Cagliari Miracle: What to expect from the Sardinian side this season

Few would have predicted that Cagliari would have stayed up after the first five games of last season. Why? Because they were sitting rock bottom of Serie A after having lost five games in a row and it was almost certain, given the nature of the Cagliari president, that manager Massimo Allegri would have been fired. However, strangely he was not and as Match day six approached against AC Milan Allegri was given perhaps one last chance to salvage something against one of the Scudetto favourites. Amazingly, Cagliari did and rescued a point. That sparked wins against Torino and then Chievo. A defeat to high flying Genoa followed, but that only turned this side towards a six game unbeaten run including wins against Fiorentina, Sampdoria and Palermo. It was a remarkable turnaround and only pushed them on a draw with Inter at the San Siro and beat Lazio and Juventus both away from home. Indeed in the seasons dying embers they took an impressive win over Inter Milan making Cagliari the only side in Serie A not to have been beaten by the Italian Champions last season at one stage or another.

The brilliance of Allegri
Another Italian coach, another world class one in the making. Ancelotti may have left this summer, but with the likes of Prandelli, Spalletti, Ballardini and now Allegri managing in Serie A Italian football should have no fear. Allegri composed a team largely built on youth for a top ten finish last season. Robert Aquafresca was the target man, and has now moved on, but there was much more to this side than just him and so far this summer all have remained. Federico Marchetti in goal has been identified as the Azzurri successor to Buffon and perhaps rightly so. He was superb last season keeping them in some games that they should have been loosing, as well as granite defender Michele Canini who has been linked all summer with a move away to a big Serie A club. But the key to this side was that they had quality in all departments, Davide Biondini in midfield offered a creative and goal scoring threat that was in tandem with the forwards. While Acquafresca lead the way on 14 goals for the island side he was not alone, as talented Brazilian Jeda weighed in with 11 goals and the other young talent in Alessandro Matri also with 6.

What to expect from them next season?
Im hoping from more of the same from Cagliari. They play entertaining football and rise to the occasion against the big sides, a quality that is to be admired. I admit they I enjoyed watching them last season and did so on a number of occasions and look forward to seeing what they will offer in this campaign. But what will that be? The loss of hitman Acqufresca was a blow, but Brazilian Nene has arrived with a big reputation having scored 20 goals in 28 games in Portugal last season. But, the problem is that the teams around them, and arguably bellow then, have got better. Still, they should easily avoid the drop and hopefully, with the attitude towards developing young talents can become a Atalanta or Udinese style outfit and benefit the league for years to come.