Socrates

Pogba: 'Little old man' Martial has great potential The 22-year-old believes the Red Devils latest signing has shown maturity beyond his years and will make a lot of progress in the Premier League. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2015/09/07/15129102/-? Sep 7, 2015 Juventus and France star Paul Pogba has hailed the maturity of "little old man" Anthony Martial following his move to Manchester United . The 19-year-old completed a sensational deadline-day transfer to the Red Devils from Monaco for a fee which could reportedly rise to £59 million (€80m) including future bonuses. Pogba himself began his professional career at Old Trafford, but left in 2012 for Juventus having made just five senior appearances. And the 22-year-old is in no doubt as to his compatriot's potential and believes he will make significant progress playing in the Premier League. "I already call him 'little old man,'" Pogba told Telefoot . "He's 19 and he's already very mature for his age. "He has great qualities and very big potential. He's going to bring a lot to the French team and I'm very happy for him. "Now he's changed club and he's going to get to know the Premier League. He's going to play with some big players and he'll make a lot of progress."

What Is Juventus' Strongest Midfield Right Now? http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2561750-what-is-juventus-strongest-midfield-right-now? Sep 7, 2015 There is little doubt that Juventus in 2015/16 will be a very different side to the one seen over the previous four campaigns, with Italian football’s grand Old Lady undergoing a tumultuous summer that leaves her with a dramatically altered squad. Those changes were analysed in depth in this previous column, and it is in midfield where the Bianconeri have been forced into their most significant alterations. The exits of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal prompted a raft of signings, all of which combines to force coach Massimiliano Allegri to field a decidedly new-look side when Serie A resumes this weekend. It is also that department which was at fault during the club’s opening two games of this season, looking devoid of ideas and being completely overrun by AS Roma. There were, of course, mitigating circumstances, with injuries to Kwadwo Asamoah, Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio chief among them. Juventus have since added Marseille youngster Mario Lemina and Brazilian star Hernanes from Inter, making it somewhat difficult to understand what combination of players would make up Allegri’s strongest midfield right now. That will undoubtedly be initially shaped by his choice of formation when everyone is healthy, with the 3-5-2 seen so far this term only deployed due to the absence of so many key figures. The coach is almost certain to revert to what he labelled “4-3-and then we’ll see,” during an interview with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) last summer. Indeed, it was that framework which brought the Bianconeri their success last season and saw Vidal line up behind a pair of strikers. Dropping deep regularly to link the play, Carlos Tevez has been replaced by Paulo Dybala, with the most advanced role in midfield likely to go to either Hernanes or Juan Cuadrado. The latter will bring pace and dynamism in matches where Juventus can play on the counter-attack, but the former will be essential in games they are expected to dominate. His vision and passing can be incisive, while at his best he also possesses a deadly long-range shot that could prove to be a valuable weapon. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 40 - Since 2010/11 only Hamsik has scored more goals (46) in the league than #Hernanes (40) among Serie A midfielders. Shooter. That view was supported by Marco Tardelli, the hero of Italy’s 1982 World Cup triumph and a man who also played for both Juventus and Inter. “Hernanes can be the right trequartista" for Allegri, he told Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia). “If the Brazilian fits in well in his new environment then he could even be the piece that completes the puzzle.” A reason for seeing the 30-year-old as the complimentary final solution is the quality that La Madama can now field behind him. Key to that could well be Khedira, with the German able to provide the perfect anchor for the side, shielding the defence and allowing those ahead of him to attack more freely. Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images Where Paul Pogba and Marchisio had been forced to display restraint when flanking Pirlo, the former Real Madrid man will not need shielding by them in the same manner. That simple change will make the team very different, much more in tune with modern football and extremely difficult for opponents to plan against. Marchisio can, of course, be deployed there as a traditional regista and direct the play, but Khedira’s physical presence and defensive prowess make him a more natural holding player. That will in turn give the Italian license to break into the box, where he has already proven to be a superb finisher, and Allegri will also have other weapons at his disposal. Alex Sandro gives the team an outlet on the left that is a more devastating force than Patrice Evra, meaning defences will be even more stretched than in previous years, either creating space for himself or those in the centre as defences are forced into some difficult decisions. Asamoah, Cuadrado, Lemina, Roberto Pereyra, and Stefano Sturaro provide depth, but that aforementioned quartet makes for an impressive looking first-choice unit. Therefore, Juve’s strongest midfield would appear to have Khedira in the centre, with Pogba and Marchisio either side of him, pushing Hernanes into the most advanced role.

