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Calcio Debate: Worst Serie A Team Of The Season (So Far)
With the league calendar in Italy now taking a mid-season break, Carlo Garganese offers his Worst Serie A Team of the Season so far…
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Dec 30, 2008 1:52:50 PM
WORST XI
Formation: 3-4-3
Goalkeeper
Andrea Campagnolo (Reggina) – The Calabrians are second from bottom in Serie A, and face yet another relegation scrap. The major reason for their problems has been a leaky backline, which has conceded a whopping 33 goals in just 17 games, far and away the worst record in the league. Campagnolo has done little to stem the tide.
Defence
Nicolas Frey (Chievo) – Some brothers down the years have shared a footballing talent - Bobby and Jack Charlton, Karl Heinz and Bernd Forster, and Ronald and Erwin Koeman for example. Unfortunately, the younger sibling of Sebastien Frey, Nicolas, doesn’t appear to share the Fiorentina man’s God-given ability. The 24-year-old has been shaky in defence all campaign, making a number of positional blunders for the rock-bottom outfit.
Simone Loria (Roma) – Has been described by some as the “worst defender ever to pull on a Roma shirt”, and his performances early in the season certainly suggested this could be the case. Slow and clumsy, Loria seemed more suitable for the local Sunday Pub League, and it is no coincidence that the Giallorossi’s form picked up when he was basically frozen out of the squad.
John Arne Riise (Roma) – Roma transfer chief Daniele Prade obviously hadn’t been watching the English Premier League for the previous couple of years when he decided to invest in Liverpool left back John Arne Riise, a player whose best days were well and truly behind him, as underlined by the comical own goal that ultimately knocked the Reds out of the Champions League semi final against Chelsea. Goal.com predicted Riise to be a flop at the beginning of the season, and we haven’t been wrong so far.
Midfield
Ricardo Quaresma (Inter) – Having joined Inter in a deal worth just under €20m, Quaresma is well on his way to becoming one of the most expensive flops in Serie A history. His confidence has been shot to pieces, he has spent most of the time hiding away, and when he has received the ball, nine times out of 10 he has lost it. Even his sponsor, Jose Mourinho, who convinced the reluctant Massimo Moratti to sign him, appears to have given up on him.
Christian Poulsen (Juventus) – Juventus fans rioted on the news that Poulsen was indeed the ‘big’ midfield name they had been promised by President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli. The Dane had a dire start to the season – he frequently gave the ball away, and could not strike up a partnership with Momo Sissoko. Juve’s Serie A record with Poulsen in the team is Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2. After he suffered an injury at Napoli, the Bianconeri have taken 27 points out of a possible 30, without him.
Sergio Almiron (Fiorentina) – Pantaleo Corvino made some excellent signings this summer in the form of Alberto Gilardino and Felipe Melo, but Almiron was a bizarre one. A resounding flop at Juventus last season, the Argentine moved on loan to Tuscany in the summer, but during the nine Serie A opportunities he has been handed, he has not produced the goods. Highly unlikely the Viola will take him on permanently, unless there is a dramatic improvement.
Amantino Mancini (Inter) – Despite being only 28, his form for Roma last season suggested that, physically, he was on the wane. This didn’t stop Inter from splashing out big on the Brazilian and, like Quaresma, he has failed miserably so far. Has certainly lost more than half-a-yard of pace, and does not dribble past players like he used to. Once again, Mourinho appears to have lost faith in his summer signing.
Attack
Andriy Shevchenko (Milan) – The whole world laughed when Milan signed Emerson last season, and they laughed again when another old-timer in Shevchenko arrived this past summer. Has made 11 appearances in Serie A, but has failed to score or impress. Despite bagging the odd goal in the UEFA Cup, the 32-year-old Sheva is a pale shadow of the once world class hitman.
Joaquin Larrivey (Cagliari) – The ‘new Gabriel Batistuta’ they called him when he arrived in Sardinia from Huracan in the summer of 2007. Larrivey made Goal.com’s Worst Serie A Team of the Year for 07/08 after scoring just one goal all season. This term he has found the net once in 10 Serie A outings. Still another 212 goals (and years) before he reaches Batigol.
Raffaele Palladino (Genoa) – Genoa are flying high in Serie A this season, but Palladino has not contributed much to this success. Playing in a three man trident, he has scored just one goal, and has been overshadowed by the likes of Sculli, Milito and Gasbarroni. Too lightweight, and easily bullied off the ball, what has happened to the Palladino who was tipped for great things at Juventus?
Dishonourable Mentions
Nicolae Dica (Catania)
Mauro Esposito (Chievo)
Juan Manuel Vargas (Fiorentina)
Mario Balotelli (Inter)
Adriano (Inter)
Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio)
Emerson (Milan)
Davide Lanzafame (Palermo)
Bruno Fornaroli (Sampdoria)
Emanuele Calaio (Siena)
Marco Pisano (Torino)
What are your views on this topic? Do you agree with those who made it into the above Worst Team of the Season? Who would make it into your XI? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Carlo Garganese
Formation: 3-4-3
Goalkeeper
Andrea Campagnolo (Reggina) – The Calabrians are second from bottom in Serie A, and face yet another relegation scrap. The major reason for their problems has been a leaky backline, which has conceded a whopping 33 goals in just 17 games, far and away the worst record in the league. Campagnolo has done little to stem the tide.
