Time is running out for us to drag ourselves into the best possible position as we crawl with a whimper towards the finishing line of a season which began with great promise but has long since revealed its true nature formed of woe and disappointment.
Before the fat lady sings we are already dissecting the corpse, the autopsy very much underway, leading to fingers pointed as well as demands for change. Which is where I will join the ugly orchestra, adding my own symphony of disillusionment.
Not much bothers me more of our current horror-show than to find fans focusing their disgust on John Elkann. It seems invariably the case that these same characters place all of our success during the 2010s down to everyone at the club except Elkann. They also seem unaware of the staggering investment made in the last 4-5 years (close to EU1bn) by the owner to ensure we remain financially viable as a football club.
Perhaps some confuse his role as Owner with that of the President, without realising the scale of the business empire the man oversees elsewhere. His distance from the club is no lack of support, his wallet alone confirms this, yet so do his repeated interventions to attempt to lift us when we fall.
He was left with a catastrophic mess by his cousin in late 2022. Whose mistakes since 2018 are a catalogue of gross negligence I can at best explain as a mixture of the President surrounding himself with incompetent yes men and his own brattish hubris.
His rap sheet of blunders began with the Ronaldo (mis)adventure. The decision to invest EU340m in the player appears to have lacked support from Marotta, the man who had played a huge role in shaping the revival and return of the club to domestic dominance and firm European standing. For it was his underling, Paratici, who along with super agent pal Jorge Mendes and professional groper Nedved, took the idea to the boss who was so taken with the promise of greater glory that he not long after dispensed with his trusted SD, in the process promoting the usurper. We have never been the same club since.
Did we ever recoup that massive expenditure on Ronaldo? I doubt it. Even prior to the Covid calamity, a report from financial experts KPMG concluded that a great deal would need to go right on and off the field for us to make the move work. In practice neither happened. Still now, long after the divorce between ageing superstar and club was forced through, we are fighting to avoid paying another EU19m in allegedly promised wages. One of the many legacy gifts from Agnelli that keep giving.
Was that period as Ronaldo FC worth it though? I don’t believe so. Neglect across the squad, coaching forced tactically to shoe-horn everyone else around the holy one. When he sulked, he was given time off and tours around the Ferarri factory, with some cuddly toys and chocolates and soothing pats on the back to make him believe he is the centre of our universe. When he missed his 70th FK on the trot, most fans had long moved past sighing, resigned now to watching highlights of Pjanic and Dybala scoring set pieces, as if they were former players. There was one decent run in the CL, a famous hattrick which proved more a footnote, a brief flicker of the fantasy Agnelli had been sold as a dream and was chasing, other than which the move felt long before he left as a failed experiment.
A more buoyant chapter of this otherwise miserable novella must be given to Pirlo. Our former hero fast tracked from zero managerial experience to NextGen Coach to the senior side hot seat in a matter of days. I must admit that it felt exciting, brave even cavalier! And that season was arguably the most enjoyable we have had since the 17/18 campaign. Despite players regularly looking confused, producing haphazard form, something of the chaos felt as if it had drawn us all together, we were all involved on a journey led by a man long proven worthy of our love; we had a heart and soul we could touch and feel as a part of our lives.
The poet footballer was of course sacked at the end of the season, though left having achieved 4th spot and winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. In his place returned Max Allegri on mammoth wages, just two years after his dismissal from the club.
In hindsight, I wish we had persevered. Given Pirlo chance to build upon admittedly very shaky yet still more promising foundations than have been seen since. His stint taking Sampdoria to the play-offs looks superb in comparison to their subsequent relegation. A trend also seen at Fatih Karagumruk where his successors fared far worse.
