You guys are meeting with Benz tonight

What the poster above said + a proper vice Pirlo and we're set.

GK: Buffon - Leali (loan return) - Rubinho

CB: Barzagli, (Caceres) - Bonucci, (Marrone) - Chiellini (Peluso)

WB: Lichsteiner, (Isla) - Criscito, (De Ceglie)

MF: Vidal. (Pogba) - Pirlo, (Hernanes or Poli) - Marchisio (Asamoah)

SS: Benzema, (Giovinco)

CF: Llorente, (Vucinic)

Smaller roster, less scrubs, more functional and Asamoah can return at his natural position and provide more depth for the midfield.

Pogba is either promised to start next year or he leaves... peeps need to get their minds around that. That's the reason why Vidal is for sale. The money on the Vidal sale will be used for Benzema or someone like him. His pricetag is €40 million and City and PSG have already agreed to the sum if he wants to go there. Other thing to consider is that Benzema makes €6+ mil a year and owns 50% of his image rights... his total compensation was €12 mil in 2012.

you can have benzema but we take pogba? fair deal yeah?

Mr Nick09 wrote:you can have benzema but we take pogba? fair deal yeah?

The concept is more a swap involving Vidal. And Juve also met with Higuain.

sportsczy wrote:Pogba is either promised to start next year or he leaves... peeps need to get their minds around that. That's the reason why Vidal is for sale. The money on the Vidal sale will be used for Benzema or someone like him. His pricetag is €40 million and City and PSG have already agreed to the sum if he wants to go there. Other thing to consider is that Benzema makes €6+ mil a year and owns 50% of his image rights... his total compensation was €12 mil in 2012.

I don't know if i buy that Juve is shopping Vidal. That would weaken the team a lot. It might make sense practically in terms of an exchange, but Vidal is more critical to the MF right now than Pirlo.

Vidal is critical because the forwards at Juve can't score currently. He's the most gifted scorer on the club imo. But if the attack becomes top shelf, then Vidal would become more of a typical midfielder. You'd have an AM and then 2 more withdrawn mids assuming Conte sticks with at least 3 mids. If Marchisio becomes the AM... it makes things less open for Vidal to do his thing. Personally, i think Vidal is best suited for 2-man midfield setup where he can go B2B.

You could very well be right, but Marotta has been pretty firm that he isn't going to add to the squad by subtracting from its current base and Vidal is part of that base. I've seen too many transfer rumors to believe each one. I'd love to have Benzema, but not for a swap with Vidal.

Exactly, Benzema is more than welcome, but not at the cost of weakining our Midfield.

I've never understood the concept of screwing one department over to help another. You still have a weakness, it just moves. Marotta is in a similar frame of mind.

The point is that you guys are not going to be able to keep Pogba unless he's guaranteed to be a regular... he's made that abundantly clear. His release clause is 15 mil or thereabouts and he has takers obviously. So who do you bench? Pirlo? Marchisio? Vidal?

There's nothing to weaken. You have 4 regulars for 3 positions. One is going to be moved. Who you decide to move is up to you...

15 mil? ffs Galliani sign him up, Niang needs a friend

sportsczy wrote:Pogba is either promised to start next year or he leaves... peeps need to get their minds around that. That's the reason why Vidal is for sale. The money on the Vidal sale will be used for Benzema or someone like him. His pricetag is €40 million and City and PSG have already agreed to the sum if he wants to go there. Other thing to consider is that Benzema makes €6+ mil a year and owns 50% of his image rights... his total compensation was €12 mil in 2012.

Do you have any source for this.How do you know that Pogba leaves if he does not start matches next season?How do you know Vidal is for sale and from his sale moneys Juve will buy Benzema?
Please stop dreaming...both Vidal & Pogba will not leave this season.

Pogba said on RMC that he feels he's a regular and won't be satisfied with anything less. Also said that the only reason he left Manchester United was to get a chance to play quickly (during international break)... he's also refused to sign an extension Juve have offered since the end of January. These are facts.

