Alex Rolfe

Sampdoria – Echos of 1991


Recent History

In the 1990/1991 season Sampdoria, the perennial underachieving Genovese club, did the unthinkable and won the Scudetto. The team that year included the legendary Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini. The following year they reached the final of the Champions Cup (predecessor of the Champions League) only to be beaten in extra time by Barcelona. Save for a third place slot in the league and winning the Italian Cup in 1993/1994, things have been on the slide ever since. Chairman and benefactor Paulo Mantovani died soon after and then the unthinkable happened, at the end of the 1997/1998 season Sampdoria were relegated.

After four years in the wilderness and with new financial clout in the form of oil baron Chairman Riccardo Garrone, Sampdoria returned to the top flight in 2003/2004. After a season of consolidation it is time they moved forward. A cup and a place in Europe are achievable (if not easy) targets. From there the e ultimate goal would be to emulate the achievements of the 1991 team although with the likes of Juventus, Roma and two Milan teams looking strong this will be no mean feat. That then is my challenge.


The Squad:–

Goalkeepers

Francesco Antonioli – joined from Roma in 2003 and has been first choice ever since. At 34 he is coming towards the end of his career but will keep his first choice place for the coming season.

Emanuele Bianchi – promising young keeper who will gain experience in the reserves this year.

Luigi Turci – another veteran who will act as back up to Antonioli


Right Full Back

Diego Brembilla – young defender who is not up to first team standard. Transfer listed and relegated to the under 20 team

Cristian Zenoni – Classy player with big time experience at Juventus. First choice.


Left Full Back

Marco Pisano – solid performer with youth on his side. Will be the back up player in this position.

Stefano Bettarini – ageing and not of a standard that will cope with the rigours of Serie A. Transfer listed and in the reserves.

Maurizio Domizzi – another solid looking player currently on loan at Brescia. I will monitor his performance for the time being.

Max Tonetto – signed recently following an impressive season with Lecce. Will be first choice.


Central Defender (right sided)

Marcello Castellini – with good defensive qualities he could possibly perform but his lack of passing skills are a problem and he is therefore transfer listed and placed in the reserves.

Filippo Amoroso – poor quality. Transfer listed and in the reserves.

Stefano Sacchetti – another player unlikely to make the grade in Serie A, transfer listed and in the reserves.

Claudio Labriola - poor quality. Currently on loan at Olbia. Transfer listed.

Ivan Artipoli – very young but with strong developing qualities. Placed in the Under 20 squad for the time being to see how he develops.

Fabrizio Cacciatore – another promising looking youngster. As above.

Moris Carrozzieri – unlikely to feature so placed in the reserves and transfer listed

Giulio Falcone – with solid attributes he will be the back up in this position

Simone Santoni – poor player currently on loan at Rosetana. Transfer listed.

Jacopo Zunino – another young prospect put in the under 20 team to develop

Maurizio Damonte – poor player on loan at Savona. Transfer listed.

Valerio Di Maria – yet another youngster with no future at the club. Transfer listed and relegated to the under 20 squad.


Central Defender (left sided)

Simone Pavan – solid if not spectacular defender who will be the back up in this position

Right Wing

Aimo Stefano Diana – pacey winger who will be first choice in this position

Thomas Job – interesting prospect from Cameroon currently on loan at Pescara

Sid Ahmed Bouziane – poor player from Morocco on loan at Chiasso. Transfer listed


Left Wing

Biagio Pagano – exciting prospect who will be the back up player in this position

Bruno De Araujo Fonseca – disappointing Brazilian on loan at Giugliano. Transfer Listed

Cristiano Doni – Experienced ex-Italy international who will be hoping to recover his good form. First choice.


Central Midfielder (right sided)

Marco Donadel – solid youngster on loan from Milan. Back up player

Angelo Palombo – excellent looking defensive midfielder who will be first choice in this position

Ondoa – poor player from Cameroon. Transfer listed and in reserves.

Francis Ze – another Cameroonian lacking quality. On loan at Chiasso. Transfer listed.


