“We know what the strong points of Genoa are. They have been playing this sort of football for years, with players who know each other by heart and with a continuous change in positions. Sometimes one of the three defenders moves up to the attack putting himself in a condition to shoot at goal and when this happens he is always covered by a team mate. They play well on the flanks, know Gasperini’s schemes by heart and they carry them out showing excellent football high in intensity”.

Ferrara knows well what the attitude of his team must be: “I think it is important to be shorter, both in the offensive and the defensive phases. This will allow us to win back the ball more easily and avoid long balls when we are in possession. Long balls are instinctive when you have team mates which are physically strong and perhaps it is the easy solution, especially when the opponents attack you”.

“We must be clever enough to move the ball around even when we are under pressure and everybody must move around. We won two difficult away matches against Roma and Lazio but it is not enough. Our victories must pass through other victories, starting from tomorrow”.

juventus.com

For the match against Genoa, Ciro Ferrara called up 21 players. The list does not include Del Piero and Diego whose condition is improving and are due to return. Tiago is also out as well as Cannavaro and Sissoko. To compensate, Felipe Melo and Salihamidzic have recovered completely from their respective injuries.

1. Buffon
2. Caceres
3. Chiellini
4. Felipe Melo
6. Grosso
7. Salihamidzic
8. Marchisio
9. Iaquinta
11. Amauri
12. Chimenti
13. Manninger
15. Zebina
16. Camoranesi
17. Trezeguet
18. Poulsen
19. Molinaro
20. Giovinco
21. Grygera
29. De Ceglie
33. Legrottaglie
39. Marrone

IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!

THE GOOD:
The French cannot conquer Turin- This is our 11th home game against a French side in the Champion’s League, which seems awfully low to me. The results? 9 wins, 1 draw, and the last draw you have to go all the way back to 1983-1984 Cup Winners Cup against PSG, which finished 0-0. It was also the last time we’ve failed to score at home against the French (put your sexual puns here) scoring 22 in the other 8.
Bordeaux cannot conquer Italia- They have never won a game in Italy, with 2 draws and 5 losses. Better yet, in 6/7 of them, they didn’t score. The only game they have scored in Italy (you’re reading that right) was a 3-3 draw against Fiorentina in 2000.
Juventus hasn’t lost at home in 5 years- Last time was that dreadful 0-1 loss to Deportivo in 2004. There have been 16 home games since then, with 11 wins and 5 draws.

Those statistics all read beautifully. If it continues to be so, we can assume Bordeaux cannot beat us, cannot score, and that we will triumph. Obviously football is about 90minutes, but these records are very encouraging.

Apparently he did have hair, once upon a time.

FORMATIONS AND LINEUPS:
Juventus- Definitely out of the game are Grygera, Del Piero, Diego, Salihamidzic, Sissoko, and Chiellini, who is serving his 1-game suspension from last year’s red card against Chelsea. Juventus.com chopped off a few names, as De Ceglie, Tiago, and Legrottaglie will be available to Ferrara, so don’t worry.

In defense, it is assumed that Cannavaro will return from his rest to partner Legrottaglie, with the absence of Chiellini. Grosso is likely to get the nod at left-back, despite playing 80minutes Saturday and last Wednesday in Bulgaria, and right-back I think Caceres will be given his Juve Champions League debut. While Zebina is fit to play against his countrymen, he’s just returning from injury so playing him might be a risk.

In midfield, I hope Camoranesi sits this one out. He’s been in mediocre form recently, and I think it’s equally due to his work to adapt to the 3-man midfield, but also simply, he’s played too much recently. Tiago should start over him, I assume that that was why Tiago was rested on Sunday, not because Ferrara prefers Camo, but because he wanted Tiago fully-fit for today. Felipe Melo will anchor the defensive-midfield, and Marchisio will likely be sent out to battle. These players have all played a lot recently and it’s proof of the depth you need in midfield. Sissoko and Zanetti could come in handy in this situation, but obviously both are unavailable. Maybe even Poulsen will get a cameo.

In attack, Giovinco will substitute for the injured Diego, and Ferrara will likely return to his current-duo of Iaquinta-Amauri, with Del Piero still trying to get over his injuries.

Predicted XI: (4-3-1-2): Buffon; Caceres, Legrottaglie, Cannavaro, Grosso; Marchisio, Melo, Tiago; Giovinco; Iaquinta, Amauri

Bordeaux-
I will be perfectly honest with you. I know very, very little about Bordeaux, except they produce wine, and good wine at that. Ex-Interista Laurent Blanc (actually, who played alongside Ferrara at Napoli with Ranieri as their coach) has done very well with the team, leading them to break Lyon’s Ligue 1 hegemony last season. Obviously ex-Milanista Gourcuff has been a revelation at the squad, so we will have to watch him closely. Aside from that, I don’t know who plays there or what their lineup is, so I’m copying Goal.com’s lineup and recommending you check out Jennifer at the Bordeaux Offside for more information.

Predicted XI- (4-5-1): Carrasso; Tremoulinas, Ciani, Planus, Chalme; Wendel, Diarra, Fernando, Gourcuff, Gouffran; Chamakh

Looks like they play with a pretty compact midfield. I’m guessing given his surname, Diarra plays a defensive midfield role. Our midfield is going to have a battle on their hands.

According to women, he is apparently quite good looking. I guess French women need someone to lust after, the other fantasista wouldn’t work out.

KEY PLAYER:
Juventus- Giovinco- Against a packed midfield like Bordeaux, Gio might struggle as he thrives on space to run at defenders. Expect him to get fouled a lot, this game is going to ask plenty of questions of him in which I will go to greater detail below.
Bordeaux- Gourcuff- Because he’s very good, and he’s the only one I know. I’m ignorant, I know, but I have better things to do than watch Ligue 1, like gnaw my arm off.

PREDICTIONS AND PREVIEWS: 2-0, in a tight affair like the Lazio game. Expect us to get on the scoresheet 2nd half, and late in the game. For other previews check out the Bordeaux Offside, and Goal.com.

FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE-

Ciro Ferrara is preparing to lead Juventus for his first time in the Champions league. The coach, strong from a positive outcome of 5 victories in as many matches on the Juventus bench, will find and ex-team mate, Laurent Blanc on the Bordeaux bench: «I have great memories of us as team-mates – underlined Ferrara. We met recently in Nyon and it was a pleasure just like when I got to know he became the Bordeaux coach. There is a relationship of esteem and friendship which binds us». The friendship comes from the years spent on the field together, the esteem from the excellent results obtained up to now by the Frenchman: «They are the champions of France and are unbeaten for over 15 matches. This must make us reflect. Tomorrow, it will not be a normal match for us because it is the first in the Champions League. The first of the group stage always has dangerous twists but we want to do well. What differs compared to the championship? Well, the championship isa long race and a defeat now and then is acceptable but in the Champions League you cannot afford to lose. Our objective at the moment is to qualify from the group stage and to do so we must not drop any precious points. Therefore the match is much more delicate from this point of view».

