PotD: This Is Kind Of What It Feels Like

By: roberto | May 17th, 2009
   

Juventus' goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon looks on during their Italian Serie A soccer match against Atalanta at the empty Olympic stadium in Turin May 17, 2009. Italy's High Court of Sport Justice has ordered the match to be played behind closed doors as a punishment for the racist choirs, against Inter Milan player Mario Balotelli, by Juventus supporters during their match on April 18.


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  • Armando
    We didnt buy Knezevic? I didnt think he was on loan...and to be perfectly honest i never heard of anything like that "try before you buy" thing. But i believe you. And even if we cant sell Brazzo, then keep him and sell Marchionni. I said sell one of them, doesnt matter which one, just to keep one of them as an extra for Camoranesi, but there's also Giovinco, Diego, and others who can play there if need be. The point is, we dont need them both. And Mellberg, it's not a matter of getting someone better for what we sell them for, it's a matter of building up money and spending a bit more, and getting much higher quality players. We need to throw out some cash for some good players. And btw, we dont need Mellberg anyways, because we should get Cannavaro for free, Criscito back from loan, start giving Ariaudo more time to develop, and if need be buy another one too, possibly Zapata, whose been looking very promising lately and would be cheaper than Santacroce. Either way, even without buying Zapata or Santacroce, we still dont need Mellberg, and we also dont need both Brazzo and Marchionni, so sell one of them too. And Knezevic is on loan? Then give him back. We dont need him.
  • moka
    SACKED
  • agiamba
    How can you not know who Ferrara is?! :)
  • alex
    ferrara is an absolute legend. one of the best italian defenders of his generation and a gentleman
  • arto
    I feel sorry for Ranieri. He is such a loser. Unlike Mouriho he does what he wants but can not back up what he does with results. I hope Conte takes over. I don't know anything about Ferra guy.
  • agiamba
    No one really knows, alex. A post will be up in a second.
  • alex
    is ferrara going to be long term or just until the end of the season? i was hoping he would manage napoli in the near future seeing as though im not a big fan of donadoni!
  • Sam Dj
    just about time....
  • tom
    Ranieri has been relieved of his duties...

    Ufficializzato l'esonero del tecnico romano, squadra affidata a Ciro Ferrara per le ultime due partite
  • Nnahoj
    And hell, some change might just be what the doctor ordered.
  • Nnahoj
    I agree with Roberto. Personally, at this point, Ferrera couldn't do a worse job.
  • Justin
    I know Conte's one of the favorites if ever Ranieri gets sacked but how do you guys feel about Rijkaard?

    Wow this season, it's more of the coaches who are moving around instead of players. So much rumors about Ancelotti, Ranieri, Rijkaard, Hiddink, Wenger. These are top class managers that I wouldn't mind having in the Juve bench.
  • alex
    you need to sack ranieri in the next 2 weeks and bring conte in. yes he hasnt much experience but as a player who would fill you with inspiration when your knackered and look to the bench?! antonio screaming at you of course. the man is juventus through and through, he is like guardiola, hes a battler and has won it all which gives him a winning mentality.

    the biggest problem you have is your managment. they clearly arent geared towards football management. and for fucks sake whoever is in charge next season has to play giovinco
  • FF
    i meant : don’t fk up Giovinco’s career in Juve team Ranieriiiii..

    i m just too frustrated with Ranieri and will want to him to leave Juve asap
  • Sam
    http://www.goal.com/en/news/10...

    ohh my fuckin god, this better be true! Cause im fuckin partying right now!
  • agiamba
    MAD, actually Johonna has stated that several times.

    Armando, first of all Knezevic can't be sold since we don't own him. Thank god for "try-before-you-buy." Brazzo and Mellberg are similar cases. As arto wisely pointed out, it's not a case of dumping average/poor performers. Could we get someone as good as Mellberg/Brazzo for the 2.5mil or so we'd get for the both of them? I doubt it.

