The grenade bag from the eighth day to the break of the World Cup: this is how the team presents itself at the resumption of the championship on 4 January
In the second part of the season that goes from the post-Nations League break at the end of September to the long one for the World Cup, Torino showed all its fickleness by putting together a series of performances and fluctuating results that disoriented the fans making them go from depression to exaltation with negative peaks for the unexpected defeat in the derby and positive peaks for the good statement against the Italian champions Milan. The lack of continuity of results always implies, of course, uncertainty of objectives but that of performance is less physiological and therefore even more indecipherable. Even in the game, the grenades have at times disappointed compared to the standards of the beginning of the season, revealing game and personality involutions in matches such as the derby or the away match in Bologna as well as the usual voltage drops suffered against Naples, Empoli or Rome. On the other hand, in other matches they have shown that they have that personality and that fearless spirit flaunted against any opponent at the start of the season.
On the other hand Juric’s team, despite the changes in pink compared to last season, it still does not lack aggressiveness being so far the second most offending team in the league and, despite the departures of Pobega and Mandragora, it has a very fierce midfield with Linetty and Lukic who excel in the ranking of the “bad guys”. It being understood that the central department needs to be fleshed out, surprisingly the data say that this team lacks more than aggressiveness above all in quality and in particular up front, in the decisive plays. And this despite the promising additions of Miranchuk, of the internationals fresh from the World Cup Radonjic and Vlasic and the last minute one of Karamoh, so far employed more as a striker than as a winger where he would be more at ease due to his characteristics. Yet something is missing, that element useful for connecting the departments, identified by many in Praet (whose return to Turin in January has been talked about for some time). As for the central forwards Sanabria and Pellegri, partly due to physical problems and partly due to lack of assists or killer instinct, they do not take off and are stuck respectively with two goals in 10 and one goal in 11 league appearances, spoils objectively thin.
The contribution from the wingers was also modest, also due to physical problems especially from Vojvoda and Singo who were unable to offer the contribution of the previous period or last year. Lazaro’s performance is constantly improving and also Ola Aina’s in flashes but so far the contribution in the offensive area in terms of assists and goals is to be considered insufficient. With the defensive department that so far seems to be the one with the least problems, if anything there could be some tweaks even among the goalkeepers, it is in the other areas of the pitch that more reinforcements would be needed because at the moment there are many teams better equipped to reach the European goal. Stabilizing performance and results perhaps by increasing self-esteem by taking away some important satisfaction, cementing team spirit and a sense of belonging is essential but also being able to have higher quality so as not to have to close another season soon without concrete goals certainly wouldn’t hurt .
Who goes up
MILINKOVIC-SAVIC he continues to convince and deny the skeptics so much that his ownership in defending the grenade goal is no longer questioned and even that of the Serbian national team is conquered. In line with the start of last season, so far he has always been present between the posts, in principle he confirms strengths and weaknesses with peaks in the derby and against Udinese and flops against Napoli and Empoli.
VLASIC top scorer of the team with four goals and first for number of minutes played among forwards, so far he is the most convincing of the new arrivals and one of the best for general performance. Capable of both simple plays and effect shots, he denotes important qualities to enhance Juric’s favorite type of game. He comes back regenerated after having played in a good world championship.
LAZARUS the prices of the Austrian fullback were up sharply and, after an uncertain start to the championship, he was used continuously (starter six times out of eight) also thanks to his ability to play on both flanks. Decisive only in the assist for Djidji’s goal against Milan, however he created various conditions for other goals and made little mistakes in defense.
SCHUURS in the second part of the season he was used much more (over double from 1′) becoming a defensive point of reference and replacing Bremer in the role in the center of the rearguard, albeit with different characteristics. He is particularly appreciated for recoveries and progressing initiatives but unfortunately in one of these he suffered a bad injury. The break for him is very appropriate.
CURLY the prices of the former Empoli midfielder are certainly on the rise, stopped in the first part of the season by an injury and gradually returning to becoming a regular in the Italian cup against Cittadella and playing all the remaining matches with good performance, dictating the times and excelling on second balls. This year a lot is expected of him, also from an Italian point of view.
GOOD MORNING in this second part of the championship the granata canterano, unlike in the first seven days, was almost always employed in the position of left arm of the three-man defense with a longer playing time and better results than when he played as a centre-back. The growth process is there despite some hidden flaws, however, with good performances especially in games won without conceding a goal.
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