Socrates

Pogba: 'Serie A is extraordinary' Jan 2, 2014 Paul Pogba committed himself to Juventus, insisted he is “not the anti-Mario Balotelli” and explained why “Serie A is extraordinary.” http://markting10.nl/ Still only 20 years old, the French midfielder is already a senior international regular and a huge bargain for the Bianconeri, having arrived on a free transfer when his contract expired with Manchester United. “My brothers are both players, Florentin at Saint-Etienne and Mathias at Crewe Alexandra, while my father wanted to be a player and then a Coach,” he told La Repubblica. “I grew up watching videotapes of Pele, Diego Maradona and also Jean-Pierre Papin. I wanted his strength and aggression. I also want to point out my family cared a great deal about my studies and I wasn’t too bad at school. http://markting10.nl/ “I left home early to play football, but I didn’t suffer from loneliness. I called home and always talk to my family. I’m not a tough guy, nor one of those players covered in tattoos.” With that in mind, Pogba was asked whether he represented the anti-Balotelli. “I think he suffered a great deal, as there are wounds from one’s childhood that never heal if you didn’t feel loved enough. A bit of understanding wouldn’t go amiss, as Balotelli had a difficult life. He might seem like a ‘bad boy,’ but deep down he’s a good man. When I lived in Manchester we had similar hairstyles and some people mistook me for Balotelli. http://markting10.nl/ “I like to read a lot and understand my roots, where I came from and who I am. I only recently went to Guinea for the first time. It’s beautiful, but tough. People here complain, but they don’t realise that parts of Africa have nothing at all – water, light, food. Going to Africa shakes you up, but gives you a new sense of balance.” Pogba concedes his formative years at United were dominated by Sir Alex Ferguson, even if they didn’t always see eye to eye. “He is unique in understanding what players can be, even before they themselves realise it. Many owe their success to him. He believed in me early on, even if I didn’t play often. He also said I’d struggle in Italy because there was too much racism, but I told him that was everywhere and England certainly wasn’t immune to it, as proved by John Terry and Luis Suarez. http://markting10.nl/ “The truth is I really struggled to settle in England. The first six months of learning English was hellish, as if you don’t know the language then the British aren’t very helpful. “Italian football is much more tactical than in England, but at the moment Serie A is underestimated. There is so much pressure, apprehension, tension and obsession here. It’s true, I suffer at being marked so tightly. Plus the media talks about one gesture for the whole week, so you never breathe a sigh of relief. Mind you, that excessive focus is what makes Italian football so anomalous, different, difficult and in the end also extraordinary.” Pogba has repeatedly been linked with huge moves to the likes of Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid or Arsenal, but insists he is “happy at Juve. http://markting10.nl/ “I won’t deny as a child I dreamed of playing for Arsenal or Barcelona, but now I dream of playing for France against my brothers as they play for Guinea. “For me Juve is Zidane, Trezeguet and Nedved. It is talent, class, discipline and teamwork. As for me, I know promising success isn’t enough, as you have to maintain those promises. I am not embarrassed by my talent, nor do I have an absurd rush to prove myself. I’ve been through the ranks, so I know it’s a journey and I am eyeing the final destination.”

Tevez back in Juve training Jan 2, 2014 Carlos Tevez is eager to prove his fitness for the Roma game this weekend after his delayed return to Juventus. AMAZONIAN The striker finally landed in Italy on Wednesday after remaining in Argentina to care for his pregnant wife. The summer signing from Manchester City arrived at the Vinovo training facility at 14.30 local time and took part in the subsequent session. AMAZONIAN Juventus, five points clear of second-placed Roma, will entertain the Giallorossi on Sunday evening. Tevez has 11 goals in 17 Serie A games so far this season.

