Juventus have won their last five Serie A games in a row but they face the toughest test of the season so far when they host high-flying Fiorentina this weekend.
In anticipation of what has always been a standout of the Serie A calendar, we put your questions to writer, journalist and Fiorentina supporter, Giancarlo Rinaldi.
You can follow Giancarlo on Twitter and get a copy of his excellent ‘20 Great Italian Games‘ here.
Fiorentina have been in sensational form this season – Do you think they can maintain it until the end of the season?
I don’t see any reason why Fiorentina can’t keep playing this way all season but it will be vital to avoid injuries to key players like Nikola Kalinic, Borja Valero and Gonzalo Rodriguez. Some fresh resources in January might help them to sustain their form.
Do you think Fiorentina are title contendors this season ?
I think top three is a more realistic target, unless their rivals keep taking points off one another. The defence, in particular, makes a few too many slip-ups to be Scudetto quality. It’s nice to dream, though.
Who have been the standout performers so far?
Biggest surprise had been Kalinic, greatest return to form is Borja Valero but the tandem Matias Vecino-Milan Badelj has really made the midfield tick. Federico Bernardeschi has been a revelation in recent games.
Whats the verdict on Beppe Rossi ? Do you think his Fiorentina career is over or can he become a key performer again?
It takes time to get over serious injury and he’s had more than one of those. He has struggled since he returned but I’ve seen enough flashes of class to suggest that he can still be a big player for Fiorentina and Italy. Anyone who has read his book could not doubt his determination.
Davide Astori is having a fine season so far – How do you rate him?
I’ve been pleasantly surprised by Astori. I thought he might find it harder to fit in. He can only learn from Gonzalo Rodriguez.
How should Juve approach the game against Fiorentina ? how can we handle that midfield ? Marking Valero?
The times I’ve seen Fiorentina struggle is when they’ve been pressed – effectively – high up the pitch as Empoli did. It chokes the supply lines to a quality midfield and puts pressure on Tatarusanu who is not always convincing with his feet.
The ill feeling between the two clubs is well documented – do you think it’s abated in recent years or is it just as strong as in the 90’s?
It’s lost some of its venom, but that’s a welcome thing. It’s still the game of the season for Fiorentina, though.
Thoughts on Bernandeschi and his promising career so far?
Bernardeschi is a superstar of the future if he maintains the attitude and versatility he has shown so far. He has played in a number of positions and shone in them all. His balance, touch and effort are all impeccable.
Do you know the story behind the famous purple shirts that Fiorentina wear?
The first strips were red and white. A long-standing story is that the purple ones were created by washing them with blue ones but it appears to have been actually a colour picked by founder Luigi Ridolfi.
Thoughts on Mario Suarez, Kalinic & Gilbertoso far?
Suarez has struggled to play at the tempo the Viola demand although he’s clearly a quality player. Kalinic has given the attack a workrate and cutting edge it lacked. Gilberto has shown moments of brilliance but needs time to adapt.
Are you a fan of Sousa’s 3-4-2-1 formation ? Does it work to Fiorentina’s strengths?
It’s a very fluid formation which suits the lovely passers Fiorentina have. Not sure it suits Rossi & Babacar, though, to wait in line behind Kalinic.
Which Fiorentina player stands out as the biggest threat to Juve?
It would be easy to say Kalinic as Juve have shown more cracks at the back than in recent seasons. But Josip Ilicic, if he’s in the mood, might be the man to unlock that back line after Chiellini and Kalinic battle it out.
How can Juve stop Kalinic ?
As I’ve said before, Juve need to cut off his supply lines if they possibly can. To keep him quiet, you have to work as hard as he does – which isn’t easy but the Bianconeri do have the players to do so.
Prediction for the game?
Juve have more experience of these big games but I expect Fiorentina to try to play their football. It probably won’t be enough to win – those are rare in Turin – but I’ll go for a 1-1 draw.
What would be your Juve/Fiorentina XI ?
Asking a few to play out of position – Buffon; Barzagli, Rodriguez, Alonso; Bernardeschi, Vecino, Badelj, Pogba; Dybala, Borja; Kalinic. I couldn’t bring myself to pick Cuadrado but I bet he’ll score on Sunday!
Isnt he one of the football-italia journalists?
