Who will replace Pavel Nedved?

It seems that what Juventus fans were unwilling to mention, what has been suppressed like an unpleasant thought is inevitably in front of us: Pavel Nedved is retiring!

There is not even a  single gram of hope to make him reconsider like last year, the Czech has set his mind on retiring, thus arousing the suspicion in the hearts of Juve fans. It is enough to even take one glimpse at Chelsea game, Pavel was the best player on Stamford Bridge, his 36 years were flying across the turf easing through defense like it was butter. It is simple, the man is world-class player, one of the last giants of our age, capable of making a difference on his own adopting and blending in every conception and formation… systems and coaches had been coming and going, and Nedved had been the key man in every strategy.

The successor?

There is no one at sight, often disputed, Juve board have prepared €30 million to try and sew back the gap that will occur with his departure, but it is not enough. Media are having fun looking for the candidate as if that was some Neved look-alike competition, but right now, there is no such player available. We have come up with a list of potential worthy replacements that will most likely turn out to be unworthy:

Frank Ribery:
the boy is somehow closest to all the attributes Nedved successor should possess. Still, the approved €30 million would only be enough to buy the excellent Frenchman’s one leg. We don’t believe that Bayern will decide to sell him, and even if they chose to do so, Juve will not be able to match the offers English or Spanish titans would send.

Diego:
Brazilian is not even remotely as good as Nedved. Firstly, he is totally a different type, and secondly if Ranier should decide to change his formation, Diego would only be good as a supporting striker not at all as a left-midfielder. Manager is aware of this himself and he often says that Werder playmaker is not the kind of a player Juvenus need.

Diego Silva:
We believe this would be a suicide, Silva is an excellent player but show me a Spaniard who is successfully adapted to Italian style. Secondly, his defensive qualities are not even close to Nedved’s and we don’t see how he could fit in the midfield of a team whose only offensive tactic is to bring balls to their legendary captain Del Piero or maybe to use theathletic abilities of Amauri and Trezeguet.

Robin Van Persey:
Onether one that could be a match to Nedved in offense but because of whom defense line would suffer and who is unable to corrupt rival’s play in the middle. He would make a tough transition from the Premiership to Serie A, and Italian teams’ style and the strict marking would disable him to use his speed in the area.

Antonio Cassano:
A true gamble, potentially, apart from maybe Ribery, he might be the best choice of all above mentioned, but you never know it for sure with Fanantonio. He is showing a spot of matureness this season, but it wouldn’t be a best investment to pay 30 million to find out if you have made a right choice.

Solution:

Juventus have some more important matters to attend to, other that pondering about the impossible missions such is to replace Nedved. Mentioned 30 million should be used for bringing wide palyers, wihgers which is the biggest problem right now, and the formation shift to 3-5-2 would thus neutralize the gap in the midfield which would be made after Nedved has retired. One of the solutions might be De Ceglie on the left flank, while the arrival of a player like in example Zapata, who could fit in with Mellberg and Chiellini in the back line, would be a profitable investment. Rest of the money should be invested in youth academy in order to create a team capable of regaining the top places in the years to come.

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