Pre-season friendly – Cesena 0 0 Juventus

By tdf, July 30, 2014

I managed to endure most of the match via a choppy set of streams, only finding the arabic option for the last 15 minutes, which was near perfect. Shame the same cannot be said of the football on show…

Looking at our starting line-up of…Storari, Sorensen, Bonucci, Chiellini, Lichtsteiner, Padoin, Pirlo, Pereyra, Motta, Giovinco, Llorente…We had four probable first XI starters, three of whom were in Brazil for the world cup and have had very little time to relax, recover and return to training.

It must also be noted that up to 8 of those who made an appearance in the match are unlikely to be involved in any serious way with our seniors until next Summer.

Sorensen- likely soon to be moving to Verona
Motta (as a wing-back!) – we have been trying to off-load him for years.
Padoin- solid, reliable, yet the least technically gifted midfielder in the squad.
Pepe- recently emerged from his coffin and still close to corpse.
Spinazzola – eager to show solid account of himself yet also eager to avoid injury as upcoming move on horizon.
Buenacasa – was average in his first U19 season last term, yet physically weak and (Insert Spinazzola)
Vitale – Very young at 16, given his first taste of senior action. Kid v Men.
Marrone – (Insert Spinazzola…Palermo perhaps)

I find it hard to believe Pepe will prove valuable in the top tier after missing so much football over the last two seasons. Padoin may remain, and be used to plug gaps, but with Asamoah able to now slot into the middle, and Pereyra and Romulo other options for the flanks, if a half decent offer comes in, we will sell him.

There seems little point in looking at the second half with so many changes made throughout, by both teams. As for the first period…

Cesena were playing a line-up which will probably resemble their starting XI come the start of the Serie A season. It was their first chance to test themselves against one of the strongest teams in the upper tier and they played with more desire throughout, yet also appeared so desperate not to lose that they often had 10 men behind the ball.

Very little to add, other than…Pereyra looked very keen, yet clearly and understandably needs time to adjust to his new team-mates and a new system. Pepe seemed terrible, yet was playing in an odd position and is acceptably rusty. Motta as a wingback, or any position, for a club who obviously don’t want him but need to play him to try inspire interest is far from ideal, yet at least he did nothing truly wretched.

The performance, before the flurry of substitutions which ruined any semblance of continuity, and included many players who are well aware their futures are not at Juve, reminded me of how we played under Conte at times, when faced with resolute defensive outfits and been totally reliant on Pirlo/Tevez/Pogba/Vidal to create an opening.

Nothing lost, and fitness gained. I have no major complaints of Allegri, at this stage of the pre-season. And I will not be making any serious judgements until we have Buffon, Barzagli, Asamoah, Pogba, Vidal, Evra and Tevez back in the starting line-up and match fit. 7 players of that level of class make a huge difference.

I understand why Allegri is sticking to the 3-5-2 for now, its his second friendly, and he is still lacking at his disposal, anywhere near the strongest XI we can field from the squad as a whole, so why tinker with tactics. It is sensible to wait until the squad is fit and complete and we are approaching the league opener before offering any serious analysis. I doubt any manager would have achieved more with such a limited line-up against a Cesena side fitter (due to beginning their pre-season with the majority of the squad together and well rested) and desperate to give a solid account of themselves in front of their own fans against the league champions. Which they did well enough.

No injuries, little to be excited about, yet nothing to worry about.

Leali looked competent and confident. No surprise to see him starting and given their number 1 jersey, for he had many suitors and we would not have sent him on loan to a club where he was not expected to play. ’twas also useful to see Sorensen, who for me, remains a player we should definitely be considering before spending money on other CBs, for he can defend diligently, shows good concentration, strength, aerial prowess and still has plenty of potential to improve. Magnusson and Spinazzola also got a look-in, which bodes well for us in terms of their chances this season to develop in the top flight (Spinazzola should soon move to Atalanta on loan).

Storari, Sorensen (Caceres 45), Bonucci (Marrone 45), Chiellini (Ogbonna 45), Lichtsteiner (Pepe 45), Padoin (Asamoah 45), Pirlo (Marchisio 45), Pereyra (Spinazzola 67), Motta (Vitale 81), Giovinco (Coman 67), Llorente (Buenacasa 81).