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Allegri "Juventus Season Starts With Win Over Chievo" http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/juventus-coach-says-bianconeri-season-starts-with-win-over-chievo/? Sep 7, 2015 Masimilliano Allegri wants Juventus to put their poor start to the season behind them by winning at home to Chievo on Saturday. The Bianconeri have lost their opening two league fixtures for the first time in their history prompting speculation that a series of changes throughout the summer transfer window may hinder their title chances, however Allegri insists the champions can get back to winning ways against league leaders Chievo on Saturday. “Against Chievo it will be a fresh start, we currently have no points but there are still many to play for,” Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. “A transition year? No, we are Juventus, but it is normal for new players to take time to settle. “I just think positive and do not see why we should do otherwise, we have all the potential to do well.” The Juventus coach also commented on the team’s notable absentees during their opening defeats and has also insisted that his side’s rivals have all strengthened. “Our absences affected us because we haven’t got a point, otherwise they wouldn’t have weighed so heavily,” said the 48-year-old. “Besides Claudio Marchisio, we now have Lemina and Hernanes available, but Khedira remains out. “The Milan derby? We’ll see two teams that are aspiring to win the title and are already demonstrating they can fight at the top.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Prandelli: ‘Juventus still favourites’ http://www.football-italia.net/72678/prandelli-‘juventus-still-favourites’? Sep 7, 2015 Cesare Prandelli believes the ‘solid structure’ at Juventus means they’re still Scudetto favourites. The Bianconeri have lost both of their opening fixtures, the first time that has ever happened since the introduction of a national League. “Generally, the pundits expect four or five teams to be fighting until the end,” Prandelli told assembled media at an event to launch Massimiliano Allegri’s new coaching app. 
“I think Juve will still be the the team to beat, thanks to their solid structure. “Who had the best transfer campaign? I don’t know, we’ll have to wait and see. I’d say maybe Roma have found the right players in the right roles, they’ve got a lot of players who can be decisive one-on-one. “A lot of teams have decided to start by playing good football. It’s a well-balanced League, with a lot of new players and teams trying to find their way.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - CHIEVO - Saturday, September 12th, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Marco Guida Frey: ‘Juve to be feared’ http://www.football-italia.net/72677/frey-‘juve-be-feared’? Sep 7, 2015 Chievo defender Nicolas Frey says that Juventus are ‘to be feared’ despite his side’s stunning start to the Serie A season. The Flying Donkeys sit at the top of the table after two rounds, thanks to a stunning 4-0 win over Lazio in Week 2 before the international break. The Old Lady, on the other hand, have lost their opening two matches to Udinese and Roma and host Chievo on Saturday hoping to pick up their first points of the campaign. “The beginning of the season? I don’t think we could have asked for anything better,” Frey said to Sky Sports. “For now we’re enjoying the moment as we wait for Juventus. Despite their difficult start, in that stadium they are always to be feared. “Is it Alberto Paloschi’s year? I hope so for us and for him because it would mean we would have a more relaxed season. “We don’t know why we’ve started so well, but we must take the opportunity to get as many positive results as possible. Seven goals scored and just one conceded is certainly not bad. “Rolando Maran? It was tough against Lazio, but he has maintained the tension, preparing us for Juventus mentally and physically. “The arrival of Simone Pepe? He must work hard to get back to full fitness and the Coach has begun to help him integrate into the club. “He could be the player to help us make a leap in quality – he could be decisive.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Allegri: Juventus' season starts now The Serie A champions have lost the opening two matches of their domestic campaign as they go in search of a fifth straight Scudetto and their boss feels he can turn results around. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2557/news/2015/09/07/15122672/-? Sep 7, 2015 Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri has vowed to kickstart his side's season following a poor start to the campaign. The Serie A champions have lost their opening two league matches to Udinese and Roma having sold key players such as Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez over the summer. Allegri has added ten new faces to his squad in a bid to offset their departures, and the former Milan boss Allegri feels his side will show improvements against Chievo now that they are bedded in. "We don’t know where we can go, or what our margin for improvement is. Our season starts this week," he told reporters. “Chievo? My second adventure with Juventus begins with them. This will be a busy month between the League and the Champions League. We have to work. “There’s no such thing as a transitional year at a big club. The squad has excellent quality, but with 10 new players it’s normal that it takes some time." Roma, Inter and Milan have all strengthened their squads considerably over the summer as they look to deny Juve their fifth Serie A title in a row. And Allegri is under no illusions that he will find it tough during his second season in Turin and that his side has no right to victory. "I’m thinking positively, and I don’t see any reason to do otherwise. We have all the potential to do well. “Winning is never guaranteed, under any circumstances. Our opponents have strengthened, and we need to prove ourselves.”

