This has been a big year for rule changes in European football. Games now end after 45 minutes, two legged fixtures end after one, and a 1-0 victory against Lyon- some may call this a shoutout – isn’t actually a victory.
At least one would think so looking at how Juve’s recent games have been covered. Sure, Juve lost 2-0 to Napoli. What does this change – nothing. Juve are eight points ahead of Roma and continue to win in the Europa League.
Napoli are surely going into the Champions League barring a massive collapse, and that’s about it. Roma do now have a window of sorts, Juve’s room for error is practically non-existent now.
That said there’s not too much time left. Juve would need a serious collapse in Serie A – they play Livorno on Monday – combined with Roma basically winning out. It’s very possible, and eight points isn’t too many, but there doesn’t seem to be many signs pointing to this occurring.
The more important things to look at in this period for Juve are player performances. Specifically in the striker department. Juventus have too many strikers now, and they co-own some of the brightest attacking prospects. Against Lyon the starting strikers were Carlos Tevez and Dani Osvaldo. Tevez was fine, though he picked up a knock. Osvaldo was atrocious.
The two starters were eventually replaced by Sebastian Giovinco and Mirko Vucinic. Osvaldo, Giovinco, and, Vucinic are all in the same club: the “Boy I hope Conte rates me enough to keep me this summer” club.
Granted all three can probably find top tier – meaning first division – clubs to start for. But which ones – if any – should stay at Juve?
Until about two months ago, I was one of Giovinco’s biggest critics. I’ve softened on Gio lately as he has put in some fine performances in the Europa League against Trabzonspor and then Fiorentina. Today he had another good effort.
Then we have Osvaldo. I was excited by his first few games, but since then he has been lousy. Some point to the 20 million euro buyout clause in his loan. Don’t since even if Juve buy him they will not pay that full amount. Just point to his play as it hasn’t really merited a spot at Juventus. He’s a non factor when on the pitch. He can finish pretty well but he needs to be spoonfed his chances. That’s not how things work at Conte’s Juve.
I must note I am not guaranteeing these things will happen: Conte is a big Osvaldo fan and has been since his days at Lecce playing under Zdenek Zeman. As we have seen with Federico Peluso and Simone Padoin, a vote of confidence from Conte can mean everything.
Finally we have Mirko Vucinic. This is perhaps the most perplexing situation of the three. Mirko was the man in Juve’s attack for two seasons. He seemed to be one of Conte’s favorites. Then this season a few minor injuries put him on the bench as Carlos Tevez and, later and to a lesser extent, Fernando Llorente replaced him as first choice strikers. He’s only made 13 appearances this season, and only five games were starts.
Of course Juve tried to offload him in a trade for Fredy Guarin with Inter. The deal collapsed and Mirko has been a ghost at Juve since. He has only played four times in 2014, although in his most recent outings – versus Napoli and Lyon – he has been pretty good although woefully out of form. He missed a sitter from about five yards today. Yet he still created more in a few moments than Osvaldo had created all match long.
Osvaldo shouldn’t be at Juve next year. This doesn’t mean he won’t be, but he shouldn’t. Mirko Vucinic should be at Juventus next year. This doesn’t mean he will be, but he should. As for Giovinco, well, he’s shown his usefulness as a super sub. But is that what Giovinco wants out of his career? Probably not, and he is still young.
We’ll talk again next week folks. Hopefully Juventus will have another Serie A win under their belts and will be on the way to the Europa League semi-finals.
