World Soccer

The Best Brazil Lineup Right Now

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The Best Brazil Lineup Right Now

Despite Dunga’s recent use of some different formations, for many years now, Brazil has favored the 4-2-3-1 formation with two defensive midfielders behind a line of three attacking midfielders who themselves are behind a center forward.

Let’s look at the best Brazil lineup starting with the goalkeeper.

Now back from injury, Diego Alves is the best Brazilian goalkeeper around, and he showed this over the weekend against Barcelona and their attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Luís Suárez, and Neymar. Brazil has several excellent goalkeepers, but Diego Alves is widely-regarded as the best.

Daniel Alves is still the best Brazilian right back, and he proved this when he saved Brazil over Paraguay in the most recent World Cup qualifier when he surged into the penalty box, executed a stepover with his right foot, went left, and curled in a goal with his weaker left foot. That goal saved the draw for Brazil in a game that they couldn’t lose.

That being said, Danilo is a force of nature at Real Madrid, despite often being favored behind Dani Carvajal. Danilo is so talented that he can cut inside onto his weaker left foot and crush shots into the goal from outside of the box. Danilo is even two-footed enough to have played left back for Real Madrid.

Along with Danilo, Bruno Peres of Torino deserves mention as well. The Torino outside back storms the flank like no other, and he’s capable of burning the entire opposition on full-field individual dribbling runs. Like Daniel Alves and Danilo, Bruno Peres is rather two-footed.

For Brazil’s two center backs, Thiago Silva and Marquinhos must be considered the two starters. Thiago Silva has been blackballed by Dunga, but Thiago Silva is still considered the best defender in the world. He is called The Monster for a reason.

Marquinhos is something of a prodigy. He’s the young center back that all of the big clubs want as he combines electric pace with excellent technique and defending. Marquinhos is somewhat comparable to the French defender Raphaël Varane, but Varane is better. Unlike David Luiz, Marquinhos doesn’t have a reputation for ill-advised tackles or fouls.

David Luiz is often a convenient scapegoat for Brazilian fans, but David Luiz is an excellent center back in his own right.

Marcelo is the best Brazilian left back, but Alex Sandro of Juventus is coming. In recent years, Marcelo has vastly improved his defending and his right foot. Some people favor Filipe Luís over Marcelo, but Marcelo is a much much impactful player with better skill and attacking play. Marcelo is a hugely disruptive force to opposing teams, and he instantly puts the opposition on their heels and throws them into disarray. You could say that Marcelo’s play opens up more holes and channels for the likes of Neymar to exploit.

Luiz Gustavo has been a reliable defensive midfielder for Brazil, but Casemiro of Real Madrid has been showing better club form with Real Madrid. Casemiro is also a better passer than Luiz Gustavo, and Brazil’s passing and possession have been well below its previous levels. A better ball-playing defensive midfielder can only help Brazil to not only keep possession but play more directly with balls played through and behind the defense.

To be Casemiro’s deputy as the Number 8 or box-to-box central midfielder, consider Allan of Napoli. Of all the Brazilian Number 8s, Allan has to be considered the best one right now. Allan play’s the position the way Brazil wants it to be played, and Allan has proven himself in Serie A. Allan combines ball-winning with forward runs into the attack, and this is precisely what Brazil requires.

In the line of three attacking midfielders in front of the defensive midfielders, there is plenty of competition such that there isn’t room for Felipe Anderson, Coutinho, and Lucas who are all nothing short of world-class attackers. Brazil has an embarrassment of riches at these attacking positions, so there can be no excuse for Brazil’s current slump or unimpressive form. Felipe Anderson, Coutinho, and Lucas were labelled surplus to requirements in the starting lineup, so that leaves the starters: Willian, Neymar, and Douglas Costa.

You could argue that Neymar is the second best player in the world, and that Willian is the best player in the English Premier League. Willian is definitely Chelsea’s best player, and he brings a complete attacking game where he can play centrally or out wide. Willian is world-class in his dribbling, speed, passing, and scoring ability, and on the opposite flank should be Douglas Costa who has been electrifying for Bayern Munich.

Douglas Costa needs to mesh better with Neymar, but Douglas Costa is a world-beater that is simply too good to not start for Brazil. His play can free Neymar up to score even more goals for Brazil. Neymar’s best position for Brazil is centrally where he controls the game more and sees more of the ball, but the left flank is arguably equally as effective of a spot for Neymar.