Allegri: ‘Juve can have a great season’ http://www.football-italia.net/72665/allegri-%E2%80%98juve-can-have-great-season%E2%80%99? Sep 7, 2015 Juventus Coach Max Allegri calls for calm - ‘we have the opportunity to have a great season’. The Bianconeri have lost both of their opening Serie A fixtures, but the Coach who guided them to a double and the Champions League final is not worried. “To the fans, all I’d say is ‘stay calm’,” Allegri said as he was interviewed on Rai Uno. “We have the opportunity to have a great season. “The Champions League is a dream, an important competition to play in. We’ll approach it in the same way we did last season.” Allegri was presenting a new app to help young Coaches and players, and explained the rationale behind releasing it. “It’s something I decided to throw together with my collaborators a year ago. We had experience of Kazakhstan, where there is a big increase in youth football. “We had an idea, as it’s impossible to reach every place, we just thought of this app for smartphones and other technology. “It’s not just about tactics and technique, but also nutrition. That’s an important thing in football which is often overlooked. “Great teams are made of of great players, but it’s important to teach and develop lads. These are a guideline of my thoughts and ideas in my work. “There are no secrets in football. The idea is to convey the way I work in football, to try and build the knowledge of new Coaches. “Above all those in the youth teams, but those in the first teams too. We have to teach a lot to the lads who come into this sport.”

Camoranesi: ‘Juventus can win again’ http://www.football-italia.net/72662/camoranesi-%E2%80%98juventus-can-win-again%E2%80%99? Sep 7, 2015 Former Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi insists they have ‘the potential to win again’ this season. The Bianconeri have suffered two defeats in their opening two games for the first time in Serie A, but the 2006 World Cup-winner is not overly concerned. “I really like the project,” Camoranesi explained in an interview with Tuttosport. “They’ve got a great mix of young talent and established stars like Khedira or Mandzukic, players who have proven themselves to be competitive at international level throughout their career. “They have experience, and they’re worthy of wearing the Bianconeri jersey. “It’s strange to see the team with no points on the board, but that’s part of the game. So far they’ve played 180 minutes, but the League is still 38 rounds. “In recent years Juventus have won the League mathematically when there were still three or four games to go, so I don’t see a problem. “Of course, starting the season with two consecutive defeats is certainly not the best, and no-one will be pleased about it, but the club has put together a good squad that has the potential to win again. “I’m sure of it.” Some have suggested that the loss of the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal is having a negative impact on the Old Lady’s mentality, but Camoranesi is unsure. “You have to be experiencing the dynamics of a squad to assess and make judgements. Obviously Pirlo, Tevez and Vidal have a lot of charisma, and now they’re missing. “I don’t know if the lads who have come in this year have the same profile, but they can definitely count on people like Buffon and Barzagli - to name a few - who have experience and charisma to spare, both on and off the pitch.”

Pogba needs help to thrive as Juventus No.10, says Camoranesi The 22-year-old midfielder has become integral to the club in recent years but needs support, while the 38-year-old is unworried by the club's poor start to the season. http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/09/07/15115472/-? Sep 7, 2015 Paul Pogba needs help to become integral to Juventus after being handed the No.10 shirt, according to former midfielder Mauro Camoranesi. Pogba, who was the subject of reported overtures from Chelsea in the summer, has become one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the world at the age of 22. The Frenchman has made over 130 appearances for the club following his free transfer from Manchester United in 2012 but Camoranesi maintains that his team-mates must also step up to the plate to lighten the load on Pogba in 2015-16. "It’s strange to see the Frenchman with that number on his shoulders: he has other characteristics,” he told Corriere dello Sport. “One cannot ask you to drag the team at his age, he has a great future ahead, and has proven to have huge room for improvement. “Right now he is the most important player in the team but to load him with too many expectations would be wrong. It risks burning him out. If he gets the right support he will become crucial for Juve." Juventus have lost such stars as Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal in the last three months, but Camoranesi maintains that the club can succeed even without the previously indispensable trio. "We must be within the dynamics of a team to assess and make judgments; for sure Tevez, Pirlo and Vidal had a lot of charisma and now that they’re not there that is lacking,” he added. “I do not know if the guys who arrived this year have the same profile, they can certainly count on people like Buffon and Barzagli, just to name a few, who have plenty of experience and charisma both on and off the pitch. "I really like the project. They have a great mix of young talents and established stars like Khedira or Mandzukic, players who in their career have proven to be competitive at international level, have experience and are up to wearing the black and white jersey. " Juve, however, are yet to collect a point in Serie A, losing to Udinese and Roma, but Camoranesi maintains that he unworried by his former club’s poor start to the season. "It’s strange to see the team with no points in the standings, but it’s is part of the game,” he added. “So far they have played only 180 minutes, but there are 38 games. In recent years Juventus won the league title mathematically when there were three or four games to go, so I don’t see the problem. “Of course, starting the season with two consecutive defeats is certainly not the best and does not please anyone, but the club has put together a good group that has the potential to win again. I'm sure.”

