Udinese Club Focus – Mid-Season Review: The story so far…

Date: 30th December 2015 at 4:00pm
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Looking back on Udinese’s 2015-16 season to date is a case of what might have been as we head into the Christmas break.

udinese-molla-wague

The Zebrette find themselves fairly comfortable in 13th position after round 17, seven points clear of Frosinone in 18th, while also being only seven points behind AC Milan in sixth. After losing key players Allan and Roberto Pereyra to Napoli and Juventus respectively during the summer, and recruiting former Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono to replace Andrea Stramaccioni on the bench, many predicted a season of real struggle for the Bianconeri.

Indeed if their form at the newly refurbished Stadio Friuli is anything to go by, then the Zebrette would be in real danger of dropping into Serie B for the start of the 2016/2017 season. With only eight points picked up from eight home fixtures to date, Colantuono’s side have yet to make the new look Friuli a fortress it once was.

Luckily it’s the Bianconeri’s away results to date that have kept them from immediate danger. Wins at Juventus, Bologna, Chievo and Torino, as well as a draw against Hellas Verona leaves the Zebrette with the best away record of the bottom ten teams in the division as it stands.

chievo udinese

But new Stadio Friuli boss Colantuono can be relatively satisfied overall with their campaign to date and had it not been for the injury to key summer signing Duvan Zapata from Napoli they could well be sitting comfortably in the top ten heading into Christmas.

The former Estudiantes forward was brought in on a two-year loan deal to replace the ageing Antonio Di Natale, but disaster struck in late September when the Colombian suffered a hip-injury whilst scoring the winner during Udinese’s 2-1 away win at Bologna, with the injury set to keep the forward out until the end of January.

Before suffering that injury the striker hit three goals in just four starts for the Friuli outfit and look set to become a fan favourite and be the hier to club captain Di Natale.

Best Player

Thereau - Sassuolo v Udinese

With the sands of time finally starting to catching up with club legend Di Natale plus the injury to Zapata, French forward Cyril Thereau has been the standout performer for the Bianconeri so far this season.

Five goals and two assists in 15 appearances for former Chievo striker, including two goals against his old side at the end of November, sees the 32-year-old collect the accolade as the Zebrette’s best performer to date this campaign.

Highlight(s) So Far

One game that will stand out for the Zebrette faithful has to be their 1-0 victory of champions Juventus on the opening day of the season.

Thereau udinese

A 78th minute strike from Thereau was enough to earn all three points and give Udinese their first win away to Juventus since 2007. Indeed Colantuono’s men seem to like their trips to Turin, also defeating the Old Lady’s city rivals Torino with an impressive 1-0 away victory in week 17 before the winter break.

Biggest Disappointment

Early December is a period of the season that will want to be quickly forgotten by all at the Stadio Friuli, following two heavy defeats in the league and elimination from the Coppa Italia.

A 3-0 away defeat to Fiorentina on the 6 December was followed up a week later with a 4-0 drubbing at the Friuli by leaders Inter. Just days later a 2-1 loss to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico ended the Zebrette’s interest in this seasons Coppa Italia and ended a miserable two weeks.

Transfer Hit

Despite signing for the Zebrette for €3.5 million in January 2014, midfielder Edenilson spent the 2014/2015 season on-loan at Genoa, where he made 30 appearances for the Rossoblu providing four assists.

Edenilson Udinese

The former Corinthians midfielder finally made his debut for Udinese against Juventus on the opening day of this campaign and has become a key player, making 16 appearances and providing one assist so far.

His athleticism, speed and teamwork has made him a sure hit with teammates and fans alike.

Where next?

January is a crucial month for the Zebrette, with three of their five fixtures (Atalanta home, Palermo away and Lazio home) against sides currently within three points either side of them in 13th. A trip to second from bottom Carpi and a home fixture to Juventus complete their January schedule.

If Colantuono can shore up the Bianconeri’s leaky defence and on-loan forward Stipe Perica can help Thereau in the goal-scoring department while Zapata recovers from his injury, there is no reason to suggest the Zebrette cannot target a top ten finish, which would be a step in the right direction following last seasons disappointing campaign.

 

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