While the worlds press gathered to salivate over Spain’s 'El Classico', matters in Serie A were taking a more dramatic turn. Inter managed to overcome Fiorentina at the San Siro thanks to a Diego Milito Penalty. Milan struggled to break down Catania, and were knocking on the door for 90 minutes until Klaas-Jan Huntelaar produced two moments of striking magic to propel himself into the hearts of the Rossoneri. However, with the two Milan sides gaining 3 points, it was Juve who slipped up once more. They were well and truly humbled by Cagliari at the Sant’Elia with Jeda on from in the 2-0 defeat.
This has meant they are now a massive 8 points behind leaders Inter and have dropped to third place behind a Milan side that have huffed and puffed all season.
Juventus were seen by many as Inter’s main and possibly only challengers for the Scudetto this season, after a better than normal transfer campaign and terrific start to the Serie A season. Diego looked an inspired piece of business during the opening few games. Cannanvaro and Chiellini were assured at the back, Iaquinta was fast becoming Juve’s number one striker, with youth a plenty in De Ceglie, Marchisio and a rejuvenated Giovinco, a title challenge seemed a realistic possibility.
In stark contrast, the last month or so have been a relative disaster for the Bianconeri, capitulation against Napoli, struggling to overcome Udinese and thoroughly outplayed by Cagliari, not to mention the Champions League trouncing at the hands of Bordeaux.
This had led to increased pressure on relative rookie Ciro Ferrara, his position has come under the microscope in recent weeks, with some even calling for his head. According to Turin newspaper, Tuttosport, Juve patron John Elkann apparently called Ferrara after the weekend’s game to remind him of the money spent in the summer and the expectations of the Juve board and faithful.
Ferrara himself has admitted that there is something wrong at the club, according to the coach the Brazilian is not following instructions on the pitch. This usually means the coach is losing control of the dressing room, and inevitably is the beginning of the end. Ferrara has made mistakes, he has not used players to their full effectiveness, the team are still adjusting to the new formation, the coach is still learning his trade and maybe does not deserve the criticism he has received.
England manager and Juventus legend Fabio Capello has came to the defence of his former captain, “Juventus have reinforced, but need time to mature. Let's give this Juve a little time.” And President Jean-Claude Blanc insists that coach Ciro Ferrara will remain in charge. "The outcome of the next two games will not change anything, we move ahead with our project,"
A decisive game is coming for both club and coach, the Derby d’Italia. Lose this and any slim hopes of a championship triumph will be extinguished, win and it could prove the catalyst in such a difficult time. The choice is there for all at Juve. This has the making of a defining moment in Juve’s season.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
Tuesday, 1 December 2009
Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur: Preview
Fresh from the Premier League triumph against Portsmouth, the Carling Cup is next for Manchester United. Last season’s beaten finalists, Tottenham Hotspur are the designated opposition and are likely to provide a stern test for the boys in red.
Expect a much-changed side from the weekend’s Premier League fixture at Fratton Park. Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to field the young guns as he usually does in this particular competition.
One player who should retain his place is Tomasz Kuszczak who performed admirably at the weekend. Though Ben Foster is looking for another chance to show he has an Old Trafford future and he may have to study penalties on his iPod as he did in last years final. Edwin Van der Sar has a knee problem so he is definitely ruled out.
The defence should remain fairly stable as, John O’Shea, Jonny Evans, Fabio and Rio Ferdinand are all out injured. Gary Neville should be replaced by Rafael, leaving Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic to continue in the centre of defence. Patrice as usual will take up his left-back berth.
It should be all change in the midfield, though similar to the Besiktas quartet. Darron Gibson and Anderson look definite starters, while Ji-Sung Park will be looking to increase his fitness following a long spell on the sidelines. This leaves a place for Gabriel Obertan, Nani, who is feeling the wrath of Sir Alex after some unsavory comments regarding his position at United, and Zoran Tosic, who recently bagged a brace for the reserves, thus putting himself in Carling Cup contention.
The strikeforce will be three of Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda and Michael Owen.
Sir Alex Ferguson has also reacted to criticism of his young players by journalists:
“Those lads need to be challenged and I thought they did okay, they did not deserve that kind of criticism. Those same people will be going cap in hand to them, begging them for interviews in a few years’ time, mark my words. It is so hypocritical. What is the difference between that and Alan Hansen doing it in front of millions? Yet one gets slaughtered for it and this guy gets off. Wonderful. What a world. I don’t need to motivate them with what has been said. Their future is well mapped out,” he asserted.
