Genoa are the oldest team in Italy, having been founded by a group of Englishmen 120 years ago. In total, they’ve competed in 48 top-flight seasons since, and won the league title nine times. Alas, their last scudetto came just a few years after the conclusion of the first World War, with the grifone having struggled to compete with Italian football’s young upstarts since.
2014-2015 Serie A preview: Can Genoa’s strong attack mask their weak defence?
Genoa have been busy in the summer transfer window, albeit only greatly improving their attack. Will their strong strike force be enough to disguise their flimsy defence this season?
Valerio Pennicino
Genoa Cricket and Football Club:Genova, Liguria Last season: 14thCoach: Gian Piero Gasperini
The last few seasons have been particularly tough for the grifone, who’ve been engaged in several relegation scraps and changed their coach on a regular basis. Last season they eventually wound up in a safe 14th-place finish, though they’ll be hoping for better things this time around.
In Gian Piero Gasperini, they’ve got one of the most interesting, attack-minded coaches in the league, and who led the club back into Europe during his previous stint in charge with an innovative 3-4-3 formation. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to do the same this season, though a more comfortable mid-table finish could well be on the cards.
They've lost a couple of last season's stars, but Genoa have traditionally done reasonably good business in the transfer market. Mauricio Pinilla and Alessandro Matri are solid signings up front, while the twinkle-toed former Tottenham attacker Iago Falqué will finally be given the chance at regular action. Wing-back Aleandro Rosi, holding midfielder Tomás Rincón and winger Diego Perotti are also predicted to be thrown straight into Gasperini's starting 11.
Key player
Italy has a habit of producing great goalkeepers, and there are plenty lining up as the long-term heir to Gianluigi Buffon's throne. But if there's one man currently in pole position, it's Genoa's 21-year-old shaggy-haired shot-stopper Mattia Perin, who made his debut for the club at just 18. Last season he played in all but one game for the grifone, and established himself as one of the peninsula's most promising prospects. If Genoa want to improve on last season, they'll be banking on Perin getting better and better.
Key departures and arrivals
In: Iago Falqué, Mauricio Pinilla, Diego Perotti, Tomás Rincón, Leandro Greco, Aleandro Rosi, Alessandro Matri
Out: Alberto Gilardino, Šime Vrsaljko, Antonio Floro Flores, Davide Biondini, Bosko Janković, Matuzalém, Moussa Konaté, Alessandro Gamberini, Emanuele Calaiò, Paolo De Ceglie, Giuseppe Sculli.
Reasons to watch
Genoa have a dodgy defence, a strong attack, and a coach whose favourite formation is the 3-4-3. If you like goals, adopt the grifone.
Where they might finish
Safely in mid-table. They look too strong to be relegated, but their defence may well be a little too shaky for them to improve on last season’s finish.
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