Gianluigi Buffon earns 150th cap, clean sheet in Italy's win over Bulgaria http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/9/7/9270129/gianluigi-buffon-italy-150-caps-euro-2016-qualifying-god-of-goalkeepers Sep 7, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon wasn't even close to being the busiest player on the field against Bulgaria on Sunday night. That's what happens when the opposition only records five shots over the course of a 90-minute game. And it's not like Buffon is all too unfamiliar with a situation like that. I mean, look at some of his games from recent years. Lots of standing around. But like plenty of other times in the past for both club and country, Buffon was right there when called upon. He made the difficult save look like it's no big deal at all. He made the important, late-game save to keep the win intact with the clock approaching full time. Like when Bulgaria had one last attack Sunday night in an attempt to tie the game and Buffon calmly batted away a rocket of a shot as he dove to his right to keep the shutout alive.. That's Buffon in a nutshell, and that was the final result, his 62nd career shutout while wearing an Italy jersey, as the Azzurri crept even closer to qualifying for the 2016 European Championship with a 1-0 win over Bulgaria at the Renzo Barbera in Palermo. So, let's just recap here: Buffon making big-time saves — check. Buffon getting a clean sheet in his 150th Italy appearance — check. Italy winning 1-0 on a historic night for their captain — check. If that doesn't sound as Italy as Italy can get, I don't know what is. Italy gonna Italy, folks. And while Daniele De Rossi was off scoring goals and then getting sent off in the same game, Buffon was just being Buffon. We've seen it so many times before that it's become routine at this point. Eh, stoppage-time save to secure the win? No big deal! Have Buffon stand around for 85 minutes, but make two incredibly important saves? Works for me! We can say Buffon is great in just about every game because it's pretty much the truth. The games where he's his typical self greatly outweigh the games where he's been less than stellar. But in these games where he hits a landmark achievement and does something great, those are the game you truly appreciate how long he's been doing this for and just how incredibly consistent he is at his age. Squawka Football ✔ @Squawka A clean sheet on his 150th cap, Gianluigi Buffon has now been the Italy No.1 'keeper for 18 years. Image says it all. Amen to that. And it's just crazy to think that Buffon has been Italy's No. 1 ever since I was in elementary school and the Spice Girls were actually relevant. That's well over half my life, and yet Buffon is still the best there is in the game despite getting closer and closer to being 40 years old. Keep doing what you do, Gigi. It sure is fun watching from afar.

Marotta: Cuadrado can emulate Tevez at Juventus Giuseppe Marotta believes the Chelsea flop can restore his reputation in much the same way as the Argentine attacker did during his time with the Old Lady. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/09/06/15108862/-? Sep 6, 2015 Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta believes new signing Juan Cuadrado is capable of emulating Carlos Tevez's success in Turin. Cuadrado joined the Bianconeri on loan from Chelsea before the close of the summer transfer window, after failing dismally to force his way into Jose Mourinho's starting line-up following his January arrival at Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina. Marotta is now hoping that the Colombian can restore his reputation in much the same manner as Tevez, whose move from Manchester City in 2013 was initially viewed as a gamble but then went on to fire the Old Lady to two successive Serie A titles. “I do see comparisons between the arrival of Cuadrado and those of Tevez and Andrea Pirlo, as they too were signed amid scepticism and did great things,” the Bianconeri chief told the Corriere dello Sport. Marotta also expressed his joy at managing to sign Hernanes from rivals Inter just before the summer window closed. “Hernanes arrived on deadline day because we heard of this opportunity to get the Brazilian and contacted the Nerazzurri directors," he explained. “They were open to negotiations, despite the fact this operation counted as a loss for Inter’s books. "The rapport between the clubs has always been good, so rumours Inter didn’t want to sell any players to Juventus were untrue. “In fact, thanks to selling Hernanes, Inter were perhaps able to buy another couple of players. “Inter were very active on the market this summer, but we have a core of the squad that brought great success in recent years. “We’ve got a great squad that won everything last season except the Champions League. It’ll be tough to better the 2014-15 campaign.” Juve have made a dismal start to their bid for a fifth consecutive Scudetto, with Massimiliano Allegri's men having lost their opening two Serie A fixtures for the first time in history

Spalletti: Roma favourites to win Serie A The former Giallorossi boss has been impressed by the way in which his old club have strengthened in attack but is nonetheless refusing to write off Juventus. http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/09/06/15105232/-? Sep 6, 2015 Luciano Spalletti believes Roma are the favourites to win the Serie a title this season but added that Inter are also capable of ending Juventus' domestic dominance. The Giallorossi have failed to live up to their billing as the team capable of challenging Juve to the league title in each of the last two years, finishing a whopping 17 points behind the Bianconeri each time. However, Roma, who add Mohamed Salah and Edin Dzeko to their attack during the summer, defeated the Italian champions on the second weekend of the 2015-16 campaign and Spalletti believes that both his old club and Inter have what it takes to end the Old Lady's run of four successive titles. “After the transfer activity at Inter, they have to accept the Scudetto challenge and not hide from it,” the former Zenit coach told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, alluding to the Nerazzurri's acquisition of players such as Geoffrey Kondogbia and Stevan Jovetic. “Coach Roberto Mancini used the last six months to start the selection process and perform experiments. It’s a big advantage to have. “Mauro Icardi finished as the league's top goalscorer last year with Luca Toni and is a genuine hitman, which every side needs. "Mancini put a top player like Stevan Jovetic next to him, so with this pairing Inter cannot pretend they’re not out to win the Scudetto. “Roma are the favourites, though. They are very strong with a world-class midfield and made some important signings in attack. “Don’t leave Juventus for dead, as that would be a huge mistake. The historic core of the side will help the newcomers quickly understand what it means to play with the Bianconeri jersey."

