ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Juventus FC

Posted by Sumeet Paul on 01/12/2010

Toothless. Embarrassing. Shameful. What does this list have in common? They all describe the performance that viewers around the world witnessed in Turin last night from a quite simply shambolic Juventus side. Following the 3-0 mauling at the hands of AC Milan, the Rossoneri must wish they could play us every weekend.

Back in September and in the early development of Ciro Ferrara’s tenure as Juventus coach, there was widespread optimism in Turin. With his summer recruits almost effortlessly integrating themselves into the side, things looked positive for the season ahead. Meanwhile, our rivals in the red half of Milan also found themselves with a novice as coach. Things looked bleak as talk circulated of Leonardo being a game away from an inevitable sacking. How very different things look in 2010.

The Brazilian has gone from strength to strength, receiving plaudits from across the globe for his enthralling style of play. On the other end of the spectrum, is the forlorn sight of one Ciro Ferrara. His tactical inexperience and inability to get the best out of his squad have been ruthlessly laid bare in recent weeks. As I have said before, his players have disappeared into the Turin mist on more than one occasion this season, but last night, not for the first time, I saw a man who had no answer.

With our Scudetto hopes all but ended, only the Europa League to contend for outside of the domestic playing field, perhaps the only realistic chance of silverware this year will come in the shape of the Coppa Italia. Even so, a tricky tie against a Napoli side unbeaten since October lies ahead on Wednesday night. However what is more certain is that Ciro is not the man to bring back success. Despite having a squad decimated by injuries, with the talent on show, we had enough to be competitive at the very least.

A combination of consistently woeful defending, coupled with an attack about as dangerous as a Chihuahua, it is time for a change. Those who he thought he could depend on have let him down, namely Fabio Cannavaro who looked a day away from retirement last night, while his Brazilian trio were abysmal as usual. All the more ridiculous was the sudden ‘stroke of genius’ to ask Diego to become a right winger for the closing stages. So Ciro...it pains me to say this but grazie e ciao! Who knows, he may be given his 9th life, and I for one would welcome being made to eat my words if it meant seeing a successful Bianconeri. If rumours are to be believed though, I hear a wily old Dutch tactician could soon be available...

Comments

Posted by michael spruill on 01/12/2010

it's about as painful to watch as the major league soccer in the U.S., Pavil where are you? We need you so bad! In the 21 years I've been watching Juve, I have never seen this team put in efforts like they have against AC or Munich, sometimes I want to turn the tv off and I have NEVER wanted to do that. I'll stick with them until the day I die but this is just all out painful!

Posted by Pedro Pena (Juve fan from Mexico) on 01/13/2010

I've been an enthusiastic fan since the first time I saw Juventus, and done the imposible to see a Live Match and got the oportunity to do so with a great match a the Delle Alpi vs livorno, I gave all my support to the team when the played in Serie B, and will do as Michael said to the day I die, but Ciro need to go, we need a coach with experience, someone with attitud.
I will love Juve for ever, and with the players we have we need to do bigger things.

Posted by frankoczech on 01/13/2010

I agree, we need a change. Where is blondie Paolo when you need him. Current Juve just got outplayed by Milan so bad it's not even funny. I'll support Juve all the way, but last few displays just ask for some major changes.

Posted by AmauriPalermoHitman on 01/13/2010

Well since Walter Mazzarri said he would field a young side, of primavera, vs Juve on Wednesday night, Juve should take that as an Insult, and Wipe The Napolitano all over the Olimpico Pitch!!!. I don't care who coaches, just be smart, use proper tactics, Play your players in there PROPER positions. Leave melo Back in front of the defence, and Play 3 Mids, and 2 strikers. We need lot's of Movement up front for Diego to be successful at all.

Posted by Don Luma on 01/13/2010

Hey! You leave MLS out of this!

Posted by Imraan Colley on 01/13/2010

Michael I wholeheartedly agree with you! I never thought i would see Juventus perform the way they did against AC and Bayern. Watching both games produced a sick feeling inconcievably related to my team.

My brothers (one supports Barca the other Real Madrid) cant get enough of taunting me and for the first time in my life i find myself without any reposte and instead am forced to agree with them. Like Michael i will support them till the day i die but this is ridiculously painful!

Posted by JuveZim on 01/13/2010

For me, it all started that day, after a match in which Diego did not play but Giovinco played in his place and the coach made comments to the effect Giovinco that was not Diego. I wonder how many of the players were negatively affected by that stament.

The only player he believes in is Diego and thus his whole game plan is based on diego's performances and we are paying for that up to now.

And the Coach, cannot motivate such good players to better results. We are lost!!