JUVENTUS - ROMA January 5, 2014 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Juve hopeful over Pirlo and Tevez Jan 1, 2014 Juventus are hoping both Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo will be fit for their first match of 2014 against Roma on Sunday. http://markting10.nl/ Tevez has been given extra leave due to personal reasons, and the Turin-based club have sent a personal trainer out to Argentina to help keep him in shape in view of a return for the weekend. Pirlo, meanwhile, has been back in training for nearly a week and is set to make his comeback from injury in the top-of-the-table clash. The Italy international last played in early December, when he picked up a knee injury against Udinese. He was ruled out for a month and appears to be respecting that recovery time by returning to full training between Christmas and New Year, cutting short his holidays in a bid to be fit for the weekend. Tevez, meanwhile, has been given permission to spend a few more days in Argentina, where his wife is expecting a child in the next few months. To ensure the 29-year-old does not fall behind his teammates, though, a member of coach Antonio Conte's coaching staff has boarded a flight to South America to see to it personally that the forward will be fit and ready to face Roma, according to La Repubblica. http://markting10.nl/ With both set to feature against second-placed Roma, former Juve midfielder Mauro Camoranesi is convinced the Bianconeri will be too strong for the Giallorossi. "Conte's team can go two gears higher than Roma and all their rivals," he told Tuttosport. "I thought so in the summer and I'm even more convinced now. The Bianconeri will win their third successive Scudetto." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Looking back at 2013 for Juventus Dec 31, 2013 As it is the last day of 2013, it's only fitting to recap the year and mention the players who deserve recognition for what they have contributed to a winning Juventus side, as well as highlighting the work of coach Antonio Conte. http://markting10.nl/ Best player of the year: Arturo Vidal So many players have helped transform Juventus into a winning team with an outstanding victory rate in 2013, but when it comes to picking just one who continues to awe and impress then there is no other like Vidal. Whether it be his sensational tackles at the back, his impressive ability to press high up the pitch and win back possession or his intelligent runs forward to score, there is little the Chilean midfielder cannot do. http://markting10.nl/ As Juve's top scorer under Conte, Vidal's ability to exploit space and finish compensated for the lack of a true world-class forward last season. This season, despite having won so much already, his energy levels have not waned and the determination to succeed is as strong as it has ever been. Vidal is the essence of this Juve side and a symbol of the club's philosophy. http://markting10.nl/ Most valuable player: Andrea Pirlo There was a genuine belief, at one point, that Juve could live without him. However, despite his age (34), Pirlo's class is eternal. Unlocking defences, delivering pinpoint passes and raising the overall level of the game -- without him, the Bianconeri lose their heartbeat. Cutting his holidays short to train for the upcoming clash against Roma, Pirlo is a winner both on and off the pitch. His remarkable ability to control the tempo and provide the angled deliveries needed to make Juve a side that create chance after chance. The hope is he will continue his journey in black and white well beyond the current season. http://markting10.nl/ Best transfer market arrival: Carlos Tevez Perhaps he did not perform as well as the fans hoped in the Champions League, but in Serie A, Tevez is a large reason why Juve are simply too good to overcome. Quickly adapting to calcio, the player has provided the necessary assists and finishes required to hugely improve the side's attacking play. Hard-working and always on hand to exploit space, his mobility and individual skill make the difference for the side that once used to struggle to finish off chances. Considering how little the club paid for his services, Tevez has proved an excellent addition to the side. http://markting10.nl/ It is here that we must give a mention to Conte, the man who won best coach award in the recent Global Soccer Awards. Juventus are the successful winning machine that they are thanks to the work done by a coach who is relentless in his approach. Determined, astute and concerned only with victory, Conte defines the Juve approach. Domestically, he has conquered all before him and with him on the bench, it's difficult to see how any other Italian team can triumph over the Bianconeri. When it comes to Europe, it's fair to say both Conte and the side expected more last season and this. Some bizarre decisions were made in last season's campaign and the manner in which Bayern Munich halted Juve raised concerns. Nonetheless, one cannot complain too much considering the Bavarian side went on to lift the trophy. http://markting10.nl/ This season, the Bayern approach -- stifling play with heavy pressing -- is no longer a concern for the Old Lady, who has found a way of overcoming opponents who stop her playing the ball out from the back. With a clear reference point up top, the team has developed tactically even if the arrival of a winger would give the side so many more options. It is thus disappointing that such a lackadaisical approach was taken in the group matches of this year's Champions League. Hailed for his winning approach, the fact Conte said his squad were competing with Galatasaray for second place immediately set the tone for the European journey. Juventus should not be competing with a Turkish side for second, they should have set out to compete with Real Madrid for first. They are the Italian Champions with a beautiful past and a well-planned future, they are good enough to rival the best and not accept to be considered inferior. Perhaps if that were the approach adopted from the outset, we would have witnessed a more determined Bianconeri side. http://markting10.nl/ Needless to say, there's a Europa League competition to be played and won. Maximum respect and effort should be made to win another trophy considering even a heavily rotated Juve side are managing domestic wins. Overall, 2013 was an excellent year for the Turin giants, one only hopes 2014 will be even better. Happy New Year.

Juve staff fly out for Tevez Dec 31, 2013 It’s reported Juventus have flown a fitness coach to Argentina to work with Carlos Tevez after he delayed his return. AMAZONIAN The striker had been due back in Turin to begin training yesterday, but was delayed by what the club termed “a family problem.” Media in Italy and Argentina suggest it is linked to his wife, who is seven months pregnant and required medical treatment this week. As Juve play Roma on January 5 in a title showdown, time is short for the forward to find his form. AMAZONIAN With this in mind, Sky Sport Italia claim Juventus have flown a fitness coach out to Argentina in order to work with Tevez and keep his fitness levels up. It is hoped he can be in decent condition when he does return to Italy, although it is not clear when that will be.

