Can Jamie Vardy bring the party to Serie A?
Jamie Vardy has joined Cremonese on a free transfer following his exit from Leicester City. The move is unusual but does have a certain amount of charm to it.
Cremonese, after all, are not even a notable outsider in the glamorous tradition of Serie A. Peers such as Sassuolo are associated with the ever-present Domenico Berardi. Genoa’s Luigi Ferraris Stadium is synonymous with the trademark raging atmosphere. Parma was once a breeding ground for future stars and Udinese have the famous Pozzo family ownership.
Cremonese have never really been known for anything. They did spend the 2022/23 season in Serie A but went back down to Serie B straightaway, having played in the top-flight for the first time since the mid-1990s. The city of Cremona is nestled in the heart of the Milan-Venice-Florence triangle in the north of Italy and is barely known to international tourists.
But now, something seems to be changing at Cremonese. Under the iconic Davide Nicola, who has masterminded the survival of many lower Serie A sides, the Grigiorossi have won both of their first two league games and lie inside the top-four. Jamie Vardy‘s signing comes at a crucial point of not just the season but in the club’s low-key history.
It is the oddity of the move which stands out, as the striker could have easily joined a club in England. But if there is anything Vardy is known for, it is uniqueness. And he has certainly made an intriguing decision which sets him apart from many players in the modern age.
Assessing Cremonese’s squad
Nicola’s side is a weird mix of experience and players hitting their prime. The well-known Franco Vázquez has played countless games across the Italian football pyramid. Antonio Sanabria showed his quality at Torino, while Federico Baschirotto has helped Lecce survive relegation in the past. Wing-back Giuseppe Pezzella also boasts a solid record in Serie A.
Warren Bondo and Filippo Terraciano were together at Milan last season and are still in their early 20s, with both having been involved in relegation scraps at Monza and Verona. But both offer technical ability too.
Jari Vandeputte is probably the most interesting profile at Cremonese. He has shown an ability to carry the ball from midfield this season, having been their stand out player in the campaign to date.
The squad also boasts two recognised top-flight goalkeepers in Emil Audero and Marco Silvestri, who will have a big role to play later in the season.
How does Vardy fit in at Cremonese?
Perhaps, the most fascinating thing about Vardy’s decision is how his skillset suits Nicola’s system.
The Italian is known to always prefer a 3-5-2 system which relies on defending deep and using direct play in attack. If anything, the 39-year-old is very in tune with that approach and it is was also a big factor in why he helped Leicester City win the Premier League back in 2016.
That isn’t to say that Cremonese will win silverware, but Vardy will play a role which he will recognise right away.
He is no stranger to a team that does not enjoy a lot of possession. At Leicester last season, the veteran recorded only 20 touches on a per 90 minute basis, and averaged under four touches in the box per 90 minutes.
Despite the Foxes’ struggles as an attacking unit in general last season, and despite his general lack of involvement on the ball, Vardy still scored nine goals from an xG of 11.2 and that isn’t bad at all.
He did face injury worries across the campaign and those troubles have only increased, over time, he had a familiar knack for making those smart runs into space or making quick dashes in-behind after linking up with those around him.
Most of the teams that Cremonese will face across the season will come at them and leave that space in behind for them to attack. This will be especially true against the Seven Sisters (Serie A’s traditional giants) and it was evident in how Milan were playing against them in the opening game week.
Federico Bonazzoli‘s incredible overhead kick had earned three points for Cremonese but with Vardy in the side, they might not need something as spectacular as that to upset other teams.
Nicola’s backline is largely known to stay deep and make it difficult for the opposition to find the spaces to attack. Having a front two makes sure that none of the two attackers are isolated.
This too will help Vardy, as the likes of Vázquez and Sanabria are good at linking up with those around them. The ex-Palermo player specifically knows how to pull the strings from deeper in attack, allowing his strike partner to focus on goalscoring.
Besides all that, Nicola’s reputation of making the most of a variety of striker styles across his career will put the new Cremonese signing in good stead. The two individuals are mavericks in their own regard and there is every reason to believe that they would enjoy working with each other.
Could it go wrong?
Definitely. And it would largely come down to fitness and Vardy’s availability across the season.
Surprisingly enough, the ex-England man missed only three Premier League games last season and played over 2000 minutes. In the 2023/24 Championship campaign, he managed to play 35 games and scored 18 times too.
This indicates that Vardy, despite his age, is fitter than most players of his age and more than ability, he would also add consistency to the side.
On top of that, he will ply his trade in a warmer country than the UK and this can prove key to his game time and fitness across a longer period. This can play a massive role in not just helping Cremonese avoid relegation but potentially finish in a safe midtable position in Serie A.
The 39-year-old’s arrival in Cremona has already given many a lift, as fans clamoured to get a view of the veteran when he arrived in the city. It was a hero’s welcome and there is a growing sense that this odd marriage in the north of Italy can help Vardy get the party started all over again.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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