Earlier this week I wrote a match review of the Juventus draw with Galatasaray which was entitled ‘Time for the Old Lady to change.’ Then I thought about it. Now, common wisdom tells us many things, particularly in football, as the game is littered with cliches that, whispered often enough, seem become almost facts. This is never more true than on the oh-so-superstitious Italian peninsula; never substitute a player before a corner they tell us, and Milan will always be rescued from defeat by a penalty.
Ok, so I made that last one up, but there are undoubtedly more and more of these ideals creeping into football with each passing season. Indeed, thanks to the exploits of Antonio Conte and his players in that undefeated debut campaign, missing out on Europe is slowly being seen as a positive by many. Being able to ‘concentrate on the league’ has, despite the best efforts of Zdenek Zeman and Roma, made qualification to the Europa League even less desirable.
Walter Mazzarri and Inter have reinforced that belief with a blistering start to 2013-14, and it is clear that the extra rest and a few more days to prepare is hugely beneficial. An intelligent coach with time on his hands quickly forms a formidable opponent, and on Wednesday night, Roberto Mancini was sadly able to prove it in superb fashion.
He may have only had two days as coach of Galatasaray, but having been out of work since being fired by Manchester City back in May, he has clearly studied Conte’s Juventus. His tactical approach to the game was almost perfect, as he abandoned the 4-3-1-2 favoured by his predecessor Fatih Terim, and instead employed a 4-2-3-1 with Didier Drogba as its lone frontman.
In doing so, Mancini, who left an army of scarf wearing acolytes behind him, also flew in the face of another of these overly repeated myths. It has been the opinion of many observers that the best way to counter the two-time champions is to mirror their own 3-5-2. Soon enough, imitation became the most annoying form of flattery for Conte. Coaches, even those as stubborn as Zeman, abandoned their own footballing principles in order to deploy their own version of his formation and look to stifle the all conquering Bianconeri.
While many believe this worked – pointing to drab stalemates with teams like Chievo and Genoa as proof – it also regularly failed. Poor Pescara were demolished 6-1 in their own stadium when they tried to ape the Old Lady, and it was often felt that only the profligacy of strikers such as Alessandro Matri and Marco Borriello was the only true weakness. Signing a ‘top player’ to dispatch the chances others wasted would see Juve become unstoppable they said.
While Fernando Llorente needs time to adjust to Italy, Conte and his new teammates (and them to him), Carlos Tevez has laid that particular story to rest. His determination, grittiness and ability have seen him net goals and fan affection with equal aplomb. The Argentinean has begun so well that even the discontent over him donning Alessandro Del Piero’s hallowed number ten shirt was quickly subdued, yet still Juventus continue to struggle.
Looking closely at the seven defeats Juventus have suffered in Serie A and the Champions League since Conte arrived, it is surprising to note that three came against teams playing with four defenders. More telling however, is that as many as six came against teams using just a single striker. Milan’s 4-3-3 and the devastating 4-2-3-1 of Bayern Munich laid bare a major flaw in the previously impermeable Juve armour.
The major reason these teams enjoyed success against the Bianconeri is simple; Leonardo Bonucci struggles when asked to play as a man-marker. Brilliant in his central role leading the back three, the 26 year old is much worse when faced with a direct opponent. No longer able to read games and anticipate the danger – note he leads Juventus with 2.4 interceptions per game – he struggles in challenges, winning just 0.6 aerial duels per game and often looks uncomfortable.
In possession he is also less effective, managing a minimum of ten passes under his usual average of 66.5 in all but one of those defeats. It is also interesting that he received a yellow card in all but two of the losses, a testament to his poor performances. He is far from the only one – and was man enough to personally apologise for his displays – but it was no surprise to see him removed as Conte searched for an answer against Galatasaray.
Many cry out that 4-3-3 would be perfect for Juve, while Conte himself has bemoaned the absence of Simone Pepe as the reason he has not gone with it. Yet surely such a switch cannot hinge on the fitness of a man who has barely played in a year, and the likes of Eljero Elia, Milos Krasic and Emanuele Giaccherini would not have left so quickly were this formation a genuine option.
There appears to be a simple solution, one given credence by the dominant performances last term when Luca Marrone was given the central role. Those ten games – ending in nine wins and one draw – proved that, in the right circumstances, Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Martin Caceres can play on the outside of the back three.
Doing so against a lone striker would free the former to once again display his strengths while, again in limited instances, deploying Giorgio Chiellini in the central role would be perfect. Instead of looking on as Bonucci struggled to cope with Drogba, Edinson Cavani or Mario Mandzukic, the big number three can do what he does arguably better than any defender in Europe right now and nullify their threat.
We are all so clearly sick of tired, worn out cliches, so why not instead opt for the insight and wisdom of Occam’s Razor; “Simpler explanations are, other things being equal, generally better than more complex ones.” Small, simple and hopefully effective.