A less wholesome episode of that season was the bungled launch of the Super League, spearheaded by Agnelli. I cannot recall a more wretched failure of any football project in my several decades following the game. Whether our then president ignored all due diligence in market research or simply felt no need to do any, we will never know, yet what remains still terrible and clear to this day is the reception and response to his grand plan. Which was so raucous, that not only was the public outrage spread across many international borders, but even Prime Ministers weighed in on the widespread condemnation of Agnelli in particular and the alleged attempt for the rich and evil to steal the purity and beauty from the people. Our club was very much in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Seen as arch villains hellbent on strangling the life out of the ‘little’ clubs, crushing the grass roots of the beautiful game.
I am not asserting that I believe the SL to have solely sinister ambition, and accept there is likely some merit to the rudimentary aspirations of the proposal. My main point of criticism here is that if you are to take on UEFA, who are a long established cartel monopoly outfit with their fangs sunk deep into all the top national competitions, you need to be damn sure of your plan. Have a very clear idea of your strategy to succeed. And be very well prepared for the backlash.
Not only was the savage response to the launch of intercontinental scope, but worse was to come. For UEFA, led by a man who felt personally betrayed by Agnelli, was out for blood. Eager to make example and very public the consequences of attempting to dislodge the gilded seat of power.
UEFA President Ceferin said of Agnelli ‘”He’s probably the biggest disappointment of all. I don’t want to be too personal. But the fact is I’ve never seen a person lie so many times, so persistently,” Ceferin said after a UEFA Executive Committee today. “That he did was unbelievable. I spoke with him on Saturday afternoon. He says, ‘These are only rumours. Don’t worry, nothing is going on.’ And then he said, ‘I’ll call you in one hour. And he turned off the phone. Next day, we get the announcement.’ I’ve seen many things in my life but not a situation like that. Obviously, greediness is so strong that all the human values evaporate.”
I struggle to remember the precise chronology, the horror of it all has long congealed into gloomy, barnacled cynicism, yet I need to add in the FICG penalty of a 10 point deduction in 2022 (estimated EU115m losses), for cooking the books, before Ceferin found more overt revenge with the exclusion of the club from Europe for FFP bothers as well as a fine which could run to EU18m. The reason I use the word overt is due to my inkling of FIGC mega ghoul Gravina happily going to town with punishment for our accounting crimes, then later finding himself seemingly rewarded by UEFA with his promotion to the Vice-President role. Regardless of these suspicions and the vagueness of charges pertaining to inflated transfer values, it 100% does appear that upper management were well aware of the unorthodox, even criminal accounting methods at play. Some of the charges were ridiculous, some were real and proper.
This led to not only the points deduction, fine, exclusion from European competition but also the forced resignation of the whole BoD of Juventus. Which in itself seems to confirm from some perspectives an element of a witch hunt. Not all of course, for another explanation is that the FIGC/UEFA tandem were agreeable to separating the club from the specific crowd earmarked for destruction. Then a third angle, for those anti-Juve well placed vermin surely the reputational damage to the club and the long rebuild then required was a welcome outcome.
During these ill fated years since this spiral into shambles began, a succession of directors have wreaked further carnage on the club, resulting in major blunders from which we now continue to suffer and seek to recover.
Paratici, Cherubini, Arrivabene…All of them have failed badly in their roles focused on recruitment. They appear to have avoided by design or through sheer incompetence signing players of strong mental fortitude. Only Ronaldo comes to mind of steely will, and his ego came at huge financial cost and also cowed the rest of the squad. Of equal importance is to highlight how the roster has long appeared unbalanced, lacking chemistry and butchered every summer as if those in charge of comings and goings were learning their trade on the PlayStation.
Not only were our debts out of control, we kept on spending…and spending badly. Still now we have Dusan Vlahovic, earning a monstrous 22m gross per year yet unable to hold the ball, or shake off the 3 legged donkey impression when found in any position other than in or near the 18 yard box (and ideally facing the goal). Sometimes he continues this soul sapping tendency when in the area, which just adds salt to the wounds which refuse to heal. Arthur is also still on the books, with us coughing up some of his filthy lucre.