Zoff: 'Perin is Buffon's heir' Dec 31, 2013 Italy legend Dino Zoff believes Mattia Perin “will be the heir” to Gigi Buffon, who remains “the best goalkeeper in the world.” http://markting10.nl/ The 1982 World Cup winner cast his eye over the current shot-stopper situation in the Azzurri camp. “Buffon is the best goalkeeper in Italy, in Europe and also in the world,” Zoff told the Corriere dello Sport. “Andrea Consigli and Antonio Mirante are also very talented, but they are no longer particularly young. http://markting10.nl/ “If I have to choose an heir to Gigi in the Nazionale, I’d pick Perin of Genoa. The future belongs to him.” Perin turned 21 last month, but has been consistently ignored by the Italy Under-21 side in favour of Livorno’s Francesco Bardi.

Tevez delays Juve return Dec 31, 2013 Carlos Tevez has delayed his return to training with Juventus due to a family problem in Argentina. AMAZONIAN The striker had been due to come back to Turin on Monday, but was delayed by what the club website described as “family problems.” It is reported the postponement is due to Tevez’s wife, who is seven months pregnant, and required medical treatment this week. Time is short for Juve, who face Roma in a Scudetto showdown on January 5. AMAZONIAN Only five points separate the clubs at the top of the table and this could be a decisive moment in the title race, so for the Bianconeri to be without their top scorer would be a huge blow. Fabio Quagliarella is the favourite to step in should Tevez not be back in time, or be lacking in match fitness.

Buffon on racist chants & gay players Dec 30, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon has offered his opinion on the recent spate of ‘territorial discriminatory’ chants that have blighted Serie A. http://markting10.nl/ Several sides, including Juventus, have seen sections of their stadium closed this season due to chants against southern clubs. But the goalkeeper has insisted that fans are not acting in hatred, but just urging to be heard. “Racism is an important issue,” he told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “I believe that human beings strive to find the difference between themselves and another race. http://markting10.nl/ “Or, if in Italy, themselves and a citizen of another region. I think that the comparison can help us fight it though. “I don’t think the fans are acting out of hatred – I just think the goal is to be heard and emphasize the dissent. “I know the spirit in which they are made. I used to be one of those fans. http://markting10.nl/ “I think it’s fair to severely punish for some forms of intolerance. I do not presume to fully understand the kind of abuse some players get. “I can’t have the same sensitivity to those who are affected by the attacks, but punishment is important for the image of Italian football.” http://markting10.nl/ Buffon concluded by commented on the issue of gay players – or lack thereof. “I don’t think I have ever played with a homosexual player. But if Juve bought one, my only wish is that he’d win us games.”

JUVENTUS - ROMA January 5, 2014 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Roma not afraid of Juventus, says Pjanic The Bosnian has the utmost respect for the Scudetto holders but says that Rudi Garcia's unbeaten side are a match for any side in Italy. Dec 30, 2013 Miralem Pjanic has stated that Roma are not in the least bit afraid of Juventus ahead of Sunday's Serie A showdown in Turin. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri have won the Scudetto for the last two seasons and are currently five points clear of the Giallorossi at the top of the table. However, Pjanic insists that unbeaten Roma will travel to Juventus Stadium in hope rather than fear. "Juventus are a very strong team," the Bosnian is quoted as saying by Gazetta dello Sport. "But we are not afraid of them. http://markting10.nl/ "We know we are on a par with any opponent in the league, but have to be on top of our game to beat Juve. "It's going to be a great game for sure. But we're determined to bring home some valuable points." Roma's crunch clash with Juventus is scheduled to kick off at 20:45CET. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Zoff: Buffon still the best The legendary Italian goalkeeper insists that the 35-year-old remains one of the world’s best between the posts. Dec 30, 2013 Former Juventus goalkeeper Dino Zoff believes that Gianluigi Buffon is still one of the best in the world and is worried about the next generation of Italian keepers. http://markting10.nl/ Zoff, who made 112 appearances for Italy and over 300 for the Bianconeri, has been speaking out about the plight of young goalkeepers coming through in the game. “Gigi is at the top in Italy, in Europe and throughout the world. He is the best,” said Zoff, speaking to Corriere dello Sport. “For a while there were (Andrea) Consigli and (Antonio) Mirante, who are no longer kids. It struck me, in a positive sense, the choice of Genoa to continue betting on (Mattia) Perin. This gives confidence to a goalkeeper so young.” http://markting10.nl/ The 71-year-old put the dearth of emerging young keepers down to the responsibility that now comes with the role. "With the pressures that come from the Italian football environment our children lose their desire. It is the role that all others, including team-mates, discharge responsibility of. "A boy must feel the passion, you can't force it. I'd say don't be afraid of making mistakes,” he added. http://markting10.nl/ Zoff also admitted that new ball technology has made it harder for goalkeepers in the modern day. “The material of the ball is more elastic, players can change the trajectory of the shot. Goalkeepers are afraid of being wrong.”

