not too sure where this should go, but this looks like a good place-
I agree 100% with all the bolded sentences
02/01/2008 15:53
Juventus Mid–Season Review: A Fantastic Campaign So Far
With Serie A currently on it’s winter break, Carlo Garganese analyses the Bianconeri’s season so far…
(Not So) Great Expectations
When Juventus were relegated to Serie B following the Calciopoli crisis in the summer of 2006, many people wondered how many years it would take for the Bianconeri to reach the upper echelons of Italian and European football.
Some experts said three years, others said five, while a few said between seven and ten.
It can not be underestimated just how weakened Juventus were by Calciopoli. They lost Fabio Cannavaro – world class, Lilian Thuram – at the time world-class, Gianluca Zambrotta – world class, Patrick Vieira – world class when fit, Zlatan Ibrahimovic – world class, as well as the likes of Emerson and Adrian Mutu.
After their immediate return to top-flight football, only the most tunnel-visioned of Juventus supporters could have believed that they were capable of challenging for the Scudetto this season. Indeed in all truth even a Champions League spot seemed a little ambitious.
However at the middle of the winter break, Juventus not only look virtual certainties to finish in the top four, but a crack at the Scudetto itself is not completely out of the question.
Success Of The Old Guard
As Juventus sit in third place in Serie A, one point behind Roma and eight behind leaders Inter, it is apparent that the key factor in their brilliant season so far has been the players who remained from the pre-Calciopoli regime.
When the infamous Triade of Luciano Moggi, Antonio Giraudo and (eventually) Roberto Bettega left the club, a number of top-class stars did stay put.
Gianluigi Buffon has proved once again that he is head and shoulders the best goalkeeper in the world with a series of superb displays. The reaction stop from Tommaso Rocchi during the 3-2 victory over Lazio in week 16 was one of the best saves I have ever seen in my life – it simply defied the laws of gravity.
Pavel Nedved, following a slow start to the campaign, has burst into life in the last couple of months, and this has helped Juve go on an unbeaten eight-match run in Serie A. Mauro Camoranesi has barely played due to injury but in the six games that he has featured in, he has proven himself to still be a top-class player, scoring a crucial equaliser in the draw with Inter.
Up-front Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet have rattled in the goals, the former hitting the back of the net seven times, while the latter currently top-scorer in the division with a stunning 13 strikes to his name.
What is noticeable is that the reason for Juventus’ success this season is everything to do with the old Moggi regime and virtually nothing to do with the new system under sporting director Alessio Secco and director-general Jean-Claude Blanc.
To say that the summer transfer campaign was a disappointment is a huge understatement. Instead of making one or two guaranteed world-class purchases, Secco and Blanc decided to sign several 'good’ players.
Tiago Mendes and Sergio Almiron have flopped disastrously, and for all those who say that they haven’t been given a fair opportunity to shine, I do not honestly believe either has the ability to be key protagonists if they are given an extra run in the side.
Jorge Andrade was awful in the opening few weeks of the campaign, and the Juventus defence improved ten-fold when he was seriously injured half-way through the week four match against Roma. Indeed Juve have since conceded just nine goals in 13 games with him out of the side, compared to the six in just three-and-a-half matches before he broke his kneecap.
Zdenek Grygera and Hasan Salihamidzic have been steady, however they will be nothing more than squad players come next season.
Indeed out of all of the summer transfer work, only Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Nocerino have really impressed, however both of these stars were Moggi’s players.
Iaquinta was tracked by Lucky Luciano for a number of seasons, while Nocerino joined the Juventus youth-system six years ago upon Moggi’s request before being sent out on loan and co-ownership deals.
In fact Moggi’s last-ever signing before departing Turin has probably been the biggest surprise success story this campaign. Cristiano Zanetti was snapped up from Inter in 2006 and has been outstanding in the centre of midfield.
Zanetti’s fighting spirit and determination has perfectly demonstrated what Juventus have always been about.
The Bianconeri are winners – this is in their DNA. In defence Giorgio Chiellini has been a revelation – he really is the Bianconeri version of Marco Materazzi.
Since switching to the centre of defence, he has forged a superb partnership alongside the re-born Nicola Legrottaglie. Chiellini sewed himself into the hearts of all Juve fans after he shut out Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the 1-1 draw with Inter after a typically robust defensive display.
