Having watched AS Roma draw for the fourth consecutive time in Serie A, Juventus travelled to face Udinese knowing victory would hand them a nine-point lead at the top of the table.
Their opponents had been struggling, having won just one of their previous six league games and facing the prospect of becoming embroiled in the relegation battle.
Massimiliano Allegri faced a selection dilemma, with Claudio Marchisio’s suspension and an injury to Arturo Vidal robbing the coach of two major weapons in midfield. To cover for the absence of such key players, the Bianconeri reverted to a 3-5-2 system, hoping its solidity would guard against the evergreen danger of Antonio Di Natale.
With Andrea Stramaccioni also fielding his side in a similar tactical framework, what followed was a difficult-to-watch encounter in which neither team was able to find the back of the net. Both had their chances, but the final 0-0 scoreline reflected the dull nature of the game witnessed by those present at the semi-rebuilt Stadio Friuli.
While the work being done to remove the running track and reduce capacity in order to create a better atmosphere is important for Udinese, the backdrop also provided a stark metaphor for Allegri and Juventus. Following Antonio Conte’s surprise summer exit, the former AC Milan boss has been charged with reshaping the team he inherited, and the game highlighted the size of the task he faces.
Looking at this performance, the defence did its job and restricted Udinese to scraps on the break—opportunities they would perhaps not have received had the Juve midfield been at full strength. Marchisio in particular is adept at reading such danger, rarely getting the credit he deserves for the superb tactical acumen of his play.
At the other end of the pitch, the team looked better after the introduction of Alvaro Morata, the young Spaniard injecting the direct approach Fernando Llorente had previously failed to provide. Lacking the pace of his compatriot, the latter continues to labour, looking short on confidence and in desperate need of a goal to boost his morale.
Llorente’s problems were previously discussed at length here, and this match only saw those struggles continue. With Carlos Tevez also unable to unlock a resolute Udinese defence, the lack of invention and forward running from midfield grew increasingly apparent as the game wore on.
Rather than waiting for something to happen, the Bianconeri needed someone to step up and win the match. For all his wonderful qualities, Andrea Pirlo’s often perfect delivery is only effective with players in position to receive the ball, and all too often on Sunday, his Juventus team-mates stood around watching.
Given the talk that has surrounded him in recent weeks, the onus to do more fell to Paul Pogba, but against Udinese, he failed to carry his side to victory. While it must be remembered that he is just a 21-year-old in only his third professional season, it is games such as this in which the best players rise to the occasion.
To be considered a world-class talent, Pogba must deliver victory when others cannot, just as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and even Zlatan Ibrahimovic do so often. Against Udinese, he was held in check by Allan, a hard-working but limited midfielder charged with nullifying the youngster and preventing him from having an impact on the result.
The Brazilian achieved that with some ease, ending the match with seven tackles and two interceptions, according to statistics from WhoScored.com. With all due respect to the 24-year-old, it is hard to imagine him enjoying the same success against the other names mentioned, and the visibly frustrated Pogba must learn to overcome such close attention.
It is something he will learn in time, and it is one of the few remaining skills he needs to add to his game in order to elevate himself to the highest echelon of stars. Like Pogba, Allegri has work to do, not only to help continue the development of the gifted Frenchman but also to motivate and guide his team to the success they crave.
Allan showed that they both remain a work in progress, and Juventus will hope both men can deliver the finished product come the end of the season.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1z0wesJ
via IFTTT February 01, 2015 at 09:15AM
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