JUVENTUS SEASON 2016-2017

Socrates · December 24, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Buffon has Supercoppa regrets

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http://www.football-italia.net/96111/buffon-has-supercoppa-regrets

Dec 23, 2016

Gigi Buffon was left with regrets after his 600^th appearance in a Juventus jersey ended in Supercoppa defeat to Milan on penalties.

The captain had the opportunity to make history as the first player to win seven editions of the Italian Super Cup, but he remains tied with Dejan Stankovic on six.

“Milan got the result and played very well in certain respects, putting in a lot of effort, but the regret is that like two years ago we were in front during the shoot-out and didn’t finish it,” Buffon told JTV.

This 1-1 draw and defeat on spot-kicks was effectively a replay of the loss to Napoli in Doha in December 2014.

“The regrets just keep adding up and it’s disappointing, because we also hoped that we wouldn’t have to drag the game on for such a long time.

“I don’t think fatigue was an issue, because they were only 10 more games and our squad is accustomed to this sort of strain.

“Today we didn’t understand that in the first 25 minutes Milan were really struggling and we could’ve won the game then, but after those 25 minutes of domination it was a very even match.

“We had chances, so did they, and it ended like this. Our 2016 doesn’t end the way we wanted it to, but that’s the nature of the game.”

Socrates · December 24, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Allegri: Juve could’ve done better

Manager’s post-match comments after Supercoppa loss

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h ttp://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/12/23/14071484/max-allegri-

juventus-couldve-done-better-2016-italian-supercoppa-super-cup-milan-penalties

Dec 23, 2016

Juventus lost the 2016 Italian Supercoppa on penalties to AC Milan after the game ended 1-1 in normal time, and extra time failed to find a victor. After the game, manager Massimiliano Allegri was philosophical about the loss.

“We did everything to avoid penalties. After the goal we got a bit too deep and passed it backwards, so that changed the game.

“If this had been a Serie A game, it would’ve been decided by an incident. As it’s the Super Cup, it was decided on penalties.

“We’ve had many matches this season and fatigue can cause problems. I was forced into two substitutions, unfortunately.”

The Bianconeri had a penalty shout with the last kick of the game when the ball hit Mattia De Sciglio’s retracted arm.

“It wasn’t a penalty, absolutely. We should’ve done better over the 120 minutes.”

Milan’s best player on the day was probably Suso, who was a terror on Juve’s left for Alex Sandro and later Patrice Evra.

“He had a good game and the moment he became less dangerous, Milan didn’t create anything. I have to compliment Milan, as they put in a strong performance.”

This is the second Italian Super Cup loss in Doha on penalties for Juventus after a penalty shootout loss to Napoli in 2014.

“We lost twice in Doha, hopefully the third one will go better. We’d prefer to play it in pre-season rather than in December. The fact remains we are top of the Serie A table, top of our Champions League group and we were unbeaten on the field today, so with penalties it can happen.”

There was some more controversy after the final penalty as a fan-made video captured Allegri in a heated argument with Juve top brass Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici.

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@hashim0307 hash look at how Allegri is talking to Paratici/Marotta, resignation incoming?

9:16 PM - 23 Dec 2016

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Socrates · December 24, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Milan beat Juventus in Super Cup as

Donnarumma, Suso lead the charge

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http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/ac-milan/103/blog/post/3025757/milan-beat-

juventus-in-italian-super-cup-as-gianluigi-donnarumma-and-suso-stood-out

Dec 23, 2016

AC Milan prevailed in a heavyweight tussle with Juventus for the Italian Super Cup in Doha on Friday. The two sides were inseparable after 120 minutes, with Giorgio Chiellini and Giacomo Bonaventura finding the back of the net to leave it at 1-1 before penalties decided the clash.

A huge save from Gianluigi Donnarumma and a superb spot-kick from Mario Pasalic saw the Rossoneri over the line as Vincenzo Montella lifted his first trophy as Milan boss.

Positives

On the balance of play, Milan deserved to win this game in normal time. After overcoming a slow start, the Rossoneri took control of the encounter and created many chances, as they proved equal to the best team in Italy.

Negatives

There was another slow start from Milan and on another day, they could have paid for it. While creating those chances mentioned above was a positive, not taking them was very much a negative as the game arguably shouldn't have had to go to penalties.

Manager rating out of 10

7 -- There were few complaints with Montella's line-up while he organised his players and woke them up after a poor opening 20 minutes. Could have made his changes sooner with players tiring, but managed the game well and saw Milan over the line.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Gianluigi Donnarumma, 8 -- Produced some stellar stops during the game, notably to deny Sami Khedira and Stefano Sturaro. However, he saved the best for last as his stunning save to stop Paulo Dybala's spot-kick was pivotal as Milan went on to win the trophy.

DF Ignazio Abate, 7 -- Did struggle at times from a defensive perspective and was slow to get to the ball, but improved as the game went on and put in a huge shift. The captain made some timely interventions and was an energetic presence up and down the right flank.

DF Gabriel Paletta, 7 -- Excellent reading of the game and was always tough in the tackle to let Gonzalo Higuain and Mario Mandzukic know he was around. Another solid display that was crucial to Milan's overall defensive performance.

DF Alessio Romagnoli, 7 -- Almost bagged himself a goal but saw his header crash off the crossbar. However, that doesn't take away from another mature performance with few errors. Looks really assured next to Paletta and the pair work really well together.

DF Mattia De Sciglio, 6 -- Not as much of an attacking presence as Abate, and will need to improve on that aspect in the New Year. However, he did remain resolute defensively and allowed Juve little joy down their right flank.

MF Juraj Kucka, 7 -- Covered every part of the pitch with another tireless display, crucial in giving Milan protection in midfield and biting into challenges. Lacked quality in possession as he gave the ball away on countless occasions but was integral to his team's success.

MF Manuel Locatelli, 6 -- Anonymous early on as he couldn't get into the rhythm of the game but warmed to it and started putting himself about, which was good to see. Kept it simple to keep Milan ticking over in possession and moving up the field. Overall, a decent effort from the teenager.

MF Andrea Bertolacci, 6 -- It was a similar night to Kucka for the Italian, in that he offered great energy and protection in midfield but lacked quality in the final third to make a difference. Given he's still working his way back to full match fitness, it was a positive effort as Montella looks set to give him a run in the team.

FW Suso, 8 -- Starting with a criticism, he was poor defensively as he didn't track back and left Abate exposed too often. However, from an attacking perspective, he gave Patrice Evra nightmares and provided a superb assist for Bonaventura's goal. Showed his quality in the final third and set the standard for what supporters expect from him for the remainder of the season.

FW Carlos Bacca, 5 -- In his defence, he fought hard and came up against two tough operators in Chiellini and Daniele Rugani. However, they can't be blamed for his poor finishing when he did have chances, and he'll be more disappointed than anyone else that he wasn't able to wrap things up well before penalties.

FW Giacomo Bonaventura, 8 -- Similar to many of his teammates, he struggled in the early part of the game as he was too isolated. However, he improved dramatically after scoring and was a constant problem for Juve with his probing runs on and off the ball. Showed his class yet again.

Substitutes

MF Mario Pasalic, 7 -- Added some freshness to the midfield at a crucial time, albeit without making a huge impression on the game. However, he scored the winning penalty with a sumptuous spot-kick and he can be pleased with his overall contribution to the win.

DF Luca Antonelli, NR -- Did well in extra-time to help Milan keep things tight at the back and added some energy down the left.

FW Gianluca Lapadula, NR -- Worked hard but didn't really have time or the service to do much. Will be disappointed to have missed his penalty in the shootout, but fortunate that it didn't prove to be costly.

Socrates · December 24, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Chiellini: 'Juve learn from defeat'

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http://www.football-italia.net/96115/chiellini-juve-learn-defeat

Dec 23, 2016

Giorgio Chiellini scored the opening goal in the Italian Super Cup, but couldn’t prevent Juventus losing on penalties to Milan. “We must learn from this.”

The defender’s early volley was wiped out by a Giacomo Bonaventura header for 1-1 and it went to a shoot-out in Doha.

“It’s disappointing, we lost another Supercoppa on penalties in Doha after 2014 and in all honesty I thought we put in a decent performance,” Chiellini told JTV.

“We started so strong and pinned Milan back into their own half, creating many opportunities. Paradoxically, after the goal we went a bit too deep and allowed spaces to a side with a lot of quality.

“The regrets remain, because we had the chances to win it to the end. We mustn’t make a drama out of it, but we must learn from this because the next six months have to be a march towards success.

“It’s disappointing, as we came here to win and our Christmas break will have a bitter taste in the mouth. At the same time, we’ve got to tip our hats to Milan.

“Clearly 2016 remains a positive year, as we continuing to raise our level in Italy and in the world. We mustn’t lose that hunger to train and improve every day, which was the secret to our success over the last few years.”

Socrates · December 24, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Buffon: Juventus should have

had it won after 25 minutes

Juventus lost out to AC Milan in a dramatic Supercoppa Italiana

penalty shoot-out, frustrating Gianluigi Buffon.

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http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3265/italian-football/2016/12/23/30798122/-

Dec 23, 2016

Gianluigi Buffon feels Juventus should have had the Supercoppa Italiana won after 25 minutes of their match with AC Milan in Doha.

Juve missed out on the trophy, losing 4-3 on penalties after 120 minutes of action had produced a 1-1 draw.

The Italy goalkeeper saved a penalty from Gianluca Lapadula in the shoot-out, but saw his 600th Juve appearance end in disappointment after misses from Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala.

Buffon felt Juve should have had the game won long before that drama, though, pointing to their dominance of the early stages, when Giorgio Chiellini put them ahead, with Gianluigi Donnarumma making a string of other key saves.

"We should have realised that we could have killed off the game in those blistering opening 25 minutes," captain Buffon told the club's TV station.

"Milan were really struggling then and we could have won it. But, after those 25 minutes of domination, it was a very even contest. They showed determination and played well.

"It is a shame, especially as we led both in normal time and on penalties."

paulo-dybala-juventus_1vpzorrbk6kb71kqft

Buffon, referring to the 2014 Supercoppa defeat against Napoli which was also played in Qatar, added: "The regret is that like two years ago we were in front during the shoot-out and didn't finish it,

"It's disappointing because we could have stopped the game from dragging on for such a long time.

"We had chances, so did they, and it ended like this."

Buffon attempted to keep a sense of perspective as Juve's year – one that saw them win Serie A and the Coppa Italia - came to an end on a negative note.

He continued: "I don't think fatigue because of the matches we have played was an issue - our squad is accustomed to this sort of strain.

"We have had a good year. There were lots of good things. Our 2016 doesn't end the way we wanted it to, but that's part and parcel of the game."

Giacomo Bonaventura scored Milan's goal as they won their seventh Supercoppa - tying Juve's record.

Socrates · December 24, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Supercoppa Surprise

Milan’s underdogs got the better of Juventus again for a surprising Supercoppa outcome, writes Susy Campanale.

http://www.football-italia.net/96118/supercoppa-surprise

Dec 23, 2016

Milan are making a habit of this. Beating Juventus once could be considered a fluke, but twice in as many attempts is starting to look like a trend. Admittedly, the success in Doha was only achieved via a penalty shoot-out, but it came at the end of 120 very balanced minutes that could’ve seen either side emerge with the trophy. It was Vincenzo Montella who emerged lifting the Rossoneri’s first piece of silverware for five years, the 29^th and probably last of the Silvio Berlusconi era.

Max Allegri said before the game that he feared the lack of pressure on Milan’s shoulders, their youthful exuberance at what was for many of them their first trophy showdown. In the end, he should’ve focused more on the mirror image in his Juventus squad, because these well-paid superstars were complacent, sluggish and arrogant. It’s not the first time they’ve exhibited these ‘qualities’ this season and it really is starting to become a worry.

Football loves an underdog, though I’m not sure how much longer we can keep treating Milan as if they are a slightly more glamorous version of Atalanta. Yes there are inexperienced and very young players in the side, but other big clubs in Europe have built success stories on less impressive talents coming up through the academy. They lack the strength in depth to compete in the long run in Serie A for a top three finish, but in a one-off game can have their say against anyone.

It could’ve been Gigi Buffon’s record seventh Supercoppa Italiana, instead it’s the first trophy of what one has to hope will be many for Donnarumma.

The goalkeeper may only be 17 years old, but he’s no flash in the pan. If he improves with the ball at his feet, which at the moment is his biggest weakness, then he has every right to be considered a bona fide star rather than just a promising talent. Manuel Locatelli is putting in a more than decent show in midfield, certainly better than some of Riccardo Montolivo’s performances last season, and Mario Pasalic proved with the winning spot-kick in the shoot-out that he’s got a cool head on his 21-year-old shoulders.

Suso was regularly tearing the Bianconeri apart down their left flank, as Alex Sandro first, then Patrice Evra and Mario Lemina seemed powerless to stop the Spaniard’s marauding runs. Had Carlos Bacca been remotely in the game and not with his head already on a January payday transfer, Milan would’ve finished the game off before 90 minutes. What would the Sports Betting odds have been on that happening?

None of the big Juventus names stepped up to the plate in Doha and made the difference. Paulo Dybala is coming off an injury, so that might excuse his shocking miss and that stunning Donnarumma penalty save, but Miralem Pjanic and Gonzalo Higuain contributed practically nothing throughout. Allegri continues to tinker with his tactics and still hasn’t found a way to balance these players or their egos.

All season Juventus have been doing just enough to get by in Serie A and the Champions League, but you can only ride your luck for so long. In order to coast along you need to have momentum and the Old Lady is running out of it.

Instead, Milan are the triumph of the cast-offs, the forgotten men and the never-weres. Jack Bonaventura only joined them in the final hours of a transfer session because Inter dropped their option on the Atalanta product. Suso was practically handed over for free by Liverpool and needed a loan spell at Genoa to be given any chances. Gabriel Paletta was widely expected to leave in the summer and it felt like he was only staying because there were no alternatives, yet has turned into a rock alongside Alessio Romagnoli.

Let’s not forget, Milan were only in the Super Cup because they lost the Coppa Italia Final in May, as Juventus couldn’t exactly face themselves. It’s rare that the Supercoppa goes to the Coppa Italia winners rather than the Scudetto holders, but for a side that finished empty-handed to be crowned is taking the underdog story to a new level.

Socrates · December 24, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Allegri rants at Juventus players

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http://www.football-italia.net/96120/allegri-rants-juventus-players

Dec 24, 2016

Max Allegri was caught on camera arguing with Juventus directors after the Supercoppa defeat to Milan, reportedly venting his fury at the team.

