ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Juventus FC

Posted by Sumeet Paul on 07/20/2011

As the season draws to a close you begin to dread it. Those final few weeks of seeing the Bianconeri in action leave you in a state of depression, as you know in the back of your mind that horrible summer without football is just around the corner. You ask yourself so many questions: What am I going to do on a Sunday afternoon now? What will ESPN show instead? Fast forward two months and here we are! Pre-season preparation is well under-way as Juve touch-down in the USA ready to get the new campaign started.

The Old Lady will test her wits in three pre- season friendlies; kicking things off against Sporting Lisbon on the 23rd, facing Club America on the 26th before wrapping things up against Guadalajara on the 28th. However, while Antonio Conte drills his new charges, the never-ending and excruciatingly annoying saga that is Calciopoli continues to drag on.

The FIGC (Italian FA) announced this week that they would not be stripping Inter of the 2006 Scudetto, after 23 members voted in favour of the Nerazzurri keeping it, while one voted against and two abstained. Cue that horrid and rather ghastly smile on the face of Massimo Moratti who with a hint of the Demon Headmaster merely responded to reporters’ questions with: ‘It is certainly good news’, further endearing himself to us all.

Juve fan makes his feelings known in rather unambiguous terms following FIGC decision ©Getty Images

The club has now threatened further legal action; 'The decision of today's Federal Council confirms a completely different treatment for similar situations,' a club statement read. 'It is understood that, in order to protect their millions of fans, as well as the shareholders and employees, Juventus must pursue the right and proper verification of facts while looking for treatment equality'. While FIGC president Giancarlo Abete admitted that he wished Inter would’ve foregone the statute of limitations, ultimately revealing that they are holding on to that Scudetto on a technicality, it is my personal opinion that the case should now be dropped. How many more years will pass before a logical conclusion is found? Better to channel that anger and sense of disappointment on to the pitch and secure the Scudetto in the next season or two. Either that or be done with it and give Novara the 2006 title, they were innocent right?

Having concluded that rant, we can now move on to discuss transfer news, which unfortunately also includes a rant. Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo has decided that his time in Turin has come to an end, claiming: ‘I’ve received an offer from Europe that will vastly improve my salary’. In times of financial hardship not only in Italy but across most of Europe, it’s good to see Felipe doing his part to eradicate the stereotype of the selfish, egotistical modern-day footballer whilst also giving us a wonderful example of loyalty simultaneously. A terrific feat for the former Fiorentina man, well done!

While rumours continue to link the club with several players, it appears that Giuseppe Rossi could secure his move to Juve in the coming days, and what an excellent arrival he would be. Despite the likes of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez being touted as possible signings, it is Rossi that has stood out for me. Having spent successful spells at Parma and now Villarreal, it is time the diminutive left-footed magician earned a move to one of the big clubs in Italy where he will no doubt prove to be a huge success.

What are your thoughts on the events of the past few weeks? Is Giuseppe Rossi the right man? Share your thoughts and leave your comments below. You can also follow me on Twitter for all the latest Juve and Serie A news @italiafooty.

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Comments

Posted by Bert on 07/20/2011

If Rossi and Vidal both join Juve, they're headed back to the top of Serie A!!!

Posted by choppa on 07/20/2011

rossi is most def the man to help juve back to the top of the table!

Posted by acarruyor on 07/20/2011

I think that he will be a great addition to the squad, but I am worry about the MID situation now that Aquilani is not coming back. what do we have left?, I mean Pirlo is a Champion i know but will he be able to play as great as Alberto did? really I don't think so. Melo did not have a single good season during as a bianconeri player so is better for him not to let the door hit behind him. Sissoko, I really like him but have he played more than two games in a row without an injure.
And the new signings i hope they do better than Melo, But If Alberto did great I would have given the skies to Liverpool just to get him back. Well those are my thoughts.
But what do I know, If I know how to run the business i would be doing it and not complaining about it.

Best regards to you all,
A die hard Venezuealan JUVE Fan!,
Acarruyor.

Posted by Juventino on 07/20/2011

I think Rossi and Vidal would be great additions to Juve. With the players they've added so far they're definitely going to finish better than they did last season at least a top 5/6 finish. If they can add Rossi and Vidal they'll be able to finish in a Champions League spot for sure. I'm only worried about the left over players that haven't really done what has been expected of them at Juve...

I love Sissoko as a footballer but I agree Acarruyor he can't seem to stay healthy. I think Amauri is great too but it seems he can't be great for Juventus. So many players have to leave to make room for the new ones so they don't waste their budget.. Amauri, Melo (if he's not happy), Luca Toni, Martinez, Almiron and although I love Sissoko and Iaquinta they seem to spend more time with the doctors than on the pitch.

Even with Rossi and Vidal, they're still far away from challenging for the Scudetto. Too bad about Aguero that would've interesting for Juve and Italian football!

Posted by tommy on 07/21/2011

i thing both will be good additions for juve .but that will not fix juve problem,they need to sign more quality player.rossi,vidal,montolivo or diara,benzima or aguero,pedretti,bastos,and one center back defender as good as torino defender would be perfect for juve.and player like melo tiago,almiron,grosso,martinez,amuri should be out of team,butwhat club have to notice is to sign young player and all the name that i mention would be good for the team if juve want to comeback to top .

Posted by tommy on 07/21/2011

Posted by one on 07/21/2011

Rossi will be an important buying and provide constructive competition among Juve's strikers. Vidal can inject energy in the midfield but Juve need more good winger to cover Krasic and Pepe.
Bastos is a must to strengthen the defense. Melo, Martinez, Toni, Iaquinta must leave the club.

