Il Principe; a man of character
By: j |
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In a heartfelt open letter to the public, published on the club web-site, Diego Milito expresses his care for the people of Genova.
Obviously troubled by his departure to Inter Milan, the Argentine striker stressed his care for the fans and that “we will see each other again and that this isn’t a goodbye.” Throughout the honest letter, Il Principe expresses his love for the club and people and the values of the genoanità, which he will carry forward in his own family.
I hasten to call this a “well crafted” letter and only make note of this as I believe this is far from a “public relations” move. In an era where athletes move to the next club the moment the fund transfer is complete, this speaks volumes of Il Principe.
Category: Genoa Team News
transfer season starts to heat-up for Genoa
By: j | 5 Comments
As the transfer season mulls over, rumours are starting to fly with possible additions to the Rossoblù. While Atalanta’s talented striker Sergio Floccari has been added, both Ricardo Quaresma and Hernán Crespo have equally to said to be making their way to Genova from Inter Milan.
While neither transfer of the transfers from Inter has been formerly confirmed, Ricardo Quaresma has told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he wished to return to José Mourinho’s side. The former Porto man who spent much of the campaign at Chelsea said:
“I’m going back to Inter to stay.
“I know that my first stint did not go well, much because I did not take part in the pre-season training. My agent has offered me to other clubs, some in Italy, but I rejected them.”
While the addition of either of the Inter players is questionable to Gian Piero Gasperini’s tactical styling, there is equally an odd tone to the co mingling of deals that sent Diego Milito and Thiago Motta to Milan with Ricardo Quaresma and Hernán Crespo. I very much doubt Genoa president Enrico Preziosi will address the issue but why are the Rossoblù accepting Inter Milan’s “want-away” players? Without a doubt Ricardo Quaresma is a talented player but he adjusted very poorly to Serie A and if José Mourinho can’t get the most out of him few will. With complete respect to Hernán Crespo, it pains me to say the best days of the former River Plate-man are well behind him and it is debatable that he can effective on a week to week basis. While I have a great deal of hope, the club should be investing in players that can immediately assist in their new-found European efforts but always with a long-term vision.
One player who will have an solid impact in-time is Nenad Tomović. A highly versatile defender / midfielder who hails from Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) has been capped for Serbia and while early in his development he is quite capable of being a shining star with Genoa. The club has come to agreement with the legendary Belgrade side but it very likely he will be loaned back and the sale was negotiated to ease the massive financial burden the club is going through. It would be extremely wise for Genoa to consider similar arrangements with some of young Mr. Tomović’s teammates such as Vladimir Bogdanović and Nemanja Pejčinović as well as the very talented Nenad Milijaš for immediate impact.
Category: Genoa Team Newssuspensions handed down with regards to Genoa – Torino fight
By: j | 2 Comments
Sporting Judge Gianpaolo Tosel has acted accordingly with regards to the fight that broke out following Genoa’s recent match against Torino and handed both sides stern punishment.
Genoa’s Rubén Olivera will miss the next three match-day for his part in the affair whilst Ivan Jurić is out for two. However Torino, fighting to avoid relegation, was hit hardest as Marco Pisano and Angelo Ogbonna off for four matches with Aimo Diana, and Francesco Pratali and their brilliant striker Rolando Bianchi receiving two-match bans.
Category: Genoa Team Newslate goal gives Genoa win over Torino
By: j | 5 Comments
In a highly feisty match were tempers boiled-over, Genoa beat relegation-threatened Torino 3-2 via a late goal by Diego Milito.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, assured of a Europa League berth, went on the attack from the start but after an early series of positive advances the matches momentum leveled. For much of the opening half-hour, both sides had promising opportunities snuffed out just before the final strike. However two minutes past the hour, Genoa was awarded a penalty after Marco Pisano was adjudged to fouling Marco Pisano in the area, resulting in Diego Milito’s straight-forward conversion. The lead did not last long as the host drew the match level eight minutes later as Torino capitalized on lax defending at the back as a long pass into the box was headed-on by Angelo Obinze Ogbonna to Ivan Franceschini for an efficient volley from the centre of the box. The back and forth pacing continued and three minutes after the hour Rubén Olivera struck a free kick from twenty-metres into the back of the net. Still there was more to come as only a minute later the match squared as Torino’s brilliant striker Rolando Bianchi deftly chipped the ball over ‘keeper Rubinho from left side of the box to the opposite corner. For much of the remaining match Torino controlled the majority of notable scoring chances, with both Alessandro Rosina and Nicola Ventola denied at the last moment. Finally with a minute remaining Ivan Jurić’s long cross into the box was sent in by Il Principe for a stunning late victory and a cruel loss for Torino.