Central Midfielder (left sided)

Mark Edusei – solid if uninspiring back up player

Segio Volpi – good quality midfielder who will be first choice

Denis Cocco – poor quality youngster. Transfer listed and in reserves

Vincenzo Iacopino – weak midfielder. Transfer listed and in reserves


Striker (right sided)

Vitaly Kutuzov – pacey young striker from Belarus. Back up.

Ikechukwu Kalu – poor quality young Nigerian on loan at Pisa. Transfer listed.

Fabio Bazzani – strong first choice Italian forward with some international experience

Corrado Columbo – slow average striker on loan at Livorno. Transfer listed.

Davide Girgenti – weak player. Transfer listed and in reserves.

Fausto Rossini – as above


Striker (left sided)

Francesco Flachi – excellent looking player. First choice.


So that’s the team. I have a few positions to fill. Most importantly there is a big hole at the centre of my defence. I need two quality players who can come in and quickly form a strong partnership. In addition I need cover at right back, right wing and on the left side of my front line. To add to the challenge I only have just under £4 million to achieve this.

I have two weeks until my first friendly (against Excelsior), the fans are unhappy with my appointment and the media are sceptical that I will be up to the challenge. Let's get to it.

Wag

Yay, always like a good Samp story

Good Luck

Alex Rolfe

In the weeks prior to the first friendly I manage to fill two of the playing positions available. Firstly and most importantly I fill one of the crucial centre back positions; Nicola Legrottaglie joins us from Juventus for £625k on a four year deal.

Legrottaglie has had a torrid time at Juventus. Joining in time for the 2003/2004 season after earning his spurs at Chievo he found chances in the first team somewhat limited. In and out of the side he never got the chance to establish himself. As the new season approached he was never going to be a part of new manager Fabio Capello’s plans. At Sampdoria though, I have high hopes that, given the chance to shine, he will be a stalwart in our defence for year’s to come.

The other signing is right winger Antonio Fillipini. At 31 many believe that the ex-Brescia and Palermo player has seen his best days but I am confident that he still has something to offer and that he will challenge Diana for a first team place. At just £150k he could prove to be a real bargain.


Saturday 7th August 2004
Excelsior v Sampdoria

So a quick jaunt to Holland to get the pre-season underway. The Dutch side are, on paper at least, no match for us in terms of both playing staff and available resources. This, however is pre-season and with both sets of players lacking fitness this was just the kind of challenge the club needs, neither too gentle nor too taxing.

Things start well, less than five minutes in Flachi turned his marker on the half way line and played a reverse pass to set strike partner Bazzani free. The resulting shot was well taken. I can only hope that their equalising goal minutes later was down to a lack of fitness and match practice and is not an omen for defensive problems to come. Legrottaglie was far too late in closing down attacking midfielder Sequeira. Even so the resulting shot straight at Antonioli should have been an easy save. Mysteriously (and more to the point worryingly) however the ball seemed to go straight trough him and into the back of the net.

With the game not yet a quarter of an hour old, the fussy referee made a ridiculous decision. Their defender Mulder brought down Flachi just outside of their area. Whilst the mistimed tackle could well have resulted in a yellow card in a competitive match, the fact this was a friendly match would have made this harsh. It was therefore absolutely absurd that the defender should have been sent off for a straight red (there were at least three defenders between Flachi and the goal). Should the Dutch team appeal the decision they can count on my support.
Nevertheless the extra man should have given us the opportunity to go on and dominate the game. Excelsior though, obviously fired up be the injustice of the situation, had other ideas.

We took the lead a few minutes later, Bazzani scoring again, this time from a beautifully weighted cross from Doni out wide on the left. On twenty minutes we were 3-1 up, Flachi beating two defenders before calmly stroking the ball past the keeper. On 35 minutes however they began to fight back, forward Mounir el Hamdaoui beating Pavan and firing into the net.

Into the second half and we spurned a number of very good chances before the Dutch team eventually equalised. Right back Rene van Dieren making a late run into the area to head home a glorious cross from Kolk. With both sides making a number of changes the rhythm of the game was lost and this proved to be the last significant action of the match.