Tacchinardi: 'Pogba not a leader' http://www.football-italia.net/72645/tacchinardi-pogba-not-leader? Sep 6, 2015 Alessio Tacchinardi believes Paul Pogba “is not a leader and Juventus must reconstruct without Carlos Tevez.” Pogba has been given Tevez’s Number 10 jersey, but former Bianconeri star Tacchinardi is unimpressed. “Pogba is not a leader, both for his age and the position he holds on the field. At 22 we cannot expect him to carry the team on his shoulders,” Tacchinardi told the Corriere dello Sport. “Last season Tevez did exactly that, turning many games and keeping the ball even when it was under pressure. “Without the Argentine, Juve are a house without foundations and must reconstruct. Pogba is a great player with the character to handle the Number 10 shirt, but obviously he’s not the Apache. “It’s only natural to have some difficulties when changing so much. The club knew it would require some patience too. “When Zinedine Zidane left, for example, we took a while to get back on track. At the same time, players like Pavel Nedved, Gigi Buffon and Lilian Thuram arrived, people accustomed to working under pressure. “Above all in attack, Juve currently have players who are young and still need to make the final step up in quality. “Nonetheless, I am sure Juventus will fight back with pride and win the Scudetto again.”

Juventus must be more versatile to move on from Pirlo, Vidal loss http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2598597/juve-must-move-on-from-pirlo-vidal-loss-and-be-versatile? Sep 6, 2015 It was clear what a disastrous effect Juventus allowing three of their leaders to depart this summer would have. You can't lose players like Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez without consequences and, as Roma dominated Juve's midfield last Sunday, the absence of the two central players was obvious. But it was not obvious in the way many would think. While players of their class would have made an impact on the pitch, it was psychologically where their loss was felt the most. When the chips are down, it's easy to remember the good times: when Pirlo scored the winner against Torino; the exhaustive work of Vidal in the Champions League. But if you look closer, both Pirlo and Vidal actually had a mediocre season last year in which they were both subjected to criticism. The Chilean, for all his power and tireless running, was a little off the pace throughout the campaign and the injury he sustained before the World Cup wreaked havoc on his timing, while seemingly robbing him of his finishing prowess. It took him months before he began to make an impression in important matches again and, even then, many questioned whether his position behind the strikers limited his potential. He simply wasn't as effective last season as he had been under previous coach Antonio Conte. Then there was Pirlo: so slow and predictable that many called for him to be replaced by Claudio Marchisio in the middle of the park because Il Principino allowed for a more dynamic midfield. While Pirlo was, and remains, a huge talent and one who can solve games from set-pieces, his influence waned and Marchisio allowed the side to be more quick and intense, as he showed in the 3-0 second-leg win against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last-16. The pair's departures are being felt not because they had been so brilliant last season, but because they were born winners who inspired those around them, especially youngsters such as Paul Pogba. It is their leadership skills and the psychological effect they had on the team that the club and squad miss the most. Without the injured Marchisio available to demonstrate his brilliance in the middle -- both on psychological and sporting level -- Juventus are forced to field players such as Simone Padoin who has little chance of reaching the lofty goals set by those before him. Marchisio will come back, as will summer signing Sami Khedira who boasts wonderful skill, tactical intelligence and experience despite his injury issues, and with those two in the starting XI, one imagines Juve will reclaim their powerful midfield. In addition, Juve also have Hernanes -- signed from Inter this summer -- a player who can score from set-pieces and who can provide more creativity in the No. 10 role that will help those upfront. So, with a bit of time, there is still hope. The key to Juventus' success last season was tactical versatility and with 22-year-old Mario Lemina capable of playing in various different positions and different formations, Juve have a secret weapon who can grow into a really special talent if he makes his loan from Marseille permanent. The Gabon international is Vidal's heir and while many rave about his defensive ability, he has worked on improving his offensive contributions, boasting an ability to deceive opponents -- a quality greatly admired at the club. The 3-5-2 formation hasn't worked well for the Bianconeri so far and the sooner they return to 4-3-1-2 the better. The formation not only hinders attacking moves but it robs them of the ability to play Massimiliano Allegri's style of football: one that revolves around possession and time on the ball. It has been suggested that for the next match against Chievo Verona the 4-3-1-2 shape will come back with an attack spearheaded by Paulo Dybala and Alvaro Morata, alongside newcomers Alex Sandro and Hernanes, and it is much needed. The beauty of this new Juventus is that they can morph into almost any shape. In the last match, we briefly saw a 4-2-3-1 with Juan Cuadrado available to take players on in the wide areas and Hernanes through the middle. In this shape, Juventus can take advantage of all their attacking players in one go to help striker Mario Mandzukic and also offer a less predictable version of themselves. If the Croatian is not used, then there are alternatives that could see Dybala or Morata play centrally to allow for more pace and technique Many opined that Juve's main weapon last season was how adept they were in changing shapes to lock games down, and that was when Allegri deployed only two formations. With a versatile team that can line up in many different ways at his disposal now, one can only imagine how terrifying Juve could be with a little time to find their feet. Allegri will eventually strike the right balance to exploit the talent of his new squad. Juve have not started the season well but, considering all they achieved in the last four years, it was time for a change. The focus for Allegri must now be on how to get the best out of his players and learn to live without the guiding presence of those who have departed.