Defence
Nicolas Frey (Chievo) – Some brothers down the years have shared a footballing talent - Bobby and Jack Charlton, Karl Heinz and Bernd Forster, and Ronald and Erwin Koeman for example. Unfortunately, the younger sibling of Sebastien Frey, Nicolas, doesn’t appear to share the Fiorentina man’s God-given ability. The 24-year-old has been shaky in defence all campaign, making a number of positional blunders for the rock-bottom outfit.
Simone Loria (Roma) – Has been described by some as the “worst defender ever to pull on a Roma shirt”, and his performances early in the season certainly suggested this could be the case. Slow and clumsy, Loria seemed more suitable for the local Sunday Pub League, and it is no coincidence that the Giallorossi’s form picked up when he was basically frozen out of the squad.
John Arne Riise (Roma) – Roma transfer chief Daniele Prade obviously hadn’t been watching the English Premier League for the previous couple of years when he decided to invest in Liverpool left back John Arne Riise, a player whose best days were well and truly behind him, as underlined by the comical own goal that ultimately knocked the Reds out of the Champions League semi final against Chelsea. Goal.com predicted Riise to be a flop at the beginning of the season, and we haven’t been wrong so far.
Midfield
Ricardo Quaresma (Inter) – Having joined Inter in a deal worth just under €20m, Quaresma is well on his way to becoming one of the most expensive flops in Serie A history. His confidence has been shot to pieces, he has spent most of the time hiding away, and when he has received the ball, nine times out of 10 he has lost it. Even his sponsor, Jose Mourinho, who convinced the reluctant Massimo Moratti to sign him, appears to have given up on him.
Christian Poulsen (Juventus) – Juventus fans rioted on the news that Poulsen was indeed the ‘big’ midfield name they had been promised by President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli. The Dane had a dire start to the season – he frequently gave the ball away, and could not strike up a partnership with Momo Sissoko. Juve’s Serie A record with Poulsen in the team is Won 1, Drawn 3, Lost 2. After he suffered an injury at Napoli, the Bianconeri have taken 27 points out of a possible 30, without him.
Sergio Almiron (Fiorentina) – Pantaleo Corvino made some excellent signings this summer in the form of Alberto Gilardino and Felipe Melo, but Almiron was a bizarre one. A resounding flop at Juventus last season, the Argentine moved on loan to Tuscany in the summer, but during the nine Serie A opportunities he has been handed, he has not produced the goods. Highly unlikely the Viola will take him on permanently, unless there is a dramatic improvement.
Amantino Mancini (Inter) – Despite being only 28, his form for Roma last season suggested that, physically, he was on the wane. This didn’t stop Inter from splashing out big on the Brazilian and, like Quaresma, he has failed miserably so far. Has certainly lost more than half-a-yard of pace, and does not dribble past players like he used to. Once again, Mourinho appears to have lost faith in his summer signing.
Attack
Andriy Shevchenko (Milan) – The whole world laughed when Milan signed Emerson last season, and they laughed again when another old-timer in Shevchenko arrived this past summer. Has made 11 appearances in Serie A, but has failed to score or impress. Despite bagging the odd goal in the UEFA Cup, the 32-year-old Sheva is a pale shadow of the once world class hitman.
Joaquin Larrivey (Cagliari) – The ‘new Gabriel Batistuta’ they called him when he arrived in Sardinia from Huracan in the summer of 2007. Larrivey made Goal.com’s Worst Serie A Team of the Year for 07/08 after scoring just one goal all season. This term he has found the net once in 10 Serie A outings. Still another 212 goals (and years) before he reaches Batigol.
Raffaele Palladino (Genoa) – Genoa are flying high in Serie A this season, but Palladino has not contributed much to this success. Playing in a three man trident, he has scored just one goal, and has been overshadowed by the likes of Sculli, Milito and Gasbarroni. Too lightweight, and easily bullied off the ball, what has happened to the Palladino who was tipped for great things at Juventus?
Campagnolo
Frey- Loria- Riise
Quaresma- Poulsen- Almiron- Mancini
Shevchenko- Larrivey- Palladino
Frey- Loria- Riise
Quaresma- Poulsen- Almiron- Mancini
Shevchenko- Larrivey- Palladino
Dishonourable Mentions
Nicolae Dica (Catania)
Mauro Esposito (Chievo)
Juan Manuel Vargas (Fiorentina)
Mario Balotelli (Inter)
Adriano (Inter)
Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio)
Emerson (Milan)
Davide Lanzafame (Palermo)
Bruno Fornaroli (Sampdoria)
Emanuele Calaio (Siena)
Marco Pisano (Torino)
What are your views on this topic? Do you agree with those who made it into the above Worst Team of the Season? Who would make it into your XI? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Carlo Garganese
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| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
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| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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