In The Beginning
By: patcook | July 20th, 2009I’m the new administrator of the Genoa blog. For this first post I’ll just write about myself a little so you guys can get to understand my perspective on the world of football. Perhaps if you know my biases you might forgive me for them if they send me on a crazy rant from time to time.
First, I love Italian football. It has been an important part, if not the focal part, of my life since I was a teenager. My family is not a football family, so they often think I’m a bit crazy. My specific love of Italian football often makes me critical of the game in other countries.
Second, I’m a Milan fan. I’m sure this will upset a few Genoa fans, but don’t worry, I’m often more critical of Milan than I am of other clubs and I intend to be as objective as possible when writing for the Genoa Offside. However, when Milan and Genoa play each other you will have to forgive me if I am a bit one sided.
Third, I hate corruption (which makes supporting Milan a torment at times) and that hatred makes me critical of FIFA, UEFA and the FIGC at times. I have a particular distaste for Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, so you’ll probably get to read a post or two where I rant about them sometime in the future.
Fourth, I am hoping that commenter’s can keep discussions fairly civil. Insults are fine as long as they are not racist or discriminatory in any manner. Attack each other’s ideas and the Genoa Offside should be a fun place to discuss the world of Genoa CFC.
Lastly, I am hoping readers will help contribute, so links will be greatly appreciated (especially if anyone knows of good blogs that focus around Genoa or Serie A in general), as well as anything else of interest.
I have my own blog (Pat’s Football Page) which is about the world of football generally (with a focus on Italian football) if readers are interested in my non-Genoa related thoughts.
I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone.
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Comments | Add your comment
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Welcome, Pat. I come from a family of Roma supporters so my family thinks I’m weird too. I wouldn’t call myself a die-hard fan for any particular club, but I simply love Serie A. Last year, Genoa provided me with the most entertaining and exciting football… the second derby della lanterna comes to mind.
I’ve read your comments on the Milan blog and I believe you will do a great job at being objective (save for Milan games, as you mentioned). Once again, welcome!Posted from
United States
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Transfer season has yet to end, so this might be a little premature. But I’m curious: what do you make of Genoa’s activity so far? Three giants from last year’s team are gone, and Milito will especially be missed for his goals (obviously) but also his spirit. But il Signor Preziosi has been active to not only fill these vacanzies, but to build beyond this, always with a mix of both youth and more veteran talent.
As a relatively neutral observer, then, what do you think? Should we Genoa fans be more worried about the guys we’ve lost, or more excited about the new additions joining the club? Does this team have the depth needed to compete simultaneously in Serie A and Europe?
Posted from
United States -
California Pete,
I want to do a post on Genoas transfers sometime in the next week so I wont go in to too much detail right now.
I think Genoa lost a lot, but I think theyve been really clever on the transfer market. I love Hernan Crespo (I think one of milans biggest transfer bungles of the last 5 years was not signing Crespo permanently) and I think he has plenty to offer Genoa this season.
As you said, they also have been adding a good mix of youngsters and older guys. Ive been really impressed with the whole management team at Genoa and I think they can do well again this year as long as they avoid any bad luck.
If they get an easy run early on in the Europa league I expect Genoa to be top 8 in Serie A and round of 16 or better in Europe, again, as long as they avoid bad luck (ie injuries). If they get a tough draw early in the Europa league they may have to choose to focus on one comp or the other. It will be interesting to see what Gasperini thinks as the kick off to the season gets closer.
Eriam,
Thanks for the vote of confidence
and thanks to both of you for the warm welcome
Posted from
Australia -
Welcome, pat. I’ll be following you and Juventus #2, as I like to call Genoa.
How’d you pick Genoa anyways?Posted from
United States -
I like what theyve been doing recently. I think the management team is really good and with some luck they’ll be in the top 8 teams for some time to come.
Its also nice to get away from focusing on Milan every now and again and enjoy the rest of the footballing world
Posted from
Australia -
Hello I am very interested in Genoa, and really like their transfer moves. Looking forward to following this blog.
Posted from
United States -
yeah i really think the are a top 4 team next year. I mena palacios, crespo, fatic, zapater, solid buys only to name a few. and that to ad Criscto and Palladino to that, my beloved Juventus guys.
Posted from
United States -
Welcome aboard, patcook. Can’t wait to read your thoughts on Genoa. I always found them to be one of the more interesting teams in recent times
Posted from
United States -
hey guys,
Ive lost my password! Its been a really hectic week for me and ive had barely any sleep and whatever I chose as a password has long since escaped my brain.
Anyway, as soon as I get it sorted out there will be plenty of Genoa news for us to get stuck into
Posted from
Australia -
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Swap: Amelia to Genoa, Rubinho to Palermo.
I’m pretty happy with it, actually. Amelia’s a bit of hype and it can be evident from his “highlight” reel from last season. Good riddance.
