Palermo, Atalanta and Lazio aiming high

Palermo, Atalanta and Lazio experienced mixed fortunes last season.

Atalanta had a relatively positive campaign under new coach Luigi Del Neri, finishing among the 10 top Serie A teams.

On the other hand, Palermo and Lazio were considered as two of the biggest underachievers in 2007/08. So far this summer, these two clubs have made significant changes in the hope of obtaining better results this season.

Lazio's participation in the Champions League last year proved to be counter-productive. The team from the capital was ill-equipped to survive the double challenge of Serie A and Champions League football. Moreover, Lazio were hampered by an incredible number of injuries, making matters much more complicated for coach Delio Rossi.

In 2008/09, Lazio will concentrate exclusively on the domestic scene and this could well be a blessing in disguise for them. The shrewd Rossi is still at the helm and keen to ensure that Lazio return to their best after an indifferent season.

With the arrival of Argentine goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo, who was supposed to join Lazio a year ago, the two-time Italy champions seem to have finally found the ideal replacement for Angelo Peruzzi who was sorely missed last season.

Rossi has trimmed his squad by releasing Igli Tare, Rolando Bianchi, Valon Behrami, Gaby Mudingayi and Luciano Zauri. Lazio made a number of new signings and the former Salernitana coach can now bank on the services of Argentine striker Mauro Zarate (via Birmingham), Brazilian midfielder Francelino Matuzalem (Real Zaragoza) and Swiss defender Stefano Lichtsteiner (Lille).

The confirmation of strikers Tommaso Rocchi and Goran Pandev was perhaps Lazio's best deal of the close season.

In Sicily, there have been sweeping changes at Palermo. Brazilian striker Amauri left for Juventus and international defenders Christian Zaccardo and Andrea Barzagli have joined Wolfsburg. Other players who cut their links with Palermo in recent weeks include Fabio Caserta (Lecce), Federico Agliardi (Rimini) and Giuseppe Biava (Genoa).

The Sicilians did well to sign the up-and-coming Antonio Nocerino and Davide Lanzafame from Juventus as part of the Amauri deal. Marco Amelia (ex-Livorno) is their new goalkeeper.

Cesare Bovo, Hernan Dellafiore (who were at Genoa and Torino respectively last season), Andrea Raggi (Empoli) and Moris Carrozzieri (formerly of Atalanta) will anchor Palermo's new-look defence. Fabio Liverani is the side's new playmaker.

Although great things are expected from strikers Lanzafame and new Brazilian signing Tulio De Melo, ex-Juve stalwart Fabrizio Miccoli is widely tipped to fill the huge void left by Amauri.

Amauri is more of an attacking powerhouse whereas Miccoli is more agile and blessed with a natural scoring instinct. Now, it's up to coach Stefano Colantuono to select the tactics that best suit a player of Miccoli's qualities.

Palermo's fortunes are bound to be influenced by the temperament and, more importantly, the decisions taken by club president Maurizio Zamparini. He is notorious for showing little patience with coaches.

Last season was a disappointing one for Palermo mainly because of Zamparini's ill-timed decisions to sack Colantuono and later Francesco Guidolin. Zamparini should leave his coaches to do their job without exerting too much pressure on them.

Atalanta kept hold of their best player Cristiano Doni. Del Neri is still in charge and this shows a desire on the Serie A club's part to achieve continuity. The signing of midfielder Luca Cigarini from Parma is perhaps the best summer arrival for Atalanta so far. The much-talked-about return of Christian Vieri from Fiorentina caused uproar among the supporters.

The injury-prone Vieri is past his best and should be used sparingly by Del Neri.

However, if the wily ex-Chievo coach can keep his players on their toes, then Atalanta have all the cards in place to enjoy another trouble-free campaign.