For tomorrow’s match, Ferrara will have Zebina back but will not be able to count on Del Piero or Diego after the latter was forced to leave the field due to an injury during the match against Lazio: «Del Piero is continuing to work and when he will not feel any more pain he will be available while Diego has had good news. We had been worried after having seen him leave the field but the tests showed it is not a big problem. We will see if we can have him back by the end of the week or for the match against Genoa».

The Brazilian will be substituted by Sebastian Giovinco: «I am satisfied with all those who played against Lazio and even with him. There is no question anymore about whether he has matured. If he is part of this squad it is because we believe in his qualities and he has all the possibility to show them. A player must always take advantage of the occasions he is given. I read somewhere that I would not have fielded him when Diego was injured. This is not true. The simple truth is that Seba joined after the others due to his commitments with the Under 21 squad but I have always fielded him when he was available. Tiago as playmaker? He could adapt to that role, just like Camoranesi, but I do not want to go against the characteristics of the players. At the start of the season I said I did not want to put too much responsibility on one player and neither did I want to construct a team around one player. Juventsu, at the moment, is having positive feedback especially from the players who come on to the field after the start of the match and who are winning us points and this should be one of the strong points throughout the season».

Ferrara warned his players with regards to the next opponents: «Bordeaux is a team with important points of reference such as Gourcuff, Chamakh (who is very good when it comes to heading the ball and giving the ball to his mates), or Wendel who has great technique. They are well organized, they all defend, are clever at building up the action rapidly and have players like Diarra o Caini who are good from set-pieces and therefore we will have to be careful even when it comes to inactive balls».

The most renown player of Bordeaux is in fact Gourcuff who, after having managed to gain himself an important role with Milan, has become even more the start of the French team. This fact may bring to light the difficulty Italian football has in launching young players: «Sometimes players who arrive in Italy at a young age find it hard and for Gourcuff this was the case especially in a team like Milan. Some players manage to express themselves better in their own country and this seems to be the case: Gourcuff had shown he possessed great technical qualities but managed to find continuity in his country. With regards to the capability of launching youngsters it seems to me that Juventus has done so allowing them to reach high levels».

When looking for Gigi pictures, I noticed he has been awfully smiley lately. This is good.

Gigi Buffon- It is a new opportunity for the bianconeri to try and confirm themselves even in Europe:. This is the objective of Buffon – who was busy addressing the press conference together with Ferrara – and his team mates: «During Saturday’s match against Lazio, we never stopped fighting and believing in the victory even when we encountered difficulties. After just three matches in the championship it is still early to say for sure but we have undertaken the right road».

The bianconeri are therefore about to get back to Euroepan football and just like a year ago, the group stage is not a simple one. Buffon, therefore, wants a Juve that is ready to face the match against Bordeaux with the same ardor fielded against Real Madrid and Zenit: «last season we played against highly acclaimed opponents and yet we won the group and gave signs of being an important team. In the successive round we faced an improving Chelsea and we could have even gone through. Now it is still early to say if we can aim at winning the competition but we surely have a more competitive squad».

The squad was in fact strengthened by the signings of the likes of Cannavaro, Grosso, Felipe Melo, Caceres and especially Diego. The former Werder player will miss the European debut and even though the news with regards to his injury are positive (7 days of recovery) and put everybody’s mind at rest, Buffon thinks that Juventus is ready for the appointment even without its Brazilian champion: «Diego is an important player for us and we would like him to play in every match but a great team cannot depend on one player. In order to be competitive it must have an ample squad with many players of a high level».

THE GIOVINCO QUESTION: I meant for this to have its own post, because I think it’s a very important debate, but with the packed fixtures list I figured it was important to have a preview up about the first Champion’s League game. It isn’t a discussion on his recent comments, I understand his frustration, but about his role.

To me, Diego’s performance against Roma confirmed that perhaps Giovinco is not set out to be trequartista. The two goals he scored, I’m not sure Giovinco would have, he probably would have been knocked over by the defenders and taken a free kick, he doesn’t have the kind of power that Diego used to hold off the defense. As such, he gets knocked over too often and has trouble staying on his feet. Against Lazio, he was muscled off the ball a few times, but he seemed to thrive when he had space and drifted out to the flanks.

If he was moved up front to Del Piero’s position, he’d have a bit more space but more importantly, other players couldn’t be so foully with him as they’d be conceding free kicks in prime locations or even penalties. But from what I’ve seen, he doesn’t have a strikers killer-eye for goal, he is definitely more of a provider than a poacher.

So where is his ideal position? Is it as Ranieri saw it, on the flanks? Is it as a trequartista, or as a striker? (He gave some of his best performances last season as a winger) Is his mediocre performances at trequartista due to a lack of form, or his size? The counter-arguments are that he hasn’t been given a lengthy run out in the team, perhaps he could improve there. He is young, so many of these skills, such as becoming more of a goal-scorer, these could be learned. But some traits are inherent, like his size. Another possibility would be to convert him to a regista, like what was done with Andrea Pirlo. Giovinco has great vision, though it would waste his dribbling ability. So to close out the preview, where do you think Giovinco’s ideal role is?

Where is Giovinco’s best role?(polls)

C’e’ una stella che indica il camino, forza Juve, vincere e’ il tuo destino!!

My feelings of indifference towards the Laziali are not shared by all…

RECENT ENCOUNTERS:
Our record against Lazio is fairly mixed since the return to Serie A. The first year, we defeated Lazio comprehensively, 3-2 in Rome following a brilliant Zanetti-ADP display, and then a crushing 5-2 win at home late in the season. Last season in Rome, Manninger conceded an easy goal to Ledesma, before “The Beard” pulled it even with a bullet header off a corner to finish 1-1. The return leg was one we will never forget of course, that, appropriately, of Pavel Nedved’s farewell to calcio in which we triumphed 2-0. While our league results have been pretty positive, Lazio outplayed us last season on their way to the Coppa Italia, winning both in Lazio after coming from behind and in Turin.

RECENT FORM:
Juventus- (WW)- We’ve started the season on the right foot. The squad is determined, united, and eager to win. Ferrara has certainly pushed the right mentality onto the team, and with the squad adjusting well to the new tactics, we have played forceful and gritty. Against Chievo we struggled but held our resolve, whereas against Roma we outplayed them in their own home. Let’s hope for a combination of the two.
Lazio (WW)- Lazio are another one of the teams thus far 100% in the league, as Ballardini has similarly had a positive effect on his squad. He did well last year with Palermo, giving them more consistency and a big-game spirit, and it seems he’s transmitted that to the white-and-blue half of Rome. They defeated Inter in the SuperCoppa, and then edged past Atalanta and defeated a plucky Chievo (as we all know) in Verona. They are in good form as well.

