Another week, another game, and yet another defeat for Livorno, this time losing 1-0 to Fiorentina in the first game back from the winter break.
It was the same old story as the Amaranto missed numerous good chances, including hitting the bar, only to concede just moments later. Davide Nicola and his men haven’t won since November 3, and have only picked one point in the seven games since, in a run which has seen them slide to joint bottom with just 13 points.
Nicola has tried to solve the problem but has yet to find an answer. Firstly he brought in Innocent Emeghara at the very end of the summer transfer window which looked to be a stroke of genius after some of the performances he put in for Siena last season. But after a good start to his Livorno career he has faded away in recent months, rarely lasting the whole game and making numerous substitute appearances.
Despite not playing on Sunday, Luca Siligardi has been brought into the team in recent months to try and solve the problem and has helped chipping in with a few goals and also putting in some good all-round performances. However, he is not the answer to the striking problems and it seems the only way to solve this problem is to go into the transfer market.
So far there has been little activity on the transfer market front, although we are not even two weeks in yet. It was rumored that Bologna striker Robert Acquafresca could be on his way in a deal which would see the aforementioned Emeghara go the other way. However, the deal seems to have broke down after ‘complications’.
Acquafresca was once tipped to be a future Italian international and even made 18 appearances for the Italy U21 side. It would be fair to say that he hasn’t quite lived up to the hype and it is a blessing in disguise that he won’t be making the move to Tuscany.
In other mercato news, it is believed that the Amaranto are also looking to strengthen in the wing-back position, by adding either Federico Peluso or Marco Motta, both of Juventus.
The wing-back position is not a priority but some added depth and of course in the case of these two players, added quality could help in the Amaranto’s fight for survival.
The Amaranto are also supposedly interested in buying on loan midfielder Alfred Duncan. The Ghanian international has been on loan at the Tuscan side from Inter since the second half of last season and they are reportedly willing to offer seven million euros for the youngster.
Of course everything depends on where Inter see him in their future. Despite his obvious talent it would be silly to splash out seven million when they are at risk of being relegated. Although of course this is all speculation, nothing is certain at this moment.
Nicola and his men take on a good Parma side in the first Serie A game of the weekend on Saturday and it will no doubt be the same old story as it has been almost all this season.
