Andrea Pirlo (134 Viewers)

[Oz_Bianconero88]

Pirlo is a generational player, he is a legend for all football fans. Napoleonic, I don't agree with your "you can't be a legend for 2nd club" philosophy, but even if I did, I think Pirlo would be a special case. He is that type of talent.

His legend status is even more true for me because the club's results were completely in the $#@!ter prior to his free arrival (and yes, for me his arrival for free does add to the legend, to the great story of Andrea at Juve). As in all-time low type of results. While our team had quality, and he obviously shouldn't get all the credit for Juve's rebirth, what player was more influential than Andrea during those years, on the pitch? Nobody, IMO. We're talking about one of the very best domestic eras for a club that was founded in 1897, and Pirlo's performances came while he was in his 30s.

So impressive.

One might argue, the arrival of Pirlo, Licht, Vidal and Barza (though admittedly, at the tail end of Del Neri) were instrumental in the reconstruction of the Juventus mentality and mindset. Somewhat more fringe players like Caceres, Giaccherini, Pepe (another Del Neri acquisition), Vucinic (as frustrating and inconsistent as he was), Matri and Quag all did their part too in making important contributions and furthing reinforcing that famous Juventus attitude. Then of course we have the later arrivals of Asah, Pogba, Llorente, Tevez, and then Morata and Evra that all helped us even further enhance the squad in a very decisive fashion. However, the first 4 names formed the core of what allowed this team to be reborn, it is as simple as that.

 

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[Trequartista]

Well then Pirlo is a special case no different to Zidane. Some might argue more-so, because Zidane left us in his prime, and though aging, still had a lot to give the game and was highly rated. Pirlo on the other hand, was seen as passed his used-by date, an injury-prone has-been, over the hill and starting to live on his name and reputation. Though he was admittedly a bit of a risk for us initially, he quickly became utterly rejuvenated with us, and in turn was a major part of rejuvenating Juventus as a whole.

Some might argue that 11/12/13 we Pirlo's peak years, I'd never seen him play so well week in and week out. His performances at Euro 2012 were sublime, stratospheric even, and absolutely deserved player of the tournament; were it not for the gerrymandering, politicking of the FIFA administration and their seething hatred of Italy, whilst shamelessly gobbling buckets of Spanish chorizio.

No way. 2011-12 was his best year for us but his best was 2004-07. Then, Milan was in decline.

Check his world cup 2006 performance. He was quicker (not fast by any means but it was very hard to take the ball off him) and more dominant back then.

 

[Rollie]

One might argue, the arrival of Pirlo, Licht, Vidal and Barza (though admittedly, at the tail end of Del Neri) were instrumental in the reconstruction of the Juventus mentality and mindset. Somewhat more fringe players like Caceres, Giaccherini, Pepe (another Del Neri acquisition), Vucinic (as frustrating and inconsistent as he was), Matri and Quag all did their part too in making important contributions and furthing reinforcing that famous Juventus attitude. Then of course we have the later arrivals of Asah, Pogba, Llorente, Tevez, and then Morata and Evra that all helped us even further enhance the squad in a very decisive fashion. However, the first 4 names formed the core of what allowed this team to be reborn, it is as simple as that.

True, Oz, of course there were many factors (players/management/infrastructure) that led to our club having such success. There are always a lot of contributing factors when a dynasty is created in a team sport.

At the end of the day, though, this was (and continues to be, knock on wood) a truly historic period for Juventus. When folks look back on this era in 20 years, they're going to talk about the club legends who created such success. I have no doubt Andrea is going to be talked about as one of those legends, a true protagonist for the team. His quality as a person and player, as well as his accomplishments at the club during this period, were massive and beyond refute. I obviously don't need the title of a forum thread to tell me he's a legend, in order to understand this -- I just think it would be respectable/appropriate if it did.

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

No way. 2011-12 was his best year for us but his best was 2004-07. Then, Milan was in decline.

Check his world cup 2006 performance. He was quicker (not fast by any means but it was very hard to take the ball off him) and more dominant back then.

Pirlo was great for Milan back then no doubt.

But I agree with OzBianconero, as good as Pirlo was in 2006 (wasn't he voted third best player at the tournament), he was simply sensational at Euro 2012. Carried a pretty mediocre Italy on his back with some absolutely amazing displays - he absolutely dominated Spain in the group stage, top class performance.

