The steady improvement in performances and results continued for our Primavera squad yesterday with a convincing victory over Siena.
Sakor put us into the lead, with a decent strike from outside the box, before Gerbaudo soon made it two, finishing well in the area after good work from Barlocco.
Siena managed to pull a goal back before the break, with a penatly, but Gerbaudo put the game to bed 15 minutes into the second half, completing his brace with his 12th goal of the season in all competitions.
The result concretes our position of 2nd in the table, with two games left to play. Since taking over from banished to the shadows Zanchetta, Fabio Grosso has masterminded 4 victories and one draw, scoring 14 in the process whilst conceding 5. Our form looks vastly superior to the shambles we were offering under the former coach.
If the goals keep flowing and key players remain fit, the season may not prove to be the disaster we all assumed would transpire.
Vykintas Slivka – The hero of last week become the villain of today. Continued his scoring run with his second in two matches, but followed it up with a headbutt and straight red. Amusing and certainly the sign of a strong will, but it didn’t help our cause.
A topsy turvy game saw us fall behind as early at the 5th minute, with Slivka pulling us even in the 18th minute. Unfortunately Vanucchi soon turned the tie in our opponents favour with a haphazard own goal…
The see-saw nature of the match continued, with Donis scoring his tenth league goal of the season on 22 minutes to once again bring parity. Disaster struck early in the 2nd half with Slivka expelled for a filthy challenge on an opponent’s rib-cage. Which didn’t stop our midfield dynamo Vajebah Sakor driving forward and scoring his first of the league campaign to put us in the lead at 3-2.
Vajebah Sakor – Finally showing some solid form after been moved to his favoured regista role at the base of midfield.
Already down to ten men, Tavanti was also given his marching orders with 56 minutes on the clock, leaving us facing a testing final half hour. Bringing on three fresh strikers gave Sassuolo the impetus required and they broke our resolve on 74′. The game petered out to a draw.
Entertaining, yet the draw sees us drop down to 3rd place in the table, on equal points with second placed Sampdoria, but with a far inferior goal difference. Next up on the fixture list is a visit to bottom placed Modena, where surely we will pick up a much needed victory. With four games left to play until the finals (Modena A, Siena H, Sampdoria A, Novara H) we really need to be picking up momentum, aiming for the automatic qualification to the knockout competition and hoping to bring some success to an otherwise hugely disappointing season.
After a poor run of form which saw head coach of the primavera, Zanchetta, deposed and ushered into areas of our youth sector involving less responsibility, former world cup winner and despised Juve outcast, Fabio Grosso stepped up from Assistant to Allenatore and made his debut away to Carpi…
One goal from Gerbaudo and a double from Soumah was more than enough to achieve a 0-3 victory.
The result keeps us in third spot of the table, 2 points off second, with 6 games left to play before the knock-out phase.
Earlier this week, several days after our primavera suffered yet another loss, (a 1-2 home defeat to Parma with Beunacasa grabbing our consolation goal), Andrea Zanchetta was relieved of his duties as first team coach.
This has been coming, due to a season of abject failure on all fronts. With our third defeat in our last five games in the league, disappointing exits in the UEFA Youth Lague at the group stage and coppa italia in the semis, followed by falling at the first hurdle in the viareggio cup, the writing was on the wall for the former Cremonese Youth Coach. Whilst we won the primavera supercup early on in the season, its often seen as not much more than a pre-season friendly, and in every other measure we have not reached our targets.
A season wasted, with tactics often seemingly completely absent from our performances, and several key players halted in their development. I was one of the majority who assumed we would replace Zanchetta in the Summer, but Juve have taken the unprecedented step of dispensing with his services (albeit to a position of less responsibility in the youth sector) mid season.
Whilst Fabio Grosso has been put in charge for the remainder of the season, the move seems more a stop-gap measure than a reward for what Grosso has accomplished thus far. For his debut in the coaching realm presently centres solely upon his role as assistant manager this term to Zanchetta.
It will be interesting to see if there is a change in form and with only the league to play for, with the team sitting in 4th with 7 games left to play, stopping the rot and producing a few convincing victories is the least we will hope to see if the new boss has any chance of remaining in the role after the summer break.
The day before our senior squad took on city neighbours Torino in the Derby di Mole, our youngsters lined up in the same fixture as a dress rehearsal of sorts. Unfortunately, our inconsistent form was set to continue…
REF: Giovani della sezione di Grosseto. Scorers: 42′ Graziano. YELLOW: Tavanti, Mazzariol, Ceria, Barreca, Kabashi.
Juve took the game to Torino, but failed to convert any of the numerous chances in the early stages of the match. Ceria smashed one over the bar after been put through one on one with Gilardi, the winger soon after setting up Marzouk who snatched at the shot putting it well wide of the post.
