Calcio Debate:
Is Del Piero Better As A Super-Sub?
Last night Alessandro Del Piero came off the bench to put in a magical cameo performance against Palermo. Neil Alexis asks whether this could be a more useful role for the ageing Juventus star…
Alessandro Del Piero has certainly had an up-and-down season so far. He started the campaign in reasonably good form, before a disappointing display against France for Italy, and then a run of five Serie A games without a goal, led to the Golden Boy losing his place in Roberto Donadoni’s national squad.
However since then we have seen Del Boy return to his usual self. He rolled back the years against Genoa in week eight, scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory, and he has since added three more goals to his seasonal tally.
In last night’s 5-0 thrashing of Palermo, Del Piero started the game on the substitutes bench, as Coach Claudio Ranieri preferred David Trezeguet and Vincenzo Iaquinta up-front.
With Juve 2-0 ahead, following a goal from each of these players, Del Piero was summoned to replace Iaquinta in the 68th minute.
In just over the 20 minutes that followed, Il Pinturicchio drew up the perfect illustration of the super-sub, scoring two goals and creating another.
Del Piero could have scored less than 10 seconds after coming on, picking up the ball in the middle of the field, beating an opponent, before playing a one-two with Trezeguet which was intercepted at the last moment by a Palermo defender.
However the Juve record goalscorer did not have to wait much longer and after Pavel Nedved won a free-kick 25 yards from goal, Del Piero stepped up to curl a trademark free-kick over the wall and in off the far post. Alberto Fontana in the Sicilian goal did not move.
A visibly leaner Del Piero continued to impress, repeatedly taking on and beating defenders, and Palermo just could not handle the extra spark he brought to the Bianconeri team.
On 75 minutes he created the fourth goal of the night, launching a counter-attack and rolling an inch-perfect through ball to fellow substitute Marco Marchionni who fired past Fontana.
The perfect cameo performance was completed in injury time when again Nedved was brought down, this time inside the area, and Del Piero steeped up to coolly convert the spot-kick past a helpless Fontana.
On the evidence of last night’s display one has to ask themselves - is Del Piero actually more useful for his side as a super-sub rather than as a starter?
At the age of 33, huge question marks remain whether Del Boy can last for 90 minutes. If this is not the case, surely he is better suited for coming on in the last half-an-hour or so of matches, when teams are tired, and really making the difference.
Fabio Capello, who had a fractious relationship with Del Piero while he was coach of Juventus, always maintained that he was better in small doses. Indeed the World Cup in Germany also proved how decisive he can be coming off the bench.
His introduction in the semi-final against Germany is recognised by many as one of the major turning points of the match, as Del Piero’s corner helped create Fabio Grosso’s unforgettable extra-time opener, before he added a second himself with a beautiful curling effort.
In truth, yesterday’s match against Palermo is perhaps not the best of markers, as the Rosanero were simply dreadful at times.
However I believe that with Vincenzo Iaquinta, David Trezeguet and Raffaele Palladino all in great form, the option of using Del Piero as a super-sub is certainly a valid one.
And what about next summer’s Euro 2008 finals?
Many in Italy have been perhaps a little too hasty in writing of the Golden Boy’s international career after he failed to make Roberto Donadoni’s October and November squads.
I firmly believe that Del Piero could be an important trump card in Austria and Switzerland. While I certainly would not consider starting him, his natural skill and creativity could be important in deciding close-matches from off the bench.
If I was betting man I would have my money on Del Piero going to Euro 2008, with the exact intention of being used as a super-sub.
What are your views on this topic? Is Del Piero, as he moves towards the tail-end of his career better suited as a super-sub? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
Neil Alexis
Goal.com