Juve's Probable Starting 11 for 2011-2012

[BAGGIO 15]

With Arturo Vidal & Giuseppe Rossi set to sign, here is how Juventus will line up in 2011-12
Goal.com analyses Juve's probable starting XI for the new season, as two big-name players prepare to move to Turin

By Max De Luca

With the expected arrivals of Arturo Vidal and Giuseppe Rossi, Juventus coach Antonio Conte's starting line-up is beginning to take shape. The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder is set to join the Old Lady imminently, after the clubs agreed a €12 million fee, while the agent of Villarreal striker Rossi expects a deal to be finalised by the end of the week.

The Turin outfit have already been active this summer, securing the services of Andrea Pirlo, Reto Ziegler and Stephan Lichtsteiner as they look to bolster their squad following a disappointing 2010-11 campaign. The trio should step straight into Conte's starting XI and will offer immediate assistance in the club's quest for a Champions League place.

Juve's remaining aim in the transfer market will be landing a competent left midfielder. The club have been hot on the trail of Lyon's Michel Bastos but a move has yet to materialise, despite plenty of posturing from both sides. Fiorentina winger Juan Vargas is also an option, although sporting director Giuseppe Marotta seemingly prefers the Brazil international.

Conte won a plethora of titles during his playing days in Turin and will hope to replicate that success on the touchline. The 41-year-old has a number of weapons at his disposal and will most likely toggle between a 4-2-4 set-up and a 4-4-2 formation.



------------------Buffon

---------Lichtsteiner Bonucci Chiellini Ziegler

------------Krasic Vidal Pirlo New signing

------------------Matri Rossi


World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon will always command a starting place between the sticks as long as he is healthy and will be protected by Swiss full-backs Lichtsteiner and Ziegler, while Italy internationals Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will patrol the middle. The back four has plenty of muscle but will also be nimble enough to push forward and trouble opposing defences thanks to the new acquisitions.

With the club declining the option to make Alberto Aquilani's loan deal permanent and Felipe Melo and Mohamed Sissoko seemingly on their way out this summer, there will be a new-look Juve midfield next season. Milos Krasic will hope to terrorise the opposition like he did at the beginning of last term. Vidal will step into the middle of the park and is a box-to-box midfielder who always seems to be around the ball. Pirlo will join the Chile international in central midfield and will provide a methodical alternative to Vidal's whirling style of play.

Juventus exercised their option to make Alessandro Matri's move from Cagliari permanent after he scored nine goals in 16 appearances for the Turin club last season. The 26-year-old will team up with the incoming Giuseppe Rossi to form what should be a potent strike-force. There are options on the bench for Conte as well, with club legend Alessandro Del Piero set to assume the role as a super-sub. Fabio Quagliarella should challenge Matri for a starting berth once he recovers from a knee injury and Luca Toni could earn some playing time, too. Conte has a talented squad at his disposal and barring any serious mishaps, a spot in the Champions League, which has eluded Juve in recent years, should be on the horizon.

[Hawkseys Double]

Is that Reto Ziegler?

[Chaos]

With the club declining the option to make Alberto Aquilani's loan deal permanent.

Correction..........Liverpool want this rubbish to stay with them

Obviously the reds need somebody to pick up cones etc after warm ups and trainings

[BAGGIO 15]

Is that Reto Ziegler?

Yes as mentioned in the article.

[Hawkseys Double]

Is that Reto Ziegler?

Yes as mentioned in the article.

Old Tottenham lad!

[scipio africanus]

Starting 11 is looking really good .....

One of Vargas or Bastos for LM (preferably Vargas) and a back up quality RB (Beck???) and a back up quality central defender and Juve have talent and depth to challenge for the scudetto (especially without European distractions).

Last step is to sell Melo, Sissoko, Amauri, Iaquinta, Martinez, Grosso, Grygera.

[Milos#27]

It looks to be a very competitive squad for the up and coming season. Still need a left sided midfielder and whilst Marotta likes Bastos, reports suggest Conte isn't convinced. The latest story to arise is that Marotta is looking to swap Bonucci with Vargas and bring in Kjaer as a replacement.

Not entirely convinced that this would be the best option, whilst Bonucci didn't have the best season, he/Barzagli and Chiellini were often left high and dry by our fullbacks. I still think Bastos is the best option, he wants to play for Juve, he wont cost us the world and he has plenty of Champions League experience, which ultimately is where we want to be at the end of the season.

[Juventino]

Fiorentina said they have not received an offer from Juventus.

Team looks good, hopefully Vidal is official today (undertaking his medical later apparently) and Rossi sometime soon. I'm cautiously optimistic.

[Chelsea4thewin]

should make a Juve topic?

[BTAC]

With the club declining the option to make Alberto Aquilani's loan deal permanent.

Correction..........Liverpool want this rubbish to stay with them

Obviously the reds need somebody to pick up cones etc after warm ups and trainings

You seem to have an agenda against Aquilani for some reason..No idea why, I don't really care. He's a talented player though.