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

[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.

[rincon]

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.

Just what I was thinking as it was happening

Khedira as a midfielder has Cavani level runs with Benzema level finishing. He finally managed to be accurate.

[Luca]

When Khedira retires and they compile his best goals, some are going to think he was one of the greatest goal scoring midfielders of all time

[rincon]

Allegri gave his press conference. Buffon and Chiellini don't play. Dybala and Higuain play. Emphasis on being happy to have recovered Higuain (referencing his performance vs Udinese). Alex Sandro plays. Bernardeschi or Cuadrado for the right wing spot. Comments on how well Berna is doing and how Cuadrado can also serve as a fullback like in the other match. A choice to make. Doubts about the midfield in terms of technical choices, not physical. So Khedira, Pjanic, Bentancur and Marchisio are fit and ready. Matuidi is out.

[Luca]

Higuain was very good against Udinese. Particularly when we went down to ten men. He hit the post at 2-1 also in a great move. On a different day, the hattrick would have been his and not Khedira and we would not be talking about a faulty attack.

I thought when Higuain scored back to back against Olympiakos and Atalanta that would have got him going but not so much. His goal against Atalanta particularly was an incredible move.

Right now, our market is looking a little fraudulent. Were working with the same 11 as last season but an even worse one as we lost Bonucci.

[Warrior]

Mandzukic's red card was a gift from the heavens.

Late in october now, it's about time to give Bernardeschi a proper role.

[DeviAngel]

I am more then sure that Bernardeschi will be one of our key players later this season...give him and Allegri time

[rincon]

Yes I'm with you as well. No doubt Bernardeschi will be a key player for Juve. Allegri is just trying to make sure that the base of the team is working well and getting results before mixing too much in key matches.

The latest expectation for tomorrow is:

Szczesny; Lichtsteiner, Barzagli, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Pjanic; Bernardeschi, Dybala, Douglas Costa; Higuain

De Sciglio is on the bench!! I know there is not much love for De Sciglio here but I still think he will return to his best Allegri/Conte performances. No one performs for Milan.

[Warrior]

I thought Khedira would get rewarded with the start, but maybe it's better to give him some rest... stamina is not one of his strengths.

Bentancur gets game time which is ok, i find similiarities between them. Can't wait to see Dybala and Bernardeschi combined, it will be fire, one that Spal cannot extinguish.

Can you also give an update on the J-boys performance out there ? When you got time.
Caldara, Mandragora, Lirola, Orsolini, Kean

[Warrior]

MDS is better than Sturaro, even more so the right back version of Sturaro. His return is welcome.

Shown glimpses of decentness vs Barcelona before suffering this injury, would be funny enough if Juve turns him into an international level fullback.

[rincon]

Can you also give an update on the J-boys performance out there ? When you got time.
Caldara, Mandragora, Lirola, Orsolini, Kean

I like to watch Atalanta because of how nice they play and that they have 3 of our players.

Caldara is a beast. He sat out a couple of games at the start because he, like the other U21 internationals, needed fitness due to a short preseason. Then he went back to being a sure starter and has beasted since. 2 goals already as well as he is great in the air. A rock for Atalanta.

Spinazzola had that irregular situation of trying to join us at all costs so he was left out at first. Then returned to his position as a starter and picked up where he left off last season. In a team where everyone performs well, he still shines. Just recently had 2 assists in A and EL. Gasperini didn't want to let him go as he was a key player, still is one.

Orsolini doesn't play much. Atalanta is not in a position so comfortable that they can rotate heavily. Their calendar was by far the worst one to start the season. Now that easier games are happening, he should get more time. When you see him come he looks like a bright young winger/forward. Can't say much else since he plays less than Szczesny.

Mandragora is also a starter. Crotone sucks so its not saying too much, but he is their best player. Its still important because he is a 20 yo whose career got interrupted by big injuries, so to come back as a starter and star of a Serie A team is big. Even if its a relegation candidate. He is the player with the most interceptions in the league, and near the top in tackles as well, just for some stats. From the newly loaned players he is doing the best, definitely a positive experience for his growth. Next season should see him in a better team if he doesn't return right away. At this level he could already start for most Serie A teams and look good. Its strange to say because they are 18th on the table, but Crotone don't actually play that badly and Mandragora is part of that. With a little bit better luck they would be a lot higher. Genoa, Cagliari and Verona do worse.

Kean plays a surprising amount of football. When you think that there is a 16 year difference between him and Pazzini its good that he is already getting good minutes. In his only full match he scored. I don't watch enough Verona to say more than that.