 

[Zacheryah]

No way. 2011-12 was his best year for us but his best was 2004-07. Then, Milan was in decline.

Check his world cup 2006 performance. He was quicker (not fast by any means but it was very hard to take the ball off him) and more dominant back then.

04-07 pirlo was twice the player he was at juve.


Watch highlights from the 2006 world cup to see what treq means. That speed on the ball was just insane

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Pirlo was great for Milan back then no doubt.

But I agree with OzBianconero, as good as Pirlo was in 2006 (wasn't he voted third best player at the tournament), he was simply sensational at Euro 2012. Carried a pretty mediocre Italy on his back with some absolutely amazing displays - he absolutely dominated Spain in the group stage, top class performance.

No mate. He was slowing down. Check germany higlights, see how fast he was with everything.

 

[Vlad]

Yeah that Pirlo was even more amazing.

 

[Zacheryah]

Thaf no look pass to grosso omg

 

[Oz_Bianconero88]

No way. 2011-12 was his best year for us but his best was 2004-07. Then, Milan was in decline.

Check his world cup 2006 performance. He was quicker (not fast by any means but it was very hard to take the ball off him) and more dominant back then.

I suppose you're correct about him between 04 and 07, indeed, I recall him back in the 06 World cup, he was absolutely phenomenal. However, being in his mid 30's, what he did at the Euros in 2012 was pretty f*cking ridiculous by any measure, he was much more of a stand-out and had a much greater individual influence on the team. What he lost in raw pace and agility (some might claim though, that the Conte/Juve training and regimen made him a fitter player) he gained in even superior ball handling, vision, passing and dead-ball ability; and he was already pretty damn good at those things before he arrived here!

Pirlo was great for Milan back then no doubt.

But I agree with OzBianconero, as good as Pirlo was in 2006 (wasn't he voted third best player at the tournament), he was simply sensational at Euro 2012. Carried a pretty mediocre Italy on his back with some absolutely amazing displays - he absolutely dominated Spain in the group stage, top class performance.

Cheers bro. That's pretty much my view in a nutshell, he, along with CBB, Buffon, DDR and Claudio (and to some extent, Balo), carried an otherwise pretty meh Italian team to the final, and bettered a much more fancied Spanish team in the group stages. He as a stand-alone player was more integral, more fundamental, more pivotal and more influential in our successes in the tournament compared to 2006 (when you had ADP, Totti, Toni, Nesta, Canna, Zambrotta, Camo, Gattuso, Materazzi (as much as he's a f*cking dog) a decent Giladino and Iaquinta). If Prandelli hadn't lost his nerve at the 11th hour, and stuck with 3-5-2 for the final, and had Chiello not limped off, I still think we had every chance of winning that final; but alas, one can entertain hypotheticals until the cows come home.

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Thaf no look pass to grosso omg

 

[Raz]

What's missing for him to be considered a legend here? Does he need to give all of the mods a handy? Take a dump on the doormat of the San Siro? Is a CL title required for legend status on the forum? Or did he just need to play a 5th season, to complete some arbitrary criteria?

That would definitely be a positive step.

 

[Klin]

He's a football legend, not Juve legend.

 

[Oz_Bianconero88]

He's a football legend, not Juve legend.

Then by that definition, why's Baggio a Juve legend? Andrea deserves it as every little bit as much as Roby does!

 

[JuveJay]

Baggio is a Juve legend though. He played for a few teams but his best was here.

 

[Suns]

Nah, being a legend is about time, not success.

 

[il brutto]

Nah, being a legend is about time, not success.

Padoin for the legend section it is then.

 

[JuveJay]

Nah, being a legend is about time, not success.

In that case Birindelli > Platini.

 

[Seven]

In that case Birindelli > Platini.

Birindelli owns Platini in everything though.

 

[Klin]

Yeah, Platini was always a bit overrated IMO.

 

[Zacheryah]

Pirlo stayed much closer to his prime when he was well in his thirties, compared to Xavi for example, who went from legendary midfielder to rakitic substitute in less then 2 years

 

[Suns]

Padoin for the legend section it is then.

In that case Birindelli > Platini.

Well, there obviously has to be some success there as well

 

[Zacheryah]

In that case Birindelli > Platini.

Platini came here at his prime in juve, won everything and ended his career here