Socrates

Asamoah si allunga troppo il pallone.

Conte .... un leone in gabbia.

Il goal é maturo.

Che ha visto Mazzoleni?

Lichtsteiner crossa male.

Dominio della Juve.

Seba di nuovo pericoloso.

Che grida il pubblico? Siena o Seba?

Serie A - Week 7 - 7-10-2012 (3:00 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena Stadium - Siena Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Siena v Juventus Preview : Antonio Conte Visits His Old Side Oct 6, 2012 Antonio Conte’s former side Siena host reigning Serie A Champions Juventus at the Artemio Franchi on Sunday afternoon. Conte managed Siena for just a season, which was enough to see him achieve what he was hired for – promotion to Serie A. He then went on to join Juventus last season and the rest as they say, is history. The at Siena had its fair share of controversy, the consequences of which have impacted his current club Juventus. Conte’s alleged involvement in the Calcioscommesse scandal meant that he was slapped with a 10 month touchline ban. The ban has since been reduced to 4 months implying Conte will be available on the 9th of December when Juventus travel to Sicily to face Palermo. Siena, for their part, were slapped with a six points deduction which they may find hard to recover from and are certain relegation contenders. Team News and Tactical Brief Siena Serse Cosmi’s side begun their campaign with a six point deduction but that hasn’t deterred them as they have enjoyed a fairly decent start to the season. Had it not been for the deduction, Siena would have found themselves in mid-table, instead they remain second from bottom in the relegation zone with two points to their name. However, they have managed to record excellent wins against Inter and Bologna. Cosmi will field his tried and tested 3-4-2-1 formation. Siena are the underdogs going into this fixture and attacking Juventus might not be the smartest tactic to employ. They will sit back and soak up the pressure hoping to hit the champions on counter. A lot of their play revolves around striker Emanuele Calaio, who has bagged two goals this season. Owing to his huge physique, Calaio can hold up play and involve others in attack. The duo of Alesandro Rosina and Ze Eduardo will play just behind him. Rosina, a once very promising prospect, might just be given the task of escorting Andrea Pirlo wherever the former Milan man may decide to venture and suffocating him. Defence will be marshaled by the experienced Massimo Paci who will be flanked by Neto and Felipe. The three of them will have to contain the tricky movements of the Juventus front duo. The lack of a target-man could also work to their disadvantage as they may find it difficult to pick up a striker. Matteo Contini has been ruled out for Siena while Gaetano D’Agostino remains a doubt. Probable Starting Line-up (3-4-2-1): Pegolo; Neto, Paci, Felipe; Sestu, Vergassola, Rodriguez, Del Grosso; Rosina, Ze Eduardo; Calaio Juventus Juventus Juventus While Juventus completely outplayed Roma in what was their most impressive performance of the campaign so far, the Champions League game against Shakhtar was a stark contrast. The lack of home support was evident and Juventus were on the back-foot for the most part. They lacked the cutting edge they’ve shown at the Juventus Stadium against a highly technical opposition. The Ukranian Champions were comfortable in possession and constantly threatened. It was more of a point gained for Juventus than two lost. Now back to Serie A, Siena might test the fitness levels of Conte’s side. The games are coming thick and fast for the Bianconeri and their squad depth will be questioned again and again. The manager is likely to deploy his favored 3-5-2 formation. A few changes from the team that faced Shakhtar here and there are expected without being completely overturning the starting eleven. Luca Marrone will step into the heart of defence, replacing Leo Bonucci who is suspended. Marrone’s versatility has proven handy and the youngster has shown maturity beyond his age with composed displays in back three. Caceres and De Ceglie can replace Lichtsteiner and Asamoah. The former duo completely stretched Roma’s back-line with their marauding runs and forays into opposition territory. More of the same is what Conte will ask for against Siena as he looks to stretch the opposition. Andrea Pirlo should retain his place in the center of midfield. Pirlo of course will pull the strings and look to spread play with his vast range of passing. The maestro has looked a bit off color in a few games this season but his quality is renowned and should he hit top gear, there will be no shortage of goal-scoring chances. Up front, Mirko Vucinic is expected to be partnered by pint sized attacker Sebastian Giovinco. Simone Pepe remains sidelined for Juventus. Probable Starting Line-up (3-5-2): Buffon; Barzagli, Marrone, Chiellini; Caceres, Giaccherini, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Giovinco, Vucinic Key Facts Juventus are unbeaten in 45 Serie A games. Siena are undefeated at home this term. Juventus have scored the most amount of goals in Serie A so far with 15. Player To Watch Out For Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus) The Atomic Ant has blown hot and cold so far and is yet to cement his place as a Juventus starter. Fans still remain on the fence with his signing and whether he will really inject any quality into a fairly lackluster Juventus attack. He will get the chance against Siena to prove his detractors wrong and show himself to be worthy of the famous Bianconeri colors. Prediction Siena 0-2 Juventus The home side might just fancy their chances against a Juventus side coming off an exhausting few weeks. But the Bianconeri have quality in abundance and it is this very quality that should spur them on to another victory in Serie A. The game will be tight in its initial stages with Siena doing most of the running but Juventus should come out comfortable winners at the end of the day. Blast From The Past http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - 7^ Giornata - Andata - 7-10-2012 (ore 15:00) - Stadio "Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena" — Siena Arbitro: Paolo Mazzoleni Verso Siena-Juventus: Conte fa turnover, Cosmi punta su Calaiò e i ritrovati Rosina e Ze Eduardo. Il tecnico della Juventus è intenzionato a dare un turno di riposo a Barzagli, Vidal, Lichtsteiner e Asamoah. Spazio a Lucio, Marrone, Caceres, Giaccherini e De Ceglie. Oct 6, 2012 PROBABILI FORMAZIONI SIENAPegolo Neto, Paci, Felipe Sestu, Vergassola, Rodriguez, Del Grosso Ze Eduardo, Rosina Calaió JUVENTUS Buffon Lucio, Marrone, Chiellini Isla, Giaccherini, Pogba, Marchisio, Asamoah Giovinco, Vucinic QUI SIENA Cosmi sembra orientato a schierare la sua squadra contro la Juve con un 3-4-2-1. Rosina e Ze Eduardo sono recuperati e partiranno titolari, assieme a Rodriguez e Sestu, favorito nel ballottaggio con Angelo. D'Agostino è out per una ventina di giorni a causa di una lesione