Bourne's Season Review Part Five : Wingers

Part Five : Wingers

Valter Birsa, 17 appearances, 2 goals, vote 6.5 

One of the few players Toro fans would have liked to have seen more of. Arriving from Genoa in the final days of the summer transfer window, the Slovenian took a while to overcome injuries before becoming a regular in the squad in the run up to Christmas. His arrival was something of a gamble. In his first year in Serie A with the Rossoblu, Birsa had failed to show the form that made him a consistent performer in Ligue 1 with Auxerre. The 26-year old is a different style of winger to Santana and Cerci, less mobile but with a crafted left foot and the most accurate crosser on the club’s books. Of the Toro widemen he most suited the aerial game of Rolando Bianchi. While not a classic Ventura player, Birsa provided a quality alternative to the club’s first choice wingers.

Verdict: Unlikely to be retained by Genoa, Toro should tie up Birsa’s services for next season.

Alessio Cerci, 35 appearances, 8 goals, vote 8

Angelo Ogbonna started the season as Toro’s marquee player, Alessio Cerci finished it. Far and away, the Granata’s most important and decisive player, Cerci’s contribution offered the side a rare slice of quality in the final third. His first few months of the season were relatively uninspiring before a goal against his former club Fiorentina galvanised the Roman and he never looked back. A further seven goals, countless assists and some virtuoso performances inspired Toro to a good run of form in the early months of 2013. His form didn’t drop in the final weeks when all around him seemed to lose energy and motivation. An international call up arrived in the spring as did the predictable interest from the top clubs. Toro must regret not buying out his entire contract from Fiorentina last summer. A bidding war is now set and the pessimist tells me Cairo won’t deliver the funds to secure Cerci’s signing. Much will depend on the player too. His relationship with Ventura is excellent, we’ve seen none of the bad behaviour and indiscipline that characterised his time in Florence and another full season as the main man at Toro – ahead of a World Cup year – could be an attractive proposal. The only negative side to his game were a number of invisible performances against the very top sides, a sign that Toro need more attacking options to take the pressure off their 26-year old winger who became easy to nullify.

Verdict: A combination of the player’s motivation and Cairo’s budget will determine whether Cerci stays. Will be very hard to replace.

Dolly Menga, 1 appearance, 0 goal, no vote

Belgian U-21 international signed from Lierse in January. Has apparently convinced Ventura with his impact in training and performances with the youth team. Would have been given more first-team space had the team secured survival earlier. As it stands, a five-minute substitute appearance in a kamikaze away game at Cagliari is his only first-team action.

Verdict: One for the future. The club will evaluate over the summer whether he provides back up in Serie A next year or moves out on loan.  Current stories suggest Cairo/Petrachi are making hard work out of completing his signing from Lierse.

Mario Santana, 27 appearances, 4 goals, vote 6.5

Former Argentine international with nearly a decade of Serie A football behind him, the 31-year old signed on loan from Napoli was another calculated gamble. Injuries have disrupted his career and rumours from pre-season training suggested his career in Granata may not decoll. They proved untrue. Santana quickly cemented himself as first choice on the left-flank with licence to cut in on his preferred right foot. On his day, direct, tricky and capable of carrying the game to the opposition, there were also too many anonymous performances. Injuries disrupted his season – missing six games – and he tended to look better playing on the break away from home. However, in the attacking third he was one of Toro’s most promising performers.

Verdict: His situation is similar to Matteo Brighi’s. Toro have to decide whether to turn a loan move for an early 30 something into a permanent deal. Santana probably deserves the opportunity to continue in Turin although the arrival of younger players is more probable.

Alen Stevanovic, 15 appearances, 2 goals, vote 5

A mainstay of Ventura’s promotion team where he was the Cerci-figure, a marauding, sometimes genius, often unpredictable outlet on the right flank. His form tailed off at the end of last season and his non-appearance at the club’s promotion party seemed to signal the end of his stay in Turin. During the summer, the club renewed their faith in the young Swiss-born Serbian international who featured in the first ten games of the season. After which just five appearances and none since early March. Goals in away games at Atalanta and Cagliari and a call-up to the Serbian national team offered brief but false dawns. On the field he displayed non of the occasional verve of his performances in Serie B, and long periods out of the team suggest a questionable application in training.

