Again a goalless draw: Cesena-Genoa: 0-0

Our best player in Cesena: Mimmo Criscito

Again a draw without goals. Genoa played 8 matches with Mr. Ballardini as coach and we took only 4 goals (Juventus 2, Napoli and Lecce both 1), but we also scored only 5 times (Lecce 3, Bologna and Cagliari both 1). The 5 clean sheets against Bologna, Cagliari, Brescia, Lazio and Cesena are fantastic, just as the fact the Genoa now has the best defence of Serie A with only 15 goals in 18 matches. But we Genoani like attractive and offensive football and with only 5 goals in 8 matches we cannot say that the way of football of Mr. Ballardini is very spectacular and attractive. Yesterday against Cesena the only shot on target was a shot from 20 meters by Rafinha and the only real chance was missed by Mattia Destro. On the other hand, also Cesena had only 2 little chances, so or defence with Dainelli and Kaladze in the centre played perfect. Let’s hope our strikers will return (Palacio) and arrive (Boselli?) soon, before Sunday for instance if we play at home against Udinese that scored 4 times in San Siro against Milan yesterday.

Houssine Kharja probably played his last match with Genoa before he flys further to Napoli or Lazio

Genoa-Lazio 0-0; Luca Toni towards Juventus

 Marco Rossi is close to the first goal of Genoa in 2011, but Muslera stops him

The first match of Genoa in 2011 ended in a goalless draw, which was the most right result. Genoa started the match with Bosko Jankovic in the line-up and Kaka Kaladze to substitute Andrea Ranocchia in our defence. In the first half runner-up Lazio was the best team in the field, but Eduardo kept his goal clean. In the second half Genoa played more offensive and created the best chances, but Toni, Rossi and Kaladze missed them. On the other hand Lazio was most close to open the score when Hernanes hit the post in the 60th minute. With this result Genoa stays on the 10th place in the standings, while we played 1 match less because of the posponed derby.

Luca Toni and Genoa, it didn’t work as we all hoped for

Since President Preziosi gave Luca Toni a 3 on a base of 1 tot 10 in an interview the rumours said that our most earning player (€ 4 million a year) wanted to leave our club. Yesterday against Lazio also a part of the Genoa-supporters whistled at the moment Toni touched the ball, because they expected Toni to admit his disappointing way of playing instead of immediately saying that he would leave Genoa. Of course a President must never criticize a single player in the newspapers, but also a player must not immediately react by saying that he wants to leave the club after some critics, especially if you don’t play very good and you earn an enormous salary. Luca Toni today singed a 18 months contract with Juventus. Genoa did not even ask a transfersum, in 18 months the club saves € 6 million salary which is enough to Mr. Preziosi. The substitute probably will be the Argentinian striker Mauro Boselli of Wigan (England), the former teammate of Rodrigo Palacio with Boca Juniors.

Genoa-Lazio with Jelenic; Preziosi buys Kucka

18 years old striker Enej Jelenic in the team against Lazio

Mr. Ballardini has selected 21 players to book the first victory in 2011 tomorrowafternoon at 15.00 hours in Luigi Ferraris against runner-up Lazio. Inbetween the selection are Enjec Jelenic (Koper) and youngster Sturaro (Genoa-primavera). The complete team that is now preparing in the Sheraton-hotel to play against Lazio:

GOALKEEPERS: 1 Eduardo, 88 Perin, 73 Scarpi

DEFENDERS: 2 Chico, 3 Dainelli, 13 Kaladze, 20 Mesto, 24 Moretti, 4 Criscito

MIDFIELDERS: 11 Kharja, 77 Milanetto, 18 Rafinha, 7 Rossi, 30 Sturaro, 42 Veloso

STRIKERS: 25 Boakye, 22 Destro, 71 Jankovic, 29 Jelenic, 17 Rudolf, 9 Toni

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Last night Mr. Fabrizio Preziosi has bought the strong 23 years old midfieldplayer of Sparta Prague: Juraj Kucka. The international of Slovakia played at the World-cup last summer against Italy and Holland. Rumours say that also the brother of Diego Milito: defender Gabriël Milito will arrive from Barcelona to substitute Andrea Ranocchia. 

Juraj Kucka, strong (1.86, 84 kilo’s) and talented (23 years old) midfieldplayer against Holland at World-cup