FORMATIONS AND LINEUPS:
Juventus- This is when the season starts to get tricky, with a few injuries as well as fatigue. 7 Juventus players started in the Azzurri win over Bulgaria in Turin, and with the Champion’s League starting this week at home against Bordeaux, I would expect several of these players to get rested, namely Iaquinta, Cannavaro, and Camoranesi. Grygera came back from international duty with a slight problem and Del Piero has not been able to resolve his thigh issue quite yet, so left at home are Del Piero, Grygera, Sissoko, Salihamidzic, Zebina, and Sissoko.

In defense, I would expect Legrottaglie to get the nod to partner with Chiellini, giving Cannavaro the rest for the mid-week game. Caceres should certainly debut at right-back as Zebina, Grygera, and Brazzo are all staying home for this game. Left-back is interesting, Grosso played Wednesday but said he’s in good condition and ready to start, but he also might be rested for the Champion’s League game this week, though Ferrara has indicated he will play. It all depends on how much Ferrara wants to rotate, of course, and here we will get a good look at an important part of coaching; squad rotation. I would prefer Grosso to be rested, a lineup of Caceres-Legro-Chiellini-De Ceglie, which is our 2nd-string defense (except for Chiellini) and I feel pretty good about it. That’s a new feeling.

Midfield is a guessing game as always. Tiago, Camoranesi, Marchisio, Poulsen, and Felipe Melo all played international games a few days ago, so no player is “fully rested.” The good news about Felipe Melo’s international game is that he will receive a length ban I would imagine, for kicking a Chilean player in the crotch, so less exhausting Europe->South America travel for him.

In attack, Iaquinta is widely expected to be rotated out, and with Del Piero absent, one would expect Trezeguet to return to the squad, and hopefully bang in a goal. That would do wonders for his confidence. Diego should return as trequartista as he was not called up by Brazil, though Giovinco could get a surprise appearance up alongside Amauri or maybe slot in for Diego.

Predicted XI: Buffon; Caceres, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Grosso; Tiago, Melo, Marchisio; Diego; Trezeguet, Amauri

Lazio- Zarate and Rocchi are fighting to be fit for the match, whether either of them will be is anyones guess. Inzaghi Jr, Stephen Makinwa, Siviglia, Brocchi, and Cribari are all definitively out of the match. Ballardini will probably go with his preferred 4-3-1-2 with Brazilian midfielder Matuzalem as trequarista and Juve-killer Julio Cruz up top. (God, I wish he retired) For better information, check out Cathal and Franco at the Lazio Offside, they do good work.

Predicted XI: Muslera; Lichsteiner, Diakite, Radu, Kolarov; Dabo, Baronio, Mauri; Matuzalem; Cruz, Zarate.

KEY PLAYERS:
Diego- Duh. This kid has taken to calcio like he’s been here for 5 seasons. What has impressed me a lot about Diego is his excellent tactics and his willingness to chase down the ball when the other team has possession, in general, sacrificing for the team. It shows despite playing in the most arrogant position, he is humble and a team player.
Cruz- I need not explain why.

KEY BATTLES:
Ballardini v. Ferrara- Push- Both are young Italian coaches who impress both with their tactics as well as motivational skills. Both are very good coaches.
Cruz v. Bianconeri- Bianconeri: He has a fetish for scoring against us, as does Rocchi, but I’m confident we can keep them quiet.

FERRARA’S THOUGHTS:

«We will be playing against a team which has the same amount of points as us and which immediately achieved important results, especially in the Super Cup. I know they have some problems with the line-up and that Rocchi and Zarate might not be available but Cruz will be there for sure and he is a player who often caused harm to Juventus having scored even against me. In any case, I hope to find the best Lazio opposing us. We have a delicate and difficult match ahead of us against a team which will create various difficulties. We are returning to Rome immediately, but we have already forgotten about the victory we had a fortnight ago even though we want to win again and continue down the same road».

[Regarding international players] «They all got back safe and sound even from a psychological point of view thanks to the many victories obtained. Only Grygera suffered a blow which must be evaluated. Caceres returned today whilst Felipe Melo will join us in Rome but there are no problems with him. The same applies to Grosso who immediately fit in well. I think there will be some changes with regards to the last match also due to Tuesday’s Champions League match».

[About fatigue and rotation] «With so many matches to be played it will be harder to recuperate the physical and mental energies and we will have to manage our strengths. We knew this and this is why we wanted to build an ample team. I will have to rely on everyone».

Other previews and prediction: 2-0 to the Bianconeri. I think we’re going to hold this one, a refreshing change from the past two years where we returned from international breaks horrendously.
Lazio Offside
Football-Italia
Football Italiano
Goal.com (EN)

LAST WORD: This man is insane.

At the end of the Sunday session, Ferrara announced the list of players called-up for the Trofeo Berlusconi which will see the inclusion of Marchisio, Trezeguet and Zebina who returned to working with the group. Diego is also included after having had a good training session and playing the mini-match as joker.

Tiago will not be part of the expedition, after having suffered a muscle strain to the right thigh which will be examined on Monday. Other players which have not been called-up are Camoranesi who will continue with his recovery following the injury suffered with the national team, Caceres who was granted a day off, Chiellini who will be rested as well as the injured Giovinco and Sissoko.

The Mali midfielder is at St. Rapahel at the Cote Azzure at the centre where he had formerly undergone the post-operation rehabilitation programme: the medical treatment is being carried out in accordance with the Juventus medical staff while the athletic preparation is being followed by Gaudino.

Below is the list of players called-up:

1 Buffon
4 Felipe Melo
5 Cannavaro
7 Salihamidzic
8 Marchisio
9 Iaquinta
10 Del Piero
11 Amauri
12 Chimenti
13 Manninger
15 Zebina
17 Trezeguet
18 Poulsen
19 Molinaro
21 Grygera
23 Ariaudo
28 Diego
29 De Ceglie
33 Legrottaglie

 juventus.com

It’s still preseason we know that. But let’s not get forget that if we fail to prepare, prepare to fail. I want to see a well compact team that passes the ball on the ground and works hard to close down our opponents. Diego will most likely be starting in this one so I can’t wait to see him on the ball again. Also, anyone care for another Poulsen-Gattuso clash? Streaming: atdhe.net & myp2p.eu.

IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!

KEEPERS

7.5: Aside from a bit of an error on a (wrongly) disallowed goal against Gilardino, Buffon made no mistakes, as we’ve come to expect. He has made some solid saves, but has not been on the same level as previous years. The last two seasons he’s missed nearly 3-4 months due to injury, something that has surprisingly not really hurt our team. Perhaps remaining healthy will bring him back to his superhuman form, as of now, I would give the best keeper award to Julio Cesar, much as it pains me to say it. Seeing his reactions against Lecce when the season was quickly going down the toilet was even more painful.
BEST MOMENT: There have been some “great” saves, but unlike last year not any particularly “world-class” ones. I’ll give it to his save against Cagliari on Biondi.