Verdict: Of undoubted potential but in danger of seeing his career slide. A loan move either to Serie B or abroad may be the most attractive outlet. The club may wonder whether it would have been better off retaining the interesting Nnamdi Oduamadi last summer.

Simone Verdi, 4 appearances, 0 goals, no vote

The 20-year old featured only occasionally in Toro’s promotion season and it was something of a surprise he wasn’t loaned out last summer. Featured sporadically before making a welcome loan move to Juve Stabia. Part-owned by Milan, it remains to be seen whether the former star of the Rossoneri Primavera team has shown the credentials to become a Serie A player.

Verdict: Like Menga may have pre-season to convince the club he doesn’t need a spell in Serie B.

Overall verdict: If Ventura moves to a 3-5-2, wide-men may find themselves surplus to requirements aside from providing tactical flexibility from the bench. If Cerci stays he may switch to play as a seconda punta. Of the others, the future is unclear as none are accustomed to play as wingbacks. 

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.

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

Torino 0-0 Albinoleffe

Torino had a disappointing start to the New Year as they failed to find a breakthrough against a resilient Albinoleffe side, and the home side finished the game with just nine men.

Davide Morello was given a start in goal as Ferdinando Coppola was suspended despite it being Kamil Glik who was guilty of the foul in Toro's last match of 2011 against Modena. In a surprising move, Giuseppe Vives was preferred to Migjen Basha in midfield, whilst Mirco Antenucci partnered Rolando Bianchi upfront.

Toro had the first chance of the match, when Manuel Iori's chipped pass found Rolando Bianchi in the area, but the captain's left footed volley went harmlessly wide of the target. The away side nearly took a shock lead after nice interplay between Andrea Cristiano and Andrea Cocco led to the latter being through on goal, but his shot was well saved by the legs of Morello.

That scare seemed to spur Torino into action, and they could of had a penalty when nice play by Antenucci put Simone Verdi through, but he was pulled back on the edge of the area. On first glance it looked as though the foul was inside the area, but on reflection the referee had made the right decision, and unfortunately for Toro, the resulting free kick came to nothing.

Just before half time, Albinoleffe were reduced to ten men when Michael Girasole was sent off after recieving his second yellow card for a foul on Verdi.

Toro started the second half brightly eager to capitalise on their one man advantage, and Antenucci was very unlucky to see his shot from 20 yards hit the post. However just moments, disaster struck for Torino when Albinoleffe countered quickly after a corner kick, and Valerio Foglio ran the length of the pitch before being fouled by Manuel Iori, who had chased him back with that intention.

Iori was unsurprisingly sent off for being the last man, although luckily for Toro, the foul was outside the area so he only conceded a free kick, and it was now 10 v 10. Both Alen Stevanovic, and then Mirco Antenucci had good chances for Toro, but both players saw their shots go wide.

Rolando Bianchi continued his poor form in front of goal, as he failed to make contact with Alessandro Parisi's cross from just three yards out. In the 90th minute, Antenucci had his best chance of the match when he received Giuseppe Vives long pass, but his shot was saved by the legs of the Albinoleffe goalkeeper.

In injury time, Torino had another player dismissed when substitite Giulio Ebagua was given a straight red card for dissent after the striker did not recieve a free kick when he was blatently pulled to the ground by Fabio Lebran on the edge of the area.

This result means that Torino are now only one point clear at the top of the Serie B table, after closest rivals Hellas Verona scored two late goals to beat Modena.

Forza Torino

Crotone V Torino Preview

Torino embark on the long journey south to Crotone looking to get back to winning ways after successive draws against Sassuolo and Bari.

Angelo Ogbonna has returned from international duty and will therefore play against the club he played on loan for in the 2007/8 season. The talented defender will captain the team in the absence of Rolando Bianchi, who will miss this game (and the next two) because of suspension.

With Bianchi out of the team, Mirco Antenucci could revert to his favoured position upfront, alongside either Alessandro Sgrigna or Giulio Ebagua, and Simone Verdi could come into the side on the wing.

Crotone have had an average start to the season and are currently in 15th place in the table, and they have only gained one point in their last three matches. However, the last game that they won was at home against Padova, which shows they can get results against the better teams in the division.

Toro have not beaten Crotone away from home in a decade, so lets hope that can be rectified on Saturday.

Forza Torino

Hellas Verona V Torino Preview

Torino will play their third game in nine days when they face a difficult away trip to the Stadio Bentegodi to play Hellas Verona on Sunday afternoon.

