iSport | For the Fans, by the Fans

A continued spate of injuries which heavily tested the backup had a significant influence on Juve’s season. A criminally large number of starters where left watching from the stands. While Manninger filled in ably for the world-class Buffon, the same cannot be said for the winger department. Camoranesi played brilliantly most of the time that he did play, but that was too few. Marchionni, a young and impressive prospect at one point of time had a first touch of a sloth bear and the crossing acumen go haywire. Increased reliance on oldies like Del Piero and Nedved saw them play out of their physical capacity and didn’t really help the issue.

But while Ranieri was unceremoniously sacked despite meeting up to the preseason expectations, there were quite a few positives that new coach Ferrara can take from last season.

The incredible potential of Giovinco. Most Juve fans have ousted their frustrations of the under use of the “Atomic Ant”, who in his brief appearances, always rejuvenated the squad by his energetic presence, his comparisons with the young version of Del Piero being made ever so often. But while the Giovinco fiasco gave the impression that Ranieri underused the youth of the squad, nothing could be more contradictory. Calcipoli and injuries increased youth presence in the squad greatly. Players such as Molinaro, Nocerino, Marchisio, Lorenzo Ariaudo, De Ceglie and Fausto Rossi got a frequent run up in the squad, showing the world the incredible potential of players from the Juventus youth setup.

Having relied heavily on the fringes of the squad instead of first-team starters. This season proved the incredible depth Juve had, to have achieved second place this season.

You cannot sum up Juve’s season without mentioning the fans and more importantly, the ultras. Despite their abject disapproval of both Ranieri and management, the fans demonstrated just why they can be the best when needs be. Pavel Nedved retired on Sunday and played his last game for the Bianconeri against Lazio in a match that saw Lazio defeated by two Juve goals. The fans cheered in unison as they waved goodbye to their Czech hero who gave their team so many glorious memories. The players honoured the icon by presenting him with a framed shirt signed by all the Juve players and they all ran on to the pitch at the end of the game, happily wearing identical shirts that bore the No 11 and Nedved’s name. Milan fans take note - this is how to send off a true legend.

The Juve ultras, otherwise known as Drughi, have had a tough time this campaign as they saw their team being turned into a ‘provincial club.’ Perhaps at times, their angry outbursts were fully justified but there are many negative setbacks to having such an intensely devoted team as clearly illustrated by their ignorant chanting towards Mario Balotelli. Drughi deny that the insults aimed at the Italian player were racist, explaining that it was his antics on the pitch that warranted the jeers and not the colour of his skin. This is the price teams have to pay for having ultras support their team and it is this type of hooliganism that is aiding in the demise of Serie A in Europe. Incidentally, President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli publicly condemned the act of the ultras and then appealed the punishment that forced Juve to play behind closed doors.

Lastly, a note taken, of the management. A far-cry from the aggressive triad of Bettega-Moggi-Giraudo, the management which led Juventus to dominant days until the Calcipoli brought down the curtains, the team of Cobolli Gigli- Secco have proven to be complete contrasts. Perhaps this is natural after the Calcipoli saga. But this has also proven to be detrimental at times. Their diplomatic and soft-spoken nature, (a deliberate effort at mending Juve’s PR) failed to establish an assertive authority at times of negotiations during transfers. Their wait-and-watch attitude rather than taking the bull by the horns often gave a feel of ineptitude to the fans. But this laidback aura is quietly spreading fear of eventual demise. Will Juve ever come back to its glory days? Will it forever remain an above average club?