muscolare. In attacco, confermatissimo, ci sarà Calaiò. QUI JUVENTUS Conte sembra intenzionato ad attuare il turnover contro il Siena. Squalificato Bonucci, Marrone e Lucio saranno titolari in difesa. Riposo per Barzagli, Lichtsteiner, Vidal e Asamoah. In campo dal primo minuto Lucio e Marrone in difesa, Caceres, Giaccherini e De Ceglie a centrocampo. Giovinco-Vucinic sarà il duo d'attacco, con Bendtner pronto a subentrare a gara iniziata. L'ULTIMA SFIDA 05/02/2012, Juventus-Siena 0-0: Pegolo fa miracoli IL MOMENTO La sconfitta in casa della Lazio nella scorsa giornata ha messo termine ad una bella striscia di risultati positivi con cui il Siena, vittoria a San Siro contro l'Inter compresa, è riuscita a risalire l'ardua china del -6 in classifica con cui ha iniziato il campionato. La Juventus è invece reduce da un pareggio sofferto contro lo Shakhtar in Champions League, che ha comunque permesso ai bianconeri di prolungare la propria imbattibilità. In campionato, poi, il cammino della Juve è implacabile e la Roma ne sa qualcosa. PERCHE' GUARDARLA Veder giocare la Juventus è sempre un piacere, il confronto col Siena, poi, potrebbe non essere così scontato come la classifica potrebbe lasciar supporre. La squadra toscana sta incarnando alla perfezione lo spirito del proprio tecnico Serse Cosmi. Grinta che è un po' mancata nel match perso con la Lazio lo scorso weekend, ma proprio per questo c'è da attendersi un Siena caricato a mille dal proprio tecnico in vista del match con la Vecchia Signora. Testa a Testa Serie A ‎- 05/feb/2012 - Juventus 0 - Siena 0 Serie A ‎- 18/set/2011 - Siena 0 - Juventus 1 Serie A ‎- 14/mar/2010 - Juventus 3 - Siena 3 Serie A ‎- 25/ott/2009 - Siena 0 - Juventus 1 Serie A ‎- 24/mag/2009 - Siena 0 - Juventus 3 Ultime 5 Partite Siena 30/set/2012 - Lazio 2 - Siena 1 - Serie A 27/set/2012 - Siena 1 - Bologna 0 - Serie A 23/set/2012 - Inter 0 - Siena 2 - Serie A 16/set/2012 - Siena 2 - Udinese 2 - Serie A 02/set/2012 - Sampdoria 2 - Siena 1 - Serie A Juventus 02/ott/2012 - Juventus 1 - Shakhtar 1 - UCL 29/set/2012 - Juventus 4 - Roma 1 - Serie A 25/set/2012 - Fiorentina 0 - Juventus 0 - Serie A 22/set/2012 - Juventus 2 - Chievo 0 - Serie A 19/set/2012 - Chelsea FC 2 - Juventus 2 - UCL Previsione Siena 0 - 2 Juventus http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 7 - 7-10-2012 (3:00 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena Stadium - Siena Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Cosmi: 'Best not enough with Juve' Oct 6, 2012 Serse Cosmi warns Siena that “our best might not be enough” to get a result against Serie A leaders Juventus on Sunday. The Tuscans welcome the Bianconeri to the Stadio Franchi at 14.00 BST, click here for a match preview. “We have to give our all against Juventus, but still realise our best might not be enough,” said Coach Cosmi. “With that in mind, we must go beyond our limits, as it is the only way to get a result against such a great squad.” Juve look set to give Nicklas Bendtner his first Serie A start against the team he nearly joined over the summer. “I won’t think about that, as I am concentrated only on my own squad. My players entered the history books with their victory over Inter at San Siro, so they know full well they will need another historic achievement tomorrow.” Antonio Conte will be in the stands of his former club, even though his 10-month ban has been reduced to four on appeal. The suspension is for failing to report a potential fix to the authorities while he was the Coach of Siena as part of an investigation that also cost the club a six-point penalty. “I saw that Juventus expressed unhappiness at the verdict. I know it is a different situation, but I would love for them to only give a four-month ban to Claudio Terzi and Roberto Vitiello. I have given up trying to understand the sporting justice system.” Siena players Vitiello and Terzi are banned until 2016 due to the betting scandal, while Nicola Belmonte is suspended until February 2013 and Marcelo Larrondo until November 24. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 7 - 7-10-2012 (3:00 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena Stadium - Siena Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Siena lose duo for Juve Oct 6, 2012 Siena are without Gaetano D’Agostino and Matteo Contini for tomorrow’s match with Juventus. The Tuscans had already lost creative midfielder D’Agostino to injury earlier in the week and Contini was added to the list of absentees. D’Agostino is sidelined for two to three weeks due to a right thigh strain, while Contini is out for a couple of weeks after dislocating a toe on his left foot. Siena squad for Juventus: Campagnolo, Farelli, Pegolo; Angelo, Del Grosso, Dellafiore, Felipe, Neto, Paci, Rubin; Bolzoni, Mannini, Rodriguez, Sestu, Valiani, Vergassola, Verre; Bogdani, Calaiò, Paolucci, Reginaldo, Rosina, Zè Eduardo. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 7 - 7-10-2012 (3:00 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena Stadium - Siena Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Filippi: 'Conte ban irrelevant' Oct 6, 2012 Assistant Claudio Filippi prepares Juventus to face Siena and thinks Antonio Conte’s ban cut won’t make any difference. Filippi had already taken the pre-match interview duties for last week’s 4-1 win over Roma and was again in the Press conference this morning. “The team is ready and we trained well. We know that we are facing a complicated team who have amassed eight points so far and without their penalty would be in fifth place,” said the goalkeeping coach. “Siena are the revelation of the campaign right now and we expect them to be strong and confident, but we’ll do everything we can to play our game. We’re well rested and trained with the right attitude.” On Friday Conte’s 10-month ban was reduced to four on appeal, so he will be back on the touchline – and in the Press room – from December 8. “How did the squad react? We have always trained well, because the Coach is always present and the team responds to his suggestions, so I doubt anything will actually change.” There are strong reports that Nicklas Bendtner could get his first Juventus start against Siena on Sunday. “Bendtner is at our disposal and is working very hard. We will decide the right moment to use him. The only certainty we have is that Luca Marrone will play. “Could Andrea Pirlo share the field with Paul Pogba? Conte will decide the line-up tomorrow.” The Bianconeri need a boost after their midweek 1-1 Champions League draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. “We knew it would be a tough game,” noted Filippi. “We could lose or win, but the point helps us move the standings. We will evaluate things step by step as the competition progresses.” http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 7 - 7-10-2012 (3:00 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena Stadium - Siena Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Siena v Juventus: Preview Oct 6, 2012 