Torino were not at their best against a stubborn Grosseto side in midweek, but thanks to an own goal, they were able to get the victory that put them three points clear at the top of the Serie B table. Angelo Ogbonna is away with Italy on international duty, so Valerio Di Cesare is expected to come in, whilst captain Rolando Bianchi should return to starting eleven after being on the bench on Wednesday night.

After being promoted to Serie B after an absence of four years, Hellas Verona have made a solid start to the season, and have twelve points from their eight games so far. Their home form has been particularly impressive, as although they were beaten at home by Pescara on the opening weekend of the season, they have beaten Sassuolo and held Padova and Sampdoria to draws.

After speaking with Hellas fan Charles Ducksbury on Twitter, Toro fans will be pleased to hear that their top scorer Juan Ignacio Gomez will miss the game through injury. However, Croatian striker Sasa Bjelanovic, who once had a short spell at Torino, may be a threat.

Simone Verdi and Nnamdi Oduamadi have returned to the Torino squad after injuries, and one of the two players may be in line to replace Alen Stevanovic who is being rested.

Forza Torino

Torino 2-0 Varese

Torino joined Padova and Brescia at the top of Serie B after a hard fought 2-0 victory over Varese on Sunday night.

After only managing a draw with Cittadella in their opening home match, Giampiero Ventura's side were looking for their first home victory of the season, and the experienced tactician gave Alessandro Sgrigna and Giulio Ebagua starts up front, and left captain Rolando Bianchi on the bench.

Toro started the match brightly and Serbian winger Alen Stevanovic, making his first appearance of the season after an injury, delivered a fantastic cross in the early stages, but Alessandro Sgrigna was unable to direct his header goalwards.

The next chance fell to former Varese striker Giulio Ebagua, but when he slid in to meet Stefano Guberti's teasing cross, his effort went wide of the post. The build up play before Ebagua's chance was particularly pleasing, as Manuel Iori's pass with the outside of his foot found Guberti in space, who in turn delivered a first time cross into the area, but unfortunately Ebagua could not score.

Toro took the lead just five minutes before half time, after Stefano Guberti's fierce cross was only palmed away by the Varese keeper into the path of Alen Stevanovic, who calmly rearranged his feet, and curled a shot into the far corner.

Torino added to their lead just four minutes into the second half, after a nice lay off by Ebagua found Alen Stevanovic, and the Serbian then found Alessandro Sgrigna who unleashed a vicious shot from 20 yards to give the keeper no chance.

Despite dominating much of the game, Toro nearly presented Varese with a route back into the match, when keeper Ferdinando Coppola's mis-hit clearance went straight to Neto Pereira, but his shot was well blocked by Valerio Di Cesare.

Toro had a great chance to score a third, after a sloppy back pass by a Varese defender sent Ebagua through on goal but he was twice denied by Mathieu Moreau in the Varese goal, who also saved a shot from substitute Simone Verdi in the same move.

Although Toro were guilty of some unconvincing defending in the closing stages, they held on to the victory, and remain unbeaten so far this season, and are currently the joint leaders of Serie B.

Forza Torino.

Torino V Cittadella Preview

Torino will play their first home game of the season when they face Cittadella tonight, and will look to continue their fine start to the season with another victory.

There were a number of positives in Saturday's game against Ascoli, where Torino came from behind to win, and that performance has raised expectations that this could finally be the season that Toro mount a serious automatic promotion challenge.

Unless something drastic happens in the closing moments of the transfer window, Rolando Bianchi and Angelo Ogbonna should remain at the club, and therefore both players will probably be involved in tonight's match. Winger Simone Verdi, who only started on Saturday because of an injury to Alen Stevanovic, impressed many with his performance, and is almost certain to keep his place in the side.

Cittadella also won their opening game of the season - a 2-1 victory against AlbinoLeffe, and whilst they have been weakened by the sale of last season's top scorer Federico Piovaccari, they should not be underestimated.

Forza Torino

Ascoli 1-2 Torino

Giampiero Ventura had the ideal start to his reign as Torino coach, as Toro came from behind to beat Ascoli 2-1 in their opening Serie B game of the season.

It took just three minutes for the first controversial moment of the season to occur,  as new signing Simone Verdi went down the right hand side and his cross found Rolando Bianchi whose shot looked to have crossed the line. Despite claims by Bianchi and his teammates that the whole of the ball did cross the line, the referee did not give the goal, and play continued.