Giorgio Chiellini’s early goal capped a period of Bianconeri dominance, but Giacomo Bonaventura equalised and after extra time it was decided in a penalty shoot-out.

During the closing ceremony when all eyes were on the celebrating Rossoneri, a fan in the stands recorded video of Allegri visibly furious as he confronted directors Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici.

He was waving his arms and shouting, seemingly pointing out towards the pitch where the players had received their runner-up medals.

The audio was drowned out by music, but today’s newspapers claim Allegri used the phrase: “I’d give them all a good kicking.”

This seems to reflect the comments he made in the post-match Press conference in Doha.

“I am still very angry at what happened, because when you play in a Final, what’s important is what you do on the pitch, those who come off the bench and above all the way you read the game.

“It’s true we have played 27 matches since the start of the season, but we needed to play in a different way, with more focus on defending as a team. I mean that as a unit, not in terms of the defenders, because they did very well.”

Allegri was asked if he had any regrets about the starting XI, as Miralem Pjanic was picked instead of Paulo Dybala.

“No regrets at all. Dybala played for 60 minutes, he had the opportunities to score a goal and the idea was if the game was heading in a certain direction, Dybala could and should have been decisive."

When the Argentine did come on, he ballooned a golden opportunity over the bar and then saw his penalty saved in the shoot-out.

“It’s disappointing that two of my three substitutions were forced by injuries. Mario Lemina and Patrice Evra did well, but at that moment I wanted players with different characteristics and had no more changes left.”

Alex Sandro limped off in the first half with a thigh injury, followed by Stefano Sturaro with an apparent ankle problem.

Socrates · December 24, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Giorgio Chiellini tried in vain to bail out

mediocre Juventus in Supercoppa

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http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/3025865/

giorgio-chiellini-tried-in-vain-to-bail-out-mediocre-juventus-in-supercoppa

Dec 24, 2016

A match void of quality or intensity, Juventus scored the first goal but ended up losing on penalties to allow AC Milan to lift the Supercoppa trophy on Friday.

The Bianconeri started the match well, cutting off the supply for Milan's attack and creating chances of their own. However, after Milan's equaliser and the subsequent injury to Alex Sandro, the Rossoneri were on the ascendency, demonstrating why youthful exuberance can be a burden to cope with when you're an exhausted side.

Juventus looked worse for wear in the second half, lacking the girt and energy to cope with Suso & Co., yet Milan's inefficiency forced the game into extra time. With Juventus struggling and incapable of making the most of their own opportunities, the game went to penalties and Mario Pasalic struck the winning goal.

Positives

Juventus lacked desire, energy and their famous winning mentality so hardly any positives to note but one person that deserves a little praise is Giorgio Chiellini. His performances in recent times have not been up to his usual standards, but against Milan he was the warrior Juve always relied on. He scored an outstanding goal and proved vital at the back, cutting out important crosses and ensuring Carlos Bacca had a miserable night. Without him, Milan may have proved more efficient going forward.

Negatives

No Sandro, no party. The Brazilian may not be the best defender in the world, but he is certainly one of the most dynamic and capable wing-backs we have seen in Italy for some time. Boasting energy and dynamism, he can dominate the left-hand lane, create opportunities and simultaneously peg the opponent back. His injury changed the game and the team do not have an adequate replacement for him. Patrice Evra, as he proved on the night, is no longer up for the task at hand and Juve will hope they can recover Sandro quickly.

Manager rating out of 10

5 -- Two of Max Allegri's substitutions were forced into service rendering him unable to impact the match with his usual effective solutions. The side lacked balance and their usual desire but still only lost on penalties. Cannot be blamed for the result.

Player ratings (1-10; 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):

GK Gianluigi Buffon, 7 -- Wonderful performance. Alert and aware, he perfectly halted Bacca and saved Gianluca Lapadula's penalty.

DF Stephan Lichtsteiner, 5 -- Not his night. Perhaps lucky to escape a red card, Lichtsteiner struggled to push forward and failed to halt Milan's attack, losing Giacomo Bonaventura to concede a goal.

DF Daniele Rugani, 6 -- A mistake here and there, but the youngster played with composure and intelligence.

DF Giorgio Chiellini, 7 -- Best on the pitch, the defender scored an outstanding goal, blocked shots, made vital clearances and did all he could to ensure safety at the back. Delivered some accurate long balls too.

DF Alex Sandro, 6 -- Pushed forward admirably well, offering an outlet on the left even though he lacked accuracy on occasion. Left the game early due to injury.

MF Sami Khedira 6 -- Struck a perfect penalty in the shootout. Boasting tactical intelligence and desire, he played a good game and sacrificed for the team and was denied a goal by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Struggled toward the end.

Chiellini action vs MIlan 161223 — Giorgio Chiellini was at the fore of everything positive Juventus did against Milan in a losing effort.

MF Claudio Marchisio, 6 -- Intelligence, sacrifice and hard work, Marchisio tried to contain the opponent, attempted to give balance and executed his passes perfectly. Manages the basics so well.

MF Stefano Sturaro, 6 -- After some mediocre performances, Sturaro is clearly growing. Played a good first half to deny Milan with grit and determination. Struggled thereafter.

MF Miralem Pjanic, 5 -- Looked off colour, the player moved slowly and failed to inspire. He's clearly not playing at optimum levels after the knock he suffered against Roma.

FW Gonzalo Higuain, 5 -- Practically absent and not in tune with the Juve game, Higuain failed to do anything for much of the time.

FW Mario Mandzukic, 6 -- Always admirable to watch when he works for the team, defending from the top and exhausting the opponent, but he struggled to provide those energy levels for the entirety of the game. Struck a terrible penalty.

Substitutes:

DF Patrice Evra, 4 -- Disastrous to say the least. Suffered greatly against Suso, with Milan creating all their chances from that lane. One of his worst performances.

FW Paulo Dybala, 5 -- Had an immediate impact on the match as he pushed forward, encouraging attacks. Quickly faded thereafter and struggled to cope with the pressure to score his penalty.

MF Mario Lemina, 5 -- Asked to adapt too often leaving him struggling. Couldn't adequately contain Suso.

Socrates · December 25, 2016

Injury-ravaged Juventus have built up

nearly insurmountable lead in Serie A

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/3024177/injury-ravaged-

juventus-have-built-up-nearly-insurmountable-lead-in-serie-a

Dec 24, 2016

As we approach the turn of the year, it's time to take a look at how Juventus have fared so far in 2016-17.

What can Massimiliano Allegri's men expect between now and May? Here's how the season has gone so far.

Grade: A-

Positives:

Giampiero Boniperti said it best when he said: "Winning is not important, it is the only thing that counts." Considering the plethora of injuries suffered and the delay in fielding the side's best XI, Juventus have not only managed to top their Champions League qualifying group but sit perched at the top of Serie A with a seven-point lead over second-placed Roma.

Forced into rotating players so often, especially at the back, Juve still boast the toughest defence in the league and the second-best attack. Unlike the start of last season, this Bianconeri side refuse to take anything for granted, and whatever they may lack in tactical balance and overall fluidity, they more than make up for with mental fortitude and great desire. It is perhaps for this reason that seven of their goals have arrived in the first 15 minutes of Serie A matches.

Daniele Rugani has developed into a real leader capable of guiding the backline, Mario Mandzukic has proved efficient in both phases of the game while Gonzalo Higuain continues to score despite playing in a sacrificial role due to injuries. When the players are back to full fitness, one imagines Juventus will not only continue winning but perhaps provide a little entertainment.

Negatives:

Regardless of how well Juventus have done this season despite the injuries, they are yet to play to their true potential and have been made to suffer against what can only be deemed as inferior opposition. Unable to control games or keep hold of possession adequately, this campaign's midfield pales in comparison to the one Juve once boasted.

Sami Khedira may be intelligent and determined, but he does not have the physical strength to provide consistently solid performances, while Miralem Pjanic took too long to settle in. Forcing a formation change in hope of uncovering the Bosnian's true potential, it remains to be seen whether the playmaker can make the impact on a consistent basis. As such, the team can only truly rely on Claudio Marchisio, a player who boasts the dynamism and tactical intelligence needed to keep Juventus moving in a cohesive manner. Without him, the team struggled in both phases of the game while the bench lacks the quality required to allow for seamless squad rotations.

Once upon a time, this team could rely on Paul Pogba's vertical nature, Andrea Pirlo's creativity and Arturo Vidal's relentless energy, ensuring strength off the ball and intelligence on it. Their departures continue to be felt and are yet to be adequately replaced.

Star man:

Without a doubt, Mandzukic has been Juve's star player this season. Often described as technically limited, the player was said to have sought a departure from the club over the summer after hearing of Higuain's arrival. Convinced to stay and fight for trophies, the number of injuries suffered allowed the striker to play with continuity and his progression and performances have been nothing but inspiring.

Not only does he hold up play, create space for his teammates and exhaust the opposition but he's also happy to always track back and contribute to the defence, pulling off sensational blocks and tackles to ensure defensive solidity. A player with a work ethic befitting of Juventus, Mandzukic is the ultimate team player.

As Juventus have been decimated by injuries, Mario Mandzukic has come to the fore, leading the line for the Italian giants.

Flop:

There are players not suited to Juve's level and others who have succumbed to injury too early to demonstrate their worth thus there is no real flop within the side. However, one player who hasn't truly lived up to expectations is Dani Alves.

On several occasions, the full-back has been magical going forward, creating chances for his teammates and delivering the width Juventus need. However, defensively the player has proved fragile. Against Milan, Tuttomercatoweb labelled him a disaster of a player and selfish while against Lyon, the defender looked overwhelmed and out of sorts.

Often caught out of position and easily robbed of possession, Alves is discovering the difficulty of being a defender in Italy. To be fair to him, he has been tasked with playing in unfamiliar formations and positions. However, he must learn to play with more discipline, look to serve his teammates as opposed to being the hero and understand that regardless of the trophies he has collected, this is a new challenge and a club that desperately needs his winning mentality to make the difference in the big games.

Predicted finish: Juventus should easily win the title for the sixth time and ought to at least reach the semifinals of the Champions League.

Socrates · December 25, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

AC Milan's Supercoppa Win over Juventus

Highlights Problems for the Old Lady

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2683534-ac-milans-

supercoppa-win-over-juventus-highlights-problems-for-the-old-lady

Dec 24, 2016

“We had chances; so did they, and it ended like this,” Gigi Buffon told JTV (h/t Football Italia) on Friday evening. “Our 2016 doesn’t end the way we wanted it to, but that’s the nature of the game.”

The goalkeeper was speaking moments after his side lost a penalty shootout 4-3 to AC Milan, the defeat meaning that the Rossoneri collected the Supercoppa Italiana, their first trophy in five seasons.

It also ensured they defeated the Serie A champions for the second time this term, and a delighted Vincenzo Montella discussed the importance of that result shortly after leaving the field at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar.

"It's a nice feeling to win," the Milan boss told Rai Sport (h/t FourFourTwo). "The lads have to see this as a good starting point for the future, as we played on a par with a great side like Juventus.”

The San Siro outfit deserve huge praise for their performances against Juventus, each time delivering a display that unnerved their opponents. Young, hungry and energetic, the team is rapidly improving under Montella’s intelligent guidance and could quickly become a genuine Scudetto contender.

Players such as Suso, Juraj Kucka, Manuel Locatelli and Giacomo Bonaventura were excellent, but the cool head of Mario Pasalic and the blossoming greatness of Gianluigi Donnarumma deserve special praise.

The former was the calm, cool head Milan needed in midfield and also netted the decisive spot-kick, but the goalkeeper was arguably even more vital. A string of saves during the match were each superb, but his effort to stop Paulo Dybala’s penalty was amazing to witness.

However, while it is right to recognise that the opposition deserved their victory, it is also important to highlight the errors made by Juventus. As has been the case in a number of high-profile games this season, too many players failed to step up and deliver in their usual manner.

That has now led to two losses to the Rossoneri and one to crosstown rivals Inter Milan, while defeat at Genoa last month was a result of those same failings. Arguably the biggest problem is that while some members of the squad can shine against lesser opponents, they struggle when the stakes are raised.

Patrice Evra would be a major case in point. The Frenchman is no longer first-choice left-back and has been supplanted by Alex Sandro, with the latter once again given a place in the starting XI here.

In the opening 32 minutes, Sandro not only marshalled the threat of Suso on Milan’s right flank but also got forward to great effect himself, his powerful running, skill and pinpoint crossing a major weapon in Juve’s attack.

But then he limped off with a muscular problem, and suddenly the Bianconeri were in trouble. Milan came back into the game strongly, Suso repeatedly getting the better of Evra, who looked way out of his depth.

He clearly still has much to offer, but the gulf between the two defenders is seemingly widening by the game. Sandro is now a far better player, and that shows in such intense matches.

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hash @hashim0307

I love Evra, but after this season it's time for him to retire. Lichtsteiner should actually be sold in January. Both horrible lately.

8:40 PM - 23 Dec 2016

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On the opposite flank, a similar decline is evident in Stephan Lichtsteiner, a player who has been terrible this term. His issues—including trying to force a summer move to Inter—were discussed in this previous post, but this Supercoppa Italiana encounter was another addition to his list of poor performances.

Booked in the 35th minute, Lichtsteiner was fortunate not to be shown a second yellow before half-time after elbowing Bonaventura. Clearly, the Switzerland international is no longer worthy of a place in this side.

The midfield problem also continued, despite coach Massimilano Allegri retaining the 4-3-1-2 formation that has been so useful in recent weeks. Stefano Sturaro might lack quality on the ball, but he fought hard once again, with former Real Madrid star Sami Khedira turning in yet another laboured display.

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9:00 PM - 23 Dec 2016

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Allegri looked incensed as he left the field, notably remonstrating with sporting director Fabio Paratici in the video above. He had calmed down considerably by the time he spoke to Rai Sport, explaining that he was unhappy at the loss but that his side wasted an opportunity to clinch the trophy.

“We started very well, before dropping too deep after the goal and playing it around at the back,” the coach said, according to Juve’s official website. “We weren’t beaten over 120 minutes—we only lost on penalties. It’s a shame, we could have won it towards the end had we been more composed.”

That they could have done so was due to some good but ultimately wasted performances from key players, with Buffon making some important saves as the game wore on. Giorgio Chiellini protected him well, the Italy defender turning in what was his best game of the season so far.

