Its me Gianfranco again, I was gone for quite some time due to work, commitments, and computer issues and I see a lot has changed. To all my beloved readers out there I am back and ready for the new season. I see there has been another writer filling you in but I'll be here doing the usual run around. At first I felt just like Didier Deschamps or Matteo Paro I stick with the team through the tough times (a year in Serie B and insane or boring news items) and as soon as we are back up and good shit happens, im replaced! HA! Im going no where, im here to stay.... I love my team and I love this
Today Juventus faced off against Newcastle St.James park and the Bianconeri fell 2-0. The english side are way ahead in training yet Juve displayed some good action. We were without Camoranesi and Del Piero but the main issues were in defense were newcomer Cristian Molinaro and Zebina had troubles and showed their preseason form. The Bianconeri displayed good play the first part of the game, for about 25 minutes we were the better side, crisp passing and intriguing play. Ranieri went with a 4-3-3 formation with Iaquinta and Marchionni flanking Trezegol. Marchionni played well and Iaquinta had a few chances but the magpies keeper Shay Given had an impressive match denying Juve a goal. Newcomer Almiron was fluid in midfield with good ideas and passing yet the trio of Tiago, Almiron, and Nedved was more offensive driven then covering defensively which forced Andrade into more action. The defender played well for the most part and covered the midfielders cleanly. Zebina was at fault for the first goal as he brought down Milner in the area and Albert Luque converted from the spot to give Newcastle the 1-0 lead. Soon after Nedved had an opportunity on goal but once again Given was there to stop the shot. Ex-Inter striker Oba Oba Martins played his hand in setting up the 2nd goal, as he powered a shot that Buffon blocked but the rebound was sent to Andy Carroll as they doubled the lead.
The 2nd half was slow going as many substitues came on, Marchionni had another effort saved by Given and Newcastle continued to press. Buffon made some nice saves to keep the team in the game but we could not on the board. The 2nd half saw action for my personal favorite Antonio Nocerino, Chiellini, Zanetti, Palladino, and Salihamidzic.
NEWCASTLE-JUVENTUS 2-0
SCORING: Luque 10', Carroll al 36'
NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Given; Carr (21' 2nd Burton), Rozehnal (1' 2nd Edgar), Ramage, Huntington; Solano (21' 2nd Lough), Geremi (1' 2nd Dyer), Nzogbia, Milner (1' 2nd Troisi); Martins (1'2nd Pettison), Luque (31' Carroll).
JUVENTUS (4-3-3): Buffon; Zebina, Andrade, Grygera, Molinaro (28' 2nd Chiellini); Tiago (dal 28' 2nd Nocerino), Almiron (35' 2nd Zanetti), Nedved; Iaquinta (28' 2nd Palladino), Trezeguet, Marchionni (35' 2nd Salihamidzic).
In other news, what the hell are they thinking bringing up the sale of Giorgio "il Gladiatore" Chiellini. This kid is a star, with a given starting role on the flank he will show why he is Zambrotta's heir. Its so ridiculous the thought of not starting him or selling him, he stuck with the team and played out of position for a year in B and is rewarded with this bull? I just wanted to clear that up first because I'd been out so long I did not get to comment on certain items. Forget Branislav Ivanovic KEEP CHIELLINI!
Next on the agenda, actual players to sell. Boumsong earlier it was Bordeaux in the running now it is Valencia, please take him off of our hands. SELL SELL SELL........ Next, Nicola "I only shined at Chievo" Legrottaglie, thanks for filling in last year but your services are done. Besiktas seem to hopefully be his destination hopefully this gets done. Giannichedda, once again thanks for your help now you can move on. Udinese or Livorno please just make a decision and get on with it. For Blasi it is also time to move on, we can insert him in a package to deal for a defender i.e. Philippe Senderos.
Most importantly, since the Barzagli saga seems to have died not sure if I can rekindle that one. Im starting the Philippe Senderos saga again. He seems to be on his way out of Arsenal, this kid will be a star, a solid force in the center, only FREAKIN 22 years old. Before we let Real Madrid or Barcellona or someone else snap him up for peanuts, we need to do this. I've shown my interest in the Swiss international before but now seems like it may get rolling. If we didn't stall on this we could have made a move earlier before we shelled out our young prospects (De Ceglie, Marchisio, Volpato, Maniero, Venitucci, Giovinco) and thrown one of them into a package since we all know Arsene Wenger has a love affair with young foreign starlets. Since Michele Paolucci is still around possibly there may be something in the works, his value is high scoring 6 goals last season for relegated Ascoli at only 20 years old, come on Wenger take a sniff.