There was only one team in it, and a goal seemed certain when Marzouk again found himself in a great position, this time with only Gilardi to beat, who saved the strike. After the half hour mark, Torino began to show themselves as an attacking force, going close on one occasion, yet the home side remained in control.
In spite of our dominance, too many errors in front of our own 18 yard area teed up a free kick for our visitors, who promptly found Graziano’s head in the box for 0-1.
It seems that conceding so late in the half after creating several brilliant chances for ourselves took the wind out of the sails, with the second period a far more cagey affair with few chances created for either side, although Graziano did have the opportunity to double the lead.
Juventus 0-1 Torino
Thankfully, we were given the chance 4 days later to make amends for a loss which should have hurt the youngsters, for even at U19 Level, city pride was at stake…and we fluffed our lines. Surely there would be a response, and the obliging lambs to the slaughter were Cesena.
CESENA(4-3-1-2): Iglio; Venturini, Gabrielli, N.Arrigoni, Mordini; Valzania, Ballardini, Man. Prati; Pierfederici (8′ st S.Braccini); Raffini (19′ st Gaiani), Moncini (34′ st Dal Monte). SUBS: Carroli, Bevitori, Fagioli, Gasperi. Allenatore: G. Angelini.
ARBITRO: Sig. Fanton di Lodi. Assistenti: Lombardi – Mauro. SCORERS: 24′ pt Pierfederici; 39′ st Donis, 42′ st Gerbaudo, 44′ st Donis. YELLOW: Roussos, Venturini.
In driving rain and heavy winds, the primavera were determined to get back to winning ways, and win they did, in good style, with two second half goals from greek star Donis and one from midfielder Gerbaudo. The result leaves us third with 34 points from 17 games, a solitary point behind Empoli, but a woeful 11 behind Torino.
Tasos Donis – 2 more goals for the 17 year old…
With our failures in the UEFA Youth League, Viareggio and Coppa Italia Primavera tournaments, the league championship is the last chance for any sort of success in a season which promised so much but has delivered so little. Like many others I would be shocked if Zanchetta and Grosso were not replaced in the Summer. Too little return on Too much investment. Still, until then, we are looking a sure bet to qualify for the play-offs, and then…who knows eh???
Early pressure saw Man City import, Marin score a disgusting own goal, lashing the ball past startled Audero, whilst under pressure from an opponent.Surely that’s the end of his Juve career.
A fortunate free-kick was then awarded on the edge of the 18 yard area, with Cevallos and Pol Garcia looming over the ball. The big centre-back despatched a beautiful curling strike into the corner to level the scoreline in the 25′.
On 62 minutes, Sakow was found in the box, scrambled past the defenders and goalkeeper and put us in the lead from close range.
Victory looked certain, with more opportunities coming our way before a last ditch scything challenge in the area led to a penalty in the dying seconds, which was duly converted, leaving us licking our wounds, bothered, like the seniors, to be leaving Denmark with a solitary point.
Next on the fixture list was the visit of the hated turks…
Marzouk opened the scoring early on, latching onto a cross whipped in from the right flank for 1-0.
It was the Moroccan again…driving down the left flank, beating the defender with north african flair, then serving up a great chance on a plate for Gerbaudo, who made no mistake lofting the ball into the top corner with his left boot from 10 yards out.
Orhan pulled one back for the Turks, following up to slot in after a solid save from Audero. With 79 minutes played, it was 2-1.
Late on in the match, Juve secured a welcome victory when Tavanti found space to cross from the right wing, finding Soumah in the middle for a perfect header to fire in our third.
Our next opponents were Real Madrid. Confidence was high but the result was horrible, in every way imaginable.
Yet again, no need to go into detail with this one. For who wants to see us dominated, beaten and goal-less??
So onto the visit to Turin of Copenhagen. Our future was in our hands. Surely we could win this one, and place ourselves in a comfortable second position in the group???
Finally, we faced the turks in their own back-yard, knowing that if Real Madrid beat Copenhagen away, and we won our tie, we would go through to the next round…
Soumah opened the scoring, slotting past the keeper to five us the lead. It took until the second half for us to double the lead, Marzouk guiding the ball into the net when put through one on one.
The flood gates opened…Donis was next on the score sheet, been pushed wide left but squeezing the ball over the line from an acute angle.
Marzouk added two more for his hatrick before the fat lady sang, but alas, it was all in vein, for the Danes beat Madrid 3-2, sending us out of the tournament.
Final group standings left us third, on 8 points from 6 games.
After a terribly disappointing viareggio showing, coming soon after our exit from the coppa italia, it was time to get back to the business of winning.
Unfortunately the hosts took the lead in the 11th minute after a slip-up by Romagna at the back for Juve, allowing Frugoli to open the scoring.
Roussos almost drew us level when heading against the crossbar from the corner kick.
