Sampdoria 2015-16 Preview: Can Ferrero maintain the hype?

Date: 18th August 2015 at 6:00pm
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Sampdoria finished seventh in the 2014-15 Serie A season and qualified for Europe at the expense of rivals Genoa after an administrative oversight. It was the first season of Massimo Ferrero’s reign as Doria president and the Roman film producer became known for his passionate and eccentric celebrations as well as his colourful persona during interviews.

Massimo Ferrero Sampdoria

Previous coach Sinisa Mihajlovic created a team that was hard-working and particularly solid in defence. Sampdoria were an outside bet for a Champions League spot until striker Manolo Gabbiadini was sold to Napoli in January.

His replacements Luis Muriel and Samuel Eto’o failed to impress.

Unfortunately the Blucerchiati have already been eliminated in the third qualifying round of the Europa League by Serbian club Vojvodina this August and now they have to try and replicate their Serie A form from last season under Walter Zenga.

Ferrero was a media darling last season and he was popular with football fans but his second season as president will show everyone more about his ability to run a club.

Transfers

Sampdoria have taken a page out of AC Milan’s book in recent summers and bought players on free transfers such as Niklas Moisander, Edgar Barreto, Mattia Cassani and Antonio Cassano.

Cassano’s return has been the biggest news so far. Initially Zenga did not want him but after losing to Vojvodina, Ferrero and the fans got what they wanted. After falling out with the late Riccardo Garrone and playing for three clubs in four and a half years, Cassano is back in the city and club he cherishes.

Brazilian midfielder Fernando was bought from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk for €8 million and he is expected to sit in front of the defence.

There have been a few players leaving the club during the summer too.

The Blucerchiati have sold star midfielder Pedro Obiang to English club West Ham United, Alessio Romagnoli returned to Roma and then signed for AC Milan, Sergio Romero went to Manchester United on a free transfer, Stefano Okaka went to Belgian giants Anderlecht and Samuel Eto’o moved to Turkish club Antalyaspor.

antonio cassano sampdoria

Lesser-known players such as Alfred Duncan and Luca Rizzo have left for Sassuolo and Bologna respectively.

The Coach

Zenga has replaced Mihajlovic, who has gone to AC Milan, and he wants to give players freedom to play and for them to take responsibility for their actions.

Based on the pre-season games, he prefers to use the 4-3-1-2 formation but he might use the 4-3-3 depending on the players at his disposal.

Roberto Soriano has played in the trequartista role but either Argentine youngster Joaquin Correa or Cassano will occupy that position when they are completely fit. Mihajlovic usually fielded an attacking trident but Zenga will use Muriel and Eder as his pairing.

Zenga is a coaching journeyman who hasn’t held a job for more than two seasons and he has coached for many years in Eastern Europe and in the Middle East.

Walter Zenga

His record in Italy is not particularly impressive at all. He coached Catania in 2008-09 and then he went to Palermo for the following season only to be sacked after 13 rounds.

Season Expectations

Sampdoria need to be competitive very quickly. After the ignominious elimination from the Europa League, a good start in the Serie A is important.

This team will be different to one coached by Mihajlovic. The Serbian wasn’t tactically shrewd but he was a great motivator and man-manager who got the best out of the players at his disposal.

Last season Il Doria were battling for European spots and they were a tough side to beat. The current side looks easier to push over.

Under Zenga the team doesn’t play with the same grit and determination and Ferrero might make a few more purchases to improve the squad depth.

Goals will be hard to come by if Cassano and Eder aren’t in form and goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano will be busy if the new defenders fail to adapt quickly.

If Zenga’s side starts poorly, he is likely to get the sack and Vincenzo Montella, Cesare Prandelli, Roberto Donadoni and Luigi Delneri are among the candidates to take his spot.

Prediction

Sampdoria will probably be in the bottom half of the table. For them to be positioned in the top 10, the new signings will have to make an instant impact. Cassano needs to gain full fitness quickly.

The defence is filled with new players that need time playing together, the midfield is rampant with defensive-minded players and workhorses, and the attack is missing a prolific striker. Il Doria has a history of developing strikers but Zenga is not the right coach to develop players.

Zenga’s philosophy is too simple and his lack of tactical nous will hurt Sampdoria greatly. If things don’t go right, he won’t know how to change the course of the game to the benefit of his team. This Samp side won’t pose much of a threat for those teams competing for European spots.

Expected finish: 11th (NB: this is not necessarily Vito Doria’s opinion but the average of our editors’ predictions.)

 

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