Buffon calls for 'severe' punishment for racism The Juventus keeper insists most supporters are not motivated by racial aggression when they chant during matches and feels many players are too young to be seen as role models. Dec 30, 2013 Juventus veteran Gianluigi Buffon has called for racism in football to be punished "severely", though he believes most supporters are not guilty of the offence. http://markting10.nl/ Juventus were fined €30,000 for racist chants from fans during a clash with AC Milan in April, while Lazio and Inter have been hit with stadium bans in the past 12 months for similar offences. While Buffon insists most supporters are not motivated by racial or regional discrimination when singing from the stands, he believes action must be taken against those who are found guilty. "I don't think fans are acting on racial hatred. Even when they offend the opponent with their shouts, I think the intention is to be heard, to emphasise their dissent," he told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. http://markting10.nl/ "I was one of them, I sang backing vocals when I was little. I know the spirit in which the songs are made. And with players of other races within the teams, it wouldn't make sense. "But I think it is fair to severely punish certain forms of intolerance. I did not presume to fully understand this kind of abuse, I cannot have the same sensitivity as those affected by these attacks. "The line between teasing and denigration is very thin." http://markting10.nl/ Buffon also believes footballers must not be held up as sole role models in the matter of racial tolerance, insisting many players are too young to be handed such a responsibility. "We know we have the power to influence others. But it is not up to us to educate people, the responsibility is not fair because many of us are young," added the Italy veteran. "It is clear that, on issues related to fans and racist chanting, sometimes it is appropriate to send a message."

JUVENTUS - ROMA January 5, 2014 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium — Turin Referee: Nicola Rizzoli Webb to officiate Juve-Roma? Dec 29, 2013 Newspaper Il Tempo is calling for English referee Howard Webb to officiate the Juventus-Roma Scudetto showdown. http://markting10.nl/ The top two teams in Serie A are separated by five points and go head-to-head in Turin on January 5. This fixture has a history of controversy, including another title decider in 1981 that saw Maurizio Turone’s goal for Roma famously disallowed for an incorrect offside call. http://markting10.nl/ Now newspaper Il Tempo is suggesting the Italian Federation guarantee fair treatment by bringing in a foreign referee for this game. Their preferred option would be 42-year-old Englishman Webb, who recently officiated Juventus-Real Madrid in the Champions League. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Buffon tips Ribery to edge out Ronaldo for Ballon d'Or, but Messi is still the best The Juventus captain feels that while both the Frenchman and the Portuguese have had better years, the Argentina international is still the greatest talent on the planet. Dec 29, 2013 Gianluigi Buffon believes Franck Ribery will pip Cristiano Ronaldo to this year's Ballon d'Or but claims that Lionel Messi remains by far and away the best player in the world. http://markting10.nl/ The trio have been shortlisted for the prestigious individual accolade, which will be presented at a special ceremony in Zurich on January 13. Buffon goes along with the common consensus that the award will either go to Ribery, a treble winner with Bayern Munich, or Ronaldo, who hit 69 goals for Real Madrid this year, particularly in light of Messi's injury-interrupted 2013. However, the Italy international still feels that whatever the outcome of the vote, the Argentine is still the most talented footballer in the game today. http://markting10.nl/ "I believe that the victories affect a lot," Buffon mused in an interview with Sky Sport Italia. "So, in this sense, it would advantage Ribery, who as well as having won titles, was also decisive in many Bayern victories. He's a great champion. "At the moment, however, I think that Cristiano Ronaldo has something more than the others - even if the strongest by far remains Messi." Meanwhile, Buffon insists that while he was bitterly disappointed by Juventus' shock elimination in the group stages of this season's Champions League after a controversial 1-0 loss to Galatasaray on the final matchday, he still believes that the Italian champions are moving in the right direction. http://markting10.nl/ "At the end of the day, in more than 100 years of history, Juve have won two European Cups - not 25," the veteran shot-stopper pointed out. "Sometimes you have to have good fortune at the right time. "But, for me, the road that we have taken leaves me very hopeful for the future."

