another lacklustre performance... do we still need time to gel? has allegri still not found his best starting XI?

Unfortunately I could not watch the game yesterday, I had other obligations but the general consensus is we played like shit.

But hey, we played like shit and got 3 points, that's the difference between Juventus and Napoli, Roma and Inter. See Napoli during the week, 0-0 with Genoa. Inter today, 1-1 with Bologna. Roma, 3-1 with Torino.
I'll remind everyone that last year at this time we were playing even worse, we started with 12 points from 12 games, right now we have 15 from 6 and haven't really played a strong game, despite having a fairly difficult schedule (Lazio, Fiorentina and Inter already).

The midfield is quite atrocious and controlling the game, Marchisio will certainly help here.
Up front, Mandzukic has been pretty awful. It must be said, he has not looked threatening at all.

Also, Allegri hasn't really impressed me as the season started. He has a lot at his disposal in terms of attacking talent off the bench but makes some very conservative decisions when making substitutions and selecting starting 11s. It begs the question: what's the point of having all this depth if you're not going to utilize it? I think not starting Higuain against Inter is surely the blunder of the season so far.

Anyways, I'm confident we will be alright. Marchisio is training with the team again so it is only a matter of time. Once we have a midfielder who can lead and handle 100+ touches on the ball per game, we will flourish. That's what is missing right now.

Asamoah and Rugani out for 45 days injured

Thoughts on Pjanic and Pjaca so far?

Have not really seen enough of either to make a judgment.

What I can say about Pjanic is he certainly is not a regista (or Pirlo type player), his role is more advanced. I think a midfield of Marchisio-Pjanic-Khedira, with Marchisio sitting in front of the defense, Khedira in his usual b2b role and Pjanic in a more advanced, "Pogba" type role will be very strong.
Offensively, Pjanic is the most creative midfielder we've had probably since Pirlo, but he is in a different make.

Pjaca has had a handful of substitute appearances in very limited minutes but he always looks dangerous, full of pressing and always looks to create something. I think he's going to be a very strong player and I expect him to see more time shortly.

sweet

We have to also think that the squad went through an overhaul with the additions of 3 starting XI players (higuain, pjanic, dani alves). Now, with these additions, its either Allegri drills the conventional style of play of Juve into these players minds, or... Allegri creates a NEW juve style of play. I think this is what he is having trouble with and also the reason for the bad to mediocre performances we've seen. I believe he still in the experimenting phase of Juventus' style of play because of Marchisio's absence. Once he returns, he will be able to play everyone in their preferred roles and finally make a concrete decision on Juventus' style of play. Until then, he is stuck with rotating the squad and playing players out of their preferred positions.

The recent injuries (benatia, rugani, asamoah) are a blow because we now have 3 healthy CB's. This begs the question.. Will Allegri start experimenting with a 4-man back line? Most likely not in CL but possibly in Serie A. I think this can be a catalyst for a new formation and new style of play. Hopefully one that is more aggressive than our current style of play. I would like to see the following:

GK: Buffon
Defense: Alex Sandro, Bonucci, Barzagli/Chiellini/Benatia (he was playing superbly well prior to injury), Dani Alves
Midfield: Marchisio, Pjanic, Khedira
Attack: Dybala, Higuain, Pjaca
Formation: 4-3-3

Like kbk said, Marchisio will play in front of the defence allowing Pjanic and Khedira to move up a little further and at the same time allow Higuain to stay in the opposition's territory rather dropping back. In my view, this starting XI when fully fit and played in an aggressive high pressure manner, should obliterate any team we will face until January.

I don't see the new additions as big of an issue for the following reasons:

1) 2/3 of those players have played in Serie A for years. So that is one less thing they need to adjust to. The remaining player is Dani Alves, a legend, a professional of the highest caliber coming from the best team of the decade
2) The core has remained and that is Buffon and the defense
3) Last year we faced even greater changes: Alex Sandro, Dybala, Khedira, Mandzukic which all became prominent players, replacing even more prominent players in Tevez, Pirlo, Vidal
4) and most importantly, Allegri is a slow starter but our quality is still shown. Juventus is the only team in Italy that can play poorly and still win a game. If Roma doesn't play well, they lose (today 3-1 to Torino), if Inter doesn't play well, they don't win (1-1 with Bologna today, 2-0 with Chievo already), Napoli (0-0 with Genoa, 2-2 with Pescara). These teams also lack the depth to compete with Juve in the long term

Obviously the way we are playing is not ideal but we have had a fairly difficult start to the season, Fiorentina, Lazio, Inter and Sevilla already played. Even Sassuolo is usually a tricky game (we lost away to them last season)

Its just clear the midfield has weakened considerably, not so much because of Pogba but because of Marchisio

Anyways, I hate to always compare it to last season but last season we won 12 points in 12 games. Right now we have 15 of a possible 18 from 6.
We have a world class #9 for the first time in years and incredible depth unseen in the rest of Italy. Marchisio is weeks away from returning and he'll bring that midfield together (I hope).

juventus are op on fifa, hope its the same this year. no tevez vidal or giovinco tho

Have you been farming coins??

no just my daily freebies on web app