The striker or center forward spot for Brazil is a weak spot. Firmino has played well in that position for Liverpool where he has shown that he can be extremely active and get behind defenders. Firmino can score with both feet and his head, and of course Firmino combines well with skillful teammates. He may not be the stereotypical center forward, but he is a center forward just like Alexis Sánchez and Sergio Agüero are – even though those two are better.

Theoretically, Pato is supposed to be Brazil’s Number 9 by now. Pato, now with Chelsea, is healthy, and he deserves a shot playing as Brazil’s lone striker. If Pato starts seeing more club minutes, then he is undoubtedly Brazil’s best center forward.

Here is the Brazil lineup proposed above:

Goalkeeper- Diego Alves (Valencia)

Right Back- Daniel Alves (Barcelona)

Center Back- Thiago Silva (Paris Saint-Germain)

Center Back- Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain)

Left Back- Marcelo (Real Madrid)

Defensive Midfielder- Casemiro (Real Madrid)

Central Midfielder- Allan (Napoli)

Right Wing- Willian (Chelsea)

Number 10- Neymar (Barcelona)

Left Wing- Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich)

Striker- Roberto Firmino (Liverpool)

 

Bayern Munich Must Normalize the Lineup

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Bayern Munich Must Normalize the Lineup

In order to win the 2016 Champions League, Pep Guardiola and Bayern Munich would be wise to decide on a consistent lineup, rather than continuing to trot out an ever-changing formation and group of players.

Unlike the midfield and the defense, the attack is perhaps easier to iron out quickly. If Bayern use a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 formation, then several players stand out as starters: Robert Lewandowki, Thomas Müller, Douglas Costa, and Kingsley Coman.

A strong argument can be made for Mario Götze over Coman, even though Pep Guardiola doesn’t seem to rate him. It’s important to note that both Götze and Coman are prodigies, but Coman has more soul-crushing skill and speed. But, whether Guardiola likes it or not, Götze is a talented attacking player than delivers in big games, and Guardiola must consider him for a starting spot in the Champions League semifinals.

Despite how devastating Coman has been, starting Götze with Müller, Costa, and Lewandowski makes sense. This also gives Bayern an amazing super sub in Coman whom Juventus unwisely let Bayern have on loan. Guardiola can’t go wrong with either Coman or Götze, so perhaps only Lewandowski, Müller, and Costa should be considered locks as starters.

Arturo Vidal is another key player whose role Bayern needs to iron out. Vidal knows how to play as a purely defensive midfielder, but his real value is his completeness as a midfielder with his ability to surge forward. Vidal is perhaps the key to the Chilean national team’s one touch passing in tight spaces, so banishing Vidal to the back of Bayern’s midfield isn’t the best use of his skill-set. Surely using Xabi Alonso, Joshua Kimmich, or Javi Martinez for this role makes more sense. There is also the possibility of going with Thiago Alcântara and Vidal in the holding midfield roles. Both players are willing and able to cover for each other.

These types of interchangeable lineup choices aren’t the type of lineup adjustments that Guardiola has been criticized for. It’s rather the constant changing of defensive setups and defenders that is the real problem. Going from three center backs to two and always changing the center backs is Bayern’s main tactical problem. Of course, Guardiola has dealt with a lack of healthy defenders, and this has forced him to get creative with his center back selections. Once Jérôme Boateng is healthy, then Guardiola will only have to slot either Kimmich or David Alaba alongside Boateng. Everything changes if Mehdi Benatia is healthy as well. That gives Bayern two center backs by trade.

Using Kimmich and Vidal as the two holding midfielders behind a three-man attacking midfield line of Coman/Götze, Müller, and Douglas Costa with Lewandowski as the center forward is Bayern’s best chance at a tactically sound lineup that can win the Champions League. That leaves a Back Four of Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, and Juan Bernat with Manuel Neuer in goal.

Therefore, here is one opinion of Bayern’s Best XI to try to win the 2016 Champions League: Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Alaba, Bernat; Kimmich, Vidal; Coman, Müller, Douglas Costa; Lewandowski.

 

Player Profile: M’Baye Niang

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Breaking Down M’Baye Niang’s Qualities and Skill-Set

M’Baye Niang. Dazzling technical ability and creativity inside an NBA physique with Olympic sprinter athleticism.

Niang really is just like that. A center forward by trade, the French attacker has so much skill and natural talent that he’s been able to play out of position as a wing or second striker for AC Milan without any problems.

