I also belong to the majority here who think that Giovinco must play.
I did agree with Ranieri's choice at the beginning, and i still think he did right, not to put Seba directly into the fire. Everyone's eyes were on him. Juve fans expected him to be the messiah while the oposition was waiting and hoping for him to fail. The wolves from the media were going to eat him alive and probably label him a flop if he failed.
That's why it was important to find the perfect match where he's going to shine. Home match against Catania was a perfect oportunity and he took it.
Now after the ice is broken, when the boy proved that he can play very well for us and when he's full of confidence, there is absolutely no reason to keep him on the bench.
Watching Nedved is heartbreaking. We all adore him and it hurts to watch him like this. Now i understand Milan fans and Maldini. They all love Maldini, they keep quiet when he makes a mistake (and it happens on every match because he's so slow now), they know he's costing them points but they owe him so much and they don't dare to ask for a change.
Soon enough the same will happen with us and Nedved.
Did you guys like what you saw against Catania when Gio, Del Piero and Amauri played together ? They combined so well and they created chances with ease. Yeah, we won't see that on every match, but do you remember when was the last time Nedved and the two strikers combined so well and created so many chances ?
I believe you don't even remember the last time.
Nedved is trying very hard, we can all see his determination. But one situation from yesterday's match confirmed that he's past it.
I think Del Piero sent a perfect ball for Neddy. If Nedved was 3 or 4 years younger he would have surely found himself one on one with the keeper. This way the defender cleared everything with ease.
He can't outrun and dribble defenders they way Giovinco can. He can't open up spaces and he can't create chances the way Giovinco can.
Giovinco may not be a messiah and he may not beat everyone by himself just yet, but it's painfully obvious that he can offer much more than Nedved.
I agree that Giovinco should start now, every sane Juve fan can see that,
BUT Allen i believe you are ignoring one major fact here,
its Neddy's defensive skills, yes Neddy is packed with determination, excellent long shoot, v.good dribbling, stamina and pace.
His age is keeping him back and he can no longer be the man he once were, most certainly a younger and gifted player like Giovinco can offer offensively more week in week out.
BUT NOT DEFENSIVELY!!!
We have no other option on the left flank who can defend as much and as efficient as Neddy, already having a liability, named Molinaro in our flank,
force us to play with a winger able to cover ground and defend efficiently
and Neddy can still do that with ease, like always,
some ppl always missed that important part of his role in our team and one of the major factor, our 4-4-2 formation is so Neddy dependable.
There was a time we couldnt create $hit without Neddy but at the same time, we couldnt defend properly, esp at the dieing minutes of the game, without him coming back and supporting our defense with those fierce tackles. Most of the ppl only appreciated his flicks and long range goals
but CR, no matter how incomplete he may is as a coach, saw that!
CR fears to field a formation without a two line defensive front.
This is why he always field 2 DMs and 2 wingers with a good enough defensive profile...
I disagree with the shameful and disrespectful preposition you launched
"Neddy is past it", no he is not over!!!
He is still Neddy and he can be the beast he once were, BUT only if he is used properly. Nedved cannot play 90' every 2-3 days anymore and being the same player he once were.
Thats not his fault that CR abuses him, the fans should blame CR here and not our retiring icon. We should use Neddy as Lazio used to use Mancini,like a super sub, even more an occasional super starter,
Neddy isnt finished yet, he can take a full 90' running faster than Molinaro once/week or 2 week, but not every 2-3 days.
We should respect this player more, CR sacrifices his form and ability to go forward, only to help us secure our left flank, because he wants to field his lover (Molinaro). Instead of appreciating Neddy's efforts and sacrifices, we attack him and blaming him our lack of creativity, but this clearly a tactical approach, CR choices he expects from Amauri and DP to do all the creativity and finishing work and thats why he keeps Neddy there, knowing that he wontbe able to deliver offensively.
I ve been saying for a long time and this is why i said that Molinaro is a cancer. Because he is eating our players who stand besides him, along with the damage he inflicts on his sector. A proper cross, would give Neddy a chance to breath normally and a made a run less, a proper defending, would give him the confidence at stay forward and play deeper, without having the need to intercept everything that comes from this side.
Giovinco will also face similar problems, esp because he isnt that "equipped" at the defensive department.
I think you can now further understand the problem i anticipated one year ago...
These problems reflects the existence of Molinaro in our squad and the overall quality of our defenders, everything starts from the defense and this why i insisted to fix this problem first, than investing on a 25mil forward...