[Serie A, 25th round] Juventus 1-0 Napoli [13th February, 2016] (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter Marc
- Start date
I actually think Lichtsteiner is very capable in that slot, he's played there a number of times over the years -- and he generally has a great understanding with his teammates, so the communication will be there. I actually wouldn't mind seeing Rugani in the lineup, but I'm not sure Max has that type of confidence in the player right now. I guess we'll see. Speaking of kind of throwing players into big games, though... that potentially works a bit both ways because he hasn't had the continuity; hopefully if he does play, Rugani will rise to the occasion.
What makes the 4-4-2 with Alex Sandro at LM such an interesting prospect for me would be seeing him play with fewer defensive responsibilities, an even more attacking emphasis. He's a beast going forward, I think he could pin that side down, really press them. Would obviously never experiment with it in a game of this magnitude, though.
Highly doubt we'll play a 4-4-2, but you're right, it would be nice to have a bit more of a physical presence in the middle of the pitch.
What makes the 4-4-2 with Alex Sandro at LM such an interesting prospect for me would be seeing him play with fewer defensive responsibilities, an even more attacking emphasis. He's a beast going forward, I think he could pin that side down, really press them. Would obviously never experiment with it in a game of this magnitude, though.
Highly doubt we'll play a 4-4-2, but you're right, it would be nice to have a bit more of a physical presence in the middle of the pitch.
http://www.tuttojuve.com/primo-pian...olete-rugani-e-poi-se-sbaglia-lo-impal-272428
allegri saying that
- khedira's condition is to be evaluated tomorrow
- chiellini and asamoah won't play against napoli but should be available against bologna
allegri saying that
- khedira's condition is to be evaluated tomorrow
- chiellini and asamoah won't play against napoli but should be available against bologna
This is also a good source of info but you have to understand Italian. 
http://juworld.net/
By the way, check this out:
http://juworld.net/
By the way, check this out:
You make some good points, but Licht only played as a CB 2-3 times later in the 2nd half when the games were secured. It's a secondary position for him (that too barely), and one where he has had very little experience in. Throwing him there all of a sudden vs Insigne and Napoli isn't a good idea and won't happen IMO.
Starting him there wouldn't make sense even vs Bologna IMO. At best, Licht at CB can be experimented for 20 odd minutes in the 2nd half vs Bologna if we're winning that game and have everything under control. Against Napoli, the closest he'll come to playing as a CB will be if he stays back in a Zona Mista formation when we have the ball with Evra playing the WB role on the other side, but it'll be a 442 shape defensively.
On paper, a midfield of Cuadrado-Marchisio-Pogba-A.Sandro sounds great, but it's a completely different system to what we've been playing for years. 352, 4312, 433, and Zona Mista have all feature a 3-CM combo with one regista, one B2B, and one mezzala. Gazzetta's 442 actually has that same CM combo. Pogba is only a winger on paper. He'll play the same mezzala role. Going from a 3-CM system that we've been using for years to a 2-CM one would require a lot of training time to perfect, and changing that system for only one or two games is impractical.
442 will be the defensive shape, and we used the same shape with Pogba at LM in some games in 1st half of the season. When we have the ball, the shape will be either Zona Mista or 433. Pogba will play his usual attacking CM role and move inward and up. Evra will be the player responsible for providing width on the left (Alex Sandro instead would be perfect for that LWB role). Morata and Pogba will help him and show at the flank at times (Pogba already does that). Licht will stay back or play his usual FB role depending on whether it's Zona Mista or 433 when we have the ball.
One drawback of the system is there won't be a lot of width on the left, esp. if Evra starts at LB. With Alex Sandro, it wouldn't be much of a problem. One big advantage with the system is Cuadrado and Lichtsteiner can double up on Napoli's left flank, which is very dangerous.
Starting him there wouldn't make sense even vs Bologna IMO. At best, Licht at CB can be experimented for 20 odd minutes in the 2nd half vs Bologna if we're winning that game and have everything under control. Against Napoli, the closest he'll come to playing as a CB will be if he stays back in a Zona Mista formation when we have the ball with Evra playing the WB role on the other side, but it'll be a 442 shape defensively.
On paper, a midfield of Cuadrado-Marchisio-Pogba-A.Sandro sounds great, but it's a completely different system to what we've been playing for years. 352, 4312, 433, and Zona Mista have all feature a 3-CM combo with one regista, one B2B, and one mezzala. Gazzetta's 442 actually has that same CM combo. Pogba is only a winger on paper. He'll play the same mezzala role. Going from a 3-CM system that we've been using for years to a 2-CM one would require a lot of training time to perfect, and changing that system for only one or two games is impractical.
442 will be the defensive shape, and we used the same shape with Pogba at LM in some games in 1st half of the season. When we have the ball, the shape will be either Zona Mista or 433. Pogba will play his usual attacking CM role and move inward and up. Evra will be the player responsible for providing width on the left (Alex Sandro instead would be perfect for that LWB role). Morata and Pogba will help him and show at the flank at times (Pogba already does that). Licht will stay back or play his usual FB role depending on whether it's Zona Mista or 433 when we have the ball.
One drawback of the system is there won't be a lot of width on the left, esp. if Evra starts at LB. With Alex Sandro, it wouldn't be much of a problem. One big advantage with the system is Cuadrado and Lichtsteiner can double up on Napoli's left flank, which is very dangerous.
