Like many people Fiorentina are experiencing a dry January. The Serie A side have yet to win a league match since a 3 – 0 away hammering of Palermo just before the Christmas break, losing two and drawing one.
But the fact that a run of three games without win is worthy of any notice is a mark of how well the Italian side played in the first half of the season.
The last four months of 2012 were a purple patch for the side from Florence as they emerged as title challengers. Their fantastic run included a nine game unbeaten run from the start of October to the beginning of December, which even turned them into early title contenders.
It was a turnaround from the 2011-12 season, which saw the Tuscans finish 13th, closer on points to the relegation zone than the Top Six.
The situation was not helped by managerial changes with three men in charge during that season, including Delio Rossi who was dismissed after a moment of madness which saw him punch one his players, Adem Ljajic in the dugout.
But under the management of former Roma, Sampdoria, Fulham and Italy striker Vincenzo Montella, the Stadio Artemio Franchi has been a much happier place.
L’Aeroplanino (The Little Airplane – a nickname based on his trademark celebration) had previously been a caretaker boss at Roma, before impressing during a one year stint at Sicilian side Catania.
But he had a challenge on his hands when he set up camp in Florence in summer 2012 with the side in a state of flux.
Almost 20 players were signed including ex-Liverpool and Roma playmaker Alberto Aquilani, Ajax Mounir El Hamdaoui and Villareal midfielder Borja Valero.
A similar number of players were sold with Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo signed by Milan and Chilean winger Juan Manuel Vargas going to Genoa.
With all the comings and goings at the club, there was always a risk that the team would not gel quickly.
But it is a mark of Montella’s managerial abilities that he has built arguably the most attractive team in Serie A this season, one that also has a good chance of achieving Champions League qualification.
The manager has established a back three of Argentinean’s Gonzalo Rodriguez, Facundo Roncaglia and captain Manuel Pasqual in front of local lad Emiliano Viviano who is currently on loan from Palermo.
Further forward, the emphasis has been on a “Spanish style” possession game with a creative five-man midfield featuring the likes of Borja Valero, Aquilani, David Pizarro and Colombian wideman Juan Cuadrado. Consequently Fiorentina have had an average possession of 55 per cent – the third highest in Serie A.
Spanish midfielder Valero has been highly productive with eight assists with the front pairing of Stevan Jovetic and Luca Toni the main beneficiaries, as they have notched eight and six goals respectively.
Keeping Jovetic at the club - amid interest from Juventus and Man City - has also been one of the main reasons behind Fiorentina’s success, particularly during the early stages of the season when the new signings were bedding in.
The intelligent Montenegrin is adept as a second striker, lone forward and even as an attacking midfielder which has made the 23-year-old a great foil for target man Toni.
With the Viola sitting fifth, Champions League qualification will be the aim. And assuming they can regain a semblance of good form, it is a distinct possibility with a number of teams including Napoli, Lazio, Inter, Milan and Roma in contention for a Top Three place.
The club has already started to build for that European push by signing former Man United forward Giuseppe Rossi.
The 25-year-old has not played a match since October 2011 after suffering a serious knee injury – but his signing is still a major statement of intent as the club try to bring some long-awaited glory to Florence…
