09/10 Season: Analyzing the squad

By: Marco | March 12th, 2009

With the season fast approaching I decided it was time to take a look at the Palermo squad. Last season we overachieved and my system worked to perfection. Winning the Scudetto and Italian Cup is one thing though while doing it a second year is another. Expectations will be higher and the competition will be bigger. I doubt I will have an easy schedule towards the end of the season like I did. I don’t plan on changing the system around. Sure I might tinker here and there and change some things around with the new players coming in but I want this simple formula to work: Possession + Rhythm = Wins. Simple yeah? I hate it when I see long shots going to waste or balls thrown into the box for no reason. So let’s start from the back of the lineup.

Keepers

Carlos Kameni

Twenty five year old Cameroonian keeper that cost around 21M. Fiorillo needs a backup or someone able to play the rotation scheme and with Amelia under-performing and in my opinion not up to the new Palermo standard I had to pickup someone between the pipes. With plenty of transfer kitty to spend I signed him from Espanyol for 21M. Five appearances in the preseason and only one goal conceded, a blatant handball in my opinion, but a good performance overall. He has more experience than Fiorillo which will help.

Vicenzo Fiorillo

I consider him the next Buffon. Class keeper that didn’t cost that much and is only 19. 23 appearances last season, 15 conceded, 15 clean sheets and two Man of the Match awards. Pretty good for a kid. Had some brilliant stops on several occasions and was pretty “clutch” if you will. Has a brilliant future and definitely one for us to keep a hold of.

Defenders

Paolo Hernan Dellafiore

In real life he may have left Palermo but I intend of keeping him. Above average defender last season and had some great moments and some brilliant tackles. All in all very impressive with very few mistakes. Actually I don’t remember seeing him make a huge mistake except for this missed tackle that led to a goal but crap happens. Lethal in the air with great jumping and heading with great marking stats also. May not be the fastest defender in the world but that is why I play him farther back than the rest of my line.

Mouhamadou Dabo

Even though they say that his best position is in the midfield I managed to get him to play defense and with great success. In my system I employ one very defensive CB and a “aggressive” CB. The latter CB almost plays as a defensive midfielder while the DM plays as a playmaker up front. He also covers for the wing-backs if they push up to support the buildup. I have him on the highest closing down and normal tackling with a higher mentality than his defensive partner. Dabo is a class player who can play practically anywhere on either side and in the center except for striker. I played him up front as a AM several times but I prefer him in the back.

He had a great season along with his former St Etienne teammate Matuidi. 21 appearances last season with three assists and an overall rating of 7.13. Class. With all of the options I have at the back though I might ship him up front now in the midfielder position.

Marek Jankulovski

The old Milan veteran, well not that old, but one of the oldest on my squad and favorite arrived from the San Siro to provide some experience in the defense and the midfield. He has always been a favorite in RL for his work ethic, professionalism and skill. The kind of player that isn’t afraid to break another guys leg but keeps his mouth shut for the most part. Very underrated player in my opinion. Personally he is one of the best backs in the world but then again I am a biased bastard.

25 appearances last season with four goals and six assists. Overall rating of 7.10 (he had some brilliant games with his national team). He seems to be ignoring his age as he is still able to run up and down the flanks. I employed him primarily on the wings but tried him on the left side of the midfield on a few occasions. I prefer him to be in the left / right back position so he can support the buildup and use his pace to recover when the possession is lost.

Moris Carrozzieri

Former Atalanta defender and also known as “Carrotman” as I dubbed him. Not much to say about him. He provided backup for Dabo and co with some good performances. 15 appearances with a rating of 6.94. Probably will hang on for a year or two but I can see him parting ways since I have some younger defenders coming in.

Aleksandar Kolarov

Arrived from Lazio at the beginning of last season. Young and fast he had some great games and overall good season. Always hits his passes and shoots in crosses with accuracy. Scored two goals last season with five assists and an overall rating of 7.10 with 18 appearances.

I am still rotating him with Jankulovski, Balzaretti and Azpillicueta but he should stay on the left for most of the season. Similar to Jankulovski but he is not as versatile as Balls are ready and others but still class. Still has a way to go though since he is young. Great potential.

Matias Cahais

Brought him in last night from Argentina and to maybe get a good young defender out of him for the future. Looks decent and had a great season with his old club. Decent stats and can play in the center and left side on defense. I will start him out off the bench to see how he does for the first few games and when we face a smaller side I will bring him on or start him more.

Leandro Gioda

Same boat as Matias. Decent stats but my ass man rates him as being Serie A quality and a good signing. Will do the same with him as Matias when it comes to the rotation scheme.

