Juventus’ missing transfer pieces

Antionio Labbate for football italia.net.

Napoli captain Paolo Cannavaro hoisted the Coppa Italia into the air. It was an ending that nobody at Juventus would have wanted, but Sunday’s Italian Cup defeat to the Stadio San Paolo outfit could be used as a building block from which the Old Lady of Italian football should map out their plans for next season.

While ending the campaign with the Double would have been the stuff of fairy-tales, the loss and the manner in which it arrived was an illustration that even with the club’s somewhat miraculous and deserved Scudetto success, this squad is still in its infancy.

The starting XI fielded by boss Antonio Conte in the capital was one restricted by injuries and hampered by the sentimentality of fielding some players due to a debt of gratitude. In doing so, however, the Coach and the club would have been given an indication of what will need to be done over the summer to at least compete in the Champions League next term.

While reserve ‘keeper Marco Storari was to blame for Napoli’s opener, when he needlessly brought down Ezequiel Lavezzi, the only custodian question mark revolves around Nicola Leali. A deal has already been done with Brescia for the teenager, but should Juve keep him at the club to work with Gigi Buffon or loan him to an outfit who can offer him regular football? Whatever they choose, it’s unlikely to affect their campaign.

New faces are arguably needed in defence despite what the stats suggest. While Juventus proved to be one of the meanest teams in Europe after conceding a paltry 20 League goals, they are short of another central defender and a left-back who is equally as comfortable in a flat back four or as a winger in a 3-5-2.

Juve ended the campaign with just seven defenders in their squad, but six if you consider that Fabio Grosso was basically ignored from an early stage of the campaign onwards. Fortunately injuries and suspension didn’t cause Conte too many selection headaches, even if he did have to use midfielder Arturo Vidal as an emergency centre-back at Genoa.

Sunday’s game suggested that for all of Martin Caceres’ qualities, he should be primarily seen as an alternative to Stephan Lichtsteiner on the right. The absence of both Giorgio Chiellini and Paolo De Ceglie meant that Juve had no drive down the left given that Marcelo Estigarribia, if he is to be used, is perhaps better utilised in a 4-3-3.

One of the many building blocks behind La Signora’s victorious march to the championship was undoubtedly the midfield trio of playmaker Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio and Vidal, three players who Conte was forced to sacrifice his trademark elastic 4-4-2 to incorporate. But, with Champions League commitments on the horizon, it’s time for some reinforcements.

Pirlo, 33, was the club’s most used player thanks to his 41 appearances. Marchisio wasn’t that far behind on 39, while Vidal collected a still impressive 35. The Chilean was risked at the weekend despite not being fully fit, while Pirlo and Marchisio only had a limited impact. While the likes of Simone Padoin and Emanuele Giaccherini should be commended for their commitment to the cause, hunger and desire can only take you so far.

Udinese’s Kwadwo Asamoah looks like an interesting possible target, while Cagliari’s Radja Nainggolan is still being linked in some quarters despite his inflated asking price. Juve need someone in there who can combine style and substance when necessary.

Of course, the Turin giants continue to chase 19-year-olds Paul Pogba and Marco Verratti. While one can understand why the Manchester United and Pescara players are on their radar, it would be expecting rather a lot for both to be making a difference in Turin as soon as next season. Sure, Juve have to look to the future, but the promising Luca Marrone, 22, totalled only 125 minutes in Serie A. If Pogba and Verratti are captured, expect the possibility of one being immediately loaned out.

It is in attack, however, where the biggest decisions have to be taken. Juve ended the League campaign just six goals shy of Milan’s total of 74, but their top scorer was Alessandro Matri on 10 – and he was gradually phased out of the first team as his goal drought continued. Marco Borriello’s performance in the Coppa didn’t change the fact that a big name bomber is at the top of the club’s wish-list, but it is by no means certain that one will arrive.

After flirting with Sergio Aguero and Giuseppe Rossi last summer, the Bianconeri had to plump for Mirko Vucinic who, no matter how gifted, has struggled to be prolific in his career. Juve dg Beppe Marotta this week admitted an interest in Arsenal’s Robin Van Persie, Luis Suarez of Liverpool and Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain, but it’s unclear if any of those three will arrive or even be seriously targeted.

In a dream world where Napoli chief Aurelio De Laurentiis kneels at the feet of Italy’s giants, Edinson Cavani would be a fine fit for the kind of flexible centre-forward, who has his uses outside of the box and in it, that Conte would happily work with at Vinovo over the next 12 months.

