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Promoted Profile: Can Cremonese Keep Up?

https://deegosport.blogspot.com/2025/07/promoted-profiles-can-pisa-hold-on-to.htmlCremonese


After playoff final heartbreak in 23/24 the Cremona side bounced right back to the and just about held on against Spezia to make their Serie A return. Last time we saw the grey and red side at the top of Italian football they weren’t far off safety. 4 points were all that separated Cremonese and Verona in 22/23. They will once again be underdogs in the race for safety but can new coach and relegation dodging master Davide Nicola pull off another miracle?


Departures


Cremonese have finally managed to properly replace Giovanni Stroppa. Poor guy got the sack on the 8th of October 2024 and was rehired just over a month later on November 11th. Not great from Cremonese in my opinion to sack him again. 2 playoff finals in a row. Brought you back to Serie A. Couldn’t give him a chance? I guess Nicola has a better reputation for keeping clubs up but Stroppa has only coached like 40 Serie A games and most of those were with a crap Crotone side.


Zann Majer the 32 year old central midfielder is currently the only departure who actually featured last season for Cremonese. 22 appearances out the door for free is tough. But losing an aging midfielder who wouldn’t be able for Serie A anyway isn’t so much of a worry. Whatever about depth the Grigiorossi need to strengthen the starting 11 if they have any chance of staying up.


Arrivals


Apart from making Vandeputte and Fulignati permanent Cremonese are yet to make a significant move. Famed Lazio right winger Romano Floriani Mussolini joined on loan. Coming off an average season on loan in Serie B with Juve Stabia. Should be an okay option off the bench? Maybe? Other than that Cremonese need to get moving on some serious signings.


The squad


It looks like they shall stick with Fulignati in goal. 9 career appearances in Serie A. A little worrying. 17th in save percentage in Serie B last season. A bit more worrying. 8 clean sheet, 1 more than bottom place Cosenza and less than the relegated Brescia and Cittadella. Very worrying. If Cremonese don’t improve significantly defensively they won’t even come close to safety.


Vandeputte is the man who makes this Cremonese side tick. The 29 year old provided 14 assists for the Grigiorossi and chipped in with 5 goals too. His expert creativity will be key if this team has any chance of staying up. 


Not one player hit double digits for Cremonese in Serie B. Top scorer Franco Vasquez is 36. Playoff hero Manuel DeLuca scored twice in the playoff final. Perhaps he can carry that form into the Serie A season? Our old friend Afena Gyan is still hanging about somewhere in Cremona could he make a return after 6 goals with Juve next gen in Serie C. Whatever the case it’s slim pickings up top for our lovely Cremona side.


Expect a 3-5-2. They have used it exclusively the last few seasons and Nicola likes it too. The plan I assume will be to sit deep, hold on as long as possible, get the ball to Vandeputte, hope he can create a chance so good the below average striker team can’t miss. 


Sounds rough.


Expectations 


As things stand, if Nicola can drag this group to even 19th it’ll be a miracle. They definitely need a keeper and 2 new strikers. They also probably need an entire new back 5 and a couple centre mids to boot. It’s not looking good for Cremonese. 


Prediction: 20th by a lot.

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