Buffon hails Conte and Azzurri Dec 28, 2013 Gigi Buffon praised the team spirit at Juventus, Antonio Conte’s leadership and believes in Italy’s World Cup chances. http://markting10.nl/ The goalkeeper will resume training in Turin tomorrow and spoke to Sky Sport Italia about his plans for 2014. “The World Cup is an incredibly difficult tournament and one that is almost impossible to win,” said the man who took the trophy in 2006. “If in that period we create a team spirit, a unity of intents and generally optimal fitness levels, then we could well hold out for seven games and maybe even win. http://markting10.nl/ “The group with Uruguay, England and Costa Rica is tough, certainly more difficult than some groups, but on a par with others.” Today in Dubai Juventus boss Conte received the award as Coach of the Year and Buffon agreed with the vote. “The credit our Coach deserves for these last two and a half years is incredible and we can’t really know how much of it was down to him and how much to us players. http://markting10.nl/ “He was fantastic at helping to motivate us, poke us and give us a precise football identity. In terms of individuals, there have been stronger Juve sides, but this is certainly the one with the best team spirit and that way the overall level of football is raised.” The Bianconeri had finished seventh in Serie A for two years running until Conte took over and immediately won the Scudetto while unbeaten. He added a second Serie A title and is currently five points clear of Roma at the top of the table.

Aronica: Napoli don’t have winning mentality like Juventus Dec 27, 2013 Palermo defender Salvatore Aronica believes that Napoli lack the winning mentality that Juventus have, which lessens their chances at winning a Scudetto. http://markting10.nl/ The third place Partenopei are currently 10 points behind league leaders Juventus on the Serie A table and the 35-year-old admits that they may be unable to catch up by the end of the season. Aronica spoke to Radio Kiss Kiss about the Azzurri’s setbacks this season and revealed which team he thinks will win the Scudetto at the end of the campaign. “Napoli have had some setbacks against smaller teams, which could possibly be a psychological situation,” said the former Napoli man, who played at the club from 2008-13. http://markting10.nl/ “However, they still played a good first half of the season, the balance is positive. At Napoli, they miss the winning mentality that Juventus have. “Benitez wants to bring this mentality to Naples, but it’s going to take some work. “Scudetto? I think the gap is unbridgeable. Juventus will win again this year.”

Tevez criticises Milan/Inter signings The striker believes the two clubs have failed to attract stellar names for a number of years and have suffered as a result. Dec 27, 2013 Juventus forward Carlos Tevez has criticised AC Milan and Inter for failing to buy world class talent in recent years. AMAZONIAN The Argentina international moved to Turin from Manchester City over the summer, but while the Bianconeri continue to compete for the best talent, the two Milan clubs have adopted a different approach in the transfer market. The Rossoneri sold star names Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva to Paris Saint-Germain in 2012 and have sought to recruit younger players over proven big names, while Inter's ninth place finish last season and lack of European football mean they have struggled to attract stellar players. "Milan and Inter haven't bought major players for a number of years now. Without a strong team, you cannot do well," Tevez stated in an interview with Corriere della Sera. AMAZONIAN Tevez also spoke about Juve coach Antonio Conte and says he has adapted to life at the club more quickly than he ever imagined. He continued: "Conte is a winner. If you want to win then you must get used to working hard like he does. My acclimatisation to Juventus has been facilitated by the fact this team really is a team – on and off the field." However, one major disappointment for Bianconeri was their failure to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League – a competition Tevez has himself not scored in for four years. AMAZONIAN The 29-year-old admitted: "Our Champions League exit was a terrible blow to us all. We did not have the right nastiness in our opening matches. "I think that things always happen for a reason. What happened in Istanbul - snow and playing the game on another day - it is not normal but in the long run it will make sense."

Pirlo back early for Juventus Dec 27, 2013 Andrea Pirlo has cut short his Christmas holidays in order to prove his fitness for the Juventus-Roma showdown. http://markting10.nl/ The Italian international has been out of action since picking up a knee problem at the start of this month against Udinese. According to Tuttosport, the former Milan playmaker will be at the Vinovo training centre on Friday – two days before the rest of his teammates are set to report back to Turin. http://markting10.nl/ Juventus, five points clear at the top of the table, will entertain the second-placed Giallorossi on January 5.

Tevez targets Europa League glory Dec 27, 2013 Carlos Tevez says his Juventus side won’t underestimate the Europa League after their Champions League disaster. AMAZONIAN The Old Lady were demoted to the old UEFA Cup after losing 1-0 to Galatasaray in their final European Cup tie earlier this month. “The Europa League is certainly an objective now,” the summer signing from Manchester City told the Corriere della Sera. AMAZONIAN “Going out of the Champions League was a hard blow for everyone. We didn’t play with the right mentality in the first few games.” Juventus, whose Juventus Stadium will host the Final in May, will play Trabzonspor in the last 32 ahead of a possible clash with Fiorentina.

