Juventus’ season hasn’t started in the best of ways.
With the heavy spend we saw in Turin this summer, fans were expecting more from the likes of Miralem Pjanic, Gonzalo Higuain and Daniel Alves, to name three. Namely, they want the football to be more spectacular, while their men have been grinding out results.
Thing is, we may have underestimated how well the Bianconeri have handled things so far. In fact, their points totals are comparable to the heady heights set by Antonio Conte and Max Allegri in the Bianconeri’s dominant five-season run.
Last season, from this perspective, is an exception, Juventus only earning 18 points by this stage, 12 games into the season.
This year’s team (30 points) is doing better than Conte’s first Juventus side of 2011-2012 (26 points), and is just one point short of the teams of 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, the last one being coached by Max Allegri.
In terms of goals conceded, this is the third-best team of the Conte-Allegri era, the nine goals conceded only being dwarfed by Allegri’s first effort, in which his men only conceded four goals in their opening twelve games.
So why are fans so grouchy? Something Patrice Evra said after the Lyon game strikes a chord, namely that the Bianconeri faithful have feasted plenty on Serie A trophies, and now want something else (read Champions League).
Let’s take a look at the numbers!
JUVENTUS IN THE FIRST TWELVE GAMES
2011-12: 26 points, 22 goals for, 10 goals conceded 2012-13: 31 pts, 29 gf, 9 gc
2013-14: 31 pts, 26 gf, 8 gc
2014-15: 31 pts, 28 gf, 4 gc
2015-16: 18 pts, 16 gf, 11 gc
2016-16: 30 pts, 25 gf, 9 gc
@GianluMin, adapted by @EdoDalmonte