ALEX MANNINGER- 6.5: Brilliant piece of work by Secco, given Buffon’s injury problems and the absurdly low price. A better keeper than probably all save 2-3 of the starters in Serie A, Manninger held down the fort during Gigi’s absence. No stunning saves, and he made a few “small” errors against Inter and Lazio but in general he was steady, consistent, and a reassuring presence at the back, which is all you can ask for from a backup keeper. On Football Manager, Manninger demanded playing time and eventually went to Roma to fulfill it. Luckily in real life, Alex understands his role and is fine with it.
BEST MOMENT: Juventus 4-2 Milan. Conceding two at home might not seem like a good game, but it was a deflected shot and a tap-in he could do nothing about. Aside from that, looked confident and was not troubled by Milan at all.

ANTONIO CHIMENTI- N/R: Thrown in to sweeten the Manninger deal along with the Belardi loan, he is the team’s muppet.
Best Moment: Never setting a foot on the pitch.

DEFENDERS:

GIORGIO CHIELLINI- 8: Not quite as good as last season and looked uncharacteristically nervy in some games, but as a whole, Giorgio was still a colossus this season. The steel and grit he provides in the back is crucial to the team. Continued his rock-solid partnership with Legrottaglie until the end of the season when injury and suspension pulled the duo apart; not surprisingly, the team started conceding plenty. I still don’t know if he was sent off for dissent or a poor refereeing call against Chelsea. Future captain of Juventus and the Azzurri.
BEST MOMENT: He’s scored a good amount of goals this season, but his header against the Toro brought us local bragging rights, 3 points, and furthered the Granata’s relegation.

NICOLA LEGROTTAGLIE- 7.5: A very good campaign from the former winner of the dubious bidone d’oro prize. Alongside Chiellini, the duo had the best defensive record in Serie A until the end of the season. Like Chiellini, he is not quite the same when playing without his partner. Still a bit vulnerable on the counter-attack, but with Giorgio’s pace by his side, it is generally not a problem. Deservedly called back into the Nazionale and could be going to WC2010.
BEST MOMENT: Against a team like Atalanta, Juve often had trouble finding the motivation. Atlanta has a dangerous attack with Floccari and Doni, but in the andata in Bergamo, Legrottaglie organized the defense wonderfully and the less-evil Nerazzurri barely had a sniff on goal.

CRISTIAN MOLINARO- 6.5: If you look at my player ratings from last season, I gave him a 4.5 and hoped for his departure. He has upped his game significantly the season, and always gives his all, playing the most minutes of any Juventus player this season. Defensively he has developed into a reliable left-back, and I can honestly say when he was up against Robben and Malouda, I was not panicking. He did well to contain the both, which is not easy. I’d give him a 6.5 or possibly even a 7, but he is still woefully lacking in the offensive department. Please, someone teach him to cross!
BEST MOMENT: Containing Robben very well in both Champion’s League games, to the point that Schuster switched Robben to the other flank to try and attack Grygera/Salihamidzic, or defending against Balotelli perfectly in Juventus-Inter.

ZDENEK GRYGERA- 5.5: I’ve always liked Grygera, but towards the tail end of the season it has been painfully obvious he is not the caliber of player to man our right flank. He’s been caught out of position and responsible for several goals. Last season he started out poorly but grew steadily into his role, but sadly has not really continued this growth. If only Criscito was right-footed…
BEST MOMENT: He’s not as defensively sound as Molinaro, but he provides more up front. Without a doubt this goes to his goal against Inter at home, in stoppage time, that allowed us to save face.

PAOLO DE CEGLIE- 5.5: I maintain PDC should be played at left-mid instead of left-back, where his pace and crossing ability are even more useful. Until the end of the season, as a left-back, his defending was pretty mediocre. A run out of games could give him the confidence and experience to become a great left-back though. He gets his own rating as a midfielder.
BEST MOMENT: In the Pro Bowl of the Serie A, the Coppa Italia, PDC pulled a Sean Taylor, refusing to give in to the nature of the glorified friendly. Except he managed to take himself out with a crunching tackle against Napoli.

HASAN SALIHAMIDZIC- 5.5: In the games he’s played at right-back, he’s offered the same thing we expect from Brazzo. Nothing flashy, nothing fancy, but hard work and consistent mediocrity, which for a reserve defender is not a bad thing. Was injured for too much of the season, though. Like PDC, he gets a separate rating as a midfielder.
BEST MOMENT: Mr. Versatility allowing us to sub a midfielder for a defender and still be balanced.

JONATHAN ZEBINA- 6: The exact opposite of Grygera in that I’ve never liked him nor particularly rated him. Neither did Ranieri. Was out all the beginning of the season with a thigh injury, but has grudgingly earned some respect from me with his performances towards the end of the season. Is he a better right-back than Grygera right now? I would say that’s true.
BEST MOMENT: Not conceding 2-3 penalties, not being sent off, and not slapping a cameraman in his first game of the season. That’ll do.

LORENZO ARIAUDO-6: Didn’t exactly pull a Motta or a Santon, but slowly brought into the team by Ranieri in the Coppa and eventually used in Serie A. When he played, he did not look very nervous, which he credited Legrottaglie’s presence and instruction for. One for the future, the question is, loan him for experience, or keep him as a reserve? He has the capability to play well as a reserve or in rotation, but it might deprive him of vital playing time. If he goes out, he definitely should go to a Serie A squad.
BEST MOMENT: I’ll go with his debut in general. He looked pretty good out there given his age and confirmed our youth academy is producing some great talent.

OLOF “The Beard” MELLBERG- 6: I thought it was great to compare him to Loria, who Roma actually spent money on. It makes me feel a lot better about his transfer. Against Real Madrid, Roma, and other big games, Mellberg played wonderfully, making crucial tackles and generally being dominant in the air. Against the lower, weaker teams, he was schooled. A good reserve, but no one is suggesting he take a starting place anymore, unless perhaps at right-back. At right-back he is not as adventrous as Grygera or Zebina, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There are rumors of Olympiakos offering 3million euros for him. No dice, it would cost much more to get an equally capable replacement.
BEST MOMENT: He’s a reserve, unless we are playing in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. There he should automatically be guaranteed a starting shirt.

DARIO KNEZEVIC- 2.5: He gets a bad enough rating for his awful performance(s), but also, he was brought in as cover, yet managed to be injured nearly all season, taking a cue from ex-Juventino Jorge Andrade. Brilliant defending such as in the Napoli game where he inexplicably decided to try and an audacious clearance despite no pressure…giving the ball to an unmarked Lavezzi. Even when he was healthy towards the end of the season, Ranieri chose Ariaudo over him. Thank God we only brought him in on loan, he is on the first bus back to Livorno.
BEST MOMENT: Snapping his knee so he wasn’t even an option. I’d rather play Grygera or De Ceglie as center-back.

