Chance for Redemption

In around three months, the Juventus management (President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli, Managing Director Jean Claude Blanc, Sporting Director Alessio Secco and Manager Claudio Ranieri) have a gilt-edged chance to put themselves on the path to redemption in the supporters' eyes. The bulk of this burden lies on the first three names on this list, as Ranieri has proved himself at least a decent manager over the past few years, especially with the resources at his disposal. He performed admirably in guiding Juve to a 3rd place finish last year, and has been cursed with a spate of injuries that would bury even the most accomplished of managers.

However, the upper management of Cobolli Gigli, Blanc and Secco have much more for which to answer. Staunch Juventus supporters like myself are fed up with the poor handling of footballing matters, and it's high time that changes are made, whether they be through sacking or a simple change in mentality. As I've mentioned many times before, the purchase of such abject failures such as Jean-Alain Boumsong, Sergio Almirón, Tiago, and (more recently) Christian Poulsen who seems a poor buy already, cannot be simply swept under the rug.

That being said, the chance to take positive steps forward looms large in January. Such names as Diego Ribas da Cunha of Werder Bremen, Xavi Hernández of Barcelona have been thrown around, but it remains to be seen whether or not this transfer period will come and go without a quality signing to show for it. The fans are restless, and nothing but excellence and forward progress will quell the complaints and remonstrations in the near future. Only a return to winning ways will quiet the fans and placate expectations.