Look... i know it's a sore point. At Madrid, we keep doing it to. We overstock positions and, invariably, it creates discontent. I mean we had to drop Sahin, Kaka is ostracized, and the Benz/Higuain situation has been a major headache. As much as you hope it works, it doesn't. It always backfires. Unless people are happy, they don't perform. We have two CFs that are both in and out of form because they don't play regularly enough.

sportsczy wrote:Pogba said on RMC that he feels he's a regular and won't be satisfied with anything less. Also said that the only reason he left Manchester United was to get a chance to play quickly (during international break)... he's also refused to sign an extension Juve have offered since the end of January. These are facts.

Look... i know it's a sore point. At Madrid, we keep doing it to. We overstock positions and, invariably, it creates discontent. I mean we had to drop Sahin, Kaka is ostracized, and the Benz/Higuain situation has been a major headache. As much as you hope it works, it doesn't. It always backfires. Unless people are happy, they don't perform. We have two CFs that are both in and out of form because they don't play regularly enough.

Juve rotates its strikers and midfielders enough that we can keep them content. The current midfield depth isn't so huge that it would create the problems you're talking about. Pogba has been starting lately because Conte has been using other formations and he will continue to use more formations. Having four midfielders to fill three spots is definitely not a huge issue when you consider injuries, competitions, squad rotation, and tactical formation changes. There are plenty of opportunities for all four midfielders to play. Other teams, like RM, have far worse situations than Juve with their depth and giving players time. This doesn't even compare. Let's not forget that Pirlo is getting older and he has not signed a new contract, so his current deal will expire in 2014. Therefore, Juve could be looking at new ways to move forward with it's midfield.

I think you're greatly overrating and overstating the midfield problem because it's not really a problem at all.

GK: Button (Storari)

RCB: Barzagli (Caceres)
SW: Bonucci (Masi)
LCB: Chiellini (Peluso)

RWB: Lichsteiner (Pepe/Giaccherini)
RCM: Vidal (Pogba)
DLP: Pirlo (Poli)
LCM: Marchisio (Marrone)
LWB: Criscito (Asamoah)

SS: Vucinic (Giovinco)
CF: Benzema (Llorente)

Now that's a team capable of competing for the CL.

Well, we'll see. Raiola has said that he's not pushing Pogba to leave, which is good... But there's a WC next summer and players get obsessed by that sort of thing. Pogba's position on NT is very competitive with Matuidi, Cabaye, Capoue and Gonalons currently on and Kondogbia knocking on the door. Only 4 of these 6 players will be selected. That weighs a lot for a player.

sportsczy wrote:Well, we'll see. Raiola has said that he's not pushing Pogba to leave, which is good... But there's a WC next summer and players get obsessed by that sort of thing. Pogba's position on NT is very competitive with Matuidi, Cabaye, Capoue and Gonalons currently on and Kondogbia knocking on the door. Only 4 of these 6 players will be selected. That weighs a lot for a player.

That's fine, but it's not really an issue. Conte could usea 3-5-1-1 one day and start Pogba. Another day, he might use a 3-5-2 and play Pogba and rest Pirlo or someone else. Or, Pogba might have already played once and he will rest him for CL or for an upcoming Serie A match. If you have been following Juve closely (because you get on people on the Juve board about not following RM closely) you would see that Pogba has been utilized quite a bit already this season 17 start and 26 matches played in Serie A after 34 matches and since mid-January when he has really been playing at a high level he has started 16 of 23 matches in all competitions (including 2 of 4 UCL matches). So, as he has progressed, Conte has been finding ways to get him into the starting lineup and I haven't heard one player complain about lack of playing time. Marotta and Conte aren't idiots. They will find a way to keep these guys content. It's also important to note that Pogba has been getting all of this time during a period when Juve is playing just a couple UCL matches and no Coppa Italia games. The schedule is much busier in August-December with Coppa, Serie A, and UCL group matches.

And, like I said before, 4 players for 3 positions is not as much depth as you're making it out to be. Many of the best European teams have four strikers competing for two spots when all four of those strikers could be starting for other UCL teams.

Valkyrja wrote:

juvealbanian wrote:I would prefer a SS,a player who likes to pass the ball...but can't refuse a world class like Benzema.

That's Karim. No way a 9/CF, very good with the ball at his feet, good with both feet, good passer, good vision, can play any position in attack, but his best is behind the striker.

can Llorente - Benzema work ?