Impossible for me to snarl and hiss and growl towards these characters without mentioning Dybala. The last player in black and white who always inspired true feeling, a sense of connection between the stands and the field. His love for the shirt, for the fans, for the poetry and magic of the game, all bonded me and many others deeply to the club. A bond that was cut when the management decided to push him out on a free under the arrogant and mistaken assumption that Dusan Vlahovic would soon enough have us forgetting La Joya ever existed. I have always felt he was treated very badly by Agnelli and Cherubini. As he confirmed with his silent, yet powerful gesture at the stadium, his glare spoke volumes.
It appears he was told during informal discussion he would be getting a renewal, strung along, then told months later ‘actually, no renewal, no offer whatsoever‘. Many pointed at his agent, Antun, as the cause, yet never before were there any problems with Dybala’s contracts earlier in his career. No, this was the management – lying, scheming, tricking…at the certain direction of Agnelli. They kicked the last piece of a beating Juve heart out the door, sneering as they did so. And we have had no player since anywhere near as valuable in the final third or beyond.
I am glad he found a second home in Rome, where he is adored and valued by an ultra passionate fanbase and remains capable of creating wonder and fantasy on the field.
Which brings us back after a meandering, tangled journey to the need for Elkann to install a new President and BoD and hope to kickstart the recovery in late 2022 after his cousin and directors at Juve were all forced to vacate their positions.
In came Ferrero as President, Calvo as the money man, Scanavino as the GM. Whilst Calvo has previous history with the club, having served in our financial team between 2011-14 it should be noted that he left in 2015 after the affair between his wife and Andrea Agnelli was discovered. Those lovebirds were married thereafter, yet part of the fall-out was Calvo heading to Barcelona. Some suggest he was instrumental in recruiting Giuntoli, whom he set to task on removing Allegri at any cost, to clear the decks of any lingering Agnelli loyalists.
Ferrero and Scanavino had zero experience running a football club. Successful executives and administrators in other industries, but never football. They were put in place by Elkann because he trusted them to bring some order to the ramshackle circus created by his cousin. How much thought he gave their absence of demonstrable expertise in the football world is debatable.
To add to this new leadership team – who have long felt an interim measure to help steady the ship -the aforementioned Giuntoli was brought in from arch rivals Napoli. Which seemed quite the coup at the time. For he was widely lauded for his work under that irksome swine De Laurentis, helping to create some of the most entertaining Serie A sides of the last decade, even seeing that squad win the league recently with Spalletti, for the first time in 33 years.
A life long juventino, his signing brought great promise. Could he repeat the trick at Juve? Bring his black book of hidden gems in the rough, sign talents for reasonable fees who would grow into superstars? We all shared this dream. Which seemed reasonable.
Good intentions
Many of us celebrated the signings of Luiz, Koopmeiners and Motta. All have proven incredible failures. For some of us the expected/assumed value holds more weight than the reality of what they have brought to the field this season. I understand this, though disagree. Those three signings taken on the basis of this campaign compete with the worst of all my years following the club. Which matters more than the promising nature of their acquisition.
Motta especially – thankfully since vanquished – became my most despised Juve coach of all time. His tactical rigidity, icy man management, apparent proclivity to punish players for speaking out or even playing well. The horror! As some have noted, to find only 2 members (I believe) from the whole squad wishing him well after his departure speaks grimly of his relationship with the 25 he had trained until that point.
Koopmeiners of Atalanta fame and success never arrived in Turin. It was his stunt double, an imposter, yet if not, if this is the real Teun Koopmeiners, Motta has broken his soul. Too expensive a figure on the books to sell without a loss, we are stuck with him unless he can be loaned. The only hope is that somehow he can be revived, as presently looks the worst waste of 60m of our history.
The story of Douglas Luiz feels more layered. Though again I point to Motta as a huge factor in the complete failure of the former premier league star to adapt to his new life in Italy, something alluded to by the player himself of late on social media, particularly focused on the physical conditioning. Which Tudor has also hinted at since his appointment as caretaker in Motta’s wake.
