Dropping Down To Sardinia For A Bit

By: chris | March 15th, 2008

So how many of the guys do you think will get on the ferry to Sicily instead of the one to Sardinia just out of habit?

This is a pretty good chance to solidify a spot in Serie A next year, because Cagliari may be a whole lot of things, but good is not one of them. You could call it “reeling”, but they’ve been “reeling” since they sold David Suazo and, to a much lesser degree, Mauro Esposito. So this is Torino’s best chance going in to take a full three points away from home for the rest of the year - though chances are it’ll be a draw, of which they have 9 in 14 games outside of Torino. (Yeah, you read that correctly.)

Il Toro are also on quite the high, riding an eight game unbeaten streak which damn sure should continue on into midweek, when they’ll host Udinese (who drew with Lazio today - which means Toro should have an easy, easy win…because, you know, Lazio sucks). Hell, maybe even nine heading into the matchup against Milan. Plenty of confidence, so I really can’t see a loss.

Most are saying safety is at 40 points, just like last year, so if they can get a win here and slide in to 34pts with 10 games to go - barring disaster it should be a coast to three straight years in the big leagues. (And then we can all rightfully celebrate the two year anniversary when Torino came up and Juventus went down - the way it should be.)

The Squad

Portieri: Fontana, Sereni

Difensori: Comotto, Dellafiore, Di Loreto, Franceschini, Lanna, Motta, Natali.

Centrocampisti: Kwadwo Asamoah (n. 24), Barone, Bottone, Corini, Diana, Lazetic, Rosina.

Attaccanti: Di Michele, Malonga, Stellone, Ventola.

Injuries

Paolo Zanetti, Alvaro Recoba, Vincenzo Grella and Marco Pisano are all out with fatigue or inflammation to something - exactly what I’ll leave to your imaginations (keep it kosher). So that’s losing a little bit of bite in the midfield without Zanetti and Grella.

Projected XI

Sereni;
Comotto, Di Loreto, Natali, Lanna;
Diana, Barone, Corini, Rosinaldo;
Stellone, Di Michele.

It’s not the most tactically balanced lineup one’s ever seen, but it’s probably going to have to do, unless Novellino has something up his sleeve. (Maybe Motta on the right for Diana would help?)

Predictions

The fact that Torino may have no choice but to play a less defensive style may make this one hell of a game to watch, because Cagliari has absolutely nothing to lose any more. One point is like putting a bandaid on cancer, so that’s not going to cut it. It has to be a full three points, and they’ll be more confident going at home, where they’ve actually got some wins this season. But this is Torino, so…..2-2 draw, with the Sicialian sun shining down on The Hairless Ones. Goals from Rosinaldo and Stellone with Corini pulling the strings.