We’ve been in good form in the league. Unbeaten after four games, only conceding once (away at Milan). Cristian Zapata, the leader of last seasons defence hasn’t been hard to replace, newcomer Danilo looks solid while both Medhi Benatia and hardman Maurizio Domizzi have stepped up their game, living up to Udinese’s tradition of strong centre backs such as Calori, Sensini, Helveg, Bertotto and Kröldrup.
The real lynchpin in the back however is our keeper Samir Handanovic. Last season, he notched up an impressive six out of eight penalty saves equalling the Serie A record. This is far from all he can do, strong in the air and good on the ground he has a magnificent ability to not let out any rebounds.
He keeps on developing and his presence is very insuring for the whole team which is vital since we are so attack minded. He’ll no doubt be one of the world’s greats in a few years, luckily for Udinese, he extended his contract till 2015 and will surely generate a big transfer fee.
The midfield has been solid so far with South American flankmen Mauricio Isla and Kwadwo Asamoah providing lots of running and flair. Out of the two Isla is the smarter and more consistent player while Pablo Armero is pacier and more spectacular, with the amount of running they do they are a bit tired by now having played so many games in a short while.
The central midfield, with Ghanians Asamoah and Emmanuel Badu, accompanied by Udinese veteran Giampiero Pinzi, does not look as it did last year when Gökhan Inler was brilliant for us breaking down attacks with great positional play and tackles and mending up opposition with some lethal passing.
No direct replacement for Inler was bought but the multi-talented Asamoah is expected to fill in his shoes while tutoring his 2-year younger countryman Badu. This might very well come good with Asamoah being every bit as talented as Inler, Badu will have to work on his passing and game-reading however and at 30, Pinzi is and always will be our demolition man in midfield, pretty useless in attack. With this said and the long awaited comeback of angelhaired Serbian right-winger, Dusan Basta, there is a possibility that Isla will move into central midfield at the expense of Pinzi or Badu.
In attack coach Francesco Guidolin has continued the recipe for success when Alexis Sanchez played just behind Antonio Di Natale. Sanchez’ replacement Gabriel Torje (from Dinamo Bucharest) has exceeded expectations and has had no problems adapting to the Serie A, providing pace, some dazzling dribbling and acute passing. He is however ineligible for the Europa League having already played with Dinamo Bucharest in the early stages.
With strikers Floro Flores and Paolo Barreto out injured, Torje’s replacement will most likely be Almen Abdi, who after an injury, a contract dispute and major falling out at boyhood club FC Zurich, is still trying to regain the form he was in more than two years a go as he scored 19 goals from midfield and was the main reason behind their Swiss title success.
He’s got great vision, technique and a hammer shot but has been hindered by his lack of pace and confidence, he’s still waiting to break through in Italy. Another option in this position is Italian U21 captain Diego Fabbrini, superb in Serie B with Empoli last season he still has a long way to go in adapting to the tempo of Serie A.
Up front is of course Udinese’s talisman Di Natale. No doubt Udinese’s captain and greatest player ever, at 34, he shows no sign of slowing down. Five goals in seven games so far, he has probably played more than coach Guidolin would’ve wanted him to so early in the season.
Against Cagliari on Sunday we could see some signs of tiredness. Di Natale is however a really smart guy and can take his game to you in a number of ways with almost always the same end result- his name on the scoresheet. Tricky, pacey and lethal in the box Di Natale is a headache for any defence in the world.
On the sidelines Udinese favorite Guidolin will be cunningly analyzing the game as always with the most likely objective to gain a solid lead and then rest some key players. Against Rennes he rotated in the starting XI but has he got the guts to do the same in the fear-invoking Parkhead? He just might. In that case expect players like Isla and Asamoah to be rested.
Possible line-ups
4-4-1-1: Handanovic; Ekstrand, Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Isla, Pinzi, Asamoah, Armero; Abdi; Di Natale
3-5-1-1: Handanovic; Benatia, Danilo, Domizzi; Basta, Isla, Badu, Asamoah, Armero; Abdi; Di Natale
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