betting
Sampdoria
By David, BettingExpert.com | Edited
A Cassano – Pazzini production
The Champions League dream for which the team had worked so hard last year has now vanished as they succumbed to Werder Bremen’s attacking power. Nonetheless, the club resisted all approaches to its stars after that elimination in order to compete for the big rewards this year as well.
Coach: Di Carlo
Tactics: 4-4-2
Players In: Guberti, Zauri, Dessena, Curci, Volta, Da Costa
Players Out: Castellazzi, D. Franceschini
Current Probable Formation: Curci, Zauri, Gastaldello, Lucchini, Ziegler, Semioli, Palombo, Dessena, Guberti, Cassano, Pazzini
The men who built and lead the team to a deserved fourth spot last season have now moved to Juventus to try their hand at a new adventure. Neither coach Del Neri nor the general director Marotta are present at Sampdoria but the team still holds that same spirit that allowed them to establish their strength last season. Most importantly of all, the same players that had managed that objective are still part and parcel of this ‘new’ Sampdoria.
After the good display against Werder Bremen in Italy, which was however not enough for them to secure a place in the biggest club competition, the offers poured in for Pazzini. Juventus and Real Madrid showed the most interest but there was not enough time to make a proper deal with Real, which would have been squeezed out of a huge sum as usual. Juventus, on the other hand, were on a limited budget and ultimately opted for Napoli’s Quagliarella, who was never really a good fit in Mazzarri’s team.
Midfielders Palombo and Poli were other targets but the same argument is valid for the two. Sampdoria’s plans have been changed with the elimination from the Champions League but this aspect came into the equation too late for any offers tabled for their players to be considered.
This has left new coach Di Carlo, who was in charge of
Chievo last season, with all the players that achieved last year’s success. The
new arrivals signaled are just loan recalls mostly. Both Zauri and Guberti
formed part of the team last year and will be an integral part of Di Carlo’s
Sampdoria as well. Dessena had been at Cagliari but has now been recalled.
Volta is an interesting youngster promoted to the first team and who already
featured in the Champions League qualifying games with a degree of satisfaction
for the club.
The only real signing has been goalkeeper Curci who replaces Castellazzi, the latter having moved to Inter to play second fiddle to Julio Cesar after last season’s excellent displays. Curci was the number one choice in last year’s relegated Siena. He had been at one point close to settling in at Roma but has always found others blocking his way into the first team. He should be a good replacement for the departed Castellazzi.
The biggest changes from last season should be the tactics. Di Carlo’s style is somewhat different from Del Neri’s 4-4-2, to which the players had been grown used to. He prefers to play with a playmaker and in this case his choice has fallen on Guberti to back the Cassano – Pazzini duo. The ex-Bari and Roma man can play in that position but had been used to running on the flanks. The only real playmaker in the side is Cassano, who has however, settled in well in a more advanced position now. His partnership with Pazzini has grown so solid that Prandelli is looking at it as the new attack for his brand new Italy. In them the Blucerchiati have one of the most reliable striking partnerships in the division.
Both the defence and the midfield are as strong and solid as last year with Palombo expected to start alongside one of the youngsters, Poli or Dessena, in central midfield. Guberti may be employed on the flanks just as Semioli and Mannini, who were both brought in last year to adapt to Del Neri’s 4-4-2 style.
Predicted finishing position: 8th
With the team left largely unchanged it would look like Sampdoria can only go one better this time round. However, with Di Carlo’s new philosophy contrasting with last year’s 4-4-2 as implemented by Del Neri, there may be some problems on the horizon for the Blucerchiati. Their midweek Europa League appointment should also weigh in on a team that has few players that can take over jobs carried out by the starters.
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