Torino net Ferronetti

Torino have made another addition to their squad for the upcoming Serie A season, by completing the signing of former Udinese defender Damiano Ferronetti on a two year contract.

Ferronetti has struggled for fitness throughout his career and missed the entire 2010-11 season through injury, but he made 15 appearances for Udinese last season which suggests those problems are now (hopefully) behind him. Although primarily a right-back, Ferronetti can also play as a central defender and will therefore add some much needed versatility and depth to the Torino squad.

Damiano has already joined up with his new teammates at Toro's pre season training camp in Sappada, and played the second half of Torino's first pre season friendly against their hosts - which resulted in a 17-0 victory for the Granata.

Gazzi arrives, Rubin departs

After a year long chase, Torino have finally completed the acquisition of Siena midfielder Alessandro Gazzi - who will finally be reunited with his former Bari coach Giampiero Ventura.

Ventura was interested in signing Gazzi last season, however with the midfielder reluctant to drop down to Serie B, he instead moved to Siena and he enjoyed a good campaign in the top tier with the Tuscan side. However, Torino have continued their pursuit this season, and have finally signed their man on a permanent deal.

As part of the deal, Torino defender Matteo Rubin has moved in the opposite direction on a co-ownership deal. However, as full back Rubin has not played for Torino since 2010, after loan spells at Bologna and Parma, then it shouldn't be too much of a loss for Toro.

Sansone and Santana join

Torino have made two more acquisitions ahead of their return to Serie A, with Gianluca Sansone arriving from Sassuolo and Mario Santana from Napoli.

Striker Gianluca Sansone has signed on a co-ownership deal from Serie B side Sassuolo, fresh from scoring an impressive tally of twenty goals last season - the best scoring season of his career.

The second new arrival is Argentinean winger Mario Santana who has signed on loan from Napoli. Santana has played for a number of Italian clubs, including Palermo, Chievo and Fiorentina and will add some much needed depth and experience to the Torino squad.

These two players take Torino's summer signing total to four - including Roma midfielder Matteo Brighi, who despite training with Toro, has still not been officially announced as joining the club. With Toro departing for their pre-season training camp in Sappada today, Giampiero Ventura will want to add a few more new faces to the squad as quickly as possible, with Siena midfielder Alessandro Gazzi apparently close to signing.

Forza Torino.

Toro make double move

With Torino beginning their pre-season training camp on Monday, Giampiero Ventura has made two signings in order to strengthen their somewhat depleted squad.

Experienced goalkeeper Jean-François Gillet has signed on a three year contract from Bologna, and the Belgian stopper has now been reunited with Ventura, who was his one of his many coaches at Bari. Gillet is sometimes referred to as Il Gatto di Liegi (The Cat from Liege) and is known for his good reflexes and his ability to begin attacks from the back with his feet.

The obligatory YouTube video -

 

Torino have also re-signed full back Matteo Darmian from Palermo, this time on a co-ownership deal. The former Milan defender spent last season on loan at the club, and was one of Torino's most impressive performers, so his acquisition is certainly a boost. With pre-season beginning imminently, Toro are almost certain to make a few more signings before Monday, with Djamel Mesbah, Alessandro Gazzi, Matteo Brighi and Gianluca Sansone being heavily linked.

Mercato 2012/13 Preview

With the 2012/13 Serie A season just over two months away, rumours and speculation over what reinforcements Torino will make for the new season has already begun.

After the departures of on loan goalkeepers Ferdinando Coppola and Francesco Benussi, one of Toro's main priorities in the summer transfer market is a keeper, with Bologna's Jean-François Gillet being heavily rumoured. Genoa's French goalkeeper Sebastien Frey has also been mentioned, but given his salary, that seems extremely unlikely. In defence, Cagliari's Michele Canini is apparently a target and would provide the defence with some much needed top flight experience. In midfield, the enigmatic Alessio Cerci (who played under Giampiero Ventura at Pisa) has been rumoured, but he is expected to feature in Vincenzo Montella's plans at Fiorentina next season. A number of South American imports have also featured in the gossip columns, with Lanus midfielder Guido Pizzaro perhaps the most likely acquisition. Up front, the name Paulo Barreto continues to come up, as it did for much of last season, and although he has played for Ventura before, his lack of football in the last two seasons would be a worry.

