Serie B: 2024-25 Preview (Part Two)

Another Serie B season is upon us and it could prove to be the most competitive in some time. We’ve got four real contenders, a pair of floundering relegated sides, the dark horse to end all dark horses and, of course, ten new managers.

In the second half of this preview, we’ll take a look at the other ten teams and their hopes and dreams, their coaches (old and new), as well as some players to keep an eye on. If you missed it, part one can be found here.

Mantova (Serie C/A winner)

Manager: Davide Possanzini. Has come a long way since being sacked by Brescia after two weeks. Took over a team saved from relegation to Serie D thanks to other clubs’ bankruptcies and won the league at the first attempt.

Dark horses for the playoffs. An intriguing side with a deadly set piece threat. Won’t have as much of the ball as in C, so it will be interesting to see how they deal with that. Signing Mattia Aramu and Leonardo Mancuso might give them a little more firepower in attack. Should stay up and could do more, if they can get off to a quick start.

Key player: Salvatore Burrai. Captain and fulcrum of the team. At 37, this could be a last dance at this level, but coming into this campaign off the back of a truly impressive season with four goals and eleven assists.

One to watch: Fabrizio Brignani. A goalscoring centre-back. The best kind. He’s a demon from corners and could cause chaos this season.

Modena (10th)

Manager: Pierpaolo Bisoli. Took Sudtirol to the verge of the playoff final against all odds in 22-23. Unsure if his new-ish president Rivetti could live with a team sitting in a 4-4-2 low block all season. Could be interesting to see if he develops his approach.

Constantly on the verge of turning into a real team, Modena are this season’s wildcard. Could be comfortably in the playoffs, could get it totally wrong and go down. Who knows. I like their business. Eric Botteghin is a sensible defensive purchase and Mattia Caldara is a coup, if he stays fit. Pedro Mendes looked like a top forward at Ascoli and should carry that form over to Modena.

Key player: Antonio Palumbo. Midfield maestro and goal threat. Dangerous from dead ball situations, and in open play.

One to watch: Pedro Mendes. Modena desperately needed a goalscorer last year. Mendes is just that. A modern forward. His injury in March all but sealed Ascoli’s fate.

Palermo (6th)

Manager: Alessio Dionisi. Has Experience at this level and above, an undoubtedly talented coach and possibly a smart move for both parties. The pressure is on. He must achieve promotion.

Not sure you can overstate how much Palermo need promotion this season. The City Football Group’s investment has been considerable and has heaped pressure on from fans and media alike. They were last season’s flop and cannot afford to be once more. Another summer of significant, but intelligent investment and retention of key players.

Key player: Matteo Brunori. If he stays. Their top scorer and captain has flirted with Serie A clubs all summer long but will be vital if they are to go one step further this season.

One to watch: Filippo Ranocchia. Looked like the missing piece of the puzzle last year until his injury in mid-March. It was too late to fix anything by the time he returned. His goals from midfield alleviate some of the pressure placed on the attack. There’s a reason Palermo paid £4m.

Pisa (13th)

Manager: Pippo Inzaghi. An intriguing hire. Suffered at a desperately uninspiring Salernitana last season. This feels like the right job for Super Pippo, a chance to make the playoffs and build something from scratch.

Pisa are much like Modena. It’s hard to tell if they’re underachievers or we don’t know how to assess their talent correctly. They have recruited well and some inexperienced players have grown, plus they’ve picked up a top goalkeeper in Adrian Semper. Play-offs are achievable and they will reach them if it all clicks.

Key player: Matteo Tramoni. Impressive winger/attacking midfielder who missed much of last season through injury. If he stays fit, he could hit double figures for goals and assists.

One to watch: Simone Canestrelli. One of the better defenders in the division, he often goes about his business with minimal fuss. Should play a significant role in any success they achieve.

Reggiana (11th)

Manager: William Viali. Must feel like déjà vu for him. Moved to Ascoli from Cosenza last summer and was sacked very early in the season. He’ll hope that another summer move from Cosenza produces a different result in Reggio Emilia.

Deservedly mid-table in their first season after promotion, I’m worried their lack of firepower and over reliance on loans may come back to haunt them this year. The spine of Nesta’s team was constructed in the loan market. Need to be careful they don’t end up in a relegation slog.

Key player: Andrea Meroni. Viali took him from and should rely on him to fill the hole left by Marcandalli’s return to Genoa.