Posted by nelson vivas on 01/13/2010

well i say hahahaha. to juventus. when they were on top they were a cocky bunch havent much joy to watch since zidane left. the italian version of mourinhos chelsea boring champions.

but at least they were champions. give ferara a chance he may just turn into a diamond after being thrown into the furnest.
but i really dont think its the players i think its the system and the way he is using them thats awful. ac milan system has changed to use the strengths of the aging squad. not alot of running in midfield good ball work and positional awareness.
maybe juve has some lessons to learn.

Posted by alan tardieu on 01/13/2010

its interesting to read varied comments concerning juventus, true and obvious they have not played well, and yes ciro is definitely to blame but at the same time i cannot get over the squad make up. i think they are carrying too many old players who should have left a long time ago as their presence is styfling the growth of others, namely del piero to giovinco. also there are too many like players, melo, sissoko, poulsen, they are all ball winners not the ball playing type. up top, iaquinta, trez and amauri all the same.

For diego to flourish he needs movement and juventus have the most immobile players i have seen in a long time. The wing backs do not go forward and wide midfielders are so hesitant and are always reacting. everyone has chastised poulsen, but he is and has been an excellent servant for denmark sevilla and schalke, where he always had running outlets, same as melo and diego's options at bremen were ridiculous going forward. that said im a munich fan, but do sympathize

Posted by duane weekes on 01/13/2010

When U doing fine it's alright!.
When U not spiking it's all wrong.
The season ending should be alternative in making a decision where Ciro Ferrara should be judge not because of a derby , I'm not a Juve supporter but i know player they get it right by early February so get off Ciro's back.(An Arsenal Supporter)!

Posted by Emin on 01/13/2010

The current version of Juve is the weakest as long as I can remember... There are several issues:
1. No Buffon (at least 25% of teams strenght is out).
2. Except Chiellini, the back players need to move to Seria B or to MLS.
3. Melo and Diego are not used to be in a club that is expected to win EVERY game they play. It will take time for them to adapt. While the best midfield player Camoranesi is injured.
4. Finally, the attack is very very slow!

Posted by gianbell58 on 01/13/2010

Well said and spot on. Ciro must go or else one of the world's great clubs will continue to slide into obscurity. Here is my solution:

Sack Ciro, break the bank and hire Arsene Wenger!

Nobody is better at spotting young talent, developeing it and playing attractive, winning football.

Posted by Matteo Bonetti on 01/14/2010

Hey Sumeet, I'm the Milan correspondent here on SoccerNet. After seeing the game I couldn't help but feel sorry for Juventus. The loss of Nedved had a bigger impact than what I originally thought. I'm not sold on Felipe Melo at all, and Diego has been playing out of position constantly. Juventus needs more speed on the wing, it can't rely solely on the now oft-injured Camoranesi. I think Juve should give Valencia a call and acquire either Juan Mata or Joaquin.

Posted by dustinm3 on 01/14/2010

The poster who mentions Ferrara's comments comparing Giovinco to Diego and saying Giov is no Diego is a good one. I remember reading about that and trying really hard to understand just what Ciro was saying-- trying to give him the benefit of the doubt that what he meant wasn't in a bad way. But try as I might, I couldn't see it in any way but it being a bad-- and possibly ultimately decisive-- comment!

It's sad to see that such a loyal player and servant of the Old Lady, Ferrara, has come to this, that us loyal Juventinos see that he should go-- hopefully that very love that Ciro has for the Bianconeri will help him understand what really must be done.

Posted by dave on 01/14/2010

I remember back in the day when you heard the word Juventus and you were scared in fact, i remember when the serie A were unquestionably the best league in the world.

I first watched Juve in 1996 in the champs league final against Ajax and they were very good. They were one of the most intimidating teams on earth. Now its so sad how low they have sunk. A good juve would be good for the serie A.

Posted by Kwaku on 01/14/2010

I have been a strong supporter Juventus since the 1990 season when Roberto Baggio arrived in Turin. I admit this has been the most disappointing season, even more than the 98-99 season, or the Calciopoli. The season is lost as far the league is concerned but the EUROPA, Coppa Italia, top 4 finish are all still attainable and I for one want Ciro to stay because he is a Juve guy. I was disappointed Deshamps didnt stay. I think Ciro will learn from this shambolic season and be much better in terms of formations and proper Brazilians to sign, for next season. Too bad he has wasted Del Piero's chances of making the world cup squad

Posted by Huey on 01/14/2010

Serie A has become an embarrassment. Only a few years ago it was being referred to as the dominant league, the best one in the world. The best team by far in Serie A is Inter, and they needed to win on the last match day of the champion's league group stage just to qualify for the knock out rounds. This is not to mention the poor soccer on display throughout the league, the aging teams (which means it might continue to go downhill before it gets better), the violence that keeps occurring, shambolic ownership (Berlusconi please step forward), and worsening attendance (the big four in England and Barca and Madrid have full stadiums every league game, why doesn't Inter or Juventus?).

