New Kits(check), New Sponsor(check), New Players(incomplete)

By: Jeremy | August 4th, 2009

You know its getting to be that time of year for us to get excited as the start of the season is just weeks away. We have our new kits(surely there are better looking players then Biondini to model them), our new sponsor in Dahlia, and even a couple of new players. As the summer has progressed, while understanding a lot goes on at the last minute, part of me is wondering if the team is doing all it can to keep up with the other improving teams in Serie A.

Over the summer we lost Acquafresca and Fini as regular contributors from last years team. While we have seen a couple of other players ie Maggliochetti et al go out on loan, the question is have we replaced these guys adequately to not only maintain a mid table type position, but to possibly improve.

The early signing of Nene, the Brazilian who was the leading scorer in Portugal last year, was clearly a coup. Partnering with countryman Jeda will allow fans to be in for a real treat and thus we have to feel like we replaced Acquafresca adequately and this could actually turn out to be an improvement.

Fini was a nice player and had a great work rate, but he was getting up there in age. We basically replaced him with Mikhail Sivakov, who came over last spring and didnt see the field, but is considered good enough to where we can get younger without feeling like we lost talent by letting Fini move on to Siena. Fini was experienced but Sivakov or maybe even another young player should replace him without a problem in a similar role as the season progresses.

The other player we got was from Empoli in former Milan youth product Lino Marzoratti. He is a good young defender with some under the radar expectations like those of Michele Canini. While Canini has not developed like we had hoped, Marzoratti is young with potential and the type of player Cagliari gets hoping he will show his star power a little later then expected allowing for an asset to be created and used as needed. He will add quite a bit to the defense.

We have gotten some other less known players such as Peana, Cocco, and former Samp man Dessena, but most of them will be out on loan or not a factor for us in 09-10. We also lost Bianco, a nice player who provided depth, but again not an indespensible player. With the return of Larrivey after an exile back in Argentina, the question must be asked is are we through getting new players or are we happy with what we added?

As of right now, Cagliari is probably a 12-15th place team in Serie A. Unless Nene carriers his goal scoring results to Italy, Larrivey finally becomes the new Batistuta, or the defenders all improve significantly taking the pressure off Marchetti, we are just a step above the relegation teams. With the new teams being better then last years new teams, it is going to be a fight to survive. That being said, if anyone can read what is going to happen once you get past the top six teams so early in the year, I hope your bookey is on speed dial.

After finishing ninth, the goal was to see some real effort to improve for the future, especially a future that involves a new sponsor and stadium improvements. Instead, we probably maintained the status quo and with teams like Napoli and Atalanta likely to be better, where does that leave us? I dont think anyone knows even if Allegri seems very content with his team considering the resources available. We could easily be better then expected.

As much faith as I have in management to make for the most part good decisions on which players to keep and which to let go, I still wonder if we have done enough. With new players comes uncertainty and we may find what we brought in makes us better, but I still have concerns. Players like Napolis Mariano Bogliacino could slide to us before the window closes, but I do think another forward or midfielder is needed unless Larrivey is suddenly good or Ragatzu gets to see the field and shows the talent he has.

Its time to get back into the swing of things so lets enjoy who is actually here now. The Dahlia Cup was played this past weekend and it was basically soccers version of speed dating between Fiorentina, Cagliari, and Catania. Catania won and we did little to show we can score, but it was fun to see the team back in action. We are still competitive and easily could have won the Cup.

Lets hope we are not done for the summer. I will keep an open mind, but as we get closer to looking at the players we have, I still think we are a bit short in overall talent. The good thing is that there always seems to be some surprise players every year in Serie A. Lets hope we got one of them.