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December 2008 Serie A Standings

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> PL W D L GD PTS 1. JUVENTUS 18 13 4 1 +26 432. Udinese 18 13 1 4 +11 403. Inter Milan 17 11 4 2 +10 374. A.C Milan 18 9 6 3 +12 335. Lazio 18 8 7 3 +14 316. Chievo 18 8 6 4 +3 30</pre>

The League Table made for wonderful reading if you were connected with Juventus, the Old Lady sitting at the top, three points clear of Udinese, having lost just one league game all season. Bojinov and Higuain had struck up a good partnership and combined to score over 20 goals, and the defence seemed to be doing well, although Nick still felt that he needed replacements, having already secured the transfer of Garry Bocaly from Marseille, and scouring the market for a centre back. He also felt that a defensive midfielder was needed, as even though Giannichedda had been performing well in that role he was, at 34, advancing in years, so Nick wanted someone to fill in for him almost straightaway. Having sent his scouts out to look for suitable transfer targets, although Nick had seen the fact that Manchester United's Spanish defender Gerard Pique was available, and at £3.4 million pounds, Nick felt it would be money worth spending for a quality young defender, and had no hesitation in putting the bid in. Unfortunately, there were plenty of other parties interested in Pique's services, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Milan and Real Madrid among others. Nick wasn't overly confident of capturing his signature, but he still felt worthy of putting a bid in. After a week of scouting, he had also had Gladbach midfielder Eugen Polanski recommended to him, and after enquiring with Gladbach he had made an offer, one that totalled over £10 million pounds, but Nick was quite happy to pay that money.

Over the course of the week, Nick had met Polanski to discuss terms, and he had proved to be quite a hard bargainer. Nick had explained the situation, in that Polanski would be eased into the role currently occupied by Giannichedda, and that once in that role he would be an integral part of the side. Eventually, after several hours, Polanski agreed terms and a deal was signed, the German midfielder would join up with his new team-mates on July 1st. Nick had also been surprised, but delighted, that Gerard Pique had agreed terms to come to the Stadio Delle Alpi also, and he was delighted to beat a whole host of other big name clubs to his signature. Pique was a top class international defender, who would surely be a future Spain and Juve captain, his cool head making him mature beyond his years, and he would slot straight into the first team at the heart of the defence beside Younes Kaboul, and although it was a young central defensive pairing, it was a top class pairing, and one Nick was delighted to have at his disposal.

Transfers In, January 2009

Garry Bocaly from Marseille £8.25mil
Gerard Pique from Manchester United £3.4mil
Eugen Polanksi from Gladbach £10.5mil

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January opened with Roma visiting the Delle Alpi, a game which could turn out to be difficult. It was the Quarter Final of the Coppa Italia, and a good result in the first leg for either of the sides would mean having one foot in the Semi Finals. Nick continued his policy of putting out his weaker teams (although that wasn't necessarily the correct term to use) and it saw Sturridge and Bendtner start up-front. Garry Bocaly and Gerard Pique also made their Juventus debuts in the defence, Pique in the centre and Bocaly on the right hand side. The two strikers managed to combine well to score all three of their teams goals, to all but put them into the semi finals of the competition. Bendtner opened the scoring, beating his marker to the ball and heading the ball home from Ben Hatira's cross on 19 minutes. The second goal came just two minutes later, Sturridge using his pace and slotting the ball underneath the onrushing 'keeper. It stayed 2-0 through till the 63rd minute, Sturridge scoring his second and the teams third to put the game beyond doubt. They could have had more throughout the remainder of the game, Sturridge and Bendtner both missing good chances, but Roma did manage to get back into the match, Okaka scoring a header in the 88th minute to give his side a glimmer of hope and a chance to get back into the tie. Nick was happy that his side were all but in the semi-finals of the competition. Palermo were the opponents for the first league game of 2009, Nick and his side visiting the team with the most manly shirts in all of football. It was another game that Nick expected to be difficult, and he wasn't wrong either, his side succumbing to a 2-1 defeat. Palermo opened the scoring on 24 minutes, Amauri beating his marker to head the ball against the post before Peter Crouch put the rebound home. Eugen Polanski, making his debut for the team, was running the midfield, playing terrifically well and keeping his side in the match. However, on 67 minutes, Nick and his new record signing really had a bad time of it. Polanski went in for a crunching tackle, and it was almost as if his legs had collapsed under him. He went down in a crumpled heap, and was stretchered off with a brace around his right leg, an injury that was later confirmed to be a broken foot, an it would keep him out for the remainder of the season, an enormous blow for both Eugen and his manager. The team did get back into the game and equalised on 84 minutes, Bojinov heading home Olivera's cross and look like he had rescued a point for his side. As it was, he hadn't, Amauri winning the team for his side with a deflected effort in stoppage time to send Juve crashing to their second defeat of the season.