While it was never my favorite league, I used to follow the italian league at least somewhat, but now I have given up on it completely and solely concentrate on the epl. When I do occasionally watch Serie A, I can only think about how much worse the soccer is.

Posted by edd on 01/14/2010

I dont watch their matches anymore moreover wit these abysmal performances i dont think there is any chance of a trophy this season. Not all gud servants turn out to be gud masters besides its high time they sack him cos wen u cant win big games u cant win trophies. He lacks tactics n seem to run out of ideas, they've crawled through several games. Wat we have right now is a pathetic juve team....The loss to bayern just about sum it up. We need an experienced coach!

Posted by Ebe on 01/14/2010

I've been watching Juve since the early 90's. We've gone through worse. This is more bad management than coaching. Sure Ciro is partly to blame but I doubt he had much say in the transfer market in the summer.
Things will turn around. It'll take time. Areas that were weak last year, were hardly reinforced (left and right backs, replacement for Nedved, Deep laying playmaker --> D'ago).
There is light at the end of the tunnel though, with the return of Betega. Someone with actual knowledge of football upstairs, unlike before.
Ciro needs to trust DP more. And use Gio for crying out loud.
Forza Juve per Sempre!

Posted by Beni on 01/14/2010

The whole Juventus board and management should be sacked for allowing a junior coach to take over what once was the most revered Italian Football Club. Supposedly the payment demands of Guus Hiddink are well above Juve's budget yet they spent in excess of 30 million pounds for two players who some how continue to be applauded by coach and management. If Juve are to have any hope of Champions League next season let alone win any trophy this season, they should be throwing money at Guus. Whilst I hate to see homegrown talent being sold to other clubs, maybe Giovinco should have jumped ship to Arsenal 2 years ago where he would have flourished under the management of Wenger.

Posted by h on 01/15/2010

Juve system is all screwed up..Diego is a top player..Melo plays great for Brazil..I think the system Juve use does not bring out the best in what they have...Never liked Juve anyway..CHEATERS

Posted by Juve storia di un grande amore on 01/15/2010

At least we beat Napoli 3-0. DEL PIERO SHOULD PLAY AS OUR SECOND STRIKER EVERY GAME. He was very good against Napoli and his free-kick against Milan was the closest we came to scoring the whole game. With more matches he'll regain full playing fitness. Sell Amauri and Melo and remove Cannavaro. These are the three worst and ineefective players in our squad. They lose possession and are slow in their roles. Grosso was a bad signing too. He is invisible in games. Diego is good as he proved yesterday put he plays out of position. He still hasn;t shown all potential but I think we shouldn't sell him just because for the insane money we bought him.

Posted by Abdallah on 01/21/2010

AC Milan r the best they r second in serie a and have a in hand and after 3 days they will play inter if they beat inter and beat fiorentina in the postponed match they'll be the first and im really proud of leonardo at the beginning of the season milan seemed to regulate and juve seemed to win the scudetto but now its opposite. I really love milan style of playing, amazing tactics and inter suck in the champions league they'll gout from the last 16 its 2 early but they cant beat chelsea & milan will play man utd and the'll qualify

Posted by John on 01/24/2010

God.. another lost again.. home against ROMA!
if the juventus management read this. plz do something about this.. get rid of ferrara.. he;s not the new gurdiola.. plz do something. time is running out.

Posted by michael spruill on 01/24/2010

Ferrara: «We deserved better»
Ciro Ferrara is forced to comment another defeat, which compared to the previous ones showed something different. The Juventus coach in fact commented in this manner: «For what the boys showed on the field, will, determination and temperament, we deserved better».
You don't deserve anything in sports. As Bill Parcells said one time, "You are what you are!" The team is not a bunch on 2 year olds who get a treat for not pooing in their diapers. If you play poorly you lose, nothing more nothing less!!! Deserve better, give me a f*****g break!

Posted by Tom on 01/26/2010

Juve will be fine. When the season started, no one really expected them to win it all, did they? I certainly didn't. They are struggling now, and out of the top 4, but they have the talent to make it, and they will. With Italian football on the verge of losing an automatic CL spot, do you think the crooks that run the league would send an inexperienced Napoli side into the competition instead of Juve? Conspiracy theories aside, the team is devastated by injuries that no manager would be able to get over. The problem isn't Ferrara, but the awful Secco and Blanc. The defense needs a major overhaul, as only Chiellini is a Juve-caliber defender. The midfield isn't much better, as Diego hasn't settled in yet and Melo looks a flop. he strikers have also been bad, but to Amauri's credit, the side doesn't attack enough, instead looking to counter-attack, to cover for the weak backline. But Juve is Juve, and they will finish in the top 4 and be fine. No Scudetto, but who expected one?

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