Still they came at us, with two chances well cut out by Mattiello. And then…our luck finally changed, with Konate given his marching orders after earning his second yellow for a lunch on Roussos. Down to ten men, but a goal up, the game was there for us to grab by the horns…
It didn’t take long in the second half for us to finally get on the score-sheet with up and coming greek star Donis leveling the match in the 48th minute. Within two minutes of the restart, Marzouk popped up to register his first strike since that memorable hatrick against Galatasaray in the Uefa Youth League on the 10th December.
The result, which it must be said did seem to hinge on the rather harsh red card for Konate, moves us up to third spot in the table…
21 goals conceded in 14 games makes far from pleasant reading. From a commanding 0-3 lead, courtesy of a wonderful hatrick from Donis, our defence capitulated in the second half. The icing on the shit-cake was the 92nd minute equalizer for 4-4.
Next up for the Primavera is the first leg of our coppa italia tie against Fiorentina.
Edoardo Goldaniga – Latest addition to our youth portfolio
Our latest investment finds our EUROS heading into the Palermo coffers for a 50% stake in 20 year old CB Edoardo Goldaniga. The Itay U20 starlet has been a regular in the first XI for Lega pro side Pisa and will remain at the club until the Summer.
Also signed up is French defender, Yoan Severin. At just 17 years of age, the 1.88metre tall left footed Yoan was born and bred in Lyon, where he played until moving to Evian and only yesterday, to Juve.
The wonderfully named ERIC MAXIM Choupo-Moting
Lastly…we are rumoured to be pondering a move for Cameroonian wide forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Born in Germany to an native mother and father from Cameroon, the 24 year old frontman has been enjoying a solid season at Mainz and is out of contract in the Summer. And has 6 goals and 2 assists from his 17 outings (6 starts) for his club side in the bundesliga this term.
A natural dribbler (one thing our squad lacks), happiest on the left flank, capable of shooting from long range and eager to use his physicality to win duels.
Considering his age, he would surely be either an addition to the first team squad or loaned to another serie A team. The other idea is that he will prove a bargaining chip, for another team in Italy or elsewhere, who want Eric and have a player we desire.
Matteo Liviero – Clawing his way back in line for greatness??
20 year old left-back, Matteo Liviero has moved to Juve Stabia on loan. The fullback who has represented Italy at every level from U17-U21 started the season at Serie B newcomers Carpi, after a solid previous campaign with Perugia in Lega Pro.
With only 3 appearances in the league and 1 in the coppa, it was decided to move him to a club where it is hoped he will find more competitive action. And with his new club Juve Stabia sitting rock bottom, surely they will give the Liviero dice a roll sooner rather than later.
I have followed the youngster since been alerted to his horrific kidney injury suffered during a game against Pisa in the 12/13 campaign. Within two months, he had not only emerged from the hospital ward but was back on the field for Perugia. Clearly he is made of stern stuff.
His last international outings came in September of last year for the Azzurrini and October with the U20 squad.
Jakub Hromada – Off to Genoa to help them climb of the bottom rung of the ladder.
Slovakian U17 captain, central midfielder Jakub Hromada has joined the Genoa Primavera squad, to gain some playing time, after failing to see much action under Zanchetta. As with Liviero, Jakub joins a struggling team rooted to the bottom of the table and so the odds look good for seeing him given a chance to impress.
With Hromada heading out, it makes sense to bring someone in, and it appears that Beppe and Paratici have managed a coup of sorts, by signing Lorenzo Granatiero on loan for the rest of the season.
Lorenzo…Mohawk by hair, terzino by nature.
The fledgling terzino is on a whirlwind of a voyage…at just 16 years of age, Lorenzo was turning out for his local side, Manfredonia in Serie D in September. Forcing his way into the team, his mature performances belied his tender adolescence and with several teams scouting him, Juve stepped in to bring him into the fold.
“It’s an indescribable feeling to have arrived at Juventus – admits the young fullback – because not everyone can play at a big club such as Juventus. I think this is a great opportunity that is giving me inspiration and I will try to commit myself to exploit it to the fullest. This dream has come true, now I have to work hard to get as high as possible in order to one day play with the great players of this club, from which you can only learn. ”
“As soon as I started the season with the Manfredonia I thought only to play for the shirt of my city – because it was a child I dreamed of doing it. Then, after a good performance, I was told that there were several important clubs interested in me, which gave me an extra boost to succeed, I started to think about my future and do better with the white shirt of my city. I thank the club for the opportunity and the trust you have placed in me since the beginning of the league and I can not wait to start this new adventure with one of the world’s best teams like Juventus. “
(Lorenzo Granatiero)
For a 16 year old to be have made 14 first team appearances in Serie D bodes very well for the future…
Yet another addition to our youth ranks comes in the form of Daniele Guglielmi. Also a terzino, not yet 16, needing special dispensation to play with the seniors, Daniele has made 3 appearances for Barletta Calcio this season which was enough to place our gold nuggets on the table and entice him to Turin. His agent is the same shrewd operator who discovered Verratti…
juventus primavera and youth 