Sampdoria: Into the abyss?

It's hard to believe in some respects, but not in others. Whats that I hear you say? Well, I'm talking about the dramatic decline of Sampdoria of course, a self inflicted decline. This time last year they were battling, and winning the battle, for fourth spot in Serie A and a place in the Champions League with a world class forward line of Antonio Cassano and Giampaolo Pazzini leading the charge. Right now they are fighting for their lives in Serie A relying on Massimo Maccarone to bring home the goals, having hit the back of the net a shocking seven times so far in 2011. 

They are sinking fast and so far this calender year have picked up only eight points in fourteen matches. A quick mathematical calculation works out that this level of form maintained over the course of a season would equate to a shocking 21 points. This shows a club in disarray on the pitch, but it's arguably been the off pitch activity and lack of mercato action that has attibuted to this slide. 

The fall out between Cassano and club President Garrone was the beginning of the end for the former Real Madrid players time at Doria. Many thought it was only a matter of time before Cassano burnt his employers and they were right. After this parting of ways it was always going to be difficult to keep Giampaolo Pazzini, but to simply then sell on their best player in January without really obtaining adequate replacements for what was once arguably one of the best forward lines in the division was madness. It's easy to look back in hindsight, but clearly signing just Massimo Maccarone and a clearly underused and inexperience Federico Macheda was never going to cut it. The addition of Jonathan Biabiany was an exciting one, but at the same time not the type of player that would give the same level of goal production of Pazzini and Cassano.

It's not the first time however that Sampdoria have been backward when it comes to transfer action. Upon qualifying for the Champions League last year they didn't make the sort of market moves that would have taken them up a level. Instead they've regressed, and fast. Of course, they are not relegated yet but with Cesena and Lecce demonstrating good form post Christmas it could well be a matter of rounds before they find themselves in the relegation zone. It's certainly not something this great club and their fantastic fans deserves, so one hope they can muster enough points to beat the drop and then start again next season.