The trouble with Juve
Poor tactics, terrible physical condition and old age are at the root of Juventus’ dismal run of form, argues Giovanni Spinella
For the second consecutive season, January has become the graveyard of Juventus’ title ambitions. With only one win in the last four games, the Old Lady’s management must now reflect on what has caused their downfall. The answers are threefold – physical, tactical and, for want of a better term, biological.
Ever since the Christmas break, Juve’s form has crumbled. The Bianconeri have been consistently over-matched across the pitch not only against Udinese and Cagliari, but even against Siena, Fiorentina and Lazio. Opposition players have regularly reached the ball first, won every tackle and out-paced Juve’s performers.
Juventus have started every game slowly, to then pick up their pace a bit, to peak and then drop. Only the skill of players such as Alessandro Del Piero, Claudio Marchisio and Nicola Legrottaglie have avoided heavier defeats.
And Juve’s mysterious spate of injuries only compounds the problems – there still isn’t a return date for Mauro Camoranesi or Hasan Salihamidzic. And Giorgio Chiellini returned to action at the weekend only to leave half an hour into the Cagliari defeat. Cristiano Zanetti too is again injured after recent recovery. Just what are the physical staff playing at?
Tactically boss Claudio Ranieri has changed Juventus’ formation from the 4-4-2 line-up that did so well against Real Madrid and Milan to a more offensive 4-3-1-2 with either Pavel Nedved or Marco Marchionni playing behind the two strikers.
This has had two consequences. Defensively Juventus are being overwhelmed on the wings – attackers are outnumbering and outpacing Juve’s full-backs – whereas offensively Juve no longer supply crosses for the strikers. Is it a coincidence that Amauri hasn’t scored in 2009?
Closely tied in with the tactical problem is the biological issue. Some key players are finally showing their age. Nedved’s dip in form – notwithstanding his goal against Cagliari – has been evident.
In pinning so many hopes on the 36-year-old Czech player Juventus were always rolling the dice and this time they came up snake-eyes. But even Del Piero has been playing in a different role – more the playmaking fantasista than the striker. Is this for tactical or physical reasons?
With the side struggling to recover their form and a tactical change that is problematic, Ranieri has some difficult choices to make. If he wants to save Juve’s season he is going to have to summon the strength to bench the lagging players and cease his tactical tinkering. Otherwise Juventus are in for a pretty ordinary 2009.
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