Pogba: 'No reason to leave Juve' http://www.football-italia.net/72634/pogba-no-reason-leave-juve? Sep 6, 2015 Paul Pogba said he has “no reason to leave Juventus, but I don’t know how long I’ll stay.” The midfielder has been valued at over €100m and the Bianconeri turned down a huge proposal from Chelsea last month. “Why did I stay? Because I had no reason to leave,” Pogba told Telefoot in France. “My departure was never certain. I could happily have remained and indeed that’s what happened. I am at Juve and happy to be here. “I don’t know how long I’ll stay.” While Chelsea show interest, Italian, Spanish and French media believe he’ll only move for Barcelona. When asked about the Blaugrana, Pogba’s response was open-ended. “Right now I am focused only on doing well this year. At the end of the season we’ll see.”

Pogba tells Barcelona: I might stay at Juventus The midfielder has suggested he could continue to dismiss overtures from the Catalans and stay with the Scudetto holders. http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2015/09/06/15094562/-? Sep 6, 2015 Paul Pogba has revealed he is considering ignoring interest from Barcelona to stay at Juventus for the foreseeable future. The central midfielder, 22, was heavily linked with a Turin departure in the recently closed transfer window, but Juve reportedly rejected Barca's €80 million offer in July. With a host of other clubs also alleged to be keen on signing Pogba – Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City included – it has become a matter of when the Frenchman will leave Juve, rather than if. However, Pogba has stressed he is comfortable at the 2015 Champions League finalists and he wants to help turn around Juve's poor start to the season, in which they lost both of their opening Serie A fixtures. "It was not the right time for me to go, and I could very well remain at Juventus," he told Telefoot. "Right now, I'm still happy to be there. We will finish the season and then we'll see again. "Has a Barca deal been struck in January? I don't know, for now I'm at Juventus and I'm focused only on them because we haven't started well. As for the rest, we'll see."

Marchisio Could Return To Training On Tuesday http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/09/juventus-midfielder-could-return-to-training-on-tuesday/? Sep 6, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is expected to return to training on Tuesday. Marchisio missed both of the two opening games of the season, with Juventus failing to collect any points from these fixtures against Udinese and Roma respectively. According to Tuttomercatoweb.com, Marchisio could return to training on Tuesday, but Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has not yet decided to include him in the team for the next league game against Chievo. Allegri is expected to line-up his favoured 4-3-1-2 formation for the next game, with new signing Alex Sandro taking the place of suspended Patrice Evra in defence. Another new signing Hernanes is expected to have his first Juventus start next weekend, being deployed as playmaker behind Alvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala, who are in line to start in attack for the Old Lady.

