Re: Juventus 2017/2018 Serie A and Coppa Italia thread

[Luca]

I agree brother @rincon, but our form must improve by then for this conversation to have any credence. Particularly our defence, we cannot leak goals like this and especially at home.

[Warrior]

Udinese is the toughest league match, i suggest to pay attention to Jakub Jankto (JJ !), he's damn good. Got the feeling he might be a future juventino. Spal at home is quite easy, while Milan is in shambles. 9 points out of 9 is realistic.

I also think we can get a close result in Portugal, maybe even scrape a win, as you say. I rate our squad as B+ and Sporting somewhere around C+.

My problem with this team is the feeling of not getting the most out of it. We never see 100% of this team's potential, because of injuries and Allegri's strategies which have been more dogmatic than pragmatic lately.

[rincon]

Agreed we should get 9/9. Sporting is a really good team, it will be close over there but we should go for the win.

Its mid october. We have plenty of time to hit form at the right moments. Madrid, Barca and Bayern are all pretty poor right now. Just like us, they will get stronger with time.

[DeviAngel]

If we don't win away against Sporting we don't deserve to play and progress in CL. If we want to win the trophy we need to spank this kind of teams. We'll hit form soon enough have patience.

[Luca]

If we don't win away against Sporting we don't deserve to play and progress in CL. If we want to win the trophy we need to spank this kind of teams. We'll hit form soon enough have patience.

We have a tendency to bottle these results away in the Champions League. I wouldn't be upset with a draw in all honesty but it puts pressure on us against Barcelona at home and Olympiakos away. At home, Sporting should be more comfortable and they have to win so they'll attack us, that's good for us.

We'll progress, I'm confident in that, beyond that its anyone's guess. Knockout rounds are all about match ups

[rincon]

Im with Luca. A draw in Lisbon would have me particularly upset. Sporting are a good team, Barca scraped their win there just with an own goal and conceded many chances. Their only losses this season have been us and Barca.

We'll most likely progress anyway with a draw. That said, I obviously want a win and I think we'll get it.

[Luca]

De Scigio's 25th birthday today (ffs just two weeks after mine, same year and all)

Will he make 25 appearances this season for Juve?

[Andrew]

I had a dream of Marchisio scoring in the final of the Champions League and celebrating ala Marco Tardelli 1982.

I need a psychiatrist to fix me FFS

[DeviAngel]

I had a dream of Marchisio scoring in the final of the Champions League and celebrating ala Marco Tardelli 1982.

I need a psychiatrist to fix me FFS

Same dream :afraid:

We predicted the future

[Andrew]

I had a dream of Marchisio scoring in the final of the Champions League and celebrating ala Marco Tardelli 1982.

I need a psychiatrist to fix me FFS

Same dream :afraid:

We predicted the future

So many lost Champions League finals have traumatized us all brother

[Warrior]

My dream would be Buffon scoring the winning goal ala Paul Robinson in a Champions League final against Inter or Milan.

Nothing can top that.

[Luca]

@OfficialAllegri: "@PauDybala_JR is in good condition, both physically and mentally. He will play tomorrow." #UdineseJuve
@OfficialAllegri: "It's possible that players can be left out now and again, but @DanieleRugani will be back in action for #UdineseJuve."
@OfficialAllegri: "@ClaMarchisio8 makes the squad, but @MATUIDIBlaise is out after picking up an injury to his flexor." #UdineseJuve
@OfficialAllegri: "@mattia_desci will be back training with the team Monday. @BeneHoewedes is also working towards a return." #UdineseJuve
@OfficialAllegri: "@marko_pjaca20 will have a chance to get game practice with the #Primavera over the coming weeks." #UdineseJuve
@OfficialAllegri: "@gianluigibuffon is fit and starts #UdineseJuve, while @chiellini is 99% certain to play tomorrow too."
@OfficialAllegri: "This season, we've been scoring more goals, but also conceding more. We have to work and improve on that." #UdineseJuve
@OfficialAllegri: "The decision to invert @MarioMandzukic9 and @douglascosta? Sometimes, you also need luck on your side." #UdineseJuve
@OfficialAllegri: "#NapoliInter? I hope it finishes in a draw, but the most important thing is that we win our own match." #UdineseJuve

Allegri's press conference

[rincon]

Call ups

GK: Buffon, Szczesny, Pinsoglio
CB: Chiellini, Barzagli, Rugani
FB: Sandro, Lichsteiner, Asamoah
CM: Pjanic, Marchisio, Khedira, Bentancur
FW: Dybala, Higuain, Mandzukic, Cuadrado, Costa, Bernardeschi

The prince is back

Last year's lineup is expected. No room for anything but a win in Udine. They are pretty bad this season.

