<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-august-2010/image/9499132?term=Juventus" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9499132/sports-news-august-2010/sports-news-august-2010.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9499132" border="0" alt="Aug. 06, 2010 - 06282320 date 05 08 2010 Copyright imago Gribaudi ImagePhoto GC Modena 53 08 2010 Europe League Juventus Shamrock RVs Photo Giuseppe Celeste Image Photo Esultanza Gol Alessandro DEL Piero PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA Football men UEFA Europe League Europe League EC 3 Qualification 2010 2011 Modena Action shot Vdig xkg 2010 horizontal Highlight premiumd." width="500" height="333"></figure></div></a></div>
Mention the 2009-2010 season to Juventus’ 170 million fans and they will shake their head in disgust.&nbsp; Italy’s most successful and <a href="http://www.repubblica.it/2008/08/sezioni/sport/calcio/sondaggio-calcio/tifo-juve-inter/tifo-juve-inter.html" target="_blank">beloved</a> soccer team was a shell of itself, missing out on a European tournament spot due to poor play and aging players.&nbsp; It is not a coincidence that the Italian national team also failed to live up to expectations in the World Cup, as Juve players made up a large contingent of the team.&nbsp; Overall, it was a season to forget in Stadio Olimpico and the club wasted no time in cleaning house, replacing individuals from the team president down.&nbsp; The new Juventus still has many familiar names, but has strengthened its weaknesses to make a run at the top four. 
Management: Jean-Claude Blanc, the brainchild behind the new Juventus stadium, was forced out in May 2010 and replaced with Andrea Agnelli, the fourth member of his family to run Juventus.&nbsp; Similar to Blanc, he has a business background and is tasked with maintaining the profitability of the club.&nbsp; No doubt part of his financial plan includes UEFA tournament money.
His first task upon being hired was to grab Luigi Del Neri from Sampdoria as a permanent replacement for Ciro Ferrara.&nbsp; Del Neri guided Sampdoria to a top four finish and was in demand this offseason.&nbsp; His 4-4-2 style will be a good fit for Juventus, and look for the team to focus a bit more on defense this season.&nbsp; Del Neri could, however, actually play more of a 4-2-2-2 if he extends the wings and moves them forward in the attack.&nbsp; Juventus in their matches this month have also played a 4-3-3 at times.&nbsp; He’s seen success at Atalanta before guiding Sampdoria to the Champions League, and he was the best person available for the job. 
The Transfer Market: Juventus was active in the transfer market, as to be expected, sending out older&nbsp;and more expensive players and bringing in both quality starters and key backups.&nbsp; Maybe the biggest name to come to Juventus was Pepe, acquired on loan from Udinese with an option to buy.&nbsp; Del Neri knows Pepe from his time in Palermo, and has added him as an attack option on the right side.&nbsp; The club also beefed up its defense, which is discussed in depth below.
The continuing story of this offseason is the departures from the club, or a house cleaning if you prefer.&nbsp; Italian national and rapidly aging defender Fabio Cannavaro has left for the UAE soccer league and a hefty contract.&nbsp; Christian Poulsen was transferred to Liverpool for about €5.5 million to free up some salary and space after a disappointing stint with the club.&nbsp; The biggest loss long-term, however, may be <a href="http://blogs.soccernet.com/juventus/archives/2010/08/ciao_gio.php" target="_blank">the loss of Sebastian Giovinco</a> to Parma.&nbsp; The young playmaker had been tabbed by fans as the next Juve star, but he grew tired of waiting to break into the starting XI. 
Key Players: Starting in the back of the 4-4-2, vice-captain and all-world keeper Gigi Buffon begins the season&nbsp;on the injured list, leaving AC Milan acquisition Marco Storari as the starter.&nbsp; Storari will never cause people to forget Buffon, but he is experienced and talented enough to hold down the position until Buffon is healthy.
<div style="float: left;margin-right: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/shamrock-rovers-juventus/image/9449128?term=Juventus" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9449128/shamrock-rovers-juventus/shamrock-rovers-juventus.jpg?size=234&amp;imageId=9449128" border="0" alt="July 29, 2010 - Dublin, Ireland - epa02266030 Pat Flynn from Shamrock Rovers (R) and Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus in action during the Europa League 3rd round 1st Leg Qualifiying match between Shamrock Rovers and Juventus in Dublin, Ireland, 29 July 2010." width="234" height="156"></figure></div></a></div>
Coming into the new season, Del Neri knew he needed to revamp the defense after Juventus allowed 55 goals last season.&nbsp; He acquired rising star Leonardo Bonucci from Bari and Marco Motta from Roma to partner with stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Grosso, or if Grosso leaves during this transfer window, Paolo De Ceglie.&nbsp; The two new additions will strengthen the backline and makes defense a team strength.&nbsp; Look for Bonucci to become the next Fabio Grosso in his time at Juventus.
If Del Neri continues his traditional formation, the midfield will see two holding and two attacking wingers.&nbsp; As mentioned, Pepe will man the right wing and replace Mauro Camoranesi, who regardless of his transfer status should be replaced by a younger player.&nbsp; Claudio Marchisio, one of the players who actually looked good in last season’s debacle, could start on the other wing, with Mohammed Sissoko in the middle.&nbsp; UPDATE – Juventus <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2010/08/19/2078378/breaking-news-cska-moscow-confirm-milos-krasic-will-join" target="_blank">added another potential starter</a> to the midfield with CSKA Moscow winger Milos Krasic.
Up front, Del Neri against Shamrock moved Pepe and attacking midfielder Davide Lanzafame (Parma) to the forward position with Amauri.&nbsp; While this could be an attacking option, I can see a rotation (assuming a 4-4-2) of Amauri, Trezeguet, and Del Piero as a potent attack.
<div style="float: right;margin-left: 5px"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-august-2010/image/9545240?term=Juventus" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9545240/sports-news-august-2010/sports-news-august-2010.jpg?size=234&amp;imageId=9545240" border="0" alt="Aug. 14, 2010 - 06320941 date 13 08 2010 Copyright imago Gribaudi ImagePhoto GC Bari 13 08 2010 Trofeo Tim Milan Juventus Photo Giuseppe Celeste Image Sports Nella Photo Esultanza Gol Diego PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA Bari men Football ITA Series A 2011 try out Portrait Vdig xmk 2010 Square premiumd." width="234" height="238"></figure></div></a></div>
This is, of course, assuming Diego is sent to a Bundesliga club, where he has been rumored to be going (<a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=815305&amp;sec=transfers&amp;cc=5901&amp;cc=5901" target="_blank">or not going</a>).&nbsp; If Diego stays, the forward position has the potential to be one of the deepest in Serie A.
Outlook: This preview could change if Juventus makes any more changes on the transfer market, which is possible.&nbsp; But as their club stands, Juventus is definitely a favorite to finish in the top four.&nbsp; Even without a healthy Buffon to begin the season, the defense is improved from last season and will be a strength.&nbsp; The attack will be more “exciting” than last season with a good variety of scorers that Del Neri can turn to for goals.&nbsp; Under new management and with Del Neri’s vision revitalizing the club, there is no reason this club will not move higher in the standings.&nbsp; Whether they can challenge for a scudetto will depend on if they can improve on their record against the top clubs.