Juventus president Andrea Agnelli is angry that head coach Antonio Conte will not be on the bench against his former club Siena, but he is looking forward to his imminent return. Conte had his 10-month suspension for failing to report match-fixing - while in charge of Siena - cut to just four months by TNAS yesterday, meaning he will be back in the dug-out for Juve's trip to Palermo on December 9. Technical director Massimo Carrera has earned Juve 16 points from the 18 available so far, but Agnelli cannot fathom why Conte has to sit out a further nine Serie A games before his return. The Juve president told the club's official website: "I maintain my belief, one that is shared by everybody at Juventus, that Antonio Conte is an innocent man. "The confirmation of his ban is unjust. "Everyone at Juventus is looking forward to finally having (him) back on the bench, where he can make the most of his talent and continue his work with devotion and dedication. "Starting today, sporting institutions need to pursue a reform of the justice system in order to avoid a repeat of this situation." Such issues can not occupy interim boss Carrera, though, as he plots to extend La Vecchia's 45-game unbeaten run at the Stadio Artemio Franchi. Leonardo Bonucci, who scored an incredible equaliser against Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, is suspended for picking up his fourth yellow card of the season, allowing Luca Marrone the chance to deputise. Siena boss Serse Cosmi knows only a flawless performance will do if the Robur are to end Juve's astonishing run. "We'll need the perfect game to beat them," he said. "They've been in difficulty just twice this season, against Fiorentina and against Shakhtar. "They only played to 50% of their potential in those games, with their opponents at 90%. "That means Juventus don't even lose games on an off day. "We'll have to be at 100% and then we'll see what happens." Ominously, the Robur have not beaten Juve in Tuscany since May 2008 and they will have to amend that record without midfielder Gaetano D'Agostino, who is training alone in a bid to recover from a muscle injury. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 7 - 7-10-2012 (3:00 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena Stadium - Siena Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni MATCH PREVIEW Oct 6, 2012 Antonio Conte returns to Siena for the first time since the Calcioscommesse verdict to meet a resurgent Robur side. Siena stunned Inter with a 2-0 win at the San Siro two weeks ago and by following that with a win over Bologna, completely eradicated their six point deduction. The winning momentum came to a halt on Sunday though, as Serse Cosmi’s side succumbed to a 2-1 defeat away at Lazio. Cosmi felt his side were in the contest and could have walked away with at least a point. He refuses to think of where Siena should be – on eight points were it not for the deduction – and only worries about where they are, equal bottom with two points. The tactician notes that it will take a ‘perfect’ performance to defeat Juventus. Injured defender Matteo Contini is the only player missing. Cosmi will continue with his favoured three-man defence and two deeper-lying strikers – including Alessandro Rosina - behind Emanuele Calaió. Juventus showed the draw with Fiorentina was merely a slight dent on their fine domestic start as they thumped Zdenek Zeman’s Roma last Saturday. The Giallorossi could not withstand the Bianconeri onslaught, as Juve led 3-0 after 20 minutes and ended 4-1 victors. That result was followed midweek with a subdued draw in the Champions League versus Shakhtar Donetsk. Conte must again watch from the stands on his return to his former workplace. Filippo Carobbio's testimony saw the Juve boss handed a ten month touchline ban for failure to report match fixing during the 2010-11 season, when a Siena side containing Carobbio and coached by Conte finished runners up in Serie B. Ironically though that ban may have been reduced by the time he arrives at the Artemio Franchi, with a decision from the TNAS appeals court expected on Friday. Leonardo Bonucci is suspended after picking up his fourth yellow card of the campaign, giving Luca Marrone a chance in defence. Simone Padoin returns from injury but Simone Pepe sits out for another week, while there is set to be rotation after the European excursion. Siena have only ever scored twice against Juve at home, although one of the goals led to their maiden victory. Aside from that aberration, Juventus have claimed six wins in the Tuscan city from seven clashes, including last season’s 1-0 result. Keep an eye on: Claudio Marchisio (Juventus) – The midfielder is a vital cog in the Juventus machine. His forward runs and all-action style are critical to their approach. All that is missing from his repertoire this term is goals and Marchisio will look to change that in Siena. Form guide: Siena (L D W W L) Juventus (W W W D W) Last season: Siena 0-1 Juventus Stat fact: Juventus have won by a three-goal margin on three occasions in Siena, most recently in 2008-09. Siena: Pegolo; Neto, Paci, Felipe; Sestu, Vergassola, Rodriguez, Del Grosso; Rosina, Ze Eduardo; Calaio Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Marrone, Chiellini; Caceres, Giaccherini, Pirlo, Marchisio, De Ceglie; Giovinco, Vucinic http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A - Week 7 - 7-10-2012 (3:00 p.m.) - Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena Stadium - Siena Referee: Paolo Mazzoleni Siena - Juventus Preview: The Bianconeri will be aiming to extend their lead in Serie A The Italian champions take on Serse Cosmi's Tuscan outfit in a bid to exorcise their disappointments stemming from the Champions League in midweek. Oct 6, 2012 PROBABLE LINE-UPS SIENAPegolo Neto, Paci, Felipe Sestu, Vergassola, Rodriguez, Del Grosso Ze Eduardo, Rosina Calaió JUVENTUS Buffon Barzagli, Marrone, Chiellini Isla, Vidal, Pogba, Marchisio, Asamoah Giovinco, Vucinic Juventus coach Antonio Conte will be urging his men to seize victory against Siena on Sunday, taking advantage of any slip-ups their title rivals make in order to surge clear at the top of Serie A. With Tuesday's Champions League date with Shakhtar Donetsk having taken a physical toll on the Old Lady, Conte is expected to rotate his men to conserve the batteries of several key players. Mauricio Isla, Paul Pogba and Luca Marrone are therefore in line for their second starts of the campaign, appearing in place of Stephan Lichtsteiner, Andrea Pirlo and the suspended Leonardo Bonucci. Kwado Asamoah is anticipated to reprise his roll on the left, while it remains a toss-up between Sebastian Giovinco, Fabio Quagliarella and Alessandro Matri to see who will partner Mirko Vucinic in attack. Siena boss Serse Cosmi will have to contend without the likes of playmaker Gaetano D’Agostino for his side's crunch tie, although he will be able to count on the services of former Torino player Alessandro Rosina in attack. DID