The Old Lady Could Not Beat the Worst Team of the Serie A

                                         56' Pavel Nedved                    55' P. Bianco

Substitutions:     '46 Palladino out, Camoranesi in        16' Lopez out, Canini in
                            '67 Tiago out, Sissoko in                     46' Pasquale Foggia out, Cossu in
                                                                                       70' Larrivey out, Robert Acquafresca in       

What's going on with Juventus? Is it time to take a moment of reflection and reprogram their winning mentality to find the Juventus style? Honestly, it has been about a month since the "stile juventus" seems to be on vacation.  Ah, but before you make your conclusions, let me specify that Saint Goalkeeper GIGI Buffon has not been playing in the last 3 matches. Am I saying that Juve has lost because Buffon was not the goalkeeper? Yes and No. 

I cannot believe how Juventus, who is in the third position of the Serie A Standing could not beat Cagliari who is in the very last position of the table!  Is it that Cagliari is improving technically, or is it that Juventus just lose the motivation to return to their historical glory? If you know the answer, be my guest, and let me know.

Fact is that just when everybody expected Juventus' victory in their home stadium, Cagliari goalkeeper MARCO STORARI put a stop to Juve strikers.  By the way, Storari just arrived last month from the Spanish team Levante. Oh well, this brings me back to Saint Goalkeeper Gigi Buffon who is still out for injury.

Clearly, Juventus defense is in bad shape and the one key man to avoid big defeats is none other than Buffon, period.  Second goalkeeper Emanuele Belardi is good, but he even admitted is no easy cake to substitute Buffon. Honey, you don't have to convince me about this.  Yet, let me give credit to BELARDI because he made great saves today.

The first half ended 0 - 0. So, both coaches made their strategic changes and second half was more challenging.

Belardi did two great saves on Larrivey and Canini saving Juventus from a humiliating defeat. 

Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri substituted Portuguese Tiago for the newly signed Sissoko in the 67th minute.

                                    
I think Juventus failed in the midfield area.  I wonder why Ranieri waited until the 67th minute to make his second substitution. Why not making a third substitution too?  Sad to see forwards Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet defeated. This time neither could deliver the winning goal. This makes me sad. (Ci tenevo tanto.)

LINEUPS

Week 21 Italian Serie A Tim 2007 - 2008  Twenty first Round Matchday 21

Sunday, February 3, 2008
Juventus - Cagliari
Olimpico Stadium

6 a.m.  USA Pacific time

Referee:  Antonio Giannoccaro (Lecce)
Assistants: Grilli and Rosi
Fourth Official:  Mazzoleni

GOALS: 55' Bianco (C),   '56 Nedved (J)

FC JUVENTUS:

Goalkeeper: Emanuele Belardi;
Defenders: Hasan Salihamidzic, Nicola Legrottaglie, Grygera, Molinaro;
Midfielders: Palladino ('46 Camoranesi), Nocerino, Tiago ('67 Sissoko), Pavel Nedved;
Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet.

Subs not used: Novembre, Birindelli, Ariaudo, Castiglia, Esposito.

Coach: Claudio  Ranieri.

CAGLIARI:

Goalkeeper: Marco Storari;
Defenders: Ferri, Lopez (Canini 16 mins), Bianco, Agostini;
Midfielders: Conti, Parola; Fini, Foggia ('46 Cossu), Jeda;
Forwards: Larrivey (Robert Acquafresca 70 mins).

Subs not used: Capecchi, Magliocchetti, Mancosu, Matri.

Coach:  Ballardini.

YELLOW CARDS: '53 Jeda, '62 Conti, '66 Nocerino

NOTES: attendance 19,412

What do you think of this result? Did Ranieri choose the right lineup?