Luca Ferrato


25 years ago the best players from across the world arrived in Italy. In the 1984/85 season Maradona set foot triumphantly in Naples, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge entered Milan to turn out for Inter, and Socrates and Junior left Brazil for Florence and Turin respectively. These stars all joined Zico, Michel Platini, Falcao and Daniel Passarella on the Serie A train. 1984/85 also saw the average attendance of Serie A stand at 39,000 as the league was hailed as the “Miglior campionato del mondo” (the best league in the world). How things have changed.

The 2007/08 season recorded an average of 23,887 per game, whilst undoubtedly the best players on the planet ply their trade in England and Spain. Calciopoli has also contributed to a much changed league. Internazionale rule the roost and are still most people’s favourites to claim another title, Juventus being perhaps the only team able to challenge the Nerazzurri. The 80s and the days of AC Milan, Roma and Fiorentina competing for the Scudetto too seem a distant memory.

So what can we expect from this year’s Serie A?

Atalanta

Coach Del Neri has departed for Sampdoria and young Angelo Gregucci has arrived from Serie B side Vicenza. As usual Atalanta continue to invest in youth and Robert Acquafresca has been brought from Cagliari via Inter.

Gregucci looks set to adopt a 4-4-1-1 formation with the young Acquafresca just behind legend Cristiano Doni. A mid-table finish is the dream but a relegation battle a more distinct possibility.

Last season: 11th
Key arrivals: Simone Tiribocchi (Lecce), Robert Acquafresca (Cagliari)
Key departures: Sergio Floccari (Genoa), Luca Cigarini (Napoli)
Prediction: 15th

  Bari

Just a few months ago Antonio Conte steered Bari to Serie A, and after rumours of a contract offer from Juventus initially the Matarrese family backed him. And then sacked him. In comes the very experienced Giampiero Ventura who Bari will hope can guide them to Serie A safety. Ventura is known for his 4-4-2 formation, so it is expected that is how he will deploy his team. Even so, for the “Galletti” a very hard season is expected.

Last season: 1st (Serie B)
Key arrivals: Antonio Langella (Chievo Verona), Riccardo Meggiorini (Cittadella)
Key departures: Stefano Guberti (Roma)
Prediction: 19th

  Bologna

Last season Bologna escaped the drop on the very last day, at the expense of Torino. This summer owners the Menarini family wanted to sell the club and early in June an agreement was concluded with Albanian entrepreneur Rezart Taci (the owner of Taci Oil). After a couple of months Taci dropped out after declaring his intention to buy another Serie A team (although no-one yet knows the identity of this club).

Another season of struggle is expected as the fans sense a team that is far too weak for Serie A.

Last season: 17th
Key arrivals: Emiliano Viviano (Brescia), Giacomo Tedesco (Catania)
Key departures: Francesco Antonioli (Cesena)
Prediction: 18th

  Cagliari

Cagliari got a real boost when coach Massimiliano Allegri decided to stay in Sardinia for another year, delighting president Massimo Cellino. Under Allegri Cagliari produced some wonderful football at times last season, despite a disastrous start (four losses in the first five games). Goalscorer Robert Acquafresca has left and the club have taken a gamble on his replacement, the Brazilian Nene from Uruguayan side Nacional Montevideo. Repeating last year’s 9th place will be difficult, but with a good start and an excellent coach anything is possible.

Last season: 9th
Key arrivals: Nenè (Nacional Montevideo)
Key departures: Robert Acquafresca (Atalanta)
Prediction: 12th

  Catania

Following the final game of the previous Serie A campaign coach Walter Zenga announced his resignation, and within two weeks was settling into the hotseat at rivals Palermo. This was a huge blow for the club and a bitter disappointment for fans who appreciated the former Italy keeper. There have not been many arrivals and coach Gianluca Atzori has a more attacking view of the game than his predecessor, deciding to go with a 4-3-3. Whilst this should allow Catania to create more chances they could soon find it to be quite reckless defensively.

Last season:
Key arrivals: Mariano Andujar (Estudiantes), Genaro Delvecchio (Sampdoria)
Key departures: Albano Bizzarri (Lazio), Giacomo Tedesco (Bologna)
Prediction: 15th

Chievo Verona

The fairytale story of the little team from the city of Romeo and Juliet continues, with Hellas Verona, the most famous Veronese team down in the third tier.

For Chievo there is little change from last season. The same coach and the same players will line up, with Domenico Di Carlo confident of success playing in a 4-3-1-2 formation. Pellissier and Bogdani will need to provide the goals to escape relegation and the fairytale ending says they will.

