At the end of a season with a constant performance but also a bit too flat, where they never gave the feeling of being able to really fight for promotion, Spezia reached the 8th place, defeated by Benevento in the preliminary round of the playoffs. All in all a good result as for the fourth time in a row the Ligurians reached the playoffs, not bad for a team that for many years floated in the lower divisions, anyway for the money invested by the club owner in the last years it was expected a quantum leap. After an 8th, a 5th and a 7th place, the stated goal was to improve further which meant at least fighting to the end for promotion to the top flight. Yet back in August there seemed to be grounds for further improvement, first of all they had a cohesive group of quality players and a coach who is definitively one of the best of all Serie B. Moreover unlike recent years marked by many (perhaps too many) purchases, the Ligurians this summer made only a few changes, the market was mostly outbound with the intent to thin out a cumbersome roster. It is true that some big names left, especially in attack, above all Calaiò and Catellani, but were well replaced by Pablo Granoche and promising youngster on loan from Empoli Alessandro Piu, who alongside talented Brazilian Nenè and skilled striker Antonio Piccolo composed one of the best attack of the whole league. Moreover in January also former Under 21 international Diego Fabbrini and former Cagliari Niccolò Giannetti arrived to strengthen the team. Proof of the team's quality was given in Coppa Italia, where the eagles reached the fourth round by defeating Modena and especially Udinese at the Dacia Arena. Said about the potential strength of the attack must be also admit that in the end it turned out to be the biggest disappointment and weakness of the team having scored only 38 goals (Serie B's fourth worst attack!). To be honest it must be underlined that Granoche missed the first part of the season as injured (in the end gave a very good contibution by scoring 12 goals), Nenè and Piu missed the last four months again for serious injuries, and Piccolo the last month for the same reason....so bad luck was a decisive part of Spezia's season! On the other side the eagles had by far the best defense of the league having conceded only 34 goals. For this result it should be given credit, besides the excellent defensive organization of Di Carlo, to players such as centre-backs Claudio Terzi and Nahuel Valentini who had a consistent and very high performance, as well as to goalkeeper Leandro Chichizola, one of the best in this category.
