Del Piero is a great man. A better man...a different species...he exudes virtue, as a man. Yet at times, especially this last season, I have seen too many Juve games in which he has done little to nothing in regards to threatening the opposition. He has lost more pace this last season than at any time before, age is catching up with his body. He also seems weaker, physically, than I have ever seen him before. He can still beat a player, but unless he is close to goal, that player generally has a chance to take a second swipe for the ball after chasing him down. GONE is the Sandro who would cut in from the left, slipping between defenders, put the ball on his right boot then curl it into the top corner...He has lost much of his dynamic nature on the pitch.
As a man, as I have said, Del Piero is a King compared with Cassano as a nasty, petulant jester. On the pitch, in history, Del Piero;s career is like comparing a Saint to a stupid tramp. But in the NOW...indeed, I think Cassano is more of a consistent danger to opposition defences. I also think its a shame that Ranieri has not given Giovinco more opportunities in Sandro's position, rather than deployed wide left.
I love Sandro. He will forever remain for me and the rest of the Juve supporters a legend. But I am scrutinizing components of a team which wins games. Not humility, or decency. They don't win you games...This is a problem which extends to the coach, for me...I like Ranieri, as a man. He comports himself impeccably, makes the odd strange, amusing, yet inoffensive comment, like his recent reference to chinese referees, and has never led me to believe there is a nasty streak lying beneath his cool, often jovial surface...Yet, his teeth lack sharpness. He dines with good grace, good table manners, but I have a preference doe including some elements in a team, which rip into their meals like Atilla the Hun, focused more on the Eating than the Show of Eating.
Its why I smile at the suggestion of Cassano coming to Turin. Its why I smile when people tell me that Italy didn't deserve to win the world cup, only gaining the trophy through disgraceful behaviour by Matterazzi...Maybe they have a point, but the fact is, Matterazzi helped us win the final. And I wonder how many italians feel so strongly about him calling Zidane;s mother a whore, or whatever is was that he said to inspire such a strong reaction, that they would prefer to have finished second and not grabbed the Winners Status....
Its like Maradona's Hand of God...he doesn't regret that, and neither to the Argies...I am british sicillian, yet I hold no grudge against Diego.
We lack that kind of character at Juve, with only Chiellini coming close...Zebina will add some spice to proceedings, but lacks talent as a footballer.
I take my hat of to Sandro, for a beautiful, glorious, loyal career, but his stellar light is fast fading...