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

[Warrior]

We ABSOLUTELY need a midfield 3 as a "defense before the defense". It is imperative.

Napoli is a team that make their opponents commit positioning mistakes, we must avoid that at all costs.

It's probably our most important match of the season, the way out of it is to have possession, be agressive in tackles and be deadly on counter attacks. With this mentality we'll see what this team is truly made of.

A negative/cautious approach is the insurance for a very very long evening at San Paolo, but i don't expect it. Allegri is back to his usual self since the Sampdoria defeat.

I'd go for

Mandz
Douglas-Dybala
Pjanic-Marchisio-Khedira
Sandro-Chiellini-Rugani-Cuadrado
Buffon

or

Mandz-Dybala
Sandro-Pjanic-Marchisio-Khedira-Cuadrado
Chiellini-Rugani-Barzagli
Buffon
(i don't love 3-5-2 but for this match it's appropriate)

[rincon]

Would be very happy with those lineups.

Only change I'd make is De Sciglio over Cuadrado as FB in the first one. Imo we don't need to be scared but also not go overboard with testing Cuadrado as a RB at the San Paolo.

If its a mid 3 I'd also like Matuidi over Khedira. I'm firmly on the Khedira>Matuidi group but only in the midfield 2.

I think Max got this. Whatever the outcome, I doubt his tactics will cost us. His record against Napoli with us in the league is good. A draw at this stage would be good for us in the end.

3/3 wins in Turin. In the San Paolo its 1 draw, 1 win and 1 loss. The loss came when we played them early in the 2015/16 when we were absolute crap.

[Warrior]

Khedira is only there for the headers.

Matuidi i saw him as a sub for Marchisio
if things go well, subs Bentancur -> Khedira... Bernardeschi -> Douglas

[rincon]

You all ready for Asamoah vs Napoli?? I guess Sandro must be looking like shit in training.

With Mandzukic out and Cuads and Berna not fully fit, it seems we'll risk "arm-amputee" Higuain and go 3-4-3 again.

Expected 11:

Buffon; Chiellini, Benatia, Barzagli; Asamoah, Khedira, Pjanic, De Sciglio; Costa, Dybala; Higuain

[Hapless_Hans]

Albiol is 1.90 and Koulibaly is 1.95. Mandzukic will have his hands elbows full.

Fixed.

[Tomwin Lannister]

As per usual, Asamoah starts = points dropped.

Although iirc he seems to turn up Vs Napoli.

[rincon]

Tuttojuve talks about a late change to the christmas tree with Matuidi in for Barzagli.

[Warrior]

So Allegri fears them, it seems

Wonder why Sandro & Marchisio are not playing

[rincon]

Sandro has been in crap form, maybe Asamoah is looking better on training. Marchisio who knows

[Luca]

I sincerely don't think Allegri sees Marchisio as a starter anymore, most likely due to his poor record of injury over the last couple seasons

As for Sandro versus Asamoah, a blind man can see who is the better player but I expect that as we are playing away from home, against quite an attacking force, that Asamoah is more conservative. We must give thanks that it isn't Asamoah supporting Wingdzukic, because we know how that story goes. Asamoah did well enough against Milan, so I won't write it off just yet

What is with half our team being injured every other match? We've been shambolic in this sense, we should be able to do better than this

[rincon]

Howedes, Benatia and Marchisio are not the clubs fault since they have their own problems. Higuain with his hand thing as well, that's just bad luck. The rest though, I agree waaaaaay too many injuries. Someone is screwing things up.

[Luca]

I'm not sure if its someone's fault particularly or just a load of bad circumstances all at once. We haven't had the easiest schedule and we've had a lot of players involved in many internationals. So, I'd think that plays a larger factor in player recovery when it comes down to minor injuries like Bernrdeschi, or Chiellini after the international break and the Sampdoria game, then missing Barcelona for example

Also, we haven't rotated that well because we can't afford to fall behind in this very tough Serie A campaign

[DeviAngel]

According to TMW Sandro doesn't want to extend and wants to leave, even thou we offer him great new contract. Well seems like there's the reason behind his 'form.

This 4-3-2-1 makes us look like a team again offering balance and stability. We need Marchisio on the field thou

[Luca]

According to TMW Sandro doesn't want to extend and wants to leave, even thou we offer him great new contract. Well seems like there's the reason behind his 'form.

This 4-3-2-1 makes us look like a team again offering balance and stability. We need Marchisio on the field thou

Sincerely doubt that about Sandro

[Warrior]

We did it !! Screw you Napoli !!

That was a defending/composure masterpiece today.

[DeviAngel]

BENATIA

[DeviAngel]

Marotta: 'No Alex Sandro problem'

Juventus director general Beppe Marotta praised Gonzalo Higuain’s “professionalism” to face Napoli despite injury and defended Alex Sandro.

