PotD: The Calabrian Cannon

Del Piero and Trez have never relied on pace, at all. Both have been known as slow players.

And that’s exactly what’s wrong with Italian football…still living in the past.

Yeah boy...Milan's CL titles, the Nazionale's World Cups and Juve's scudetti, that all must be a fluke.

"...and it’d be Arsenal-ish to phase them out solely because they are old."

No it would not be. That's just prudent. That, in fact, is proper management of a club. Age catches up to everyone. Even if they have plenty quality left in their legs, the pace goes. And then what? What will happen when they can no longer get past players? We'll just fall further and further behind other clubs.

I'm not saying throw them out of the club. But they have to be phased out or else we would be left of shit street when they do in fact retire.

Typical. And that's exactly what's wrong with Italian football...still living in the past.

What I’m saying is that we can’t just play the “old guard” just because they are the “old guard” and they were there in Serie B.

What I'm saying is they have plenty of quality play left in their legs, and it'd be Arsenal-ish to phase them out solely because they are old.

Agreed.

Pablo wait with baited breathe for a comprehensive analysis on the matter. Friday or perhaps after Atalanta's match.

I agree Diego is not a priority (central backs, full backs and a regista, please!!!), but maybe both of them (Giovinco and Diego) can get along and be friends :D.

Maybe this is a crazy idea (probably I have jet lag), but what if we play 4-3-1-2 and one of the following (Giovinco and Diego or whoever comes) is the starter and the otherone the substitute. That way there will be competition for the spot (which hopefully will make both of them to give the best to fight for a place in the squad) and whenever one gets injured, suspended or we have too many games too close, we won't have to improvise sissoko as a trequartista (not that I think he's not up to it, he is just... too valuable in our defensive midfield, yeah, that's it -agredd sissoko man love?), and we will have a quality substitute.

"Anyone who stayed with Juve in Serie B should be given retirement on a golden platter, even if it costs us a Scudetto."

That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that we can't just play the "old guard" just because they are the "old guard" and they were there in Serie B. That's ridiculous. By doing that you're showing that individuals are indeed bigger than the club and that is just fucked up. It's natural progression; the older players HAVE to step aside for young ones to take their place. No questions asked, no fussed kicked up. Look at Man U for example. Giggs, Scholes, Neville, all legends, all play sparingly now. Why? Because they're old and they know for Man U as a club to continue to improve they NEED to step aside and let the younger players take over.

It seems an Italian problem where loyalty and experience is given higher priority than plain talent. That's just wrong and for Serie A and Italian football to get back to the top, this needs to change. I think for the upcoming season, all remaining members of the "old guard" (bar Buffon) should be seeing reduced playing time and we should be seeing the start of a new Juventus; one without Del Piero.

Sam, Trez would be better than Giuseppe Rossi if we play the 4-2-3-1. We need someone to pounce on those goals.

Only problem is that Del Piero, Iaquinta, Trezeguet and Amauri are all competing for 1-2 spots.

In that case it's Iaquinta, Trez, and Amauri competing for 1 spot. ADP certainly wouldn't play as the lone striker. That's the only formation I see them playing together in, with perhaps Spalletti as coach.

Alessio, you’ve defended Ranieri ad nauseam in the past, why hasn’t he selected Giovinco?

You've got me.

santacroce will go nowhere apart from milan.

ricci has the same idea as me a 4-2-3-1. the inter play between the front 3 would be beautiful. swap de silvestri for gygera and now you have a shit hot italian mega team.

any of you seen an italian film called romanzo criminale? watched it last night there is a bloke on it who is a bigtime lookalike of leggrotaglie a couple of years ago

yeha im agreed with ricci, 4-2-3-1 is the way to go with camo and giovinco pusing out wide as well, and i cant believe im saying this but it is time for trezaguet to go, hes old and too good for the bench. get a fast striker like g. rossi! Thats the way to go!

"Legrottaglie has been far better than Santacroce this season."

I agree, you keep Legro, let us take Santacroce and just make do somehow...

Diego for 5 years is still immense, he can definitely be argued as a top 10 player. Seba is my favorite young player and it sucks they play similar roles but I would still prefer Diego arriving.

Alessio, you've defended Ranieri ad nauseam in the past, why hasn't he selected Giovinco?

I love Juve for many reasons, none more than their national presence relative to Milan and Inter. With that said, you can't tell me this team isn't one of the most disappointing teams in a while. If Diego and Gio can both play great, if Gio comes in as a sub fine, if he gets shipped out that sucks but Diego, for me, is worth it.

I think in a 4-2-3-1 they can both play. Giovinco out wide left and Diego thru the middle. Camoranesi wide right. Marchisio-Sissoko holding. Only problem is that Del Piero, Iaquinta, Trezeguet and Amauri are all competing for 1-2 spots. Honestly, I think Giovinco stays. It might be Del Piero that sees his role diminished. I really just can't see a 34-35 year old supporting striker with no pace and 65 minutes in him starting week in and week out. Didn't mean to offend anyone with that, just my 2 cents.

Buffon
Grygera-Legro-Chiellini-Criscito
Marchisio-Sissoko
Camoranesi-Diego-Giovinco
Amauri

that is a sexy fucking lineup IMO.

Diego if he succeeds will likely love for the BPL or La Liga in 4-5 years or so. Giovinco, if he succeeds, will never leave Juventus.

A 22-year old homegrown player v. a 24-year old Brazilian. There is a difference, this is not Milan.

