Open conversazione

[Bagg10]

If I'm not mistaken, Ogbonna started out playing as a RB back for Torino before moving to CB. So playing on the right side of the field isn't anything new for him.

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I wasn't aware of that, but it's good to know.

Anyway, GdS seems to think Barzagli is likely to start.

[p_maldini_3]

ogbonna is a lefty though, he's played as LB for the national team.

[Bagg10]

[Bagg10]

Sign up for Fantasy Serie A for this season on www.fantasyseriea.com!!!!

League Code: O9ZPKIS7s1Kv

[Bagg10]

I can't tell if it was us playing really well, or Lazio playing like shit...

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Well, that may not have had much of the brilliant attacking play one would typically associate with a 4-0 win, but it was an impressively muscular and clinical performance from Juve.

Conte made a little adjustment to the 3-5-2 - with Asamoah playing almost as an orthodox left-back and the three centre-backs shuffling across a little - to make it play more like a back four, which made it clearer who was responsible for dealing with each of Klose, Candreva and Lulic and also made sure Juve wouldn't have their wingbacks pinned back preventing them having width higher up the pitch. Even with that change, Vidal was still required to play a pretty responsible game to free Lichtsteiner to attacking up his flank.

Anyway, Juve looked very solid in their shape and through the first half it was very difficult to see how Lazio could hurt them, so it was just a question of whether Juve could find the goals to win the game, which they did - even though they never really threatened to open Lazio up in open play until they were 2-0 up and the game was virtually over.

Still thought Juve's forwards were far from brilliant, even though they managed a goal and an assist between them. They both gave the ball away a lot and the movement and decision making generally left a lot to be desired.

Thought Lazio looked unbalanced throughout. The introduction of Biglia to their midfield - as decent a player as may be - at the expense of a more mobile player doesn't look a great call at this point. With Hernanes not playing particularly high up, none of that midfield three really seemed to have the energy to get up the pitch to support Klose and, with Candreva and Lulic staying pretty wide, that left Klose looking pretty isolated for the most part. Be interesting to see if they stick with that midfield or if they bring Gonzalez or Onazi in. The two wingers really never left their flanks, which made their play rather predictable. They probably missed Mauri in that regard, as a player with the intelligence to drfit into more interesting postions and provide closer support to Klose.

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http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x13ash ... o?start=18

[maro]

Nice pics, Bagg - you nut-sac-hugger. You look like you could take Marchisio; I trust he asked for an autographed shirt from you too?

[Bagg10]

Thanks Tom. He did not, but I did give him a hug and thank him. He was really down to earth, and not a Cnut like Tevez.

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Decent enough performance from Juve in the circumstances.

Wet conditions meant it was difficult for Juve to slow the tempo down to what they wanted to play at and it was also extremely tough for the forwards to control the skidding balls being fired at them.

Still, they looked solid as a unit - even if there was the odd occasion where individuals looked iffy when drawn into one-on-one situations - and won the game with the only genuinely high-quality bit of play in the game.

Samp did a pretty good job of stopping Juve by trusting their wingbacks to play one-on-one against Juve's, which is something many teams are not willing to do. That meant they were able to keep enough bodies in the middle of the pitch to make it tough for Juve to play through the centre and really test their back three. Admittedly their job was made easier by the wet conditions making it virtually impossible to play balls behind, so it was tough to stretch the game out and create space.

Thought Vidal and Pogba - though they combined excellently for the goal - really didn't do enough for the most part. Neither one of them took the responsibility to drive Juve forward in the way that they usually look to, so a lot of Juve's possession was fairly passive and nothingy.

Was interesting to see Juve try a few things from set-pieces. Curious as to whether they were pre-planned moves or if it was just Pirlo seeing the opportunity with the way Samp set up to defend.

Samp looked like they had no plans to really put Juve under pressure and were quite happy to just contain, keep the score down and start their season next week.

[Bagg10]

Pretty boring game, but I'll take the three points. It didn't look like we were trying to hard anyway, so I guess that's good too, in the sense that we didn't exert ourselves. And the way Samp was playing, didn't allow us to create much in the offensive third.

The one thing I'm considered about is that I feel like we need a couple more signings (and sales). After selling Giach I was sure we'd get Diamanti, but that doesn't seem to be happening. I mean, we went last season without Pepe and Giach sufficed, hopefully this year Pepe will fill that role.

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Yeah, I think Juve look a player or two short just now.

Marrone will probably leave, so that leaves them looking short in midfield since Giaccherini left as well.

Saw Juve linked with Marquinho the other day, who would be a solid enough replacement for Giaccherini.

I think Bonaventura would probably be the ideal signing, but he's probably too expensive unless Juve suddenly manage to shift both Matri and Quagliarella pretty soon.

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Not a bad draw - certainly could have been much tougher.

Hard to see it not being Real and Juve who progress from the group.

Playing Real in the group should provide and good test and possibly leave Juve more prepared to face a top side in the knock-outs than they were last year.

[Bagg10]

Yeah, not a bad draw. I'm glad our first game isn't against Real, or even Galatasaray for that matter. And hopefully we have a spot in the round of 16 secured before the last game in Istanbul.

[p_maldini_3]

thanks for matri.

we got hustled.

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Nah, you've paid a fair price for Matri.

It's just that you don't need him.

[p_maldini_3]

definitely a fair price and definitely unnecessary. it's a dumb shit move all over.

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Some very good stuff from Juve last night, though Lazio's defending was poor.

Not many teams will be able to live with Juve if they play with the pace and intensity they showed prior to the Lazio goal.

However, the main thing that I liked was how it appeared Juve had specific plans to take advantage of Lazio's weaknesses, where previously Juve have shown little inclination to adjust their plan of attack for different opponents. Lazio are always good (or at least they were last season) at making it very difficult for players to find space between their defence and midfield, so it was good to see Juve looking to play longer in order to make Lazio turn and try to expose their indifferent central defenders, instead of just trying to delicately pick their way through Lazio's strong midfield.

Only criticism would have to be the number of long-range shots Juve allowed Hernanes and Candreva.

Generally, I don't give a toss about allowing people to shoot from miles out, but those two are just too good at it to keep allowing them time and space to get shots away.

The Juve midfield had to be far more aggressive in stepping forward to close them down.

With Lazio only playing Klose against Juve's back three - and Klose showing no inclination to run behind Juve - the defence then shouldn't have been afraid to step up behind the midfield when it moved to close Hernanes and Candreva so as to make sure space wasn't opened up for balls to be played in to Klose's feet. Or if the defence were afraid of the space behind them, one of the three could have stepped up behind the midfield into a classic defensive midfield position, leaving one centre half to mark Klose and one to play sweeper.