Football Season Guide

The past campaign was far from a memorable one for Sampdoria as they ended up reaching safety finishing only 2 points above the relegation zone. Quite paradoxically, coach Montella, who had been hired to replace Zenga, who was at odds with the management, offered a worse performance than his predecessor. Having Montella gone to Milan, Sampdoria opted for Marco Giampaolo as the new man at the helm. Fresh from the quiet safety obtained with Empoli, he is considered as an excellent tactician but his career has been spotted by too many sackings and the last few months in Tuscany have been quite poor. His life will certainly not be very easy considering that the management utterly dismantled the squad during the transfer campaign. Players like Soriano, Correa, Ranocchia, Dodo, Moisander and Cassani, who belonged to the starting eleven, all left, either due to the end of loans or to being sold. Several new players have arrived and they are expected to fill the holes left by the departed ones. So, Castan, who had little chances to play in the past two campaigns due to a brain issue, could be acting at centre-back while Pavlovic, coming off a relegation with Frosinone, should be the new left-back. Cigarini, who had some positive years at Atalanta, will be given the key of the midfield, while players like Linetty, Torreira and Eramo are all likely to be given increasing playing time in the middle of the park. Especially since Barreto might be sold soon. The newcomers Djuricic and Schick could be joining Quagliarella in the attack with Muriel expected to make at last the difference after some opaque campaigns. Cassano will no longer be considered and he is expected to quit the club, against his will.