DeviAngel wrote:

Valkyrja wrote:

juvealbanian wrote:I would prefer a SS,a player who likes to pass the ball...but can't refuse a world class like Benzema.

That's Karim. No way a 9/CF, very good with the ball at his feet, good with both feet, good passer, good vision, can play any position in attack, but his best is behind the striker.

can Llorente - Benzema work ?

It would be beautiful and that's why i want him to go to either Juve or Arsenal (behind Giroud). Arsenal won't happen because they're cheap bastards. So you're my only hope lol. I don't want City for a lot of reasons and he wouldn't work well with Ibra at PSG since they operate in similar areas. Bayern also seems interested... but they don't need him and i can't stand Bayern lol.

I agree with other posters here.Having 4 midfielders for 3 spots is not a problem.Considering Pogba's age,Conte's rotation and Pirlo's age i think Pogba can have enough playing time to grow up and fight for a spot in France NT.

juvealbanian wrote:I agree with other posters here.Having 4 midfielders for 3 spots is not a problem.Considering Pogba's age,Conte's rotation and Pirlo's age i think Pogba can have enough playing time to grow up and fight for a spot in France NT.

It's a big risk though. Capoue has already agreed with PSG... so he's going to get a lot more exposure and publicity. Gonalons is rumored to Arsenal. Kondogbia is rumored to Madrid. And then you have Matuidi and Cabaye of course. It's not just competitive; it's extremely competitive.

I also don't know if Juve can afford €40 mil and the big wages unless they unload someone. Pogba is too cheap. Vidal will get the biggest fee. Imo, the attack has to get improved. Llorente is not a top shelf striker; he was considered second shelf in La Liga. He's basically the Giroud of Spain lol. Until Juve get a player that can really anchor the attack, CL is going to be a difficult proposition.

Yet we don't have to sell a world class like Vidal and/or a super talent like Pogba to get a good striker,that would be stupid.

A player swap of the caliber of players you're talking about rarely happens in football. Honestly, I can't recall a swap that even comes close. Can you? For that reason alone I don't see it happening (plus all of the reasons I mentioned before). Until I see more concrete reports actually about this potential transfer, it's nothing than a rumor for me. I think it is also some wishful thinking on the part of RM fans to add Vidal.

Considering Pirlo might be about to enter his last year, i'm sure 20 year old Pogba won't be too unhappy with another season of well over 20 apps before moving into the first team.


You're painting a picture that he's unhappy. Everything he's been quoted saying about his move to Juve and his time so far tells a story of the extreme opposite to what you're suggesting.

He's very happy. But he's also extremely pragmatic. He has a career plan in mind and he goes to the place where he feels it can be achieved... has shown absolutely zero patience or flexibility in his young career in that regards. He left Le Havre and everyone was shocked.... did it because he wanted to be coached up by SAF. He left Man U and SAF was furious... did it because they brought back Scholes and he didn't see enough playing time. Is he going to wait his turn at Juve? It would be a change of pattern for him. Could happen i guess.

Happiness and emotion are not the primary driving factors for his decisions so far. Career progression and money are overwhelming factors.

i would take Benzema rather than Ibra.

but i only thing we would give up is Melo and/or money...

that's the only deal on the table.


you could also have Iaquinta, Rubinho and De Ceglie...we would throw them for free

juventus101 wrote:GK: Button (Storari)

RCB: Barzagli (Caceres)
SW: Bonucci (Masi)
LCB: Chiellini (Peluso)

RWB: Lichsteiner (Pepe/Giaccherini)
RCM: Vidal (Pogba)
DLP: Pirlo (Poli)
LCM: Marchisio (Marrone)
LWB: Criscito (Asamoah)

SS: Vucinic (Giovinco)
CF: Benzema (Llorente)

Now that's a team capable of competing for the CL.

Yep but for some reason we will end up with like sanchez,diamanti and retain de ceglie and some how we won't have any funds to buy big players This talk about selling top players is nonsense we don't sell top players we are not a selling club ffs! we are not milan or inter we are Juventus. We rarely sell our top players if ever unless we get an absolute cracker of a deal e.g we sold zidane then bought in buffon,thuram,nedved( i think that's right). We are building a project like Bayern Munich did they sell players like schweinsteiger,muller,ribery for money? no.