YOU KNOW? • Juventus won their corresponding fixture by a 1-0 scoreline last season, the winner having been scored by Matri (pictured right). • The Turin giants have defeated their hosts on an impressive 13 occasions out of 14 encounters since 2004 • Conte will be chasing his 46th unbeaten result in charge of his side, drawing him closer to achieving Arrigo Sacchi's humbling record of 58 games without defeat. • In all their previous encounters, Siena have only ever scored twice against the Bianconeri at the Artemio Franchi. • One of those goals earned the Robur their solitary win over Juventus to date, coming during a 1-0 victory in May 2008. • It remains to be seen whether Serse Cosmi can pull off a feat of such magnitude though, given his team languish 19th in the table, after slumping to two draws and two defeats in their first six fixtures. Head to Head Serie A ‎- Feb 5, 2012 - Juventus 0 - Siena 0 Serie A ‎- Sep 18, 2011 - Siena 0 - Juventus 1 Serie A ‎- Mar 14, 2010 - Juventus 3 - Siena 3 Serie A ‎- Oct 25, 2009 - Siena 0 - Juventus 1 Serie A ‎- May 24, 2009 - Siena 0 - Juventus 3 Last Five Matches Siena Sep 30, 2012 - Lazio 2 - Siena 1 - Serie A Sep 27, 2012 - Siena 1 - Bologna 0 - Serie A Sep 23, 2012 - FC Internazionale 0 - Siena 2 - Serie A Sep 16, 2012 - Siena 2 - Udinese 2 - Serie A Sep 2, 2012 - Sampdoria 2 - Siena 1 - Serie A Juventus Oct 2, 2012 - Juventus 1 - Shakhtar Donetsk 1 - CL Sep 29, 2012 - Juventus 4 - Roma 1 - Serie A Sep 25, 2012 - Fiorentina 0 - Juventus 0 - Serie A Sep 22, 2012 - Juventus 2 - Chievo 0 - Serie A Sep 19, 2012 - Chelsea FC 2 - Juventus 2 - CL Players to Watch Emanuele Calaiò The 30-year-old remains the focal point of Serse Cosmi's attack, leading his side's joint-top scorer chart with two goals this season. One gets the feeling he will have to work hard to make his presence felt, but Calaio will prove crucial in linking and finishing off attacking forays, perhaps giving Juventus' rearguard one or two things to worry about by testing Gianluigi Buffon whenever the rare opportunity presents itself. Claudio Marchisio Juventus' very own academy graduate never stops growing. The Italy international has taken on the onus of bossing the midfield this term, to the extent that the influence of his talismanic counterpart, Andrea Pirlo, has gone comparatively unnoticed. Accepting roles of increasing prominence and constantly improving, expect Marchisio to put on a performance of the highest standard against Siena. Prediction Siena will crucially be able to count on home support in this David vs. Goliath encounter, but Juventus have too much experience and firepower for any measure of divine intervention to overcome. Expect the Serie A champions to extend their unbeaten streak with ease here, brushing aside their hosts in a routine win, regardless of how many first-team members might be rested. Editor's Prediction Siena 0 - 2 Juventus http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Conte's ban reduction is a compromise with no winners Juventus coach has had his 10-month suspension reduced, but the whole case has demonstrated the ineffectiveness of a system that cannot be adjusted, reformed or fixed. Oct 6, 2012 COMMENT By Sergio Stanco After the original accusation came the four-month plea bargain; the supposed desire to keep the whole case out of the courtroom. When that was dismissed, there was a 10-month suspension. Eventually, we now come back to square one, with Antonio Conte seeing his touchline ban reduced by six months. Juventus will have their coach back on the bench from December 9 in Palermo, but who wins? Does anyone, really? If Conte believed he was innocent from the start, surely he could have pleaded as such. He could have gone to the breach, made a fuss, ensured that his clean name was upheld and his innocence proven. Instead, he is at a halfway house. He risked so much by appearing to accept that he was in some way complicit in the match-fixing at Siena, and as a result he was never going to be completely cleared of the charge. But what of the evidence? The repentant declarations were like clockwork, the vendetta of someone who remained on the ball and never hid. One man can wake up one morning with a bad mood and the desire to settle a score and have you publicly disgraced. And when you finish in the media meat-grinder, with your face printed large across the front pages, how do you defend yourself? You don't even get the time to read the cards, you simply have to attempt to save your ass or risk taking the brunt with a plea bargain. The decision in this case was to take the lesser evil. Those who are innocent do not do deals with the devil, they say. But it is all well and good for them who are not in your shoes. This was the path Conte followed. One man can wake up one morning with a bad mood and the desire to settle a score and have you publicly disgraced. Forced to fight, is it not your job to fight? If you did it on the pitch, and you do it on the bench, how much do you do it off the field? An indomitable lion should demonstrate his qualities. Conte took the fall under the accusations, but his desire to return sooner rather than later took the case to TNAS. Evidence was supplied to show that the then-Siena coach did not deliberately leave out Salvatore Mastronunzio, with medical certificates proving the striker was injured. This had been a key point in the earlier decision, and so we returned full circle, with the ban reduced to four months. It does not take a legal professional to understand that this whole episode has been handled with the improvisation of a beginner, that the affair - if it were not so serious - would have the after taste of a Kafkaesque, almost comical situation, that - from whichever standpoint - demonstrates the inefficiency of a system that cannot be regulated, reformed, or turned on its head. The absurd thing is that the whole case leaves everyone dissatisfied: the accuser, the accused, and the whole gallery. The absurd thing is that the whole story leaves everyone dissatisfied: the accuser, the accused, and the whole gallery. Even the judges seem to have found a way to get out of it without making a decision. The final verdict is a thinly-veiled attempt to have it both ways. When in doubt, and in this case there seemed to be little of anything else, they have decided to save only their own bacon. We do not know whether Conte is guilty or innocent and we will now never know, with this judgement leaving a gap between the charge and the defence disgracefully unfilled. The fact is that everyone is left to feel as though the judges did not have a clue as to whether the coach was innocent either. And that should have been enough to acquit him. But this is sporting justice, they say. Which all means we must hurry to reform it, because otherwise we will not even get a whiff of justice - in any case - for the forseeable future. And this - Conte or no Conte - is the one thing that we do know at the end of this whole regretful episode.