Chiellini set for 300 mark Dec 27, 2013 Giorgio Chiellini will make his 300th appearance for Juventus should he feature in the game against Roma at the start of the New Year. http://markting10.nl/ The central defender, who was originally used as a left-back in Turin, has made 299 appearances for the Old Lady since making his debut in 2005. Chiellini has featured in 211 Serie A games [18 goals], 32 [3] in Serie B, 13 [1] in the Coppa Italia, one in the Super Cup, 31 [1] in the Champions League and 11 [2] in the UEFA CUP/Europa League. http://markting10.nl/ Juve signed Chiellini from Livorno in 2004 for around €6m, but he spent the 2004-05 campaign at Fiorentina.

Ronaldo deserves Ballon d’Or, says Asamoah The Ghana international feels the Portuguese star will triumph ahead of Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery and lift the prize for a second time. Dec 27, 2013 EXCLUSIVE By Kent Mensah & Edmund Okai Gyimah Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah has tipped Cristiano Ronaldo to win the 2013 Ballon d’Or. AMAZONIAN The Real Madrid forward has been named on a three-man shortlist to lift the prize, alongside Lionel Messi and Franck Ribery on the back of his efforts over the past 12 months. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a staggering year of personal success after scoring a record 69 times for los Blancos, making him the most prolific hitman in European club football in 2013, and Asamoah believes the Portuguese simply has to be awarded the trophy. “In my opinion it will be Ronaldo,” the ex-Udinese midfielder said upon receiving the Goal Ghana Player of the Year 2013 Award. AMAZONIAN “He did so well last season and this season he is continuing from where he left off and has been consistent, so he deserves it.” Asamoah, 25, came up against Ronaldo and Gareth Bale during the Bianconeri's clash with Madrid in the group stages of the Champions League and he discussed the difficulties in trying to keep the former Manchester United man under wraps. AMAZONIAN He added: “It wasn’t easy. That game was my first even playing at full-back. It wasn’t easy because these are players who have got speed and are very skilfull and know how to shoot. "The smallest chance you give them they’ll punish you. With them I have learnt something out of it because with these players the more you play with them the more you learn something out of it too."