Final Score:
Excelsior 3 – Sampdoria 3

On balance, this was a game we should have won. Excelsior are not a strong team and were down to 10 men early in the match. On the other hand we were away from home, the players were using a new system introduced by a new manager and were plainly lacking fitness and match practice. With this in mind we can at least take consolation in the fact we didn’t lose and that we scored three goals.

Alex Rolfe

On our return from Holland we make another new signing. Somewhat of a risk this but Anthony Vanden Borre a 16 year old prodigy from Anderlecht will walk straight into the first team as cover for Zenoni.


Wednesday 11th August
Napoli vs Sampdoria

The demise suffered by Sampdoria during the late 1990’s pales into insignificance when compared to that of Napoli. Since the heady days of Maradona and Scudetto success in 1987 and 1990 the most successful southern club in the history of Italian football have fallen on hard times. Amidst rumours of mafia connections and a desperate financial situation they have dropped first into Serie B and then, last season, into Serie C.

The gulf in class in terms of player between the two clubs is evident as early as the second minute, Flachi beating his marker with ease and then lobbing the on rushing keeper to score. For the second match in succession we had an early lead, would we be able to hold onto it this time?

On 26 minutes we doubles our lead, this time it was the other striker Bazzani who beat his marker before advancing a sliding the ball in just as it seemed he had advanced to far towards the goal line. Early in the second half we got the third. After a trip on Bazzani in the penalty area, Claudio Terzi was sent off for a professional foul. Although by appylying the letter of the law the decision was right it still seems harsh in a pre-season friendly. Flachi converted the resulting penalty with ease.

From the restart we scored again, Volpi taking the ball of the foot of the opposition striker in the centre circle and setting up three way interplay between Bazzani, Flachi and Volpi himself. The move was finished by Flachi, powering a shot past the keeper to complete his hat trick. Our fifth again came from the penalty spot, Max Tonetto this time finishing well. The sixth and our final goal came from a corner, Legrottaglie heading in. There was still time for them to get a consolation goal their defender Savino popping up on the edge of the penalty area and scoring with a powerful shot.

Final Score:
Napoli 1 - Sampdoria 6

I am of course delighted with this result and particularly with how well Bazzani and Flachi are working together. If I can keep them both fit and on form they will form a dangerous partnership in the fast approaching season.

Alex Rolfe

Sunday 15th August 2004.
Gava vs. Sampdoria

The first of four games against Spanish opposition and another strong showing. The partnership between Flachi and Bazzani continues to flourish with both getting on the scoresheet. Legrottaglie also scores, once again a header from a corner. Encouragingly, Kutuzov, on for Bazzani for the last 20 minutes, gets 2 and shows plenty of flair in the process with a series of run, dribbles and fancy flicks. Their goal came from a mistake by Pavan but in reality they never looked like getting anything for this match.

Final Score:
Gava 1 – Sampdoria 5


Thursday 19th August 2004
Caudal vs. Sampdoria

The second of the Spanish games took much the same shape as the first although the result was even more emphatic. The strikers all did well, Bazzani getting a hat trick, Flachi getting one and Kutuzov, again on at the end for Bazzani, also scoring. Legrottaglie continued to show his knack for heading in corners, scoring twice. Encouragingly. Both central midfielders, Volpi and Palombo, also got one each.

Final Score:
Caudal 1 – Sampdoria 9


Prior to the Lorca game we finally fill the other vacant position in the centre of our defence as experienced left footed centre back Dmitry Sennikov joins from Locomotiv Moscow.

Sunday 22nd August 2004
Lorca vs. Sampdoria

The penultimate game of the short Spanish tour is once again a strong display by the team. Although Flachi does not score he plays well. Partner Bazzani does get on the score sheet. Kutozov again comes on and scores, Legrottaglie scores a customary header from a corner and both Diana and substitute Donadel get one.

Final Score
Lorca 0 – Sampdoria 5


Tuesday 24th August 2004
Barakaldo vs. Sampdoria

The final match concluded what can only be construed as a good tour. On the night both strikers, Bazzani and Flachi got two goals each. Although we have not come up against any quality opposition, I am pleased with the way the team have adapted to my tactics and of course by the number of goals we have scored. We can go into the season proper with some confidence.