Referees
There can be no doubting that Inter are currently the best team in Serie A, and it will take an almighty challenge from Juventus to make up the eight-point advantage that separates the two teams.
However the truth is that this gap would be considerably smaller, had Juve not been on the wrong end of some simply scandalous refereeing decisions this campaign.
The Bianconeri have been robbed of five points at the very least. The refereeing during the 3-1 defeat at Napoli (where the Partenopei had two non-existent penalties awarded to them), and the 2-2 draw at Parma (where Iaquinta had a legitimate last-minute winner disallowed and Parma were again given an incorrect penalty) was simply outrageous.
Other matches, in particular the games with Cagliari, Udinese and Roma were also highly suspicious – leading to claims that there is a post-Calciopoli conspiracy against Juventus to ensure that they don’t win the league this season.
These claims may not be too far off the mark as one has to wonder how the Italian league would look if a Juventus team relegated for supposedly winning successive Scudetti by influencing matches, then won Serie A with an infinitely weaker team upon their immediate return to the top-flight.
It would look a bit odd, not to say embarrassing, don’t you think?
Juve For the Scudetto?
Juventus should be four points or closer from Inter now instead of eight points. However regardless of this, can they realistically claw the deficit back?
It certainly is going to be difficult and it really is hard to see the Inter machine dropping too many points from now until the end of the season.
If the Nerazzurri reach the latter stages of the Champions League this may present some hope for the Old Lady, however Inter have such a strong squad that even if they select a second-string XI they are still more than capable of steam-rolling opponents.
All Juventus fans should be delighted with how their team have performed this campaign, and I see no reason why they can’t oust Roma and finish in second position.
Next season will present the Bianconeri with a great opportunity to go one step further. If they can purchase a world-class creative centre-midfielder as well as a top-class defender, they are more than capable of challenging Inter.
It must also be remembered just how many quality youngsters there are coming through at the club. As well as the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Antonio Nocerino and Raffaele Palladino, there are also those out on loan such as Sebastian Giovinco, Claudio Marchisio and Paolo De Ceglie, who have all been described as Italian international stars of the future.
The future is certainly bright for Juventus.
goal.com
Juventus Mid–Season Review: A Fantastic Campaign So Far
With Serie A currently on it’s winter break, Carlo Garganese analyses the Bianconeri’s season so far…
(Not So) Great Expectations
When Juventus were relegated to Serie B following the Calciopoli crisis in the summer of 2006, many people wondered how many years it would take for the Bianconeri to reach the upper echelons of Italian and European football.
Some experts said three years, others said five, while a few said between seven and ten.
It can not be underestimated just how weakened Juventus were by Calciopoli. They lost Fabio Cannavaro – world class, Lilian Thuram – at the time world-class, Gianluca Zambrotta – world class, Patrick Vieira – world class when fit, Zlatan Ibrahimovic – world class, as well as the likes of Emerson and Adrian Mutu.
After their immediate return to top-flight football, only the most tunnel-visioned of Juventus supporters could have believed that they were capable of challenging for the Scudetto this season. Indeed in all truth even a Champions League spot seemed a little ambitious.
However at the middle of the winter break, Juventus not only look virtual certainties to finish in the top four, but a crack at the Scudetto itself is not completely out of the question.
Success Of The Old Guard
As Juventus sit in third place in Serie A, one point behind Roma and eight behind leaders Inter, it is apparent that the key factor in their brilliant season so far has been the players who remained from the pre-Calciopoli regime.
When the infamous Triade of Luciano Moggi, Antonio Giraudo and (eventually) Roberto Bettega left the club, a number of top-class stars did stay put.
Gianluigi Buffon has proved once again that he is head and shoulders the best goalkeeper in the world with a series of superb displays. The reaction stop from Tommaso Rocchi during the 3-2 victory over Lazio in week 16 was one of the best saves I have ever seen in my life – it simply defied the laws of gravity.
Pavel Nedved, following a slow start to the campaign, has burst into life in the last couple of months, and this has helped Juve go on an unbeaten eight-match run in Serie A. Mauro Camoranesi has barely played due to injury but in the six games that he has featured in, he has proven himself to still be a top-class player, scoring a crucial equaliser in the draw with Inter.
