Currently the Blucerchiato side of Genoa is smiling.
Sampdoria avenged their 3-0 loss in the Derby della Lanterna earlier this season by defeating Genoa 1-0 on Monday night.
Maxi Lopez scored the solitary goal on his return for Doria and the derby win has the fans smiling for now after they were disappointed with the transfer market in January.
Blucerchiati fans showed their disdain on social media not only for Samp president Edoardo Garrone but also for sporting director Carlo Osti.
After all the rumours circulating about purchasing a quality striker and some defenders, Osti ended up signing Lopez on loan from Catania and got more youngsters on the club’s books.
Osti failed to bring players such as Alessandro Matri, Rolando Bianchi, Fabio Quagliarella and Antonio Cassano to the club and to make things worse, Nicolas Burdisso and Paolo De Ceglie were linked with moves to Sampdoria but ended up moving to city rivals Genoa.
The Blucerchiati swapped strikers with Parma but it was not the move everyone had anticipated. Cassano dreamt of returning to Sampdoria but it was Stefano Okaka Chuka who headed to the Samp and Nicola Pozzi went the other way.
Samp negotiated co-ownership deals with a few young players. Goalkeeper Vincenzo Fiorillo is in a co-ownership deal with Juventus as well as emerging forward Stefano Beltrame, who is currently playing for Bari in Serie B.
Another young forward on Sampdoria’s books is Francesco Fedato, who is in a co-ownership deal with Samp and Catania and he will play with the Sicilians for the next year and a half.
Osti claimed that the club were building a team for the future but the fans wanted some star quality. It came to the point where Sampdoria fans were not just saying “Garrone vattene” or “Garrone go away” but they were also saying “Osti, go away!”
Among the departures, the likes of Davide Gavazzi and Mirko Eramo were loaned out to Serie B teams Ternana and Empoli respectively and Andrea Petagna and Antonino Barilla ended their ill-fated loan spells. Enzo Maresca was bought by Palermo and Simon Poulsen went back to Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
Although the transfer window had been closed for three days, the mood among the Sampdoria fans changed quickly after Doria emerged victorious against the Grifoni.
The Doriani showed more spirit and determination in the Genoa derby than their rivals and could have won by more than one goal.
Maxi Lopez received a long pass and played a one-two with Eder before slotting a low drive past Genoa goalkeeper Mattia Perin for the goal in the first half.
Lopez gave the Genoa defence headaches throughout the match and another new signing in Alessio Sestu could have increased the lead near the end of the game. The former Chievo midfielder missed the goal in a scenario in which it was harder to miss than to score.
Sinisa Mihajlovic’s team has won four matches and drawn just as many in 10 Serie A matches under the leadership of the former Serbian national team coach, an improvement on the two wins and three draws in 12 matches under Delio Rossi.
The winter transfer window may not have lived up to the expectations of Sampdoria fans but Mihajlovic is getting the results on the pitch and it was one of the new signings that won them the latest derby.
Follow Vito Doria on Twitter: @VitoCDoria
I didn’t agree with the formation switch mid-way through the season.
I’m still not sure about it – I would have thought that more signings in January would have complimented that system, as opposed to making the current squad fit into the new 4-2-3-1, (Gabbiadini on the right wing?!).
Are they broke?
Samp always appear to be broke. Time will tell if the 3 Striker combo will work out or not.
The formation changed occurred when Mihajlovic replaced Delio Rossi. He has usually used a 4-2-3-1 or variant wherever he has coached.
Sampdoria isn’t broke. Edoardo Garrone just isn’t eager to spend money. He loves to keep that wallet closed.
Aside from today’s game, Gabbiadini has been pretty good on the right-wing. He cuts-in onto his left foot and he can move into central positions.
My biggest disappointment is that a proper left-back wasn’t brought in. I’m not sure Vasco Regini is good enough now.