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| | Thursday 8 January, 2009 | | Blog: Rejuvenated | |
With several players returning from injury, James Horncastle agrees with Juventus’ decision to keep the chequebook closed this January
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While celebrating his 64th birthday on the slopes of Courmayeur, Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli effectively melted any hopes Bianconeri fans have of seeing new faces arrive in Torino over the coming month.
“I believe Juve are fine just the way they are,” he said, before admitting rather coyly that anything can still happen. “However, at the moment, Juve do not have a spending plan.”
That won’t stop Tuttosport linking a veritable avalanche of names with La Vecchia Signora. The Turin based daily mentioned no fewer than eight players in the same breath as Juventus one morning this week, no doubt convinced that their darling Bianconeri need a little something extra if they are to reel in leaders Inter and win their first Scudetto since Calciopoli.
So who has the best interests of the club at heart? The often-derided Cobolli Gigli or the anything but transparent Tuttosport? Well, let’s start with the fixture list. Juventus will play six games over the next three weeks – that’s one every three days – making the health and fitness of the team more important than ever.
Injuries have been a constant thorn in Claudio Ranieri’s side this season. However, they have hardly been a brake on the Bianconeri’s progress and do not necessitate expensive forays into the transfer market. The club’s squad has shown itself to be if not the best then certainly the most adaptable in Serie A this season.
The Bianconeri are also set to welcome Gigi Buffon, Mauro Camoranesi, Cristiano Zanetti and Claudio Marchisio back to action after their fitness issues. That’s four ‘new’ signings just in time for the second half of the season. And therein lies the reason why Cobolli Gigli is reluctant to do any business in the transfer window.
Juventus could almost field two teams capable of competing for honours. The first looks like this – Buffon; Grygera, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Molinaro; Camoranesi, Zanetti, Sissoko, Nedved; Amauri, Del Piero. The second – Manninger; Salihamidzic, Mellberg, Knezevic, De Ceglie; Marchionni, Marchisio, Poulsen, Giovinco; Iaquinta, Trezeguet.
That bodes well for a campaign fought on three fronts.
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Completely agree. Juve have the squad depth to progress steadily. They do still lack that creative midfielder and will have to do some work next summer, but it is not at all easy in January – best to wait unless a fantastic opportunity presents itself.
I have no idea at all why they keep being linked with strikers as well! They have four who would get in almost any team around, that’s one too many and they will struggle to accommodate Trezeguet now that he's back. Cassano would disrupt the harmony further – can you image his reaction to being on the bench for an extended run?
Neil, Scotland
Excellent piece James, signings in the January transfer window rarely turn out to be good ones as the standard of player available is generally much lower than in the summer – who would want to leave a Champions League side and end up Cup tied for the remainder of the season?
Add to this that mid season signings can have a detrimental effect on morale within the existing squad who have battled to get us this far and also that it takes a couple of months to get the best out of a new player when they arrive at a club – the season would almost be over at that point.
Deals done in Jan really don't represent value for money when all things are considered and above all, Juve are all about value for money in the transfer market.
Tommy, Ireland
Agree to a point and yes new arrivals are likely to undermine players who have contributed more than expected. And as much as I am enjoying watching a more determined thrust of the team this term and with more Italians in the team doing well, the play is often one dimensional and predictable with the only real creativity coming from Del Piero.
Our goals seem to come mostly from set pieces and tap-ins, highlighting a lack of diverse arsenal to ruthlessly finish off opposition when needed. Look at Liverpool and how they can vary the tempo of their play – Alonso and Gerrard complement each other well, although they seem to rely too much on Gerrard, but surely Juve could do with more of a strings-puller than another solid labourer in the midfield? Also, does anyone really believe Zebina is an adequate cover at the back? Why we are paying the wages of an outdated purchase of Capello is beyond me!
So really and truly, we may do well in the Scudetto and the Coppa with the current crop, but we WILL struggle in the Champions League where Man Utd, Barca and the likes who not only have in-depth squads but can also nullify our type of play with adaptable styles – and that's the difference.
Juve have players who can adapt to the current system of play – but there doesn't seem to be much variation in the play itself! Easier said than done though but hopefully Giovinco can be our secret weapon as the opposition and even Juve have yet to see the full array of skills of the Atomic Ant! Forza Juve!
Jitendra, London
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