JORGE ANDRADE- 0: We spent 4.5million euros per game on this guy. I don’t blame him, I blame Agricola. This is the stuff he should be failing. We nabbed him instead of Gabriel Milito much in the way we got Poulsen instead of Xabi Alonso. It does comfort me to see Milito out for the last year with a knee injury.
BEST MOMENT: Tearing up his contract.

MIDFIELD

MOMO SISSOKO- 7: Momo came under a bit of criticism as the season went on for his propensity to win the ball and turn it right back over, but was a titan in the midfield for the first half of the season. Great performances against Real where he never stopped running, constantly pressuring the other midfield and forcing them to abandon Guti as a playmaker and stick to the wings. Broke his foot after being played too soon after injury, and in some games we missed his energetic presence in midfield.
BEST MOMENT: His goal against Palermo, where Sissokodinho actually worked.

CLAUDIO MARCHISIO- 7.5: I would argue jointly with Nedved, he was our best midfielder this season. Early injuries to Zanetti and Poulsen moved him up the pecking order, and give credit to Ranieri for playing him early in the season over Tiago. (though I will never understand why Ranieri chose Tiago over him for the game at Stamford Bridge) Energetic, young, Italian, and from Turin, it can’t get better. Shows great confidence and maturity for his age, positioning himself very well. As the season has moved on, he’s started to display a bit of goalscoring ability, which, with a bit of training I’m sure he could be great at. Should have been called up over a few players for Lippi’s most recent Nazionale squad, but Lippi probably wanted to leave him to the u-21 team.
BEST MOMENT: Hard to decide, as a whole performance, the 4-2 win over Milan was brilliant, he was all over in midfield distributing balls, winning them back, dribbling through the Milan midfield and unleashing some screamers. For a single moment, his goal against Fiorentina. Followed a genius Del Piero assist through and calmly chipped one of the best Serie A keepers. With the confidence and ease in which he did it, you would have never known it was his first professional goal.

CRISTIANO ZANETTI- 6.5: I docked him a little bit because of his never-ending injury struggles, those thigh strains really are a killer. But since his return from injury, he’s shown us what we’ve been missing. An engine in midfield, pressuring the other team well and winning balls back, he also is a quite good passer of the ball. It’s that combination that neither Tiago nor Sissoko have. He will be an important part of next season if he can stay healthy.
BEST MOMENT: His wonder-volley against Atalanta, possibly the Juventus goal of the season.

TIAGO- 6.5: Tiago, Tiago, Tiago……I can’t make up my mind on you. The Portuguese midfielder put in some very good performances this season and had more or less won a starting spot before he got injured for 2-3 months, but alternated that with some utterly average ones. I do like he’s showing more emotion and a real commitment to the Juventus cause, but the jury is still out on this one.
BEST MOMENT: Flattening Balotelli. No really, I’m serious.

PAVEL NEDVED- 8: The Czech warhorse had a great season, providing plenty of assists and becoming the highest scorer among non-strikers. Played well even though he was abused with 180min week-in-week-out by Ranieri. When played as a center-midfielder, was excellent and I think we should have moved him there and prolonged his career. It seems he had made up his mind to retire in the last month, despite not annonuncing it until the day before, because he played like a man possessed. Never won the cup with the big ‘ole ears, but certainly deserved to. Enjoy retirement, Pavel.
BEST MOMENT: That wonderful volley against his personal punching bag, ASS Roma, seconds after entering the game.

MAURO CAMORANESI- 7.5: Sigh…..when Mauro plays, he’s magic. Unfortunately over the course of the last two years, that “when” is becoming more and more rare. Only was fit enough to start in 1/3rd of Serie A games this season, his presence has been missed. We need to hire some Asian massueses on-call 24/7 for this guy, we can split them with Zanetti, Zebina, and all the other players that got nasty thigh strains this season.
BEST MOMENT: Soldiering through a dislocated shoulder against Reggina for the first half, and scoring a nice goal in the process.

CHRISTIAN POULSEN- 4.5: Everyone I’ve talked to in Spain has crowed about Poulsen, saying he was arguably one of the best midfielders in La Liga during his two year spell. Given the talent in this league, that’s no small compliment. Similarly, people have told me about his success when at Schalke. But he hasn’t reproduced that form at Juventus. To be fair to Poulsen, he was A. Coming under the impression as a vice-Xabi Alonso, when he is in fact a reserve to Zanetti. And B. He’s dealt with injuries all season and has been unable to get a decent run out. But in the few games he’s played, he hasn’t stamped his authority on the pitch. Christian hasn’t been awful, but has really made zero impact either. I’m not entirely ready to give up on him, yet, it seems quite clear from his play that his confidence is completely shot. Maybe it’s because we greeted him by calling him a “rubbish player.” Maybe it’s because he was quickly moved to 3rd-string. Whatever the reason is, let’s hope he can sort it out. He’s a good player and has plenty to offer Juventus.
BEST MOMENT: Dumb-luck goal against Catania in stoppage time after a whiff of a clearance from one of their defenders, a simple tap-in but was so significant in reviving Juve’s form.

HASAN SALIHAMIDZIC- 6.5: As stated in his defender rating, Brazzo, as many of our players, has been plagued with injuries all season, and thus unable to produce his best form. In the brief time he was healthy, he played 2 sensational games that made me wonder why he cannot play more often like that.
BEST MOMENT: His game (sorry for music…eh) in the 4-1 thrashing of Bologna. Brazzo was wonderfully dangerous and created plenty of great opportunities for the forwards and scored a very intelligent goal.

MARCO MARCHIONNI- 5.5: Infuriatingly inconsistent, that’s the best way to describe his season. When we signed him on a free transfer from Parma, he was one of the best wingers in Italy. Injuries and a lack of playing time have certainly limited his explosiveness. (Side note, if I told you last August we would have our most injury-plagued season in 5-6 seasons, which one of you would have predicted Marco would have remained healthy? Yeah, keep your hands down.) In general he provides good delivery and decent defensive cover, but he is in average match fitness, has a far too heavy touch, and sometimes drifts out of the game for long periods. I don’t think we should sell him if we are going to keep with a winged 4-4-2 formation as he is a good reserve to an often injured player. But Marco has not seized his opportunities when given.
BEST MOMENT: Nearly completely changed the game with a great turn and long strike against Chelsea in London. Certainly not his best moment, but unfortunately I will remember his season for his heavy touches against Inter and Milan that could have killed the game…he was lucky against Roma that Riise left him completely unchallenged in similar circumstances.

