Juventus’ Transfer Market Moves

Date: 7th August 2011 at 3:54pm
Written by:

Some time has passed into this summer’s mercato, and Italy’s top five clubs are preparing for a season were anything less than qualification for the Champions League would be considered a failure. Milan, Inter, Napoli, Roma and Juventus have clear goals ahead of them, all making their own movements to ensure that they are well prepared come the start of the Serie A season.

Each day we will look at each club and assess their mercato thus far. On Tuesday we began with the current Scudetto holders, Milan, Wednesday was the turn of their rivals Inter, on Thursday we had Napoli in the spotlight, yesterday we delivered our verdict Roma’s transfer moves, finally it is the turn of the Old Lady.

Juventus

Current team and addressing problems: In the last summer’s mercato, and after a huge change in the club’s management  a large number of acquisitions were made. The team managed to produce a positive first half of the season, up until injuries and suspensions started to hit key figures like Fabio Quagliarella and Felipe Melo. From that point the team started falling downhill, and never really managed to lift itself again.

The squad’s average age is one of the lowest in the league, and it possesses a higher number of Italian internationals than any other side. But there are holes in the team, and some departments are in need of massive upgrading as well.

Goalkeeping: In Gianluigi Buffon, Marco Storari, and Alex Manninger, the club one of the strongest goalkeeping departments in the world. Buffon struggled to return to form following injury, it is hoped this season will signal his return to the top.

Defence: Giorgio Chiellini is world class by anyone’s measure, the Italian centre-back is an excellent competitor and clearly lives for the black and white shirt, but on the other hand, he is not the type of leader a strong defence needs, and is over reliant at times on his physicality and brutality than on proper organisational skills.

Leonardo Bonucci is one of Italy’s biggest rising defensive talents, if not the best. The Italian international was consistent throughout the first half of last season while a little more patchy in the second. During the closing stages of the season, he even lost his starting place to Andrea Barzagli who arrived from Wolfsburg in January. The former Italian international is excellent back up for any team, but lacks the quality for a team aiming as high as Juve are.

The full-backs could be easily considered the main reason behind Juve’s short comings last season, and this is probably an understatement, as the quality might be very much comparable to that of a side fighting relegation. Marco Motta who started at right back was directly culpable in a number of goals conceded by Juve. The player who was supposed to be his back up, Czech International Zdenek Grygera, he was by no means an upgrade, which resulted in a Danish primavera player – Frederik Sorensen, whose natural position is a centre-back being called into the side.

On the other side, Paolo De Ceglie showed some promise but suffered a season ending injury early in the campaign, resulting in World Cup winner Fabio Grosso being drafted in. There was also 20 year old Armand Traore, on loan from Arsenal, but when he featured he was far from convincing.

Midfield: When it comes to individual quality, Juve’s midfield had some important attributes, players like Melo, Alberto Aquilani, Claudio Marchisio, and back up, Momo Sissoko are all of very good quality, but the right mix was never found. The midfield was never fluid enough in its passing, neither it was creative and productive in the attacking phase, and it never managed to maintain any consistency.

On the wings Milos Krasic had an astonishing first half of the season, however a big drop in form came in second half. Fatigue problems were used to justify this dip in form, as Krasic played nearly 18 months of non-stop football without a break.

Marchisio was deployed as a left winger, provided little in attack, instead he offered assurances from a defensive point of view. Simone Pepe was a back up player in the initially always showed humility and endeavour but his limitations were always obvious, still he convinced many and this writer is one of them, that he is worth a place in the team, but only as a reserve of course.

Jorge Martinez had an injury plagued season coupled with a series of disappointing performances, as he failed to convince anyone that he has the quality to play for the Bianconeri.

Attack: During the first half of the season, statistically, Juve had the strongest attack in the league, though apart from Quagliarella, who was having a magnificent season before his injury, and some flashes backs of brilliance by Alessandro Del Piero, players like Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta were very disappointing.

In the January mercato and Alessandro Matri was acquired from Cagliari on a loan deal with option to buy. The Italian showed his worth and was the most positive figure in the second half of the season, ending the season with 20 goals to his name. Luca Toni also arrived in January and made some positive contributions from the bench.