How far is belgium from netherlands? And wheres DutchJuve? Im seriously planning on moving to the Netherlands for at least 4 months unless somethkng else pops up. we should get together and raid turin!! Rav, i expect you there :p
We are neighbouring countries and neither of us is a big country, so not far 😛
Dutch still posts here, he will probably reply soon. Where on the netherlands will you move? 😮 turin is still over 1000kms from us though 😛
I’m a big fan of Bruges! As have my beloved Naples crowd in Zaventem, a suburb of Brussels. And whenever I head home to travel and see my brethren in the motherland I always pay Mario a visit, and take a day trip to the beautifully quaint, cobbled streets of Bruges.
Amsterdam I have visited many times. Very much like the pedestrian pace of the people and the City itself. Lots of water, a million bridges, delightful greenery and the Dutch come across as jolly, odd Germans!
Last time I was there was last year when Holland were playing against the Argies in the semi-finals of the world cup. Wonderful atmosphere, yet nothing compared with what I then found in Berlin at Alexanderplatz for the final. The whole ground was shaking when Goetze scored! Also…the day after, I was overly adventurous with the indica, chose the strongest I could find, and my then lady and I, found ourselves muddled and crawling around the streets to find our way back to our rented lair, using shop windows and railings to steady our weak lower paws and ship wrecked minds. We had indeed, delved a little to deep. I remember the rain, and following the wallowing with the wind coat of my lady, feeling like the coat was sails of a huge ship bellowing in a tremendous and awful storm…and when I finally began to feel more alive and awake, I took refuge by a canal, looked up, from the corner of my eyes as my hellhound does when he is gnarly, and found an old local exiting a pub, glaring at me with understandable disdain, spitting on the floor near my foot, yet all I could do was appear like a rabbit stuck in the headlights, in stoned shock and awe!
Highly recommend Amsterdam, Bruges and very much so Berlin.
Where are you based presently, John? And Belgian? I’m planning a piece for the site where I introduce the history of my love affair with Juve and will hope you chaps share the same in turn.
that would be great – to get people to write on how and why they support Juve. Definitely one for the future.
Im from southern California 🙂
I would love to write a piece, but my writing has been crap at the moment haha. Can hardly think up a proper paragraph at the moment. Been stick in this slump for at least a year now. Which is one of the factors why ive stepped away from commenting here.
In our defence, we were total crap in our match against Argentina and lost on penalties because Van Gaal couldn’t make his brilliant GK subsitute like he did vs Costa Rica. Cillessen has never stopped a penalty in his professional carreer, never. We knew when we went to penalties we would lose :p
We would have easily overclassed the Germans with cheering if we won the tournament like they did. (Yes the hate is big :p)
I originate from the city of Ghent, in East Flanders. Now I live and work in Ostend, West Flanders, close to the beach.
If you liked Bruges, you will definitely like Ghent too and I highly recommend it. It is also a medieval city like Bruges, located on the point where 2 big rivers meet, big in belgian terms ofcourse. Only Ghent is bigger than Bruges. And nicer. More beautiful, especially when you go for a walk during the evening when all is dark and you can enjoy the beauty of the city lights.
I havent seen Amsterdam yet, but I have visited Berlin before, which is also a special city.
I remember how I fell in love with Juve and I wouldnt mind writing about it, but it would take some time since i am terribly busy with work in december!
I’ll get a piece to Rav later this week, mate…and will look forward to you adding your own story in the comments section!
Im not sure. All i know is i have relatives and im bored of cali at the moment :p
Any idea where your relatives live?
Also, i keep hearing bad things about California. A girl i know thats lived there all her life also wants to leave the country because she’s bored of Cali.
Im not sure haha.
I love Cali, i just want a new experience haha
I see. Well you’ve got one in Holland. It’s like the exact opposite of California. If you want 4 seasons, you won’t get them though. It’s rain, wind, rain, wind, rain, wind sun, rain, wind, rain, wind, rain, wind, sun, etc… We used to have real seasons back in the 90s 🙁
I like the rain, so its cool :p what is there to do in Holland? Im mostly going because i wanna up my game in football :p the usa aint doing it for me. Too many physically minded coaches. I was born in the wrong footballing country :p
I don’t think i can really help you with that. I quit playing football at a very early age so i never really got into it. The club i was at only played for fun, the senior team would go for beers and get drunk after the match. And that was much more important than the game itself. They lose, atleast the drinking was fun. You know. I think this happens alot unless you get into the higher leagues, but for that you need talent.
