With temperatures starting to warm and the Easter (and International) break past, it’s time to focus on the remaining games of the Serie A season. Spring is in the air in Italy, which means the table race is becoming more imperative.
For the last few years, this time meant that Udinese were competing against all odds to do the unthinkable: secure one of the top spots in the table to qualify for a European competition.
Once The Zebrette were a team to be nervous about facing, now the Boys from Friuli are flirting with a mid-table position and aren’t much of threat to anyone except themselves.
But, the Little Zebras should fear not, spring is a time of renewal and there are a few things Udinese can do to help save their season.
Udinese should… Start Supporting Watford
Watford has become the apple of owner Giampaolo Pozzo’s eye. The English Championship club is nearing promotion to the Premier League and their top goal scorer, Udinese-loanee Matej Vydra, was just named Championship Player of the Year. The club that was previously best known for being owned by Elton John is starting to carve out a new identity for itself, thanks to the Pozzo family.
Meanwhile, Udinese has slipped into the role of the prodigal son.
However, the Zebrette should not be envious of their golden brothers—or, Golden Boys, if you will—rather, they should consider how Watford’s success may benefit them back in Italy.
If (and when) Watford makes the Premier League, Pozzo will make a return on his purchase of the club and Udinese should hope that the money earned from Watford will benefit their own club. While it would be an unrealistic expectation for Pozzo to think that Watford will do well next season in the Premiership, he can hope to rebuild a decent Udinese team.
The extra cash would be like the grease Udinese need to make the team run more smoothly. With the money made from Watford, Udinese could re-establish their dominate role in Serie A by bringing in—and keeping—players that will be committed to the club.
Udinese should… Keep Guidolin Smiling
Francesco Guidolin has been indisputably influential for Udinese recent accomplishments. The Udinese coach, a Northern Italian himself, is one of the main reasons for the club’s European spots and table climbing success since his re-appoint of coach in 2010; Guidolin had previously lead Udinese from 1998 until 1999, with less favourable results.
Guidolin has managed to work with the ever changing Udinese squad and bring out the best of its players and attitude. Whether on the pitch or in the press room, Guidolin has remained the perfect example of a cool and level-headed coach, while still being passionate and zealous when it comes to Udinese’s success.
He has disciplined players, including the infallible Antonio Di Natale, when he believes it for the good of the team and he has praised and supported the club through their darkest hours. Guidolin takes the good and the bad with the same stride and has become the linchpin that is currently holding the team together.
It’s hard to imagine Udinese without Guidolin as much as it is to imagine the club without Di Natale. Consequently, if the club is serious about rebuilding the team to get back to where they were the last few years, they should invest more time in Guidolin to rebuild.
The team will have a new stadium, a new team, and a new outlook. Holding on to the old coach who has had a successful vision in the past will bring back the confidence the Little Zebras need.
Udinese should… Focus on the Keepers
This is somewhat paradoxical as everyone who Udinese should keep is immediately sold at the first sign of their success. Therefore, the club should forget focusing on the players who are keepers and focus on the ‘keepers who are players.
Goalkeepers are the anchor to any team and Udinese still struggles to fill the role of Samir Handanovic. While Zeljko Brkic has been a decent replacement, an injury from a broken finger earlier this year saw him sideline for a number of game. Brkic’s substitution, Daniele Padelli, has started in ten games, substituted in two (including Europa League and Coppa Italia matches) but has not been the consistency the Little Zebras need.
Unfortunately for Padelli, he was in net for two of Udinese worse games this season: the 4 – 0 loss to Juventus and 2 – 1 loss to Milan, which included the controversial 94th minute penalty by Mario Balotelli.
Udinese needs to nurture and cultivate a solid ‘keeper that can be used as a frame for the rest of the team to be built around. While they have Di Natale up front, they need someone equally as consistent in the back. Whoever remains in net for Udinese will have to be the solid, and shakable, foundation for the team.
Quagliarella after scoring a wonderful goal
Udinese should… Bring Back Quags
Despite his latest goal for Juventus in their most recent match against Inter and the fact he has publicly said, “I have never considered leaving Juventus,” Fabio Quagliarella should return to Udinese.
Immediately.
Quagliarella was a crucial part at the start of the Udinese Renaissance. While he may not have received the same praise that Alexis Sanchez did for his participation in the team, Quagliarella was the original Robin to Di Natale’s Batman.
He was the wheel that put Di Natale into motion.
The two worked well together which resulted in Udinese reaching the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) Quarter Finals, where they lost to Werder Bremen 4 – 6 on aggregate, in the 2008/2009 season. The competition saw Quagliarella with eight goals, one assist in 11 games, and Di Natale with three goals, one assist in seven games.
This set the wheels in motion for the next few years of Udinese reaching a European competition spot, and though he had left for Napoli by the start of the 2009/2010 season, Quagliarella was that wheel of motion. Not only did it raise the club’s confidence to compete, but it made Udinese a team to be taken seriously in major competitions; not to mention making the Friulano side a household soccer name.
Unfortunately, the chances of Quags coming back next season are about the same as Udinese winning the Scudetto this season. Instead, they should focus on trying to attain (and then retain) a player like Quagliarella for next year.
And Luis Muriel is falling into this position.
Muriel is not a break out superstar like Sanchez was, but rather, is a consistent worker like Quagliarella. He has not yet hit his peak at Udinese, and the club should focus on keeping him to cultivate him as a new wheel alongside Di Natale and eventually becoming a leader once Di Natale retires from the team.
Udinese should… Accept the Inevitable: They Can’t
This season may as well be a write off for the Zebrette. It is almost virtually impossible for them to get out of their mid-table spot, but that could be a blessing in disguise. For the last few years, the club has secured a European spot in the table through hard work and discipline that has not been seen to the same degree this season.
To put it bluntly, Udinese did not earn the position they have grown used to achieving over the last few years. The best thing to do now is accept that fact and look forward.
Therefore, the only thing to save the club is to have a renewed sense of drive.
This includes focusing on specific next season and not being over stretched with other competitions, only to fall short. If Udinese wants to return to the Italian glory they—and their fans—have become accustom to, a strong focus on Serie A, and a valiant effort in the 2013/2014 Coppa Italia run, will help them return to a position of competition next year.
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And there you have it: the grease, the linchpin, the frame, the wheel, and the drive. All the ingredients needed to make Udinese run smoothly.
Or, at the very least, just run.