He opened the scoring in style (see video above), volleying home Miralem Pjanic’s corner after just 18 minutes. Chiellini then marshalled the defence superbly, as statistics from WhoScored.com show that the 32-year-old recorded one tackle, two interceptions and 10 clearances over the 120 minutes of action.

With Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli sidelined through injury, plus the aforementioned struggles of Lichtsteiner and Evra, Chiellini was a leader when Juve needed him the most.

Had it not been for some of his interventions, Milan could’ve won in normal time, while Claudio Marchisio was his usual brilliant self in midfield. Tactically aware and always in the right place, WhoScored shows that he registered three tackles, one interception and completed 94.7 percent of his pass attempts.

The video above highlights just one instance of his diligent work, yet the midfield around him remains unbalanced. Sturaro, Khedira, Pjanic and even Mario Lemina have all played well at various times this season, but the feeling that the team lacks something in this department is inescapable.

Of course, there is no way to know what Allegri was animatedly discussing with Paratici, but the coach could not be blamed if he was pleading for midfield reinforcements when the transfer window opens next month.

Losing what amounts to little more than a lucrative exhibition game may not ultimately matter, but this Supercoppa defeat could prove significant for Juventus in three very different ways.

Firstly, it may give Milan the belief they need to push the Bianconeri in the title race, or even show Napoli or AS Roma that the Old Lady is no longer unbeatable when it matters. It also highlighted the need for some investment in the squad at the first available opportunity, the lack of chemistry in midfield damaging what is otherwise a soundly constructed side.

hi-res-8b6a4ecc0416a6ba19ce83915a732261_

Antonio Calanni/Associated Press

Max Allegri has work to do this winter.

Finally, it may ignite something in Allegri’s men, reminding them that they cannot coast through games and expect to win, the sight of their opponents celebrating well-earned silverware seemingly striking a chord with Chiellini, who told the club’s website and JTV:

We will learn from this because over the next few months - just like two years ago - we have to go on a great run. We came here to win, so our Christmas dinner won't taste quite as sweet but congratulations to our opponents anyway.

We're improving a lot and we've shown that over the last month or so. We're a top side in Italy and Europe and we'll keep proving that without losing our desire to train and improve, the secret behind this team's great progress.

Here’s hoping they do just that.

Socrates · December 25, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus 1-1 AC Milan Supercoppa

Italia (3-4 on penalties AET)

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http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-1-1-ac-milan-supercoppa-italia-3-4-penalties-aet/

Dec 24, 2016

Player Ratings

Buffon – Could do little about the equaliser, made a solid save in the shoot-out and also kept out a Bacca header from close range. 6.5

Chiellini – Plundered the opener with a strike worthy of an attacker and kept the rearguard organised. Brought the ball forward intelligently and calmly and muscled out most would be foes. Didn’t deserve to be on the losing side. 7.5

Rugani – Another solid showing from the youngster, all experience at this level is nourishing and Daniele was resolute and dependable. 6.5

Lichsteiner – Not one of his best, for whilst he kept the right flank secure defensively he offered little of value going forward. 6

Sandro – Was in imperious form, and we were very much in the ascendency until he was forced off injured. The game then changed for the worse. He is becoming integral to our success. 7

Marchisio – Seemed jaded, perhaps we are asking too much of the returning Principino. As he was off the pace, and rarely involved. 6

Sturaro – Muscled and bustled, had a shot saved, took a fair few bruises before injury curtailed his lively involvement. Stefano was constantly involved. As with Sandro’s exit, his departure left our left flank horridly exposed. 6.5

Khedira – Found himself in some decent positions, forced a decent save from the keeper yet was absent at the back. However, it is fair to say our woes stemmed singularly down the opposite flank. A tidy, if unspectacular outing for the German. 6

Pjanic – Looked lively during our first half dominance, but faded awfully in the second. I am unsure if its a case of us needing to find him more, or the player needing to seek the ball with more zeal. Regardless of such pondering, we remain yet to see the best of the Bosnian. 5

Mandzukic – He seemed leggy, lethargic, failed to test the keeper, caused little nuisance, and failed to repeat his sterling effort against Roma. Blunt and slow. 5

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Higuain – Wasted his scant opportunities, but each of them came with plenty of defenders in close attendance. Laboured, but floundered. A regretful first chance gone begging for silverware in black and white. 5.5

Evra – The flow of the game changed completely when the Frenchman entered the fray. He was consistently beaten by Suso, who not only set up the equaliser but ran Evra ragged, creating space to cross as he pleased. This was undoubtedly the worst game of his Juve career, and its tempting to suggest that he has been proven too long in the fang. Yet I hope and will assume it was a one-off. Poor positioning, poor pace, poor passing, poor tackling, Abject and atrocious. 3

Lemina – Had some nice touches but offers virtually nothing defensively. He is never a central midfielder. 5

Dybala – Our game picked up when he appeared, and he came close with a snap shot from outside the box. However, not just his penalty miss, but his gilt edged chance to win the tie in extra time proved pivotal in our defeat. 6

It has been a horrifyingly scorching day here in Melbourne with temperatures stuck around 35C for the main, and the mercury dropping to more comfortable conditions only but an hour or so back, by which time I had turned to the vodka…It is also Christmas Eve, and so kindly forgive the brevity.

We played well and looked comfortably superior to our opponents until Evra came on. Suso, with no Sandro to track, mauled the frenchman, produced countless crosses into the box and turned the tie with his quick thinking and running and decent passing. One game is not enough to condemn a player, but at 35, the clock is certainly ticking for Patrice. It was his replacement of Sandro which turned the result from a dominant Juve victory into a 50/50 battle.

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Few clearcut chances were created for both sides and the penalties are always a lottery. This is not a prestigious trophy when we are gunning for a 6th straight scudetto and progression in the champions league. However this piece of silver was there for the winning. We were undone by the injuries to Sandro and Sturaro, and those who came on to replace them did not fare well. Lemina’s pretty touches cover for some (not me) his poor positional awareness, yet perhaps I am judging him too harshly for I have long concluded that he is an attacking midfielder, not central, and so to ask him to replace a swashbuckling Sturaro is unfair.

On the balance of play and chances, either side could have shaded it, but neither clearly deserved to win.

The atmosphere in the stadium was eerie and odd. Many empty seats and the native crowd seemed similar to the Australians, as in they did not seem to know when to cheer and when to boo. It seemed like a pantomime audience of school children on occasion, with even a throw in earning a booooooooo!

We were strong for the first half hour, after which, we lost our way, mainly because Evra was wholly unable to deal with Suso. This issue was made worse when Sturaro left, with defenders thereafter having to double up on the winger leaving a tough job in the middle for their comrades to defend.

Other than the first 30 minutes, neither side showed much determination with the game feeling somewhere between a pre season friendly and exhibition match with hints of a Serie A fixture. It was not a great advert for Serie A, for the quality, especially in the final third was generally abysmal. Suso was the finest attacking threat on the field.

It would have been splendid to win, but it is far from the end of the world to have lost on penalties, in what is the lowest of our priorities for the season.

AC played well, and we played poorly after Sandro departed. Still we could and should have won, but lady luck was not smiling upon us.

The players may have switched off after the well earned victory over Roma of late…and who could blame them, for to travel a few thousand km to play in the Middle East just before Christmas for what is hardly a major honour is not quite the perfect preparation. They tried, could have done better, and were beaten in a lottery of penalties. No harm done.

The players now find time to relax, spend time with family and lovers and lick their wounds and their women. High hopes remain for 2017. We have a healthy lead at the top, are recovering key players, may well augment the squad with Witsel. Many reasons to be cheerful and to dream of true glory, not victory in an exhibition match staged in Qatar…

forza juve and Buon Natale

Socrates · December 25, 2016

JUVENTUS - MILAN

1-1

4-5 on penalties

Giorgio Chiellini 18'

Giacomo Bonaventura 38'

ITALIAN SUPERCUP FINAL

Friday, December 23rd, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.

Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium - Doha (Qatar)

Referee: Antonio Damato

Juventus vs. AC Milan 2016: Final score 1 (3)-1 (4),

Bianconeri fall in penalties to Milan in Italian Super Cup

Milan edge Juventus on penalties to win the Supercoppa Italia 2016 in Doha

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http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/12/24/14074978/juventus

-ac-milan-2016-italian-super-cup-final-score-recap-result

Dec 24, 2016

Juventus concluded their 2016 with, for lack of a better word, a spectacle match in Doha against a Milan side that’s been on the up this season: The Supercoppa Italia 2016. In sharp contrast to the freezing conditions back home in Turin lately, the players took to the field in comfortable short sleeves amidst the cool, pleasant conditions.

Similar to the game against Roma almost a week ago, Juventus came roaring out of the blocks, playing with a hunger they haven’t necessarily displayed frequently this season. The Juventus midfield pressed very high from the get go, and the opening ten minutes saw three shots on target from the likes of Stefano Sturaro, Mario Mandzukic and Alex Sandro. None were any real threat for the prodigious talent of young Milan goalkeeper and heir apparent to Gigi Buffon’s Italy throne, Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Again, similar to the game against Roma a week ago, Juventus soon took a deserved early lead. A long ball from Daniele Rugani found Gonzalo Higuain on the break, and with Sturaro and Mandzukic on either side of him, he played in the former, who under pressure from Ignazio Abate, tests Donnarumma with a low shot that is well saved. From the ensuing corner, Miralem Pjanic swung in a delicious ball that Giorgio Chiellini emphatically volleyed home. 1-0 Juventus.

Thereafter, the team settled into their usual bad habit of not forcing the issue and furthering their lead. They maintained the pressure well enough, but once again they allowed Milan back into the game by ceding possession to them and dropping deeper. Milan, for their part, were completely absent for the opening 30 minutes. Slowly, they began to find their rhythm, especially with their passing, and the dual threat of Giacomo Bonaventura and Suso on either wing began to establish their influence on the game. This coincided with Sandro complaining of what appeared to be a thigh problem, and going off the be replaced by Instagram star Patrice Evra.

It was this duo that brought the game level soon later. Suso, after some fine wing play, fired in a wonderful cross that Carlos Bacca miscontrolled, allowing the Juventus defense to clear, only for the ball to find the Spaniard on the right wing again. He cut onto his left foot, and fired in a pinpoint cross that Bonaventura brilliantly attacked and glanced into Buffon’s far corner. 1-1 and game on.

The half concluded with Juventus struggling to find their rhythm again, and Milan playing with wind in their sails.

The second half once again continued where the first left off, with Juventus slowly retreating deeper and deeper, and Milan beginning to dominate possession. Suso seemed to really have Evra’s number, as the Frenchman had absolutely no answer for the young Spanish winger. I look at my match notes, and 90 percent of the second half incidents begin with the phrase: “A Suso cross wreaks havoc in the Juventus box and...”

From one such move, Chiellini cleared from a threatening Suso cross, and from the resultant corner, Alessio Romagnoli was very unlucky to not give Milan the lead, as his wonderful angled header crashed off the cross bar.

Juventus’ passing game began to improve as Paulo Dybala came on for a Pjanic who faded badly in the second half, and this coincided with Claudio Marchisio suddenly bursting into life in the middle of the pitch. A few chances, mostly on the break, include a wonderful Sami Khedira strike from distance that was wonderfully saved by Gigi Jr., and a similar strike from distance from Dybala that was inches away from the post.

Milan could easily have stolen the crown in the dying minutes, as two separate Suso crosses found Bacca open in the box, only for him to head the first into the ground, pulling a fine reflex save out of Buffon, and the second to be a little too high, rendering him unable to keep it under the cross bar. Full-time: 1-1.

Extra time began as regulation time ended, with Suso bamboozling Evra and firing in another heart palpitation inducing cross, that fortunately a Bacca who clearly seemed to lack match sharpness, wasn’t able to bring under his control with the goal gaping, and the Juventus defense cleared their lines.

After appearing to be asleep for a large chunk of the game after the opening 30 minutes, Juventus suddenly burst into life again in the second half of extra time. A mazy Dybala run was well finished by Evra, but he was in an offside position. Similarly a few dangerous crosses were played in, including one brilliant move by Khedira and Evra, that was cut back into the danger zone, and Dybala, open, under no pressure, rocketed his shot way over the cross bar from point blank range. It was the THE chance, and looking at his face, you could tell he knew. (Foreshadow much?).

There was some drama at the end, as with the last kick of the game, Evra scooped the ball at Mattia De Sciglio, and it appeared to hit him on the arm, but on replay the referee made the correct decision as his arm was definitely buried by his side. After Extra Time: 1-1.

Onto the dreaded penalty shootout. Here’s a quick recap:

Marchisio: Goal (Top right corner)
Lapadula: Saved by Buffon (Guessed the right way, very close to center)
Mandzukic: Off the crossbar
Bonaventura: Goal (Placed into the right corner)
Higuain: Goal (Straight down the middle)
Kucka: Goal (Top left corner)
Khedira: Goal (Bottom left corner)
Suso: Goal (Down the middle)
Dybala: Saved by Donnarumma (Brilliant save to the right)
Pasalic: Goal (Top left corner)

Milan win the Supercoppa Italia 2016 4-3 on penalties, after playing out a 1-1 draw. The Donnarumma save on Dybala that ended up being the difference maker, was a truly stunning save, and a worthy match winning play.

AC Milan v Juventus FC - 2016 Italian Super Cup — Donnarumma’s stunning save on Dybala’s penalty ended up being the matchwinning play

LE PAGELLE

Buffon: 7

I felt at first that the Juventus defense appeared to be in disarray when it came to positioning, which is surprising given that this is Gigi’s domain of dominance. After thinking about it, though, when a team invites that many crosses into the box, it’s hard to fault the positioning of the players. He did well to save from Bacca at the depth, and from Lapadula in the shootout. Genuinely had no chance with any of the other penalties.

Lichtsteiner: 5

If the injury to Dani Alves was meant to be the beginning of The Swiss Express’ resurgence, each passing game seems to be proving the opposite. It’s time the Swiss Express ran a new course, at perhaps a new team. He struggled to cope with Bonaventura all game, his passing and positioning was well below the competence displayed by him in years gone by, and the less said about his prowess (or lack thereof) going forward, the better. The last three goals we’ve conceded in all competitions have been scored by people who should have been marked by Lichtsteiner.

Rugani: 7

Hard to really find fault with the young center back, who dutifully went about his duties with minimal fuss and maximum heart as has become expected of him. As I mentioned in Buffon’s rating, one can only expect so much aerial dominance from your center backs when this many crosses are allowed in the box, as evident by his nine clearances.