Tottenham visit Old Trafford knowing it has been almost two decades since they returned to London with a win at Old Trafford in any competition and face a United side that has not lost in this competition since being humbled by Coventry in 2007. In addition, United are yet to concede in the Carling Cup this season.
Spurs will no doubt field a strong line up, though, Woodgate, King, Cudicini and Luca Modric are all missing. Aaron Lennon will look to give Evra a tough time on the right and Defoe will be brimming with confidence after his recent five-goal haul against Wigan in the League. It must also be noted Peter Crouch is the competitions joint top scorer with four goals, three of which came against Preston.
Giovanni Dos Santos, the wonderkid and next big thing in world football has arrived back from Ipswich where he was on loan and has recovered from injury so he may play some part in Spurs’ game plan, as Harry Redknapp is of the opinion, Champions League qualification is more important for the North London side,
“You can win a cup and have a bit of luck on the way, but to get to a Champions League position would be done through a whole season. It would be great for us.”
It will prove to be a fascinating fixture and a good opportunity to see some of the younger talents lurking in the Old Trafford set-up.
Prediction: 2-1 United
Probable Line Up: Kuszczak, Rafael, Brown, Vidic, Evra, Obertan, Gibson, Anderson, Park, Owen, Welbeck
Expect a much-changed side from the weekend’s Premier League fixture at Fratton Park. Sir Alex Ferguson is likely to field the young guns as he usually does in this particular competition.
One player who should retain his place is Tomasz Kuszczak who performed admirably at the weekend. Though Ben Foster is looking for another chance to show he has an Old Trafford future and he may have to study penalties on his iPod as he did in last years final. Edwin Van der Sar has a knee problem so he is definitely ruled out.
The defence should remain fairly stable as, John O’Shea, Jonny Evans, Fabio and Rio Ferdinand are all out injured. Gary Neville should be replaced by Rafael, leaving Wes Brown and Nemanja Vidic to continue in the centre of defence. Patrice as usual will take up his left-back berth.
It should be all change in the midfield, though similar to the Besiktas quartet. Darron Gibson and Anderson look definite starters, while Ji-Sung Park will be looking to increase his fitness following a long spell on the sidelines. This leaves a place for Gabriel Obertan, Nani, who is feeling the wrath of Sir Alex after some unsavory comments regarding his position at United, and Zoran Tosic, who recently bagged a brace for the reserves, thus putting himself in Carling Cup contention.
The strikeforce will be three of Danny Welbeck, Federico Macheda and Michael Owen.
Sir Alex Ferguson has also reacted to criticism of his young players by journalists:
“Those lads need to be challenged and I thought they did okay, they did not deserve that kind of criticism. Those same people will be going cap in hand to them, begging them for interviews in a few years’ time, mark my words. It is so hypocritical. What is the difference between that and Alan Hansen doing it in front of millions? Yet one gets slaughtered for it and this guy gets off. Wonderful. What a world. I don’t need to motivate them with what has been said. Their future is well mapped out,” he asserted.
Tottenham visit Old Trafford knowing it has been almost two decades since they returned to London with a win at Old Trafford in any competition and face a United side that has not lost in this competition since being humbled by Coventry in 2007. In addition, United are yet to concede in the Carling Cup this season.
Spurs will no doubt field a strong line up, though, Woodgate, King, Cudicini and Luca Modric are all missing. Aaron Lennon will look to give Evra a tough time on the right and Defoe will be brimming with confidence after his recent five-goal haul against Wigan in the League. It must also be noted Peter Crouch is the competitions joint top scorer with four goals, three of which came against Preston.
Giovanni Dos Santos, the wonderkid and next big thing in world football has arrived back from Ipswich where he was on loan and has recovered from injury so he may play some part in Spurs’ game plan, as Harry Redknapp is of the opinion, Champions League qualification is more important for the North London side,
“You can win a cup and have a bit of luck on the way, but to get to a Champions League position would be done through a whole season. It would be great for us.”
It will prove to be a fascinating fixture and a good opportunity to see some of the younger talents lurking in the Old Trafford set-up.
Prediction: 2-1 United
Probable Line Up: Kuszczak, Rafael, Brown, Vidic, Evra, Obertan, Gibson, Anderson, Park, Owen, Welbeck
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