Agnelli: Conte's ban remains an injustice The Bianconeri supremo was not impressed with the decision to reduce Conte's ban, and feels the coach should have been acquitted instead. Oct 6, 2012 Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has voiced his dismay with TNAS' decision not to fully acquit head coach Antonio Conte. The former Siena boss saw his suspension for failing to report two instances of match-fixing reduced from 10 to four months on Friday, but Agnelli feels Conte should not have been banned at all. "The confirmation of his suspension is an injustice which should prompt the entire footballing system to ask itself questions," an official statement reads. "I maintain my view, which is shared by everyone at Juventus, that Antonio Conte is an innocent man and in no way guilty of the charges levelled at him. "After so much has been written and said about this issue, the appropriate sporting bodies must proceed with a far-reaching reform of the sporting justice system, so it can avoid perilous inconsistencies – in terms of the length and severity of sanctions – the likes of which have occurred over the last few years." Conte will be able to return to the Juve bench for the clash with Palermo on December 9, one day after his ban expires.

Agnelli: Conte's ban remains an injustice The Bianconeri supremo was not impressed with the decision to reduce Conte's ban, and feels the coach should have been acquitted instead. Oct 6, 2012 Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has voiced his dismay with TNAS' decision not to fully acquit head coach Antonio Conte. The former Siena boss saw his suspension for failing to report two instances of match-fixing reduced from 10 to four months on Friday, but Agnelli feels Conte should not have been banned at all. "The confirmation of his suspension is an injustice which should prompt the entire footballing system to ask itself questions," an official statement reads. "I maintain my view, which is shared by everyone at Juventus, that Antonio Conte is an innocent man and in no way guilty of the charges levelled at him. "After so much has been written and said about this issue, the appropriate sporting bodies must proceed with a far-reaching reform of the sporting justice system, so it can avoid perilous inconsistencies – in terms of the length and severity of sanctions – the likes of which have occurred over the last few years." Conte will be able to return to the Juve bench for the clash with Palermo on December 9, one day after his ban expires.

