Editorial

Calcio Debate: Alessio Secco - One Good Signing In Three Years, Genoa - Nine In One Summer

Genoa beat Juventus in a five-goal thriller on Saturday night, and if there is any justice they will now go on and qualify for the Champions League. Carlo Garganese hails the Rossoblu’s market campaign last summer, which he considers to be one of the greatest in Calcio history.

Apr 13, 2009 4:00:57 PM

Enrico Preziosi & Diego Milito, Genoa (Foto Grazia Neri)

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Enrico Preziosi & Diego Milito, Genoa (Foto Grazia Neri)

Teams

Statistics don’t lie, and you only have to take one look at the Serie A table to realise that, barring a late collapse in form, Genoa are fully deserving of a place in next season’s Champions League. The Grifoni have lost just six times all term, the same number as Juventus and Milan, and four fewer than Fiorentina and Roma below them.

With seven rounds left, it seems likely that the final Champions League slot will be a straight battle between Genoa and Fiorentina, who are separated by just two points. With Roma now eight points back, Luciano Spalletti’s men will surely have to settle for a place in the Europa League.

Genoa have been consistent all season, losing just once at home, and should already be secure in fourth. They threw away a three goal second half lead against Fiorentina several weeks ago, while the Viola have often ridden their luck, and been indebted to the brilliance of goalkeeper Sebastien Frey.

Nevertheless, if Genoa hold their nerve, they should create club history by reaching Europe’s premier cup competition for the first time. The Rossoblu’s run-in reads: Lazio (h), Bologna (a), Sampdoria (h), Atalanta (a), Chievo (h), Torino (a), Lecce (h). Fiorentina, meanwhile, still have to tackle both Roma and Milan, with the Rossoneri travelling to Florence on the final day.

Genoa passed their most recent test on Saturday night with flying colours by deservedly beating Juventus 3-2 in a thrilling clash at the Stadio Ferraris. As has been the case all season, the Grifoni emerged victorious by playing an expansive, entertaining, and fast-paced modern brand of football. They zipped the ball around the pitch, attacked the wide positions at a ferocious speed, and just had too much energy for the disappointing Bianconeri.

Not only did Genoa show Juventus how it is done on the pitch, they also illustrated just what is possible when you buy well off it. While Alessio Secco and his fellow Old Lady circus friends have made one transfer disaster after another, Genoa, who currently have no sporting director, have reaped the rewards of one of the most impressive summer market campaigns in the history of Calcio.

No fewer than nine (yes, nine) of Genoa’s first team were purchased in 2008. This includes the entire three-man defence of Matteo Ferrari, Salvatore Bocchetti and Giuseppe Biava, wing-back Domenico Criscito (whose original loan began in January), midfielders Giandomenico Mesto and Thiago Motta, as well as attackers Bosko Jankovic, Raffaele Palladino and Diego Milito.

If Manchester City want to know how to build a team in one day, they should follow the Genoa example.

And what is more, Genoa do not have the Citizens’ money. They made intelligent signings. Ferrari and Motta arrived on free transfers, and have been contenders in Serie A for the best in their respective positions. Bocchetti arrived as a virtual unknown from Serie B side Frosinone and has exploded into the Italy squad, Palladino and Jankovic were locked-up prisoners at Juventus and Palermo, but have now shown their true colours. The former tore his ex-side apart on Saturday night. The best of all, Milito, returned on the final day of dealings for just €8m, and fired in 16 goals before injury struck. Even reserves such as Andrea Gasbarroni, Ruben Olivera and Sokratis Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious (I had to get that out of the way) have been very useful.

And what funded all these great buys? The sale of Marco Borriello and Abdoulay Konko for a combined €19m, plus the extremely promising Italy Under-21 international Davide Di Gennaro. Borriello and Konko have played just a dozen games between them this campaign for Milan and Sevilla respectively. Talk about good business.

If anyone can find a past transfer campaign more impressive than this one, I would love to know. As for Juventus and Secco, this is all proof of just what is possible if you buy well. Secco has made one good signing in three years, Genoa made more than nine in one summer.

What are your views on this topic? Do Genoa deserve the Champions League? Just how impressive was their transfer campaign? The greatest ever? What could Juventus and Secco learn from it? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…

Carlo Garganese, Goal.com

Thank you for your comment!

Please enter your name

Please enter your location

Please share your comment!