Chiellini: 8

The only Juventus player who can really feel hard done by the end result, should be our veteran warrior. Continues to build on his recent good form after his return from injury, as well as his flourishing partnership with Rugani, with a dominant and all-action performance at the heart of the defense. Scored another goal in a final, and was everywhere in the box. Did very well to limit Bacca’s threat.

Sandro: 7

His substitution changed the game, for all the wrong reasons. If tonight, and past games are anything to go by, we should all be praying for his injury to be something minor. His influence on this squad is growing with each day, and the difference between his presence and absence on the left, in both phases of the game, is quite frankly startling. I would bet the game would have ended differently had he not been forced off.

Khedira: 6.5

Decent game from the German, who continues to display his consistency. His spectrum seems to range from very solid and unspectacular, to brilliantly decisive, but the former has been a lot more frequent than the latter lately. One can only hope that he picks up steam with the rest of the squad during the season’s crunch time. His improved fitness is heartening, but as amazing as he is in the subtle and quieter aspects of the game, it’s clear that this Juventus side is missing a more dominant personality in midfield. Finished his penalty with calm aplomb, though.

Marchisio: 7.5

Had a quiet start to the game, as he went about his game with minimal fuss. It was the kind of Marchisio who’s more conspicuous by his absence than presence however. This changed with Dybala’s introduction for Pjanic — make of this what you will — after which he burst into life and began to stamp his influence on the game, in defense and attack. Had a truly brilliant extra time half hour, and emphatically converted his penalty.

Sturaro: 7.5*

His score has an asterisk, because I found it hard to rate him this game. One thing is certain, though, whatever his shortcomings, he balances the midfield better than any other player we currently possess, and this is doubly important for players like Pjanic and Marchisio, who benefit from his physical presence. His composure on the ball is steadily improving, and while I know this aspect will never be world class, I’m willing to give him credit for the improvements he’s clearly making having been given a first real extended run in the team alongside a stable midfield.

Pjanic: 6.5

Had a wonderful start to the game, as he wreaked havoc playing between the lines. However, as is becoming a frequent occurrence, as soon as the team begins to sit back and be less aggressive in the offensive phase, his influence begins to wane badly. Surprising, given his known talent for maintaining tempo. Yet, the moment the team and the players like Sturaro and Mandzukic stopped aggressive hounding down the Milan ball carriers and disrupting the Milan midfield, he began to struggle to influence the game besides set pieces. Also, oddly enough, him going off for Dybala really woke Marchisio.

Mandzukic: 6.5

I truly cannot fault his effort or passion, but looking back at the game in hindsight, games like this really highlight that his all action play at other ends of the pitch are sometimes a trade-off for a more attacking presence. Also disappointed with his penalty, though I wasn’t surprised he went for power over finesse.

Higuain: 6.5

Another player who in recent times, has impressed me with his work rate. He sacrifices a lot for the team, which while heartening, is frustrating, because to see a man so lethal, so starved of service, is annoying to say the least. That said, he did look a little off the pace today. I believe it was Linez (forgive me if I got this wrong) who summed it up best. The few times he was in promising situations (not golden chance situations), he looked eerily and clumsily similar to Fernando Llorente, who always took a few touches too many.

Evra: 4

He loves this game. But going by games like on Friday night, the game doesn’t seem to love him that much anymore. He has been underwhelming this season so far, but this game was a nightmare. I don’t know what else to say. I shudder to think what a Messi, Bale, Robben or Carrasco would do to him.

Suso was allowed to whip in a whopping 22 crosses on the night

Dybala: 6

His presence was a positive change for the team, undoubtedly, but even though I love him, the bottom line for his influence on this game will be the golden chance he missed in extra time, and that penalty miss at the end. However, I hope he displays the champion mentality we know he has, and doesn’t dwell on it too long. We need the Dybala of last season in 2017, badly.

Lemina: 6.5

I thought he looked good in his short time on the pitch, but its hard to really judge him considering how the flow of the game went after he came on. He has excellent strength, but oddly enough, he doesn’t have the same physical presence that Sturaro offers. I’m interested to see him given a few games while Khedira is rested, to get a better idea of just what he can offer this midfield. The potential is there (sorry Semperty), but just how much is there?

Allegri: ?

I don’t know what to say for Il Mister honestly. The fact that he looked absolutely livid at the squad at the end is very heartening. I want to see him kick this side up the arse. Its hard to really fault him or his choices (except perhaps Mandzukic and not Dybala, but recent form justifies that), but the squad is just not playing to their capability. And that’s on him. He gets paid to unleash the potential of these champions. He needs to do that come 2017. Also, we all know Allegri likes to protect his players in the media, even occasionally lying about circumstances to do so.. But Its time we all got an answer to this “take-the-lead-then-sit-back-and-defend” bullshit mentality. It has been hurting us all season, and if not solved, will be our undoing come 2017.

Sorry for the relatively short piece, but it is holiday season after all! I’m sorry we must part ways this year on this relatively sour note, but may 2017 bring special joy to each and every one of you, both personally, and with regards to our beloved Juventus.

Please have a special Christmas and new years week, and lots of love to my Juventini brothers and sisters all over the globe. This year has also seen me begin trying my hand writing for all you wonderful people, and a lot of the encouragement for that came from many of you. So thank you for reading this, and giving me the chance to say my two cents. Its an honour. You guys rule!

Cheers, and for the last time in 2016, this is Kaushik, signing out!

Socrates · December 26, 2016

4 Christmas Wishes for Serie A Giants Juventus

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2683447-4-christmas-wishes-for-serie-a-giants-juventus

Dec 26, 2016

With Serie A on its traditional winter break, the players are taking some much-needed time off. There are no matches scheduled until January 7, meaning the Juventus squad have all headed home, enjoying the chance to visit families before returning to action in the new year.

Before that they were in Qatar on Friday, losing to AC Milan on penalties in the Supercoppa Italiana. As that game approached, Massimiliano Allegri was clearly aware of the difficulty in retaining focus over this period, as the Juve boss explained to reporters at his pre-match press conference:

Our preparations are going well, even if it should be noted that it’s never easy going into the final match before the Christmas break.

That’s also the case for the first game back after the festive period, which this time around is against Bologna on 8 January. Along with the first match of the season, these three fixtures are the hardest and we’ll need to work that bit more to make sure we’re in the right state of mind for tomorrow night.

With that in mind, what follows is a look at four things Allegri and Juventus supporters will hope to see in 2017, breaking down four Christmas wishes for the grand Old Lady of Italian football.

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KARIM JAAFAR/Getty Images

Max Allegri warned Juventus must stay sharp.

Gigi Buffon's Continued Good Health

The Supercoppa Italiana marked Gigi Buffon’s 600th Juventus appearance, an achievement which stands as testimony to the longevity and durability of the Bianconeri skipper.

Indeed, since making his debut for Parma back in 1995, the 38-year-old has made at least 25 appearances every year except one.

That came in the 2010/11 campaign when he was blighted by back problems, but he has since been in great physical and mental shape, as he explained to the media in Doha last week.

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Buffon has played 599 competitive games for #Juve since moving from Parma and will reach the 600 milestone in the Supercoppa Italiana.

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"I'm glad someone is counting for me," Buffon said when asked about his latest impressive milestone at a press conference. "I'm definitely happy, I don’t think it'll be my last and it won't be my last."

It is with that in mind that the first hope for Juventus is the continued good health of their captain, with Buffon's presence in goal continuing to be hugely important to the club's hopes of success.

He has conceded 13 goals in 15 Serie A outings, adding four clean sheets to the three he collected in Europe. He was beaten just twice in five Champions League appearances as both Sevilla and OlympiqueLyonnais scored past the Italy captain.

An Argentinian Tango

So far this season, both Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala have shone individually, but Juventus will hope that the new year sees the Argentina internationals click as a partnership in attack.

Higuain has begun brightly since his summer switch from Napoli, bagging 10 league goals and a further three in the Champions League. In Juve’s last league outing before Christmas he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over AS Roma, subsequently laughing off suggestions he has something to prove.

"I do not know, I play only to help the team and win," Higuain told La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia). "The opinions are yours, I respect them, but I am always quiet. Even when I do not score."

Meanwhile, Dybala missed over a month with a thigh injury and, as a result, has made just 11 starts in those competitions, weighing in with four goals and two assists thus far.

The Higuain-Mario Mandzukic pairing was somewhat blunt while Dybala was sidelined, so Allegri will hope to see what must be his first-choice duo find some chemistry when the team returns to action next month.

Some European Silverware

Over 20 years have passed since the Bianconeri were crowned champions of Europe, defeating Ajax to claim the 1996 Champions League trophy. Since that wonderful night in Rome, Juventus have lost four more finals, been relegated to Serie B and fought their way back to the summit.

Now, they are once again regarded as one of the best on the continent, but they need silverware to back up such a claim. However, Juve vice-president Pavel Nedved admits that will not be easy.

"Everyone's saying we're the favorites, but in the Champions League there aren't any favourites," he told Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Football Italia) after the last-16 draw. "Going all the way will be really complicated, it's a difficult and complicated competition, nothing's easy and all the games are complicated."

New Blood in Midfield

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The midfield has been a serious problem for Juventus so far this season. The three obvious members of the starting XI—Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira and Miralem Pjanic—have done well individually, but collectively they have struggled for cohesion and balance.

Perhaps that is best summed up in the performances of the latter. Pjanic has done well when Allegri has used him behind the strikers in a 4-3-1-2 formation, but in a midfield three he has struggled to make an impact.

There is an inescapable feeling the team lacks one more player in this department in order to make them a complete side—that must become a priority when the winter transfer window opens.

They are certainly not short of targets, with director general BeppeMarotta discussing a number of them at length in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia):

Axel Witsel? It’s currently stalled, his contract expires in June and we've got five months to play until then. So the assessment is €1m per month or so. As for Steven Nzonzi, there’s a good relationship with Sevilla and there are certain surveys that it’s right to do.

Mahmoud Dahoud or Julian Draxler? For the first I can say that there are a lot of players we're paying attention to. It's impossible for the second to come to Juve, because he caused us a lot of trouble with his rejection [in 2015].

If you reject us once, well, Juve start looking elsewhere.

It seems as if the club official has done just that, with Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez now reportedly a target as the January transfer window approaches and that move for Witsel grows more distant.

hi-res-f1914a4248f4cb30f4eba325de0bd6e6_

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James Rodriguez remains a Juventus target.

"It will depend how our transfer campaign is, the financial balance must always be respected, but Juve want to be among the best clubs in the world," Marotta responded when asked about the Colombia international in the same interview. "That is and always will be our ambitious goal."

Signing such a player would be a huge statement of intent by the Bianconeri and, allied to good health for Buffon and a blossoming strike partnership, his arrival could spur Juventus to some long-overdue continental success.

"Winning the sixth Scudetto is our primary objective this season, as well as having a good Champions League campaign," Allegri said in a pre-season interview with the club's official website. "And when I say a good Champions League campaign, I mean our objective needs to be to go as far as possible and win it."

Now there's something to wish for.

Socrates · December 27, 2016

Juventus 2016 end of year review

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-2016-end-year-review/

Dec 27, 2016

With 2016 coming to a close, I reviewed a truly unforgettable year for Juventus which included a 26 game unbeaten run, a record-breaking 974 minutes for the captain and a 5th successive title in a row.

Best XI

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(3-5-2) Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Khedira, Marchisio, Pjanic, Alex Sandro; Higuain, Dybala

At 38, Buffon is still proving everyone wrong – The performance against Lyon this year was an absolute masterclass, reminding everyone just why Gigio is still the best keeper in the world. The defence writes itself: the ‘BBC’ has been unbreakable all year long. Andrea Barzagli is the most dependable CB in our team and a criminally underrated defender on the whole, while Leonardo Bonucci has really come into his own over the last 3 seasons as a ball-playing central defender with a superb passing range. Giorgio Chiellini has returned to his best in the last few months, and despite having struggled with injuries on-and-off for the last 4 years, he’s still a world-class defender on his day. Stephan Lichtsteiner has dropped off in a big-way since the summer, which could be down to the arrival of Dani Alves, however he played an important part in Juve’s unbeaten streak at the start of the year and he works well in this formation. Left-back Alex Sandro has been a revelation – He made a bright start to his Juve career, especially with his deliveries into the box but his defensive game has improved as well as the year has gone on – I think he’s been one of our best individual players in 2016. Sami Khedira has had a solid year, contributing goals and assists while Claudio Marchisio is arguably our most important midfielder, keeping the side ticking over and shielding the back line. The marked change in our midfield performances in recent months has largely been down to his return from a long-term injury. I would have included Paul Pogba in the team but for Miralem Pjanic coming into his own in the last month. He’s still not at his very best but he’s contributed 6 goals and 6 assists and is starting to play with more freedom – plenty more to come from him. Up front, Paulo Dybala is playing a different role, dropping deep, switching flanks and playing in wide positions, creating more space for his strike partner, while Gonzalo Higuain has picked up where he left off last season; 13 goals and counting and regularly showing us what we’ve lacked for a while – A clinical goalscorer.

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Best Juventus Player

A strong case could be made for any of our starting XI but for me it’d be a close call between Bonucci and Dybala with La Joya just edging it. After the defeat against Sassuolo, he spoke with real maturity about what it means to be at Juventus and what’s required from the players – Sure enough, we went on a unbeaten streak of 26 games, winning 25 of them. It was in many of those matches that Dybala scored the vital goals or provided the assists for Mandzukic …or simply dragged us over the finish line, much as Carlos Tevez did in his 2 seasons at Juve. Paulo has really grown as a player in such a short space of time and he showed maturity beyond his years in accepting a new role this season, playing with more freedom but perhaps not getting as many goal scoring chances for himself. Instead, he’s working hard for the players around him without getting the glory.

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Best Moment

Lifting title number 5 after the horrendous start that we had to the season was a minor miracle. A lot of people, including some Juventus supporters, had written the team off by October 2015. To see our unbeaten run in Serie A stretch from November 2015 to May 2016 while beating almost every side in the league was an incredible thing to behold. There was simply no stopping Juve in 2016 – We beat Roma, Napoli, Inter, Milan and Torino on the way to the title, and did so with a unwavering belief and spirit. The team really came together, much as they did in our unbeaten season under Conte a few years back, and this translated to strong displays on the pitch and an unwavering desire to prove everyone wrong: a 26 game unbeaten run winning 25 games in total. Winning the title and equaling the all-time record for consecutive titles won was my by far my favourite moment of 2016.

