Thinking out loud and letting the final debacle slide for a while. I do reiterate we don't need that much.
We have a great starting 11, even if unorthodox (with Alves as right midfielder and Mandzukic on the left etc). But to me that makes Allegri's 11 charming and made us hard to play most of the times.
An 11 in all fairness, that cruised through the knockout stages of the CL. Not a small feat.
Buffon
Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini Sandro
Alves Khedira Pjanic Mandzukic
Dybala
Higuain
Now it fell apart in the final, for whatever reason. But it's obvious there's no backup plan or anyway to correct things going wrong because of a lack of alternatives.
If we were to build a second team in the same formation we would fall short.
Neto
Lichtsteiner Benatia Rugani Asamoah
Cuadrado Marchisio ?????? ?????
?????
????
Of course there's Sturaro et al, but i'm talking about valid alternatives. Like for like, or players that can even change a game(Cuadrado).
Laying it out like this, it's clear that our biggest problem is the the subs.
Although for me Dybala was also a bit disappointing this season. Some great matches, but a lot of underwhelming games as well. He looked lost often and as a result Higauin becomes isolated. I think we need some player to act as foil or take control, so Dybala can remain more in the final third of the pitch close to Higauin.