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Thema: Champions League 2014/15
I agree Modric makes a difference for them. Benzema wouldn't add much, though. Well, of course, if Bale disappears then better Benzema than Bale :P But in my opinion 2 forwards + Isco & James behind them works better than adding Benzema and removing Isco/James.
But I think, beyond Modric, the team as a whole is not working as well as earlier this season, including when Modric first got injured. Many individual players, including CR, are not at their best, but also "collectively" they were less focused. For example, in Juve's first goal, Tévez, of all people, appeared absolutely alone 1 meter from the box. That's a huge defensive distraction/lack of coordination.
Pogba is one of Juve's best players. Still, as a team, I don't imagine them playing much better than last Tuesday, especially if Pirlo is at this level. At least, I haven't seen them play much better (and I'm not saying they play badly, I'm only saying Barcelona and Bayern played at another level).
But I think, beyond Modric, the team as a whole is not working as well as earlier this season, including when Modric first got injured. Many individual players, including CR, are not at their best, but also "collectively" they were less focused. For example, in Juve's first goal, Tévez, of all people, appeared absolutely alone 1 meter from the box. That's a huge defensive distraction/lack of coordination.
Pogba is one of Juve's best players. Still, as a team, I don't imagine them playing much better than last Tuesday, especially if Pirlo is at this level. At least, I haven't seen them play much better (and I'm not saying they play badly, I'm only saying Barcelona and Bayern played at another level).
Both games against Borussia were better, the Germans had almost no situations to score...scored only goal after Chiellini slipped on the pitch and Reus got a 1 vs 1 with Buffon
but yeah, the game against Real was one of the best in this season. you have to remember though, that Juventus is a team that hm...depends on the opponent. the better the opponent, the better Juventus you will see.
as for Pogba - I wouldn't say that he is one of the best, unless you mean 4-5 players...
Pogba is still very irregular and often has weaker games. the fact is though that he has a tendency to make crucial goals/assists even when he is the weakest player on the pitch. he might do nothing for 70 minutes and then score a screamer from 30 meters.
With formation:
Pereyra
Pogba - Marchisio - Vidal
Juventus has the ability to outrun any opponent. four tireless, technically gifted players. I don't think that there's another team that can field three complete box-to-box midfielders [Pereyra lacks the defensive quality].
also, Marchisio is one of the most underrated players in the world. had he been playing in Real/Chelsea/Manchester, he would have been a star. extremely complete, amazing tactically, with great vision and technique. in my opinion he was the real MVP of the Real game, not Tevez, not Morata, not Vidal.
but yeah, the game against Real was one of the best in this season. you have to remember though, that Juventus is a team that hm...depends on the opponent. the better the opponent, the better Juventus you will see.
as for Pogba - I wouldn't say that he is one of the best, unless you mean 4-5 players...
Pogba is still very irregular and often has weaker games. the fact is though that he has a tendency to make crucial goals/assists even when he is the weakest player on the pitch. he might do nothing for 70 minutes and then score a screamer from 30 meters.
With formation:
Pereyra
Pogba - Marchisio - Vidal
Juventus has the ability to outrun any opponent. four tireless, technically gifted players. I don't think that there's another team that can field three complete box-to-box midfielders [Pereyra lacks the defensive quality].
also, Marchisio is one of the most underrated players in the world. had he been playing in Real/Chelsea/Manchester, he would have been a star. extremely complete, amazing tactically, with great vision and technique. in my opinion he was the real MVP of the Real game, not Tevez, not Morata, not Vidal.
I disagree about marchisio, I think he's very overrated by juventus fans.
Pirlo has to play, is underrated defensively but instead he sports surprising statistics in that field, for example he was the second player with most runs after Vidal, sometimes makes some stupid mistakes but it is the price to pay for havig such a great asset; Marchisio is great too, i don't think is overrated by Juventus fans; Pereyra has one of the best passing ratios, so he would be an option too should Pirlo get benched (very unlikely); Sturaro not bad at all, to think that there were some Genoa fans who were mocking him for going from their first team to juve bench;
financial decline is true, though we still show some good football; few teams also are showing signs of financial growht in addition to good competence (Juve, Lazio, Napoli, Fiorentina, Udinese); others unfortunately are still spending like crazy and having little return out of it (Roma, Inter, MIlan, Parma, Genoa, maybe Sampdoria); other teams are in an intermediate position; with the exception of England and Germany, the situation is pretty similar in all other major leagues, so i think that this "decline" is a bit overestimated and hyped;
Barca is indeed the better team of all four right now; Fiorentina got demolished by Sevilla, i though they would be a better challenge; Napoli got robbed but are still the favourites to get through.
financial decline is true, though we still show some good football; few teams also are showing signs of financial growht in addition to good competence (Juve, Lazio, Napoli, Fiorentina, Udinese); others unfortunately are still spending like crazy and having little return out of it (Roma, Inter, MIlan, Parma, Genoa, maybe Sampdoria); other teams are in an intermediate position; with the exception of England and Germany, the situation is pretty similar in all other major leagues, so i think that this "decline" is a bit overestimated and hyped;
Barca is indeed the better team of all four right now; Fiorentina got demolished by Sevilla, i though they would be a better challenge; Napoli got robbed but are still the favourites to get through.
I know that Pirlo runs all the time, but he almost never sprints...he is jogging...
look at the goal for Real + Darmian's goal during derby...and watch how Pirlo moves
he plays in a very important - defensively - position. he can't ignore the opponents and let them run past him all the time...
I know that Pirlo is able to make killer passes to strikers and has great freekicks, but he is a liability for the defence...so he's great against teams who defend against Juve, but Real? we need someone to perform pressing and defend all the time, not from time to time.
also I have an impression that with Marchisio as regista Juventus plays faster, there's less time-wasting after retrieving the ball.
Pereyra? he is great, but has problems with making decisions in the last phase of the action...his pace, dribbling etc. are great though :)
look at the goal for Real + Darmian's goal during derby...and watch how Pirlo moves
he plays in a very important - defensively - position. he can't ignore the opponents and let them run past him all the time...
I know that Pirlo is able to make killer passes to strikers and has great freekicks, but he is a liability for the defence...so he's great against teams who defend against Juve, but Real? we need someone to perform pressing and defend all the time, not from time to time.
also I have an impression that with Marchisio as regista Juventus plays faster, there's less time-wasting after retrieving the ball.
Pereyra? he is great, but has problems with making decisions in the last phase of the action...his pace, dribbling etc. are great though :)
All in all, we've got a great midfield, so whoever plays is not that much of a difference; maybe against Real a more dynamic asset would be better, though i still prefer Pirlo since one of his killer passes could be vital! Pogba was also one of the better performers in the last match, i think he'll play alongside Pirlo, Marchisio and Vidal.
I think he got kicked, though. But if Messi went down each time he's hit like that, he would score 3 goals per season (the 3 penalties he would get out of it) :P
RM missed some clear counter attacks after that. Let's see if they'll end up regretting it or not...
RM missed some clear counter attacks after that. Let's see if they'll end up regretting it or not...
Unfortunately, Pirlo continues like in the first match. Now he got Tévez a yellow card :P
Good result so far, but Juve isn't that solid since the 1-1...
Good result so far, but Juve isn't that solid since the 1-1...
if Bale can't even hit the back of the net from 1m out ... :)
Still it is absurd to have Tévez and Morata so far back yet not doing any pressing at all. They could as well stay put at the midfield line just in case...
Forget Salas or Zamorano, Vidal is the best Chilean player in history!