Best Game

It was far from pleasing on the eye, not was it full of goals and action, however, the victory over Napoli was decisive in so many ways. Up until that match, I think the Serie A race still could have gone either way. Heading into the game, Napoli had a strong desire to prove their title credentials and a stalemate didn’t suit either side. It looked almost certain to end in a 0-0 draw until Simone Zaza stepped up to make the difference. The goal came out of nowhere but watching it again, it was so cleverly worked – Zaza took a really intelligent touch, creating space to move away from two defenders behind him…a brief turn and look up to check where the keeper was…a few steps and then he unleashed an unstoppable effort. The euphoria in that moment, the vindication for Allegri and the players….nothing came close. That game changed the course of the championship – It added momentum to our push for Scudetto no.5 and allowed us to continue our unbeaten streak while stopping Napoli in their tracks. They drew two games after that defeat and collapsed against Udinese a few weeks later while Juventus pulled ahead and never looked back. A tense game decided by one moment of brilliance.

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Biggest Disappointment

The defeat to Bayern Munich will take some time to get over. We were within 90 seconds of knocking them out, having thoroughly outclassed them all game long, playing quick and concise counter-attacks in the most un-Juve-like fashion. Allegri took a gamble, switched the formation and used a 4-5-1, utilising Juan Cuadrado and Alavaro Morata’s pace to devastating effect…and it worked! …..almost. Morata scored a perfectly valid goal that was given as offside – Had it stood, we would have advanced and who knows what might have happened. Despite learning so much from that game, it will remain raw for some time yet…..

Hero

Gigi Buffon – He led us throughout 2016, on and off the pitch. There are countless examples of where he’s single-handedly made a difference to our fortunes, however, It was his speech to the players after the defeat against Sassuolo that helped change the course of our season and put Juve back in the title race after our worst start to a season in decades. Granted, it took place in 2015, but we reaped the rewards in May. If it weren’t for moments like that, along with his heartfelt plea to the Curva to get behind the team, we may not have enjoyed the successes that we did this year. As if that weren’t reason enough to love the man, he broke the Serie A record for clean sheets, going 974 minutes without conceding a goal. A remarkable achievement considering his age, but the thing about Buffon is that he seems to only get better with age…

Villain

It may come across as bitter or resentful, but for me, Paul Pogba is the biggest villain of 2016. There was nothing wrong with him leaving Juventus, but the manner of his departure was farcical and he left with little credibility. He had spoken of returning to pre-season training with Juventus after Euro 2016, but in truth, he had organised his move to Manchester United some time before it was announced and completed. The whole thing felt cheap and underhand and it was conducted with no class whatsoever. While I could understand him wanting to return to a club that he obviously felt a lot of affection for, I wish he had been more respectful of the fans that had supported him through one of his worst seasons at the club (He only turned things around towards the end of the campaign). I’m glad to see the back of him and grateful that we managed to secure such a massive profit on a player that cost next to nothing.

Socrates · December 28, 2016

Serie A attendances continue to fall,

Juventus and Milan see crowds rise

h http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/story/3027638/serie-a-

attendances-continue-to-fall-but-juventus-and-milan-see-crowds-rise

Dec 28, 2016

Crowd figures in Serie A have dropped again, according to figures released for the first half of the 2016-17 season.

With an average of 21,833 fans taking in fixtures during the first half of the current Serie A campaign, a drop of 1.7 percent year on year has been recorded with only AC Milan and Juventus bucking the trend with crowd increases.

The figures, published by Il Messaggero, are the lowest in the past five seasons with some of Italy's most supported clubs leading the decline.

Napoli's average gate fell 22.3 percent, arguably due to the sale of Gonzalo Higuain to Juventus in the summer, while crowd figures at Roma's Stadio Olimpico dropped 17.8 percent with Giallorossi fans continuing to protest against the controversial division of the Curva Sud for security reasons.

A new record low was set by Crotone, who welcomed just 510 fans to their game against Palermo, although that fixture was played in Pescara while work continued to bring the promoted club's Stadio Ezio Scida up to Serie A standards. Their other two games in Pescara saw just 821 and 522 pass through the gate.

The biggest crowd came in the Milan derby, which was seen by 77,882 fans at the San Siro, followed by Inter vs. Juventus (76,484) and Milan vs. Juventus (75,829).

Away from Milan, the biggest crowd was recorded for Napoli's clash with Sassuolo, with 49,490 fans in attendance at the Stadio San Paolo in December. That was just 6,000 more than the average crowd at AC Milan's home games of 43,595, with their on-field improvement under Vincenzo Montella reflected in the number of fans returning to watch their games -- up 12.8 percent on last season.

Visitors to the Juventus Stadium increased by 3.8 percent, meanwhile, with the venue almost always sold out for home fans and fluctuations mainly due to the number of visiting fans present.

Socrates · December 28, 2016

Lippi: My take on Juve’s rivals…

http://www.football-italia.net/96168/lippi-my-take-juve’s-rivals…

Dec 28, 2016

Marcello Lippi claims Roma and Napoli “are on the same level”, Inter “are on the right track” and Atalanta “attack like the best in Europe”.

In the third and final part of his interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Lippi was asked about whether Roma, Napoli, Inter and surprise packages Atalanta all had what it took to push Juve for the Scudetto.

“Roma and Napoli are both on the same level to play the role of Juve’s antagonist,” the China boss concluded in his three-part interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Sarri was unlucky. He lost the best striker in the world and, after finding in Milik another player capable of scoring at the same rate, he’s gone without again.

“Inter? They’re a bit of a mystery, but it seems that Pioli has found the right track. I like Pioli, he’s wise and giving the team solidity that was missing.

“There was no balance before and they didn’t know how to control games. Now there are also players that are improving, who previously had no feeling with the other Coaches, namely Banega and Brozovic.

“Then there’s Icardi, who has found the back of the net regularly and is world-class.

“Atalanta? They play like a great team, really. They’re aggressive in all areas, with involvement from everyone, solutions going forward, not via possession but quick attacks like the best in Europe.

“We can see Gasperini’s influence, whose organisational quality is matched by very few.

“He’s only had one special experience with Inter, but we’ll say that… he wasn’t the only one.”

Socrates · December 28, 2016

POLL: Who is Juventus' MVP for the first half of the 2016-17 season?

Who do you think has been the brightest spot of the team so far?

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/12/28/14094736/poll-

who-is-juventus-mvp-for-the-first-half-of-the-2016-17-season

Dec 28, 2016

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Well, the first half of the season isn’t exactly over yet, but considering the lack of Juventus games and news right now, this seems like a good time to ask the question: Who has been Juventus’ best player so far this season?

I’m not sure there’s an easy answer for this one. I expect varying opinions, because, in my mind, there hasn’t been one player who has significantly stuck out from the crowd so far this season. Below are the individual statistics from WhoScored so far this season. The left are the Serie A stats, and the right are the Champions League stats.

The stats would say that the standouts have been our fullbacks, Dani Alves and Alex Sandro. However, WhoScored ratings aren’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to MVP discussions, so let’s hear who you think has been our best performer.

For me, if Paulo Dybala were healthy all year, he would probably be my vote, but he’s only featured in 14 games, and that’s not enough for me just yet. If Daniele Rugani had been playing all year at the level he’s currently at then he might get my vote as well. But again, his nine appearances are not enough for me.

I’m not huge into soccer analytics, so this really isn’t based on the WhoScored ratings much at all, but my vote goes to Alex Sandro. It seems like he’s been the one guy this year that we can always count on a solid performance from, on both ends of the pitch, even when he’s been asked to play out of position. I’m excited about having him on the left side of the field for the foreseeable future. Honourable mentions go out to Miralem Pjanic, and Gonzalo Higuain.

So, who do you think Juventus’ MVP has been so far this season? As always, we would love to hear why you think what you think.

Socrates · December 30, 2016

BWRAO Roundtable, Part V: Who do you

think is Juventus’ first half MVP?

We asked you readers. Now we asked the writers.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2016/12/29/14109640/bwrao-roundtable-

juventus-first-half-mvp-2016-serie-a-alex-sandro-mario-mandzukic-daniele-rugani

Dec 29, 2016

With so much free time between the final game of 2016 and the first one of 2017, it gives us a number of opportunities to look back at the year that was. In this case, it gives us the chance to reflect on what has pretty much been the first half of the 2016-17 season (minus two Serie A games, of course).

With that said, we figured that it would be a good to rekindle our roundtable of staff writers and discuss a few things that have either already taken place or are about to be talking points over the next couple of weeks.

The first discussion point was what we posed to all of you a couple of days ago: Who do you think is Juventus’ MVP for the first half of the 2016-17 season? You probably figured that one out by reading the headline of this story, which you guys are already one step ahead of the game.

So, without any more waiting, let us roundtable. Who’s your first half MVP, gents?

Anthony

To reiterate what I said in my previous article, my vote goes to Alex Sandro. It seems like he’s been the one guy this year that we can always count on a solid performance from, on both ends of the pitch, even when he’s been asked to play out of position. I’m excited about having him on the left side of the field for the foreseeable future. Honorable mentions go out to Miralem Pjanic, and Gonzalo Higuain, who I’ve also been very impressed by.

Kaushik

Sandro. No question. Other plays have had phases of brilliance, like Mandzukic, Marchisio, Bonucci, Rugani, Buffon, etc., But Sandro has consistently been the man. His defensive positioning isn't flawless, but he's improved leaps and bounds since last year, ans I can no longer say that I trust Evra to mark a tricky winger in a big game more.

Chuks

Alex Sandro, with Mandzukic giving him a late run for his money in the last two months. For his sheer consistency in performances, the Brazilian has been a reliable force to confide in the midst of a turbulent start to the season. The only thing he might need to improve on is not getting too complacent by relying on his pace to save him when he finds himself in poor defensive positions. Here’s to many more years of Sandro rampaging down that left wing in Bianconeri colors!

Jose A.

Daniele Rugani. I was leaning towards Mario Mandzukic, however, the keyword is valuable. Rugani, 22, started the season as the fifth option on a defense that includes Juventus’ BBC and newcomer Medhi Benatia. Injuries opened the door to the youngster, and he took full advantage of the opportunity. He was the last man standing. Sure, Juventus are controlling the Serie A and they secured first place in Group H in the Champions League, but the Bianconeri are not the juggernaut of previous seasons. Nowadays, it’s common to find them defending deep in their half, seeking to counterattack, and waiting for the final whistle. Rugani has stepped up, and he has been one of the pillars of an injury-prone defense that had kept most of the opponents’ threats in check.

Since his introduction in the starting lineup, the wonder-kid has transitioned from three-man to a four-man defense and vice-versa without problems, he has helped a struggling Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right flan and he has scored important goals in Serie A and Champions League games. In the same way, Rugani’s smarts and positioning have been off the charts. Juventus’ defense will get healthy eventually. Still, Rugani has already proven his worth. Recently, France Football named Rugani in their top XI breakthrough stars of 2016. The youngster is playing like a remarkable veteran and the club is lucky to have him.

Calvin

In an injury-ravaged season where players have been dropping like flies, I'll pick Alex Sandro. He has been Mr. Consistency himself, a constant presence on Juventus's left wing, raiding forward with impunity while charging back and tackling hard when needed. He has started the most games for the Bianconeri this season, with 21 starts and 3 substitute appearances. It's ironic that he is also down with an injury now in a season that has shown no player in the Juve squad is infallible.

CH Ho

Alex Sandro. Reasons:

First on the team in average number of tackles.
Third on the team in average # of interceptions.
Third on the team in average # of blocks.
Second on the team in total # of dribbles.

He seems to completely take over the left flanks, both on offense and defense. Maybe Evra is getting old, but he is still a quality player when called upon. Still, there is a massive drop-off of left flanks performance both in defense and offense when he replaces Alex Sandro.

Johann

I had not previously been his biggest fan, but Mario Mandžukić’s performances in the first half of this season have won me over. He started off the season playing third fiddle to Paulo Dybala and the €90 million man Gonzalo Higuain, who were naturally the first choice of Max Allegri. However, due to injury to the two aforementioned players at various points, the big Croatian got his chances. Not the most prolific — five goals and two assists in 21 games — but his overall play and work rate was immeasurable.

The most notable example of this was in the home game against Atalanta. Before getting the third goal in a 3-1 win, the forward exhibited his ability to sacrifice himself — and his body — for the good of the team. Numerous blacks and tackles were put in. However, none more memorable than his double interception in the space of a matter of seconds from an Atalanta corner. First, blocking a shot with his chest. Then clearing a second shot with a diving header. A beast of a performance.

For his all-around performances so far, rather than for his goals, Mario has been my MVP for the first half of the season.

Socrates · January 4, 2017

December’s Monthly Thoughts: Out with the old, in with the new

Juventus closed off 2016 in with admirable confidence, despite the minor

hiccup in Doha. I wrap up December’s action here in my monthly review.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2017/1/4/14146638/juventus-

december-2016-review-serie-a-champions-league-super-cup-axel-witsel

Jan 4, 2017

First of all, a very happy new year to you all! It’s been roughly a year now that I’ve done my monthly wrap-up series and I’m extremely grateful for having a platform to share my Juventus thoughts. It’s been fun growing and developing my style here as the months have gone by, so I thank you all for reading my crazy ramblings!

Anyway, let’s get into it...

Optimism

December was an encouraging, strong month of action on the pitch for Juventus. Excluding the Supercoppa disappointment in Doha, the Bianconeri maintained a 100 percent win rate and (finally!) secured top spot in Group H of the Champions League. I know that I’ve expressed my worries about the general form/direction of the side in the past, especially in light of the tumultuous summer transfer window, but with the injuries clearing up, players beginning to understand each other more, and strong results on the pitch, I’m feeling much happier and more satisfied with the form of the squad. It’s far from perfect, but things are looking good.

Hate that I need you

As you all know, I like to analyze events off-the-pitch just as much as those on the pitch and give them equal attention. On Dec. 5, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s proposals to reform the Italian constitution were resoundingly rejected by the Italian public and, a few weeks later, the nation’s cabinet approved a €20 billion bailout plan to support the world’s oldest bank, Monte dei Paschi. What on earth does this have to do with Juventus, you say? Potentially nothing, but just as likely it could be everything.