    Both are decent players when they are not starters. Mellberg has been playing far too much recently. Our defense has been relatively healthy all season, but it's lack of depth (Knezevic and Andrade being KOed all season) is starting to show now.
  • Comrade
    Nothing is fucked here.. nothing is fucked. Should we have had a moderate form and secured second place, there would be a false sense of satisfaction and security. It is time to carefully go over the mistakes and correct them. But is there a single intelligent person in management?
  • FF
    don't fk up Giovinco's career Ranieriiiii
  • Brian
    Roberto,
    I agree that Ranieri is past his due date at this point, but who would step in to run this mess right now for the last two games? The board might have waited 2 weeks too long to make a change that would have had any impact.
  • temo
    wow the mighty Juventus is falling apart. Since March has not won a game!!! why? lots of reasons really, such as; Ranieri and his latest comments:“One thing is for sure - we have to wake up, because we cannot continue like this.” Terrible comment to say now, it does not give me confidence on him and who is backing him up. The management "Blanc" backing him and Blanc has not impressed me much with his signings. Blanc and Raneiri should of realized Juve's history before joining the the glorious club. It's a disgrace and very shameful what these two are doing now, i ask where are the owners of Juventus? Moreover, one of the things that got me really mad this season is that a real talented player i mean real nature from God "Saba Giovinco" has not been given the chance this season to prove that he is one of the world's most promising players. I love Juventus first and Barcelona as a second team, I say that I would like to see Giovinco play in Barcelona "they appreciate young talents" if Raneiri or the likes of him coaching Juve. Giovinco is the type of player who does not like to loose, the type who fights and motivates and of course his skills are breath-taking. Barcelona saw the talent of Messi when he was 16 and involved him to play regular to prove himself and he did it with style. I really do not want to see a talent like Giovinco burn his future with coach that does not appreciate talent at all.
  • MAD
    "With four consecutive titles Inter join the Great Torino side in the history of Italian football.

    Hahahaha. Gran Torino didn’t have won handed to them by the courts and then the next one handed to them by the FIGC."

    Well, however you think we got them, we got them. They count.

    They still count the 4 you won by cheating from 1996, 1997, 2001 and 2002, right?

    There you go.

    Every one is happy.
  • Armando
    Alessio, why cant we sell Brazzo, Mellberg, and Knezevic? Brazzo is good and i might keep him or Marchionni, just keep one of them as a sub for Camoranesi, but we dont need both. Especially as Giovinco can also play on the right wing if need be, as well as Diego, though those 2 would hopefully get their own starting positions. And Salihamidzic might be good as a right wingback, but usually he's used as a right winger, and i think he's better there, so that's what i consider him. So i'm actually getting rid of 4 defenders (Molinaro, Mellberg, Knezevic, and either Zebina or Grygera), but bringing in a better 4, with Maggio (far better than Zebina and Grygera), Lahm (far better than Molinaro), and Cannavaro and Criscito (both for free, and better than Mellberg and Knezevic). So what's wrong with my choices?
  • adam
    Agree with you on that Roberto, Ranieri needs to go asap.

    And isn't Knezevic here on loan from Livorno?
  • Someone asked the question in the last post: When do we fire Ranieri? Personally I think the answer is pretty complicated.

    With two very important games remaining we either keep the balance of power intact (hoping for a turnaround) but risk running another performance(s) like today, or we act immediately in an effort to avoid losing third or even fourth place but run a high risk of collapsing the team's chemistry in these precious few weeks ahead.

    After given this some thought, I can say I've found myself leaning towards firing Ranieri immediately before next week. I know that's not the 'Juventus way' but we can't fool ourselves into thinking that this team is of the Grande Juve calibre right now. That will (a) help us get the word out that we're looking for a coach next season very loudly, duh. And (b) I think our player's are quite rational, experienced, and could handle that kind of pressure for two games.

    No doubt we need to win these last two games, and no doubt Ranieri has to go next year. Again, with the veteran players that we have (Nedved, Buffon, and Del Piero) we can most likely stand tall in these last two games and this will easily provide the spark I think our team so desperately needs. What do you guys think of that?
  • arto
    dude, we can't just sell players just because they are playing poorly. If we sell tiago for 5million, can we really get a better player for 5million? We also have to think that there is risk invovled in bringing new players. Meaning, bringing new players does not necessarily lead to better results. Also we need to sell so that we bring in some money. Poulsen and Tiago both have big wage, only premier league and big clubs can take them? who would actually pay 8 million to buy them??

    Ranieri really has to go. He has fetish with average "good" players. I mean average "good" player meaning they are good footballers but they are not spectacular. If Ranieri stays, I hope Giovinco leaves. Although I love having him at juventus, I would rather not let Ranieri ruin Giovinco's career.
  • Sam
    i really think we should get Mattias Cassani, hes gud defensivly better attackingly. IF only we had kept him at the start, he is our youth product u know! DAMN I WISH I HAD SECCOS JOB!
  • MAD
    "And don’t give me this “he’s born in Italy he’s Italian” crap. That’s an American-centric view."

    No one actually gave you that.

    What she gave you was that it wasn't his fault that he was the victim of extremely poor taste, thanks to your lot.

    Which was the reason all of your idiots had to to stay home.

    "I think the best thing to do is spend some big money now."

