Il Capitano Alessandro Del Piero (215 Viewers)

Azzurri7

Pinturicchio
Moderator
Dec 16, 2003
72,692
Blog: Leading by example

Just when things look bleak in Turin, Juventus and their talismanic captain step up their game. James Sugrue hails the second coming of Alex Del Piero
Every season Juventus seem to bring in a long-term replacement for Alessandro Del Piero. With his 34th birthday arriving this week, the likes of Vincenzo Iaquinta, Amauri and Sebastian Giovinco have all teamed up with the Old Lady to seemingly spell the end of Alex's time.

He has withstood all those tests of his ability and dedication though, and even seems to come out stronger every time his place in the team is threatened. Never has that been more evident than now.

Juve were struggling to live up to their potential in Serie A and battling against a growing injury list, while their return to the Champions League had begun with a less than comfortable home win over Zenit St Petersburg and a lacklustre 2-2 draw with Belarus minnows BATE Borisov.

After back-to-back wins over Spanish giants Real Madrid, both inspired by Del Piero's fantastic goals, things are looking very different in Europe. Sitting top of their group and already guaranteed a place in the next round Juve can relax, but in the League the horizon is also much rosier.

Three wins on the trot, including a derby victory over Torino and the conquering of Roma, have left their doubters baffled and highlighted the one important fact that everyone seems to have forgotten since Calciopoli. When push comes to shove and the chips are down, Juventus are still Juventus and probably always will be.

The same applies for their captain. When he walks out in front of a packed stadium, whether it be the Olimpico or the Bernabeu, Alex steps up to the plate and rarely disappoints. He has received his fair share of criticism for his performances in an Italy shirt - which, World Cup 2006 aside, are probably deserved - but in the Bianconero his hero status is well earned.

Few players have the ability to do what he does, and even less have the composure and iron will to try it in the first place. His goals against Real in both games demonstrate that perfectly. Realising he didn't have the pace to take on the Spanish defence he could have held up the ball and waited for support. But not Pinturicchio, he thought he'd just score from where he was!

Far from fading away with age, Del Piero seems to become even more vital to the Juve cause. His recent performances have even seen people forget that the likes of Gigi Buffon and David Trezeguet are still absent with injuries, such was the decisive manner with which he despatched the Spanish champions.

Of course it won't last forever, as even Alex will have to succumb to the sands of time eventually, but just don't expect him to fade quietly into the background. Del Piero's style suggests that when he does go it will be with a huge bang on the biggest stage, maybe even holding the Champions League trophy in his hands.
 

cyril

Let's roll
Jul 6, 2006
2,689
Blog: Leading by example

Just when things look bleak in Turin, Juventus and their talismanic captain step up their game. James Sugrue hails the second coming of Alex Del Piero
Every season Juventus seem to bring in a long-term replacement for Alessandro Del Piero. With his 34th birthday arriving this week, the likes of Vincenzo Iaquinta, Amauri and Sebastian Giovinco have all teamed up with the Old Lady to seemingly spell the end of Alex's time.

He has withstood all those tests of his ability and dedication though, and even seems to come out stronger every time his place in the team is threatened. Never has that been more evident than now.

Juve were struggling to live up to their potential in Serie A and battling against a growing injury list, while their return to the Champions League had begun with a less than comfortable home win over Zenit St Petersburg and a lacklustre 2-2 draw with Belarus minnows BATE Borisov.

After back-to-back wins over Spanish giants Real Madrid, both inspired by Del Piero's fantastic goals, things are looking very different in Europe. Sitting top of their group and already guaranteed a place in the next round Juve can relax, but in the League the horizon is also much rosier.

Three wins on the trot, including a derby victory over Torino and the conquering of Roma, have left their doubters baffled and highlighted the one important fact that everyone seems to have forgotten since Calciopoli. When push comes to shove and the chips are down, Juventus are still Juventus and probably always will be.