I point out that most of the problems he complains about are problems of Italy – of the country whose economy grew more slowly than that of any country except Haiti and Zimbabwe in the decade to 2010. Agnelli’s father Umberto once said, “The team has followed the evolution of the nation.”

Today, is the nation dragging down the team? “Correct,” Agnelli replies.

“My Juventus” article on the Financial Times

Analysts speculate that if the bailout is not handled properly and savers aren’t adequately compensated for this mess, the nation could fall into economic turmoil yet again. We’ve already seen how the dire state of the country’s economy negatively affects the financial health of Italian clubs — which might partly explain the bankruptcies of clubs like Siena (who were actually sponsored by Monte dei Paschi before they collapsed) and Parma — so it would be bitterly disappointing to witness yet another drag on the country and the sport. Juventus, as much as it tries to look across the borders for growth, has to accept that the state of affairs in the country is intricately linked to its own success on and off the pitch.

It’s a painful truth to admit, but we need our dysfunctional leader more than we like to admit.

Cash Rules Everything Around Me

Almost exactly a year ago, I discussed China’s loud arrival onto the global footballing scene fueled by their new financial might and political backing. Unfortunately, I cannot say that I had the divine insight to have seen this trend coming before it came to light, but I’m not surprised to see that it has continued to gather momentum. It’s the talk of the hour all over the world: China’s newfound obsession with football. So, what does this have to do with the Bianconeri? Well, I’m sure we’re all aware of the remarkable news that Axel Witsel is on his way to Tianjin Quanjian for quadruple the wages that Juventus reportedly offered him.

Juventus will be missing out on a second transfer target in the same month in what would be a terribly unpleasant way to start the transfer window. I believe Julian Draxler was also somewhat interested in joining Juventus, but it wasn’t as explicit and clear as in the Belgian’s case. What is most disappointing to me, however, is that Witsel genuinely seemed keen on joining us for sporting reasons which was refreshing and nice to see. Then again, the matter has been discussed passionately in the comments section lately, so I don’t really want to beat a dead horse too much.

Instead of taking the moral high-ground and criticize him for this financially-driven decision, I prefer to stress the more objective aspects of this situation and figure out what we can do to not get into this mess again. Honestly, there was little that management could have done to prevent this event; we were outbid by epic proportions, Zenit’s behavior in the summer made negotiating extremely difficult, and, despite what we all might think, money makes all the difference even when earnings are already so high. Given my background in economics, I’m still bewildered by this last point because, as I mentioned in the comments a while ago, the extra satisfaction I get from quadrupling my income when it’s already so high should simply not be large enough to justify me choosing money over sporting prestige. Sure, footballers have finite careers of +/- 15 years when they receive income but I still firmly believe one thing: if players at the top earnings bracket were seriously educated about financial management and supported adequately, they would very realistically be able to support themselves financially for the rest of their lives.

I continued to climb that corporate ladder because I realized that, you know what, $50,000 [annual income] I thought that was gonna make me happy, but it’s not. I’m spending $65,000 ... so when I started making $65,000 of course I’m spending $80,000. It’s never enough right?

Joshua Fields Millburn - School of Greatness

All in all, this case serves as a warning for times to come: the margin of error for future transfer negotiations will be even smaller now that there’s a new player in town. Any second wasted dilly-dallying will be punished ruthlessly with more heartbreak and disappointment. Happy Hunger Games, right?

More than just a game?

I’ve been working on my Master’s thesis recently (due in June) which is about the social impact of CSR activities of football clubs. Thanks to some very kind staff at the ECA, I was able to get the 2015 version of the CSR in European Club Football: Best Practices from ECA Member Clubs. Naturally, the first thing I did was to flip over to the Juventus section to check out what the Bianconeri was up to and I thought heck, why not share the featured project with you all. It’s called Reintegration of child soldiers in Mali and Central African Republic and is conducted in partnership with UNESCO. It involves providing technical training (e.g. woodworking and painting), cultural activities, psychological support, and sport events to 148 former child soldiers at three training centers across the region. The allocated budget for the project is between €100,000 and €250,000.

Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.

Matthew 25:40

What’s most fascinating to me is how little publicity there is about the CSR policies of (European) football clubs — though I have to say that I never knew that so many clubs had explicitly set up actual CSR departments. This is also surprising because of the public cynicism there is about the staggering revenues posted by clubs (particularly the top clubs), the sport’s reputational disaster caused by last year’s FIFA scandals, and the ever-inflating transfer fees being paid out to players. Perhaps even more curious is the small budgets allocated to these activities; 23 percent of the featured projects had a budget between €10,000 and €50,000, 22 percent had a budget between €50,000 and €100,000, and 20 percent had a budget between €100,000 and €250,000.

For the second time in this post, I’m threatening to take the moral high-ground so again I have to stop myself from being a keyboard warrior. Hence, I have to stress that this study includes clubs ranging from the mighty Manchester United to little clubs like the tiny Esbjerg fB (located a mere 15 minutes from where I currently live). Thus, not all of the clubs have the big bucks to spend on such activities – I guess looking at what percentage of their turnover they spend on these philanthropic endeavors would be a more accurate measure, but that’s just a hypothesis. Still, I have to admit my disappointment at the relatively paltry sums devoted to helping those who need a glimmer of hope in their lives more than anything.

Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.

Bill Shankly

Socrates · January 4, 2017

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

MATCHDAY 19

Sunday, January 8th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Maurizio Mariani

Buffon misses Juventus training

http://www.football-italia.net/96383/buffon-misses-juventus-training

Jan 4, 2017

Gianluigi Buffon skipped Juventus training this morning, but he’s not expected to miss the Bologna game.

The goalkeeper has been struggling with a fever since January 2, and has been unable to take part in the workouts at Vinovo.

According to ANSA, the Bianconeri captain once again followed an individual training regime today, as he’s not yet ready to work with the rest of the squad.

Juve take on Bologna in Turin on Sunday night, but it’s not thought Buffon is likely to miss that match.

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

Socrates · January 5, 2017

Sacchi: 'Juventus for Champions League'

http://www.football-italia.net/96400/sacchi-juventus-champions-league

Jan 4, 2017

Arrigo Sacchi is “certain this can be the right year for Juventus” in the Champions League. “They’re in the top two or three clubs in the world.”

The former Milan and Italy Coach gave his views to La Stampa newspaper.

“I am certain this can be the right year for Juventus in Europe,” said Sacchi.

“If you look at the other big clubs on the continent, they are struggling. Just look at how Real Madrid had to scrape a victory in the Club World Cup in extra time. At the top of the Premier League are Chelsea and Liverpool, two teams who are not in the Champions League.

“Juve have everything it takes to win the Champions League: a fine Coach, players and club. They just need to believe in themselves more.

“Over the last 40 years the Champions League has gone to those who dominate, apart from two or three exceptions. By dominate I mean that way of taking control of the game and believing in themselves more than the opposition.

“In Serie A, Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli are a joy to behold, while Roma always try to play attacking football, but Juve are on another level.

“The Bianconeri have this superiority in terms of confidence, rules and style that I don’t see anywhere else in Italy. In fact, looking further afield, I believe Juve to be one of the top two or three clubs in the world when it comes to organisation and vision for the future.”

Socrates · January 5, 2017

Juventus FC 2016-17 Midseason Review

http://www.juvefc.com/juventus-fc-2016-17-midseason-review/

Jan 5, 2017

With the Christmas break now upon us, I felt like it was the perfect time to create a detailed review of our season thus far. This is my first article for Juvefc.com, and I hope that there will be more, so I definitely appreciate anyone reading this and providing some input on what they think, and also to give me feedback regarding any areas I can improve on. You can follow me on Twitter here.

After a summer of tremendous spending, where the purchases of Gonzalo Higuaín, Miralem Pjanic, and Marko Pjaca resulted in a net expenditure of around €150 million, this was a wonderful time to be a Juventus fan. Additionally, the signings of Juan Cuadrado and Mehdi Benatia on loan, as well as the free agent acquisition of Dani Alves completed the influx of quality players into the club. These purchases were balanced by the departures of Pereyra, Zaza, and of course Paul Pogba to the Premier League, with Morata also heading back to Real Madrid upon the completion of his glorified loan deal. Simone Padoin, the legend himself, as well as a few other squad rotation players were shipped out to lower level clubs to complete the summer overhaul. By taking arguably the best player on each of our main rivals’ team in Higuaín and Pjanic, and for the short time before Pogba’s damning silence was finally broken, Juventus had a starting XI that no other player in Serie A would be able to find a place in. This XI was backed by enough bench strength to create an entirely different XI which would hypothetically be pushing for a top 3 finish in the league. With the eventual departure of our ex “No. 10” for a fee of €105 million, we were still left with a vastly improved squad on paper (with no net loss), capable of easily dismissing all domestic challengers, and pushing ourselves into the bracket alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich as the true superpowers of world football. It hasn’t worked out that way just yet.

The men tasked with helping us reach Champions League glory.

The season’s opening fixture came against Fiorentina at home, where we took the lead shortly before halftime through Sami Khedira’s glancing header. Following that opening goal, for some inexplicable reason we dropped off far too much and allowed Fiorentina a route back into the game, and they eventually grabbed the equalizer. This frustrating response after taking the lead has not left our game since. A poacher’s finish from €90 million, record breaking, substitute Higuaín, who at the time was dubbed the “World’s Heaviest Footballer” restored normality and Juventus ended up winning 2-1. The following week, Khedira continued with providing his best Arturo Vidal impression and scored the lone goal from midfield against Lazio at the Olimpico. This was by no means a breathtaking start to the season, and there was a noticeable lack of fluidity in the midfield. However, it was attributed to the fact that “Il Principino” Claudio Marchisio had not recovered from his long-term injury at the time, and Pjanic was also still unavailable due to a slight knock. Regardless of the performances, we were a full 6 points ahead of where we were at the same stage last season, and with key players returning from injury, there were enough reasons to remain optimistic for the times ahead.

That optimism was fully realized in our 3^rd game of the season, playing Sassuolo at home after the international break. Within half an hour, Juventus attained a 3 goal cushion over their opponents, with Higuaín scoring two exceptional goals, and Pjanic fittingly adding another on his debut. €90 and €32 million for the respective players started to seem like peanuts, and this performance was perfect preparation for the first Champions League game of the season. That match unfortunately ended in a frustrating 0-0 draw against a stubborn Sevilla side. Cue the same old story that Juventus are lions in Italy, but kittens in Europe. Twitter was ablaze with Milanisti claiming that their club is the only Italian team who perform consistently in the Champions League, yet they had somehow forgotten that their team haven’t qualified for the competition for the 3 years. Truthfully, Juventus played decently in that match, and a Higuaín header off the crossbar so nearly brought all 3 points. Still, against a top quality side that has won important titles several seasons running, the result, and indeed the performance, could have been much worse.

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Higuaín and Pjanic started off with a bang.

Onto the biggest match of the season as yet; the Derby D’Italia away at the San Siro on September 18. In another scrappy performance, where we managed to take the lead through the almost forgotten Stephen Lichtsteiner, Inter showed resolve to come back from behind through a great goal and an even better assist from their talisman Mauro Icardi. In this match, it became painfully obvious that players like Kwadwo Asamoah, who despite their best attempts, just do not have the ability to play for a club of this stature. Marchisio was desperately missed, and more than ever, so was Paul Pogba.

He may have fetched the world record transfer free, but on the pitch, he is missed dearly.

We managed to bounce back immediately via the 4-0 thrashing of Cagliari, which could have ended in an even more farcical score line was it not for some fine saves from our former champion Marco Storari. 3 days later however, another sub-standard performance was witnessed away to Palermo, where a disjointed Juventus side managed to scrape 1-0 win thanks to a deflected strike from distance by Dani Alves. This match did not make for pleasant viewing, but football is a “results” business, and we had managed to push ourselves back up into 1^st place in the standings after the blip away to Inter. In our next CL match we dismantled an average Dinamo Zagreb side in front of their own fans 4-0, where Pjanic and Higuaín again demonstrated all of their obvious ability. This match was also notable for bringing Paulo Dybala’s first goal of the season, after he went through a difficult period without much luck. The €130 million Argentine strike force teamed up again to batter 3 goals in 5 minutes away to Empoli the following weekend, which had been resolute for over an hour before then. It now seemed like the new players were settling in nicely and getting accustomed to each others play, and with the news that Marchisio would be back again after the upcoming international break, all seemed rosy again.

On Matchday 8 against Udinese, Dybala continued his fine form with two goals, both from dead-ball situations. Juventus had fallen behind in this match due to an uncharacteristic error from Gianluigi Buffon. This was his second goalkeeping mistake in as many games, following his completely missed kick against Spain the week before. The media was starting to call for his head, saying that the old man had finally had enough. Buffon’s response was incredible. Away to Lyon in the 3^rd CL match of the season, Buffon performed miracle after miracle between the sticks to keep Juventus in the match. He warmed up by saving a first half penalty from Alexandre Lacazette, and continued the trend with even more ridiculous saves against Nabil Fekir and Juventus-target Corentin Tolisso. Mario Lemina was sent off early in the 2^ndhalf to complicate matters even further for us, but ultimately Cuadrado scored a beauty from an acute angle that managed to squeeze into the near post, settling the tight affair in our favor. After the match Buffon, as intelligent as ever, said that of all the criticism he had received over the past few weeks, the only criticism he listened to was his own. “You can arrange my funeral” he said, “but there will be no one there”. A decade after showing immense loyalty to a club that had been demoted to the second tier of Italian football, Buffon was still proving himself to the best goalkeeper in the world, and one of the greatest footballers of all time.

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The ageless wonder continues on…finding a worthy replacement will be a near impossible task.

The tough matches kept on coming, as we found ourselves again away at the San Siro, this time to face Milan. Up against a strong team in very good form playing in front of a passionate crowd of over 75 thousand is always going to be a tough ask, and when referees make senseless decisions against you, it doesn’t help matters at all. Pjanic had a perfectly legitimate free-kick goal ruled out for offside. It was initially deemed a goal, but after some heavy protesting from the Milan players and bench, the ruling was reversed. I didn’t know players are allowed to argue with referees until they switch their decision, no matter how ridiculous their claims are, but I guess you learn something new everyday. To make matters worse, Dybala went off injured as he pulled a muscle attempting a shot from the halfway line that ended up nearer to the corner flag than the back of the net. 18-year-old Manuel Locatelli went on to score a great goal for Milan, with a shot from the edge of the box that even Buffon couldn’t get a hand to. Despite some pressure applied from an again visibly disjointed Juventus side, Milan held out for the win. 2 matches played at the San Siro, 2 losses. Not good enough.

