Juventus Roundtable: Is It Crisis Time in Turin?

Coming into the 2008-09 campaign, many people thought Juventus would contend for the Serie A title.

However, six weeks into the season, the Old Lady sits in 11th place in the table. Not exactly where they wanted to be when October arrived.

Due to the recent struggles in Turin, the Juve Roundtable found it necessary and have a discussion about what has happened and what could in happening in the future.

Daniel Penza

One injury doesn’t really hurt a team, but when the injuries mount up like they have lately in Turin, things go down the tube awfully quick. With David Trezeguet out until the start of 2009 and Mauro Camoranesi and Gianluigi Buffon just declared out until November, stuff won’t be the same, no matter how optimistic you are.

The expectations are always high for Italy’s most historic team, but maybe they were unreasonably so in just Juve’s second season back in Italy’s top flight. Considering Juve are not the big-time spenders they once were, making the right kinds of signings in the summer and winter transfer windows in vital. And the signings that Juve transfer chief Alessio Secco has made since he took over for Luciano Moggi have not worked out for the best.

Despite their struggles, Juve are surprisingly only four points behind another surprise, Lazio, who are at the top of the table. However, things will not get much easier after the international break, with Juve facing Napoli in Naples, before hosting Torino and the highly anticipated Champions League affair against Real Madrid.

After a slight break against a struggling Bologna side, it’s back to the headlining games when Juve host Roma Nov. 2 and then travel to Madrid three days later.

So with the schedule continuing to be challenging, it will be put up or shut up time for manager Claudio Ranieri. There is no doubt that he is in the hot seat, but with a good amount of players and management coming out and backing Ranieri, his job is safe for now. But with the injuries continuing to mount, things may continue to be frustrating.

Zahi Sahli

Does Claudio Ranieri deserve to be sacked? Definitely not. The long-term injury to David Trezeguet and the injuries to Giorgio Chiellini, Olof Mellberg, and Gianluigi Buffon, who recovered but is now out again, have hampered Juve's start.

But Juve has not done very well after six matches. However, although they lie in 11th place, they are only four points behind league leaders Lazio.

The Old Lady board and fans should keep faith in manager Claudio Ranieri, who has done a good job overall since joining the club. Trusting Ranieri will give the squad more confidence and strength to do better in the upcoming fixtures.

Marzia Hazra

Six games into the season and the Bianconeri only have two wins in the bag. Last Sunday’s defeat against Palermo came after three consecutive draws, two in Serie A and one in the Champions League against BATE Borisov. Juventus are four points shy of leading Lazio despite their 11th place in the league.

The real problem lies with the difficulties the team has had with producing goals and the midfield, which despite their strength, has been lacking in depth and creativity. Statistics never lie and seeing that Juventus has scored only five goals in six league games, it’s safe to say they have got a problem.

The Bianconeri need more players like Sebastian Giovinco who continues to be of one the best players on his side each time he plays. The pint-sized player works, creates, and delivers.

Despite the poor results, I don’t think that giving manager Claudio Ranieri the sack right now is going to make things better. With his sides’ below par performances combined with the questionable tactical choices I can understand why talks about his dismissal have been raised.

There is going to be a hectic schedule for the Bianconeri after the international break with league games against Napoli and Torino and then the much-awaited Champions League match up against Real Madrid, most likely Ranieri’s final chance to prove his worth or he could be forced to walk out the door.

For the time being, Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has declared that the Juventus tactician is safe.


If you would like to be part of the Juve Roundtable, please contact Daniel Penza and he will give you the needed information to participate.