Basically our squad depth is AMAZING now. Almost perfect.
But our starting team - which is more important than depth - is yet to be analysed. It could be worse than last season, yes. But it could also be better.
Alves for Licht is a HUGE difference, this has been underrated here. Provides width from the only source the 352 allows - wingbacks. Alves has exceptional fitness and should be good to go for more 2 years.
Pogba for Pjanic is clearly a loss, as Pogba is unique. But it's hard to imagine a better realistic option for the position. And if Pjanic (who as Higuain has fame of disappearing when it matters) takes the next step, he can absolutely be one of the best or even the best creative CM in the world.
Morata (or Mandzu) for Higuain is in theory an improvement when it comes to goal scoring, but this has also yet to be confirmed, considering his horrible conditions even after 1 month of training.
And Marchisio is also kind of a wildcard - he is vital to our game and who knows which will be his conditions when he comes back from this injury. The guy will be 31 in january so we have to consider all possibilities. This is a position that should have been improved (or Khedira's), but it wasn't. Witsel doesn't strike, at first, as a guy good enough to be a starter of Juventus.
About Higuain - it's hard to approve or not his purchase now, because it needs a hard reflection on where 90M leads you in the market today. What players could we have got, for positions we can improve, and who are willing to come, we could have got? For example, James is not an option. The guy doesnt want to leave Madrid.
So from what I know from the players, I evaluate this mercato 8 out of 10.
But in hindsight, if all Marotta's bets work out, this can became a real 10. Or a 6, because there are ideas that couldn't work.
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In the end, there are a few questionmarks that will define if we can mount a real challenge in Europe (winning Serie A is almost sure if these wildcards work, and very possible even if they don't):
The most important to me:
1 - Pjanic's adapting - if he manages to take the reigns of the midfield and be a constant threat and show improvement on his biggest issues - probably mental, as he's known to be inconstant and unreliable, and also defensively - he can be one of the best midfielders of the world. He has potential to make Pogba's loss less hard in the mid.
Also fundamental:
2 - Marchisio's recovery - if he comes back as the same player he were before the injury, we have ourselves a WC DM who will provide immense stability and defensive solidity to the team.
Now, other questionmarks who are important:
3 - Khedira's health - he's playing on top form now. He gives great consistency and balance to the team. But this question lost importance a bit, as Witsel may prove to be a decent backup and a similar player.
4 - Higuain's performance - I think he will be the player he was last season, but anyway. I'd like to see mobility, and not only poaching. He must regain real form and be able to actually run into defenders. Most importantly, he will have to show up in big CL times. He seems like a mature player now and I feel he will do well.
5 - Alves performance - to provide our quality on the right side. I'm confident he will.
Our wildcard is Pjaca. If he's a tremendous talent, he could actually force a place in the starting team, making it even more dangerous and aggressive.
So, basically:
- with the squad assembled, it is very, very likely we retain Serie A title. Only if everything goes absolutely wrong we could lose this.
- Regarding the Champions League, our starting team will make the difference. I.e, our best players will have to fit and show up. Mainly Pjanic to fit and Marchisio and Khedira to be healthy. This is the key to our season: the performance of these 3 guys. Only with things working out for them we will have a midfield good enough to reach CL highest phases. This, plus Higuain adaptability and mental issues in big games and Alves performance.
If everything goes well, we have enough to win Champions League, I'm pretty sure of that.