It is fair to accept all three of these signings by Giuntoli appeared progressive and exciting. It is also fair to conclude they have been appalling failures.
The Axe of Max
The second coming of Max on mega money did not run as planned. Though he did manage to hold the squad together on the field whilst the club was literally falling apart off it, which deserves credit. It seems clear to me that Giuntoli was tasked with, or decided necessary, removing Allegri as soon as possible. Could Calvo have instructed his new SD on this matter? A sinister task of finishing the job of removing the final remnants of his old nemesis Andrea Agnelli. Its possible, though depressing to consider the revenge thriller saga playing out with our club absorbing the collateral damage.
Regardless of the inspiration, the facts seem clear. Giuntoli spent 11m on Tim Weah in the summer he was appointed. Then 4m on Alcaraz in the winter window, a player who nobody felt Max wanted. Contrast this with the 200m spent this last summer with plenty more invested in January on the squad for Motta.
We all saw the very public explosion of Max on the field which led to his cold dismissal. He seemed a man pushed to breaking point and angry as hell with Giuntoli, who I believe undermined him and did all he could to expedite his departure. Max deserved better. Though it was the right decision for him to part from the club.
Sales of youth talent
It was expected and needed for the SD to focus on cutting the horrendous wage bill. Also to renovate the squad. The alacrity with which CG approached these challenges was intense and unexpected. Not just slicing the salary mountain but moving into overdrive to generate funds to then spend on new players.
Hujisen, Barrenechea, Soule, Kean, Nicolussi and Jorge are the main focus here. Add in Fagioli deeper into the season. Facundo Gonzalez is less an issue, as has failed to progress in the Netherlands, yet was very highly thought of prior to this. Djalo has run amok on the party scene to ruin his return to Portugal and Iling-Junior dropped down a level in England to ‘Boro in the championship.
A quick mention of Kaio Jorge, sold for 7m, who has regained his rhythm and fared well back in Brazil for Cruzeiro. Considering Milik’s injury nightmares, neglecting the need for a backup forward to Dusan was another of CG’s huge mistakes
Most the world now knows of the rare talent of Dean Hujisen. His debut season in the premier league has been so stunning that he is now rumoured to be moving to one of the strongest sides on the planet for a vastly bigger figure than CG sold him for to Bournemouth last Summer. A measly EU15m. Albeit with a 10-15% sell-on clause. (Edit – All but confirmed now, 60m move to RM)
Whilst CG needed funds to then reinvest, it was obvious to anyone studying the basics of Motta system that our new coach required a ball playing CB, ideally one able to step out from the back and affect the play higher up the field. It was probably Hujisen who Motta was referring to when he told the media that CG had sold players he wanted to keep.
This decision will haunt us for many years. Mainly because it was already well known before he was sold that Dean was special, add to this the admission from the player himself that he was told he would be leaving, NOT that he asked to be sold. As the ever valuable commentator Haj noted – ‘sackable offence’!
Whilst CG brought in a solid fee for Soule (25-29m), his replacement in Chico has been another major disappointment. Reasonable to add that the dwarf sized newcomer he has been poorly managed yet at the same time, he has solely shown flashes in the pan, never able to set anything alight. The other issue with Soule is that he has been with Juve a long time, as with some others sold. Which matters. Players who have grown up together in and around the club and staff and training grounds are more likely to have an established bond to each other and the environment. I feel that CG has wanted to cut all these ties. Which he pretty much achieved after shifting Danilo and Fagioli. At least of the senior players. He seems desperate to make this his squad, his project.
Soule looked the most exciting young attacking talent in the league last season. Yet was sold. His close chum Enzo is one I have had my eyes on for many years. There seems a tenacity in his eyes, a steely determination born of a tough childhood. Perhaps another one Motta wanted to keep, but with McKennie refusing to budge, the young argentine was placed in the deal for Luiz. Loaned out to Valencia this season, the gritty DM has steadily grown in la Liga regularly earning plaudits. I suspect he will be signed by the Spanish side if not given chance to stake a claim in the Villa first team squad for next term. My hope had been for him to become our vice Locatelli where I truly believe he would have proven solid.
