Serie A season preview, part three: Relegated

By Mirko Corli, writing from Torino

BOLOGNA

Lots of things have changed in Bologna in the last few months: the board is completely new, many players left and many arrived, but one man is still in place, coach Franco Colomba.

The new year begins with a 4-4-2 in mind, trying to avoid relegation a little bit earlier than last year. The midfield looks good with the two new young talents Renè Khrin (on loan from Inter) and Albin Ekdal, even if the first one lacks minutes on the pitch: last season he was part of the all-winning Inter but played only a few minutes and currently is injuried, still unavailable for a couple of weeks.

Defence is absolutely not at Serie A levels, so it will be the weakest part of the team. The attacking side looks interesting with highly-experienced Marco Di Vaio and young talent Marco Meggiorini beside him: keep an eye on Meggiorini, he never scores easy goals, always putting something “more” in them. First substitute will probably be Marco Bernacci who did very well last year in second division.

BRESCIA

Same as Bologna does, Brescia has some problems with the deepness of the squad: as far as now they only have 22 players and not everybody is eligible to play in the first 11. 

This is because they did not buy anyone in the transfer market so far, apart from the new experienced keeper Matteo Sereni (last year he loose the second division’s playoffs against Brescia while playing in Torino).

Brescia lacks quality, will probably approach Serie A by playing a boring 3-5-2 with Caracciolo and Possanzini up front. It is not enough to be safe: you can easily bet on them to be relegated at the end of the season.

CESENA

Welcome back to this rookie that was far from Serie A since 20 years.

Coach Massimo Ficcadenti will struggle a lot for saving the team from relegation, but he can do this: Malonga, Bogdani and Giaccherini will play in the three forwards line up front, Caserta is a good signing to give pressing and quality passes in the midfield, Pellegrino an experienced and tough centre-back. On the goal line, Francesco Antonioli is about to play again in Serie A at the age of 41. Maybe another striker worth 10 goals a season would be necessary, but these lads can certainly fight for their spot in the sunlight.

Keep an eye on Ezequiel Schelotto, 21: he has double nationality (Argentina and Italy) and is now playing for Italy Under 21. This guy is good, believe me

LECCE

I have to be honest with you: why wasting time on Lecce? Players are absolutely average-players. The squad is still incomplete (at least, i hope so for them) and, as now, even God cannot avoid relegation for the giallorossi. Sorry mates.

PARMA

To be honest, Parma is facing relegation threat: the squad is the same as last year, with the loss of Biabiany.

Late signing Sebastian Giovinco from Juventus and the return of Alberto Paloschi after the long injury are the important facts that will give new coach Pasquale Marino the opportunity to distance this threat. I am quite confident Parma will play good football as all Marino’s teams did in the past. 
The problem is, in my opinion, in the defensive attitude of team: last season, Guidolin was able to create a stainless-steel defensive attitude in the team. Scoring against them, at home especially, was not simple at all: Marino has another style of football, more open, more attacking, and this will probably lead to more wins but also more losses.

The talisman will be Hernan Crespo, now 35: he can still score important goals and help these young lads reach the 17th place.