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Vincenzo Montella hasn’t won a Serie A match in 9 attempts since taking over for Stefano Pioli on 10 April of this year. Fiorentina’s gone a total of 16 straight without a win, stretching back to last year, so it’s no great leap to call this a club in crisis despite the new owner and decent transfer haul.
Following a surprising defeat at Genoa last week, reports surfaced that Rocco Commisso was ready to ground the Aeroplanino for good. Commisso and Joe Barone rubbished those anonymous reports immediately, but that hasn’t stopped people from wondering exactly how warm Montella’s seat is.
One assumes that the Viola will eventually win another Serie A match—they have 36 more chances this year, and it’d be an incredible statistical anomaly if they didn’t triumph in at least one of those. After all, even last year’s Chievo Verona, one of the feeblest units in Serie A history, won twice.
But does Cousin Vinnie have that long? Nobody knows how tolerant Commisso will be with his manager because we have no precedent. With Champions League sides Juventus and Atalanta up next, it could take longer to break the streak with a three-pointer. Heck, after getting roundly outplayed by the Griffin, a reeling Sampdoria isn’t exactly a gimme either.
Poll
So how long should Montella have?
This poll is closed
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12%
End of the season at least. He needs time to impose his philosophy and vision on this squad.
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42%
If Fiorentina aren’t at least competently mid-table by the new year, he should head on out.
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21%
If he can’t put something together by October, give him the sack before all the Roccoptimism dissipates.
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17%
If he doesn’t beat Sampdoria, he ought to be let go; 12 chances to win in Serie A without a single success is too absurd to overlook even with some mitigating factors.
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6%
Until I can build a time machine, go back, and ensure that he’s fired months ago.
Here’s your weekend thread to discuss whatever’s rattling around in your brain. Stay loose.