2010-2011 Serie A Predictions

A new campaign is almost upon us.  Yes, it is time for club football to start again.  Here I preview the upcoming 2010-2011 Italian Serie A football season with 10 predictions including: top goal scorer, relegations, champions league performances, league winner, and others.  PREGO!

CFC Genoa to Break into the Top Four

Serie A's oldest team, C.F.C Genoa always seem to be losing their star players to bigger and brighter pastures.  2008's departure of Marco Boriello to AC Milan and 2009's dual departure of Thiago Motta and Diego Milito to champions-Inter are three such examples that would have left any major club in shambles.  However, after a disappointing 9th place finish in 2009 and bitter cross-town rival Sampdoria's Champions League qualification, Genoa has reloaded and made key off-season acquisitions. 

The aged and ineffective Hernan Crespo has been dispatched and former perennial score chart-topper Luca Toni, Portuguese national team star goalkeeper Eduardo, Sporting Lisboa midfielder Miguel Veloso, and young Brazilian spark plug Rafinho were acquired during the summer to transform Genoa from middle-table pretenders to top 4 contenders.  Established stars such as Boca Juniors legend Rodrigo Palacio, captain Marco Rossi, and ex-Juventus star Rafaelle Palladino will lead the way for the 'Rossoblu' and attempt to revive the club's seemingly-ancient glory days.  But with a revived squad, a capable coach in Gian Piero Gasperini, and no continental tournaments in the upcoming season, look for Genoa to push the likes of Sampdria, Fiorentina, Juventus, Milan, Palermo, and Napoli for Italy's 4th Champions League spot. 

Ronaldinho's Last Hurrah

Since joining AC Milan after his glory days with Barcelona, El Gaucho has been a shadow of his former self.  Gone are the days when Dinho consistently and single-handedly decided matches with his out of this world creativity, his no look passes, his silky dribbles, his ferocious free-kicks, and his boundless enthusiasm.  I guess for Ronaldinho it really was, as they say, "lonely at the top."  

Though his decline at Milan is mostly his fault (weight issues, continuous partying, lack of effort in training, and attitude problems), he is not entirely to blame.  Ex-manager Carlo Ancelotti usually elected to bench Ronaldinho in favor of a midfield diamond formation revolving around Pirlo-Gattuso-Seedorf-Kaka, or Pirlo-Ambrosini-Kaka-Beckham.  Since Ancelotti's departure to Chelsea and Kaka's move to Real Madrid, Dinho has seen his playing time increase, and has shown glimpses of his past genius.  The ever-smiling midfielder finished the 2009-2010 Serie A season as assist leader and bagged an impressive 15 goals in all competitions.  Despite some impressive performances, he still lacked the consistency, cutting edge, and clutch performances against the better teams that characterized his time with the 'Blaugrana.' But if it is any sign, the 2009-2010 season demonstrated that he is still capable of being near his best.  Having not played in the World Cup, Dinho will be fresh and hungry for more success in 2010-2011.  On the wrong side of 30, I predict that this will be his last great (full) season.

No Italian Teams in the 2010-2011 UEFA Champions League Semi-Final

With Jose Mourinho's departure to Real Madrid, "Super" Mario Balotelli's ill-advised move to the Manchester Mercenaries, a perennially European-under-achieving Roma squad (with Mr. Nearly-Claudio Ranieri in charge), an ever-aging AC Milan team with a new coach and too many question marks, and the rather shallow Sampdria, who depend too heavily on the genius of Italy's new number 10 Antonio Cassano, Serie A will not have one representative at this season's premier European football tournament.  Yes Inter Milan achieved eternal glory last season by winning a treble including the UEFA Champions League thereby defeating favorites Barcelona in the semis, and Bayern Munich in the finals, but they have lost, what was possibly their best asset in Jose Mourinho. 

Ex-Liverpool supremo Rafael Benitez brings to Inter an even more negative tactical-mindset and coincidentally a less-disciplined defensive strategy (as seen by Liverpool's zonal marking on set-pieces), two factors that will prevent Inter from repeating their 2010 glory.  We all know how difficult it is to repeat Champions League, and this is being a tactically and occupationally-weakened squad, I see little chance for Inter to even reach the semi finals.  The last three teams Milan, Roma, and Sampdoria will truly need miracles (or incredibly easy draws) to make the last four. 

Surprise Team of the Season: Parma

After capturing the ethereal talent of Juventus-reject Sebastian Giovinco on loan, recently-promoted Parma, who finished the 2009-2010 season in a respectable 8th place ahead of the likes of Fiorentina and Lazio and one place below Europa League qualifiers Juve, will look to upset Serie A once again.  After two dismal seasons in 2007 and 2008, Parma flew out of promotion in 2009 and almost qualified for European competition.  New boys Giovinco and Bojinov along with the venerable Hernan Crespo and experienced right back Cristian Zaccardo will be a thorn in the side of Serie A's big boys and will look to compete for a place in the top 7. 

