A sigh of relief, a season to remember or to forget, thats what most Chievo fans will be thinking after a campaign that ended with a breathtaking finish.
A struggling journey for the Flying Donkey’s, which has seen them have to fight for their Serie A status. However, could this all have been avoided?
The Flying Donkey’s started with coach Giuseppe Sannino who insisted the club’s objective was to survive, six months later the 57-year-old was right.
The Gialloblu made several signings during the summer months last year, but none stand out more than the players already at the club. A lack of creativity, and funds, left a team having to rely on other results and scrapping by on marginal victories and draws.
Coach Eugenio Corini had his work cut out for him when he returned to his former side in November, insisting that he knew the players he had and would get results for the club.
The 43-year-old started off well when his team faced their city rivals Hellas Verona in a match that hadn’t been played for more then a decade. It was a victory that would go down in history, beating Hellas 1-0. Nevertheless it was Verona coach Andrea Mandorlini who had the last laugh as his team went on to finish 10th in their return to Serie A.
Chievo went on to beat Livorno and Sassuolo before they crumbled at the hands of Sampdoria with new coach Siniša Mihajlovic at the helm, as well as their dreadful display of football when they were beaten by Torino 4-1 in December.
Despite bad results there was a glimmer of hope, drawing with Inter and Napoli, two giants of Italian football, but following that there was no conviction or a signs of improvement from the team.
All-in-all though it wasn’t a flying fairytale the Donkeys were hoping for, but must be joyous that the Veronese side will still feature in Serie A next season.
The question is, who will be coach at the Gialloblu after rumours have emerged that Corini could be replaced?
Player of the Season
This is very easy, with 13 goals this season Alberto Paloschi has to be the player of the season for Chievo. The 24-year-old has been outstanding and was rumoured to be a candidate for a call up to the Italian World Cup squad.
Sannino couldn’t get him scoring in the first half of the season, but with Corini reinstalled, the under-21 international become an overnight goal scoring machine.
Even his former employers AC Milan, who still co-own him, are considering bringing him back to the San Siro permanently. But it will be down to the Bentegodi side to keep hold of him for next season or to cash in on their superstar.
Goal of the Season
From what I can remember there hasn’t been a defining goal that has stood out more so than Dejan Lazarevic’s goal against their fierce rivals Hellas Verona. Yes, it’s a cliche because it’s taken more than 10 years for the two sides to meet. But Chievo were in a bad place, they had the worst defensive record and the lowest goals scored in Serie A.
Corini, a former Verona player, had re-emerged as coach, and in his first game back in charge he delivered the unthinkable and beat their city rivals. Lazarevic scored in the dying seconds of that game, you can’t script this stuff, it just happened!
Best and Worst Signings
Two players I believe deserve to be put as the best signings, Michael Agazzi and Ivan Radovanovic.
Agazzi has been a lifeline in goal, I will admit he still conceded some howlers, but wasn’t as bad as Christian Puggioni. The Cagliari shot-stopper was signed on-loan in January after Puggioni was struggling to keep up with demands in front of goal.
The 29-year-old replaced the ageing 33-year-old and made an immediate impact which has brought him the attention of Milan who are looking to sign him in the summer.
Radovanoic made 33 appearances for the Flying Donkeys and was used to partner up with vice-captain Luca Rigoni in the midfield. The 25-year-old still has lots to learn but looked good, he wasn’t afraid to get stuck in and win the ball.
Worst signings, thats a hard one. Victor Obinna? He made 13 appearances and scored twice, and they came late in the last game of the season against Inter. His heroic return to his former club he helped promote, was nice but he didn’t perform.
I cant really say who was a bad signing or not.
As a team they just suffered… Individually they were not consistent enough and poor.
Next season I want a stronger defence and someone in midfield who can help Rigoni hold the ball and look for runs. Keeping hold of key players like Paloschi, Cyril Théréau and Përparim Hetemaj is important.
More money spent on players and more creativity is needed! No more survival! It’s Europe next for the Flying Donkeys!
Forza Chievo!!
Follow Nic Petruzziello on Twitter: @NicPetruzziello