BWRAO Mailbag: Talking Max Allegri's possible formations, Juventus in the Champions League http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/9/6/9260173/bwrao-mailbag-juventus-serie-a-champions-league-summer-transfer-ratings Sep 6, 2015 For many, the international break isn't much of a break at all. It's more of a long, laborious two-week period where Juventus goes away and all we're left with is stupid transfer rumors we thought we left in the dust a handful of days ago. It's like when you get candy as a kid — Juventus is here for a few days and then ... poof! ... all gone. Basically, we're left to think this: International breaks are stupid, and ones right after the Serie A season begins are even worse. Talk about the ultimate tease. "Here's calcio for a week or two, then you gotta wait just as long for it to come back! Ha, take that, sucka!" In theory, the way to survive the international break is to pass time during the international break any way you can. And what's my idea of how to pass time during the international break? Getting people to help me pass said time. (Does that make any sense? I hope it does.) So, that led me to this post. Behold the first-ever BWRAO Mailbag, where I hounded people on Twitter to ask me things and I decide if I actually want to answer them. Luckily, most of them were ones, so I decided to turn it into a post. Because, we want to pass time during the international break, of course. That's good, right? Nick Henderson @water_jiggler @JuventusNation me vs. allegri in a street fight... Who wins? Something tells me that the person asking me this question is trouble, lots and lots of trouble. I don't know what it is, but something just doesn't feel all too right about this "Nick Henderson" aka "@water_jiggler" fellow. I'll give "Nick Henderson" a slight edge. He grew up in Georgia, which is a state that develops some tough SOBs. I know this because I've seen Georgia play handegg football before. NEXT QUESTION! Joshua Fontaine @juvefan7912 @JuventusNation where do u think juve will finish in the champions league this season Quick answer: It depends on how fast this team gels. More thought out answer: Seeing as I'm a relatively optimistic person — hence no major freakout after Juventus lost the first two games of the season — I'm going to say they get to the quarterfinals. That's what I thought would happen last season and they obviously surpassed my expectations, so why not try and see if we can hit the jackpot in back-to-back years? But the realist side of me sees how difficult this group is and that if Juventus don't get off to a good start, there's a legitimate chance they don't make it into the knockout stage. But that's just me thinking about the bad side of the equation. I do think Juventus will give Manchester City a big-time run for their money — pun intended? — when it comes to being the top team in Group D. NEXT QUESTION! Marco Sportelli @marco_sporte @JuventusNation Juve has now a complete team, can play 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2, 3-5-2 or even 4-2-3-1. What would you like to see the most and why? Each time I've written a game preview this season — so for all of three games; that's one hell of a sample size, I know — I've defaulted to a 4-3-2-1 for some reason. I guess it's the fact that I see Mario Mandzukic, Álvaro Morata and Paulo Dybala and that's what I think is the best for all parties involved. That hasn't actually happened yet, but a boy can dream. The addition of Hernanes will undoubtedly mean Allegri plays more 4-3-1-2 because the Brazilian midfielder is capable of playing behind the strikers. How Allegri rotates the big three of Morata, Mandzukic and Dybala remains to be seen. But the main thing is Max has options — and a lot more options than he did a year ago when there were plenty of options at his disposal. Shaiخa³³ @SignoraS_ @JuventusNation transfer window rating &how effective it is to the squad The easy thing for me to do would be to post what our newest contributor, John, posted the other day mainly because I really do agree with a lot of it. But since I am the one being asked the questions here, I'll give my own two cents on the transfer market matter. I'll give the transfer window a 7.5 or an 8. I'm not so doom and gloom against Hernanes mainly because we don't really know what to expect from him. He could either be a really valuable pickup, or he could prove to be just as crap as he was during his short time at Inter. If he does the former, then it pushes the transfer market into "really, really good!" territory. If not, then we'll all be bashing our heads against the wall because Juventus didn't sign Julian Draxler. The big players that went the other way — Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tévez — it seems more and more like there was a definitive reason behind them all. We can now see why all three of those are no longer part of this squad. And while the jury is still out as to what Juve will be like without them, at some point change was going to happen. And it just so happened that change came this summer. A whole lot of change, too. Chelston D'souza @chelston_dsouza @JuventusNation what's your password? You see what I have to deal with n the BWRAO Twitter account, people? (I'm kidding. Chelston is good people. You should follow him and his love for Stephan Lichtsteiner gifs.) NEXT (AND FINAL) QUESTION! Jerry Savage @JerrySavage65 @JuventusNation Would you consider the season a success if Juve won the Champions League, but finished behind Inter, Milan, and Roma? Ah, now this is a good one to end on. I think at this point, as wonderful as winning the Scudetto four straight years has been, some Juventini would be pretty okay with a step back in the Serie A standings if it meant a Champions League trophy come the first weekend of June 2016. How much of that has to do with the fact that Juve were so close last season I'm not so sure, but if Juve were to win the Champions League and only the Champions League, I'd be totally okay with that. (And yes, it's because of last season.) Or, maybe, we can just be like they were in the final scene of Trading Places. Lobster or cracked crab? Champions League or Scudetto? Can't we have both? (A brief aside: As the Champions League winners, wouldn't Juventus get a spot in next year's competition? Right? So nothing to worry about when it comes to not qualifying for things.)

Marotta: Cuadrado 'like Tevez' http://www.football-italia.net/72629/marotta-cuadrado-tevez? Sep 6, 2015 Beppe Marotta sees “analogies” between Carlos Tevez and Juan Cuadrado, then explained Juventus’ Hernanes swoop. The general manager spoke to the Corriere dello Sport newspaper about the many changes in Turin over the summer. “I do see analogies between the arrival of Cuadrado and those of Tevez and Andrea Pirlo, as they too were signed amid scepticism and did great things,” said Marotta. “Hernanes arrived on deadline day because we heard of this opportunity to get the Brazilian and contacted the Nerazzurri directors. “They were open to negotiations, despite the fact this operation counted as a loss for Inter’s books. The rapport between the clubs has always been good, so rumours Inter didn’t want to sell any players to Juventus were untrue. “In fact, thanks to selling Hernanes, Inter were perhaps able to buy another couple of players. “Inter were very active on the market this summer, but we have a core of the squad that brought great success in recent years. “We’ve got a great squad that won everything last season except the Champions League. It’ll be tough to better the 2014-15 campaign.”

