Comments on: Al Volo Extra: Can Antonio Conte Really Deliver As Coach Of Juventus?

By: Stefano Gulizia

Stefano Gulizia — Fri, 27 May 2011 18:32:25 +0000

Thank you for this piece, which is both very insightful and full of heart! One thing should be pointed out, however: even though, like you write, it is clear that Juventus did not want to waste the structure of the team and its current suitability in terms of overall design, Conte’s playing can not be more different from Delneri. Delneri’s teams, for better or worse, apply the purest ideas of zonal marking. They sit deep and narrow in two banks of four, the holding midfielders never track down and it is the duty of wide players to double up on the “week” side of FBs. With Delneri, positional awareness is prioritized over either possession or pressing. Conte said he wants Juve to keep the ball and press high. His teams tend to adopt a high-line defense and man-marking, at least from set pieces (which should bring Chiellini back to form). And it is the two holders who help the defenders, not the out-and-out wingers–the result being that there is much less to run on the park to close down raids on the flanks. I think your assessment of the possibility to see something of a 4-3-3 is a point very well-taken. Conte’s default 4-2-4ish, grafted at Juve, will be ideally suited to resemble Bayern, with the “inverted” wingers and a striker in the hole (looking rather like a 4-2-3-1) or even Barca’s alternative shape in some big games, when Henry was there (of course, with less quality throughout, oh well…).

By: Anthony

Anthony — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:38:26 +0000

Great post, Adam. One thing I want to point out though is that Conte himself said that Pirlo suits his plans perfectly. He said he’ll have to fight for his spot like everyone else, but that he’s vital to helping control the tempo of the game. Whether he plans to play him in a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 I don’t know.

By: thegutterpoet

thegutterpoet — Mon, 23 May 2011 00:35:54 +0000

One of the best Digby pieces I have read…Keep up the good work, mate.

By: JoseR

JoseR — Sun, 22 May 2011 17:39:14 +0000

The coach this summer is such a tough call, with Deschamps in a contract the only proven winners out there are Van Gaal and Lippi. I don’t really like Van Gaal and I doubt his salary will be low and Lippi may be done coaching clubs.

I have so many doubts about Conte and about what he can do for this team. Yes, he brings the Juve mentality but is he ready to absorb all the pressure that comes with the job and to take charge of a team that is clearly still rebuilding?.

We really can’t afford to make mistakes this summer and the idea of bringing in Conte and Pirlo seems like a bad move already. That is unless Juve are looking to move to a 4-3-3 which will mean Pirlo will be Aquilani’s reserve (or viceversa). With that being said I rather spend the money of Pirlo’s salary on real fullbacks and one good left attacker if we are going for the 4-3-3.

By: bulle

bulle — Sun, 22 May 2011 11:01:13 +0000

Great post Adam! Conte seems like the only option but perhaps that’s exactly the way the management want’s to keep it. Acquiring the services of Pirlo and then bringing in Conte seems like a move that only Secco would make. Maybe there is another manager on his way in!?

Like your proposed idea of changing coach while keeping the same system. Even though I was against Delneri getting fired, it just seems like a brilliant move when put that way. Maybe Marotta and Agnelli had this planned all along. The chance of making it into the Champions League was almost impossible and the decided that the club needed a coach that could take the blame at the end of the season while still continuing the rebuilding process. Maybe Conte was Agnelli’s choice last time too but Marotta advised him to wait till the team had developed into something that actually could challenge. Therefore the only safe and familiar candidate to use while rebuilding was Delneri. Just a theory!