FIGC: 'Conte responsibility affirmed' Oct 6, 2012 Antonio Conte’s 10-month ban was reduced to four months on appeal, but the FIGC lawyers are still satisfied “there was an affirmation of responsibility.” The Juventus Coach has always pleaded his innocence when accused of failing to report a potential fix to authorities while he was in charge of Siena in Serie B. An appeal to the TNAS tribunal on Friday saw his ban reduced drastically from 10 months to four, but the Federation legal team are still fairly content. “The sanction depends on the sensibility of the judges and that means a different evaluation of the same evidence,” said FIGC lawyer Luigi Medugno. “In any case, the Federation is satisfied with the fact that there was an affirmation of responsibility. That was our objective, also to overcome certain controversy that was brought up over the summer.” This is referring to Conte’s original attempt to negotiate a plea bargain with prosecutors, which was rejected by the Disciplinary Commission. Conte later declared it was a huge mistake and blamed his lawyers for talking him into it. It should be noted in Italy a plea bargain is not necessarily an admission of guilt and in this case it had a very clear statement of innocence attached to it. Juventus President Andrea Agnelli responded to the reduction in the ban by protesting it was still not enough, as Conte is “an innocent man.”

Serie A - 7^ Giornata - Andata - 7-10-2012 (ore 15:00) - Stadio "Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena" — Siena Arbitro: Paolo Mazzoleni Confronti ufficiali 16 - 14 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Juventus 13 - 11 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Pareggi 2 - 2 (Serie A) Vittorie Siena 1 - 1 (Serie A) Goals Juventus 33 - 29 (Serie A) - 4 (Coppa Italia) Goals Siena 9 - 7 (Serie A) - 2 (Coppa Italia) Siena - Juventus in campionato a Siena Giocate: 7 Vittorie Juventus: 6 (l'ultima il 18.09.2011, 0-1) Pareggi: 0 Vittorie Siena: 1 (Il 04.05.2008, 1-0) Goals Juventus: 14 Goals Siena: 2 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Siena a Siena in Serie A 6 presenze Buffon Gianluigi 6 Del Piero Alessandro 5 Nedved Pavel 4 Camoranesi Mauro German Serr 4 Chiellini Giorgio 4 Trezeguet David Sergio 4 Zebina Jonathan 3 Legrottaglie Nicola 3 Zambrotta Gianluca 2 Appiah Stephen 4 goals Del Piero Alessandro 1 Amauri Carvalho de Oliveira 1 Camoranesi Mauro German 1 Di Vaio Marco 1 Marchisio Claudio 1 Matri Alessandro 1 Miccoli Fabrizio 1 Mutu Adrian 1 Trezeguet David Sergio 1 Tudor Igor Ultimi confronti diretti 21.12.2005 Serie A Juventus-Siena 2-0 30.04.2006 Serie A Siena-Juventus 0-3 23.12.2007 Serie A Juventus-Siena 2-0 04.05.2008 Serie A Siena-Juventus 1-0 11.01.2009 Serie A Juventus-Siena 1-0 24.05.2009 Serie A Siena-Juventus 0-3 25.10.2009 Serie A Siena-Juventus 0-1 14.03.2010 Serie A Juventus-Siena 3-3 18.09.2011 Serie A Siena-Juventus 0-1 05.02.2012 Serie A Juventus-Siena 0-0 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 7 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Siena 1 - Goals Juventus 16 - Goals Siena 4

