Plenty of good things, with a mix of the usual failings.
Juve played at a good tempo in the first half and kept the pitch nice and big with the wingbacks playing really high up and Giaccherini moving very well.
That allowed Juve to get into any number of dangerous situations, but the decision making and/or final ball was consistently poor when in good positions. It should also be said that the forwards did not make a good job of getting into goal-scoring positions when Juve created dangerous situations.
For all Juve's dominance, it was hard to see where the goal was going to come from. A special goal like that really shouldn't be needed to get the break-through in a game you are dominating to that extent.
Then Juve still managed to give Udinese a chance to get back into the game in the second half. Despite Juve having the lead, they left the wingbacks really high up the pitch. That - combined with Pogba getting out of position - allowed Udinese a four on three attack, which should never happen, and certainly not when you are ahead.
Thought Udinese's tactics were a bit odd. It looked like they (not unreasonably) thought Juve could be vulnerable and wanted to get their midfield pressing quite high up. However, they didn't have the balls to get their defence to follow the midfield up the pitch in order to really squeeze the game, so Juve were consistently able to find space between the Udinese defence and midfield.
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Think you're maybe a little generous on the defenders' ratings.
That's not to say they weren't alright - just don't think Udinese worked them enough to justify ratings that high.
Juve played at a good tempo in the first half and kept the pitch nice and big with the wingbacks playing really high up and Giaccherini moving very well.
That allowed Juve to get into any number of dangerous situations, but the decision making and/or final ball was consistently poor when in good positions. It should also be said that the forwards did not make a good job of getting into goal-scoring positions when Juve created dangerous situations.
For all Juve's dominance, it was hard to see where the goal was going to come from. A special goal like that really shouldn't be needed to get the break-through in a game you are dominating to that extent.
Then Juve still managed to give Udinese a chance to get back into the game in the second half. Despite Juve having the lead, they left the wingbacks really high up the pitch. That - combined with Pogba getting out of position - allowed Udinese a four on three attack, which should never happen, and certainly not when you are ahead.
Thought Udinese's tactics were a bit odd. It looked like they (not unreasonably) thought Juve could be vulnerable and wanted to get their midfield pressing quite high up. However, they didn't have the balls to get their defence to follow the midfield up the pitch in order to really squeeze the game, so Juve were consistently able to find space between the Udinese defence and midfield.
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Finally the team woke up, the intensity they started the match with was exactly what we missed in our games in 2013. Had we played with this approach we wouldn't have dropped points. Our attack was as usual terrible at the beginning until Pogba sent terror and knocked them down with two world class shots. Superb! I have nothing more to say. The forwards did then their job to destroy and bag the game.
I am extremely happy, I love you all.
Buffon 6.5
Barzagli 7
Bonucci 6.5
Caceres 7
Lichtsteiner 7
Vidal 6
Pogba 8.5
Giaccherini 6
De Ceglie 6.5
Govinco 6.5
Vucinic 7.5
Matri 7
Padoin N.R
Isla N.R
I am extremely happy, I love you all.
Buffon 6.5
Barzagli 7
Bonucci 6.5
Caceres 7
Lichtsteiner 7
Vidal 6
Pogba 8.5
Giaccherini 6
De Ceglie 6.5
Govinco 6.5
Vucinic 7.5
Matri 7
Padoin N.R
Isla N.R
That's not to say they weren't alright - just don't think Udinese worked them enough to justify ratings that high.