Last season: 16th
Key arrivals: Pablo Granoche (Triestina)
Key departures: Antonio Langella (Bari)
Prediction: 16th

Fiorentina

Owners the Della Valle family lost Felipe Melo to arch-rivals Juventus but did manage to retain Sebastien Frey, Adrian Mutu and Riccardo Montolivo. Fiorentina have the Champions League to look forward to this season, but here lies the worry that they won’t be strong enough to compete effectively on both fronts.

Coach Cesare Prandelli will continue to play with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Kuzmanovic slotting into Melo’s midfield position. Up front Alberto Gilardino needs to continue last season’s splendid form to ensure the club stay at the top end of the table.

Last season: 4th
Key arrivals: Cesare Natali (Torino), Marco Marchionni (Juventus)
Key departures: Felipe Melo (Juventus)
Prediction: 7th

Genoa

Last season’s surprise package have endured many changes this summer, probably too many. Whilst Giampiero Gasperini continues in the dugout the two most impressive performers of 2008/09 in Thiago Motta and Diego Milito have been lost, both to Inter. To replace them midfielder Houssine Kharja has arrived from Siena and an array of forwards in Sergio Floccari, Hernan Crespo, Rodrigo Palacio and Luciano Figueroa.

To repeat last season would be a miracle, but with Gasperini at the helm and the enthusiasm of the fans another impressive campaign is more than possible.
 
Last season: 5th
Key arrivals: Marco Amelia (Palermo), Houssine Kharja (Siena), Sergio Floccari (Atalanta), Hernan Crespo (Internazionale), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors), Luciano Figueroa (Boca Juniors)
Key departures: Thiago Motta (Inter), Diego Milito (Inter), Matteo Ferrari (Besiktas), Rubinho (Palermo).
Prediction: 6th

  Internazionale

Inter, Inter and Inter again. This has been the story of Serie A in the past few seasons and the last campaign offered more of the same. The tactic of a strong defence and then give the ball to Ibrahimovic worked very well, but now “Ibra” has departed with Samuel Eto’o coming to take his place.

Whilst Eto’o will offer Inter much it’s clear Jose Mourinho will have to tinker a little with the tactics he has employed as the striker needs more and better service than that given to Ibrahimovic. Inter’s main goal this season is thought to be the Champions League and with Eto’o, Lucio, Thiago Motta and Diego Milito arriving Mourinho’s side look very strong again.

Last season: 1st
Key arrivals: Thiago Motta (Genoa), Diego Milito (Genoa), Arnautovic (Twente), Lucio  (Bayern) Munich, Samuel Eto’o (Barcelona)
Key departures: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona), Maxwell (Barcelona), Julio Cruz (Lazio), Hernan Crespo (Genoa), Luis Jimenez (West Ham)
Prediction: 1st

  Juventus

After being relegated in the summer of 2006 (due to the Calciopoli scandal) Juventus were rebuilt by a new board. A new mentality was also present as the club bounced back and finished as runners-up in the last two seasons. Now the Old Lady look ready to challenge for the Scudetto, especially after bringing in Diego and Felipe Melo.

Fabio Cannavaro is also back to strengthen the defence and add much needed experience and perhaps the only uncertainty in Turin is just how new coach Ciro Ferrara will perform. A legend as a player Ferrara has zero managerial experience.

Last season: 2nd
Key arrivals: Diego (Werder Bremen), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Martin Caceres (Barcelona)
Key departures: Pavel Nedved (retired), Marco Marchionni (Fiorentina)
Prediction: 2nd

Lazio

Delio Rossi left Lazio in June after winning the Coppa Italia and the coach has left some big shoes to fill. Davide Ballardini will have much work to do.

The new boss has arrived from Palermo where he produced the goods but suffered under tempestuous president Zamparini. Ballardini wants to play a classic 4-4-2 with Argentinians Mauro Zarate and Julio Cruz forming the striking duo. Lazio can certainly enjoy a good season and could surprise a few teams this season.

Last season: 10th
Key arrivals: Albano Bizzarri (Catania), Julio Cruz (Inter)
Key departures: Juan Pablo Carrizo (Real Zaragoza)
Prediction: 5th

  Livorno

The Tuscan team gained promotion last season after seeing off Brescia in the promotion playoff final. Before then president Spinelli sacked coach Leonardo Acori and promoted his assistant Gennaro Ruotolo to the top job.  Ruotolo is inexperienced at the top level of Italian football but Cristiano Lucarelli has arrived back at the club from Parma. This will give a squad which is much uncharged from that which competed in Serie B last season a real boost.

