ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Juventus FC

Posted by Sumeet Paul on 05/18/2010

As a disappointing season ended with defeat at the San Siro, Juventini were greeted with the news this week that the new man in charge as of next season will be Signor Gigi Del Neri. Having successfully guided Sampdoria to a fourth place finish, and thus in the process ensuring Champions League football for the Blucerchiati, Del Neri now has the unenviable task of restoring pride and glory to Juventus. But, the question is, is he the right man?

Del Neri - Turin bound ©TullioPugla/Getty Images

There is no doubting Del Neri’s credentials during his time at Samp. Having successfully masterminded victories over Inter, AC Milan, Roma and of course Juventus, the ex-Roma coach transformed them into genuine top four contenders, in a season where several other sides were widely tipped to grab the final Champions League berth.

However, it is still far too early to say whether he will continue his fine work in Turin. Having had a short and relatively unsuccessful stint in charge of Roma, Del Neri has yet to prove he has what it takes to manage one of Italy’s supposed ‘big-four’. After months of speculation linking the likes of Guus Hiddink and Rafa Benitez to the managerial hotseat at the Olimpico, will Del Neri be able to hand the pressures of taking the reins of such an illustrious club?

Del Neri will of course be joined by new director general Beppe Marotta, who follows him from Genova. With Andrea Agnelli confirmed as the new president, Juve tifosi will be relieved that the board-room now has a more secure look to it, with both Jean-Claude Blanc and Alessio Secco stepping aside.

Having signed the likes of Giampaolo Pazzini and Antonio Cassano, perhaps this summer Marotta will strengthen the Bianconeri in the right way, and add much needed quality to a side which looked desperately short of the high standards set in previous years.

The first task Del Neri will face however will be to attempt to persuade Gigi Buffon and others that their futures lie in Turin, and to build the new foundations under what has become a crumbling wreck this season.

With changes made at the top end of the spectrum, it remains to be seen whether Juve are now heading in the right direction. Surely next season will not be as bad as this?

Comments

Posted by rudy on 05/18/2010

finally a new manager lets hope he will guide us to our 18th scudetto

Posted by diego on 05/19/2010

scudetto 29

Posted by Bernard on 05/19/2010

I still say Deschamps was the right man.. Sigh.. Only time will tell i guess?

Posted by joetex13 on 05/19/2010

i don't understand why he left sampdoria. wouldn't it have been better if he stayed at last this coming year since they are in the champions league position. well, this is la vecchia signora, so who knows?

Posted by Freakaleesh on 05/19/2010

Deschamps certainly did not have a good relationship with the board that's why he left. But Del Neri isn't really the big name I was expecting. But let's hope he's not just a manager repeating what he managed at Sampdoria 'cos qualifying for a Champs League is just not good enough, for Juventus it's about mounting a serious title challenge (And win it!). Hopefully he can add some spice to the Serie A next season.

Posted by Angelo on 05/19/2010

Juventus is a disgrace. They decided to go all italian in a period that sees the worst national team since the seventies.
In my opinion, Secco destroyed the club with signings. He couldn't have found 3 more million to sign Xavi Alonso? instead he signed Pouslen? really???

They've spent a lot of money in the last three years, and who is still on the starting line up? aside from Melo (Unproven for the money) and Amauri (a cheaper version of Ibra) - they still have the team of 5 years ago:
Buffon
Zebina
Cheillini
Cannavaro
Grosso (new, but terrible)
Marchisio (youth)
Melo (new)
Camoranesi
Diego (exception, good pick, no support)
Attack 2 of the 4 (Iaquinta (new, over-rated), trezeguet, Amauri (new, over-rated), Del Piero)

It's a disgrace. they spent 90+ million on Almiron, Tiago, Molinaro, Grygera, Marchioni, Mellberg, Andrade, Knežević, Nocerino, Boumsong, Iaquinta, Poulsen...etc
None are starters, if still on the team. disgrace.