Juventus: The story so far…almost all too easy Dec 24, 2013 On the whole 2013 has been a good year for Juventus. The club won a Scudetto, reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League in their first campaign there since 2009, and made a number of smart moves during the summer mercato. http://markting10.nl/ The only negative events were two eliminations – the first from the 2013-2014 Champions League, and then Juve getting eliminated from the 2013 Coppa Italia by Lazio, in February. Aside from that, it’s been smooth-sailing for Juve, who easily rolled to their second consecutive Scudetto last season and are only facing slightly more resistance this season for their third. That said, let’s get this started. http://markting10.nl/ Tactical Shifts While the polarizing 3-5-2 of Antonio Conte has remained as the mainstay formation for Juventus, a few tactical changes have occurred. For starters, over the spring Conte flirted with a 3-5-1-1, but it seemed to only nullify Claudio Marchisio without really helping the rest of the side, so that was dropped. Then the arrival of Fernando Llorente provided Juventus (and Andrea Pirlo) with an old fashioned target man – but one who can do more than just hold up the ball. Additionally, Carlos Tevez has played as an embodiment of a “Conte striker” hustling all over the field and hassling opposing defenders when they have possession. Still, the main shift was the change to a 4-5-1 (but in practice a 4-3-3 of sorts) for the matches against Real Madrid. I must say the change was a successful one, as Juventus played Real Madrid very tightly and were arguably the better side in both matches. http://markting10.nl/ Star Performer: Arturo Vidal This is a very tough “award” to pick, as so many players on Juventus have had a stellar year. Still, I will go with Arturo Vidal, for the fact that he has excelled in both Serie A and the Champions League (his toughest opponent for the honor, Carlos Tevez, did not have the Champions League campaign that Vidal had) throughout 2013, while then capping the year off with a hat trick against FC Copenhagen and a new contract. While said contract gave Vidal a raise, he is still behind Tevez in terms of highest paid Vidal - JuventusJuve players, and the deal was a really good one for Juve. Regardless of the contract, Vidal merits this honor on his play alone. http://markting10.nl/ Worst Performer: Mauricio Isla There are not many good candidates for this job, Juventus have done too well. But of the handful of players who have perhaps been less than perfect for Juventus, I will have to go with one who has continued to struggle while coming back from an injury. This man is Mauricio Isla. Isla has had some good performances in 2013, but he almost always follows up these promising games with a stinker. Isla hasn’t necessarily been the worst, but he has been the most frustrating. http://markting10.nl/ Transfer of the Season: Fernando Llorente This one is easy – while Juventus only purchased a handful of players this summer they were important players. So, who is it? It’s Fernando Llorente. Yes, Tevez has more goals, but Llorente scores when he needs to, and he outscored Tevez in the Champions League. Plus, Tevez has been a starter all season for Juve, while Llorente has five fewer starts in total, and some of these starts came in the beginning of the season when Llorente was still not totally in sync with the rest of the Juventus squad. He scored two goals against Real Madrid (one in each match) and the game winner against Udinese, and I still don’t think we’ve seen him at his best. Tevez may have more goals, but Llorente cost 12 million euros less, and already has more Champions League goals than Tevez has scored since 2009 (his last goal in the Champions League was with Manchester United.) http://markting10.nl/ Milestone Moment Sadly, the milestone moment is not a happy one. The milestone moment for 2013 was the loss in Turkey, the one that eliminated the club from the Champions League. After a promising return in the 2012-2013 campaign, Juventus fell totally short of the mark in the fall of 2013. The initial draws against Copenhagen and Galatasaray were unacceptable results, and the club left itself with too much ground to make up in the final four matches. This loss will haunt Juventus until they can make it right next season (assuming they qualify, which is a safe assumption.) It’s a less of a milestone and more of a mile marker, and the marker reads “not yet in Europe’s elite.” http://markting10.nl/ What Needs to Happen in 2014? 2014 should be an exciting year for Juventus, if only for the novelty of the Europa League (I am tryGalatasaray v Juventusing to console myself) and the chance for Conte to further experiment with his tactics as he grows as a manager. I am not expecting many, if any, transfers in the first month of 2014, but the summer is a different story. La Stampa has reported that Juventus and PSG have agreed on terms for Jeremy Menez, and having him arrive in January would allow Conte to experiment with wider formations in preparation for next year’s Champions League. But more on that in the next club focus. http://markting10.nl/ For now, the club needs to win the Scudetto, they need to win the Coppa Italia, and they really need to go far in the Europa League. Unless at least two of these three (if not all) happen, then this season will be a disappointment for Juventus and her fans.

Franca sta per tornare .... Bentornata, ci sei mancata. @@

Serie A Team of the Season so far: Rossi, Tevez & Buffon in, as Milan fail to feature The very best in the Italian league have been brought together for our top XI of the campaign to this point, with some familiar names among them. Dec 25, 2013 The first 17 rounds of Serie A action in 2013-14 have provided some magnificent thrills and spills, and the Goal Team of the Season so far includes the players responsible for some of the most consistently brilliant passages of play. http://markting10.nl/ Notable by their absence are Milan, who have had a poor first half of the campiagn, and Verona, whose run to the top six has not quite been enough for any individual recognition. Instead though, there are four players supplied by league-leading Juventus and two each from unbeaten Roma and flair-driven Fiorentina. There have been stages during 2013 when Gianluigi Buffon's continued reign as the peninsula's number one goalkeeper has been questioned, but his response has been to end the calendar year with a magnificent run of clean sheets. Before conceding to Atalanta's Maxi Moralez at the weekend, Buffon had not been beaten for 744 minutes since Juve's only loss away to Fiorentina. He is protected in the back four by a familiar face in Juve's nine-match unbeaten run in the shape of Giorgio Chiellini, while a Roma side which boasts the best defence in Europe is represented by Mehdi Benatia and Leandro Castan, both of whom were key to the Giallorossi winning 10 successive games from the start of the season and conceding only one goal in the process. http://markting10.nl/ Torino's run into the top seven has been bolstered by the form of Alessio Cerci, who has netted nine goals and been the star man on several occasions during the Granata's campaign so far. Juventus have again been dominant across midfield in opening up a five-point lead, with Paul Pogba continuing his meteoric rise by scoring five times and having a hand in three more in out-performing even Arturo Vidal in the Bianconeri engine room. Esteban Cambiasso, meanwhile, has been an ever-present in the centre for Inter, taking to the responsibility of captaincy with relish and bagging himself four goals into the bargain. The final spot across the middle goes to the outstanding Borja Valero, who has fast become a cult hero at the Artemio Franchi with his artistic displays. His five league goals and six assists have also helped to endear him to Serie A fanatics. Carlos Tevez takes one of the spots up front having proved to be the goal-scoring solution for Juve. Having scored 11 goals in 17 appearances, the Argentine has already superceded the tallies of Arturo Vidal and Mirko Vucinic, who were joint-top scorers for the champions last term. Another man netting regularly is Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain, who has grabbed nine goals to date in leading the Partenopei to third place. Giuseppe Rossi has usurped both men though, sailing to the top of the Capocannoniere charts with 14 goals in 17 games, with that memorable hat-trick for Fiorentina against Juventus providing the pinnacle of his season thus far.

