Genoa Club Focus: What must Luigi Delneri do to get sacked?

Date: 6th December 2012 at 12:00am
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Every week media outlets continue to write the same lead to every Genoa match review, and that lead usually states something along the lines of the pressure continuing to mount on coach Luigi Delneri.

With one win in seven matches in charge of the Grifone, by now the pressure should have blown up in the former Juventus coach’s face. However, it seems the club is happy – at least for the moment – for Delneri to continue in the role of hapless football manager.

After a surprise win against Atalanta – who have hit a poor run of results – Genoa, freshly out of the relegation zone, looked set to make a push up the table. But Chievo’s Alberto Paloschi nearly single-handedly put Genoa back in the muck as he scored his first ever Serie A hat-trick.

The one time Genoa striker put the Flying Donkeys on top with a 14th minute penalty prior to completing his first half hat-trick with goals in the 22nd minute and first half stoppage time. Paloschi has tallied four goals in four games this season and was everything Genoa’s forwards were not on the day.

To make matters worse, if they could really get much worse, was the continued poor play from both Genoa’s defence and their defensive midfielders. Midfielder Daniel Tozser was pulled after just 25 minutes – marking the second time in seven matches he hasn’t lasted the first half, and third in seven he hasn’t lasted 60 minutes.

Summer signing Daniel Tozser has been Genoa’s most disappointing player in 2012.

The men employed to be midfield-stoppers have been extremely ineffective this season. Marking back-to-back years the club have not had a strong defensive presences in midfield.

Worryingly, Genoa have now given up the second most goals in Serie A with 26. Only Pescara have given up more (30), and sit one point worse off than the Grifone.

Keep in mind, Genoa gave up the most goals in 2011-12 (69), but managed la salvezza. Right now, it looks increasingly unlikely that the club can survive the drop two years in a row playing this poorly. Yet, the team surprised all last year.

There were a few bright spots for the team. Andrea Bertolacci continues to shine in a team of dull attacking tactics. The Italian picked up an assist when his corner kick was headed in by 19-year old Primavera player Ahmed Saidi. Saidi has proven himself as a lively, though obviously inexperienced, player in his three appearances – all as a substitute for the club. He now has one goal and one assist in that time.

Saidi had replaced Tozser, which completely changed Delneri’s tactics. Gone was the counter attack and it was replaced by more straight forward moves. Delneri’s dower counter attack was partly vindicated the week prior. But that was thanks in part to Atalanta’s desire to also play counter attacking football.

Like in most of the games Delneri has been in charge of, he was reactive rather than proactive, which is why Saidi replaced Tozser on 25 minutes. And why Genoa found themselves down two goals within a half an hour. Add in the absence of Marco Borriello to the equation, and Genoa lacked the the same qualities that helped them grind out their win in Bergamo.

Paloschi tallied his first career hat trick at Genoa’s expense.

Once again, the Genoa supporters expressed their unhappiness toward Delneri and the way in which he has taken a good team and turned them into relegation contenders. But there maybe brighter lights over the horizon.

Delneri’s fate could already be decided, much like Alberto Malesani who paid for Genoa’s poor form last autumn when he was sacked as the Serie A winter break dawned. Perhaps Delneri will be given the remainder of 2012 and will be replaced to begin 2013.

This will give the next manager a small window not only to work with the players, but to add another striker or defensive midfielder to the squad. These two positions are the most in need of upgrading. There is no adequate midfield enforcer and though Ciro Immobile, Borriello, Bertolacci and company are doing well in attack, the club needs another quality striker to chip in goals.

But a proactive attack first mentality could also do the trick. Genoa have a fantastic range of attacking players, but the manager is forcing them around his ideas rather than moulding his ideas around his players.

A change in manager, of course, is only speculation at this point. However, Genoa must change managers soon as the team have not improved since Delneri took over in October. It would take a miracolo for Delneri to turn this side around.

Genoa finish the first half of the season on December 22 against Internazionale. That will mark Delneri’s second month in the job, and following the match it should mark Delneri’s departure as well.

Follow  on Twitter @CalcioFarmerDrew also hosts the Forzaitalianfootball.com weekly Club Focus podcast and writes his own personal football and travel blog at Excellent Adventure/Bogus Journey.

 

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