Up-front Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet have rattled in the goals, the former hitting the back of the net seven times, while the latter currently top-scorer in the division with a stunning 13 strikes to his name.
What is noticeable is that the reason for Juventus’ success this season is everything to do with the old Moggi regime and virtually nothing to do with the new system under sporting director Alessio Secco and director-general Jean-Claude Blanc.
To say that the summer transfer campaign was a disappointment is a huge understatement. Instead of making one or two guaranteed world-class purchases, Secco and Blanc decided to sign several 'good’ players.
Tiago Mendes and Sergio Almiron have flopped disastrously, and for all those who say that they haven’t been given a fair opportunity to shine, I do not honestly believe either has the ability to be key protagonists if they are given an extra run in the side.
Jorge Andrade was awful in the opening few weeks of the campaign, and the Juventus defence improved ten-fold when he was seriously injured half-way through the week four match against Roma. Indeed Juve have since conceded just nine goals in 13 games with him out of the side, compared to the six in just three-and-a-half matches before he broke his kneecap.
Zdenek Grygera and Hasan Salihamidzic have been steady, however they will be nothing more than squad players come next season.
Indeed out of all of the summer transfer work, only Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Nocerino have really impressed, however both of these stars were Moggi’s players.
Iaquinta was tracked by Lucky Luciano for a number of seasons, while Nocerino joined the Juventus youth-system six years ago upon Moggi’s request before being sent out on loan and co-ownership deals.
In fact Moggi’s last-ever signing before departing Turin has probably been the biggest surprise success story this campaign. Cristiano Zanetti was snapped up from Inter in 2006 and has been outstanding in the centre of midfield.
Zanetti’s fighting spirit and determination has perfectly demonstrated what Juventus have always been about.
The Bianconeri are winners – this is in their DNA. In defence Giorgio Chiellini has been a revelation – he really is the Bianconeri version of Marco Materazzi.
Since switching to the centre of defence, he has forged a superb partnership alongside the re-born Nicola Legrottaglie. Chiellini sewed himself into the hearts of all Juve fans after he shut out Zlatan Ibrahimovic during the 1-1 draw with Inter after a typically robust defensive display.
Referees
There can be no doubting that Inter are currently the best team in Serie A, and it will take an almighty challenge from Juventus to make up the eight-point advantage that separates the two teams.
However the truth is that this gap would be considerably smaller, had Juve not been on the wrong end of some simply scandalous refereeing decisions this campaign.
The Bianconeri have been robbed of five points at the very least. The refereeing during the 3-1 defeat at Napoli (where the Partenopei had two non-existent penalties awarded to them), and the 2-2 draw at Parma (where Iaquinta had a legitimate last-minute winner disallowed and Parma were again given an incorrect penalty) was simply outrageous.
Other matches, in particular the games with Cagliari, Udinese and Roma were also highly suspicious – leading to claims that there is a post-Calciopoli conspiracy against Juventus to ensure that they don’t win the league this season.
These claims may not be too far off the mark as one has to wonder how the Italian league would look if a Juventus team relegated for supposedly winning successive Scudetti by influencing matches, then won Serie A with an infinitely weaker team upon their immediate return to the top-flight.
It would look a bit odd, not to say embarrassing, don’t you think?
Juve For the Scudetto?
Juventus should be four points or closer from Inter now instead of eight points. However regardless of this, can they realistically claw the deficit back?
It certainly is going to be difficult and it really is hard to see the Inter machine dropping too many points from now until the end of the season.
If the Nerazzurri reach the latter stages of the Champions League this may present some hope for the Old Lady, however Inter have such a strong squad that even if they select a second-string XI they are still more than capable of steam-rolling opponents.
All Juventus fans should be delighted with how their team have performed this campaign, and I see no reason why they can’t oust Roma and finish in second position.
Next season will present the Bianconeri with a great opportunity to go one step further. If they can purchase a world-class creative centre-midfielder as well as a top-class defender, they are more than capable of challenging Inter.
It must also be remembered just how many quality youngsters there are coming through at the club. As well as the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Antonio Nocerino and Raffaele Palladino, there are also those out on loan such as Sebastian Giovinco, Claudio Marchisio and Paolo De Ceglie, who have all been described as Italian international stars of the future.
The future is certainly bright for Juventus.
goal.com
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