Then there is also the fantasy factor that Juve will have to consider given the departure of Alex Del Piero. Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic remains as difficult a target, if not impossible, as Cavani, while Bologna are asking big money for Gaston Ramirez. You wouldn’t then forgive Juve for thinking about re-signing Sebastian Giovinco from Parma – even if he’s likely to ask for some first team guarantees that Conte will be unable to offer.

But Juve’s future does not just depend on who comes in, as Marotta will now have to prove he can sell a player or two. Milos Krasic and Eljero Elia are on their way out, but it will be interesting to see how much of the €24m spent on the duo can be clawed back. It may be more financially beneficial to loan out the Dutchman in an effort to see his transfer value increase again after it plummeted as he was slowly frozen out of the project.

It also wouldn’t be a total surprise if Marotta and Co were tempted to sacrifice either Matri or Fabio Quagliarella if a big enough offer was tabled, even if both are well placed to have some part to play in Conte’s plans next term. This season may not officially be over, but the new one has already begun for the new Italian champions.

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I totally forgot about Nicola Leali. We've already signed him! "Leali is practically a Juventus player," Iaconi (Sports director of Brescia) told reggionepallone.it. "At the end of the season we will formalise his move to the Bianconeri."

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2012/03/30/3003204/brescia-director-nicola-leali-practically-a-juventus-player

we need few players we don't need millions

1. we need three players to replace; PEPE, MATRI, DE CEGLE

2. we need youngsters to replace gradually; PIRLO, VUCINIC, BARZAGLI

my list for the summer is this ; CAVANI, SUAREZ, KOLAROV, POGBA, VERRATI, SAHIN

so we start the games with this formation;

VUCINIC ------- CAVANI -------- SUAREZ
-------- MARCHISIO -- VIDAL ------------
------------------ PIRLO -------------------
CHIELLINI ---------------------- LINSHTAINER
---------- BONNUCI -- BARZAGLI ----------
------------------- BUFFON -------------------

and when we need a goal we substitute BONNUCI with KOLAROV and switch to 3-5-2 more attacking minded

------------- VUCINIC - CAVANI -----------------
KOLAROV ---------------------------- SUAREZ
------------ MARCHISIO - VIDAL -----------------
--------------------- PIRLO --------------------------
CHIELLINI ------ BARZAGLI ------- LINSHTAINER
-------------------- BUFFON -----------------------

on COPPA ITALIA: or less important games we use the bench players

POGBA ---------- QUAGLIARELA ------------- PEPE
--------- MARRONE -------- PADOIN ----------------
---------------------- VERRATI -------------------------
KOLAROV --------------------------------- CACERES
------------- CHIELLINI --- SORENSEN -------------
---------------------- STORARI -----------------------

This is probably one of the best articles I've read on the state of the new Juve. Expertly written and I agree with 100% of the article point by point...

lucianomoggi wrote:

------------- VUCINIC - CAVANI -----------------
KOLAROV ---------------------------- SUAREZ
------------ MARCHISIO - VIDAL -----------------
--------------------- PIRLO --------------------------
CHIELLINI ------ BARZAGLI ------- LINSHTAINER
-------------------- BUFFON -----------------------

Suarez at RWB?

No thats RAM not RWB @navjuve

juveman17 wrote:No thats RAM not RWB @navjuve

My bad, so a formation with 2 strikers, two attacking midfielders, 2 center mids that love to stroll and attack and a deep lying playmaker that can't defend, and a center back (Lichsteiner) that loves to attack, and only 2 center backs?

something similar to AC MILAN under ANCELOTTI: we can start 4-3-3 formation but we attack with 3-1-4-2 something similar to this

-------------- SHEVA -- InZAGHI -------------------
SERGINHO - SEEDORF - GATUSSO ------ KAKA
--------------------- PIRLO ---------------------------
MALDINI ---------- NESTA ------------ CAFU

doesn't it look like our players are something similar to AC MILAN ?

our MALDINI = CHIELLINI ( LB + CB )

our NESTA = BARZAGLI ( CB + DMF + SWEEPER )

our CAFU = LINSHTAINER ( RB + CB )

our SERGINHO = DE CEGLE : I want there KOLAROV ( LB + LM )

our SEEDORF is MARCHISIO ( CMF )

our GATTUSSO is VIDAL ( CMF )

our KAKA suppossed to be KRASIC ( we have there PEPE for short term )

our SHEVCHENKO is VUCINIC

our INZAGHI is MATRI

our STAM is BONNUCI

our PIRLO is VERRATI

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