Tonight's defeat marks the end to our Scudetto ambitions. Not because we basically lost the second season-defining game in a row, but rather because of how we completely collapsed after juve took the lead. We played a decent game for the first hour or so, occupying the field in an orderly manner and trying to hit them back whenever possible, even though we always seemed to lack a bit of bite in the final third. But the way we stopped playing as soon as we conceded, boy, that is a really hard pill to swallow.
A team which really aims to win can lose a big game, but they don't just disappear from the field as soon as things go South. Tonight we let juve toy with us for a good 20 minutes, shipping another goal before we finally tried to stage some sort of reaction. That's literally unacceptable.
As I wrote several times in the past few months, pretty much all the other Serie A coaches have found the countermeasures to our game plan, and it's becoming increasingly harder for us to create chances. A problem that compounds itself the stronger our opponents are, obviously. The real letdown of tonight's performance, aside from our post-goal blackout, was realising that we still don't have a coherent and thought-out plan B. Conte has - indeed - started experimenting with the 4-men defence as of late, but it's becoming painfully clear that he considers any alternative to the 3-5-2 formation nothing more than a desperation (and rather impromptu) move.
Another thing that baffles me is the way he's been using Eriksen. Even admitting that he wasn't perfectly match fit when he joined (which was probably the case), by now he should have gained an acceptable shape. I realise he didn't have a significant impact on today's game, yet I don't understand how a player of his undeniable technical ability seems to be only seen as a last resort card to be played when we're trailing. Quality should be the pillar upon which to build the team, not a weapon to use when physicality fails.
A team which really aims to win can lose a big game, but they don't just disappear from the field as soon as things go South. Tonight we let juve toy with us for a good 20 minutes, shipping another goal before we finally tried to stage some sort of reaction. That's literally unacceptable.
As I wrote several times in the past few months, pretty much all the other Serie A coaches have found the countermeasures to our game plan, and it's becoming increasingly harder for us to create chances. A problem that compounds itself the stronger our opponents are, obviously. The real letdown of tonight's performance, aside from our post-goal blackout, was realising that we still don't have a coherent and thought-out plan B. Conte has - indeed - started experimenting with the 4-men defence as of late, but it's becoming painfully clear that he considers any alternative to the 3-5-2 formation nothing more than a desperation (and rather impromptu) move.
Another thing that baffles me is the way he's been using Eriksen. Even admitting that he wasn't perfectly match fit when he joined (which was probably the case), by now he should have gained an acceptable shape. I realise he didn't have a significant impact on today's game, yet I don't understand how a player of his undeniable technical ability seems to be only seen as a last resort card to be played when we're trailing. Quality should be the pillar upon which to build the team, not a weapon to use when physicality fails.
