Juventus: The Next Cycle

rincon wrote:I think Dybala is staying. In the heat of the moment I wanted to kill him for getting sent off but honestly it was unfortunate. The dive was embarrassing as hell, the second card was just bad luck. I'd be fine with sacrificing him or Sandro, or both, but I think Sandro is the one to go.

I think we'll stick the current plan and keep the 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 that can be changed easily with our versatile subs.

Higuain - Dybala
Costa - Sergej - Pjanic - Bernardeschi
Spinazzola - Chiellini - Benatia - De Sciglio

Sell Sandro, Mandzkic, Sturaro

Sign Sergej, Pellegrini, 2 fullbacks

Bring back the loans and maybe Kean?

The way out is through

In the aftermath of the Real Madrid debacle, you will hear all kinds of practical solutions. Improve the midfield by buying Milinkovic-Savic! Steal Isco from Madrid! Sell Player X! Ban all rain in Turin within 48 hours of a match!

All of these solutions have their merits (maybe not the last one), but the bigger point is being missed. Whether it’s with Allegri or a new coach, the same players or different ones, Juve have to push forward, not inch their way tentatively — they know by now where the latter approach will get them.

In addition to avoid negative statements on the record or off, there are things Juve can do to break through the final barrier keeping them from the upper echelon of European clubs. All of them involve confronting their current reality, then either correcting a problem or risking their current level of success for greater rewards.

1. Stop caring so much about Serie A. Loath as I am to use a stale Godfather reference, Juve really did Corleone the rest of the Italian league over the past few years, and it’s hard to dismiss the notion that in one or more cases (Higuain, Pjanic), they jumped at the chance to wipe out their domestic competition — even at the expense of Champions League success. After all, it remains to be seen if any combination of the recent acquisitions will do the trick. Juve should focus transfer activity on competing with all of Europe rather than worry about eliminating their domestic enemies, and by default they’ll be poised for continued Serie A dominance.

2. Start playing to win, not to avoid losing. Barcelona and Real Madrid are still trying to score goals with a 5-0 lead in the 90th minute. Meanwhile, Allegri’s Juve are set up to win 1-0 while respecting the formidable threat of ... Crotone. Can you blame Juve for being under-confident against big European teams when they’re trained to worry so much about inferior domestic ones? The “everyone plays their best against Juve” excuse is tired. Juve should stop thinking like Italians and go fully international. Which leads to the next point...

3. Take risks. We know what we get with Sami Khedira: a good performance every third or fourth game. Yet Allegri starts him every single game, even in a fixture-packed month. Meanwhile, he starts Mario Mandzukic whenever the latter is healthy, insisting on using him as a half-effective winger when he has over €100 million in wing talent sitting on his bench. Is he surprised when the first 60 minutes of most games are scoreless, Juve’s attack is predictable and it takes the addition of another winger to break the deadlock? If that’s his plan all along, that’s pretty sadistic. How honorable and satisfying are never-ending slogs to victory? Winning can’t be the only thing that counts if it’s this ugly.

4. Think quality, not strength. It should be obvious by now that grinta will only get Juve so far in Europe. Real Madrid dominated on Tuesday, but did they seem especially tough? Their midfield was packed with skill players. Even their defenders are clutch scorers. Meanwhile, Allegri fielded one of our slowest defenders (Andrea Barzagli), and in the absence of Pjanic left the only midfielder with any attacking spark on the bench (Claudio Marchisio).

5. Play Marchisio! Seriously. There’s enough playing time for everyone.

6. Give the kids a chance. The media and the club itself have perpetuated the idea that only a certain player is “Juve material,” but it’s gotten to the point where the weight of the shirt threatens to crush even the most talented younger players, while prospects on loan or in Juve’s sights are either afraid to prematurely join or skeptical of getting enough playing time if they do. There is enough potential experience to go round, which is why it’s been painful to see Federico Bernadeschi or Douglas Costa or Daniele Rugani sitting on the bench for large stretches while Juve struggle with the same tactical problems each week.

7. Trust the defense enough to attack. At their sharpest, Juve’s defenders are capable of matching up with those of any side, anywhere. Overcompensating with rugged midfielders or sitting back in support is crucial in certain stretches of the game, but it’s ineffective as a primary strategy from kickoff (not to mention mildly insulting to such great defenders). Risk trouble rather than openly inviting it in over and over (see No. 2).

8. Play Marchisio! It bears repeating. Plus, the number-name matchup seemed like a nice touch.

Francia (4-1-4-1): Bernardini; Rosier, Gelin, Gnagnon, Niakhaté; Tousart; Bamba, Nkunku; Aouar, Grandsir; Dembélé.