Havard Nordtveit

Palermo legend from FM 08. Well not a legend but was still class and would have probably been a legend when his time came. Only 19 though but has great stats for his age and can play in the center of the defense, midfield and on the right side. Had seven appearances in the preseason with two assists and an overall rating of 7.09

I might play him on the youth team for a while like some of my other youngsters while I am also looking to get him loaned out. I have him on a five year contract so I will be hoping that he will recapture that form from last version.

Federico Balzaretti

Balls are ready had a brilliant season with 24 appearances, four goals, five assists and an overall rating of 7.30. Had a few great games with Italy on the international stage and even won them a few games along the way. Scored the best goal that I have seen in the preseason. He took the ball on the right side behind the midfield line and crossed / chipped / shot the ball from the same spot and made the keeper look retarded. It was a fluke but a brilliant goal that I wish I would have gotten a replay of. The keeper was pushed up though but just getting a shot from like 55 meters out is enough for me. (I forget the exact distance)

He is the usual suspect on the wing playing in the right side mainly unless he replaces the defenders on the left side of the field. Never really tried him up in the midfield but I will be looking into that eventually. Reminds me of an Oddo who can actually cross.

Glauber

Signed him since I needed more depth in the back. Looks above decent but I won’t be expecting amazing things out of him. Still though I want him to get a few games in and if I get a serious injury have him fill in during the absence.

Midfield

Juan Manuel Torres

Legend. One of my favorite midfielders of all time both in and out of the game. Imagine Gattuso mixed with some Argentine flair and passion and you have him. He may have the offensive capability of Titus Bramble but he has the heart of Rino and the tackling to match it. Played a few games in the preseason and managed to get a red card with a couple of yellows which was expected.

I will go into greater depth about him in the “Legends” section of this blog once I get a chance to write about him. I always employ him as the “killer” of the midfield. He searches and destroys anything in his path. Red cards will be expected but I don’t think he can top the 20+ yellows he had with Palermo during one of our seasons in FM08.

Javi Martinez

I discovered him four years ago for my Milan team. I may not be the only fan but he is certainly class. I was unable to sign him last version and had forgotten about him for a while. But I had to get him this season. Wonderkid midfielder is all I have to say. Plenty of people know about him but how many knew about him four years ago? Arguements aside I am really looking forward to seeing him this season.

Signed him on a nice five year contract so he will stay as long as possible. I can imagine employing him as a “Pirlo-esque” deep lying playmaker or on the wings. He is the exact opposite of Juan Manuel Torres though. he can still hold his own and has decent tackling but does better while contributing to the attack and supporting the buildup. Has great passing, work rate, stamina and strength with overall above average stats especially for a 20 year old. I might loan him out actually…

Massimo Ambrosini

RL family favorite and my current captain. Loyal midfielder who is the underrated version of Gattuso. He will do well with Juan Manuel Torres considering they are both the same type of midfielder. Hard working, tenacious and hard tackling. Had fourteen appearances last season with an overall rating of 7.24. One goal and three assists but he did well for Italy and well in Europe. He adds some much needed experience and ethic in the midfield while serving as the captain to hold players in line.

I can see Juan Manuel Torres being his successor…but time will tell. I could say that I revived his career since he was being frozen out at Milan. Then again Enchilada isn’t the most intelligent manager in my opinion. He is over the hill now at 32 but should be good though nonetheless.

Mauricio Isla

I was originally looking to sign Alexis Sanchez who was offered to me on a discount but I was rejected. Out of the blue Udinese offered Isla for only 6.5M and I had to jump on the offer. He is very versatile, even more than Dabo, and thirteen appearances last season for his old club with an overall rating of 7.01. Pretty impressive and especially for that price. Still not sure where to place him since he can play in so many places but we will have to see.

Attacking Midfield / Wingers

Augusto Fernandez

Argentine Palermo legend from yesteryear. Had a absolutely amazing season with us last year. 27 appearances, eleven goals, nine assists, three man of the match awards and an overall rating of 7.37. As with other “legends” I will tell about his career with us in FM08 which was brilliant. I signed him on with an original two year contact but I managed to get him to sign on for another five years. I will be keeping him as long as possible.

He was a club icon last version and he will probably be the same again. I prefer to have him on the right side of the midfield but he can play both on the left, center and right just as easy. I tried him in the center but it seems like Quique and Buonanotte were better in that position. He has explosive pace matched with great acceleration and agility. Had some amazing runs that reminded me of the ones in earlier versions. He can easily dart in between three or four defenders with dribbles that can make even the best defenders look stupid and score some impressive goals. Surprisingly his finishing isn’t that good even though I can beg to differ. All of his goals were from the midfield / wing.

Diego Buonanotte

Even if my beloved River suck in real life I did win plenty of accolades in FM with that side. Diego was always class in Argentina but I had never seen him play in Europe. The diminutive Argentine, mighty mouse, was a brilliant playmaker for me but I was interested in seeing if he could match up against faster, stronger and taller defenses. He has blistering pace, acceleration, agility, stamina with world class dribbling, first touch and flair.