PAUL POGBA TOPS JUVENTUS SALARIES FOR 2015/16 http://www.juvefc.com/pogba-tops-juventus-salaries-for-201516/? Sep 6, 2015 Juventus have the highest wage bill in Serie A with Paul Pogba the Bianconeri’s top earner on €4.5m. giornalaccio rosa Dello Sport published a full list of Serie A salaries for the coming season and it seems Italian clubs are spending more than before. Juventus top the largest overall wage bill in the league, paying out €124m in total with Pogba and Gigi Buffon at the top of the list. [image from giornalaccio rosa Dello Sport] Juve’s Max Allegri is the second highest earning coach in the league netting €3.5m with Inter’s Roberto Mancini leading the list on €4m. [image from giornalaccio rosa Dello Sport] A full break-down of Juve salaries is outlined below: [image from giornalaccio rosa Dello Sport]

Pogba snubbed Chelsea for Barca? http://www.football-italia.net/72627/pogba-snubbed-chelsea-barca? Sep 6, 2015 Mundo Deportivo claim Paul Pogba rejected a huge Chelsea offer because he’ll only leave Juventus for Barcelona. Jose Mourinho and Roman Abramovich pushed hard to get the Frenchman this summer, reportedly offering €100m to the club and a €12m per year salary. However, both were turned down immediately and Pogba given new responsibility with the iconic Number 10 shirt. According to Mundo Deportivo newspaper in Spain, the real reason behind the rejection was Barcelona. It’s claimed Pogba has his heart set on the Blaugrana and will only accept a move away from Juve for the European giants. Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Manchester City and his old club Manchester United have also made attempts to sign the French talent. Pogba is currently the highest-paid player at Juve on €4.5m per season.

'Juve still believe in Scudetto' http://www.football-italia.net/72622/juve-still-believe-scudetto? Sep 6, 2015 Juventus “still believe we can win the Scudetto” despite their historically bad start, said Beppe Marotta. Never before had the Turin giants begun a Serie A campaign with two consecutive defeats, but they were beaten by both Udinese and Roma. “We are just at the start of the season and what the table says now doesn’t mean much,” insisted general manager Marotta. “Getting back to a victory against Chievo next weekend will be fundamental to start the comeback. “We still believe we can win the Scudetto and certainly aren’t just playing to take part this season.” Last term Juve won their fourth consecutive Serie A title and the Coppa Italia, but were beaten in the Champions League Final by Barcelona. They have a tough group this time round, facing Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Monchengladbach. “In Europe you cannot afford any mistakes or false starts.”

Antonio Conte: 'It is difficult to describe Gianluigi Buffon' http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/italy/news/antonio-conte-hails-gianluigi-buffon_244393.html Sep 6, 2015 Italy manager Antonio Conte has hailed goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as a "champion" and has revealed that he has great admiration for Juventus's number one. The 37-year-old is to receive his 150th cap for Italy when the Italians take on Bulgaria in their Euro 2016 qualifying match on Sunday. The former Juve manager is full of praise for the goalkeeper, who has been a key part of the national side for the last 18 years. "Finding the words to describe Gigi is tough," Conte told reporters. "He is such a champion. I admire him as a player and as a man. He was my teammate, my goalkeeper at club level and now for Italy."

Marotta hints at Pirlo retirement http://www.football-italia.net/72615/marotta-hints-pirlo-retirement? Sep 5, 2015 Juventus director Beppe Marotta hinted Andrea Pirlo should retire from the Italy squad. “It’s a decision he must make.” The 36-year-old midfielder did not renew his Bianconeri contract this summer and moved to New York City FC. He became the first MLS player to feature for Italy in a 1-0 victory over Malta this week, but was criticised for his sluggish performance. “I think every player should understand when the moment has come to hang up his boots,” Marotta told Mediaset Premium Sport when asked about Pirlo. “I don’t know if that moment has already arrived for him. Certainly, it’s a decision he must make.”

Marotta: 'No new Hamsik bid' http://www.football-italia.net/72612/marotta-no-new-hamsik-bid? Sep 5, 2015 Juventus director Beppe Marotta insists “we won’t resume talks with Napoli for Marek Hamsik in January.” Both clubs confirmed there were negotiations during the summer and Tuttosport claimed there will be another proposal mid-season. “No, I doubt we would resume talks with Napoli for Hamsik in January, because we’ve signed an important player like Hernanes,” Marotta told reporters. It was a difficult time for Juve, who missed out on targets including Roma’s Miralem Pjanic, Julian Draxler and Mario Gotze. “We always seek the best on the market. We were unable to get all of them, but still have a great squad that won everything except the Champions League last season.”