Lirola is another starter which is great. Sassuolo suck this season mostly because of Bucchi, he should get sacked soon unless he turns it around asap. Their squad merits a lot more, EDF's departure hit them hard. Lirola hasn't given a big jump in quality but he has improved in defense. I have the feeling if Sassuolo wasn't such a dysfunctional environment atm, we would be talking about a break out season for him.

[rincon]

I'd say,

players that are certain to be good for us next season: Caldara, Spinazzola

possibly good for us next season: Mandragora, Lirola

Needs a lot more time: Orsolini, Kean

Lirola I think can definitely be of use since we play Licth and Sturaro there. But it probably would end up being more of a growth process than an instant impact like the Atalanta starters can provide.

Mandragora can for sure contribute as well but I don't know if they want him to come sit on the bench instead of start every week in Serie A somewhere else. If we switch to a midfield 3 then for sure. If we keep a mid 2 then there may not be enough minutes. One thing is for sure though, he is much better than Sturaro. Since he also played "middle" CB (the Bonucci role) for Pescara we know he can help out a lot in our defensive phase. If the alternative is to sign an underperforming Emre Can then there is no doubt about this.

A future of Bentancur-Mandragora-Pjanic sounds pretty good.

[Warrior]

team A

HIGUAIN
DYBALA-BERNAR
PJANIC-MARCHISIO-SERGEJ
SANDRO-CHIELLINI-HOWEDES-SCRUBLIO
SCZECNY

team B

MANDZUKIC
JANKTO
DOUGLAS-BENTANCUR-MANDRAGORA-CUADRADO
SPINAZZOLA-CALDARA-RUGANI-LIROLA
STRAKOSHA

would be my sensual dream, perfect way to start a new quinquennium
let's abuse the attacking depth even more

[rincon]

Perfect for me except for Jankto. He looks good but we already have Pjaca (if he comes back to life).

[Luca]

Perfect for me except for Jankto. He looks good but we already have Pjaca (if he comes back to life).

Pjaca is back brother, even included in the WC Playoffs for Croatia (as a reserve though)

I still think Pjaca is a real legit talent but there is a bunch of players ahead of him and no one is retiring Wingdzukic in Allegri's setup

[Warrior]

Wingdzukic

Not gonna lie, i forgot about Pjaca. Yet knee injuries have a tendency to reappear sometimes after a couple of months. We've seen that with Marchisio.

Wouldn't mind NOT paying the transfer fee for Douglas and buy Jankto instead. Not that impressive to be honest, one season is enough, for transition. It lets place for Pjaca whom i consider a half-dead project until proven otherwise.

[rincon]

I havent looked into it but I thought that Costa was an obligation to buy. Wouldn't mind not buying him otherwise.

[Warrior]

Damn it, there IS an obligation to buy How much, 30-40 millions for that ? I think someone like Jankto has a higher ceiling.

Would be satisfied with just Sergej and keep Dybala then.

Sergej + Strakosha vs 80m + Sturaro... fair enough imo

[rincon]

Yeah It was like 40m or something like that.

He should come good. I think he'll just become our next Cuadrado and Cuadrado himself will leave maybe in 2019 or something like that.

From Lazio the only player I would go for right now is Sergej. Strakosha doesn't need to come and waste his career away behind Szczesny. De Vrij isn't amazing, i would take him in general, but we have Rugani and Caldara coming up after Chiellini, Benatia and Howedes in hand. So if De Vrij could endanger the Sergej transfer then I would forget about it.

Ignoring potential important sales, I'd just spend the budget on Sergej. Then if De Sciglio and Lirola are not looking good enough, a RB. Otherwise just return our loanees.

[Warrior]

Strakosha would be perfect, i don't trust Sczcesny 100%. I'd like someone reliable as second keeper, could be him or Perin or Cragno... anyone who wouldn't make me too nervous for the few games he features in.

For the rest i agree. Priority is Sergej and our loanees, while Jankto is my personal czech dream.

Not down for De Vrij, as 5th option ok, but i doubt he wants that. I'd prefer Astori who would be cheaper: same quality of defending and much better passer and dribbler. As Serie A veteran he might accept a lesser role just to have a chance at the championship for once. Cuadrado will leave within 2 years, still reliable on the short/medium term.

[Luca]

Szczesny>>>>

[rincon]

Spinazzola is rested today, some german scrub named Gosens is playing. Who is this? @Hapless_Hans

[rincon]

Kean is playing btw

[Warrior]

Pazzini IN, Cerci OUT...
2 guys i completely forgot about

[Luca]

Today Benedikt HOWEDES, Stefano STURARO, Blaise MATUIDI and Marko PJACA have worked partially with the group

[rincon]

When does the Coppa start?

We need minutes for all these guys. It will be good to see Bentancur, Bernardeschi, Costa and Pjaca start together against some scrub team in CI.

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