Bourne's Player Review 2014/15 : Goalkeepers

Once again, I invited Torino fan Peter Bourne to rate the performance of each member of the Torino squad, starting with the Goalkeepers.

Luca Castellazzi no rating
39, Goalkeeper
1 appearance (-1 goal conceded)

Initially signed for the club in the summer of 2005 before bankruptcy kicked in and he left without playing a game. Nearly ten years later, and as the oldest Serie A player in 2014-15, his contribution limited to a Coppa Italia substitute appearance in the defeat against Lazio.

Future: To be released

Jean-Francois Gillet 6.5/10
36, Goalkeeper
14 appearances (-14 goals conceded)

A Ventura favourite, Gillet returned to competitive football having sat out the 2013-14 season following a retroactive punishment related to the calcioscommesse scandal. When Ventura dropped Padelli after an error-ridden performance at Cagliari, it seemed an excuse to bring his starpupil back at the first opportunity. Instead it transpired to be a move designed to re-energise Padelli as after 14 matches between Serie A and Europe, Gillet was cast aside and surprisingly sold to Catania, a club recently embroiled in their own match-fixing saga.

Future: Sold to Catania in January 2015

Salvador Ichazo no rating
23, Goalkeeper
1 appearance (-0 goals conceded)

His surname in Italian is borderline comical. A star back in Uruguay with Danubio and the Uruguay U-20 team his arrival may be case of right player, wrong time. Not given a chance until the passeggiata season closer against Cesena. Club may already have enough keepers on the books.

Future: Future currently being decided but likely to be tied to what decision is made regarding the two Gomis brothers following their successful loans at Avellino (Alfred) and Trapani (Lys). 

Daniele Padelli 7/10
29, Goalkeeper
38 appearances (-42 goals conceded)

His YouTube moment of his season was very comedy mis-kick/own goal in the home defeat to Empoli. A calamity that essentially killed any chance of European football for 2015-16. I may be kind with the rating but typical with many Petrachi/Ventura signings, Padelli has improved markedly in his two years with the club. Now on the fringes of the Nazionale, a penalty save away at Fiorentina and impressive performance in the overdue derby win outweigh the ‘hands over your eyes moment’ every time he takes possession with his feet. Additionally, showed character when dropped for Ventura favourite Gillet earlier in the season.

Future: Highly likely to be the Toro #1 next season. More interesting will be the identity of his understudy

Forecast 2015-2016: Highly like to see Padelli as number 1 with one of the Gomis brothers or Ichazo pushing him close. No major changes in goal

For more from Peter you can follow him on Twitter here and his book about his experiences following Torino can still be purchased from Amazon here.

Forza Toro

Torino Transfer Update

Despite the transfer window not officially opening until July 1st, Torino have already made two new acquisitions ahead of the new season.

Brazilian left back Danilo Avelar has joined the club from Cagliari on a four year contract, with young Toro defender Antonio Barreca moving the the Sardinians as part of the deal.

Ghanaian midfielder Afriyie Acquah, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at Sampdoria has also joined Toro on a permanent deal from German club Hoffenheim.

The Granata have also resolved a couple of co-ownership deals in the past week, with Marco Benassi now being fully owned by Toro after purchasing the other half of his contract from Inter. Simone Verdi, who has been on loan at Empoli for the past two seasons is now fully owned by AC Milan.

Forza Toro!

Torino FC Awards 2014/15

It's that time of year for the annual Torino FCInglese awards ceremony.

Click on the following link and pick your winners for Player of the Season, Signing of the Season, Performance of the Season, Unsung Hero of the Season and Goal of the Season.

To help you pick your favourite goal of the season, all eight goals available to choose from can be viewed in the video below. Voting closes July 1st.

Forza Toro!

Torino 5-0 Cesena

Torino ended the Serie A season with an impressive 5-0 victory over the already relegated Cesena on Sunday evening.

Uruguayan goalkeeper Salvador Ichazo made his Toro debut, whilst Maxi Lopez was fit again to partner Josef Martinez upfront.

Toro took the lead after only ten minutes when Marco Benassi's deflected shot was parried into the path of Josef Martinez who headed home.

The Granata doubled their lead moments later when Martinez's header crashed off the crossbar, and enabled striker partner Maxi Lopez to tap in from close range.

Torino added a third goal before half time, as Marco Benassi scored another sensational goal against Cesena - this time a long range effort from fully 35 yards.

Four minutes into the second half, Emiliano Moretti scored his second goal of the season as he headed home from a corner.

With twenty minutes remaining, Maxi Lopez doubled his tally for the night, as he capitalised on a poor clearance by the Cesena defence to score.

This was the perfect way to end what has been a memorable season, as the Granata scored five goals for the third time this campaign.

And despite the poor start to the season, and the extra fatigue playing in the Europa League brought, Toro finished the season in 9th place on 54pts - only three points less than last season's tally.

Forza Toro