The final moments of the match broke down into a full scale madness with both sides brawling which will certainly draw deserved suspensions.
Category: Genoa Team NewsGenoa v Torino match preview
By: j | Add Comments
With Genoa’s Europa League berth settled, the Rossoblu travel to face troubled Torino on Sunday afternoon.
This is unquestionably what they would call a “match of pride” as little is truly at stake for Genoa. For Gian Piero Gasperini’s side their fate is already set and chances to overtake Fiorentina for the Champions League is relatively slim. If the time is used properly over the next two weeks, it will mean the club considers a number of tactical changes to be tested out in a higher pressure environment along with possible younger players involved in the lineup. Whether this proves out remains to be seen but with Torino scrapping to avoid relegation, it will be a tougher fight then most expect.
Genoa’s absences are unchanged with Raffaele Palladino and Giuseppe Biava out. Diego Milito, fresh on the heels of the announecement that he is headed to Inter Milan, will lead the attacking trident of Giuseppe Sculli and Boško Janković. On the other hand Torino has come alive at the end of the campaign with striker Rolando Bianchi showing the confidence deserving of his vast potential.
Enjoy the match and as always, I will report on it has it concludes.
Category: Genoa Team Newsa decision that will be regretted
By: j | 19 Comments
Such a telling time of year, Aprill with his shoures soote has now passed and the Footballing world as begun its panoramic fade to black as the tale concludes. Hero’s have risen that will forever be remembered with a glint eyed vision in time.
The people of Genova will forever remember the year of 2009 as the time their little Rossoblu climbed to the top of the Footballing world. In only a blink of an eye, their story went from the rapturous delight of returning to Serie A to going toe to toe with titans of the sport with Il Principe leading the charge. A simple story really, the hero rides in and plays out the hopes of dreams of the townspeople that only a youthful heart could have painted with such rich colours. Yet in the final act, when the moment is about to take the step towards lore that will be remembered through time, fate jumps in and washes the canvass to black as Diego Milito has been be sold to Inter Milan for gold, trinkets and everything else that means nothing to those that bleed for this club.
Across the press-wire it was announced in straight, efficient and unsuspecting fashion that Genoa president Enrico Preziosi has agreed to sell Diego Milito and Thiago Motta to Inter Milan, adding that Sergio Floccari would be jettisoned in from Atalanta. Rumours continued that Robert Acquafresca would be making his way to the Genoa after being on loan to Sardinia’s Cagliari. Straight, efficient and to the point as well as lacking a morsel of journalistic review, questioning and anything else you would hope for by the modern media.
To some, this deal will make “sense” as the rumoured replacements are certainly quite capable and the cash flow will provide the club the ability to bolster its depth. However there is a stench to it that doesn’t sit right as when the league champion sweeps in before the curtain has dropped to purchase your best player. There are no remedies, the game has bought and sold itself many a time now and backroom deals are not simply maddening to the fans but equally raise an suspecting eyebrow in how these are orchestrated.
To live life without regrets, vivere senza rimpianti, is something I cannot imagine Genoa management being able to utter.
Category: Genoa Team NewsEuropean bound
By: j | 13 Comments
Genoa’s remarkable transformation from Serie B side to European football was completed Sunday as the Rossoblu played Chievo to a 2-2 draw. With the result Genoa is firmly locked fifth in the table with a five margin above Roma, with remaining matches against Torino and Lecce.
After a resounding start for the home-side, Chievo took the surpise lead ten minutes before the break as Luciano’s provision from the byline to the right was volleyed in by Giampiero Pinzi from close-range. A goal down now Genoa raced back with Boško Janković creating a number of chances but each came up short. Genoa was fortunate not to trail by two at the break as a late surging run ending with a goal by Sergio Pellissier was erased due to a peculiar handball. However without further mark the match went to the break with the side from Verona holding a one goal lead. Eight minutes after the restart Genoa had its chance as the spot was pointed to as Mario Yepes was adjudged a penalty. Diego Milito strode up and confidently drove the ball into the net bringing the faithful to their feet realizing European football nears. With nineteen minutes left, Rubén Olivera struck a free-kick to the upper right corner to give Genoa the 2-1 lead. Thoughts of the victory ended with five minutes left as Sergio Pellissier headed-in Simone Bentivoglio’s corner to square the match at two but that certainly did not hold back the celebration as Genoa has secured its spot in Europe.