However, if some of these players are to come in, one would expect a number of the players who helped Toro to promotion to leave the club. Speculation concerning Angelo Ogbonna has been relatively quiet, with many potential suitors being put off by his high price tag, which may hopefully mean he will stay for at least one more season. Francesco Pratali and Alessandro Parisi are both out of contract in the summer, and given their age, it is unlikely that they will be renewed for next season. In midfield Manuel Iori who impressed many whilst on loan last season will not return to the club, however Migjen Basha who was also on loan could return. Up front, speculation continues regarding the future of captain Rolando Bianchi and whilst he wants to stay at Toro, he may not fit into Ventura's plans.

Forza Toro

Torino FC 2011/12 Awards : The Results

Player of the Season

1. Angelo Ogbonna - 37 points

A fantastic season for Torino's vice-captain is concluded with him being voted the Torino FC Player of the Season by the readers of this blog. Ten points clear of his nearest rival, Angelo was the outstanding candidate for this award, and will be hoping to enjoy further success with Italy during Euro 2012.

Runners Up
2. Alen Stevanovic - 27 points
3. Mirco Antenucci - 25 points

Young Player of the Season

1. Alen Stevanovic - 37 points

Runner up in the main award, it is Serbian winger Alen Stevanovic who was crowned Young Player of the Season by Toro fans. A fantastic breakthrough season by a player who had been struggling in the MLS with Toronto FC just twelve months previously.

Runners Up
2. Matteo Darmian - 32 points
3. Danilo D'Ambrosio - 24 points

Signing of the Season

1. Giuseppe Vives - 32 points

Although not a regular at the start of the season, Giuseppe Vives provided invaluable experience towards the end of the season and contributed a number of vital assists that led to him being crowned Signing of the Season by Toro supporters.

Runners Up
2. Manuel Iori - 23 points
3. Kamil Glik/Alessandro Parisi - 19 points

Goal of the Season

1. Alen Stevanovic - Modena (A) : 38%
2. Mirco Antenucci - Padova (H) : 31%
3. Mirco Antenucci - Grosseto (A) : 15%

Serie B 2011/12 Review

The 2011/12 Serie B campaign has probably been one of the best in recent memory, with excitement occurring at both the top and bottom of the table. However, the season was also tinged with sadness after the tragic on-field death of Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini in April.

The purpose of this post is to look back on (and laugh at) the pre-season predictions that I made in August.

 

Left : Actual Table - Right : My Predicted Serie B Table

As the above tables show, my pre-season Serie B predictions were way off the mark, despite correctly predicting that Torino would finish in 2nd position. However, my prediction of Sampdoria winning the league was way off the mark, although they did regroup towards the end of the campaign to beat Varese in the playoff final to secure promotion.

I had predicted a successful campaign for Zdenek Zeman's Pescara, however they exceeded the expectations of many by claiming the Serie B title in the final minute of the final match. Despite predicting mid-table finishes for both teams, Sassuolo and Hellas Verona found themselves in the playoffs, and were both somewhat unlucky to not progress to the final.

At the other end of the table, I correctly predicted that Gubbio and Nocerina would be relegated after just one season in Serie B, and AlbinoLeffe's long stay in Italy's second tier is over as they finished bottom of the league. In the relegation play-out, two sides who have recently played in Serie A - Empoli and Vicenza, battled it out to stay in the division - and it was the Tuscan side who prevailed in a back-and-forth tussle meaning that it will be Vicenza who will play Lega Pro football next season.

Quick Summary

Champions : Pescara
Promoted : Torino, Sampdoria
Relegated : AlbinoLeffe, Gubbio, Nocerina, Vicenza
Overachievers : Juve Stabia
Underachievers : Padova
Top Scorer : Ciro Immobile - 28 (Pescara)