Torino were further incensed when just one minute later, Ascoli went up the other end and scored the opening goal of the match. The goal came from a corner, as happened so many times last season, and indecision from keeper Ferdinando Coppola and Kamil Glik allowed Sinisa Andjelkovic to head home.

Torino reacted positively to going behind, and Rolando Bianchi had a great chance to equalise after Migjen Basha's fantastic through ball, but Bianchi's shot went wide of the post. Torino had the opening chance of the second half, as Giulio Ebagua could only divert Alessandro Parisi cross narrowly wide.

Giampiero Ventura made his first substitution of the match, and it was a brave one as well, taking off experienced winger Stefano Guberti to bring on youngster Nnamdi Oduamadi who is on loan from AC Milan. However, it was another man signed from AC Milan in the summer, Simone Verdi, who got Torino back into the match, as he won his new team a penalty.

After nice footwork in the area, the impressive Verdi was clearly fouled by Ascoli defender Alex Pederzoli and it was Captain Rolando Bianchi who converted the penalty to equalise. Torino almost took the lead moments later, when Simone Verdi came close to scoring with a free kick from 25 yards, but it was well saved by Ascoli goalkeeper Enrico Guarna.

Torino were helped in their quest to gain all three points when Ascoli were reduced to ten men, as substitute Marcello Gazzola was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in quick succession. And with just three minutes remaining, Torino got the winning goal that they deserved, after Rolando Bianchi's neat back heel sent substitute Oduamadi through on goal, and he finished calmly into the corner of the net to give Torino a victory.

With the transfer window closing on Wednesday, there is now not long to wait until we will know whether Angelo Ogbonna and Rolando Bianchi will be staying at the club for the foreseeable future. This hard fought victory in the opening game is the ideal start for Torino in their challenge for promotion, and will be looking for a similar result when they face Cittadella in their first home game on Wednesday night.

Forza Torino

Torino complete signings of 3 Milan Players

Whilst Torino's sporting director Gianluca Petrachi has often spoken this summer about having the bulk Torino's signings completed before they depart for their pre season training camp in Sappada on the 15th July, it was still somewhat surprising when late on Thursday night, Torino announced the purchases of three new players - all from AC Milan.

With Torino only having one experienced goalkeeper on their books (Davide Morello) the purchase of a new goalkeeper was one of their primary objectives in this transfer window. That search now looks to be over with the signing of Ferdinando Coppola who has joined on a season long loan deal from the current Serie A champions. Despite technically being an AC Milan player, Coppola has never actually played a competitive fixture for his parent club, with the Rossoneri preferring to loan the player out. Last season, Coppola was on loan at Siena as he helped them achieve promotion to Serie A, and Torino fans will be hoping that he can repeat that success with the Granata.

Torino's business with AC Milan did not end their however, as they also negotiated the purchases of two of Milan's younger prospects. Nigerian winger Nnamdi Oduamadi has also signed on loan, who despite only making one first team appearance for his parent club, has performed well for Milan's Primavera team, and at only twenty years of age has plenty of room for improvement.

Perhaps the most surprising of the three purchases would be the signing of 18 year old Simone Verdi on a co-ownership deal. Like Oduamadi, Verdi has been one of the standout players for Milan Primavera team and has also made appearances for the first team. At only 5ft 7 inches tall, aerial ability is certainly not one of Verdi's strengths, but according to this article on the Football Italia website his main attributes are his pace, technique and his work rate. Whilst he can play as a trequartista, one would expect that, when selected, Verdi will play as a winger in Giampiero Ventura's 4-4-2 system.

As part of the deal that has brought Simone Verdi to Torino, young Toro striker Gianmario Comi has gone to AC Milan, also on a co-ownership deal. Whilst Comi has been a regular scorer for the Primavera team, he has yet to breakthrough to the first team.

With just over two weeks until Torino depart for their pre season training camp in Sappada, Torino fans can expect many more signings, as coach Giampiero Ventura and Sporting Director Gianluca Petrachi attempt to create a squad that is capable of gaining promotion to Serie A. However, with the future of Angelo Ogbonna continuing to be in doubt, amidst rumours linking him with moves to Juventus, Roma, Arsenal, Manchester City and Milan, some Toro fans may just be happy if he is still a Torino player by the time they play their first pre season fixture.