What the hell is going on?…
As I sit here, listening to Crosby, Stills and Nash crooning over Winchester cathedral, my mind continues to roll the dice, but find no reasonable explanation to the Ziegler conundrum.
Since 2006, and the shitstorm that arrived and is only now, showing tentative signs of moving on to other pastures, we have been properly fucked for fullbacks. Molinaro? Could tackle, but his distribution of the ball was equal to that of Momo Sissoko. Criscito? Punished too quickly, and sent elsewhere…and then, the bright light of hope, Paolo de ceglie, who has managed 4-6 weeks of half decent form since his debatable achievement of concreting his name against the left back starting berth.
As for the right back slot, for too long did we persevere with near competent but clearly lacking true quality players. We solved that problem, this Summer mercato, with the definitely brilliant acquisition of the solid, adventurous, buccaneering Liechtensteiner. But strangely kept Motta, as his backup, whilst allowing two better players better suited to that role, in Brazzo and Grygera, leave the fold. Still…if the Liechtensteiner stays fit, we are fine and firing on all possible cylinders in that area of the team. Its the left back position which I find a maelstrom…of dashed hopes and dead ends.
This story goes deeper than merely a question of quality. For its extremely rare, for any top club, to have a player signed in May, to be saying to the press in August, that the coach simply doesn’t rate him or want him.
This is the first indication, I have come across, of demanding I question…WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON AT MY BELOVED JUVE??? Its unprofessional for players to be told, without playing yet, a meaningful competitive fixture, that they are not wanted or needed, and should aim to find another club…such as Fenerbahce, who have now officially taken the Swiss INTERNATIONAL on loan for the season, for a meagre fee of 600k.
If we had at least ONE left sided fullback likely to make that position his own, I could understand. This is in no way the case. Had we signed Bruno Alvez, Lugano or Alex, then I could understand Conte’s thinking and movements. Which would have afforded us the option of pushing Chiellini to left back, where he is okay and dependable, but far less potent than when he is played at CB. Again, this is NOT the case…for we didn’t sign a world class CB.
So…with Grosso as the only other viable LB…a player who failed, time and time and time again last term, as the only logical backup to our LB position, still on the books, and our apparent starter, de ceglie, showing a month of okay form in several years in the top flight, I ask you, what the fuck is happening???
I would like to get into Conte’s head. For this latest news seems at best, weird. At worst, Ego taking centre stage at the expense of common sense.
Unlike many others, I do not conclude that, on the balance of last season, Bonucci is awful. But neither do I wish to see, by far, our best centre back deployed at LB. The suggestion of Barzagli and Bonucci, is…risky. The suggestion of Bonucci/Barzagli and Sorensen, is even more risky. So…what is Conte thinking and planning?
You play your best players in their best positions. That isn’t maverick tactical lunacy. Its simply…common sense. Yet what are we planning on doing now? Putting all our eggs into the de ceglie basket? This worries me massively, especially when I add into my cogitation, the idea that we have strenghetend our attack, strengthened our midfield, strengthend our right rear flank…yet now, fucked up the clearly most awful area of our first XI for the last 5 years…
Why was Ziegler told by Conte that he was not just second choice; he was no choice?