Genoa have been in a tailspin since Alberto Gilardino went down with a calf injury. Gilardino, who was signed in January from Fiorentina, has missed the last month of action.
In that time, Genoa have lost three matches and drawn two, and only scored four times. In contrast, the club tallied 12 goals in the one month the Italian was in the lineup, though he only contributed one of his own.
Another Genoa January signing rescued the club last weekend, this time against Lecce. It was Giuseppe Sculli’s turn to save the day for the Grifone, as his 85th minute goal gave Genoa a share of the spoils.
The Rossoblu sit in 12th currently, seven points above the relegation zone. Had Sersi Cosmi’s Lecce picked up all three points, Genoa would have even less room to breathe.
The next four weeks may dictate Genoa’s Serie A future. Genoa were perceived to have an outside shot at Europe, but that was in January when they began splashing out cash. Based on points and form, the club is far closer to Serie B than Europe.
In the next four weeks Genoa will take on Juventus, Roma, Fiorentina and Inter. The good news is Genoa have played well against two of the four this season. Under former manager Alberto Malesani, the Grifone drew with Juventus and beat Roma. They did lose to Fiorentina and Inter, however.
The good news continued this week, as Gilardino resumed training and could make an appearance for the club against Juventus. Though he most likely won’t play a full 90 minutes- if he suits up at all.
In the first half of the season Genoa were fully dependent on Argentine Rodrigo Palacio. It seems the club now relies on Gilardino in a similar fashion despite his meager one goal. Gilardino’s work off the ball has given Palacio more freedom, the freedom Lucas Pratto or Andrea Caracciolo couldn’t, and it has worked wonders for the Argentine.
Palacio has 14 goals in 21 matches this season, and without his goals Genoa would surely be relegated. They have given up 48 goals, still the most in Serie A. Like Gilardino, when Palacio has been out of the lineup Genoa look a team transformed; and not in a good way.
Palacio will be a hot commodity at season’s end, and despite signing a new contract last September, he may opt to leave. The plucky striker was extremely close to joining Inter last summer only for the deal to fall apart at the 11th hour. Inter got Mauro Zarate while Palacio got a contract extension until 2014. Ask any Inter fan who they would rather have on their team, and they would unanimously say Palacio. Zarate’s return this season: Zero goals, one assist.
More than bringing in fresh talent, Genoa must keep Palacio at the club. However, Palacio is the best value for money in Serie A at the moment, and he should be playing his football at a top six club next season.
If Genoa can get four wins out of their last 12 they should live to fight another year in Serie A. Manager Pasquale Marino needs Gilardino back to turn the club’s fortunes around, but too soon and the Italian’s hopes of Euro 2012 may be dashed by re-aggravating his calf injury.
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