Torino were all too happy to bask in glory during the summer after they had inadvertently become the best team in Turin due to the unseemly demise of Juventus. The club have been up and down like a yo-yo, with two draws and three losses in September followed by a narrow 1-0 win over Chievo. This saw the team quickly revert to their previous abysmal form only to snap out of it in mid-November when they strung together four wins and a draw. Currently they sit in a very credible eighth spot.

The race for fourth spot is a fierce one, though with some 10 teams within six points of it, Torino's consistency over the last month must continue to the last day if they are to pick up even a UEFA Cup spot.

Obtaining Christian Abbiati on loan from Milan was seen by the Torino management as a major coup. After successfully covering for Gianluigi Buffon last season at Juventus, there were two reasons for the management to celebrate the shrewd signing. Firstly, Abbiati was lauded as a quality keeper who could provide stability and experience. Secondly, and probably more importantly, it kept him away from Juventus, who were apparently ready to sell an unhappy Buffon to Milan for Abbiati plus cash. Abbiati started the season in shocking form and in the process erased the memories of his performances at Juventus, even conceding that he was to blame for several bad results. If Torino are to do well this season, his form is crucial.

Abbiati's loan and the childishness of the club’s rivalry with their neighbours does raise issues about management. Rivalry, particularly a local one, is good for a club; it galvanises fans, players and staff to a cause and can motivate individuals and collectives to do great things. But Torino’s current focus seems very unhealthy.

Like a lot of Serie A clubs, Torino have an opportunity to become the next Fiorentina, Juventus or even Milan this season and go on to claim a Champions League spot. Even a top-six finish will attract better players and create the chance to cement a top spot in the league for years to come. But the club’s management seem to be happy to focus on the short-sighted goal that they are the best team in Turin. This will more than likely only last one season and is not due to the fact that they had built the club back to its former stature, rather than focus on long-term goals and ambitions.

This is a problem seen at a lot of clubs. I like the win-at-all-cost mentality by many clubs in Italy and I’m a strong believer in the ‘points on the board are all that matter’ and ‘history remembers winners‘ philosophy. But I think these views are all-too-often rolled out by those seeking cheap glory. If the Torino board want true success, they should worry about being the best in Italy, not Turin.

Alessandro Rosina is currently the club’s top goalscorer. At nearly 23, the attacking midfielder could make a huge difference to the club if he can kick it up another notch. Rosina started off at Parma and has played for Italy’s Under-21 side; he has been on the rise for a while and I think he has the potential to go far. If he can prove himself in the second half of this term, a big club might be calling his agent sooner rather than later.

Simone Barone, who was part of Italy’s World Cup triumph, arrived from Palermo in the summer and while being solid, he has not been anything special. Rumour has it that Torino could look to replace him with Marco Andreolli, a young defender from Inter, reported to have a lot of talent. If he stays on, however, he could be influential in the outcome of Torino’s season.

The club have said they won’t make any winter signings and this is probably a good idea considering the recent upturn in form. Hopefully the team are finally settled and can now go on and do the job.

My prediction is that a top-four slot is probably too much for Torino - but fifth or sixth is a legitimate target if they can put together a couple of good runs. I expect another poor patch, though, and eighth to 10th position is probably where they'll end up.

Which position do you think Torino will finish the season in? What is your favourite team in Serie A - and why? Tell us at Sportingo.