SEBASTIAN GIOVINCO- 7.5: Instead of the “Magic Fairytale of the Atomic Ant” perhaps he could write a book “How SuperSeba was criminally underused in 2008-2009.” As many of you know, I generally supported Ranieri, but one of my main sticking points was why he didn’t play Giovinco a lot. I still don’t understand it. I can see concerns about his physical strength and being able to hold up the wings, but in every game after the first few months, Giovinco had a massive impact when playing. The only game I remember where he was average after November or so was the 2nd derby against Toro. He’s obviously has no Cassanata issues, and everytime he played, we played better. I would love for someone to ask Ranieri and get an honest answer, I don’t think it’s that he had any personal beef against him or anything, Ranieri and Giovinco are both nice guys. The last thing I will say is that many attacking Ranieri for not playing Giovinco enough, a fair criticism, but many extended that to complaining Ranieri wasn’t giving our youth a chance. In the last two years, Criscito, Nocerino, Chiellini, Molinaro, De Ceglie, Marchisio, and Sissoko, all young players got solid runs out. Some cut it, some haven’t.
BEST MOMENT Either his 1v1 with Del Piero against Catania in the Coppa where there was a wonderful teacher-student embrace, or his goal against Lecce where he whipped in a free kick quite obviously with instruction from the master.

PAOLO DE CEGLIE- 7: Everytime De Ceglie played at left-mid, which was not often enough, he tore the other team apart. Given his pace and his excellent crossing, he provided fantastic service for the center-forwards. I’d like to see him play up there more, I think he could be a better winger than fullback, and Italy could really use a left-winger, we haven’t had one in ages.
BEST MOMENT: The 4-2 Milan demolition derby where PDC tore apart Milan’s right-flank, getting Zambrotta sent off and providing a perfect cross for a beastly Amauri header to give Juventus the lead. Close 2nd his cross against Lecce, came on as a substititute late on, and his first touch of the ball is an inch perfect cross again for Amauri who bangs it in late in the game to give Juventus the win, 2-1.

FORWARDS

ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO- 7: Del Piero has really fallen off since Christmas time, like Amauri, but that shouldn’t make us forget his unbelievable start to the season. Match-winning goal after match-winning goal, splendid free kicks, and a goal against Zenit, and 3 against Real Madrid to singlehandedly give us the group win. One of the best assists I’ve seen to Marchisio against Fiorentina, but other than that, he’s been hot-or-cold. Needs to refind his shooting boots.
BEST MOMENT: Tough call…but I’m going to go with Del Piero’s first goal against Real Madrid. Good long direct ball from Marchisio to Del Piero who dummies for Amauri. Amauri then turns and passes it back to Del Piero…with Casillsa coming a bit out of the goal and Blanco defenders hot on, Del Piero skewed pace for class. Top right corner, Casillas no chance. That was the shot heard round the world. Juve is back in the Champion’s League, baby.

AMAURI- 7: Like Del Piero, Amauri has fallen way off the pace from his terrific start to his Juventus career. In the fall Amauri was singlehandedly saving our season, scoring something obscene like 11 goals in 17 games. Powerful in the air, skilled with the volley, he’s a class forward. If only we could figure out what the hell stopped that dynamic duo. With Diego, Giovinco, Marchisio, Criscito, Camoranesi, and perhaps D’Agostino, he should get some mouthwatering service.
BEST MOMENT: Doppietta against Milan. Brazilians can samba too, Dinho.

VINCENZO IAQUINTA- 7: Yes, I’m aware I gave them all 7s, but I think it fits for the importance they each played in the campaign, with minus a few points for inconsistentcy. Iaquinta is the direct opposite of what happened to Amauri and Del Piero, he struggled for playing time in the first half of the season and had niggling injuries preventing him from expressing his best form. There were strong rumors that Roma or Zenit wanted him in January, but the Calabrian Cannon never wavered in his faith to the bianconeri. Once he shook the injuries…..well, he’s been Serie A’s form striker for the last 2-3 months or so. Let’s hope he can keep this form going for the Confederation’s Cup and then next season. After waiting his time on the bench, Juve has repaid his faith with a contract extension until 2013. Bravo, Vincenzo!
BEST MOMENT: Probably his goal against Milan, (see a trend here?) where he used all of his force to hold off Flamini, who was having a good game himself, and got himself in the right position to head it into the net. Vincenzo di forza!

DAVID TREZEGUET- 4: The player does not deserve the criticism for most of the rating, but the only “untouchable” of Ranieri’s 2007-2008 team has been anything but this season. After undergoing double-knee surgery to prolong his career 4-5 years, David has never really been given a run out in the team, particularly after his poorly-timed outburst against Ranieri following his substitution against Chelsea. His poaching instinct is still there, he just needs to get a few games out. Obviously there have been very strong links to his departure, but one would hope with Ranieri gone, Trez will decide to stay. I think this’ll be summer #6 of massive rumors about Trez leaving. The management’s words have hardly helped things, either.
BEST MOMENT: There’s been few…so I guess his goal against Palermo assisted by Amauri will have to suffice.

MANAGEMENT:

CLAUDIO RANIERI- 6: He had to go at the end of the season, no doubt, but with some average players in the squad (Poulsen, Tiago) and a hell of an injury crisis, he managed to do pretty well. In March, we were in the Coppa semis, 2nd place within striking distance of Inter, and the Champion’s League round-of-16. Then it all came apart, quickly. My chief complaints with him was the way he never seemed to get pissed about poor performances, and some of his strange team selections, ie- not enough tinkering/rotating, and not playing Giovinco. Give him some credit for giving Marchisio a very good run out.

ALESSIO SECCO- 6: Amauri, Giovinco, Marchisio, Manninger, good. Mellberg, De Ceglie, average. Knezevic, Chimenti, Poulsen, fail.

After the words come the facts. The day after the announcement and the official presentation of Ciro Ferrara came the time to begin work on the field. The adventure has begun, for him as coach but also for all the members of his technical staff. At the start of the afternoon session all the team got to know those collaborating with him. The faces are known to all since they are those of professionals coming directly from the youth sector.

The deputy-coach is Massimiliano Maddaloni. Michelangelo Rampulla will get back to coaching the goalkeepers while Dodo Sormani is the new technical assistant. Only Andrea Scanavino has been confirmed as trainer and is a sign of continuity from the Ranieri period.

Here are the presentation details of the four collaborators of Ciro Ferrara:

Ciro Ferrara

First of all a first class player who was capable of winning 6 scudetti on the field. He is also a valid manager capable of leading the youth sector in one of the most important times in its history. He is now also the coach of the first team. Since 1994, when he joined Juventus, Ciro Ferrara has made of the relationship a stronger one each day.

Born in Naples on the 11th of February 1967, as a player he played 500 matches in the Serie A, 247 of which with the Napoli jersey and 253 for Juventus, the team which he played for between 1994 and 2005. Besides 8 scudetti (one of which was revoked), he won 2 Coppa Italia, 5 Italian Supercups, a UEFA Cup, a Champions League and an Intercontinental Cup.

He formed part of the technical staff of the Italian national team who went on to win the 2006 World Championships as an assistant to Marcello Lippi. Since 2006 he is the personal responsible of the Juventus youth sector. In 2008, with the return of Lippi as Italian national coach he was once again appointed as assistant to the national coach.