Category: Genoa Team NewsGenoa v Chievo match preview
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With three remaining weeks in their extraordinary Serie A campaign, Genoa welcomes Chievo to Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Sunday afternoon. Any attempt to label the year pales in comparison to the actual accomplishments as Genoa turned the corner from the problematic 90’s and after re-emerging in Serie A last year, sits on the cusp of winning a berth in the European football.
Naturally, as is so often the case, success has brought many admirers and with the end of the year in sight rumours are rampant of the future of talisman striker Diego Milito, Giandomenico Mesto and Boško Janković to name only a few. Speculation is futile at this point but as the Footballing world grapples with its financial underpinnings being shook out, there will be a number of opportunities that a club with a sturdy balance sheet can capitalize on. This is particularly important for a club such as Genoa and while it pains me to say it, Rossoblu supporters need to prepared for a number of changes.
Certainly one of the hottest commodities in the Serie A is the leadership of Gian Piero Gasperini, who many believe is nearing his final period in charge of Genoa. That not-so hot rumour aside the Rossoblu leader enters a particular period with his club close to securing a spot in Europa but sputtering to the finish line. After a brilliant start to the second half of the year, Genoa are chugging along and lost some of their shine recently. With their tactical plan becoming remarkably predictable he has been slowly tinkering the formation and in light of a series of absences on Sunday he is likely to use four in the back-line, most likely in a 4-2-3-1. Whether this maintains its shape is reason for concern as when using this lineup in the past they have often drifted to more of a stacked and packed midfield and much of their attacking vision has slowed with fear of going forward. Should they utilize this formation Diego Milito will play up-top with support provided by a quorum of Giuseppe Sculli, Omar Milanetto, Raffaele Palladino and Boško Janković. As they approach Sunday’s affair against the visitors from beautiful Verona, Genoa will be without the services of versatile Giandomenico Mesto, Domenico Criscito and former AEK man Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
Chievo, who many felt “a lock” for relegation at the start of the campaign have simply been outstanding of-late as they have scratched and clawed their way out of the basement. With recent top shelf draws against Roma, Inter Milan and Juventus they have exhibited a curmudgeonly approach to defending and Genoa should anticipate the same on Sunday.
Category: Genoa Team NewsAtalanta holds Genoa to draw
By: j | 1 Comment
Genoa’s Champions League hopes were put in-doubt as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Atalanta. Following the weekend action Gian Piero Gasperini’s Rossoblu trail Fiorentina by three points with remaining matches in the campaign against Chievo, Torino and Lecce.
The Nerazzurri were in clear control of the attacking vision match early as Genoa seemed to forget they were in race for European football. Nine minutes in, Sergio Floccari lead a fast counter only to provide the ball to Simone Padoin on his left with a subsequent low cross being sent to Chilean international Jaime Valdés who made no mistake from the edge of the six yard box to make it 1-0. The opening half lingered on from Genoa’s perspective and in-truth they were fortunate to escape only a goal down despite continuing to hold a high percentage of ball possession. With the restart Boško Janković and Marco Rossi were summoned for Omar Milanetto and Giandomenico Mesto with the intent of stirring a rather docile performance. Slowly opportunities emerged Genoa but each was held back. However with fifteen minutes remaining they received a major break as Tiberio Guarente received his second yellow-card of the day forcing Atalanta to play a man down for the balance of the match. Finally as time wound down Genoa snatch a draw from the disappointing day as Domenico Criscito poached on a close range effort with square the match 1-1.
Category: Genoa Team NewsGenoa v Atalanta match preview
By: j | Add Comments
After last weeks slug-fest derby win over Sampdoria, Genoa travel to Bergamo to face Atalanta buoyed with confidence. With only four match-days remaining in the campaign Gian Piero Gasperini’s Rossoblu trail Fiorentina by a single point for the final Champions League spot but have a distinct advantage of an easier remaining schedule.
Heading into the match Gian Piero Gasperini will need to deal with a series of losses that will tax their tactical plans. Both Matteo Ferrari and Thiago Motta are unavailable able due to suspension, with Salvatore Bocchetti needing to step-up into the centre the backline trident of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Domenico Criscito. With Thiago Motta out of the midfield Omar Milanetto is most likely to move into a central role with Boško Janković possibly taking a row in the wing. Beyond that attacking vision should be unchanged with Diego Milito looking to continue last weeks three goal outpouring alongside Raffaele Palladino and Giuseppe Sculli.
Atalanta, possibly one of the most efficient managed sides in Serie A given its track record of success and extraordinary salary limitations is coming off a dreadful Udinese and will be looking to respond in front of their home supporters. Their superb manager Luigi Del Neri will be without Gianpaolo Bellini and Cristiano Doni but does have Austrian international György Garics back from injury.
Category: Genoa Team News
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