Nick had not been happy with the Palermo winner, as he felt Amauri was in an offside position when he scored, and he vented his frustration to the authorities. It earned him a one match touchline ban, and luckily it was only in the Coppa Italia that his assistant would be taking charge. The only thing Nick had to do was pick the side, and he decided to go with the same team that won the first leg. This proved to be a good decision, as they ran out 3-1 winners, sending them through 6-2 on aggregate to meet Milan in the semi finals. They were 2-0 up and had secured their progress after 8 minutes, the goals coming from Camoranesi, scoring from the penalty spot on 5 minutes and Giuliano Giannichedda heading home on 8 minutes. Both sides went for goals during the course of the game, but only found the net once more each, Taddei for Roma at the start of the 2nd half and Bojinov putting the icing on the cake with 5 minutes left, sliding the ball home underneath the onrushing keeper. Nick was happy to progress, and gave his side every chance of beating Milan in the semi finals later in the month. A trip to Lazio followed up the Palermo match, and it was another league game where they didn't play that well, Nick counting themselves very fortunate to escape with a point thanks to Younes Kaboul's 85th minute equaliser. Giannichedda gave his side the lead after a quarter of an hour though, beating his man to the ball and firing home from the edge of the area. Lazio scored twice in 5 minutes in the second half, scoring on 67 and 72 minutes to almost snatch a win away, but Kaboul's header snatched a point for his side to keep them top of the league.

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Milan visited the Delle Alpi next, and they had intentions to win as they put their strongest available team out against Nick's same eleven that beat Roma. Both sides played their usual game, attacking and looking for goals, and it was Milan that broke the deadlock on 37 minutes, Pirlo's curled free-kick that found the head of Fernando Torres who powered the ball home and gave his side what could prove to be a vital away goal. Nick saw his side dominate after that, missing chance after chance after chance, until finally the ball found the back of the net with 2 minutes remaining, Daniel Sturridge capitalising on a defensive error and firing the ball home underneath Dida to level the tie for his side. He could have snatched it late on too, hitting the frmae of the goal with a volley from 6 yards, but a draw gave them a good chance at the San Siro of progressing. Ascoli were the next visitors to Turin, in a game that Juve simply had to win. There was no other way to describe it, other than must-win situation. As it was, the game was a relative stroll in the park, a comfortable 2-0 win and Ascoli finishing the 90 minutes with 8 men on the field. Ruben Olivera put his side in front on 21 minutes, cutting inside from the left and firing a low shot into the bottom right hand corner of the net. The game was settled by Bojinov just after the hour mark, as he beat the keeper to the ball before rounding him and sliding home into the empty net. Ascoli were down to 9 men by this point, having had Hamit Altintop and Johnann Vogel dismissed on 45 and 60 minutes respectively. The final man sent off was Andre Bahia, on 67 minutes, as he threw a punch in the direction of Bojinov. Juve held on for a vital and much needed 2-0 win.

The return leg of the Coppa Italia saw Juve press and press at the San Siro, looking for that away goal that would put them back level but it just wouldn't come, Milan somehow holding form for a 0-0 draw to progress to the final to meet Torino. The best chances fell to Bendtner and Sturridge, and substitute Raffale Palladino could and maybe should have had a hat-trick, but it just wasn't to be as Milan secured their progression through the game. Genoa were the final game of the month as they visited the Delle Alpi, with both themselves and Nick's side looking for three points. Bojinov was back in the side, as was Gonzalo Higuain, and these were the two men that scored the goals to send Juve to a 2-1 win and keep them top of the table. Bojinov scored the first on 37 minutes, playing a lovely one-two with his strike partner before firing home on the half volley. Genoa equalised, Figueroa (again) scoring against the run of play on 76 minutes to level it up for his team. As it happened, the final goal came from Higuain on 83 minutes, as he finished off a lovely team move by dinking the ball gently over the keeper to secure the three points and keep his side top going into February.