Final Score:
Barakaldo 0 – Sampdoria 4

Alex Rolfe

Just prior to the transfer deadline at the end of August I filled the last remaining place in the squad. Riccardo Meggiorini, a highly rated 17 year old joins us on loan for the season from Inter. He will act as back up to Francesco Flachi.


Sunday 12th September 2004
Sampdoria vs. Siena

The new season dawns at last as we face the relative minnows of Sienna. Things do not go to plan in the first half. The team look nervous and fail to get a grip on the match, beaten to every ball and generally out passed, we go into the break one nil down. In the eighteenth minute the legendary Chiesa popped up completely unmarked on the near post and scored with a simple tap in.

Some harsh words in the dressing room and a tweak to the tactics (the wingers told to push up against their full backs) seemed to do the trick. Minutes into the second half we were level, Bazzani heading in Flachi’s cross. Despite plenty of pressure, it was not until the 75th minute that we actually took the lead, Flachi beating defender Cirillo and then placing the ball past the helpless keeper’s right. Our third, just three minutes later, was the most controversial, a penalty after substitute Kutuzov went down easily from a nudge from Colonnese. Volpi had no problems with the spot kick. To round things off, Legrottaglie did what he has been doing all pre-season and headed in a corner. This was the final action of what was ultimately a very satisfying first game of the season.

Final Score:
Sampdoria 4 – Siena 1

Alex Rolfe

Sunday 19th September 2004
Udinese vs. Sampdoria

After the impressive second half performance last week, this was a disappointing affair. Udinese scored early with a perfectly placed free kick from Iaquinito after seven minutes. On 25 minutes they struck again, another free kick, again beautifully placed but this time taken by Jankulovski. Their best, however, was their last. Brazilian right back Alberto picking up the ball on the halfway line, beating first Volpi and then Pavan before delightfully chipping the keeper to make it three nil. That is how it ended, although none of the team played well, Doni and Pavan had awful games aand their places are now seriously under threat for the next game at home to Milan.

Final Score:
Udinese 3 – Sampdoria 0

Alex Rolfe

Wednesday 22 September 2004
Sampdoria vs. Milan

Milan are, without a doubt, one of the best teams in the world. Their pedigree is in Italy at least is pretty much unrivalled, only Juventus come close. They have players in their team that I can only dream about and I therefore approached this match with trepidation. The result against Udinese was a real blow, I was really hoping for some points there whereas against Milan I didn’t really expect much.

I changed my tactics so that we had only one player up front and had a defensive midfielder in the middle trying to break up play and stop them over running us with the sheer class they have in this area off the pitch. To some extent this paid off, they had few chances throughout the match. Our lone striker Flachi (just getting the nod above Bazzani) played well, getting into good positions and making chances for himself. In the end the match ended goal less (we had one shot on target, they had two), in the circumstances a good result for us.

Final Score:
Sampdoria 0 – Milan 0

flipsix3

Nice stuff Alex, and a couple of interesting results to test the new man's popularity with the fans

Alex Rolfe

Sunday 26th September 2004
Lazio vs. Sampdoria

Lazio are without doubt a team on the decline. Since the team managed by Sven Goran Eriksson won the Scudetto in 2000 they have been on the decline. Forced to sell their best players in order to manage spiralling debt and an out of control wage bill, they are not the threat they were once. That said, they are still a force to be reckoned with and should certainly not be taken lightly.

With this in mind I decide that I will continue to use the tactic I employed against Milan. This time however, Bazzani is given the opportunity to prove himself as the lone front man. The policy of containment seems to be paying off and after 25 minutes we even manage to take the lead, Doni blasting a shot past the keeper’s right. On 65 minutes however they equalise, classy Brazilian winger picking up on a loose ball that had broken on the left of the area and firing into the bottom right hand corner. 1-1 was, on reflection, a fair result.

Final Score:
Lazio 1 – Sampdoria 1