ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Juventus FC

Posted by Sumeet Paul on 08/15/2011

As we move closer to the beginning of another campaign, expectations are as high as ever at Juventus. New stadium, new coach and several new players later, we have fresh optimism ahead of the Serie A season. Will there be a repeat of the last two years, or can Antonio Conte restore the Old Lady’s pride and make it a memorable eight months?

While Milan and Inter took part in the preliminary battle in Beijing, we’re now just short of two weeks until the season kicks off with an away trip at Udinese. The Zebrette will have already started their long slog by the time the Bianconeri arrive at the Friuli, with a Champions League qualification clash with a Cesc Fabregas-less Arsenal to look forward to. As a supporter of Italian football, I wish Francesco Guidolin and his men all the luck as they look to pull off a huge shock and enter the group stages of Europe’s premier competition.

Moving on to transfer talk, since my last post, Juve have secured the services of Mirko Vucinic from Roma. His arrival didn’t quite cause the same scenes witnessed in London in recent weeks, but it was indeed met with more disappointment rather than jubilation from those around me. The Montenegrin international brings with him a wealth of experience in Serie A after several years with the capital club, and should he find his best form could prove to be an astute signing. "The very name of Juventus is enough for defining this club and I didn't have a single doubt when my agent spoke that name. Now I'm playing for the most known and loved Italian club in the world". Aww, stop it Mirko you’re making us blush!

Elsewhere, following on from my recent rant on the now departed Felipe Melo, it seems as though Samuel Eto’o has now been ‘Melo-fied’ too. The Cameroon international is reportedly set for a mega-money move to Russian side Anzhi. Just weeks ago, the Inter ace declared his hope to remain with the Nerazzurri in order to ‘try and win the Champions League one more time’. However it appears rather than dreams of the Champions League, it will be Ruble signs bouncing around his head at night as reports claim he will earn close to £17.8 million a year. In the grand scheme of things, with Eto’o set to join Alexis Sanchez and Javier Pastore abroad, has Serie A lost some of its brightest stars this summer? From a Juve perspective it is great to see rival clubs losing key players, but as they leave, they also take undoubted quality with them.

Not long until Ibrahimovic and Giorgio lock horns on our screens once again ©Getty Images

Prediction time. While our calciomercato has been strong, Milan still look the team to beat next season. Should Inter lose Eto’o and potentially Sneijder, the Nerazzurri will be weakened depending on who they bring in to replace the duo. Both Roma and Napoli look set for a successful campaign, while Lazio have brought in some clever signings. My prediction?

1. Milan
2. Juventus
3. Inter
4. Roma
5. Napoli
6. Lazio

What are your hopes and aspirations for this season? Do you agree that Serie A has suffered in this summer’s transfer market, or are you content that the league will flourish regardless?

With the new stadium set to open on September 8 in a friendly against Notts County, I would love for my readers to share their experiences, opinions and photos on the new ground. Send in any of the mentioned to my email (on the right under my snap) and I’ll be sure to publish some in my next post. Countdown to the season begins, fingers crossed we’ll have something to smile about when it concludes!

This blog not enough until your first taste of Serie A on August 27th? Follow me on Twitter for all the latest news @italiafooty

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Comments

Posted by Anthony DiPietrantonio on 08/15/2011

This year could be the year juve put up a good fight for the scudetto, with a slowly aging Milan side being the team to beat at least for one more year I think unless next season they bring in some more youth. Top 5 for me is Milan , Juve , Napoli , Inter, Lazio, and Roma, in that order . Juve should be impressive with a much better mercato this year than previous years and a brand new stadium set to bring in fans and excitement in and out of Turin. Forza Juve !

Posted by David on 08/16/2011

well it has been sad to see man city steal our signings (dzeko, aguero) but i think we can do okay. would like to see a left wing come in but...

italian football is having a tough time but i think it will come back, finacial fail play will be a boost for us in the long run.

forza juve

Posted by Anonymous on 08/16/2011

1. Milan
2. Napoli
3. Juventus
4. Roma
5. Inter
6. Lazio

Posted by Bert on 08/16/2011

Juventus cuold take the title. Especially if they sign a Left Wing.

Posted by Roberto on 08/16/2011

Serie A will suffer/lag behind some of the other leagues at least financially, until the laws are changed and clubs have more freedom to build some new stadia and attract more revenue. I am no fan of having so many foreigners in the league (another reason to detest Inter with starting 9 foreigners each week). I also think your prediction for 2nd place is optimistic. I do not believe we have the midfield necessry to put us above 3rd place this season. I hope I am proven wrong, but I do not see a lasting quality in Krasic. He is no doubt talented, but too often drifts in and out of the game. Also no true attacking midfielder or ball winner to complement Pirlo. We signed way too many fullbacks this season. Defense was an issue but we have 7 or 8 fullbacks on the roster which is too many. Since we are not in Europe we do not need as deep a team as others. The money on fullbacks would have been better spent grooming some midfielders and een bringing Giovinco back for the future.