But you like the rain? Is that even possible? 😀
Hmmm, id probably succeed greatly in Dutch football!! My technique and overall passing CAN be top, but consistency is my huge weakness… But i think that goes back to me not playing seriously for long periods of time.
Yea i love the rain :p we dont get enough heree:p
You’ll have too much of it soon enough here though.. We should swap countries.
People say that the people here are selfish and self absorbed tho… That might ruin all the sun :p
Do you think clubs will allow me to train with them?
Time to move then 😛
DutchJuve is dead, i took his place.
From my place to Belgium is probably between 2 and 3 hour drive. You probably won’t even be out of the state of California in 3 hours. Small countries.
He is, and he’s a damn fine one at that. Very happy to have him do this for us
I knew i recognised that name, great that you got such a journalist for a Q&A!
Never knew he was a Viola
he’s an absolute gent as well. Such a classy guy, very knowledgable, knows his Calcio inside and out.
Yeah I like his articles on football-italia too, but this was a more personal read, very enjoyable! Was this a once in a time interview or will you get more of these? :p
Is this the same Signore Rinaldi who produced a small zine focused on italian football, perhaps in the late 90s? I had that series on order and would always feel such excitement coursing through my crimson rivers when it arrived in the mailbox. These were of course, pre-internet times, when knowledge of such matters for an englishman came from Channel Four’s excellent Football Italia program and…snippets of information I could glean on teletext, and Rinaldi’s zine. Back before so much as served to us on a plate, from every screen, 24/7 that now its a case of not seeking out information, but delving through the tidal wave of information presented and directed at us, to find what we seek.
Great article, Rav. And I doff my virtual hat to signore Rinaldi for partaking.
I had the privilege of following Juve in the 90s, and Sousa was a brilliant professional. No pace, yet rarely put a foot wrong, used the ball always intelligently, and had a natural sense of positioning and awareness of the flow of the game. I am glad to see him prospering, even in Florence! hohoho!
One point which RInaldi broached which has been swimming in the murkiness of my synapses for some time now is this-
All the teams above us have pretty much has their best players available for most of the season thus far. I do not feel any of them can improve drastically upon what we have presently seen. Also, every one of these teams have considerably less depth than Juve, Injuries to key players who have thrust them into high positions in the table will cause a noticeable drop in form. This is a matter of luck to some degree, though the managers can and will rotate to try to lessen the chances of these injuries occurring.
Now contrast this against Juve to date.
We have suffered our worst injury crises for at least the last four seasons. Perhaps it was long overdue and better to get the bad luck out the way in a short-ish period. As well as losing three world class players, we have been missing Morata, Asamoah, Mandzukic, Khedira, Pereyra, Lichsteiner, Marchisio and Caceres for varied time frames. We have recovered some of those players and instantly our form and results have improved. We have more still to recover, and it makes sense that we will yet further improve in form and results. My point is…we have a very strong squad and the silver lining on the clouds of discontent is that players who may not have had much of a look in have played and gathered match sharpness in absence of those missing.
Of the top five sides in the league we have the greatest potential to improve. We also have the greatest squad depth.
This game presents a wonderful opportunity to announce ourselves as back in the reckoning for glory. We must approach with fierce determination. Pressure our opponents from the first till the final whistle. Give our all in all ways, in every tackle, every block, every run, every shout. Continue the upward trajectory of late and continue to fight our way back to where we belong…at the top, looking down.
agree with you entirely there – Huge absences – Look at the midfield early season – Vidal and Pirlo gone, Marchisio and Khedira injured. We thrust poor Paul into the role of midfield leader and he struggles, and rightly so. The defence gets overrun and the attack looks utterly alone, stranded.
Fast forward a few weeks and we have 5 wins on the bounce, a strong defence again and the attack is finding a tempo and pace of its own, assisted, of course by the vim and vigour of Marchisio, the less encumbered Polpo and the vidal-esque qualities of Sturaro.
I still feel we are missing that true difference maker. The player thats not too young to feel the burden, experienced enough to be able to turn a result in our favour.
Since Conte, we’ve grown as a collective, each part working in tandem with the other – No ego’s, no one player doing it alone, everyone pitching in.
