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Goal.com Special: Who Is Juventus’ Player Of The Season?
Join Goal.com's Carlo Garganese to see who was the stand-out performer for the Bianconeri in 2008-09.
Apr 28, 2009 8:35:11 AM
Juventus entered the 2008/09 season with high expectations. Having invested heavily in the summer on the likes of Amauri and Christian Poulsen, the Old Lady hierarchy promised to challenge for both the Scudetto and Champions League. However, they fell short of both targets. Exiting Europe in the first knockout round, Juve currently trail league-leaders Inter by nine points with just five games remaining.
The entire Juventus management is under severe pressure from fans, and in truth there have not been too many Juventus players who have consistently excelled this season, even if injuries have also played their part.
Below is a list of five nominees in no particular order. I then cast my vote at the bottom before leaving it up to you, the readers, to have your say
1) Giorgio Chiellini: The 24-year-old has not been the all-conquering rock that he was last term, but he has still been an irreplaceable member of this Juventus line-up. When Chiellini has been missing, the Bianconeri defence has leaked goals. Indeed the club’s title challenge was all but ended when Chiellini was out with injury during January and February. The ex-Fiorentina star has made 24 league appearances, scoring four goals, including the winner in the derby.
2) Momo Sissoko: The arrival of the Malian from Liverpool in January 2008 was opposed by everyone, but he has proved to be the only signing of Alessio Secco’s reign to improve the Juve first team. The 24-year-old has missed a lot of games due to injury, but, during his 21 Serie A appearances, he has often been the standout member in midfield. Sissoko’s passing will always be wayward, but his physical qualities cannot be understated.
3) Amauri: Has had a miserable 2009, scoring just one goal and suffering from injuries, but before Christmas Amauri was an absolute revelation. While it is true that the Bianconeri already had a formidable strikeforce, Amauri settled immediately after his summer move from Palermo, and his power, pace and aerial ability were too much for many defenders. The soon-to-be Italian has found the back of the net 12 times in 28 league games, as well as striking twice in the Champions League, including a goal against Real Madrid.
4) Alessandro Del Piero: Just like Amauri, Del Piero was playing some of the best football of his career before Christmas, only to then disappoint in the New Year. ‘The Golden Boy’ rolled back the years in the early months, scoring a whole host of brilliant free kicks. He was arguably the best player in the Champions League group stages, single-handedly shooting down Real Madrid home-and-away. His two-goal salvo at the Santiago Bernabeu saw him earn a standing ovation from the Spanish crowd.
5) Alexander Manninger: Manninger can count himself as the unluckiest man of the Serie A season. Filling in for injury-victim Gianluigi Buffon, the Austrian was possibly the best goalkeeper in the whole of Italy until the Italy No.1’s return. In 15 league games, Manninger kept seven clean sheets, as well as another three in Europe. Since Buffon resumed between the sticks, the legendary shot-stopper has conceded 22 goals in 16 matches between Serie A and the Champions League, with only four clean sheets.
My vote: Giorgio Chiellini. All five players on this list have been excellent at various points of the season. However, Del Piero and Amauri have frustrated since Christmas, Manninger was usurped by Buffon, while Sissoko had his season ended prematurely by injury. Chiellini has been the most consistent of the quintet.
Who gets your vote as Juventus’ Player of the Season? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think...
Carlo Garganese, Goal.com
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