Kean seemed a more understandable sale, given his return to Juve had been dismal, at least when measuring solely goals scored. Adding context at least suggests he was not given a lengthy run in a well functioning side playing to his strengths. He has always had the pace, power, strength and hint of flair, and it comes as no surprise to see him blossoming in Florence. Also, as mentioned regarding Jorge, this left us with only one fit CF. Which proved disastrous given Dusan’s form.
Yes, expectations are different at lower ranked clubs. Many rightly highlight this, but there is no exact science to confirm that a player who excels at a lower ranked club will not be able to do similar at a club of greater stature. Give Kean the same playing time even this season at Juve, in place of Dusan and I am confident he would have outscored him from open play by a large margin.
We have mainly had successful squads in the past mixed between superstars and hard working, determined players of average technique. Its the mix, the balance and collective that is key.
Arguments can be made from different directions, one of which is that this current season, Nicolussi, Soule, Hujisen, Kean, Barrenechea, Miretti have all shown better or equal form in comparison to their counterparts at Juve. Mitigating factors of course. Motta mainly. Also the difference in expectations/ pressure. Yet nobody can say for sure how they would have fared if given the same playing time in black and white.
The Chiesa saga did not seem well handled by CG. Despite the media reports encouraging the narrative, there was never any renewal offer made to Chiesa. Nor apparently any demands made by Chiesa. He was simply told he wasn’t wanted any more, then exiled from the squad. Given his lack of fitness/selection since, regrettably I have to concede the sale looks the right decision. Though coupled with selling off Soule, and not finding an adequate replacement, his departure left us weak in key areas of the attacking phase.
This tendency to isolate, ostracise players seems part of the way CG operates. Danilo appears to have fallen into this strategy before been moved in January (at a time when we were desperate for experienced defenders). Another decision which has some sense, as in his form wasn’t great and he was ageing. Yet other considerations such as his longstanding position in the squad and at the club seem to have held little weight in the decision to shift him. (NB I am not suggesting our departed captain was a natural leader, moreover that he was one of perhaps 3 who have tried to show any capacity to rouse and focus the troops in recent years – further condemnation of our poor recruitment)
CG knew for several months that he needed a strong CB replacement for the injured Bremer, and also Cabal. Yet come the opening of the January mercato window, nothing seemed organised. It was a scramble, with Veiga appearing on loan (who had barely featured for Chelsea this campaign) and then more dishearteningly, Lloyd Kelly at the end of the window, for a staggering 18m. A 5th choice Newcastle CB who had rarely seen the field this term who of course jumped at the opportunity.
Muani was another perplexing choice. What Motta’s system had lacked was a dynamic CF able to essentially adopt the Zirkzee role – drop deep to help build the play, create and combine back to goal, side to goal, all over the field, hold up the ball in tight quarters. This is not Muani’s skillset. He was nonetheless welcome, as seemed a brilliant player a few years back, yet he didn’t fit any obvious plan beyond a vague foraging for someone of any known calibre who was simply available. Somewhat of a roll of the dice, not a carefully planned addition.
My long list of criticisms of Motta as a coach aside, CG failed to provide him with pivotal skillsets his system required. Leading me back to this conclusion of our sporting director seeking more to make this squad about himself, his work, not the coach, not the club as a whole.
I have become more tangled in my wild eyed dismay when attempting to conduct a basic analysis of Giuntoli’s conduct. Will suffice for me to add that I am well aware he inherited a club long mismanaged, a bloated wage bill with a huge job on his hands to try revive or renovate a long muddled squad. To have needed a year to take stock is understandable, yet this season he has shown his cards. He has invested a large amount of money.
