Two goals ruled out for offsides, rightfully, and a sensational one-two by Maxi Lopez and Eder gave Sampdoria the edge in the second Derby della Lanterna of the season.
Giving Lopez credit, it was a brilliant goal despite his ridiculous blonde faux-hawk. The Sampdoria striker seems to be unaware that it’s 2014 and not 2004.
It was a fiery derby, as most Genova derbies are, featuring 36 fouls during the 90 minute action-packed affair. It’s easy to say Genoa deserved, at the very least, a draw; though Sampdoria played some of their best football of the season. In the end, Genoa just didn’t have enough of a cutting-edge.
It wasn’t the first time the Grifone have lacked a cutting-edge under Gian Piero Gasperini since he took over the team in October. Though the Italian has done great things and turned the team around, there’s still something missing besides the obvious lack of striking fire power.
One of the thing that Gasperini hasn’t found in his three-plus months back in charge of Genoa is a regular starting XI that can get results week-in, week-out. Gasperini’s player choices haven’t always been the best, and his decision to play Paolo De Ceglie and Moussa Konate from the start in the derby – and the previous week – was completely erroneous.
De Ceglie did little to nothing during his 90 minutes on the pitch. It was his second consecutive week of turning in an indifferent performance with errant passes and an inability to cross the ball.
Meanwhile, the only redeeming part of Konate’s game is his pace. Something he isn’t able to showcase too often. The inclusion of these players kept one of Genoa’s best kept secrets on the bench until his 48th minute introduction. That player is of course Ioannis Fetfatzidis, a player that has been praised in this weekly column in previous weeks and a player this writer believes is a special talent destined for bigger things.
Gasperini seems to be afraid to use Fetfatzidis too much and it’s not often the Greek starts matches. The pacy-winger has only started six times this season while he has come off the bench in 11 games. Usually to try and help the squad back into a match. His two assists has him ranked second behind Matuzalem’s four, and with more playing time Fetfatzidis could overtake the Brazilian in that category.
De Ceglie’s last two performances for Genoa have been lacklustre to say the least.
Luckily, the club are still ten points above the relegation zone and at the moment don’t look likely of being sucked into a relegation fight. Again, that’s at the moment and things could change quickly.
Genoa have an important three game stretch upcoming with matches at Livorno, home to Udinese and away to Napoli. Those three games are against three teams that are currently not playing their best football.
Livorno and Udinese are at the foot of the table despite the Zebrette’s excellent Coppa Italia form. Meanwhile, Napoli have been incredibly inconsistent and any points at this stage would be acceptable as Genoa try to widen the gap between the relegation pack and themselves.
It was just before the reverse fixtures in the autumn that Genoa prepared to sack then coach Fabio Liverani. Though it took Gasperini a brief settling in period, he steered the team into the top half of the table.
Unfortunately, he is now seeing the team plateau thanks to injury and players falling out of form. It hasn’t helped that Gasperini hasn’t played one of his best players regularly from the start of games. But all-in-all, this season has been a refreshing break from the relegation dogfights of the past two years.
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.
