Football Season Guide

In the past season, despite a rather valid squad, with coach Marino in charge Parma dangerously flirted with relegation. When they were real close to the abyss, Marino was sacked and replaced by Colomba. All of a sudden, Parma players remembered how to play properly and, most of all, how to win. Their winning streak was impressive also considering that they beat one top team after the other. Thus, safety was reached and Colomba was duly given the chance to lead the team even for the new season. During the transfer season, at Parma a wide renewal of the squad took place. Several players left and many more arrived. Among those who left, Bojinov and Candreva had never managed to establish themselves as regulars while Dzemaili and Amauri had substantially contributed to the obtainment of safety. If the former is lost for good, the latter still has a chance of returning before the 31st of August, considering that he is not welcome at Juventus. The new arrivals are all expected to give some depth and some valid alternatives to the squad but only a couple of them are seriously expected to make it straight to the starting eleven. So, for the new season, coach Colomba could line up Mirante in goals with a back four formed by Rubin and Zaccardo as the full-backs while Paletta and Lucarelli could be the centre-backs. In the midfield, Morrone and Galloppa, hoping that he has fully and properly recovered from last season's injury (with Blasi as an alternative), would play in the middle of the park with Biabiany and Valdes in the flanks. Things as they are, Giovinco and Crespo, or Pellé, would compose the forward two. It is immediately clear, at a first glance, that Parma are somewhat weak in the attack. Crespo is aging well but he is 36 already while Pellé is not a top scorer, nor is Giovinco. A new signing there is absolutely needed.