It’s hard to believe in some respects, but not in others. This time last year Sampdoria were battling, and winning the battle, for fourth spot in Serie A and a place in the Champions League with a world class forward line of Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini leading the charge. Right now they are fighting for their lives in Serie A relying on Massimo Maccarone to bring home the goals, having hit the back of the net a shocking seven times so far in 2011.
They are sinking fast and so far this calendar year have picked up only eight points in fourteen matches. A quick mathematical calculation works out that this level of form maintained over the course of a season would equate to a shocking 21 points. This shows a club in disarray on the pitch, but it’s arguably been the off pitch activity and lack of mercato action that has attributed to this slide.
The fall out between Cassano and club President Riccardo Garrone was the beginning of the end for the former Real Madrid player’s time at Doria. Many thought it was only a matter of time before Cassano burnt his employers and they were right. After this parting of ways it was always going to be difficult to keep Giampaolo Pazzini, but to simply then sell on their best player in January without really obtaining adequate replacements for what was once arguably one of the best forward lines in the division was madness.
It’s easy to look back in hindsight, but clearly signing just Massimo Maccarone and a clearly underused and inexperience Federico Macheda was never going to cut it. The addition of Jonathan Biabiany was an exciting one, but at the same time not the type of player that would give the same level of goal production that Pazzini and Cassano did at their time in the Marassi.
It’s not the first time however that Sampdoria have been backward when it comes to transfer action, and again the motivation to improve and go forward in this league has once again been illustrated as paramount. After all you cannot afford to stand still when others move forward and yet after qualifying for the Champions League last year they didn’t make the sort of market moves that would have taken them up a level. Instead Sampdoria have regressed fast and not just on the pitch either.
Indeed the hiring of Alberto Cavasin does not exactly inspire confidence. After all his last venture in Serie A was with Sicilian side Messina who soon found their way into Serie B after he was sacked in April 2007, having only taken over in January of that year. Of course it is always difficult to turn around a sinking ship but once again Garrone has underwhelmed in the recruitment department and one wonder whether this time the ultimate price will be paid.
Of course, they are not relegated yet but with Cesena and Lecce demonstrating good form post Christmas it could well be simply a matter of rounds before they find themselves in the relegation zone. It’s certainly not something this great club and their fantastic fans deserve, so one hope they can muster enough points to beat the drop. Even their most ardent fan however would admit that things are not looking good at this stage.
If you like what Ed O’Brien has to say then be sure to visit his own site All Things Calcio – HERE.
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