Genoa: Sleeping Giant finally wakes up

After a 12 year exodus from Serie A Genoa returned two seasons ago and played some steady football. Boriello was their star man with 19 goals in the league, but inevitably he was snapped up by AC Milan in last years mercato and perhaps some fans feared the worse for the port side. However, Genoa were a revelation last season. Two players who arrived last summer quite quietly, Diego Milito and Thiago Motta, proved to be two of the players of the season in Serie A last year. Milito contributed 24 goals whilst Motta the midfielder contributed 7, but the latter was a rock in midfield and instrumental especially in the Easter Saturday night win against Juventus. That was one of the highlights of a season packed with them, the others being the home opener win against AC Milan and of course the derby wins over rivals Sampdoria. It was a very special season that culminated in a 5th place finish. For most of the season they were pushing for a Champions League spot, but were they really good enough. I guess the answer at the moment is no, as they faltered in the crucial moments. The 2-0 defeat at home to Inter was dissapointing as despite them facing Italy's best side I had hoped they would step up and assert their quality, as teams like Palermo had done against the Benemata. Additionally the away defeat to Roma, 3-0, was perhaps a bitter pill to swallow at a time where again they were soundly beaten by a direct rival. Still, its easy for me to be critical, and really nobody would have predicted how brilliant this side would have played at the start of the season and I have to say as a Lazio fan this Genoa side provided me with much entertainment of the seasons duration, and no game moreso than the 3-3 draw with Fiorentina.


Genoa: The next chapter
Again its arguable they have lost their best assets. Milito and Motta have moved on to Inter Milan for £30 million, but the side is deeper this year. Palladino, Jankovic, Criscito, Olivera all had excellent seasons and will be joined by forwards Sergio Floccari, Hernan Crespo and former Siena winger Houssine Kharja. Also, they have acquired the services of the excellent Robert Acquafresca from Inter, but have loaned him out to Atalanta and this is probably a wise move as it will guarantee more football for him and in the long run a better all round player for Genoa.


What should they aim for next season
This is a difficult question to assess and with European football their to be played next season in the form of the Europa League. In that competition they certainly have the quality to go a long way, and aiming for the quarter finals at least should not be beyond them at all. Indeed a side that can beat Milan and Juve perhaps should aim far higher. As far as the league goes it is difficult to judge. I think that along with Napoli, Lazio, Palermo and Udinese they should be aiming at least for the Europa League although as Cagliari showed last season there will be suprises in this league.


THANKS FOR VOTING IN THE POLLS

Thanks guys for voting in the polls on the site, great to hear your views. Zlatan Ibrahimovic topped the poll for player of the year whilst Pato and Zarate each were tied in the youngplayer of the year award. Zlatan had an outstanding season and was consistent throughout with two magic goals against Bologna and in the last game against Atalanta. Pato and Zarate both had great seasons also. The former was arguably more consistent, and his goal against Fiorentina at home epitomised his class. Zarate did blow hot and cold, but when he was hot the opposition were usually roasted. He usually also stepped up when it mattered with magical goals against Roma in the derby and against Juventus in the Coppa Italia final. Lets not forget it was his first Serie A season and I think we can expect more from him next season, perhaps much closer to 20 goals compared to his 13 league strikes this campaign and more of his magical footwork.