Posted by decina on 07/21/2011

I think it's great that juve is drawing so much interest from so many players, but we are spending lots of money for lots of depth when we only have league and coppa calcio next year.
I think it would be wonderful to sign rossi, and I like the vidal signing, but i think we're lacking wide midfield depth. krasic is a lock, pepe to me is a solid substitute, but besides them we have martinez, who else out wide? i don't want to see marchisio out there, but with all the central players we've signed (pirlo, pazienza, vidal) and with sissoko maybe it's in conte's plan to keep marchisio wide? i'm not sure but i don't think we're spending money in the right spots.
our defense has vastly improved (chiellini, bonucci, zeigler, lichsteiner) our front line is fantastic (quagli, matri, alex, ?rossi?) our center campo can be strong (pirlo, marchisio, vidal, sisso, pazienza) but we only have two wingers.
maybe conte will stray from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3, but we need depth out wide before we need rossi

Posted by Daniel Duncan on 07/21/2011

I think so far Juve has made great addition this season but with saying that i still believe some players need to move on which have been saying all last season and again during the summer. The likes of Sissoko,Melo,Toni,Iaguinta, Martinez,Amauri should be sold with the new singings coming in. While Pirlo is a good player, he has reached the age of decline so Juve should of retained Aqualani rather than create a situation where Pirlo does well, retires and it has no one take his place, much like when Nedved retired and there was no replacement for his place. The addition of Rossi and Vidal will increase their chances of Seria A glory. Its my belief that Juve will win the Seria A this year with the team they are trying to create but this is only acheiveable if they get rid of those I mentioned, else it would be another chaotic season. I Wish You All the best in the coming season.

Posted by salawe tajudeen on 07/21/2011

Well as a die hard JUVENTINO i really appreciate the work of the board by bringing back ANTONIO CONTE as a manager of the club because we really need someone that has the spirit of juve flowing in his blood as manager.But among all is to give him the right support and good weapon to fight the battle to take JUVE back to the top, there are so many weak legs in the squad now that need to be eluded likes...melo,grosso,iaquinta,almiron,amauri,martinez and others though they have done their best as they can but it is not enough and we need room and space for the new and incoming signings to do the job and bring us back to winning ways and fighting for titles that we have missed for years.Aguero will be really good but we need a player like ROSSI that already have heart and mind to do the great job that has been started by the board....thanks to them for the great signings that they have made but we really need the likes of BASTOS or better left winger that can work with the striking force.

Posted by iwc24 on 07/21/2011

Hey Sumeet,
i think juve has done well in recruiting players this summer but i cant help to feel that they have overpaid for some. Also why would they get pepe and motta if they havent done THAT well last season. I can understand quagliarella and matri but not the other two. Definitely agree with rossi though. It's good that he's finally coming back to italy with a big team. What do you think of these four players so far just based on last season?

Posted by abo from los angeles on 07/22/2011

hey all my fellow juve fans. hopefully after a few sick years well be on top again. cnt wait till the season stars. in my opinion juve did well this year so far by bringing ziegler lichsteiner pirlo and pacienza but in order to win the scudetto we need 3 more signings with vidal almost a done deal, we need rossi or aguero which ever comes but i think its gonna be rossi and BASTOS hopefully to fill the left side and then we will be ready to win again. hopefully 2 out of thos 3 come to juve and for me i would love to see the starting line up shape up like this:

buffon
ziegler bonucci chilinei lichsteiner
krasic vidal pirlo bastos
rossi matri/quagli

bench:D.storari,de ceglie,grosso,barzaglia,motta,
grygera,grosso M.marchisio,pepe,martinez,pazienza F. del piero,matri/quagli,toni,iaquina

Posted by Sumeet on 07/22/2011

@iwc24 - I completely agree with you. I think Quag/Matri were certain for permanent deals. Matri's arrival and subsequent goals, while Quag's impact before his injury, both good signings. Jury is still out on Motta and Pepe. I think both are solid players who just had inconsistent season last year. Hopefully being fully fit and ready for this big challenge ahead will push them on the next level. Can only hope! Vidal's arrival is great news too.

Posted by david on 07/25/2011

i agree with starting line up above. i really hope we get rossi. i read that conte is not convinced bastos is what he needs but we really need a solid left winger. the friendly with libson showed weakness in the middle the entire game and in the first half weakness on the left wing

Posted by Juventino on 07/26/2011

I was at the game on Saturday against Sporting. The club seemed very deflated. They had great enthusiasm the first few minutes of the game then seemed to run out of spirit when things didn't go their way. Conte played two different teams between the 1st and 2nd halves except for Chiellini. The thing they were missing was a leader in the first half someone to take control of the team, which was basically Del Piero in the 2nd half and they were much stronger.
Martinez looked great on right wing in the 2nd half, same with Giandonato on the left but Luca Toni, as much as I love the guy when he scores was weak.
I say let Giandonato have a go on left wing he's young with a boot and the desire to do something with Fabio Grosso behind on left wing back, he's still great. Pepe is also good there but Marchisio (left wing during the 1st half), looked uncomfortable. Martinez can back up Krasic and then they need a central defender to help Chiellini. The team also plays better with Storari in net.

Posted by Roberto on 07/27/2011

Signing Rossi would be huge now and for the future. Matri and Quagliarella will be fine up top but Rossi would be ideal. Toni should be released. He is not worth a pair of boots. Our midfield is still in need. We have no central midfield to do the dirty work to allow Pirlo to pull the strings (Marchisio is much more effective ina wide midfield role). Also need a long term solution for Pirlo too. We have improved but we are not serious scudetto challengers yet.

Posted by Austin B on 07/28/2011

im just happy i get to see juve tonight in Raleigh, NC

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