Bortolo Mutti wasn’t an attractive appointment when it was announced he was to become the next Palermo coach, and he doesn’t look any more the motivating catalyst that Maurizio Zamparini had hoped him to be, after his side slumped to their sixth defeat in their last nine matches in a dismal loss at Chievo on Sunday afternoon.
The Rosanero, a team who haven’t won since November last year, now seem desperately devoid of any inspiration or coordination, something which became depressingly clear in the game at the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi. Palermo lacked any fluidity, and despite the absence of numerous players through injury, it was clear that whatever Mutti was trying, it wasn’t succeeding. Palermo managed just two shots on target in the entire ninety minutes.
There was always the risk of Mutti losing his job should events at Chievo not go Palermo’s way, after throwing away a two-goal lead at Novara before withdrawing Palermo’s best player Franco Vazquez half way through his debut against Napoli, rendering the game all but lost. Now he must be rather anxiously waiting for the inevitable phone call. This time though, it’s different to previous Rosanero coaches. For once, Palermo fans wouldn’t mind if he was sacked. After the Chievo match, Mutti spoke of his side’s “great” performance, begging the question; has he still got control of his mental faculties?
“I saw a good Palermo, keep it up!” he said. If we keep this up, the only direction we’re heading is Serie B. It now seems obvious that unless something is done, whether that is replacing the coach with the previously sacked Devis Mangia – probably the best man available – or managing to make some seriously big signings before the window shuts, Palermo will be dragged into a relegation dogfight. Following today’s game, they are down to 14th in the table, a meagre six points outside the relegation zone.
The midfield is the area that badly needs strengthening, with the right-back position and the strike force also in need of bolstering. The midfield trio in today’s 4-3-2-1 failed to impress, with the team awfully disjointed and seriously lacking in quality. Mauricio Pinilla barely had a shot to make, and Chievo stopper Stefano Sorrentino was surplus to requirements. Angelo Palombo seems to have snubbed the Rosanero for Fiorentina, and a new target needs to be identified quickly – preferably the Sicilian Gaetano d’Agostino (I can dream!).
This time last year Palermo were sat sixth place in the table, with Javier Pastore the focal point of the team and Delio Rossi working wonders from the bench. One year, four coaches and numerous high-profile sales on, look where we are now. Napoli are a shining example of what a team can achieve through sensible guidance and management from the club president. I’d say Zamparini should watch and learn. Only Zampa never learns.
Follow Jack Sargeant on Twitter: @sargeant_j.
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Hi Jack great blog!
Can not believe that Palermo have slipped like this, when you think how well they played last season. Have to agree with you, since the departure of Pastore, Palermo have fell apart. Palermo should be up the table fighting to be in europe next season, instead of fighting to stay in the Serie A.
Zamparini needs to be questioned on whats his method? and wheres the money from the sale of Pastore?
Where do you see them at the end of the season?
Thanks for the comment Nic!
I agree – where is the money for Pastore? Did Zampa think he could replace a world class player with someone like Barreto or Bacinovic? If so then he’s unbelievably stupid.
Where I think they will end up come the end of the season depends on the coach – if Zamparini sacks Mutti and replaces him with Mangia then we may be able to recover to finish mid-table. If he sticks with Mutti (which I don’t think he’ll do if we are beaten by Genoa next week) then we could end up fighting against relegation. Bring back Mangia!
Naturally, I don’t think Mangia should’ve been sacked in the first place. He had the ability to change tactics if Plan A wasn’t working, and clearly had slightly more of a grip of a mentally weak Palermo side than other managers. While they had terrible away form, they had their home form to hold on to. Admittedly, they started losing at home even when Mangia was there.
However, part of me wants Mangia to get a good job elsewhere. Being subject to Zamparini’s capriciousness does a young manager no good.
If Pastore was the only one to leave, I would not have minded. But the addtional sales of Sirigu, Nocerino, Bovo, Cassani and the earlier departures of Bresciano and Simplicio have seen the bedrock of what made this team strong eroded to nothing. Messing with the coaches so much only serves to wreak further havoc.
Despite reaching the Coppa final in 2010-11, the season itself was quite poor and included a 7-0 thrashing from Udinese at home.
For a picture of success we ought to look at the 2009-10 squad where we only just missed out on European Cup qualification to Sampdoria. The tragedy is that rather than learning from Samdoria’s mistakes we are following their poor example and then some.
I don’t see us getting out of this mess and think relegation will come. The current players are not motivated, and no decent player or coach would be enticed to arrive at a club that is in so much turmoil. (Note: Why Viviano has come to us is a mystery to me!)
Great job Jack.