Juventus: An Urgent Need for Change

As the dust and the smoke settled in Turin at the end of the Juventus-Milan game, one thing was clear—this Italian championship was now only a two-horse race.

The Rossoneri’s comprehensive demolition of the Bianconeri effectively ruled them out of contention as Juventus now lie 12 points behind leaders Inter.

The game was probably Ciro Ferrara’s last game in charge of the Old Lady as now more than ever is there an urgent necessity for a change at the helm.

The Turin giants registered no shots on goal in the entire game and apart from Giorgio Chiellini, Diego, and Claudio Marchisio, an air of defeat hung over the rest of the team.

The players looked tired even before the game kicked off and unless there is an instant change in the fortunes of the squad, the morale will continue to slip further.

The game also exposed Juve’s serious lack of depth within its ranks. The second string team is just not good enough to compete against quality opposition.

A Struggling Squad

The humbling received last night was truly deserved. The likes of Hasan Salihamdzic and Zdenek Grygera were literally run ragged by Ronaldinho and Co.

Felipe Melo, who was responsible for Milan’s first goal as he let the ball slip through his legs, needs to be laid off immediately. There is no sense in persisting with a player who is clearly struggling for form.

The transfer market is still open and the option of loaning out the Brazilian once Momo Sissoko is back should be seriously considered. Instead Juve should look to sign their original summer target Gaetano D'Agostino.

Amauri’s form will leave many Bianconeri wondering why the investment was made in the first place. He and Melo are increasingly looking like they were one-hit wonders and unfortunately Juve took that bait.

But yesterday it was not just about a few players who failed to perform. Every member of the squad seemed disoriented and unsure about their role on the pitch.

Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Grosso are two players who are very visibly past their prime. The 30-somethings have seen one winter too many and they cannot keep performing at full throttle for the entire duration of the game.

Christian Poulsen is also way below the standards expected of a Juventus starter and yet he somehow seems to be in the team at all times. Alessandro Del Piero may be a Bianconeri icon but he too is unable to conjure the magic he used to a few seasons ago. 

Despite all these problems Ciro Ferrara has refused to step down from his position as coach claiming “he will not abandon a sinking ship” and maintains that he is “confident of turning things around.”

A true Juventini by this time would have ideally acknowledged that he is at a loss of ideas and would have stood down by now. So till the time Ferrara quits it will be all gloom in Turin.