Genoa accepts Inter Milan's want-away players

As the transfer season begins to mull over in Serie A, rumours are starting to fly with possible additions to the Genoa. While Atalanta's talented striker Sergio Floccari has been added, both Ricardo Quaresma and Hernán Crespo have equally to said to be making their way to Genova from Inter Milan. It is important to recall that this comes a short-time after Genoa agreed to sell both Diego Milito and Thiago Motto to Inter Milan.

While neither transfer of the transfers from Inter to Genoa has been formerly confirmed, Ricardo Quaresma has told La Gazzetta dello Sport that he wished to return to José Mourinho's side. The former Porto man who spent much of the campaign at Chelsea said:

“I’m going back to Inter to stay.

“I know that my first stint did not go well, much because I did not take part in the pre-season training. My agent has offered me to other clubs, some in Italy, but I rejected them.

While the addition of either of the Inter players is questionable to Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical styling, there is equally an odd tone to the co mingling of deals that sent Diego Milito and Thiago Motta to Milan with Ricardo Quaresma and Hernán Crespo. I very much doubt Genoa president Enrico Preziosi will address the issue but why are the Rossoblu accepting Inter Milan's "want-away" players? Without a doubt Ricardo Quaresma is a talented player but he adjusted very poorly to Serie A and if José Mourinho can't get the most out of him few will. With complete respect to Hernán Crespo, it pains me to say the best days of the former River Plate-man are well behind him and it is debatable that he can effective on a week to week basis. While I have a great deal of hope, the club should be investing in players that can immediately assist in their new-found European efforts but always with a long-term vision.

One player who will have an solid impact in-time is Nenad Tomović. A highly versatile defender / midfielder who hails from Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) has been capped for Serbia and while early in his development he is quite capable of being a shining star with Genoa. The club has come to agreement with the legendary Belgrade side but it very likely he will be loaned back and the sale was negotiated to ease the massive financial burden the club is going through. It would be extremely wise for Genoa to consider similar arrangements with some of young Mr. Tomović's teammates such as Vladimir Bogdanović and Nemanja Pejčinović as well as Nenad Milijaš for immediate impact.

Genoa Coppa Italia: an effort to be proud of

Grifone supporters can hold their heads high as Genoa put forth a stunning effort before losing 3-1 to Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia at San Siro.

With a number of changes to Gian Piero Gasperini’s normal lineup the task was great but through brilliant team play and a reaffirming effort by Alessio Scarpi, Genoa came within a whisper of overcoming the disadvantage of playing the majority of the match down a man. While I discourage the constant complaining of officiating, at the twentieth minute referee Gabriele Gava sent off Giuseppe Biava in a highly questionable call and pointed to the spot. While the location of the infraction certainly did not appear in the area, to pull out a red-card was a terribly unjust call and more of an black mark on the match. However in a hint of things to come, Adriano struck a well placed penalty attempt that Alessio Scarpi dove to the right to push the ball aside and keep the match level. With the man advantage, the Nerazzurri controlled the run of play and attacked with a ruthless vengence. Yet with each turn Alessio Scarpi, turned back the hands of time and was a young warrior saving the match, time after time. Statistics will tell you of specific shots saved in the most two dimensional terms but this was career performance for a man in the twilight of his career.

The deadlock was finally broken with when Adriano headed Maxwell’s cross into the back of the net. With the score now 1-0, things appeared bleak for the Grifone but in a tremendous personal effort Marco Rossi fought for the ball and thundered an unstoppable drive in to level the match at one. The match concluded in regulation without a further score but in extra-time, Inter Milan was able to score twice. Ten minutes after the restart Esteban Cambiasso poached on a rebound with Zlatan Ibrahimović making it 3-1 shortly thereafter.

Genoa returns to Serie A action against Lecce this weekend.

Coppa Italia: Inter v Genoa match preview

Heading into today’s semi-final Coppa Italia against Inter Milan at San Siro, it is questionable how both clubs will approach the match. While Giuseppe Sculli has noted they the Grifone will give their all it appears they will likely do so without the services of Diego Milito, Rubén Olivera, Boško Janković and Rubén Olivera and have late fitness tests on a number of others. To say the least, it could be a make-shift crew for Genoa in-which a more cautious tone is employed, however that could equally suit the conditions given the match will be played in near freezing temperatures.

Inter has its own problems with lineup selection and providing José Mourinho can cull the love affair with the mirror for the briefest of moments, he will notice that he is without Iván Córdoba, Serbian international Dejan Stanković and Patrick Vieira to injury as well as Julio Cruz and Marco Materazzi to suspension. Mario Balotelli and the self-proclaimed “special one” don’t seem to get along so in an effort to break the spirit of the brilliant young striker, he will sit out. While it seems to beyond local media attention, this is a foolhardy move that will do nothing for the young man but has everything to do with a power-struggle.

Returning to Genoa’s lineup, given much will be decided within an hour of the match I will provide an update if there is a relevant addition or deletion.

Genoa holds Inter Milan to nil draw

Gian Piero Gasperini's Rossoblu continued on their re-birth holding Inter Milan scoreless at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza while playing a man down the last half hour with Ivan Jurić excused after his second yellow-card.

Before the break, Genoa displayed an eye towards a victory and were clearly the aggressor in the attacking end with Nerazzurri unable to break-through the determined visitors. The match started with a quick pace that suggested goals were imminent. Twenty minutes after the opening whistle Ivan Jurić's slick cross to Diego Milito was headed-on but Inter 'keeper Júlio César easily handled. Thirty-five minutes into the match Genoa squandered another opportunity to score as Thiago Motta was in perfect position to poach a rebound but his attempt went astray at the match went to the break scoreless.

At the re-start José Mourinho, obviously annoyed by the lack of production up-front double substituted Adriano and Ricardo Quaresma for Mario Balotelli and Victor Obinna respectively. Tension ran hot and with a number of harsh challenges, yellow cards began to add up. This cost Genoa dearly as at the sixtieth minute Ivan Jurić received his second yellow and Rossoblu were down a man. Tactically Genoa had to respond and Anthony Vanden Borre was brought in for Giuseppe Sculli. However with the advantage Inter Milan slowly began to assert itself and with pressure continuing Gian Piero Gasperini called upon the hard-working ex-Crvena Zvezda man Boško Janković for Diego Milito. The defending strategy worked and with the final piece to the puzzle coming in the form of Salvatore Bocchetti for Marco Rossi with seven minutes remaining the Rossoblu's heavy work-rate and tenacity paid off as they held Inter Milan at bay for a nil draw.

Genoa returns to Serie A action this Wednesday welcoming our friends Cagliari from beautiful Sardinia.

Genoa
Rubinho
Matteo Ferrari, Giuseppe Biava,Sokratis Papastrathopoulos
Domenico Criscito,Ivan Jurić,Thiago Motta,Giandomenico Mesto
Giuseppe Sculli (Anthony Vanden Borre 64'),Diego Milito (Boško Janković 78'),Marco Rossi (Salvatore Bocchetti 83')

Inter Milan
Júlio César,Nicolas Burdisso,Ivan Cordoba,Cristian Chivu,Maicon,Dejan Stanković,Sulley Muntar (Julio Cruz 55'),Javier Zanetti,Adriano (Mario Balotelli 45'),Zlatan Ibrahimović,Ricardo Quaresma (Victor Nsofor Obinna 45')