Matteo Darmian (ITA, 24),
37 appearances, vote 8
No outfield
player played more minutes in Serie A this season than Matteo Darmian.
Testament to his form, fitness and importance to the side. In the early part of
the campaign, the 24-year old was overshadowed by his fellow wing-back, the
more attack-minded Danilo D’Ambrosio. While Darmian started the season on the
right, D’Ambrosio was switched to an unfamiliar left hand side. The latter prospered,
caught the attention of other clubs, refused to sign a new contract and joined
Inter when he was on the cusp of a national team call-up. Irony of sorts,
D’Ambrosio (see Ogbonna) has yet to
fair well at the ‘bigger’ club and is still to be called up for the Azzurri.
Due to Toro’s perennial shortage of quality or fit left backs, Darmian was
switched to the left for the second half of the season. And to complete the
narrative, it was Darmian who finished the campaign in the national side. In
all honesty, left-wing back is probably the weakest of the three positions he
can play in. On the right side he has a more natural delivery and thrust, in
central defence (where he will settle eventually) he looks composed and
assured. Given that, his performances at left back, especially defensively, were
always consistent and improving. As a full back, the 24-year old may be better
suited to a four-man defence, as his inability to deliver in the final third is
his main weakness. That said, he deserves the elevated rating.
Verdict: Signed a contract extension (until
2017) during the season but the late season national call-up has raised his
stock. Milan are interested in bringing their former youth product home.
Chances are Toro will try and not sell too many of the crown jewels and Darmian
is not agitating for a move. To stay next season and possibly return to the
right hand side.
Danilo D’Ambrosio
(ITA, 25), 14 appearances (2 goals), vote 6,5
Based on the 14
performances this season, and two crucial goals against Bologna and Milan,
probably deserves a higher rating. However, the rather unsavoury nature of his
departure was a tad disappointing. A little like Ogbonna, it was not leaving
that was the necessarily the problem, it was the lack of gratitude.
D’Ambrosio’s contract was winding down and its not clear whether the club acted
too late or the player was keen to move on. It was a sad end to D’Ambrosio’s
four year spell in Turin which saw some highs and lows since his move from Juve
Stabia in January 2010. On the back of his early season showings, he was on the
brink of the national team and seemed to be developing into the complete modern
wing-back. Remains to be clear whether Inter and their consistent instability was
the right move.
Salvatore Masiello
(ITA, 32) 8 appearances, vote 6
Toro’s (most)
regular left-back during the 2012-13 season, and one of the remaining ex-Bari
clan Ventura bought with him to the club. Signed a one year contract extension
last summer and most of the pre-season was spent with the calcioscommesse scandal hanging over him (no charges were pressed).
Started the season as back up to Giovanni Pasquale. Made his first appearance
of the season in a bizarre substitute cameo in the first derby but his only run
in the side came after Christmas when he started five games in a row. Maybe we
were too accustomed to Pasquale’s hapless displays but Masiello looked to be
playing his best football for the club before an injury sustained in the
warm-up for the second derby match ruled him out for the season.
Verdict: Was relatively lucky to be retained last season, unlikely the
club will offer Masiello a new contract.
Giovanni Pasquale
(ITA, 32), 13 appearances, vote 5,5
After the summer-long
pursuit of St Etienne’s Faouzi Ghoulam came to nothing (he eventually moved to
Napoli and looks a good prospect), Toro opted for a more ‘second hand’ option
in Venaria-born Giovanni Pasquale, a consistent performer during his long spell
in Udinese. It looked like a fairly astute, short-term move, Pasquale only
arriving after Andrea Dossena (another bullet dodged) failed a medical. Things
started poorly for Pasquale, his 11-minute substitute appearance against Milan
saw him concede a needless 94th penalty (which cost Toro two crucial
points). His first two starts against Sampdoria and Inter were barely more
promising. Pasquale’s longest spell in the side came before Christmas, after
which he was dropped for Masiello and then sustained an injury following the
home defeat against Sampdoria which left Toro without a natural left back for
the rest of the season.
Verdict: Maybe paid for not spending pre-season with the club. Frequent
injuries did not help but Pasquale was one of this season’s big
disappointments. Did nothing to fill the dreaded left back void. Will not be
retained at the end of his loan.
Marko Vesovic (MNE,
22), 3 appearances, vote 6
Young
Montenegrin international signed from Red Star in January. Following the
success of Maksimovic, big things were expected of a another young talent
recruited from the Baltic. We’ve only seen 179 minutes worth of Vesovic (starts
against Inter and Genoa) and two relatively timid performances. Despite Toro’s
struggles at full-back, Ventura seemed reluctant to give him an opportunity.
Chances are he needs a full pre-season under his belt.
Verdict: Signed as back-up for Darmian, will
seek to impress Ventura during pre-season and establish himself next season.
Deserves a vote of confidence, only doubt on the horizon is his status as a
non-European player which still could seem him sacrificed (possibly on loan)
during the summer.
Plan for 2014-15: Right back
looks relatively settled. Darmian should stay, Vesovic is an interesting
back-up. Santos defender Bruno Peres is also set to join meaning Darmian could
become the permanent left-back. The left hand side remains the club’s Achilles
heel and needs to be addressed this summer with a quality signing.
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