Di G (18m), Gonzalez (38m), Kelly (18m), Koopmeiners (60m), Luiz (50m), Thuram (20m), Costa (14m), Kalulu (17m), Chico (7m LOAN FEE), Veiga (4m LOAN FEE), Muani (3.6m LOAN FEE), Adzic (5m), Cabal (12m)
Total – EU266.6m
I think he was given too much autonomy absent of any oversight or expert support from the upper management. He tried to fast track the project, sold in a frenzy, scrambled to then replace players jumping one to another in quick succession. Of the signings made, only Di Gregorio and Thuram look smart money spent. Kalulu is passable, the rest feel uninspiring, abject failures or poor.
The biggest mistake he has made is Motta. So horrid had our form become we resembled a team suffering from PTSD just returned from the front lines of a major conflict in which we were losing, very badly. Elkann stepped in. Demanded action. A week or so after Motta was fired. Rumours were rife of Chiellini’s stature growing behind the scenes. Perhaps as a go between to keep Elkann more informed of the inner workings of the club from the perspective of a man who knows precisely how the club should be run to achieve success. Perhaps groomed as a replacement for Calvo or other enhanced position in the ranks.
Tudor was installed and we are now in the thick of a stodgy battle to cling onto 4th spot. That is all that matters on the pitch for the remainder of the season. With the Club World Cup likely to prove an empty sideshow unless certainty has been found where chaos and unease currently rule.
My now longstanding conviction is that first and foremost we need to get things right off the field, before we can hope to get them right on the field. By which I mean we need a proper football President and demonstrably experienced football directors. As for CG…he has made too many glaring errors and must be replaced. There are alternatives, for example we could see Tognozzi return as an understudy and our SD chief working alongside other directors. Massara is available. What of Carnevali? Bologna’s Sartori seems too great a leap.
A clean sweep is preferable. I do not like how CG has operated on a man management level let alone as an assessor of talent or squad builder at Juve. We must demand better.
Looking to the past for our future?
The growing chorus of demand from the media, from sources close to the club, from the fanbase, is for Juve to reappoint Conte as coach. I have several key concerns over this path.
When our former midfielder last reported for duty on the sidelines in 2011 not only the league was different but so were we as a club and squad. Beppe Marotta was comfortably easing into his stride on the way to becoming the strongest SD in the country. The squad included Buffon, Chiellini, Bonucci, Del Piero, Barzagli, Lichsteiner, Pirlo, Marchisio, Vucinic, Vidal…all players of high level to world class talent. There were others whose work rate and determination were immense. The group of players we have now pales into insignificance in comparison. There is no established world class talent and little high level experience in the ranks.
Yes, Conte has the ability to improve players, to get them organised, focused and fighting, yet this takes a side only so far. The club he would be walking into is far removed from what we were in 2011. We are immeasurably weaker in every way imaginable.
There is also his temperament and tendency to avoid any responsibility when he fails to achieve objectives then flee the scene. Is that kind of volatility what we need?
Despite these negative leanings, I would be very excited if he returned! I just wish to see first the BoD/ President put right. Rumours of a potential Platini presidency seem a wonderful fairytale…
Other possibilities with the board are the inclusion of Tether connection, Juan Sartori. Co-owner of championship play-off finalists Sunderland, the Uruguayan businessman has a colourful history, having run for President in his homeland, coming second behind the current leader of the last party nominations and is currently facing allegations in the UK high court for fraud, negligence, and conspiracy. Some sources suggest he has a history of misrepresenting business value and resources, to such a degree that he may well not pass the FA requirements for owning a football club. In short, Sartori seems like trouble and its uncomfortable to learn he is anywhere near the management of our club, especially given our recent history.
Where does Tudor fall into all of this, for I am writing as if its a foregone conclusion that he will be leaving. Which may or may not be the case. For the giant Croat to be given the role for next season – maybe a 1+1 deal – would still inspire my enthusiasm, as long as the suggested improvements were made to upper management and the squad.