Last season: 3rd (Serie B)
Key arrivals: Cristiano Lucarelli (Parma)
Key departures: none
Prediction: 20th

Milan

It’s been all change at Milanello this summer. 25 years ago owner Silvio Berlusconi said he wanted to conquer the world, and he did, but now it seems Milan just want to cover their debt.

Berlusconi announced a policy of only recruiting players under 23, but the team remains stuffed with old legs. Pirlo, Seedorf and Gattuso will need to turn back the clock once again, but will be supported by the arriving Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Kaka remains the big loss and it’s hard to feel he has been effectively replaced.

Last season: 3rd
Key arrivals: Thiago Silva (Fluminense), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Real Madrid)
Key departures: Paolo Maldini (retired), Kakà (Real Madrid)
Prediction: 3rd

Napoli

A good transfer market so far for the Neapolitans has left all in Naples optimistic for the new season. Roberto Donadoni has remained at the helm and Argentinian forward Ezequiel Lavezzi has, despite much speculation, stayed.

Napoli have also made some interesting signings. Fabio Quagliarella should add more firepower up front whilst Moran De Sanctis is a good enough keeper. In pre-season Napoli didn’t hit the heights but they are a team of great potential which their supporters hope can carry them to the Champions League.

Last season: 12th
Key arrivals: Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Luca Cigarini (Atalanta), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray)
Key departures: Daniele Mannini (Sampdoria)
Prediction: 8th

Palermo

When new coach Walter Zenga arrived at Palermo he immediately said, “With these players we can compete for the Scudetto!”. A very brave statement indeed and one that could come back to haunt him. The former Italy great has coaching experience in Romania and in Serie A with Catania, but is he ready for a team in Palermo that expect more?

The Scudetto won’t be reached, of course. But with a little luck Zenga could lead his new charges into Europe.

Last season: 8th
Key arrivals: Javier Pastore (Huracan), Rubinho (Genoa)
Key departures: Marco Amelia (Genoa)
Prediction: 9th

Parma

Newly promoted Parma are back in Serie A after a season in hell. The era of president Tanzi (now in prison) is over and the club must find a way to maintain their Serie A status. Coach Francesco Guidolin wants to play with an aggressive 4-3-3, calling upon Valeri Bojinov, Jonathan Biabiany and Alberto Paloschi up front.

Experienced Christian Panucci has arrived from Roma to strengthen the defence but Parma will face a struggle to keep their head above water.

Last season: 2nd (Serie B)
Key arrivals: Valeri Bojinov (Man City), Christian Panucci (Roma)
Key departures: Cristiano Lucarelli (Livorno)
Prediction: 14th

Roma

There have been rumours all summer regarding a change of ownership at Roma but nothing has happened. Alberto Aquilani is a big loss but the sale was needed and allows the club to continue much unchanged. Francesco Totti will soon renew his contract and Daniele De Rossi could follow suit.

Roma will remain strong but look unlikely Scudetto winners.

Last season: 6th
Key arrivals: Stefano Guberti (Bari)
Key departures: Christian Panucci (Parma), Alberto Aquilani (Liverpool)
Prediction: 4th

Sampdoria

This season Antonio Cassano will surely be the key player for the Blucerchiati. Last year the striker did well when Giampaolo Pazzini joined to give him much needed support. Now they look like the perfect partnership to trouble even the strongest Serie A defence.

New coach Luigi De Neri will set out a classic 4-4-2 with an aggressive midfield as he looks to bring success to Sampdoria.

Last season: 13th
Key arrivals: Daniele Mannini (Napoli)
Key departures: Genaro Delvecchio (Catania)
Prediction: 10th

Siena

Lowly Siena have to produce another miracle to stay in Serie A for the seventh season in a row. The same coach and players will line up with only Reginaldo coming in from Parma to make a difference.

Home form will remain key to Siena’s survival hopes and the tiny Artemio Frachi stadium will need to be a fortress.

Last season: 14th
Key arrivals: Reginaldo (Parma)
Key departures: Houssine Kharja (Genoa)
Prediction: 17th

Udinese

Last season Udinese sky-rocketed before Christmas, surging up the Serie A table. Then though came a disastrous spell as they fell away spectacularly. The UEFA Cup was a bright spot with a run to the quarter-final but that mid-season showing means there will be no Europe this season.

Coach Pasquale Marino will play a 4-3-3 and hope to once again repeat the start they enjoyed last time around.

Last season: 7th
Key arrivals: Bernardo Corradi (Reggina)
Key departures: Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli)
Prediction: 11th

 

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