Football Season Guide

The past campaign was a troublesome one for Genoa, as they only managed to achieve safety in the very last week, on goal difference with relegated Empoli. Davide Ballardini had actually started very well, 12 points in 7 games, but he was mysteriously replaced by a disastrous Ivan Juric and, eventually, Cesare Prandelli, who brought home just 4 wins out of 24 games.. Not too surprisingly, volcanic President Preziosi opted for the umpteenth overhaul over the summer, giving the reins to Aurelio Andreazzoli, a seasoned coach who had worked as tactician with Spalletti for a long time, whose most recent Serie A experience was relegation with Empoli last May. Genoa squad needed to be trimmed and several players were subsequently let go. Among them, Veloso, Rossettini, Zukanovic, Bessa and Lazovic, who were all starters at some point, but also Lapadula or Pereira, who had run out of favour with the coaches. In fact, they also sold to Juventus the best defender of the past campaign, Romero, but they managed to sign the young talent back on loan. And that might be their best signing too. They added to the defence an experienced and valid centre-back in Zapata, while they strengthened the flanks considerable with Romulo, returning from a short stint at Lazio, and Barreca, on loan from Monaco. Schone should be an interesting defending midfielder, while Cassata should also be given a relevant role in the middle of the park. The attack was their weakest department last season: Saponara, a talented player who has failed to repeat the wonders displayed in his early years at Empoli, and Pinamonti, on loan from Inter after being relegated with Frosinone, should be the new protagonists, together with Kouame, a skilled but inconsistent forward.