Posted by joe kidd on 08/19/2011

Vucinic for Juve is great news because this guy works hard, is as strong as Vieri and will be a great addition to the team.

What I'm disappointed with is that useless players like Iaquinta and Luca Toni are still in the squad. They should've been offloaded right after the season ended. Melo leaving the club won't be a big deal, as he had an equal number of good and bad days. And I don't know why aquilani was voted best Juve player last season but I'm glad he's back to Liverpool.

What this club needs is an infusion of young players, not older guys who are past their prime. Unfortunately, all the good young players we had, Balzaretti, Nocerino, Giovinco, Molinaro are at other clubs and most have made it into the national team as well. Molinaro was another hard working left back who was replaced by De Cegle, who I've never seen have a good game.

Let's hope the new players are hungry for success, as that's what we need. Pirlo doesn't fit that category though!

Posted by Juventino on 08/20/2011

Sumeet, I would love nothing more than your predictions to be correct! It would be beautiful to see Juve among the top spots in Serie A again! The way preseason has gone and with the results from the last two seasons I don't see how it could happen so soon though.

I think they'll definitely be stronger and I'm hoping that Juve at least finish in the top 5/6 this season. Bottom line, is I hope that they play with more fluidity and continuity and ultimately more as a team this year.

It looks like Serie A has definitely taken a hit overall during the last few seasons despite CL titles from Milan and Inter. Italy is definitely in the backseat of the limelight it once held (especially with Germany now holding Italy's 4th Champions League spot). As a die hard Italian soccer fan, I'm all the way behind Udinese in their fight for Champions League qualification and any other Italian team in Europe for that matter. Even Inter!

Posted by Bogz on 08/21/2011

1. Milan
2. Napoli
3. Juventus
4. Inter
5. Lazio
6. Roma

Posted by Daniel Duncan on 08/21/2011

As I look forward to the start of the Serie A, i think Juve has done enough to boost their squad, with some good and not so good signings, i beleive they should do well in Italy this yea but i still thing more could be done to off load some players like Iquinta, Toni, Amuri shouldn't be still on their books nor their squad listings. This should be done to bring in new,young,exciting blood. Juve should of bought Rossi and not Vucinic cuz he brings the same game as Toni,Iquinta,Amuri while Rossi would of helped to fill the shoe of an aging DelPero who is more a force to be reckoned with. Juve need to stop playing wing, long pass tactics its those plays that cause them to stumble most the times. And because that type of play is becoming outdated and ineffective. Of recent all the "big" players Toni,Iquinta,Amuri,Melo,Sissoko failed its time to change Juve's dynamic or else suffer another horrid year for fans and all of Juve. Wish u all the best nevertheless. Go Juve

Posted by Joe DiVecchio on 08/23/2011

Even though I have been a Juventino for 3/4 of my life. I don't see them getting at least a Champion's League berth this year, even though the pick ups help rebuild much needed areas (MF, D). This is Serie A we are talking about. This league hasn't had a much "legit" winner since the late 90's. Inter "so-called dynasty was a joke, and Milan aged MF is taking it's toll. Roma and Lazio don't know what type of teams they have. It's pretty much an open race for a fresh team to win or a brand new Top 5 to come out. But as we know the Italian politics won't allow that. Let My Juve prove me wrong.

Posted by Simon on 08/25/2011

I am not 100% convinced with the new arrivals....Hopefully we will finish in top 3 and qualify for Champions League....We need European football to attract big names as well as for obvious financial reasons...

Posted by mancity on 08/27/2011

1-Milan
2-Napoli
3-Juve
4-Inter
5-Lazio
6-Roma

Is how the top 6 will end up in my opinion. Vidal is Juve's best signing by far.

Posted by Daniel Duncan on 08/31/2011

while Juve has made great strides to alleviate the problems they face, i am now convinced, today, 31.08.2011 that this season would see Juve do much the same as last season. Juventus have neglected the facts which state that Toni,Iquinta,and Amuri has done nothing of significance for the club, in fact Quaderila, Matri who came in Sept. last and January has made a greater impact than those 3 combined and to make matters worst young talented energetic players like Manuel Giandonato and Cristian Pasquato who have shown great skill and technique in the game, which the fans has been calling for are now being showed the door just like another young star Sebastian Giovinco, who mind i remind you was staring at Juve and now is staring now @ Parma. Juve, I beg you, as fan for many years please reconsider your move, thing of what you want to achieve and how best u can get there, yes there was been great signings this season but the tree still needs pruning b4 much fruit can be reaped.

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