Just as before, we were blessed with the opportunity to bounce straight back with a midweek fixture at home against Sampdoria. With Marchisio now ready to start, Juventus were 2 goals to the good in the first 10 minutes. That the midfield looks so much more competent and complete when Marchisio is playing is testament to not only his ability, but also to the lack of quality alternatives in the squad. The match ended 4-1, and set us up perfectly for the huge test against Napoli on the weekend. The story of “Higuain vs. His Ex-Club” was always going to be the main talking point in the lead-up to the affair, and it was fitting that he was the one who settled it. After a cagey first half, where neither team was truly on top, a sliced clearance from Napoli defender Ghoulam allowed Leonardo Bonucci of all people a shot at goal. He took it unbelievably well. A left-foot volley from near the penalty spot was struck with so much venom that Pepe Reina and his family are fortunate that he didn’t manage to get in the way, as that ball would’ve taken whatever was in its path along with it to the back of the net. It was a welcome relief for Juventus, and even more so for Bonucci, who had horrible personal issues to contend with regarding the health of his infant son. Juventus, as they have made a habit of this season, presented their opponents with a pathway back into the match right after taking the lead. Up against a side with as much quality upfront as Napoli have, this was incredibly dangerous. Naturally, Napoli equalized with Callejon tucking away a first-time volleyed shot from a lovely through ball by Insigne. Up to this point, Higuaín had been shackled well by the Napoli defence, but as with all great strikers, he only needed one chance to make the difference. After he played a chipped pass into the box which was poorly dealt with again by Ghoulam, Higuaín sprinted into the area and struck a sweet first-time left-footed bullet which scorched the Earth on its way into the Napoli goal. No celebration followed as a sign of respect to the club he had once played for, but a smile after the match was over to show love for the club he represented now. 2-1 to the hosts, and a serious statement made along with it.

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A calm response after receiving so much criticism from the Napoli faithful.

Higuaín scored again in the midweek CL game, this time from a spot-kick, at home against Lyon early in the match. From then on, we were unable to double our advantage, and almost inevitably Lyon managed to equalize through a neat header from Tolisso, who is really making a case for himself if he wants to move to Juventus in the summer. A potential swap with Lemina would make sense. Additionally, a rare error from Andrea Barzagli gifted Lacazette an opportunity to win the game for Lyon deep into stoppage time, but Barzagli did just enough to recover and put the striker off. The following Serie A match away to a decent Chievo side was another close affair, and was only settled 2-1 in favour of Juventus via a stunning free-kick from Pjanic, after the opposition again managed to equalize after we had taken the lead.

Following yet another dreary international break, Juventus returned to action with a routine 3-0 victory at home against the struggling Pescara. This match was notable for two instances. Firstly, the much-maligned Hernanes finally managed to find the back of the net from one of his seemingly hundreds of strikes from distance, and 16-year-old Primavera product Moise Kean made his senior debut to become the first player born in the year 2000 to play at this level. Up next was the crucial CL trip to Sevilla, where nothing short of a win was needed to all but confirm Juventus would finish the group in top spot. After a shaky start, where Juventus was clearly outplayed, Sevilla capitalized by taking the lead early doors. All was not looking well, before Dybala’s old friend Franco Vazquez allowed us to put a massive foot back into the match by stupidly getting himself sent off in the first half. Sevilla continued to lose the plot, and conceded a penalty on the stroke of half-time, which Marchisio managed to squeeze past the keeper and into the net. The momentum had definitely shifted in favor of the Old Lady, but it was deep into second half when we finally took advantage of it as Bonucci rifled home a left-footed pile driver not too dissimilar to the one Higuaín produced against Napoli. Mandzukic added another to add some polish to the score line, and with this 3-1 away win to Sevilla, Juventus managed their most important win of the season. The Milan faithful were now nowhere to be found.

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A great goal followed by his classic celebration.

The joy was short-lived however, as away to Genoa on the weekend, Juventus undoubtedly produced their worst performance in the last five years. A horrific first half ended with Juventus being 0-3 down, and also two key players out with seemingly long-term injuries in Dani Alves and Bonucci. We performed relatively better in the second half, although completing two passes in a row would have been better than what was produced in the first, and even managed to grab a goal back with another superb free-kick from Pjanic. However, the damage had already been done. In many ways, a result like this was inevitable. Despite winning the vast majority of our encounters, we could not continue with this mediocrity in the league and not be punished eventually. This match needed to serve as a wake up call to the club, and with the squad now being stretched due to injuries, the onus was on the players and manager to overcome these difficulties and remain focused on each match against every opponent.

Up against a high-flying Atalanta side in Matchday 15 at home, Juventus needed to bounce back immediately and assert themselves as the best team in Italy. They did just that with a comfortable 3-1 win to indicate that on their day, they have no competition domestically. Alex Sandro scored with a graceful finish early on before Rugani and Mandzukic scored either side of the break from two perfectly delivered corners by Pjanic. The victory against Atalanta set the tone for the final CL game of the season, at home against Zagreb. A win would confirm a 1^st place finish in the group, and against a side who had lost all 5 of their previous encounters without even registering a goal, the outcome was merely a foregone conclusion. Zagreb were duly dispatched 2-0, with Higuaín scoring a great goal to end his mini-drought, and Rugani adding another headed goal to his impressive collection.

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The young defender is already a key member of this Juventus side.

The next Serie A match pitted us against our neighbours Torino, who were having a fine season by their standards. An excellent team goal, finished by their talisman Andrea Belotti, gave Torino the early advantage, but Juventus showed great resilience to battle back from then onwards. Firstly, Higuaín equalized after some excellent build up play from Mandzukic allowed him to face Joe Hart one-on-one before he tucked the finish away in the bottom corner. Higuaín’s second of the night was even better, as he created a goal seemingly out of nothing. An innocuous thump up field from Chiellini bounced towards Higuaín at the edge of the box, and he managed to wriggle his way into getting enough space to unleash a stunning first time volley that left Hart with no chance. A third goal was added by Pjanic after some brilliant work from Dybala on the right wing, who had recovered from his injury and was no slowly being reintegrated into the team.

The following weekend we played at home against Roma, in a crucial 1^st vs. 2^nd showdown. After taking the lead through another sensational goal by Higuaín, we expectedly slowed down the tempo of the game to allow Roma far more time and space on the ball. This would have proved costly, were it not for some tremendous defending and despite their increased possession, we never allowed Roma a clear opportunity at goal. While some criticized the performance, it must be recognized that keeping a clean sheet against the top scoring side in the league is always a worthy accomplishment, and were it not for some fine saves from the Roma keeper, there could have been more gloss added to the score line. Still, a 1-0 win is generally good enough, and when it is gives you a 7-point advantage at the top of the league, it is all the better. The last match of 2016 was the SuperCoppa Italiana against Milan in Doha. By having a superior team, being in good form, and even having an extra day of training than Milan as their flight to the Middle East was delayed, everything pointed to a win for Juventus that would secure our first piece of silverware for the season. And for the first 30 minutes or so, things were going according to plan. We took the lead through a quality finish from Chiellini, again set up by the perfect delivery from a corner by Pjanic, but from there on the game plan was painfully obvious. Sit back, and allow Milan to make inroads into the game. You would’ve thought that, with this being a cup final and all, that there would be more intensity shown from the boys. That was not to be. After Alex Sandro limped off injured, Patrice Evra replaced him and was terrorized for the rest of the match by Suso, who at times made him look he was playing his first match, not nearly his 700^th. Or maybe it was just that. Maybe all his antics off the field have tired a player who is know into his mid-thirties. Who knows, but regardless, it was unacceptable. To single out Evra though would be unfair, as there were more players out there than just him who treated this match as a friendly. After Milan equalized, they dominated for the majority, bar a few instances where we applied pressure. Dybala, after coming on from the bench, even had a glorious chance to win the game in extra time but blasted over from 6 yards out. In fairness, a victory would have been undeserved, and so rather fittingly Milan won the match on penalties, with Dybala missing the decisive spot kick.

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Although a player with great talent, Dybala still lacks the consistency to make him truly world class.

The Players

Starting off with the goalkeepers, I took a look at how each individual has contributed to the cause so far. Regarding Buffon, there is no reason for concern, and despite one or two mistakes creeping into his game every now and then, he is still reliable between the sticks and will continue to be so. Buffon recently completed his 600^th match for Juventus, and the great man will definitely add another 60 or 70 to that before he hangs up the gloves. Neto has done a fine job as Buffon’s deputy, and will see even more time in the latter half of the season with the Coppa Italia now coming into our sights as well. Emil Audero has outdone Rubinho as the 3^rd choice goalkeeper. He may have played a grand total of 0 minutes as Rubinho did, but unlike the Brazilian he hasn’t managed to get himself sent off either. Audero will surely be sent out on loan next season, and if Juventus end up needing a reserve player to sit on the bench and try not to get sent off, I will gladly take up the offer. These three will definitely be there until the end of the season, but from there on, who knows?

Analyzing the defenders is not as straightforward as it seems, as prior to the season Juventus had 9 top-class defenders fighting it out amongst themselves for 4 or 5 spots. Despite conceding the fewest goals in Serie A, and with an overall record of only 17 conceded in 24 games, there have been times where the defence has looked shaky. This may be in part due to the inability of the midfield to control possession for long periods of time, but they will be scrutinized in more depth below. Dani Alves and Lichtsteiner have both had mediocre seasons thus far by their standards, and will need to be on top of their games in the latter half of the season when the CL knockout games pit us up against one of Europe’s top sides. They have played 13 and 12 games respectively, and I believe that this trend of alternating them game by game should continue to keep these two energetic players, who are both well into their thirties, in peak condition. Benatia started the season off fantastically, but as is always the case, injuries have prevented him from having a sustained run in the team and he has only managed 10 appearances thus far. His worst performance came against Genoa, and thus it is likely that Allegri has lost some faith in him as he is now firmly behind Rugani in the pecking order. Rugani as well has unfortunately suffered from some injury concerns this season, which has restricted him to 10 appearances as well. In those 10 appearances however, he has greatly impressed. Not only with his defensive abilities, but also with the knack of scoring goals from set-pieces. He has 3 thus far. He has also gained a far more competitive edge to his play, as is evidenced by the fact that he has been shown 4 yellow cards in 7 Serie A appearances, contrasted to a grand total of 0 in his first 50. The BBC have each played roughly two-thirds of the total matches, but have rarely played in conjunction. They have also had their fair share of breaks. Whether it be through injuries in the case of Barzagli and Chiellini, or through personal issues as well as injuries in the case of Bonucci, they have not appeared as much on the field as we would have liked. Still, they are all great defenders and if all of them can stay fit for the rest of the season, Juve’s chances of success greatly improve. However, if that were to actually happen, J-Medical should change its name to be more appropriately known as “J-Miracle”. Alex Sandro has improved leaps and bounds from his somewhat lackadaisical performances in defence from last season. He is definitely one of Juventus’s best performers of the season so far. His consistency, in addition to his ability to stay on the pitch (he has featured in more matches than any other player barring Higuaín), make him one of the first names on the team sheet. With all that being said however, Alex Sandro did actually get injured in the SuperCoppa. His replacement left a lot to be desired. While Patrice Evra is undoubtedly one of the best left-backs of all time, and also one of the best football Instagrammers of all time, his performances have been on the decline. We all knew he wouldn’t be able to replicate what Alex Sandro is capable of when he replaced him, but his performance was truly shocking. Still, I believe the management sees this as a more of a one-off, and I hope they are right, because he desperately needs to improve on the pitch if he wants to stay at this club.

Moving onto the midfield now, where the real problems lie. Although Marotta and Paratici have done incredibly well over the last 5 years, their inability to replace Pogba with another star midfielder will definitely count against them. But then again, how do you replace a player with such tremendous all-round ability as Paul Pogba? Regardless, with Pogba departing in the summer, along with Pirlo and Vidal leaving the previous summer, three-quarters of Juventus’s starting midfield in the 2015 CL final is gone, and they are proving to be tremendously hard to replace. Firstly, Kwadwo Asamoah, despite his best efforts, has proven that he does not have the capability to play for one of Europe’s best clubs, and thus Allegri has restricted him to just 8 appearances this season, despite him fortunately being relatively injury free this season. Cuadrado has had an indifferent campaign thus far as expected. He has mixed some scintillating performances with some brainless displays. He will continue to be the most frustrating player in our squad because despite all of his obvious talent, he seldom uses it effectively. It seems like Hernanes’ time at Juventus is also up, despite featuring quite prominently at the start of the season due to Marchisio’s absence. His poor performance against Genoa highlighted the liability he is, and hopefully did not detract them enough from purchasing him in January. In my opinion Sami Khedira has been the standout performer in midfield, but even his performances tailed off after a flying a start to the season. Still, he has performed solidly, and better yet has managed to stay healthy and appeared 20 times this season. Mario Lemina is a conundrum. He has real talent and his potential is clear, yet he does not have a defined role in the team which is hurting his performances. Unless Juventus gets a great offer for him, I feel he is definitely one to be persisted with. In his 14 matches he has managed to showcase not only his talent, but also his flaws, and is responsible for the only red card we have picked up all season. Since his comeback, Marchisio has played 9 matches and is slowly getting back to full fitness and form, but it is a huge sigh of relief when his name is on the team sheet. Onto our major summer signing in midfield; Miralem Pjanic. On paper, 6 goals and 8 assists from 20 matches is an excellent return for a midfielder, but stats alone do not tell the whole story. Most of his major contributions have come against lesser tier opposition, and only recently when he has been shifted to playing behind the strikers have his performances found some consistency. His ability from dead-ball situations is peerless, and thus we hope that once his contributions to open play improve, he will be a truly world class midfielder. Sturaro is another player who has talent, but needs to showcase it more regularly to deserve a place in the starting XI. That puts him into a similar category as Lemina, but unlike Lemina who has the technical ability, Sturaro has the grit. If they can both improve quickly then they will make a fine pair at the heart of midfield.

