Transfer Rumours
Jun/100
According to the German tabloid Bild, Sampdoria are considering making an offer for highly rated Serbian international midfielder Gojko Kacar. Kacar is currently at Hertha Berlin.
The 23-year-old is said to be eager to move to a bigger club this summer and Hertha are reportedly ready to cash in on him.
Hertha have supposedly set a €10 million asking price for Kacar. The Blucerchiati face stiff competition from clubs such as Wolfsburg, Hamburg, Juventus and Milan in the race for Kacar’s signature.
According to Spanish daily sports newspaper Marca, Real Madrid attacking midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has also attracted the interest of Sampdoria.
Manchester United are also said to be interested in the Dutchman.
Juve_curr
Di Carlo: Pazzini & Palombo not for sale
May/100
Mimmo Di Carlo’s first words as Sampdoria boss will have been reassuring to Blucerchiati fans.
When asked if Angelo Palombo or Giampaolo Pazzini would be following Gigi Del Neri and Beppe Marotta to Turin, he replied:
“The President has already declared that they are not for sale.”
The tactician also spoke with excitement about his new adventure.
“It’s an honour to be here. I felt incredible joy last night when I was given the okay to complete the move. It’s an honour to be here and the Champions League will be a fantastic stage to play on. We’ll always give our best.”
Finally, he commented on Antonio Cassano.
“He is an important player and I want our relationship to be clear from day one. Our bond will grow and I’m sure he’ll have a great season as he will want to break into the Italy side for the European Championship.”
Juve_curr
Samp appoint Di Carlo
May/100
Sampdoria have officially replaced Gigi Del Neri with Domenico Di Carlo.
Di Carlo said on the official Sampdoria website:
“This was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. I know that I am filling some big shoes, but the responsibility does not frighten me.
Certain chances pass along rarely and you have to grab them. I wanted to stay with Chievo, but when I was offered the opportunity to go into the Champions League preliminary round, I could not say no.”
A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Di Carlo began his coaching career in 2004 with Mantova in Serie C1. He gained immediate promotion to Serie B, before making the step up to Serie A with Parma and then Chievo.
Juve_curr
Del Neri to sign two-year deal with Samp
Apr/100
It seems that Sampdoria manager Luigi Del Neri and General Director Giuseppe Marotta have been having a few chats since the derby win and are close to agreeing to a two-year deal. It would be a strong indication that Del Neri is happy at Samp as he is well known for only signing one year at a time. Local Genova press ‘Il Secolo XIX’ reports that the initiative came from the club, showing their support for the coach who this year has guided the team back from 13th to 4th place, and now, one month out from the end of the season, stands a good chance of competing in Europe next year.
The run in over the next fortnight is tough for for the Blucerchiati, as they face the red side of Milan on Sunday in Genova and then travel to Rome the following weekend to take on the table-topping Giallorossi. However, nothing could be a firmer test of their European credentials, so the motivation to take something out of both games will have the team and their supporters sizzling. Unfortunately, due to the violence prior to last weekend’s Derby, Samp supporters will be unable to follow their team to to the capital, meaning the quest to take all three points against Milan this Sunday takes on an added resonance.
In team news, sparkling young mid-fielder Andrea Poli is doubtful after hurting his ankle at training on Wednesday, while Daniele Gastaldello’s 1-match suspension means a competition for a central defender spot between Pietro Accardi and Marco Rossi. The word is it will be Rossi as he is considered to be stronger in the air. Rossi, the attacking pair of Pazzini and Cassano, and winger Marco Padalino are all one card away from suspension, and Cassano, who has recovered well from the cynical treatment he received at the hands of Genoa on Sunday, will want to be especially careful as he hates to miss the matches against his old team.
doc
Del Neri Analyses First Samp Loss
Sep/090
Sampdoria got a sharp dose of reality on Wednesday night at the Stadio Franchi in Florence, going down 2-0 to an aggressive Fiorentina side obviously spurned by their coaches description of them as ‘the worst Fiorentina I’ve seen’ after their loss in Roma on the weekend.
Sampdoria began strongly and Viola goalkeeper Frey was called upon to make three excellent saves in the first half to deny Cassano, then Pazzini and then Mannini who all got their shots on goal with some power.
However, at the other end Fiorentina were consistent in attack and capitalised on poor marking from the Sampdoria defense to score a relatively soft goal from the head of Jovetic. Fiorentina went further ahead in the second half with another header from Gilardino, and despite changing to his most attacking formation with Pozzi joining Pazzini and Cassano upfront, Del Neri’s men were unable to make an impact and brought to an end their history-making four match opening run.
Del Neri had this to say after the game:
“I’m not upset after the loss. We were not ‘out of place’ before and were still not after this defeat. We let in a goal, the first, from a fairly ‘banal’ piece of play. But these are mistakes that get made. The errror was that Stankevicius was too far away from the open goal. But we know that it’s possible to make mistakes, we know how to study them so to not make them again. Also we’re conscious of what we can do, what we are doing and what we will do.
“For the second goal Vargas shouldn’t have been allowed to cross the ball in. But as I said, these are mistakes that happen, it’s enough to be aware of them and how they happen.”
Del Neri finished by saying he is “serenely awaiting Inter on the weekend” showing no signs of panic. And there need not be. 12 points, 4 wins and 1 loss, attractive play, and beaten in a game that Samp played quite well in away to a higher rated team, the first balance-sheet of this years Sampdoria is still overwhelmingly positive.
Doc
Del Neri Press Conference
Sep/090
The match up against his ex-club is knocking on the door for Mr Del Neri, who began his end-of-week press conference by clearly stating his good relationship with the Bergamo Club.
“When one signs for a year, he is also free at the end of the year to go where he choses regardless of the relationship with players and fans. And that’s how it was. My time in Bergamo will always be remembered fondly, above all because it allowed me to get some great results, and return to the top flight. In all, there remains a good relationship with the Ruggeri family.”
Moving on to talk about Samp and the two weeks in which the team has been able to work in a relaxed atmosphere…
“The break could have also come after two defeats, so naturally it’s better that it came after the wins. It allowed us to work calmly even if we were missing some players with national duties: we have done what we needed to and we are prepared in the best possible way for the tour de force that awaits us. I don’t have any doubts about the formation, not even regarding Stankevicius. If he is fit he will play. Moreover, I only wish that the team continues to grow in team spirit.”
And regarding the upcoming match:
“It’s a difficult ground for all teams. They play good football, despite being unfortunate the first two times out this season. They also have an environment which knows how to support their players. There will be battles, but that is a concept that Samp knows how to deal with as well. We’ll be up a against a worthy opponent, so it’s important that we have the self-belief to take the game into our own hands.”
Doc
ucsampdoria.co.uk
Follow Us
Sponsors