Maybe having a star trequartista type would help us push on up the table ?
Wicked words, Chief! I enjoyed your description of Pogba and co…
In terms of a player capable of a moment of magic to unlock a tight game, produce flair and genius to win us a game…I am unsure on the trequartista option, yet it seems that is Allegri’s bent. Hence the Draxler hunt and Hernanes back-fill. This is what Morata brings to the side, in my opinion. Namely not just brilliant pace and a high level of finding the right spaces and the right time, but the ability to make something out of seemingly nothing. As we saw against City and many times last season. He brings more, when on song, to the side than Mandzukic. Yet the big fella is presently finding form. Despite his haphazard selection and rhythm, Morata could and should have scored 2-3 against Seville. Which is more promising than worrying.
Yet that doesn’t answer your question, as Morata does not play, naturally, between the lines. Dybala has been tasked with this, and is capable and doing very well there, improving game by game. He truly seems to have staggering potential. Which I hope we see realised in out colours.
Of course, a trequartista of real quality would add creativity to our side, yet its not creativity I see as presently lacking, for we make plenty of chances. Its the execution of those chances, which is rusty, given the fact that only Dybala has had a solid run in the first XI.
And then there are the options to consider…For at this stage in the season, who do you have in mind? We spent 10m on Hernanes, and I am not writing him off as a dead loss. Not yet. He was playing badly in a side which was playing badly. I actually look forward to seeing him reintroduced into a side playing well, for a player like him needs others to be making the runs for him to find and to create space for him to find, for us to see his best. Also…we have Pereyra surely soon to return, who I feel is a natural trequartista. Outstanding work rate and potency in between the front and midfield lines with intelligent running and quick passing. If only he could improve his shooting!
I beg to differ on the collective focus, for whilst Conte was very much focused on extremely rigid tactics, with Conte as the man for the players to look to for guidance and comfort, Allegri was the man who took a step back from that paternal role, and encouraged the players to express themselves individually. He loosened the shackles Conte had placed on the side. And rather than move against egoism he encouraged it. Which is much of the reason why I feel, we saw the very best of all time of Marchisio last season, also Pogba and Tevez and Morata. System came second to individual zeal. Which I enjoyed and hope will continue when we recover our full squad.
Under Conte, the players looked to him when the going got tough. Under Allegri the players looked to themselves and each other.
Ahhhh, know you’re talking. I’m a bif fan of the Dane. Young enough to have the air of self-importance and gravitas that being ‘that’ kind of player brings. His free kicks are sublime and he pick a pass or two. That would be a dream….but i suspect the cost involved would be hefty. Lamela ? Great talent….when he feels like it. Otherwise….meh
Very good points re Allegri and Conte. I remember Tevez saying within weeks that the atmosphere was calmer since the arrival of allegri. There was an increase in tempo, shrewder use of the ball. A definite change.
How i wished Hernanes had been the player that would lift our season. At Lazio, he was a single-minded genius on the ball – I love that he’s not afraid to gamble when there’s nothing else on – he loves a shot…..but he looks like he;s singing from a different hymnsheet to the rest of the players at times. That was so evident in one of the early games when the entire attack was pulling in different directions. Does a trequartista need to be slightly detached from the rest of the team in his thinking/ Is that what makes them the creative force ? Questions for the ages.
Great point on Morata as well – He has been quickly thrown under the bus for missing those chances – very few people taking positives from that performance, which is understanable to a point. my concern is that Monday’s draw and perhaps failure to progress from the last 16 may be levelled at him. Thank goodness the club took time to restore faith by extending his contract. A nice touch for a striker who is goign through one of those patches.
Great to enter into debate and wholesome discussion, Chief!
A pure of the purest trequartista indeed needs to be detached from systems, from any sense of System, yet also extremely intelligent and alert to his team mates and the systems they remain focused upon.
I truly know of no other than Eriksen who I would like to see us purchase, and of course, you are correct, for Levy would likely demand closer to 50m when we would go I assume closer to 25-30 max.
Still…who knows what Beppe and his hatchet-man Paratici have up their sleeves?
I suspect we wont make any major signing until the Summer. For we have not yet had anywhere near our whole squad available. And have faith in Hernanes. He remains…an interesting investment.
Still, as I mentioned…who else can you proffer as potential trequartista options???