Agnelli: Conte is an innocent man Oct 5, 2012 Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli has once again defended Coach Antonio Conte, after his ten-month suspension was cut to four this afternoon. The former midfielder was banned from all match-day duties over the summer having been found guilty of failing to report instances of match-fixing whilst he was in charge at Siena. But having taken his case to the TNAS court in a bid to be acquitted of the charges, the ruling came back on Friday that he will once again be allowed to take full charge of the Bianconeri from December 8. Agnelli released a statement condemning the ruling, whilst also issuing his full support for the 43-year-old tactician. “I maintain my view, which is shared by everyone at Juventus, that Antonio Conte is an innocent man and in no way guilty of the charges levelled at him,” he told juventus.com. “The confirmation of his suspension is an injustice which should prompt the entire footballing system to ask itself questions. “We at Juventus await the return of our coach to the dugout, where he can fully demonstrate his talent and continue the work he does on a daily basis showing commitment and dedication to the team. “After so much has been written and said about this issue, the appropriate sporting bodies must proceed with a far-reaching reform of the sporting justice system, so it can avoid perilous inconsistencies – in terms of the length and severity of sanctions – the likes of which have occurred over the last few years and which have often led to serious miscarriages of justice. “I hope they respond swiftly to this appeal so that such injustices may never occur again in the future."