Posted by Gunawan on 05/20/2010

I still believe that Capello, Deschamps and Wenger is the best choice, but lets hope Del Neri will prove that he's one of the best who can take charge 4 Juve and bring the trophy back.

Posted by Amati on 05/23/2010

Fully agree with Angelo. Team must get new blood. All the money spent was on average players. They need to spend some money on good consistent strikers and play makers in the mid field. Players like Xavi from Barcelona...

Forca Juve

Posted by Torinese on 05/24/2010

Samp is a small club compared to the likes of Inter, Roma, Milan and Juve (the 4 most prestigious clubs in Serie A) and Delneri has done a good job with a squad that doesn't have many superstars like Inter. Now that Secco is gone and Blanc is back to doing the finances, I hope the new management will spend wisely this time around. The squad already has a good backbone of Buffon, Chiellini and Marchisio along with Del Piero (for leadership). Now they just have to buy good players, groom the youngsters and clear the dead wood.

Posted by John on 06/09/2010

With Krasic coming in, Juventus will have finally replaced the great pavel nedved and with pepe too finally Juventus will have wingers again.
Juventus will win their 30th scudetto next season - the most in the history of italian football.

Posted by NYJuveFan on 06/09/2010

Juventus is not gone, they have just lost their way. I have no idea what they were thinking bring back old players like cannavaro and grosso while leaving players like giovinco and marchisio on the bench. I will be furious at the club if they alienate giovinco to a point where he leaves the club. Teams would kill to have the kind of young talent Juve has. Why are they squandering it? I just don't understand that. I also wonder why Juve is out signing more strikers. I understand that our forwards this year were disappointing, but the squad is already so front loaded. Another quality defender would be a big boost to the squad. I will feel alot more positive about the coming season if Juve spends the money they claim to have wisely. All I have to say is PLAY THE YOUTH and thank god Benitez isn't coming to Turin.

Posted by fan on 06/24/2010

The starting eleven for juventus have an average age of 30 and overhauling the squad won't give a results in the first season.Juventus should try buying a good defenders like Kjaer from Palermo to partner chiellini .they shouldn't be wasting their money on pepe.they should also sell buffon for 30+ million and they should spend that money buying a proper striker like Luis Suarez .

Posted by delpierocrazy on 06/24/2010

Forza Juve!!

Never mind the starting eleven! i'm very glad to see secco on his way out.. you've been wasting juve's money all these years.. get out of here!! we need a defender and a playmaker and a high convincing youths.!!! HELP..

Posted by Coalesce on 06/27/2010

Agreed that money was wasted on average signings. Biggest issues to me. Giovinco deprived of playing time... I believe he should have played consistently even while Nedved was still with us. Amauri, Iaquinta, Diego, and Melo should be sold. Zarate, Balotelli, Pastore and another creative midfielder purchased immediately. This leaves the club with a surplus of cash, youth and talent. If the coach is strong enough to lead even with controversial youths such as Balotelli. Juventus will no doubt be top contenders. If a paltry offer can be accepted for Inzaghi, I would sign him for old time's sake and we know he can also score goals.

My wish

Buffon/ Kingson
Chiellini
Vidic
Molinaro
Michel Bastos
Giovinco
Pastore
Sissoko
Del Piero (behind forwards)
Balotelli
Zarate

Selling those players I suggested would be more than enough to buy the new ones and also scout some new creative talent for the academy (Barcelona/ Arsenal style). Also, I agree, Deschamps was always their best option.

Posted by Francesco Tommy on 07/10/2010

Guiding a team to Champs League is an admirable achievement considering he's done it with Samp. Let's just give Del Neri a reasonable time to do his job and prove his credentials. As for the team, i do agree we need a new partner for Chiellini, as well as more proven predators upfront. Dzeko would be a perfect addition to the squad. Get rid of Iaquinta & Amauri.. Forza Juve!

Posted by NYJuveFan on 07/20/2010

So all the reports are linking Giovinco with a move away from Turin. So sad that we have forced him to do this. We are going to regret it in 3-4 years when he is a well recognized talent across Europe and playing for somebody else.

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