11/12/2003. The signs are ominous. Juventus are sweeping all before them and don't look like letting up in their quest for the Scudetto and Champions League double.
Coach Marcello Lippi has been blowing the Bianconeri's trumpet, going to pains to point out just what a strong squad he has at his disposal this season. And why shouldn't he? He has at least two quality players for each position, but also key individuals whom he knows he can rely on to win him a match single handedly.
One such player is Marco Di Vaio. Arguably the club's most outstanding individual this campaign. It's seven Serie A goals and counting for the former Parma striker who now surely commands a starting place week in, week out, as opposed to the one game off, one game on regime (more often than not the former) he was so used to last season.
Di Vaio is one player who has highlighted the fact that Alessandro Del Piero is no longer such a crucial cog in the Bianconeri machine as he once was. A world class player no doubt, capable of turning a game with a moment of divine brilliance. But this season, on the whole, Juve haven't had to reply on individual moments of magic. It's been a real team effort. Sides have visited the Delle Alpi, and returned home with four and five goal beatings. Not necessarily due to moments of sublime skill, but rather brute efficiency (although Pavel Nedved's pass for David Trezeguet's second goal against Real Sociedad should be enough to win him the Ballon d'or on its own!)
And what of Lippi's rotation policy? The former Inter boss, by making often wholesale changes from one game to the next, is making sure that no one runs out of steam, and that everyone keeps going until the last. Lillian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta need a breather? In can come Gianluca Pessotto and Alessandro Birindelli. David Trezeguet is not firing on all cylinders? Fabrizio Miccoli can enter the fray and give a display brimming with energy and enthusiasm.
"This is certainly the most complete squad I have ever coached," noted Lippi after the 4-1 thrashing of Udinese. "I have never had such a quality squad available to me."
Sunday's win highlighted in no uncertain terms why Juventus have won the last two Scudetto's, and why they are red hot favourites to make it three in three - their ability to score late goals, and turn a point into three.
In the 76th minute they were 1-0 down to a Marek Jankulovski (a reported target of Juve) penalty. 13 minutes later they were 4-1 up! How many times over the previous two years have Lippi's side popped up with a late, often undeserved goal to nick three points away from a side who may well have had the better of the match up to that point?
Sheer spirit and determination. Manchester United have it too. That ability to keep on plugging away, until something gives.
Can anything stop the Old Lady? Complacency maybe. Unlikely in a squad of such seasoned pros, but should they build up a what looks an unbridgeable lead over the coming weeks, overconfidence could creep in.
"They are doing very well, if they go on like this in Serie A, it is useless to play," Milan defender Alessandro Nesta told 'La Gazzetta dello Sport'. "However, difficulties may arise sooner or later. Look at Real Madrid for instance: they fell 3-0 in Seville within a quarter of an hour. It may happen and the team may face a crisis."
Just wishful thinking from the former Lazio man?
An injury to national-team goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would be a crushing blow. Indeed, the former Parma stopper has the ability to go a whole game without doing anything, but make the crucial save when it counts. Always the mark of a fine goalkeeper. David Seaman, in his time at Arsenal, had that particular gift.
Antonio Chimente is a competent reserve keeper, but nowhere near in Buffon's class. Lippi would surely move into the transfer market should Buffon get injured for a substantial length of time. But Juve fans will not even be wanting to comprehend that possibility.
Stewart Coggin
-------------------------
*proud*
Coach Marcello Lippi has been blowing the Bianconeri's trumpet, going to pains to point out just what a strong squad he has at his disposal this season. And why shouldn't he? He has at least two quality players for each position, but also key individuals whom he knows he can rely on to win him a match single handedly.
One such player is Marco Di Vaio. Arguably the club's most outstanding individual this campaign. It's seven Serie A goals and counting for the former Parma striker who now surely commands a starting place week in, week out, as opposed to the one game off, one game on regime (more often than not the former) he was so used to last season.
Di Vaio is one player who has highlighted the fact that Alessandro Del Piero is no longer such a crucial cog in the Bianconeri machine as he once was. A world class player no doubt, capable of turning a game with a moment of divine brilliance. But this season, on the whole, Juve haven't had to reply on individual moments of magic. It's been a real team effort. Sides have visited the Delle Alpi, and returned home with four and five goal beatings. Not necessarily due to moments of sublime skill, but rather brute efficiency (although Pavel Nedved's pass for David Trezeguet's second goal against Real Sociedad should be enough to win him the Ballon d'or on its own!)
And what of Lippi's rotation policy? The former Inter boss, by making often wholesale changes from one game to the next, is making sure that no one runs out of steam, and that everyone keeps going until the last. Lillian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta need a breather? In can come Gianluca Pessotto and Alessandro Birindelli. David Trezeguet is not firing on all cylinders? Fabrizio Miccoli can enter the fray and give a display brimming with energy and enthusiasm.
"This is certainly the most complete squad I have ever coached," noted Lippi after the 4-1 thrashing of Udinese. "I have never had such a quality squad available to me."
Sunday's win highlighted in no uncertain terms why Juventus have won the last two Scudetto's, and why they are red hot favourites to make it three in three - their ability to score late goals, and turn a point into three.
In the 76th minute they were 1-0 down to a Marek Jankulovski (a reported target of Juve) penalty. 13 minutes later they were 4-1 up! How many times over the previous two years have Lippi's side popped up with a late, often undeserved goal to nick three points away from a side who may well have had the better of the match up to that point?
Sheer spirit and determination. Manchester United have it too. That ability to keep on plugging away, until something gives.
Can anything stop the Old Lady? Complacency maybe. Unlikely in a squad of such seasoned pros, but should they build up a what looks an unbridgeable lead over the coming weeks, overconfidence could creep in.
"They are doing very well, if they go on like this in Serie A, it is useless to play," Milan defender Alessandro Nesta told 'La Gazzetta dello Sport'. "However, difficulties may arise sooner or later. Look at Real Madrid for instance: they fell 3-0 in Seville within a quarter of an hour. It may happen and the team may face a crisis."
Just wishful thinking from the former Lazio man?
An injury to national-team goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would be a crushing blow. Indeed, the former Parma stopper has the ability to go a whole game without doing anything, but make the crucial save when it counts. Always the mark of a fine goalkeeper. David Seaman, in his time at Arsenal, had that particular gift.
Antonio Chimente is a competent reserve keeper, but nowhere near in Buffon's class. Lippi would surely move into the transfer market should Buffon get injured for a substantial length of time. But Juve fans will not even be wanting to comprehend that possibility.
Stewart Coggin
-------------------------
*proud*
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