Conte ban cut to four months! Oct 5, 2012 Juventus boss Antonio Conte will return to the touchline on December 9 after having his 10-month ban slashed. The tactician was suspended from match-day duties after he was found guilty of failing to report an alleged attempt to fix a game which he was in charge at Siena. Conte’s lawyers took their case to the TNAS court in a bid to be acquitted of the charge, but they were only able to get a reduction in his punishment. The former midfielder’s ban will now expire on December 8, which means he will be able to return to the bench for the December 9 tie at Palermo in Week 16. Conte, who has always maintained his innocence, has been able to continue training the side, but Massimo Carrera has taken over during matches. The reduction isn’t enough for Conte to make his debut in the Champions League this solar year, as Juventus end the group stage against Shakhtar Donetsk on December 5.

Antonio Conte has ban reduced by six months Juventus coach could now make his return to the Bianconeri touchline as soon as December 9 having seen his match-day ban slashed from 10 months to just four months. Oct 5, 2012 Juventus head coach Antonio Conte has seen his match ban reduced from 10 months to four months, meaning he will return to the touchline as soon as December. The Italian had originally been handed the long punishment for his part in the match-fixing scandal while in charge of Siena in the 2010-11 season. The 43-year-old former Italy international was specifically convicted of failing to report an alleged attempt to fix a match during his one-year tenure before he left for the Bianconeri. Conte has been able to help train his players this season but has been banned from any touchline activity and is unable to influence decisions during matches, which has instead been overseen by Massimo Carrera. However, the coach’s lawyers - having failed at getting Conte acquitted - were able to convince the TNAS court that the ban should be reduced. This means he will now be able to return to action for Juve’s clash with Palermo on December 9, one day after his ban expires and 16 match-days into the 2012-13 campaign.

Buffon close to signing four-year deal at Juventus The 34-year-old is nearing an agreement that will prolong his 11-year association with the club and end speculation of a move to Ligue 2 outfit Monaco. Oct 5, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon is close to signing a contract extension which will see him remain with Juventus until 2016. The goalkeeper remains the world’s most expensive shot-stopper following his €40.5 million move from Parma in the summer of 2001. Negotiations neared a conclusion last week when club president Andrea Agnelli offered Buffon a €4.5m a year deal. The Bianconeri faithful will be delighted with the news that one of the club’s star players has been tied down to a new contract; following speculation that Claudio Ranieri's Monaco were interested in making a move for the player. Contact had been made between Giorgio Pellizzaro (Ranieri’s goalkeeping coach) and Buffon, in which he tried to tempt the Juventus number one with a move to the Stade Louis II. But it is now understood that he will snub that interest and pen a new deal at Juventus Stadium, which will ensure he ends his career at the club.