scoring 13 and 10 respectively.
Their goal tallies however only tell half the story and with 10 and nine assists respectively their overall contribution was there for all to see.
With Vazquez having Italian citizenship he was rewarded for his fine form with a call-up to the Azzurri squad by coach Antonio Conte and made his debut in March in a friendly against England.
Dybala’s reward however was a little more bitter-sweet for the Rosanero fans as champions Juventus are reportedly close to signing the hot prospect for an estimated €40 million.
Although the two forwards took the headlines this season, they were facilitated by several other able performers.
Midfielder Luca Rigoni, a summer signing from Chievo, came close to Vazquez’s goalscoring feats with nine goals, while captain Edgar Barreto led his side admirably, pitching in with five assists.
Having built a platform for themselves, the Stadio Renzo Barbera side must now contemplate the difficult second season.
They will again have the example of Sassuolo to follow as the Neroverdi have of course consolidated their place as a Serie A side a year after finishing 17th in the table.
Much will depend on how Iachini uses the sizeable transfer fee received from the expected sale of Dybala and he will face the trade-off of being able to rebuild his squad against being without the contribution of the young superstar.
If he can bring in a suitable replacement for his prized asset and use the rest of the money to add further strength-in-depth, then perhaps the Sicilians can aim for a top-half finish next season.
Player of the Season
No surprises here, it has to be that man Dybala.
For proof of how much the youngster means to the club and the Rosanero faithful one needs only to look at the send-off he received after the club’s final home game of the season against Fiorentina.
Aware of his imminent departure, his teammates hoisted him above their heads and paraded him to the adoring supporters in the Stadio Renzo Barbera.
The club also gave the Dybala the captaincy as a sign of their gratitude for his service and so the 21-year-old leaves Sicily with only well-wishes, somewhat a rarity in the modern game for someone departing a club at the peak of their powers.
The Argentine’s meteoric rise is certainly showing no signs of slowing down and the man who was plucked from Instituto in the Argentine second division three years ago will find himself thrust into the limelight next season if his move to Juventus Stadium goes ahead as expected.
Goal of the Season
The Aquile supporters were treated to some creative attacking play and great goals this season but when it comes to goal of the season Vazquez’s strike away to Atalanta was a thing of beauty.
The elegant forward picked up the ball on the half-way line, drove into the space ahead, and at 25 yards from goal with a defender approaching, produced a gloriously delicate lob over the despairing Marco Sportiello in the Orobici goal.
The ease with which he executed this incredibly difficult skill was reason enough to bestow upon him the honour of goal of the season.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek68yzi2vUc[/youtube]
Best and Worst Signings
Costa Rica international Giancarlo Gonzalez has made 27 appearances since arriving from Columbus Crew in the summer and Croatian Mato Jajalo has proved to be a valuable addition since signing from Rijeka in January but the best signing over the course of the season has to be Luca Rigoni.
The 30-year-old transferred from Chievo for an undisclosed fee and went on to make 31 appearances, scoring nine goals.
To put that into perspective, prior to joining Palermo the midfielder had scored 18 goals in his whole career.
On the other hand there have been several less impressive signings this season.
New forwards Joao Silva and Simon Makienok managed just five games and no goals between them but we can perhaps sympathise as they did have the almost ever-present Dybala and Vazquez to compete with.
Therefore worst signing goes to Sol Bamba, who was signed on a free transfer from Turkish side Trabzonspor. The Ivorian made just one appearance before being shipped out on loan to English Championship side Leeds United in January, and may make his move to Elland Road permanent.
The Coach
Who knows if it is a case of mellowing out as the years progress but incredibly president Maurizio Zamparini opted against using that itchy trigger finger of his and kept faith with the same coach for the entire season – ‘Beppe’ Iachini, a previously heralded promotion specialist who had helped spearhead their top flight return.
The former Sampdoria boss got the best out of attacking talents like Dybala and Vazquez as well as rejuvenating the career of Rigoni in midfield with a fast paced style of football that was easy on the eye and helped the Rosanero comfortably avoid the drop in their first season back in the top flight, finishing in 11th place – 15 points clear of the drop zone.
Iachini is also the first Palermo coach in a decade to survive an entire season in the hottest of hotseats – after Francesco Guidolin managed the feat in the 2004/05 campaign.