The same applies for their captain. When he walks out in front of a packed stadium, whether it be the Olimpico or the Bernabeu, Alex steps up to the plate and rarely disappoints. He has received his fair share of criticism for his performances in an Italy shirt - which, World Cup 2006 aside, are probably deserved - but in the Bianconero his hero status is well earned.

Few players have the ability to do what he does, and even less have the composure and iron will to try it in the first place. His goals against Real in both games demonstrate that perfectly. Realising he didn't have the pace to take on the Spanish defence he could have held up the ball and waited for support. But not Pinturicchio, he thought he'd just score from where he was!

Far from fading away with age, Del Piero seems to become even more vital to the Juve cause. His recent performances have even seen people forget that the likes of Gigi Buffon and David Trezeguet are still absent with injuries, such was the decisive manner with which he despatched the Spanish champions.

Of course it won't last forever, as even Alex will have to succumb to the sands of time eventually, but just don't expect him to fade quietly into the background. Del Piero's style suggests that when he does go it will be with a huge bang on the biggest stage, maybe even holding the Champions League trophy in his hands.


I shivered after reading this part.
 

Il Re

-- 10 --
Jan 13, 2005
4,031
I don't think that the list is up to date, bc I heard the commentators saying that Van Nistelrooy is one goal behind Raul (so that list must have been from last before the current CL started).
Last Updated: Nov 5 - 22:15 GMT

i checked on two different websites and they both showed the same stats :confused:
 

Il Re

-- 10 --
Jan 13, 2005
4,031
[/B]

I shivered after reading this part.
me too, to see ale lifting the cup would be amazing, we came close in 2003, but if we did it this season, it would be ale's greatest achievement, a final with and english club, ale scoring the winner, that would be sweet
 

Alen

Ѕenior Аdmin
Apr 2, 2007
53,998
I don't think that the list is up to date, bc I heard the commentators saying that Van Nistelrooy is one goal behind Raul (so that list must have been from last before the current CL started).
The list is ok.

The commentators probably talked about the list of topscorers in all european cups. The list led by Pippo Inzaghi.
But even there i think RVN is more than 1 goal behind Raul.
 

Alen

Ѕenior Аdmin
Apr 2, 2007
53,998
Ален;1796019 said:
The list is ok.

The commentators probably talked about the list of topscorers in all european cups. The list led by Pippo Inzaghi.
But even there i think RVN is more than 1 goal behind Raul.
I checked.

Raul is the all time CL topscorer with 61 goals while Van Nistelrooy is behind him with 56.
This is the official list where CL qualifying matches aren't counted.

If you count the CL qualifiers then RVN has 60 goals and he's only 1 goal behind Raul. That's why those commentators said that RVN is just a goal behind Raul. But UEFA counts only the goals scored in CL groups and the knock-outs that follow after the group stage.
 

Azzurri7

Pinturicchio
Moderator
Dec 16, 2003
72,692
Spanish Media giving some respect for Del Piero


Marca's front pages: "Del Piero knocks down Madrid"

El Pais: "Alex portrays Madrid"

AS: "Del Piero sentences Madrid"

El Mundo Deportivo: "Del Piero Inspired As He Assaults The Bernabeu"


Italian Papers


Tuttosport: "Alex, Galactico"

La Gazzetta Dello Sport:"Alex, king of Spain"
 

Lion

King of Tuz
Jan 24, 2007
36,185
BREAKING NEWS

DEL PIERO ARRESTED IN TURIN!


Reports from Italy say that Alessandro Del Piero has been arrested by Italian authorities.

police have said that Del Piero is being charged with theft after he stole the show in Madrid last night
 

Azzurri7

Pinturicchio
Moderator
Dec 16, 2003
72,692
BREAKING NEWS

DEL PIERO ARRESTED IN TURIN!


Reports from Italy say that Alessandro Del Piero has been arrested by Italian authorities.

police have said that Del Piero is being charged with theft after he stole the show in Madrid last night
Lol, he should be sentence for two years after what he did last night.




Sonia is class.
 

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