    I encourage you guys to completely overhaul your team. I think it really worked for you this season.
  • agiamba
    Sorry dude...you're getting rid of 4-5 defenders (can't sell Salihamidzic, Mellberg, or Knezevic) and you're bringing in 3 1/2. The problem is both quality and quantity at the back.
  • Armando
    I think the best thing to do is spend some big money now. We must have at least 50 million Euros available, plus we should sell:

    -Poulsen
    -Mellberg
    -Knezevic
    -Tiago
    -Molinaro
    -Either Grygera or Zebina
    -Either Marchionni or Salihamidzic

    Hopefully we could get another 50 million from these sales, and then we could spend some money, and buy/get:

    -Diego (Around 25 million)
    -Phillip Lahm (Around 25 million)
    -Christian Maggio (Around 12 million)
    -Either Xabi Alonso or David Silva (Around 25 million for either)
    -Fabio Cannavaro (Free Transfer)
    -Domenico Criscito (Back from Loan)

    Then our Squad could look like this:

    KEEPERS: Buffon, Manninger
    DEFENDERS: Chiellini(CM), Legrottaglie(CM), Cannavaro(CM), Ariaudo(CM), Criscito(CM/LB), Maggio(RB), Lahm(LB), De Ceglie(LB), and either Grygera or Zebina (both RBs).
    MIDFIELDERS (including Trequartistas): Camoranesi(RM), Sissoko(CM), Marchisio(CM), Giovinco(LM/TreQ), Diego(TreQ), Zanetti (CM), either Alonso (CM) or Silva (LM), and either Marchionni or Salihamidzic (both RMs).
    FORWARDS: Amauri, Del Piero, Trezeguet, and Iaquinta.

    Then we use a 4-4-2 with a Diamond midfield, so essentially a 4-1-2-1-2, something like this:

    --------------------Buffon---------------------
    Maggio-----Legrottaglie-----Chiellini------Lahm
    -----------Sissoko/Marchisio/Alonso------------
    Camoranesi-----------------------Giovinco/Silva
    ---------------------Diego---------------------
    -----------Del Piero----------Amauri-----------

    ...That's an awesome team. If we can have something like that next season, Scudetto here we come. and Manchester United and Barcelona better be looking over their shoulders for next years CL too if we can do this.

    Oh, and how can I forget...FIRE RANIERI!! HIRE CONTE!!
  • agiamba
    Wait, so now it is Balotelli’s fault that Juve fans made racist chants at him?

    You keep saying this. Neither you or I know exactly what Juventus fans said. And don't give me this "he's born in Italy he's Italian" crap. That's an American-centric view.

    What utter garbage today. If anyone thinks Cannavaro is going to help, watch Mellberg today. Mellberg was decent in the air, but anytime an Atalanta player put any sort of skill or speed on the ball, he was fucked. That's Cannavaro. Positionally good.....slow as a turtle. And yeah, Real sucks, but he's awful too. Have you guys been watching him for the Azzurri?

    Christ. Today just reminded me how badly we need Chiellini+Legro on the pitch. They combine beautifully and the lack of their joint-presence has been why we have been leaking goals in the last 2 months.
  • Armando
    Yea, Ranieri needs to be fired badly. And Legrottaglie is actually good when partnered by Chiellini. The problem is he's not good enough by himself, because then he has to clean up Mellberg's messes. And Ariaudo will be great in time, but is still young and developing. But Chiellini and Legro together are usually very solid. Cannavaro may be more experienced than Legro, but Legro doesnt show his age like Canna does in my opinion. Really, i think if our choices in the center of defense are between Chiellini, Legro, Canna, and Ariaudo, it should be Chiellini and either Legro or Canna, whichever works better with Chiellini. And Ariaudo should get some time to develop, he's the future of our defense.
  • alex
    if you think having ranieri in charge is bad try gareth southgate on for size.
  • adam
    “I am 99 per cent sure of staying on the Juventus bench.” - Ranieri

    Its the things like this that make me hate Ranieri even more. His team hasen't won since March and plays like shit, yet he acts like its no big problem. I hope he gets fired and never coaches a team again. No team, not even inter deserve the punishment of Ranieri coaching them.
  • lev lucien
    Not winning sucks but I never really expected the scudetto this year. Not playing Seba is the worst part of this drought.
  • Nnahoj
    I think the last time Giovinco played in the league was against Inter (where he provided the assist for our only goal). So that's a month now that he has not seen any league football.
  • Brian
    I will officially swear off Juventus if Ranieri returns for next year.
  • alex
    what a waste of talent. its actually really infuriating having watched him at the olympics. if he played regulary this season then he would be a household name across the world by now. ranieri is a disgrace just for the fact hes fucking up giovincos career. especially as seba has been saying he wants to play for juve his enire career
  • Jorid
    lev lucien, If I'm not wrong I think he hasnt played in the last 5 or 6 games. I think 6
  • lev lucien
    When was the last time Giovinco saw the pitch?
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