Two wins, a draw and a loss in his four matches in charge, Gian Piero Gasperini has returned Genoa to a team that isn’t the mere pushover they were prior to his arrival.
With that said, the Grifone are still a team looking for an identity and team that is playing some atrocious football at times.
Against Juventus last Sunday, Genoa managed a meager six shots with none on target. Gianluigi Buffon didn’t even get a rating in several of the Pagelle after the game due to his relaxing day at the office.
Genoa were only slightly better in their midweek fixture with Parma, and at times played some horried calcio despite being the best team on the pitch. Thankfully Alberto Gilardino, who missed a second minute penalty, got his head to a Davide Biondini cross to give Genoa all three points thirty minutes from time. T
hough the game was played the day before Halloween, Parma’s finishing was absolutely scary and if it weren’t for two correct offside calls, would have picked up a victory.
Gilardino, whose agent has been negotiating a €7 million move to Canadian Major League Soccer side Toronto FC and was taken off at halftime against Juventus, looked excellent on the night. At times, the Azzurri striker seemed to be three or four pages ahead of the rest of the squad.
The midweek triumph over Parma pushed Genoa up to thirteenth place on eleven points and it appears once again that elusive tenth Scudetto will have to wait until next season. Importantly, a five point gap has opened between Genoa and third from bottom Catania, who drew with Genoa in Gasperini’s first match back with the team in October.
Gasperini has continued to sit summer mercato signing Francesco Lodi, the man that was suppose to single-handedly turn Genoa around. Lodi was an unused-sub against the Bianconeri and didn’t even make the bench versus Parma. Despite his two goals this term, all from set pieces, Lodi has been pure rubbish. His passing has been inaccurate and he has shown an inability to match Biondini and Matuzalem’s industriousness in games.
In Lodi’s place, Gasperini has relied on Andrea Bertolacci, a player that was becoming one of the best young playmakers in Serie A prior to Lodi’s arrival. Bertolacci’s progress may have flattened out this season, but the youngster could still be one of the best Italian midfielders in the future. A move to another club, such as his former team Roma, could be what spurs the midfielder on to something special.
“The Greek Messi” has provided Genoa with some excellent play down the wing.
Gasperini also gave the exciting Greek Ioannis Fetfatzidis and Argentine Ricardo Centurion extended time on the pitch. Fetfatzidis was on from the start and gave Genoa a player on the wing that could run at players and cross the ball; which has been Genoa’s game plan since Gasperini returned.
With the first half injury to Sime Vrsaljko, the Genoa coach gave Argentine winger Centurion the most time he has had on the field in a single game since his arrival in August.
Centurion’s lack of game time showed, but he did show glimpses of what made him so sought after back at Argentina’s Racing. Like Fetfatzidis, Centurion wasn’t afraid to take on players; but with match fitness and and rust showing on both players, keeping possession or making that final pass wasn’t always possible.
Gasperini still has a lot of work to do and the team need to improve more if the club are to continue to distance themselves from relegation. The January mercato is just around the corner which means Genoa will see a load of player turnover as Gasperini looks for more players that suit his style.
Central defenders are greatly needed, but don’t be surprised if one of Genoa’s “big names” of Gilardino, Lodi or even Juraj Kucka are moved on to supply the team with more rounded players.
Lazio are up next and with Genoa winning the teams’ last four encounters, expectations will be high that the Grifone will be able to get a result.
Follow Drew Farmer on Twitter: @CalcioFarmer. Drew is a Forza Italian Football Features Editor and Genoa Correspondent. He also hosts the Forza Italian Football Club Focus Podcast.