Pipita insisted on starting tonight, even though he only had surgery on a broken bone in his hand on Monday.

“Higuain helped this rapid recovery process and we must acknowledge his professionalism. He might have some pain, but he wanted to be here at all costs and brings more quality to the squad,” Marotta told Mediaset Premium.

The Argentine was needed, as Mario Mandzukic, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Benedikt Howedes are injured, but the 4-3-2-1 formation has Kwadwo Asamoah in place of Alex Sandro.

“It’s not something more, it’s something different. We have a series of difficult matches that are not decisive, but are important for our path.

“The Coach has logical reasons for believing Asamoah is the right man to start in that role this evening. There will be time and space for all the players, including Alex Sandro.”

Marotta was asked if the Brazilian’s poor form was down to the failed summer transfer to Chelsea.

“We have said many times that when a player asks to be sold, regardless of prestige or importance within the team, we are in favour of a sale. When a player is unsatisfied, it is better to let him go.

“In the case of Alex Sandro, he was in full agreement with the idea of remaining with us. His performances are down to his own personal issues that we won’t go into here. We know that we have substitutes up to the task and I’m sure Asamoah will have a good performance tonight.

“At this moment, Napoli and Inter have had an extraordinary season. We have more or less the same points as last season, so we continue the way we are accustomed to.

“I always say Juventus rarely go at more than 70 per cent of our potential before Christmas, but the important thing is to stay up there, stay close to the leaders and the fight for the Scudetto will be much later. We were the hunted, now we are the hunters.”

There were reports of a brawl between Juventus players in the locker room, so Max Allegri joked he’d like a fight to fire the players up.

“I think there is a culture of envy, so that is the most appropriate response. We knew there was no need to reply to that story, as we have great professionals in the squad, Juventus keep a close eye on their behaviour and take action when needed, but in this case it is entirely unnecessary.

“Some squads need healthy competition for places to stay motivated. That’s not the case with us, as we have a group of great professionals. I thought Allegri’s reply in the Press conference was amusing and the right way to treat such stories.”

[Luca]

^ I was just going to post. I didn't believe it because he had every opportunity to leave in the summer and for big money. Now he's benched in December, its bizarre

[DeviAngel]

I have to say, this was his best game in the last 3 years.

[Luca]

Easily, he was solid against Milan also but this was even better

[Warrior]

No need to bother about Sandro, if he wants to leave, Marotta has a strategy. And we'll improve in the end.

[Luca]

I'm not too worried about it for a few reasons. First, his play has left a lot to be desired and it reminds me a lot of Vidal's final season. Second, we'll get a big return in the process. Third, we just won against Milan away, and Napoli away, both with clean sheets, both without Alex Sandro. We never have or will be a team dependent on one player, especially in defence

[rincon]

Sandro will pick it up once he resolves whatever issues he has. Doesn't make sense that it is about leaving since he had more tgan enough chance in the summer. Marotta just said it too.

Anyway, whoever deserves to play should play. So props to Asamoah for gaining ground.

[Luca]

Napoli-Juventus. Juventus only won 1 of the last 15 games played in San Paolo, Naples (1 win in last 17 years).

This really is a victory that shouldn't be taken lightly. I'm so proud of our boys tonight. This has definitely been our statement game of the season thus far [more to come]

Massive credit to Allegri, once again he outsmarts us all and gets the best out of his team. Changes formation again, changes 11 again.

This was far from an easy game. Napoli pressed high and hard, tonight a player like Bonucci would've made the game much easier for his passing alone but who can complain when we have Benatia playing at this level? The whole back line was excellent, bar for a few Chiellini passes that made me question my existence.

The midfield. Honestly, not sure how we got it done here. We were outclassed and lost just about every ball. Pjanic was a bit careless at time. What made the difference is Douglas and Dybala checking back to receive the ball. When we did this, Napoli didn't have an answer and our best movements, including our glorious goal, was when this happened.

Douglas Costa. Worth it. Tonight we can say that. What a dynamic and awesome display, real grinta, real skill. Didn't get the assist or the goal but he made this goal as equally as Dybala's patience and Higuain's precision.

Tactically, this was a very fun an intense match to be part of, coming out with a win is a result I didn't see as a high probability of happening

[Tomwin Lannister]

I was sure Benatia was finished after being consistently atrocious but man he might actually get back to his old self


Pjanic despite his world class traits is also strangely inconsistent with his passing. Marchioness for example when fit is so much better at passing his way out of bad situations.

We need SMS this Summer. Him and Can will give us what we need.

[Tomwin Lannister]

Using phone. Not even gonna edit that spelling

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