TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Jonathan David of Juventus FC seems dejected throughout the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Knockout Play-off Second Leg match between Juventus FC and Galatasaray at Allianz Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Picture by Alberto Gandolfo/BSR Company/Getty Photos) | Getty Photos
Right here’s the factor concerning the present model of Juventus — at the least they don’t seem to be boring.
Certain, whenever you catch them on a foul day and they’re going to leak targets left and proper. However typically, once they do, they’ve discovered the additional gear and chutzpah to at all times discover a technique to get again into it similar to of their 3-3 draw in opposition to Roma on the Olimpico a few weeks in the past.
Catch them in a superb day, although? They produce an excellent enjoyable, satisfying dismantling of Pisa by a 4-0 scoreline that made you, for a second, bear in mind the nice outdated days.
We’re combating for European spots — once more — so I’ll savor any enjoyment that I can wherever I can discover it, folks. I counsel you try to do the identical.
Let’s cook dinner.
Course of vs. Execution
I’m at all times fascinated by these types of conundrums. On the finish of the day, any kind of determination that anybody could make is shrouded in a mist of uncertainty, there’s at all times an opportunity that something you do goes dangerous — the world is a tousled place and predicting something is close to not possible.
All you are able to do is make educated guesses. The method of determination making, do you’ve information that may predict future outcomes? Expertise in related conditions that may give you an thought of how one thing can go or how you can repair a sure scenario? The extra you’ll be able to add proof no matter determination finally ends up occurring you could be extra andmore sure of the end result.
Which brings us to Jonathan David.
The method of signing David final summer time was as sound as every other signing Juventus has made earlier than. There was a transparent want for an additional striker given the up-and-down type of Dusan Vlahovic — plus his expiring contract — and the final absence of Arek Milik, who in precept stays alive so far as everybody is anxious.
David had a desired profile throughout Europe. David had 4 seasons in a row with over 15 targets and the final three scoring over 20 at Lille in Ligue 1. Yearly he had over 40 appearances as properly and he was 25 years outdated, so he was simply moving into his bodily prime as properly.
The Canadian striker had no contract, expressed curiosity in becoming a member of Juventus, was sturdy, confirmed and served a direct want for the group — each within the short- and the long-term facet given his age and squad composition. Signing him on a free switch checked just about each single field for a group like Juventus, and the method was rattling close to flawless. If you happen to had been betting on a man succeeding in his first 12 months as a Juve participant, David was a rattling good one.
The end result?
Nicely … 38 appearances, seven targets and 5 assists throughout all competitions.
David is presently on monitor to have the worst counting season of his skilled profession and the signing that began with a lot hope is now — as with the whole lot associated to this membership — in actual limbo to even stick round for greater than a 12 months.
Chalk it to the upper degree of competitors, the final instability of the group … or no matter you need, David has flopped in his first season as Juventus. With Vlahovic nearly definitely transferring on (until you imagine he has a reputable likelihood of signing a brand new deal because the membership reportedly continues talks) and little or no depth on the place, I’d wager David won’t find yourself being a one-and-done in Turin. There’s nonetheless time for him to show it round and fulfill the promise he had when he was introduced as a signing.
However, this simply goes to indicate, irrespective of how certain you could be of one thing, nothing is ever a certain factor.
Cleansing Home
What number of gamers from this group are you connected to? Like, how lots of the guys presently taking part in for Juventus would you contemplate not even letting go of? It’s single digits, proper? No means it’s greater than single digits.
And look, I’m not saying that Juventus ought to or will promote most of their gamers. It’s a monetary and logistical nightmare to take action and so they received’t, nevertheless it’s not nice that off the dome I discover so only a few names that I’d legitimately be shocked about seeing go.
Pierre Kalulu is one. Gleison Bremer is one other in protection. I could make the argument Weston McKennie, Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli, certain. Kenan Yildiz is clearly your guiding star for so long as he performs for this membership, in order that’s a no. And this could be simply my desire, however I’ve come to benefit from the footballing type of Francisco Conceição even when his finish product just isn’t at all times fairly there.
That’s seven gamers and I could be talked out of at the least two of them.
It continues to be outstanding that each single 12 months passes and each single 12 months we simply hold coming again that this group just isn’t good on the entire. Both the scouting division is insufficient or good gamers come into Juventus and simply fail. Why is that? Your reply is nearly as good as mine.
It’s a foul time to purchase stamped kits, although, that’s for rattling certain.
Parting Shot of the Week
Like I mentioned up high, regardless that Juventus are taking part in out the string they’ve at the least been entertaining typically for good, typically for dangerous however you’ll be able to’t complain concerning the watching expertise at the least.
The dangerous information is that Juve is presently sixth and on the surface trying in of Champions League qualification subsequent season. The excellent news is that they’re just one level behind Roma and Como for the final of these aforementioned coveted European spots. The dangerous information once more — two items of dangerous information! — is that they now not have head-to-head matchups in opposition to these two direct rivals for fourth place, so that they now not management their very own destiny. If the groups above them occur to go on a streak, then there’s nothing Juventus will have the ability to do to keep away from their Europa League or Convention League destiny.
It’s unlikely each Roma and Como pitch excellent video games the remainder of the best way, however to be honest to guess how Juventus will do the remainder of the best way can be the definition of a coin flip.
It’s what it’s.
See you subsequent time.



























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