Posted from
United States -
Time to get an update..Was one entry too much?
Posted from
United States -
Usually when a fan of one club does another, they only last a few posts. Sadly, this guy only made one.
And he’s not a romanista, surprising.
Posted from
United States -
surely genoa need a blog they look amazing this season???
Posted from
United States -
I am hyped for this season.
Starting lineup vs. Odense:
Amelia
Papastathopoulos
Bocchetti
Moretti
Rossi
Kharja
Zapater
Criscito
Palacio
Crespo
Palladinobench: Esposito, Biava, Tomovic, Juric, Mesto, Milanetto, Modesto, Figueroa.
Our Europa league debut will take place in 5 days. We just had a great go against Villarreal and we will be just fine vs Odense (even if Floccari and Jankovic are out of the lineup).
This team is very well built defensively with Criscito, Bocchetti, Andrea Esposito, and Amelia (in nets) all having some national team matches under their belts. We must not forget the addition of Moretti who is also solid and experienced with several seasons played at Valencia.
I also think that our midfield will be hard working and solid on both ends of the pitch. Zapater is a solid two way midfielder (hence the nickname the BULL) while the Kharja addition will spruce up our attack.
Offensively (on the short term) Crespo, Palacio, Palladino and Sculli should be OK. However, losing Floccari for two months and Jankovic for an undetermined period is one of the only worries that I have about our prestigious club (the oldest in Italy btw).
I hope that with the recent Vanden Borre loan to Portsmouth; president Preziosi will do what it takes to get us an additional attacker as an insurance policy, until some of our injured players get back.This year’s edition will really match Gian Piero Gasperini’s mould. This will be a hard working team that will make the adversary pay for every touch of the ball.
now…
Its your turn! What do you think this club can accomplish?
Posted from
United States -
I haven’t seen Kharja play that much, what is he like?
Posted from
United States -
Hey Guys, Napoli offside here. We’re getting a Yahoo SerieA fantasy league of as many people from The Offside as we can. To join, go to ‘groups’ and click ‘join group’,
type in:Group ID#: 670
Password: forzaoffside* Another point, it might be a nice touch if you put the first few letters of the offside page you are from in parenthesis after your team manager name, so that we all know who is who and we can get a little inter-blog competition going on.
Posted from
United States -
random question…is crespo going to be in the starting 11 this year?do you think he is going to get much playing time or is it gonna be paladio,sculli and palacio ahead of him?
Posted from
Canada -
The reason Crespo did not play against Odense is because he too was injured.
In my opinion Crespo will be an integral part of Genoa’s attack.
I think that with a healthy roster Sergio Floccari, Hernan Crespo and Bosko Jankovic will get most of the playing time up front.
Palladino, Sculli and Palacio will come off the bench to chip in.Posted from
United States -
hey man, i lupi is here…
hope we can leave only ashes on yr beautiful village before heading back to rome.
burn them all,,,yeah!!!!!!Hail Giallorossi
Posted from
Malaysia -
wow i love the way genoa plays
so fun to watch. plus mesto and modesto, a couple of my favorite players.Posted from
United States -
Why wasn`t Bocchetti playing against rioma,is he injured?I bought that guy in fantasy football
Posted from
United States -
Just watching the Inter – Milan match; I am very happy to see that some of our former players are lighting it up during this derby. They deserve it!
As for tomorrow’s game vs Atalanta, the injury bug just keeps increasing. Crespo, Juric will be out. To answer your question Mitar, Bocchetti will miss a month of play due to an injury in the 1st Odense match.
Gasperini will field some of our youngsters during this match. I believe Fatic will see some playtime.
…and with an attacking trident of Palacio, Sculli and Figueroa it would be nice to see one of our future star attackers El Shaarawy come off the bench to contribute.I am confident that we can obtain a result in Bergamo. This team works as a unit, and players like Criscito, Zapater and Figueroa have shown a lot of leadership and creative play so far.
The two week pause in Serie A will then enable some of our injured to get back for the Napoli match at Luigi Ferraris.Posted from
United States -
Hello fellow Genoa tifosi!
I became a Genoa fan as a result of the research I have done for a book I have written on William Garbutt, an Englishman born in Stockport in 1883 who, when his own professional football career was finished in 1912 due to injury, went out to Genoa to coach our beloved rossoblu and become the first professional football coach in Italy. Garbutt coached Genoa on 3 occasions and took them to 3 Italian championships (in 1915, 1922 and 1923). If anybody is interested in reading the book, you can obtain it from http://www.sportsbooks.ltd and if anyone has any questions to do with the earlier history of Genoa CFC, just let me know and I’ll try to help.
Cheers,
Paul, UKPosted from
United Kingdom -
sorry everyone ive had the flu and i cant log in for some reason. i’ll try and figure it out on the weekend.
Posted from
Australia
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