One point out of nine is typically relegation form, however, Genoa can thank their early season form for keeping them mid-table as we head to the end of October. Il Rossoblu picked up seven points from nine possible to open the season, and at one time flirted with the top of the table. Now desperately out of form and in need of a scorer the club is dropping like a stone while seeing the likes of Parma and Chievo surge ahead.
Time and time again I have written about Genoa’s need to find someone who can take the load of off Rodrigo Palacio’s shoulders. Palacio’s five goals leads the team and is half of Il Rossoblu’s total goal tally. Palacio has been quality… blah… blah… blah… blah… By now everyone knows Palacio carried this team early on, and now that he is out of form there’s no one that can step up and be counted on.
Last week, Genoa played out a scoreless draw with Lecce a team rooted in the bottom three of Serie A. Though it was a nil-nil draw in the end Genoa did offer more against Lecce than in their two previous matches, and despite being reduced to 10-men Genoa could have still expected three points from the match. Unfortunately, discipline is becoming a problem for Genoa as they have now had three different players sent off this season.
More importantly than discipline is the club’s inability to score. One goal in the past three matches has come from open play while another came from the spot. Meanwhile, the defense has given up five goals in the same time. Manager Alberto Malesani saw it fit to play captain Marco Rossi at right back again. Two weeks ago Rossi was beat time and time again by the pace of Parma. However, he and Juraj Kucka were able to handle the Lecce attack much better on the day than they did against Parma. Though Lecce offers much less than i Gialloblu.
There were positives taken from this match, and I’m sick of talking about the negatives week after week. Firstly, Malesani decided to give young Alexander Merkel his first start of the season. Merkel showed promise at Milan last season and was impressive on the day in Genoa’s version of the trequartista role. Malesani also finally gave summer signing Valter Birsa a start.
Like Merkel, Birsa put in a solid shift and did no worse than Genoa’s usual left sided midfielder Kevin Constant. Secondly, Malesani pulled Kucka off after 63 minutes. I’ve written in the past about Kucka’s ineffectiveness, inability to defend and only taking up space on the pitch.
In Kucka’s place was Cristobal Jorquera an attacking midfielder who has been slightly more productive than Kucka on the year (one goal and two assists compared to Kucka’s one goal); which isn’t saying much. Kucka is rumored to be on his way to Inter in January as he is only on loan with Genoa. But as I’ve said before I don’t see “it” in the Slovak, and question why a big team would sign him. Perhaps, Kucka will be the next McDonald Mariga or even Sulley Muntari.
Players with potential that just don’t flourish and fulfill that potential with Inter. Though there is a long list of players that played for Inter that never filled their potential (kicking them while they’re down). In the Slovak’s defense he has been played on the right side in a midfield diamond recently while he prefers to play through the middle. Consequently, Genoa’s positive results early this season came while Kucka and Miguel Veloso were sitting in the middle of a four man midfield.
Finally, well I’m out of positives.
Malesani still favored Lucas Pratto as one of his first choices off the bench. Pratto got 27 minutes to roam the pitch and offered little going forward. However, Malesani has given two players in Merkel and Birsa an opportunity for the first time and that weighs the bad.
Recently, ForzaItalianFootball.com writer Adrian Del Monte wrote that Malesani is safe as Genoa manager, and that president Enrico Preziosi is satisfied with the team’s performances thus far. Genoa sit 11th in the table, and it can be argued this is where they belong. Therefore, Malesani is doing an adequate job. Now with Juventus, Roma, Fiorentina and Inter next on the fixture list there is no pressure on Malesani to get a result.
Though Roma and Fiorentina’s current form could make them ripe for the picking. Malesani looks safe for now, but come December he could be on the way out. Especially, if Gian Piero Gasperini is still available Preziosi could bring back a man he worked with before and a man than guided Genoa to some excellent results.
If Genoa drop the next four matches they may find themselves in a relegation fight, and despite having talented players they are not a talented team. It might take another man to keep this team in Serie A. Let’s not forget Malesani has managed teams to relegation as well as other squads to sub par finishes before last season’s renaissance saving Bologna from certain relegation.
Follow Drew Farmer on Twitter: @ Calciofarmer
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