[Andrew]

Claudio

The prophecy must be fulfilled.

[juve_gigi]

Goals in Serie A:

Sami Khedira - 3

Gonzalo Higuain - 3

[Warrior]

Forza juve !!

[rincon]

De Sciglio is training with the team now. He probably won't make the next game but its nice to see. Only him, Pjaca and Howedes out now.

Mandzukic is suspended ofc.

vs SPAL we should see changes. We have Milan and Sporting coming up.

Szczesny; Asamoah, Chiellini, Rugani, Lichsteiner; Bentancur, Pjanic; Costa, Dybala, Cuadrado; Higuain

I figure Cuadrado has been playing too well to be dropped and Costa is good on the left. If Dybala or Cuadrado need rest then Bernardeschi instead.

[Hapless_Hans]

Goals in Serie A:

Sami Khedira - 3

Gonzalo Higuain - 3

and:
Minutes per goal

Sami Khedira 80
Gonzalo Higuain 233

[Luca]

Our matches have been so entertaining and memorable this season.

The Atalanta, Lazio and now Udinese matches were just crazy from start to finish.

However, its because our defence is leaking goals like crazy- 2 against in each of those matches. But we have to sit back and admire that this team really does not quit, they know how to win. Allegri said in his press conference that its not about style right now, its simply about winning.

Its not so much that we played ugly or don't have tactics but its just about getting three points. It doesn't matter if its Khedira with a hattrick in a 3-2 win, Higuain with a brace or Chiellini with a bicycle kick in the 94th minute to win 1-0, were here to win these matches. As long as the game does not depend on a 90th minute penalty to rescue a point or secure a victory, our team will be fine.

The funny thing is, we scored 6 goals yesterday but really we still have an attacking ineptitude, none of our attackers scored- they still contributed and played well, but we scored 6 times and none of our attackers scored. I'm not saying its a problem, it was a brilliant display in a bizarre match marked by Mandzukic's sending off but for me, this is the same front four that struggled against Sporting and other times this season. I won't sit here and pretend that Bernardeschi or Douglas Costa would automatically correct this team and elevate us, but how many attacking displays like this can we put in with the same front four, with such quality on the bench?

I also think its a pity that were overloaded in the attack which means we have to play with 4 attackers because I think a midfield 3 gives such better balance to our play. But going to a midfield 3 in certain games is one thing, making it a staple of our team will require additional midfielders and probably the exit of an attacker or two.

Given that we have Spal midweek before Milan (away) and Sporting (away), I'm hoping for a nice rejuvenated line up.

I would love to see this:

Douglas-Higuain-Bernardeschi

This attack would be unreal to see play

[Tomwin Lannister]

There are days when I forget we have Bernardeschi

[rincon]

Its the twilight zone. We score more than Napoli (27 vs 26) and yet we have a worse GD (+18 vs +21).

[rincon]

Have to say Khedira has come back from injury in fantastic form. He was great against Sporting and Udinese. The team plays better with a good Khedira than with Matuidi.

[juve_gigi]

Goals in Serie A:

Sami Khedira - 3

Gonzalo Higuain - 3

and:
Minutes per goal

Sami Khedira 80
Gonzalo Higuain 233

So basically what you are saying is Higuain is a bit out of form and a little chubby. Could be true really...

[juve_gigi]

Have to say Khedira has come back from injury in fantastic form. He was great against Sporting and Udinese. The team plays better with a good Khedira than with Matuidi.

Khedira is borderline world class when he is 100% healthy and in top form. The problem is he is not in top form very often.  But when he is he is a pleasure to watch.  Against Udinese he was all over the field and covering well considering we were a man down. And to score 3 goals playing in the middle of the pitch is almost an impossibility. How many box to box midfielders have ever done that?  Vidal?  Pogba?

Matuidi is good to have off the bench to give Khedira some rest. We didn’t have that last year. And when Marchisio comes back it will help even more. We need a fully rested and healthy Khedira in the CL games if we want to have a shot to go all the way.

[Luca]

Matuidi also gives us the option of playing a midfield three, which against teams like Barca is probably necessary.

I'm not even surprised that Khedira scored three goals, think of all the chances he misses regularly he just managed to actually find the net. He is lethal in his positioning and his late runs into the area are almost always found. When we play with him, Mandzukic and Higuain, we have the ability to bully teams up front.

I'm hoping for a strong run of form. It would be incredible to really smash Milan and win away to Sporting

[Warrior]

Matuidi-Marchisio-Pjanic is what i want to see.

Udinese keeper was very poor, particularly on Khedira's 3rd goal. They seem to have a lot of problems with free kicks/corners.

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