Serie A Preview &#8211; The Resurrection of Juventus

Serie A Preview - The Resurrection of Juventus - World Soccer Talk

Serie A Preview – The Resurrection of Juventus

<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/soccerlens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/robinho-man-city.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="272"></figure></div>
FC Copenhagen chairman Stale Solbakken suggests that Manchester City’s spending <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_4934856,00.html">will ruin football</a>.
<blockquote>“The amounts of money that have been mentioned are incredible,” Solbakken told&nbsp;Ekstra-Bladet.
“I think that such incredible sums will take part in destroying football.
“They are creating too big a mental distance between what we call reality and then Manchester City.”</blockquote>
&nbsp;The idea of City’s fiscal force frightens, but its tangible affect has been negligible.
City have not upset the competitive climate in the Premier League.&nbsp; They sit just 9th in the table, with 31 points from 25 matches, and that represents improvement from winning three of their last five in the league.&nbsp; Before they were flirting with relegation.
Aside from the odd Robinho, City have not fleeced the world’s biggest stars from their clubs.&nbsp; Kaka rejected <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7838966.stm">triple his current salary</a>.&nbsp; David Villa and Gigi Buffon <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jan/22/manchester-city-david-villa-thierry-henry-gianluigi-buffon">turned down deals as well</a>.&nbsp; The only financial flexing City have done thus far is overpaying for Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bridge.
City’s main hindrance signing players has been their perception as an unsuccessful club.&nbsp; This also seems to be their critics’ point of contention.
Manchester City are not deemed a threat because they distort financial reality.&nbsp; Clubs already do that.&nbsp; Nothing divides the gods from the clods in European football more than the Champions League.&nbsp; 
There are also disparate television and merchandising deals on the continent.&nbsp; Barcelona and Real Madrid operate under different financial considerations than the rest of La Liga.&nbsp; Ditto for Bayern Munich in Germany and for AC Milan, Juventus and Inter in Serie A.
Spending obscene money disproportionately doesn’t bother football people.&nbsp; It’s the notion of an upstart Manchester City doing it that is the problem.&nbsp; Criticism of City is not censuring the rich, but the nouveau riche.
Perhaps, it’s not football that’s going to be destroyed, but a complacent aristocracy.

