Looks like Spalletti is going to stick to what worked in the first half of the season. Osi was fantastic. Too often I see him in good positions and we arent putting the crosses in. These days he's letting his teammates know about it. He's looking more mature despite the Ronald McDonald hair. Politano unlucky to have missed his penalty. He has some quality, but not a lot. He should try to be less like Insigne and more like Callejon. You don't need to be the most talented player to still be respected and admired.
Team looked out of shape and slow vs Inter, which makes me question what the training consisted of during the break. Much better this time around, and Rui needs to be in the lineup as he offers much more offense.
Keep beating the smaller/mid table sides to take the pressure off when we play the big boys. I can't remember the last time we entered a match against Juve this late into the season with very little pressure to get all 3 points. I know we're only at the midway mark but to be 7 points up and having already played away from home against Milan, Inter, Lazio, Roma, Atalanta and Fiorentina ... We've never been in a position like this. It may very well be our year if we win on Friday.
^ very well said amici, but Chiesa might start, so it will be tricky for Rui to get forward. The more we can prevent Juve from playing their usual game, the better. I think the emphasis should be to let Lobotka recycle the ball with little intent to get forward. Try to draw Juve out into pressing us. Then dump the ball into their end when they do. Let Osi wreck havoc with Kvara in support. If they don't take the bait, then we shouldn't force it and we should eat the draw. We are in a position where they need to gamble tactically, not us. Stick to our strengths and deny them theirs should at least in theory see us get a draw.
His field awareness is really something else, and he's directing the attack like a captain. Without him on the field, the other players are yards back and sometimes bunch up, even though there is still the attacking power to score at any moment, he adds real intelligence to the team.
1-0. I thought we should sit back, play things slow. Spalletti knows best and went right for the jugular. Juve playing like sacrificial lambs.
I am extremely beautiful, but we've all known that, so I'll get right to the point. I am also very smart. Why? Because I remember when I was writing here that this team will be a beast before the season, I remember when I said that Lobotka can be crucial for this team, I remember when I said that Osi is talented as hell but needs to grow up a bit. The only thing I just don't remember is yesterday's game because I was dead drunk, among other things, and all I could remember when I woke up was the TV on the wall, the bar, and the beautiful 5:1, because it was that memorable. Indeed, though my brain was working on one cell, or maybe two, I woke up with a smile on my face, because I remembered. Lobotka carrying the ball forward like with Juve players just staring at him in disbelief, I just love to see that. It's like in band of brothers when the American soldier ran across the German lines, and they did not even shoot at him at first because they just could not believe what they were seeing. Osimhen? The work is everywhere, he is so hungry that when his teammates have a bad day and cannot provide, he will just steal the ball from defense to score anyway. Kvara? One goal and 2 assists, need I say more? This team is a pleasure to watch.