2011/12 Season Review

A win to Catania secure first 3rd league finish after 1997/98, and Champions League ticket in second consecutive year.

The wonderful result is not a luck or coincidence. We played very very well in the first half of the season. Bad run in the later period deny a chance to race for scudetto, but we were strong enough to hold the 3rd position in the end.

Di Natale again showed his class through the season. Although IMHO his finishing ability is getting worse, in terms of creativity and positioning to break offside trap he still one of the best in the league.

Kwadwo Asamoah is the real Udinese's strength in the midfield. He is very strong with the ball, has good composure, and intelligent enough to control the whole game. In my opinions , he almost equal to Tottenham's Modric except the passing accuracy. When he leave for Africa Cup of Nations, we suddenly drop many points in January. I hope the club won't sell him this season.

I didn't get the result of January transfer window. Gelson Fernandes didn't show enough quality, as Pazienza played well only just after the transfer.

Torje only got minimum playing time in the second half of the season. However, as a substitute he sometimes played better than Abdi or Fabbrini. Guidolin should use him more next season to get his real quality.

Domizzi had many to improve this season. Although many contribution in attack with several assists, he has problem with his attitude. He got many cheap silly yellow card because of unneeded protests to the referee. He also once get removed from the lineup because of bad behavior against team mate.

Handanovic still awesome in front of goal. Benatia has quality, and Danilo keeps improving. Pereyra is a revelation after become regular first team.

No markable performance in the midfield other than Asamoah. But Pasquale showed a stabile average performance in the left, and Basta is a constant threat in the right.

In front, Fabbrini, Floro Flores, Abdi, and Torje should work harder to make better partnership with Di Natale.

After all, I hope Udinese keep stars such as Asamoah, Di Natale, Handanovic, Isla, and Benatia to compete better in Champions League next season.

Guidolin is Serie A Best Coach for 2010-11

Francesco Guidolin was named as the winner of the Panchina d’Oro for 2010-11 -- the award that given to the best Coach in the Serie A.

He lead Udinese fourth last season after disastrous start of four consecutive lost--thanks to 13 unbeaten run in the beginning of 2011, including famous away win 7-0 at Palermo.

The league position brings them Champions League playoff before beaten by Arsenal and transferred to Europa League--now still in last 16 round. After selling several important players including Sanchez, Inler, and Zapata, Udinese now still sit join third with Lazio, six points behind leader Milan.

Bologna 1-3 Udinese

I thought this match was one of those match that we dominate the earlier part but is poor at the later moment. Technically difficult Floro Flores' goal made the thought was wiped out, along with the result--first comfortable win in Serie A after several matches, and first away win this year.

The way we play was so solid until before Bologna's goal. But after that, again the home team dominate the field with good chances until Floro Flores' second goal this season in the league. Di Natale underlined how vital he is in our attack, and Basta again showed his real quality: good strength, determination, and passing ability.

Floro Flores, the win decider

PAOK 0-3 Udinese

There are three topics in this encounter. Danilo's first goal ever for Udinese, return of Asamoah to the squad, and first comfortable win after many disappointing matches.

Danilo was looked so strong after his first goal for the club.

Asamoah controls the tempo of the game. He so strong in the midfield and defence, won almost all the ball fight. He good in keeping the ball, dictated the rhythm of the match, and effective in supporting the attack. Although without goal or assist, he is my Man of the Match.

Floro Flores and Fabbrini also deserve many praises after their excellent display in this match.

The result is hoped to bring positive effect to the team that already without Isla and Di Natale and didn't get any good results recently.

War Between Fans and Management

Udinese are now undoubtedly in very hard period. Began by away lost at Genoa in the middle of January, we lost 4 times since, including record breaker home lost to Milan. We also record disappointing draws at home to PAOK (Europa League) and Cagliari.

Absent of Benatia, Badu, and Asamoah due to Africa Cup of Nations may be one of the reason. But even after the return of Benatia and arrival of Pazienza, the results didn't recover.

Due to such poor performances, the fans begin to left the team alone in the field. Starting from jeers at narrow home win to Lecce, the management replied it with complaints at press conference. Then, the very few number of fans attending Europa League encounters with PAOK again made Udinese frontman showed dissapointment through media.

Such confrontation only makes everything even worse. Fans should keep supporting the team even at today's difficult situation, and the team should work even harder to get out from current poor run

Udinese 0 - 0 Cagliari

Udinese completely lost the ball fighting in the midfield.
They needs someone like Asamoah there.

In attacking, we had many shots on target,
but lack of decisive chances.
As thought, we missed Di Natale so much.
Meanwhile, Torje was very impressive to open up Cagliari's defense.
As many games this season, counter attack was too slow.
Udinese needs player like Inler who can quickly pass the ball to the forward accurately and with good vision, right after get the ball from the opponent.