Conclusion:

Problem 1: Juve need quality full backs both sides.

Problem 2: Juve need a backup centre-back with leadership characteristics, and of enough quality to challenge the starters for a place.

Problem 3: Juve need a genuine left winger at a high level of quality which Conte’s tactical approach need.

Problem 4: Adding quantity and quality upfront is needed, likes of Iaquinta, Amauri and Martinez should no longer be part of the club.

Problem 5: Midfield characteristics to suit Conte’s tactical approach, as he will opt for a more attacking type of football where midifielders should maintain possession, and off the ball their main role is pressing to regain possession as quick as possible.

Mercato solutions acquired by the club and writer’s assessment:

Solution for Problem 1: Stephan Lichsteiner was purchased from Lazio, while Reto Ziegler came from Sampdoria on a free transfer.

Lichsteiner has been one of the best right backs in Serie A in recent seasons and is a massive upgrade on what Juve had. Reto Ziegler didn’t enjoy a great season last term, as Sampdoria were relegated, but the left back’s quality is well known to Serie A followers from his great performances of two seasons ago when he was one of main reasons behind Sampdoria’s top four finish.

Solution for problem 2: No purchase made yet, Juve being linked to a variety of quality centre-backs.

Solution for problem 3: Mirko Vucinic was purchased from Roma. The Montenegrin played on the left wing of a 4-2-3-1, which is less demanding than Conte’s 4-4-2/4-2-4. Vucinic will probably be used as a striker. A huge number of left wingers are being linked with Juve, thus a further move is likely to happen in the market regarding this position.

Solution for problem 4: Matri and Quagliarella’s loans were made permanent by Juventus this summer. The Italians didn’t have the chance to play together last season, but compliment each other perfectly and should provide a good number of goals for Juventus. Vucinic was acquired from Roma as mentioned previously and is capable of offering something new to this Juve with his blistering pace and trickery.

Solution for problem 5: Melo was considered a surplus to requirements and Aquilani according to his agent wasn’t purchased due to financial reasons. Andrea Pirlo arrived from Milan on a free transfer, and Chilean international Arturo Vidal was purchased from Bundes Liga runner ups Bayer Leverkusen.

Assessment: Nobody can question the quality of Pirlo, if you want pin point passing and creativity from your midfield, in Italy, nobody does just that better than he does. However, concerns remain as to how Pirlo will be deployed in Conte’s system? Will he fit into a 4-4-2 formation that is way more demanding, physically, than he is used to.

Concerning Vidal, he was statistically the best midfielder in the Bundesliga last season, with 10 goals and 11 assists to his name, and is extremely energetic and very versatile, he might be the acquisition of the summer in Italian football.

Overall assessment: There have been some big moves for Juventus this summer, they have spent most in the league up until now, and they do seem to have just filled most of the holes in their team. Despite that sporting director Beppe Marotta has promised further signings. However, one big disadvantage which remains unchanged as yet, is the lack of a champion capable of carrying the team on his shoulders when things aren’t working out.

Inter will have Samuel Eto’o to save them, Milan will have Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Juve simply do not have this trump card and lack a player with the ability to make something out of nothing.

For all the latest Juventus news don’t forget to check out the Clubs section of Forza Italian Football.

Join Forza Italian Football on Twitter and Facebook.

We are always looking for new writers, so if you think you know Calcio, email us: forzaitalianfootball@snack-media.com

<

 

3 responses to “Juventus’ Transfer Market Moves”

  1. Mike Davis says:

    Great work Bassel.

  2. Rory Hanna says:

    Nice article. You’ve reviewed Juventus excellently.
    One thing I disagree with though; I don’t consider Zlatan Ibrahimovic to be Milan’s leader. On the contrary, he is known to go missing in big games.

  3. Bassel Barakat says:

    Its not big games what am talking about my friend, for example, last season it took some time for Allegri to build a strong team, in most of those games were the team wasnt operating well and Zalatan won them the match by his own by a moment of brilliance. Its those small matches which win you points in the league, and this is exactly what Juve need next season, Points in the games when things arent working.