He has great stats for being as young as he is. I was trying to figure out which position would suit him better. Playing in the center behind the two strikers or on the wing where he could use his size and pace. Surprisingly he could mix it up with the big boys in the center just as well. 26 appearances, seven goals, 16 assists, two man of the match awards and an overall rating of 7.46. Pure class.

Davide Lanzafame

Signed the other 50% of him from Juventus. He didn’t put up as many goals or numbers as the other strikers but had a good season nonetheless. 17 appearances last season, most of them off the bench, with eight goals, three assists, one man of the match and a rating of 6.71.

Had a few great chances and I played him primarily as a striker but I might try him on the wing. I hope to loan him out to get some more experience since the new arrivals are making it cramped.

Bosko Jankovic

Decided to keep him even though Genoa really wanted to sign him permanently after a great loan spell at Genoa. Had two good games during the preseason with three other appearances off the bench. Three goals, two assists, 19 average fouls (wow) and a rating of 7.40 during the preseason.

Last season he had 29 appearances for Genoa, ten goals, nine assists and an overall rating of 7.01. They offered several bids that were enticing but I wanted to see how he would fare on the new Palermo team even though I have plenty of attackers. If all else fails he will probably go back to Genoa or maybe go on another loan spell.

Quique

In my entire FM career I have only had a few saves where certain players overachieve with crappy stats. His stats aren’t crappy but they weren’t exactly top four material. I loaned him as a backup and frankly because he looked cool in his player photo thing. Yeah I know…

Twenty appearances last season for us with fourteen goals, six assists, eight man of the match awards and a rating of 7.37. Ok so he had a few hat tricks against the smaller teams and in the Italian Cup against Serie B teams but I still bought him. Very fast with decent stats. I play him in the CAM position and the striker position along side Cavani.

Strikers

Edison Cavani

Brilliant. Lethal forward who I regret selling in FM08. This time its different though. I plan on keeping him as long as possible since he can definitely be club icon in the future. I dream of his partnership with Adriano dominating defenses and bring us glory which should happen.

26 appearances, twenty three goals, nine assists, five man of the match awards with an overall rating of 7.65. Legendary season in my opinion. He had a few hat tricks against some of the easier teams while bring in some good performances against some of the top teams. Had plenty of bids even going up to 65M+ but I rejected all of them. Surprisingly he wants to stay in Palermo which is a good thing. Got him on a nice five year contract too. Maybe the new “Adriano”?

Adriano

Scored the game winner against Roma in the Super Cup and on his debut. I couldn’t refuse signing him. He rejected my contract the first time but he eventually accepted it after I offered him 200,00+ per week and a huge relegation / release clause along with yearly wage rise, goal bonuses and appearance bonuses. Signing on fee was maxed also.

But if you read the previous post he is a legend. I have him on a five year contract and I won’t sell him this time. Unless they want to offer 300M+ a few world class players. I can’t wait to see him work with Cavani and the other strikers…with this firepower we should be able to do great in the Champions League.

Keirrison

Brazilian wonderkid that I signed last season for nine million. Tried signing him on earlier versions actually for much more but he would never come on board. He finally did it and with Adriano along side him they should do great. I plan on getting Adriano to tutor him since they are very similar in style.

Eighteen appearances, 17 goals, six assists, three man of the matches with an overall rating of 7.23. Very impressive for his age. I actually might loan him out but if not he will be rotated with the other strikers. Fast with great finishing, acceleration and good mental stats. Was lethal on corners last season also.

Filippo Inzaghi

Real life family favorite and FM favorite of mine even though SI shafts him every version of the game. So what if he is old, washed up, slow and weak? You don’t score that many goals for nothing. He is the smartest forward in the game. Some clueless idiots and fanboys may argue that Nistelrooy is better but then again the numbers don’t lie. Sure they are both poachers and both great Pippo is on a completely different level.

Anyone who can score that many goals with no talent, physical ability or technique is a legend in my opinion. Nobody can finish like he can. And you know the first thing he did when he first came off the bench in the preseason? Offsides. Actually he was caught offsides three times before getting the game winning goal. SuperPippo I love you. He may not be as good as Adriano or Cavani but I will be keeping him for laughs and for frankly just having him on the lineup.

I have a couple promising youngsters on my youth team that I will look at later. (Adrian, ect.) I would say that our squad is looking very strong and capable of placing in the top four. We have a good mix of youth and experience, class and ability. We will see though. The second season is always the most important for me. Once we place in the top four or win some silverware I expect us to do the same. My expectations for this season will be challenging for the title, if not placing in the top four, making it past group stage in Europe and winning the Italian Cup. Europe will be calling…and yes I did download the UEFA Champions League theme so that I can play it while I play in Europe.