Serie A Comeback Player of 2010-2011: Adrian Mutu

A player of incredible talent and ability who has always been the center of controvery, Fiortentina forward Adrian Mutu's eagerly-anticipated October return will spell trouble for the rest of Serie A.  After three sparkling seasons with the Viola which has seen him score an impressive 100 goals in 221 matches, Mutu's football career looked to be at a standstill following new drug allegations and a failed doping test after a match against Bari in 2009.  A 9-month ban and on-going legal issues between the player and former employers Chelsea will finally end this season and Romania's best ever footballer will regain his devastating form.  If Mutu is back at his best, Fiorentina have every chance of finishing in the top four. (Other contenders for comeback players: Diego, Adriano, Alessandro Del Piero).

Juventus to Improve, Finish 3rd

2009-2010 was truly a season to forget for La Vecchia Signora.  A tragic seventh-place finish, a dismal European campaign (having failed to advance past the group stage in Champions League or make any type of splash in the Europa League), a crucial injury to legendary goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, the retirement of Pavel Nedved, and the drastic under-performances of new signings Felipe Melo and Diego condemned the Bianconeri to one of their worst seasons ever.  Since last winning the league in 2002-2003, Juventus has experienced rough times.  A forced relegation to Serie B following the Calciopolli scandal, the subsequent departure of high profile stars Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianlucca Zambrotta, Patrick Viera, Adrian Mutu, and Lillian Thuram, has left Italy's most domestically-successful team trophy-less and with a tarnished reputation. 

Things can only get better for the Bianconeri and I predict that they will finish in the top 4 this coming season.  The much-maligned Diego now with a season under his belt, will be settled, comfortable, and ready to capably lead the attack, new coach Luigi Del Nieri will pick up where the "Tinkerman" Claudio Ranieri left off in 2009 when Juve finished 3rd, Alessandro Del Piero will be healthy and ready to contribute goals and assists via his pre-2009 form, and new signings Leonardo Bonucci and Marco Motta will join Giorgio Chiellini in bolstering a back line that leaked goals by the handful last season.  Also, look for Italian international Simone Pepe, on loan from Udinese, to capably replace the aged Mauro Camoranesi on the wing. 

2011-2012 Serie A Promotions: Atalanta, Empoli, Torino

Serie A's fifth most successful team (by domestic trophies), proud Torino seems far removed from the tragic "Il Grande Torino" squads of the 1940's.  A young squad and new coach will look to lead 'Il Toro' back into Serie A after their 2008 demotion and nearly qualifying for this season's competition.  Atalanta, who finished 18th in Serie A last season was close to avoiding relegation and has kept the majority of last season's squad intact.  At age 36, this will likely be club legend Cristiano Doni's last season for 'La Dea.'  Empoli also just narrowly missed out on qualification, losing in the promotion playoffs to Brescia.  Youth factory for many of Serie A's best such as Sebastian Giovinco, Antonio Di Natale, and Vincenzco Montella, The Blues will again call on their youngsters and new head coach Salvatore Campilongo to lead them back into Italy's premier football competition. 

Relegations: Lecce, Chievo, Brescia

Newly-promoted Lecce have made few off-season acquisitions and possess a thin-squad with little Serie A calibre.  Chievo, in my opinion got lucky last season and should have dropped to Serie B instead of finishing 14th.  After losing coach Domenico Di Carlo to Sampdoria and star centre back Mario Yepes to Milan, Chievo are far worse off than they were just one year ago.  Finally, Brescia, another newly-promoted team, have not played in Serie A since 2004 where "Il Divin Codino" spent his last club season.  Brescia have done little to bolster their squad this summer.  Look for them to join Lecce and Chievo Verona in Serie B come 2011. 

Capocannonieri 2010-2011: Alexandre Pato

Those who watched Brazil versus the United States last week saw a glimpse of what is to come this season from the electric young striker Alexandre Pato.  Having burst onto the scene with Milan in 2008 after being recruited from Internacional in Brazil, Pato has become Milan's main scoring threat.  Blesed with devastating pace, an excellent football-brain, laser-like precision, and under-rated passing ability, Pato is the prototypcal modern striker. 

After fully recovering from the the hamstring and knee knocks that plagued him last season and being physically fresh (having criminally been left off Brazil's World Cup Squad), with three Serie A campaigns under his belt, Pato is poised for a huge season.  His understanding with fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho will be key to Milan's title dreams and Champions League contention.  A healthy Pato should easily eclipse his previous 2008-2009 best of 15 Serie A goals and bag the prestigious Capocannonieri award. 

2010-2011 Serie A Champions: Internazionale Milano

It's becoming a cliche, but Inter Milan will once again lift the Coppa Campioni D'Italia.  Even with the unproven, and tactically-negative Rafael Benitez in charge, an unprecedented sixth consecutive Serie A championship will be Inter's come May 2011.  Having maintained the bulk of their treble-winning 2009-2010 squad, and with no major challengers amongst the usual table toppers Milan, Juventus, Roma, Napoli, Fiorentina, etc, Inter should coast to another title.  The only legitimate contender to the Coppa for me is Roma, though having lost their defensive rock Nicolas Burdisso to Inter, with an aging, and injury-prone Totti, as well as nearly-coach Claudio Ranieri in charge, the odds are heavily in Inter's favor.