Are Manchester City Really Destroying Football?

Are Manchester City Really Destroying Football? - World Soccer Talk

<div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/elano-blumer-manchester-city.jpg" alt="elano-blumer-manchester-city.jpg" align="right" height="247" width="275"></figure></div>Manchester City’s new ownership sent chairman Garry Cook, brimming with billions, to build a super-club capable of Champions League qualification.&nbsp; The club’s £91m bid for Kaka was a noted fiasco, but, as details have emerged, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jan/22/manchester-city-david-villa-thierry-henry-gianluigi-buffon">that’s hardly been their only activity</a>.
City reportedly made an equally irresponsible bid for Spain and Valencia star David Villa, in the range of £100m.&nbsp; The club then cancelled the deal “on principle,” after Valencia countered with £135m.
Gigi Buffon was probably the target of another record bid, although Manchester City again withdrew when Juventus started asking for nearly £100m for Buffon.&nbsp; They will hold firm for £6m for Shay Given, yet be willing to part with ten times that for Buffon?
Man City also tried to raid Barcelona’s bench, offering a combined £49m for Thierry Henry , who may be a possibility next summer, and midfielder Yaya Toure.&nbsp;&nbsp; They had a £10m offer to Arsenal for Yaya’s brother Kolo as well.
The club also have offered £18m for Roque Santa Cruz.&nbsp; They are so eager they’re willing to throw Tal Ben Haim into the deal, which surely has nothing to do with him being Israeli.
This excludes the £40m already spent on players in January, bringing in a competent left-back (Wayne Bridge), a diminutive striker who doesn’t score much (Craig Bellamy) and a midfielder good enough to be rumored but never to be bought by a big club (Nigel de Jong).
Tallying things up, City have put forth a ludicrous amount of money, with ludicrous ambition.&nbsp; So, it seems only fitting they get ludicrous responses.
City have been content scouring the continent for spectacular Brazilians, but, if they want their spending to be effective, sound they consider throwing their money around closer to home?
Manchester City’s transfer budget dwarfs that of England’s big four combined.&nbsp; There are reasons for that.
Manchester United sit on <a href="http://soccerlens.com/manchester-uniteds-debt-analysed/7356/">a mountain of debt</a>.&nbsp; They bought their two Serbians and they’re out.&nbsp; Roman Abramovich, after losing a few billion wants Chelsea <a href="http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/no-free-lunch-for-poor-blues-as-global-recession-bites-1574368.html">to run a tight ship</a>, allowing only £12m in January.&nbsp; Liverpool <a href="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C01%5C24%5Cstory_24-1-2009_pg2_9">face an uncertain financial future</a>, should the Americans not be able to find a buyer.&nbsp; Even profitable Arsenal must repay their debt.&nbsp; And these are the well off clubs…
If Garry Cook is willing to offer nearly £100m to continental giants, why not test the resolve of the domestic ones?
Would the Liverpool board allow Rafa Benitez to turn his nose at such a mega-offer for Mascherano or Fernando Torres?
If City offered £50m for Adebayor or Van Persie could Arsenal afford not to listen?
With players at Chelsea paying for their own lunches, could they entice one of Chelsea’s stars up north?
Even moving down the table, Villa may be able to reject a great transfer bid.&nbsp; But, could cash-short Everton reject a gobsmacking offer for Arteta?
Perhaps, these transfers may be inconceivable for January.&nbsp; But, if the economy begins to effect the boffo Premier League revenues –&nbsp;and that probably should be a when not an if– these speculations may be a crude reality.

Should Manchester City Refocus Their Mega-Spending Efforts Domestically?

Should Manchester City Refocus Their Mega-Spending Efforts Domestically? - World Soccer Talk

<h4>Match Day headlines</h4>
Buffon Out Manninger In 
Totti Injury Recovery On-going 
Borriello To The Rescue
<h4></h4>
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Serie A Match Day Four &#8211; Halftime Scores

Serie A Match Day Four - Halftime Scores - World Soccer Talk

Serie A Match Day Four – Halftime Scores

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