One to watch: Alessandro Sersanti. Showed flashes of brilliance in a terrible Lecco team last season. Should play more of a leading role this year. A midfielder with versatility and one worth keeping an eye on.

Salernitana (20th in Serie A)

Manager: Giovanni Martusciello. Their second coach of the summer after Andrea Sottil quit in protest at the lack of direction. A career assistant, he has a tough job on his hands doing much with a team in freefall.

Relegated. Club for sale. Entire squad on the transfer list. Not the ideal situation. Look the most likely of the relegated sides to flounder this year. Hard to tell just how much damage is still to be done before the window ends, with Maggiore, Dia, Daniliuc and others still tipped to leave. If they can sort their off field issues out, the playoffs are not out of the question.

Key player: Giulio Maggiore. If he stays, and that’s a big if. Midfielder capable of playing in Serie A, one who could be vital if they are to do anything other than crash and burn.

One to watch: Lorenzo Amatucci. Looked a capable midfielder for Ternana last year and feels like he may get a run in the team here. Just hope it’s not too tough a situation in which he fails to flourish.

Sampdoria (7th)

Manager: Andrea Pirlo. In hindsight, he did a commendable job last season. Took over a club in turmoil, integrated a heap of loanees and dealt with an injury list that remained high throughout. May have an easier time of it this year.

Have done well in the transfer market for a team with an eye watering debt level. Massimo Coda, Simone Romagnoli and Lorenzo Venuti bring serious experience to the team and should elevate them into contenders for promotion. Consider them part of a ‘big four’ with Sassuolo, Cremonese and Palermo right now.

Key player: Gennaro Tutino. Could have picked Borini or perhaps even Yepes in midfield but if Tutino finds form, Samp will be a real force.

One to watch: Giovanni Leoni. Very talented teenage defender. Thrust into the thick of it in January by Pirlo, he did not look like a 16-year-old with no first team experience. May end up being sold to a top club in January.

Sassuolo (19th in Serie A)

Manager: Fabio Grosso. Feels like the most sensible managerial appointment in Italy this summer. A winner with Frosinone in 22-23, he should guide Sassuolo straight back to Serie A.

It is tough to truly gauge their situation as so many players remain ‘available’ to leave. Berardi, Pinamonti, Thorstvedt, Laurienté. If any of them stick around, Sassuolo could be unstoppable. They are also able to call on a considerable number of returning loanees, most of whom should provide impressive depth.

Key player: Kristian Thorstvedt. Assuming all of Berardi, Pinamonti and Laurienté leave, he is the last real Serie A quality player left. He may even leave himself, but his goals from midfield could make the difference this year.

One to watch: Edoardo Pieragnolo: May not feature heavily and may even go back out, but looked the part on Reggiana’s left side last season. Dangerous in attack, competent in defence.

Spezia (15th)

Manager: Luca D’Angelo. Steadied the ship and dragged them to safety after arriving in mid-season. Will be interesting to see how he approaches this campaign, if he can get his ideas across then they can definitely push up the table.

One of the league’s most intriguing sides. Undoubtedly better than the 15th they achieved on the final day of last season, winning against Venezia to avoid relegation, but perhaps not a contender. Fancy them to challenge for the playoffs if they can get a little more reinforcement in wide areas and defence.

Key player: Salvatore Esposito. Best defensive midfielder in the division. Will be playing in Serie A next season regardless of Spezia’s success this year.

One to watch: Pio Esposito. Felt a little lost in a struggling side last season, but with survival comes renewal. On loan from Inter again, I’m convinced there’s a quality centre-forward in there. Yes, he’s Salvatore’s brother, if you’re asking. His other brother, Sebastiano, signed for Empoli.

Sudtirol (12th)

Manager: Federico Valente. Took over as caretaker last November and stuck around. Kept them comfortably safe and instilled a little more ambition in their approach.

Not much to say about Sudtirol. They should stay up. They probably won’t make the playoffs. Their stadium looks rather picturesque and I love that they still give opposing captains a crate of apples before each game.

Key player: Daniele Casiraghi. Prime creator, top scorer and best player. Penalty machine.

One to watch: Andrea Giorgini. A young, versatile defender who needs to push on this year and establish himself as one of the league’s best young defenders.

Don’t miss part one here! Let us know who you think is going up, down and sticking around on socials.