A Half-Term Report on Juventus Dec 24, 2013 Juventus enter the halfway point of the season in a mixed mood. http://markting10.nl/ The Bianconeri will ultimately be devastated to know that there will be no Champions League football in the second half of the season. With disappointing results in Copenhagen and at home to Galatasaray, the damage had been done before travelling to Istanbul for a Matchday 6 decider. The season thus far will be remembered most by the shambles that took place at the Turk Telekom Arena. http://markting10.nl/ The adverse weather conditions may have provided a screen for Antonio Conte to hide behind, but he must ultimately take the flak, considering the lack of diversity in the side's tactics in this season's competition—despite dabbling with a 4-3-3 in matches against Real Madrid. Too often did Conte fail to adjust to what he was witnessing on the pitch, and although the pressure can only mount so far after back-to-back scudetti, there is evidently work to be done to appease Juventini in what will surely not become an improved season upon the last one. In terms of the signings made this summer, a lot was put on the two strikers Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente, with the Spaniard probably edging the Argentine out to be deemed the best acquisition, simply down to the goals he has scored in the big matches. http://markting10.nl/ El Apache has performed well in Serie A, but came up very small in Europe, which has ultimately defined the opening half of the season. Perhaps a failure to address other positions will eventually be deemed as the reason that this season was not a complete success. All is not lost, though, with Paul Pogba emerging as the best young footballer in Europe, the 20-year-old Frenchman picking up Tuttosport's coveted Golden Boy award after displacing Claudio Marchisio from the starting line-up. http://markting10.nl/ It is tough to argue against Pogba as the most improved player in the squad, although Arturo Vidal maintains his excellence in arguably becoming Europe's most complete midfielder. Disappointments have not been glaring from the playing staff, but Mauricio Isla's failure to capitalise upon Stephan Lichtsteiner's injury and continuing to struggle for form is certainly one of them. Kwadwo Asamoah has frustrated on the opposite flank, but considering it is not his preferred position, it is tough to be too critical of the Ghanaian. http://markting10.nl/ In terms of best performance of the season, it must be the 3-0 thrashing of Juve's closest challenger for the scudetto this season, Napoli, who were dispatched with ease at the Juventus Stadium. Andrea Pirlo's wonderful free-kick was stupendously trumped by a masterpiece from Pogba, who struck the goal of the season thus far. Worst performance of the season to this point must be the away fixture against Fiorentina, whereby the Old Lady crumbled in the space of 15 minutes, conceding four goals in their only league defeat of the season. http://markting10.nl/ One of the most innovative ideas of the season came from Juventus, who should be commended for allowing up to 12,000 children to enter the stadium during matches against Udinese—initially for poor behaviour from their fans in the Napoli match—and subsequently against Sassuolo. Earlier kick-off times were arranged and free tickets to kids in the region were released in one of the brightest and most generous ideas by a football club in Serie A this season. It is a season that still contains the potential to develop into a successful one, but the failure in Europe will likely tarnish it no matter what. http://markting10.nl/ A significant lead in the league will probably be enough to deliver a third successive title, but without the addition of a Coppa Italia title or the Europa League—which will have the final played at their own stadium in May—Juve's season will probably only be deemed a minor success. Conte has much work to do to convince the fans and the board that he has developed the side further this season, and no matter the lack of competition in the league, he will need to demonstrate this in the second half of the campaign to avoid increased pressure and criticism.

Juve are spectacular, says Tevez The Argentine, who has scored 12 goals since his arrival in Turin in the summer, says he is happy at the Scudetto holders and will relish the winter break. Dec 24, 2013 Carlos Tevez says he is enjoying life at "spectacular" Juventus after joining from Manchester City this summer. AMAZONIAN The Argentine, 29, has scored 12 goals in his 24 Bianconeri appearances this season and has been a constant starter in the XI. Despite the disappointment of being dumped out of the Champions League at the group stage, Antonio Conte's men have been flying in Serie A and Tevez is thrilled with life in Italy. "I am very happy in Turin," the striker told Corriere dello Sport. "Now the most important thing is to get some rest and prepare for the match against Roma. AMAZONIAN "We wanted to be ahead in Serie A this stage. We know that this Juventus are much a much stronger team than the ones that won the last two Scudettos. "I'm happy because this group of players is spectacular."