Onto the forwards, an area which saw us break our record transfer fee with Higuaín coming in for €90 million. Higuaín’s record of 13 goals in 23 games is very good, but he can and must do better. Although he has been able to scrap the notion that he struggles in big games with goals against both Napoli and Roma, he has also gone missing at times, most evident in the SuperCoppa against Milan. His lower goal : game ratio is mainly due to him receiving less direct service as compared to his Napoli days, but also due to the fact he had to play deeper when Dybala was injured to aid Mandzukic. As is often the case with such a huge transfer fee, he has to prove himself consistently, and only if we win important trophies at the end of the season will he be looked at as a successful signing. Mandzukic’s record of 5 goals in 21 appearances does not make for great reading from an outsider’s perspective, but those who watch him play on a regular basis know how important he is to this team. His incredible work-rate makes up for his technical deficiencies, and with Dybala now fully fit, he represents an excellent option to have off the bench. Dybala himself has had an inconsistent season so far. He started the season off looking incapable of scoring, and only in his 7^th game did he manage to break the deadlock. From there on he seemed to be quickly getting back into form before another injury stopped him in his tracks for 6 weeks. Once he returned however, he quickly made his mark as an impact substitute, producing a Messi-like run and pass against Torino that resulted in a Pjanic goal. However, he showed his inexperience with an erratic performance against Milan just prior to the break, when he should’ve scored to seal the trophy. He then went on to miss his penalty, as did Mandzukic, but I fully expect him to come back stronger from this experience and become a better player for it. He is the present and future of this club. A quick word on Marko Pjaca, whose 7 substitute appearances only resulted in 76 minutes of competitive action. He was destined to be given more time to prove himself before an injury prevented him from playing, and he has only recently returned to full training. If he can stay fit for the rest of the season, he will prove to be an invaluable player to have in the squad, and will truly set the world of football alight in 2017.

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They have to always fight for the shirt, in any match, against any opposition.

The Manager

You may have noticed that I have stayed relatively quiet on Max Allegri throughout this entire review. That is mainly because if I was to analyze Allegri’s choices in each match then this article would be released sometime in 2020. It is also partly because I feel that he has done a fine job as manager again this season, despite some mixed reviews from fans and the media. The team’s record after 24 matches stands at 18 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses. This represents a 75%-win percentage, higher than both of his previous two seasons in charge. Allegri is also known to produce better results in the second half of the season once his squad has fully acclimatised to and accepted his demands. This was seen not only in his first season in charge with the run to the CL final, but also last year when we were unluckily knocked out by Bayern while dismantling all opposition in the league. His habit of being more successful in the latter half of the season is also tracked back to his Milan days. With the addition of some steel in the midfield in the form of Rincon, and players now coming back from injury, the potential is there for Allegri to rotate the squad as he likes and implement the tactical fluidity that he showed in his first season in charge that allowed us to reach the CL final despite being inferior to other squads on paper. Also, sacking Allegri at this stage makes absolutely no sense, as the only better option available in my opinion is currently dominating the Premier League managing Chelsea, and has no intentions of coming back home in the near future.

However, Allegri has had his flaws this season. The inability to maintain the same standard of play upon taking the lead must be put on his shoulders, as it has become a far too prominent part of our performances this season. He needs to improve on that immediately. Additionally, at times he has been too conservative in some of his selections. Against Genoa for example, his decision to play Dani Alves over Rugani in central defence was unbelievable, and also deploying Cuadrado in any position other than far on the right wing is ineffective. I must also agree with his detractors in saying that he hasn’t gotten the best out of this team so far, but I believe that is more reason to stay optimistic because we are still at the forefront of the league and CL despite not playing as well we can do. However, those who were saying he should be fired after the loss to Milan don’t understand football, as these performances can happen occasionally, and is unfair to a man who has been so successful over the last two seasons.

630152586-juventus-fc-head-coach-massimi

He may have his naysayers, but he is doing a fine job.

If you’ve made it this far, I’d first like to say “Congratulations”, but more so “Thank You”. Now where does this all leave us again? Well, we have a 4-point advantage at the top of Serie A, with an extra game in hand against the worst team in the league. We finished winners in our CL group and have now been paired up rather favourably against Porto in the Round of 16. We failed at our first chance of attaining silverware this season, but there will be three far more important opportunities in the future to look forward to. All in all, not bad so far, but the potential to do far better is definitely there. At the halfway mark, I’d give our season a solid “B”, hoping that, with a few additions in the January transfer window and Allegri to finally get the team playing as he wants, we should be looking at a legendary 6^th Scudetto win in a row, potentially a third Coppa Italia win in succession, and also a deep run in the Champions League with the goal always being to win the damn thing. Then, and only then, will this season receive an “A”. Ciao for now.

Socrates · January 6, 2017

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

MATCHDAY 19

Sunday, January 8th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Maurizio Mariani

How should Juventus line up in its return to

the field against Bologna on Sunday night?

Guess who’s back. Back again. Juve’s back. Tell a friend.

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2017/1/6/14188514/juventus

-bologna-2017-serie-a-round-18-you-choose-the-starting-lineup

Jan 6, 2017

Finally, Juventus is back. I love off-topic commenting as much as the next guy, but it’s nice to have some Juventus related things to talk about again. Juventus is taking on Bologna on Sunday in the first game back after the winter break at the wonderful Juventus Stadium.

Bologna enters the game in 15th place in the Serie A standings, however, they also only have 17 games played, and a win could see them move up to a large tie for 12th place. They are coming off a comfortable 3-0 win over Pescara. They have only scored 17 league goals this season, and Mattia Destro and Simone Verdi have a team-high four goals each.

~~Axel Witsel~~ Tomas Rincon is expected to be available for the game, and so he makes his squad selection survey debut. It will be interesting to see how many would like to see him thrown right into the action to see how he performs. Mario Lemina and Mehdi Benatia should not be available due to AFCON tournament conflicts. Leonardo Bonucci and Dani Alves remain injured from before the break.

All things considered, who would you like to see start on Sunday? Vote below! The results will be posted, as well as a few different takes on the lineup, including my own.

Remember, this is not what you expect the lineup to be, this is what you would do or what you would like to see.

Starting Formation


3-5-2/5-3-2	10
4-3-3/4-5-1	11
4-3-1-2	41
4-4-2	3
4-3-2-1	2
Overig	1

3-5-2/5-3-2	10	14.7%
4-3-3/4-5-1	11	16.2%
4-3-1-2	41	60.3%
4-4-2	3	4.4%
4-3-2-1	2	2.9%
Overig	1	1.5%

Starting Keeper


Gianluigi Buffon	63
Neto	4
Emil Audero	1

Gianluigi Buffon	63	92.6%
Neto	4	5.9%
Emil Audero	1	1.5%

Starting Lineup

Question	Count
D - Patrice Evra	14
D - Daniele Rugani	63
D - Giorgio Chiellini	62
D - Andrea Barzagli	27
D - Stephan Lichtsteiner	50
D/M/W - Alex Sandro	55
WB/M/W - Juan Cuadrado	15
M - Sami Khedira	55
M - Hernanes	0
M - Claudio Marchisio	66
M - Stefano Sturaro	20
M - Kwadwo Asamoah	1
M - Tomas Rincon	38
W/AM - Marko Pjaca	13
M/AM - Miralem Pjanic	59
S - Mario Mandzukic	10
S - Gonzalo Higuain	67
S - Paulo Dybala	64
S - Moise Kean	1

D - Patrice Evra	14	20.6%
D - Daniele Rugani	63	92.6%
D - Giorgio Chiellini	62	91.2%
D - Andrea Barzagli	27	39.7%
D - Stephan Lichtsteiner	50	73.5%
D/M/W - Alex Sandro	55	80.9%
WB/M/W - Juan Cuadrado	15	22.1%
M - Sami Khedira	55	80.9%
M - Hernanes	0	0%
M - Claudio Marchisio	66	97.1%
M - Stefano Sturaro	20	29.4%
M - Kwadwo Asamoah	1	1.5%
M - Tomas Rincon	38	55.9%
W/AM - Marko Pjaca	13	19.1%
M/AM - Miralem Pjanic	59	86.8%
S - Mario Mandzukic	10	14.7%
S - Gonzalo Higuain	67	98.5%
S - Paulo Dybala	64	94.1%
S - Moise Kean	1	1.5%

Justify an interesting inclusion (optional)

Cuadrado over Khedira. Khedira level has dropped significantly since September. Excluding the game against Pescara his performances have left a lot to be desired. He's not offering significant defensive contribution either. Pjaca over Sturaro. How the latter has managed to start 5 games this season is beyond me. He's had only one standout performance: at home vs Roma. For the other games he's been terrible, he's a liability taking the ball forward. We should play a wide 4-4-2 (not 4-3-1-2) or a 3-4-3 since they suit our squad the most.

Bienvenida al General!

Sturaro from jump, bring Rincon on later.

I'd love to see what Pjaca is capable of in his return out on the wing

I want to see Dybala start

Rincon gets the start off the bat bc i'm just happy la vecchia signora is back

2-0 JUVE

A midfield of Rincon Marchisio Sturaro, Pjanic ahead as TQ plus Dybala and Higuain

Do you think Axel Witsel was wise or unwise to move to China over Juventus (all things considered)?


Wise - The financial terms were too large to turn down	23
Unwise - Playing for Juventus is worth playing for 25% or less of your potential salary	36

Wise - The financial terms were too large to turn down	23	39%
Unwise - Playing for Juventus is worth playing for 25% or less of your potential salary	36	61%

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

Socrates · January 7, 2017

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

MATCHDAY 19

Sunday, January 8th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Maurizio Mariani

Juventus - Bologna Match Preview

http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/preview/88009

Jan 7, 2017

It's an angry Juventus against travel-sick Bologna, as Max Allegri has to shake off Supercoppa disappointment and start 2017 on a high.

Such are the demands at Juventus that, despite being four points clear at the top of Serie A with a game in hand and safely through to the last 16 of the Champions League in top spot, they come in to this game hungry and angry after their Super Cup defeat to Milan in Doha.

There was great disappointment inside the Turin club, not just due to the shootout failure against the Rossoneri, but also the error-littered performance they turned in on the day. Coach Allegri was visibly furious pitchside after the match, gesticulating passionately and criticising the display while talking with directors Beppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici.

The hard reality for Bologna, however, is that this rage is likely to mean there is an extra edge to the five-in-a-row Champions this weekend.

The Emilia-Romagna outfit are having an underwhelming season so far, sitting in 15th place with only six points taken away from home, three of which were gained last time out against bottom side Pescara. On the plus side, Roberto Donadoni's men can point to the fact that they are 10 points clear of the relegation zone and are unbeaten in their last two Serie A ties with two clean sheets along the way, albeit they failed to score themselves against the fourth-bottom Empoli prior to their win in Pescara. The Veltri will be hoping their last two results are a springboard to a run which will propel them nearer the top 10. On paper it looks a very big ask, however, as Juventus have a perfect 27 points from nine home League games.

Juventus are likely to line up for this one in a 4-3-1-2 formation with Miralem Pjanic deployed in the trequartista role. While Allegri has stated he will not hesitate to use a trident attack of Pablo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Gonzalo Higuain in the second half of the season, Sunday's contest should see Dybala partnered with Pipita. The Old Lady's new signing from Genoa, Venezuelan international midfielder Tomas Rincon, could be thrown in for his debut from the start. Allegri has no suspensions to hinder his selection, but will be without the injured trio Leonardo Bonucci, Dani Alves and Alex Sandro.

Bologna are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 with a likely front line of Luca Rizzo, Mattia Destro and Ladislav Krejci hoping to catch Juventus on the break. Donadoni will no doubt prepare his side to suffer long spells without the ball in this match and he will need both his front players and midfield three to sacrifice themselves to give sufficient protection to his defence. The Rossoblu have no suspensions, but will be without the injured Umar Sadiq and Simone Verdi, who is still several weeks off a return.

To sum up, it would take a brave man to bet on Bologna here. The Turin giants have made the Juventus stadium a fortress and, against a side who struggle on their travels, the champions will feel victory is an obligation. It will take a season-best performance from Donadoni's boys to upset the odds on Sunday evening.

Keep an eye on: Pablo Dybala (Juventus) - The young Argentine has yet to hit the heights of last season, but the Bianconeri will be delighted he is fit again, as his combination of pace, technique and intelligence could be vital at the business end of the campaign. Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona are both said to covet the gifted marksman.

Form guide: Juventus (W W W L W) Bologna (W D L L W)

Last season: Juventus 3-1 Bologna

Stat fact: Bologna have not beaten the Old Lady at home or away since a 2-0 triumph in Turin in February 2011, losing five and drawing three.

Top tip: Juventus to win to nil

Juventus (probable): Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Chiellini, Evra; Khedira, Marchisio, Rincon; Pjanic; Dybala, Higuain

Suspended: None

Bologna (probable): Mirante; Torosidis, Maietta, Gastaldello, Masina; Nagy, Viviani, Dzemaili; Rizzo, Destro, Krejci

Suspended: None

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

Socrates · January 7, 2017

JUVENTUS - BOLOGNA

MATCHDAY 19

Sunday, January 8th, 2017 - 8:45 p.m.
Juventus Stadium, Turin
Referee: Maurizio Mariani

Allegri: 'No Buffon with Bologna'

http://www.football-italia.net/96517/allegri-no-buffon-bologna

Jan 7, 2017

Juventus Coach Max Allegri warned of “hidden dangers” against Bologna and confirmed Gigi Buffon is out of action.

It kicks off on Sunday at 20.45 CET - 19.45 GMT.

“This is a dangerous game, especially as we have conceded a goal in nine of our last 11 home fixtures,” said the tactician in his Press conference.

“I told the lads they need to improve their control of the game. Possession is not necessarily control, as I point out in 17 matches we’ve conceded 14 goals, so that needs to be worked on.

“Bologna tend to close up well and go on the counter. The first match back after a winter break is always full of hidden dangers too.

“I think we will play with four at the back. I can confirm Paulo Dybala will start, while Buffon probably won’t even be in the squad. He’s recovering from flu, but it was a nasty one and so it might be better if he just focuses on recovery. Neto will be in goal tomorrow.

“Andrea Barzagli is called up, I have doubts as to whether he will start. During the week we’ll have Leonardo Bonucci and Alex Sandro back.”

This is the first match of 2017 for Juve, as 2016 ended with the Supercoppa Italiana defeat to Milan, sealed on penalties in Doha.

“I was cross in Doha, but from tomorrow we must resume the path towards making history, which will be to win a sixth consecutive Scudetto. That chance might never happen again and we want to enter the world of legend.

“Porto are accustomed to playing in the Champions League, knocked Roma out of the preliminary round and we mustn’t think that passage to the next stage is to be taken for granted.”

http://www.goal.com/en/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=TP_TN_110

Accedi

JUVENTUS SEASON 2016-2017

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