January 2009 Summary
(Serie A unless stated, Juventus scorers listed only)

Palermo 2-1 Juventus Bojinov (84)
Lazio 2-2 Juventus Giannichedda (15) Kaboul (85)
Juventus 2-0 Ascoli Olivera (21) Bojinov (62)
Juventus 2-1 Genoa Bojinov (37) Higuain (83)

Coppa Italia Quarter Final, 1st Leg
Juventus 3-1 Roma Bendtner (19) Sturridge (21,63)
Coppa Italia Quarter Final, 2nd Leg
Roma 1-3 Juventus Camoranesi pen (5) Giannichedda (8) Bojinov (85)
Coppa Italia Semi Final, 1st Leg
Juventus 1-1 A.C Milan Sturridge (88)
Coppa Italia Semi Final, 2nd Leg
A.C Milan 0-0 Juventus

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A trip to the San Siro to play League Champions Inter opened up the month, and it was a game that Nick really wanted his side to do well in, and keep their title hopes well and truly alive. Inter had been inconsistent recently, and Nick felt his side would be able to pick up all three points. They started well, getting themselves several good chances, Bojinov, Higuain and Gabi all having excellent chances to put the team in front. As it was, Inter took the lead, Zlatan Ibrahimovic beating the Juve defence and slotting the ball underneath the onrushing Buffon. Nick had his team talk ready for his side when they came in at half time, but he had to rapidly change it after Inter doubled their lead just before half-time, Ibrahimovic heading home and putting his side right in the driving seat. In the second half, Nick's side really went after the Inter defence, but it wasn't until the 83rd minute that they scored, Gabi curling home a free-kick to get his side back into the lead. That was the only goal that they managed to score, not managing to equalise and going down to their third league defeat of the season. It was a defeat that Nick was disappointed with, and one that he knew his team needed to bounce back from. They did this in their next game, beating Napoli 2-0 thanks to goals from Sturridge and Higuain. Sturridge had really started to impress and his goal just before half time gave his side the lead, as he used his pace to beat the defence and slot the ball home into the corner. Higuain doubled the lead 7 minutes after the interval, heading home Mauro Camoranesi's cross to secure the points for his team and keep them top of the table and clear of their nearest challengers Udinese.

The Champions league provided the next match, Arsenal visiting the Delle Alpi. They were the defending champions, having won the competition for the last two years, and Nick expected that his side would be well and truly tested, and he wasn't wrong. Arsenal showed their extreme quality by taking a 27th minute lead, Carlos Tevez heading home Andres Guardado's cross. They didn't manage to score again for the rest of the match, and Nick was delighted that his side managed to get a draw from the game, Dagoberto bringing them back level on 67 minutes, meaning that the side had a real good chance of progressing into the quarter finals. No more goals came from either team, and they had to settle for the 1-1 draw. An away trip to Chievo was next on the agenda, and it was another game that provided three points, a 2-1 win enough to do this, the goals coming from Dagoberto and Higuain and increasing their lead at the top of the table to 6 points. Anis Ben Hatira had started to gain regular football, and Nick had been extremely impressed with the way he was playing, and he further increased this with the opening goal in the final game of the month against Lecce, volleying home after 15 minutes. The game was settled two minutes later, Daniel Sturridge again utilising his pace and breaking free before firing across the keeper and into the bottom left hand corner to keep his side top of the table and getting ever so closer to winning the league title.

February 2009 Summary
(Serie B unless stated, Juventus scorers listed only)

Inter Milan 2-1 Juventus Gabi (83)
Juventus 2-0 Napoli Sturridge (45) Higuain (52)
Chievo 1-2 Juventus Dagoberto (48) Higuain (75)
Juventus 2-0 Lecce Ben Hatira (15) Sturridge (17)

Champions League 1st Knockout Round 1st Leg
Juventus 1-1 Arsenal Dagoberto (67)

League Position : 1st