Before assessing his work, the context must be made clear. The dizzying descent into the walking dead under Motta aside, the squad is drenched in uncertainty, as is the club management beyond. We do not know (yet) if we will secure a spot in the premier European competition for next season, nor who will be coach, nor who will be overseeing the mercato. Uncertainty is rarely healthy for a team. Not just for the loanees but for others eager to progress. For example, will Yildiz and Thuram remain if we fail to secure 4th and other clubs come in offering big money better placed to win silverware?
It cannot be easy for the boss to be surrounded by constant calls for him to be replaced, as if he is a mere stopgap, a placeholder, when so much depends on his ability to rouse the troops for a final push towards salvaging a rotten campaign. These conditions need to be taken into account when attempting to make appraisal…
Clearly, Tudor has failed to set the team alight, though it is hard to know if anyone could have revived further those barely animated cadavers we had come to know as Juve this year. Especially in such a short period, with so much pressure on ensuring very swift improvement. We have become a more organised team under his guidance. We do remain with CL qualification within our own hands. Despite this, there feels still so much lacking from our play. We create very little. The formation – a tried and tested favourite of the manager, which worked splendidly at Verona and Marseille – doesn’t fit this squad very well. Mainly due to the lack of any quality on the flanks. Weah, McKennie and Cambiaso are poor to average at best. Young Costa managed to show promise in the last outing, and we can but hope that this continues. The fact remains we are weak down the flanks.
Two red cards to two key players have hurt our chances also, along with the usual injury bothers. Udinese and Venezia stand between us and the prized goal. Nothing can be taken for granted, we simply must cling on and hope for the best. Essentially, we will not be able to truly judge Tudor until the league closes.
Having already mentioned the glaring issues with our WB/FB positions, there are other major problems to be addressed on the recruitment front. None more pressing that the front line where its long expected Dusan will be banished from the building and perhaps the city as a whole, with our only other vague idea of a CF – Kolo Muani – apparently a viable option for a further loan, with the price tag and obligation to purchase potential stumbling blocks.
I wouldn’t be opposed to Kolo remaining. There is a decent and interesting player in there somewhere, who we have only seen shine in fits and spurts during a period where he has been forced to mainly feed off scraps. What will be paramount is the signing of a natural goalscorer. He need not be a top tier mega star, just solid and reliable. Kristovic seems a good example of what I have in mind. Add in a big lad, who can hold up the play and we shall have a balanced mix. Perhaps Lucca if he can be had at a reasonable price.
Beyond those essential signings, it is likely we will be aiming for a strong CB. Given we have Bremer and Cabal to return, Rugani back from the Netherlands, Gonzalez also expected, Gatti, Kelly, Kalulu, Djalo and Savona, some will be need to be moved on. I hope not Savona. This habit we have acquired of selling off our most promising youth must be curbed…which reminds me of the blueprint I outlined recently for a future side part built from within>
At the same time I understand that we cannot afford to have too many players still learning their trade to rely upon. As learning happens partly through making mistakes, which at our level tend to always prove costly. The flip side is that younger players are often hungry, energetic, less injury prone. My inkling is that Savona, as with Mbangula, would be sold by CG for any half decent fee, with little interest given to any connection they have already formed to the shirt and all it represents beyond.
Veiga looked promising before moving to the central role, where he is less able to step out from the back. I’d prefer to invest in Leoni or Comuzzo, ideally, if money and space permits, alongside more established quality. We may not see the best of Bremer until early 2026.
I expect Luiz will end his nightmare in Turin, adding to the need for CM signings.
Miretti should return, and even with the slow blossoming Yildiz, we will still need some experienced quality in the AM area. Perhaps Vacca can stake his claim in the Summer…to offer a wildcard behind and across the front line!
The squad needs a lot of work. We need to sign mentally strong, hungry players along with experienced talent. We got the balance badly wrong this season, and this cannot be allowed to repeat.
I believe Elkann has fully realised that further action must be taken and we now approach a huge Summer which may see major upheaval across the club. Some would say this is required and I would agree whilst continuing to place my trust and support in the owner as he strives to correct his mistakes and place the right people in the right roles for the club to succeed and prosper.
TGP
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