Serie A Round 17

[David Puddy]

Big weekend of results, especially for the top clubs. Juve will finish as winter champions and are currently 7 points clear already after running all over Atalanta. Great to see Vucinic on the scoresheet after some good form in the last few weeks, and to see Quags back on the pitch as well.

If you had said at the start of the season that we would have qualified top of our CL group, be well clear at the top of Serie A and through to the next round of the Coppa, it would have been hard to believe without Conte sitting on the bench for 90% of the time. Add the Supercoppa victory into that as well and it's almost a flawless few months for Juve.

Inter and Napoli both with losses which harm their title chances, especially Napoli who had a very winnable game at home against Bologna. The cream is slowly rising to the top and I can't see much change in the teams which currently occupy the top 7 from now until the end of the season. Which order they finish in however, might be a different story.

[Juventino]

Fantastic performance from Juve. Besides that Marrone slip and subsequent Buffon save, Atalanta had nothing. It was ruthless and clinical during the first half.

Lazio played well against Inter. May have rode their luck with Inter hitting the post twice but on the balance of play, Petkovic's men deserved it.

Too easy for Fiorentina - and good to see Pizarro score on his return from compassionate leave - but perhaps a bit harsh by Siena to sack Cosmi. Take away their points deduction and they are clear of the relegation zone. Yet he doesn't even get half a season to work with the team.

[David Puddy]

Word has just come through that Lucio has already terminated his contract with Juve after only a handful of appearances.

We definitely need some reinforcement in the transfer window in the CB department now, with Caceres being the only natural backup to the starting back three. Marrone could be included, but I think his long term future is still in the centre of midfield.

[Juventino]

Could be why we saw Padoin come on and play in a defensive role yesterday. Conte looking for a replacement from within, so they decide not to go to the market.

[Ricky Tan]

I believe Juve will win the scudetto. Hard to see them giving up top spot with the team they have. If they can avoid injuries then they should be fine.

Milan are the silent achievers so far, currently 7th and 7 points away from second spot. What a turn around from being in the relegation zone.

[David Puddy]

Could be why we saw Padoin come on and play in a defensive role yesterday. Conte looking for a replacement from within, so they decide not to go to the market.

I think we will need some reinforcement, especially with us still being involved in the 3 competitions. If we were only talking about the Serie A, then maybe we could stay as we are, but we will need depth for the CL and Coppa as well.

Lot of talk about Bocchetti again, as there has been for a long time. Could Masi be recalled? How has he been going on loan to the Serie B side?

[Juventino]

I don;t see why a deal couldn't be struck with Pro Vercelli for Masi, but then we'd be robbing him of precious playing time on the chance of an injury. He's been a regular, but the team has struggled.

If the situation calls for it, we may as well promote a youth player, Magnusson perhaps.

[Juventino]

Well, talk about injuries and Chiellini could be out for three months. Caceres to start on Friday night, but will a new defender be signed?

[David Puddy]

Well, talk about injuries and Chiellini could be out for three months. Caceres to start on Friday night, but will a new defender be signed?

Hope it's nowhere near that long, but we will definitely need one or two players if so. I always like Fredi Sorensen. Do we still have a part ownership of him? Peluso, Neto of Siena and Astori could all be options along with Bocchetti.

Asamoah will leave for the ACN for most of January as well, but we should be okay in that area with De Ceglie, Giaccherini, and hopefully Pepe if he can make a comeback from injury.

[Juventino]

Yep, we still co-own Sorensen.

I think for the short term it will mean a return to the 4-3-3. Lichtsteiner returns to his more natural position, so to will De Ceglie (with Asamoah going to the African Nations Cup).