On the 18th of May he replaced Claudio Ranieri as coach of the first team.

Michelangelo Rampulla

Two years later, Michelangelo Rampulla returns to coaching the goalkeepers of the first team after having been part of Didier Deschamps’ technical staff.

This is another experience for one of the most loved persons by the Juventus supporters. Born in Patti (Messina) on the 10th of August in 1962, his name is linked to Juventus since 1992. For 10 years, as a goalkeeper, he was part of one of the most successful periods in the history of the club.

After having shelved his gloves, he remained with Juventus undertaking various roles within the youth sector (Primavera goalkeepers’ coach, goalkeeper coaches’ coordinator and coaches’ organization coordinator) but also as the person responsible of the Juventus Club Doc Coordination Centre. This, apart from that of goalkeepers’ coach during the Deschamps period in the 2006/07 season.

Massimiliano Maddaloni

As deputy-coach, Ferrara re-embraces an old companion who formed part of his adventure since the times of the Napoli youth sector. Massimiliano Maddaloni will be undertaking the role simultaneously with that of Primavera coach.

Having joined Juventus at the beginning of the 2007/08 season as coach of the Allievi Nazionali, he has been successful since the beginning of the season as Primavera coach. Having won the Viareggio Cup in February and gone close to triumph in the Coppa Italia, the bianconeri under his direction are currently busy with the final phase of the championship after having dominated the elimination phase.

Born in Napoli on the 22nd of June 1966, his sports curriculum includes a long parentesis as professional footballer in Serie C and D between 1985 and 2000. As coach, before his arrival in Turin, he coached Tuscan teams (Viareggio, Forte dei Marmi, Versilia and Cecina) in Eccellenza category, Serie D and Serie C.

Adolfo Sormani

A historical name for Italian football is now part of the staff. Son of Angelo Benedicto, Adolfo “Dodo” Sormani, is the new technical assistant to Ciro Ferrara, with whom he has already been collaborating for two years within the youth sector.

Born in Genova on the 11th of August 1965, he is close to the end of his second season with Juventus as technical instructor within the youth sector. This is the latest stage in a career which saw him first as a player (for a number of important team such as Parma, Napoli, Avellino and Sambenedettese) and then as coach of Serie D teams like Portosummaga, Conegliano, Chioggia and Cattolica.

Andrea Scanavino

Andrea Scanavino represents continuity in the technical staff. He will keep the role of athletic coach. His collaboration with Juventus will continue after he joined in 1999, the year in which he was enrolled as the person responsible for the recovery of injured players.

In these years he collaborated actively with all the professionals who came along: from Giampiero Ventrone (during the two periods of Marcello Lippi and with Carlo Ancelotti) up to Riccardo Capanna, and through the times with Massimo Neri during the Fabio Capello era and Antonio Pintus during the time of Didier Deschamps.

juventus.com

 IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!

For this one we get back Goldie Locks and Mellberg, but lose Chiellini to a suspension and Marchisio to a small injury. De Ceglie and Grygera have recovered fully and join the list of 20 players called-up: 1 Buffon 4 Mellberg 5 Zebina 6 Zanetti 8 Amauri 9 Iaquinta 10 Del Piero 11 Nedved 12 Chimenti 13 Manninger 16 Camoranesi 17 Trezeguet 18 Poulsen 20 Giovinco 21 Grygera 29 De Ceglie 30 Tiago 32 Marchionni 33 Legrottaglie 41 Ariaudo.

Probable line-up:

Amauri Iaquina

Nedved Zanetti Poulsen Camoranesi

De Ceglie Mellberg Legrottaglie Grygera

Buffon

Ranieri on the game:“Now we will be playing against Atalanta, a compact team. Del Neri teams play restricted to 30 meters. We will have to field will and determination because they have nothing to lose and therefore will be aggressive and will base their play on counter-attack. We have to try to get back the second place and at the same time keep an eye on Fiorentina who are close behind us. It all depends on us”.

Hmmm… so we need to win and Del Neri knows our counter-attack is our Achilles’ heel. This should be fun. What does Ranieri tell his men if there’s 10 minutes to go and they’re still tied at zero with no fans to help their cause? Well after he subs on Zebina for Grygera and waits 9 minutes to bring in Poulsen ahead of Giovinco, he better tell them to push up and go for goal. That is if he still values his job.

Btw, congrats Inter on another Scudetto. Feels a lot better if you win them on the field, no? Also come Monday/Tuesday we’ll have our Juventus Offside version of a Diego post up, culminating all the rumours (and your comments) in the last two years about him. Until then bianconeri…

IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!

Alex’s importance this season was great and speaking of him as a second goalkeeper does not do him justice:

“I am happy with the choice made in summer – continued Manninger on Juventus Channel – and now I want to continue doing my utmost for the team, getting back into form as soon as possible”.

“The title race is still open. We were clever enough to remain close to Inter and in this manner with the direct encounter everything is still possible. We all believe we can catch up with the nerazzurri but we have to pay attention to all the matches. The Italian championship is very competitive and if one concentrates exclusively on the strong team you end up losing many points along the way”.

juventus.com

IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!

“The long stop is finally over. Now I have practically two weeks to work in order to recover my best form and therefore I should be available for call-up for the match against Chievo”. Paolo De Ceglie is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and after nearly two months since the injury suffered against Napoli in the Coppa Italia on the 4th of February, he is ready to get back on the field.

The Under21 international has been training with the rest of the team for a number days now without feeling the effect of the nasty blow suffered in a collision with Gargano which resulted in the fracture of a rib, the injuring of another two and a pneumo-thoraic injury: “It was quite a blow – recalls Paolo – but as soon as the medical staff and the trainers give the go ahead I will not stop to think about it but try to train to the maximum to regain my best form as soon as possible”.

During the last few weeks, Juventus obtained good results and registered five consecutive championship victories: “We must win all the coming matches if we want to keep on fighting for the scudetto – continues De Ceglie – Now a difficult match against Chievo awaits us. Chievo is going through a good time and just like all the teams trying to avoid relegation they will surely give us a hard time. We, however, absolutely want to win the three points”.

juventus.com

In other injury related news, Juventus’ official site detailed a practice Wednesday whereby De Ceglie, Zanetti, Legrottaglie, Ekdal and Camoranesi participated in most of the session with the group, including a mini-match without goalkeepers. Afterwards, Legrottaglie and Ekdal worked separately whilst Camoranesi returned to the gym alongside Salihams and Manninger. Zanetti and De Ceglie went on training with the group carrying out shooting exercises and a mini-match on a reduced field of play.

To add to the number of players on the field a number of Primavera players also trained with the squad- the site read. These were Daud, Alcibiade, Yago and Duravia, as well as Nocchi and Pinsoglio who before the match worked together with Chimenti under Giorgio Pellizzaro (our goalkeeping coach).  BTW, FYI our next match is against Chievo on Sunday, April the 5th.

IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!

Uefa Champions League – 25 Febbraio 2009

Stamford Bridge – Londra – h 20.45

Oh, how the times have changed at Stamford Bridge since Mr. Ranieri got canned back in 2004. Well not exactly. I mean John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Petr Cech are still there. Also Chelski favorites under “The Pompous One” such as Robben, William Gallas, Claude Mikelele, and Gudjohnsen were also either brought to the Blues or nurtured by The Tinkerman himself. So I guess in a sense not that much has changed really. But player personnel aside, Claudio Ranieri will make his return to the London based club in front of many fans who probably wish they could have the Italian tactician back instead of the mess they have now Goose Hiddink.

But Scolari’s out and the Goose is ready to go. Hiddink takes over as the interim head coach until the end of the season when his future at the club will be further discussed- unless he’s fired before then. Last weekend the Dutchman’s side defeated the in form Aston Villa after Anelka struck his twenty first goal this season, in contrast to Drogba who’s only found the net once all year. The biggest change you’ll see in Hiddink’s side is in the introduction of a 4-4-2 formation with the aforementioned Anelka and Drogba together up top.

Drogba Anelka

Kalou Lampard Ballack Mikel

Cole Terry Alex Bosingwa

Cech

Hiddink’s recent thoughts on his side:

Chelsea must, and can, impose their game and not play reactive football. I like proactive football, and that’s the way we worked in this (one week) period of training, to re-establish a proactive team. I cannot have a judgement about the recent past, what I try to do is find the strength of this team and one of the demands is imposing our way of playing.

Hiddink being proactive

It seems though Goose, that the only one doing the imposing these days is Frank Lampard, who owes it all to Ranieri. Against Villa he practically gift wrapped Anelka’s goal and has been Chelski’s only bright light as of late. Anyways with direct orders from Ranieri, Sissoko will eat him up and spit him out. Conveniently for Juventus, Ballack seems to be playing at levels only seen since his house league days and the once grand Petr Cech has been looking a little shaky recently to boot. Against Villa, Chelski’s defence was exposed a couple times and with a little more creativity they could’ve easily put one or two goals past the Blues. So I’m excited, the problem is Drogba might be too. Keep your fingers crossed there.

For Juventus though, we’ve been waiting for this moment for more then two years. Big victories against big clubs is apart of our petigree and we’re hoping to prove a bit of that at Stamford Bridge. Del Piero, Camoranesi, Nedved, and Trezeguet will realise the magnitude of this game but it will be important for them to stay relaxed and not get too nervous (they’re pros but it can happen). ADP will start with Amauri up front, as Ranieri will look to Il Capitano for more of the magic he showed at the Bernabeu vs Real Madrid back in 2008. Everyone and their nonna’s know he’ll be the key to our success in this game.

Del Piero Amauri

Nedved Marchisio Sissoko Camoranesi

Molinaro Chiellini Legorttaglie Grygera

Buffon

Against Palermo Tiago looked cool under pressure didn’t he? I mean, shit, it only took him two years to adjust. Anyways, he played a solid game and the pair of CM’s complimented themselves surprisingly well. The argument that Ranieri will start him over Marchisio this Wednesday to me is a fallacy. Marchisio should be well rested, and although the ex-Chelski man is in surprisingly good form at the moment by his own standards, Marchisio has more Champions League experience this year and he’s definitely more dynamic. I think Ranieri had the option of playing Marchisio on Saturday but knew Hiddink would be watching. You see he’s a tricky old man that Ranieri, he threw a bone to Tiago whilst keeping the book on Marchisio closed until Wednesday. It’s brilliant, might not be true, but it’s brilliant.

Ranieri being proactive

Nedved can’t play another 90 mins just days after his effort in Palermo can he? Well no not effectively at least (sorry Pavel please forgive me). But knowing Ranieri, he wouldn’t take the risk starting the young Giovinco in a game like this. However Seba’s almost guranteed some playing time now so relax- let’s say around the 85th minute or so lol. Now aside from Del Piero, Camoranesi’s play is the next most important key to this game, if not equally as important. His creativity is glaringly vital here and now is the time we need him to find his form. Camo I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you, don’t let me down.

Sissoko, who has already more than doubled his goal tally with Liverpool (3 vs 1), showed some great work ethic again and nicely finished on his second goal of year. I’ll be honest though, Palermo gave him way too much time and space in their final third. For guy with a hard shot, they were asking for trouble there and Sissoko rightfully made them pay the price. Against Chelski we can’t make the same mistake. Thus Sissoko’s effort will be vital for us in our midfield. I’ve noticed that tactically when our opponents try and play up field, behind our midfield line and just in front of our defense, Ranieri turns Momo into a libero. Similar to a sweeper, Momo will roam a few feet above our back line and soak up some of the pressure. I can’t imagine anyone in the world better suited for that than Momo. I expect Chelski to do well coming forward so we’ll have to watch that area very carefully. I wonder if Ballack’s ass is still stinging from the last time he got Momo’d?

Speaking of our defense now, Giorgio is unbelievably important to us here. As if that wasn’t painstakingly obvious. Our defensive line against Chelski will have be tighter and more organized, and his wonderful sense of timing and movement, being a real step above Legrottaglie’s, will provide us with just that. He’s of a different class plan and simple. Just shut up Nicola and ride Chiellini’s coattails to success. Without him we’d be dead meat defensively in this competition. Thank God he’ll be there to keep us in check for our offside traps. That could be the difference between Drogba and Anleka… making the difference, or not. 

I wonder what Ranieri’s thinking of doing with Mellberg? He didn’t play Saturday so he could be well rested for this game, right? I mean he was arguably playing his best defence up until he was left on the bench Saturday so that would suggest he’s planning on playing here wouldn’t it? Mellberg could either be starting with Chiellini in the middle, or like he did against Lazio a few weeks back, he could fill in for Grygera at RB. Really I don’t care which position he plays, I just want him on the pitch defending. He isn’t sick at coming forward but neither is Grygera. Also he’s probably at least as good as Legro, and Nicola just played 90 mins v Palermo. But who knows, it’s not as clear cut here.

And finally, Buffon. My God he hasn’t lost a step since coming back. Still the best at coming off of his line, still the quickest at reading the play, and still fearless cutting down angles with surgical precision. It’s true, some days you’d rather be lucky than good. But I’d always want Gigi back there in any case. He’ll be solid for Wednesday, he always is. Lastly, Mr. Abramovich this one’s for you… a one… a two:

I’ll give you all I got to give if you say you’ll love me too
I may not have a lot to give but what I got I’ll give to you
I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love

Can’t buy me love, everybody tells me so
Can’t buy me love, no no no, no. – The Beatles

IERI… OGGI… DOMANI… SEMPRE JUVE!!!