This is such terrible news......a world class 23 year old is on his way to juve, and a promising 22 year old that sees the field once every 4 games might be forced out....or he might not. Get over it people

Loyalty schmoyalty. Everyone has their time to go.



Couldn't disagree with you anymore. That's the attitude of soulless teams and hopefully, the Juve of the past. Anyone who stayed with Juve in Serie B should be given retirement on a golden platter, even if it costs us a Scudetto.



Adam, that formation is no good. Too much change, and frankly, Legrottaglie has been far better than Santacroce this season. I don't know why Zanetti is not a starter when he's been injured yet Maggio would be. And a midfield of Sissoko-Diego-Marchisio is no good, Diego would leave a hole and it'd be a 4-2-4. I'm also unconvinced by Camoranesi's position at the front of a 4-3-3, it's never clicked for him with Italy.



If Diego comes, see ya Giovinco.

Buffon

Grygera Legrottaglie Chiellini Criscito

Camoranesi Sissoko Marchisio

Diego

?-?

"But there’s always that issue of loyalty to the player, especially when he stayed with us after the scandal."

Loyalty schmoyalty. Everyone has their time to go. No disrespect to Trez, I am a fan, but like you said he isn't getting younger and who knows how he's going to be after his injury. I think if he isn't willing to accept a possibly diminished role then he has to go. Same thing for Del Piero and Camoranesi, the other remaining members of the "old guard". We need to start moving towards the next generation. And for that to happen, then the old generation need to step aside.

Zanetti should not be considered a starter as he has been injured this whole season.

Diego will waste his talent playing the CM that Ranieri wants him to be. He must play as a trequartista.

Maybe a 4-1-4-1? Back 4 - Sissoko - Gio left, Diego and APD in the middle, Camo right - and a striker. The problem then becomes rotating Amauri, Iaquinta and Trez. Although I think Amauri can drop back and be part of the 4 in case of injuries. It also leaves Marchisio and Zanetti out.
Other than that maybe a 3-4-1-2? That leaves one of Gio or PDC out though...and I'd like them both to start.

My only problem with this is that the "signing" happened before the new coach was appointed. It might constrict the tactics the new coach might adopt. Wouldn't it have been better if under a new coach, Diego was signed? This makes it clearer of an intent to use him, rather than just being forced to just because the player was bought already.

But of course, my statement assumes that a new coach will come and Diego is 100% moving to Juventus. Ranieri staying (which is not likely) is still possible and we can't be too sure about the media's statment about Diego.

As for Giovinco's fate, I don't know how we're going to fit him, Iaquinta, Del Piero, Trezeguet, Iaquinta, and "Diego" in the formation. I have a feeling Trezeguet is leaving and personally, I wouldn't go against it. He's not getting any younger and it doesn't help if he whines about not playing. But there's always that issue of loyalty to the player, especially when he stayed with us after the scandal.

Regarding Diego, I don't watch Bundesliga but has he always played as an attacking midfielder? Maybe he can play as a central midfielder as well and be our playmaker? With that, he also needs to have defensive capabilities, which I'm not sure he has.

Alessio, I think a 4-3-3 would be the perfect solution.

Buffon
Maggio-Chiellini-Santa-Criscito
Sissoko-Diego-Marchisio
ADP/Camoranesi-Amauri-Giovinco

That in my opinion would be the way to go for us next season.

Diego is a good signing for you guys. You need a manager that will get the best out of him though. Good luck with that

this, i believe a page that discusses hypothetical coach, formation, and where del piero, diego, and giovinco should play.

http://tinyurl.com/qmovkl

I really don't think he's at his best up top, that's the problem.

I see no reason why we should get rid of Giovinco, next season should be the season where he replaces Del Piero.

sorry your telling me that wouldnt be lethal?

no a 4-3-1-2. standard back four marchisio, sissoko and someone like cigarini, with diego behind gio and a target man. your telling me that would be lethal?!

Might send Giovinco out on loan, co-ownership, sell him to Arsenal, who knows.

Christmas tree formation? We have trouble accomodating Amauri, Iaquinta, ADP, and Trez already. That's always been my least favorite formation too. The only way I can see them coexisting is a 4-2-2-2 which will not fly at Juve.

diego behind giovinco and a striker of course it could work. let seba roam on the left like cassano

seriously your management cant sell giovinco? it would be one of the worst mistakes in the history of football! where would he go?

I'm not one to normally buy what agents say, but that actually does make sense given Blanc's interview. Aspettiamo la firma, sapete che le liste non sono ancora aperte.

Diego is a great player, but addio Giovinco. We had such high hopes.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/...

not sure if this is true but if it is you have signed an amazing player. now you need a manager that can get him and giovinco playing together with iaquinta/amauri and you could have the holy trinity Mk.2

True dat MAD, true dat.

If Juve can build a stadium and fill it with 40-60 a weekend and make it *work* maybe the other clubs will finally get on board.

It's like a dream, a Serie A that will collectively go after huge tv contracts and collect revenue from their own stadiums.

Now if they will only lower the age of contract signing to prevent poaching from England, we can have equal footing, financially.

I like this line:
"The only weight that I feel is the responsiblity of developing a modern club, with a balanced budget and ambitious projects."

And Sam, conte plays with winger. See Alessio post about him.

yeha i agree with alex, wouldnt this mean ranieri isint in charge, as earlier he said giovinco is not nedveds heir and deigo coming in. Im sure we are not gettin rid of giovicno just where, and Conte i dont think plays with wingers, soo possible!