Serie A Preview 2009/10: Palermo
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Main Transfers: Rubinho (Genoa), Javier Pastore (Huracan), Nicolas Bertolo (Banfield), Dorin Goian (Steua Bucharest)
Outlook: Walter Zenga has promised that his side will challenge for the league title but no one seems to believe him. With good reason because, whilst the squad has some excellent players, it is still some way off having the quality that is
needed to come good on Zenga’s words.
Much of their transfer work has focused on South America where they hope to have brought in two players – Javier Pastore and Nicolas Bertolo - who still need to develop and grow but who undoubtedly have talent. Romanian defender Dorin Goian, who Zenga knows from his days of coaching in Romania, will strengthen the defence although exactly why Palermo opted to exchange Marco Amelia for Rubinho remains a mystery.
If they avoid the usual controversies and Zenga is allowed to work in piece, then the feeling is that Palermo could do pretty well this season. Yet, with Maurizio Zamparini in charge, the prospects of a quite season are pretty remote.
Manager: Having started at Catania as a laughing stock, Walter Zenga quickly shut people up and last season almost led Catania to a European spot. However, after he publicly criticised the club’s fans for their failure to support the side when results had started to peter out at the end of the season, it was clear that his time there was over. No one expected him to be out of a job for long but, similarly, no one would have imagined him joining Catania’s fierce rivals Palermo. It is a bold move by him and he knows that very few managers have thrived under Zamparini.
Key Player: Capable of playing some exhilarating football, Fabrizio Miccoli (pictured) is Palermo’s star player and the man that they look to when things aren’t going to plan. Having made Giuseppe Mascara the fulcrum of his Catania side, Zenga will do likewise with Miccoli who should thrive under the former Italy goalkeeper’s guidance.
One to Look Out For: Initially he had the look of someone thrown into the deep end and unable to cope but as games wore on, Danish defender Simon Kjaer started becoming more confident. Strong but good with the ball at his feet, he is a player who is maturing rapidly and for whom this will be a big season.
Much of their transfer work has focused on South America where they hope to have brought in two players – Javier Pastore and Nicolas Bertolo - who still need to develop and grow but who undoubtedly have talent. Romanian defender Dorin Goian, who Zenga knows from his days of coaching in Romania, will strengthen the defence although exactly why Palermo opted to exchange Marco Amelia for Rubinho remains a mystery.
If they avoid the usual controversies and Zenga is allowed to work in piece, then the feeling is that Palermo could do pretty well this season. Yet, with Maurizio Zamparini in charge, the prospects of a quite season are pretty remote.
Manager: Having started at Catania as a laughing stock, Walter Zenga quickly shut people up and last season almost led Catania to a European spot. However, after he publicly criticised the club’s fans for their failure to support the side when results had started to peter out at the end of the season, it was clear that his time there was over. No one expected him to be out of a job for long but, similarly, no one would have imagined him joining Catania’s fierce rivals Palermo. It is a bold move by him and he knows that very few managers have thrived under Zamparini.
Key Player: Capable of playing some exhilarating football, Fabrizio Miccoli (pictured) is Palermo’s star player and the man that they look to when things aren’t going to plan. Having made Giuseppe Mascara the fulcrum of his Catania side, Zenga will do likewise with Miccoli who should thrive under the former Italy goalkeeper’s guidance.
One to Look Out For: Initially he had the look of someone thrown into the deep end and unable to cope but as games wore on, Danish defender Simon Kjaer started becoming more confident. Strong but good with the ball at his feet, he is a player who is maturing rapidly and for whom this will be a big season.
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