Serie A Preview: Siena

The surprising departure of manager Massimo Beretta means that it is back to the drawing board for Siena. They’ve turned to Marco Giampaolo who has hardly had the best of times lately but who is promising to build on Beretta’s work.

His job is made easier by the fact that Siena haven’t sold too many of the players who helped keep them in the Serie A last year. Those who did go – Alex Manninger and Simone Loria – were key men and it will take time to see how their replacements will do.

In goal Siena will have the promising Gianluca Curci (pictured), one of the three players taken on loan from Roma, who has to prove his worth having found his path in Rome blocked by the excellent Doni. Up front they can no longer turn to club legend Enrico Chiesa (the thirty eight year old will play out his career at non-league Figline) but the arrival of Emanuele Calaio from Napoli will add solidity whilst Abdel Ghezzal was the standout player in the Serie C last term and well worth a gamble.

Key Man: He may not get too many headlines but every team needs a player with Simone Vergassola’s assurance and consistency. The thirty four year old will once again anchor Siena’s midfield.

Best bit of business: The hero of Napoli’s rise through the leagues, Emanuele Calaio was given short shrift once they got to the Serie A. The move to Siena will help revitalize a career that had stalled and provide the former youth international with the opportunity to shine.

Keep an eye out for…Fernando Forrestieri. Born in Argentina of Italian parents, the eighteen year old is slowly making a name for himself and with seventeen games last season for Siena, he is already looking as something more than simply a promising player.

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