Glad for the three points, but jeez, talk about playing with fire on a tightrope. Buffon saved our hapless defense several times with good interventions, so thank goodness he is back. Without Chiellini back there we don't look confident whatsoever, and the result probably should have been a draw. Lots of mistakes at the back through Mellberg, Grygera, and some with De Ceglie, but Paolo did not do any worse than Molinaro would have. The midfield also had holes, but that's not so much Marchisio's or Zanetti's fault as the suspension of Sissoko, someone we basically owe our defensive strength to.
This is another case where getting more of the ball would have helped, but Viola was able to have several chances as they are a good team going forward, especially with Melo in the middle who I think is a damn good player. If Sissoko was out there, Melo would probably have been neutralized. Once again our wingers were nonexistent today, so once again we have to pose the question why doesn't Giovinco start out there, but that question is like a rhetorical question for everybody, except for one person who shall remain nameless. The goal was well made through a striker and a midfielder, but seriously, if we use the straight 4-4-2 we should have more production from the wingers. Unfortunately we don't have anything coming from there.
Buffon - Saved our asses and had a great game, welcome back - 8
Grygera - Offsides and sloppy defending do not mix well when it occurs with the same player - 5
Mellberg - I stated a couple matches ago that I think Mellberg is better in the center, now I don't know what to think - 5.5
Legrottaglie - Did a good job despite his surroundings - 6.5
De Ceglie - Made a few mistakes but I still think he's better than Molinaro - 5.5
Marchionni - Useless - 4.5
Marchisio - I don't think he gets enough credit around here. He's a solid player who at least can complete passes, unlike the Blasi's or other douchebags we have had here. He plays a solid game and doesn't make many mistakes. Good goal my man - 7
Zanetti - Still in the funk after the injury, but made some good plays - 6
Nedved - Added nothing and I hate seeing him like this. Lets not become Milan and Maldini here - 4.5
Amauri - Troubled the Viola defense even without any service - 6
Del Piero - Made some sweet passes and assisted the goal. Well done - 6.5
Giovinco - Held onto the ball well for the time he was out there - 6
Poulsen - NA