Bourne's Season Review Part One : Goalkeepers

Despite a nervy end to the season, Torino finally achieved their aim of avoiding relegation, and will be playing Serie A football next season. In order to review the current campaign, we invited Toro fan Peter Bourne to assess how each member of the squad has fared. Enjoy. 

Part One : Goalkeepers

Ferdinando Coppola, 1 appearance (2 goals conceded), no vote

The 35-year old rejoined the club in January when Lys Gomis was loaned out to Ascoli. Providing cover for Jean-Francois Gillet, the former Milan man – said to be a key dressing room figure – had been Toro’s number 1 during the promotion season until injury ended his campaign. Given a token run-out in the final game at home to Catania.

Verdict: Unlikely to be retained. Toro should look at a younger reserve keeper for 2013-14

Jean-Francois Gillet, 37 appearances (53 goals conceded), vote 7

I was not oversold on his signing – mainly based on height, age, career trajectory and the Bari connection. Like most signings made at the request of Ventura, there was a certain logic. Gillet is good with his feet complementing Ventura’s insistence on building from the back. ‘Il Gatto di Liege’ is also perfectly suited to playing in a team likely to concede chances. Not something to underestimate. When Toro signed the much-lauded Christian Abbiati in 2006, he struggled playing behind a more porous defence. Gillet quickly won me over inspiring confidence in a defence among the league’s best during the first half of the season. A poor performance against Milan aside, his form was excellent. Until the spring. The spate of spectacular long-range goals Toro conceded in the run-in may be a coincidence although my sensation is teams targeted Gillet’s lack of height and sometimes questionable positional play. However, over the course of the season the man earmarked to be Belgium’s third keeper at the 2014 World Cup was one of the Granata’s best performers.

Verdict: Gillet’s future at Toro depends on a few factors. If Ventura stays, Gillet will. A cloud is still hanging over him as the next round of the betting scandal verdicts – related to his time at Bari - are expected early in the summer. Money is probably better spent improving other parts of the side. One more season as number 1.

Lys Gomis, 0 appearances, no vote

Gomis has long been earmarked as the Torino goalkeeper of the future having come through all levels of the club’s youth system. Last summer the club showed confidence in the 23-year old confirming him as Gillet’s understudy despite a temptation to go for more experience. Gomis – born in nearby Cuneo but of Senagalese origin – is a prodigious talent but has less than 30 first team appearances under his belt, a combination of unfruitful loan moves and some character issues. In January, Gomis was given the chance of first team football in Serie B at Ascoli. Having broken into the team injuries disrupted his momentum, although he performed admirably in the final weeks of the season despite the Marche team’s subsequent relegation. He is the oldest of three goalkeeping brothers all on Toro’s books.

Verdict: Not ready yet to become a regular Serie A starter. My temptation would be to give Gomis another first-team season in Serie B. All being well, he could be Toro’s number 1 come the summer 2014, providing he shows consistency and maturity.

Overall Verdict: Gillet again first choice in 2013-14, a young reserve keeper capable of putting him under more pressure required

Peter is the author of the outstanding Torino book 'Passion in the Piazza' which is available on Amazon, and you can follow him on Twitter here.

Torino's Deadline Day Deals

Torino have had a busy day on the last day of the transfer window, with Brazilian striker Jonathas being the most significant acquisition.

Jonathas has arrived on loan from fellow Serie A side Pescara, and although he has only scored one goal this season - he did score 16 goals for Brescia in Serie B last season.

Perhaps the most surprising move of the day, is the signing of young Belgian striker Nathan Kabasele from Anderlecht. The Belgian Under 19 international has also arrived on loan, with an option to sign the player permanently in the summer, and he will link up with compatriot Dolly Menga who signed for the club last week.

Torino have also re-signed goalkeeper Ferdinando Coppola from AC Milan, and this move has enabled young keeper Lys Gomis to move on loan to Ascoli in order to gain first team experience. Romanian midfielder Sergiu Suciu has also been loaned out to Serie B side Juve Stabia, and he will link up with Toro winger Simone Verdi who also went there earlier this month.

Siena 2-0 Torino

A second string Torino side crashed out of the Coppa Italia on Wednesday evening after a 2-0 defeat against Siena.

With Giampiero Ventura fully concentrated on this weekend's Turin derby, the veteran coach made ten changes from the side that drew with Fiorentina - with only Matteo Darmian keeping his place in the team.

Although Torino were using this game as an opportunity to rest a number of their first choice squad, a number of players were eager to impress ahead of the derby. Young goalkeeper Lys Gomis made two good saves to deny Siena taking a first half lead, whilst at the other end, Alen Stevanovic twice had good opportunities to give Torino the lead.

One minute after half time, Siena took the lead as a cross from former Toro player Alessandro Rosina was inadvertantly deflected by Guillermo Rodriguez into the path of Brazilian striker Zé Eduardo who literally could not miss from two yards out. Without their normal star names, Torino struggled to create chances and with thirteen minutes remaining Siena put the result beyond doubt as Rosina once again turned provider to give Reginaldo the simple task of tapping in from six yards. 

In the closing stages Torino had two half-chances to get on the score sheet as Sergiu Suciu and then Valerio Di Cesare came close to scoring a consolation goal - but Toro couldn't find a breakthrough and were eliminated.

AlbinoLeffe 0-0 Torino

Torino could not find a breakthrough against AlbinoLeffe in their last league game of the 2011/12 season, which meant that Pescara were crowned Serie B champions.

As expected, Toro made a number of changes from the team that secured promotion last Sunday - with Lys Gomis and Salvatore Masiello both making their Torino debuts.

Toro came close to opening the scoring almost immediately, but Alessandro Sgrigna's shot hit the bar from Simone Verdi's low cross. Towards the end of the half, it was Sgrigna who nearly scored a fantastic long range goal, but his shot was tipped over the bar by AlbinoLeffe keeper Daniel Offredi.

Despite creating numerous goalscoring chances, the half ended on a sour note for Toro as Sergiu Suciu - who has struggled with injury all season - was stretchered off and replaced by Giuseppe Vives.

After the break, Toro continued to dominate, and Simone Verdi twice came close to scoring - but on both occasions he was denied by Offredi. Mirco Antenucci had three great chances in the closing stages - the best of which a free header from Juan Surraco's cross, but a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing meant this match would remain goalless.

A draw was almost enough for Toro to become league winners, but a late goal from Riccardo Maniero in Pescara meant that is was Zdeněk Zeman's side, who were (probably deservedly) crowned champions. However, this slight disappointment should not take anything away from a fantastic season for Torino in which they have gained promotion to Serie A after a three year absence.

Forza Torino

Ci Vediamo in Serie A (See you in Serie A) 

AlbinoLeffe V Torino Preview

The 2011/12 season has been a fantastic one for Torino, and if they beat AlbinoLeffe on Saturday evening, they will be crowned Serie B champions and end the season in style.

With promotion already secured, Giampiero Ventura will use this match as an opportunity to thank the members of the squad who have not played regularly this season - with Lys Gomis, Salvatore Masiello, Francesco Pratali, Sergiu Suciu and Simone Verdi all expected to start. With Captain Rolando Bianchi injured, and vice-captain Angelo Ogbonna on international duty, it will be interesting to see which player is given the honour of captaining the team.

AlbinoLeffe have already been relegated, so this match has little significance to them - although they will be eager to give their home fans (albeit not many of them) a good performance in what could be their last Serie B fixture for a few years.

Prediction
AlbinoLeffe 1-2 Torino