Fortunately Cagliari lack of determination in attack, so they hardly threat Udinese's goal.

Udinese 1-2 Milan

As in several recent loses, Udinese dictated the match earlier. But they miss several great chances to find the second goal and drop the points. Again the hole in the defenses was quite noticeable.

Armero still didn't find the speed and composure. Organization was terrible after Di Natale leave the field. Guidolin should try to field again from the start which was quite impressive last week.

In my opinion, this was very winnable match, and too bad the result wasn't there.

Fiorentina 3-2 Udinese

This match was about the return of Armero at the left wing and Benatia at the right back. But both players didn't make greatest comeback.

Speed in the counter from the left, and great movement followed by great through ball was the difference made by Armero. However, he was too lazy in defending to stop highly preventable Fiorentina's second goal. Armero looks tired today.

Despite the solid display at the right defensive area, Benatia also looks tired today. He conceded two penalties--one of them was unnecessary IMO--and seems slow to chase the ball.

Basta didn't play well this time, and his substitution to Torje changed the Udinese attack. Torje's skill and creativity created many chances.

Udinese 2-1 Lecce

The headline for this match is undoubtedly a quick goal by debutant Pazienza. However, this match again underlines how lenient Udinese's defense without Asamoah and Benatia. Danilo was lucky to not concede a red card for a professional tackle on a dangerous Lecce chance right after the early Udinese's goal. Along with many free kicks in dangerous position, former Udinese player Di Michele really became a constant threat for Udinese defence. Di Michele's first goal was just underline how easy Lecce's player take shoot around Udinese's penalty area.

Lecce certainly won the battle in the midfield, while Udinese's attack heavily rely on the wingers' work and Di Natale's movements. Armero surprisingly missed this match, and his speed was really missed by Udinese's counter attack. Di Natale again looks very sharp in this match after being locked up by Juventus defenders.

On the second half, Udinese was practically just defended, and they defended well in my opinion. The only notable chances was just Isla and Fernandes' shots from outside the box. Counter attack was ineffective, with many passes was wrongly taken.

With Juventus game was postponed and AC Milan lost to Lazio, this result makes the scudetto race more interesting.

Michele Pazienza

Udinese has now officially got Pazienza from Juventus. Although his is a former Udinese player, I don't have many memories about him. At that time, my impression about him was just an average player.

At the moment, Udinese needs a replacement for Asamoah, and Pazienza certainly brought in for that role IMO. As Ghana seems to progress to the next round of Africa Cup of Nations, Pazienza's transfer was needed. Hope he could give his best performance to Udinese.

Match Review: Juventus 2-1 Udinese

Udinese really couldn't attack well at this match, always got wrong passes in the middle of attacking process. Di Natale was completely locked, while second striker role and midfielders didn't work. Udinese's only goal was very much a bit of luck, began from Juventus sloppy pass.

At the defense, in my opinion Benatia absent was significant. His cover Ferronetti did work well, but should had worked better to prevent both goals. Fernandes also couldn't cover Asamoah in the front of defense line, with many ball loses, unsuccessful tackle, and inaccurate counter attack buildup

The Best Team of 2011

Udinese is selected as the best team of 2011 in Oscar del Calcio 2011.
Udinese had outstanding performance in the Serie A at the beginning of 2011, with 10 wins and 3 draws in 13 matches. The most notable was an away win 7-0 at Palermo, while at the same period Udinese also recorded famous wins against Inter at home and Juventus away.

Handanovic also being selected as the best goalkeeper. During 2010-11 season, he saved six penalties which is a tied record. He also went 704 minutes without conceding a single goal between February 5th and March 20th. Until the end of 2011, Udinese also had the best defensive record in Serie A, with only conceded eight goals in 17 matches.

Along with Handanovic, Pablo Armero and Antonio Di Natale is included in the Team of the Year. Armero has incredible speed and good dribbling technique in the left wing, while Di Natale keeps scoring at the front-he is last season top scorer and current top scorer this season.

Match Review : Udinese 1-2 Chievo (Copa)

Despite the voice from Guidolin before the match that hinted that Udinese took this competition seriously, the starting lineup was an inexperienced side. Di Natale in the starting lineup is a suprise, considering no single first team player in the midfield.
Udinese dominates the possession and chances, but too vulnerable in the defense. Chievo goalkeeper was just too fantastic to be beaten, makes several superb saves in impossible situations. However, on the other side of the pitch, Chievo had many golden chances-much of them are one on one, and only brilliant saves from Handanovic stops Chievo from making extra goals.
Udinese definitely deserved at least three goals. But Chievo may deserved the same considering the chances they got. A draw in the normal time may be a fair result, but big holes in Udinese defense and weak coordination in the midfield also deserve to be punished.