Preziosi must improve squad to boost ailing Genoa

Genoa, the oldest club in Italian football history, have established themselves in the Serie A since regaining their top-flight status in 2007. They finished 10th, fifth and ninth in the past three Serie A campaigns after spending 12 years in the doldrums of the Serie B and Serie C.

Genoa were relegated to the Serie B at the end of season 1994/95 following a defeat on penalties to Padova in Florence. It took the Red-Blues 12 years to get back to where they belong.

In the process, the club’s ownership changed a number of times until in 2003, toy-tycoon Enrico Preziosi, who previously owned Como, took over Genoa.

After a poor start, Genoa moved forward under Preziosi’s leadership. But after three positive campaigns, Genoa could well end up fighting to avoid the drop this season. What are the reasons behind Genoa’s on-going struggles in the Serie A?

Genoa had been originally promoted from the Serie B at the end of season 2004/05 but in the following months, they were demoted to the Serie C over the match-fixing scandal surrounding their last league match against Venezia.

Eventually, Genoa bounced back and claimed back-to-back promotions to recapture their place among the Italian elite in 2007.

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini masterminded Genoa’s rise from the Serie B and their respectable finishes in the Serie A. However, Genoa’s mixed results in the opening 10 matches of the current Serie A season cost Gasperini his job.

Davide Ballardini was charged with reviving the fortunes of the team following an uninspiring start to the 2010/11 season.

Gasperini’s last game in charge was the 0-1 defeat at Palermo on the 10th day. By that time, Genoa had only managed three wins and two draws.

Under ex-Cagliari and Lazio coach Ballardini, Genoa have improved marginally, collecting 12 points in 10 outings. As things stand, Genoa have 23 points, just four (with a game in hand on bitter rivals Sampdoria) above the red zone.

On Sunday, Genoa suffered their fifth home defeat after being trounced 4-2 by Udinese. Genoa have now gone four consecutive games without a win (two draws and two defeats).

The latest reverse becomes even more disappointing when one considers that Udinese had not conquered the Luigi Ferraris Stadium for almost three decades.

As the result suggests, Genoa were all over the place, particularly in defence. Ballardini’s team looked jaded. This was in stark contrast with the Genoa teams of the past who always kept fighting until the bitter end.

Genoa have wilted in recent weeks and the ongoing transfer dealings are having a devastating effect on the morale of the squad.

Key players Luca Toni (Juventus) and Andrea Ranocchia (Inter) have already been sold to the highest bidders and Italy defender Domenico Criscito is also reportedly heading for the exit door.

Preziosi has got it all wrong with regards to his latest signings. If Preziosi was wise when signing Marco Borriello in 2007 and Diego Milito and Thiago Motta a year later without breaking the bank, the same cannot be said of his latest recruits.

Judging by the dismal results Genoa have obtained under two different coaches, one is tempted to conclude that they have become weaker rather than stronger following last summer’s transfer activity. To the dismay of their fans, things are looking bleaker in the current transfer window.

Preziosi should go back to basics and start all over again. This Genoa side is facing a grim battle against relegation because teams like Cesena, Lecce and Brescia are showing signs of improvement and they will surely not go down without a fight.

In the remaining 12 days of the transfer window, Preziosi must make some signings of note to strengthen his ailing side. Failure to do so would put Genoa’s Serie A future in jeopardy.

Serie A statistics

1st ever win for Roma at Cesena’s Dino Minuzzi Stadium as the team from the capital left it late to record their third away success. For Cesena this was their first defeat after two wins and a draw. Juventus returned to winning ways after edging past bottom side Bari.

2 defeats (vs Roma 2-4 and Inter 1-2) and a 1-1 home draw against Chievo are all Catania have to show from their last three outings. Besides, the Sicilians were ousted from the Coppa Italia by Juventus last week. On Sunday, Chievo added to Catania’s woes as they came from a goal down to collect their third away draw. The Verona outfit have figured in four draws from their last seven outings. Cagliari continued to show signs of improvement under Roberto Donadoni as they defeated Palermo 3-1.

3rd win in as many league outings for Inter under new coach Leonardo. On Saturday, Bologna became Inter’s latest victims, after Napoli and Catania, as the Nerazzurri played like true champions on their way to a 4-1 success. This was Inter’s third straight home win against Bologna. The last time Bologna left Milan with a positive result was in November 2004 (2-2). Bologna’s last win at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium dates back to February 1998 (1-0).

9 years have passed since Milan’s most recent win at Lecce’s Via del Mare Stadium as the Rossoneri were held to a 1-1 draw. This was Milan’s second successive draw, following their stalemate with Udinese. Luigi De Canio’s Lecce have collected four points out of the last six.

26 goals were scored on the 20th day: 16 coming from the hosts and the remaining 10 from the visitors, who managed two wins. Foreigners contributed with 14 goals. Total number of goals scored so far stands at 465. No hat-tricks were registered. Samuel Eto’o (Inter) grabbed the only brace. Antonio Nocerino (Palermo) and Maximiliano Pellegrino (Cesena) committed the only two own goals. Udinese’s Antonio Di Natale is the leading marksman with 14 goals.

51 penalties have been awarded by referees so far, of which 14 were off-target. Last weekend, Catania were the only side to benefit from a penalty, scored by Argentine striker Maxi Lopez. This was only the second penalty Chievo have conceded this season. Palermo have not had a penalty in their favour, while Sampdoria and Fiorentina have not conceded one.