Blog: Hold on a Sec
With Juventus impressing the most on the transfer market so far, Charles Ducksbury thinks we may have underestimated the ability of Alessio Secco
It’s no secret that Juventus made a move for Beppe Marotta recently. The Sampdoria official, if reports are to be believed, was wanted to hold the hand of the developing Alessio Secco, the club’s ambitious but inexperienced sporting director. Marotta rejected the opportunity, for now, but was he ever needed?
Secco has made some mistakes, but look at what the club have achieved since they bounced back from Serie B with him in his new role post Calciopoli. A serious title challenge in 2007-08 was out of the question, but a top four spot seemed attainable – and was.
Admittedly the signings of Sergio Almiron and Tiago Mendes were not a great success, but they weren’t and aren’t bad players. Tiago had done reasonably well for Chelsea, while Almiron was only given 10 games for the club. Is that really enough time to judge a player? It wasn’t what Secco bought, it was what he paid for them that was the problem.
Momo Sissoko then touched down in January and was greeted with widespread scepticism, but he changed opinions with some all action displays. A third place finish in Serie A was an achievement to be proud of.
The summer arrived and with it Amauri and, more controversially, Christian Poulsen. But the Dane wasn’t Secco’s error, who had been pursuing Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso for months. A deal was virtually done, but Claudio Ranieri wanted the less creative Poulsen instead.
The squad was again strengthened by Secco and Co, but Ranieri seemed to undo all the good work. Bizarre substitutions and tactical inadequacies meant that no matter how hard Secco worked, it was all ultimately in the hands of the silver haired Tinkerman. And although the latter was axed for Ciro Ferrara, Juventus still finished second and made progress on the previous campaign.
Now with Ferrara at the helm on a full-time basis, Secco finally has an ally. Having worked together for years, their understanding and relationship could pay off for the Turin giants. It could also change the fans’ opinion of the young Alessio.
The spectre of Marotta will inevitably continue to loom over Secco – especially with some reports insisting that the likeable Beppe has only postponed a move to Turin – but Secco has already given himself a fighting chance of succeeding following the captures of Diego and Fabio Cannavaro, as well as the likely capture of Gaetano D’Agostino. It could be the making of him…
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He has certainly done very well at the start of this mercato, but anyone can see where we need improving and if those positions are not filled people will not be satisfied come September.
), or maybe even a real shock if someone becomes available.
Well all the best. I think Cobolli may be gone in the summer so there might be some changes regardless.