In addition to all of the speed and trickery, Niang is also an elite passer and dead ball specialist. When Mario Balotelli first game to Milan several years ago after being at Inter Milan and Manchester City, Niang showed the ability to harmonize with Balotelli and attack opposing defenses like bandits. This ability to associate and combine with Balotelli shows a mind that understands football and knows how to help and be helped by talented teammates.

The one area where Niang needs to improve is converting more of his individual creativity into goals. Niang can certainly score and be a threat for the entire 90 minutes, but there is lots of room for capitalizing on all of that skill and audacity.

The French forward is borderline unplayable as his speed and skill are too much to expect any defender to really contain. Since Niang hasn’t harnessed all of his powers yet, his scoring and assist stats haven’t been noteworthy. The lack of numerous goals and assists is attributable to simply not being clinical enough in the final third. When Niang sharpens up his finishing, he’s the only one stopping him.

Unlike Balotelli, Niang has no issues with discipline or emotional control. Like Balotelli, Niang can do everything with both feet, and he can smoothly execute difficult tricks that most footballers cannot pull off against other professionals in a game setting. Niang also excels at shielding the ball and bodying off defenders without fouling. Niang has a slender built, but there is a lot of muscle and power in his tall frame.

No one in world football runs with the speed and effortless grace of Niang, and this is coupled with a expert level of mastery of the ball. The Frenchman is just a speed merchant; he is an elite attacking talent that is only 21 years old.

A refined Niang will be a rival or partner for Karim Benzema in the French attack. Earning a spot on France’s UEFA Euro 2016 roster should be a goal for Niang.

M’Baye Niang checks all the boxes for a forward: skill, creativity, activity, speed, size, passing. and scoring ability. His time should be soon.

Better Days Ahead for AC Milan

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Milan are poised to leave their mediocre play behind after a victory over Fiorentina and the return of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Mario Balotelli.

AC Milan’s victory over Fiorentina could be a turning point for the club. Historically, the Rossoneri are soccer giants, and even a few years ago, the club had close Champions League games against the likes of Barcelona and Arsenal in the knockout rounds.

Milan are much more talented and complete than they get credit for. The club isn’t as crumbling as much as observers claim. Milan had enough money and appeal to sign a striker of Carlos Bacca’s quality over the summer, and youngsters like Davide Calabria and Gianluigi Donnarumma are cause for hope. Giacomo Bonaventura’s play as a fantasista is alone cause for hope. Looking at Milan’s roster, a very strong starting lineup can be easily put together, and there is even room for variation and player rotation.

If Milan use a 4-3-3 formation, then Kevin-Prince Boateng, Riccardo Montolivo, and Giacomo Bonaventura can start in the midfield, and that midfield is no joke even by the highest standards. Sinisa Mihajlovic has the option of starting an attacking trident of M’Baye Niang, Carlos Bacca, and Mario Balotelli, and those three would be a handful for the most elite of the world-class center backs.

Hypothetically, a Front Six like the one outlined above would cause problems for any squad, so already any talk of Milan being doomed to failure until more players can be signed is just not accurate.

Milan are 12 points back from Serie A leaders Napoli, but there is half of a season left to earn a Champions League spot. Surpassing Fiorentina and Roma can be the short term goal for Milan, and these two clubs are already within reach at 6 points and 3 point ahead respectively.

A stereotype about Serie A is that the league is all about defending and tactics, and Milan have the pieces for a strong defense. Along with Donnarumma in goal, Milan have four quality center backs in Alex, Cristian Zapata, Alessio Romagnoli, and Philippe Mexes. Mexes is a walking yellow card, but he’s a talented and experienced central defender. Alex and Romagnoli starting in the center of defense is likely Milan’s best option, and those two offer Milan a respectably central defense. Even though Alex is past his prime, Romagnoli is one of the best young central defenders in the world. Both Juventus and Inter Milan do have better defenses, but Milan is good enough to win a Champions League spot. With starting fullbacks Ignazio Abate and Mattia De Sciglio, Milan has quality in the center of the defense and on the flanks.

Writing off Milan for this season is a mistake, but Mihajlovic has plenty of work to do in improving Milan’s chemistry and organization. As soon as Boateng reaches 90-minute fitness, the Rossoneri will be a more formidable side, and Balotelli’s return to the Milan attack creates the exciting scenario of seeing Niang, Bacca, and Balotelli terrorizing opposition defenses together.

What’s Real Madrid’s Best XI Under Zidane?

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What’s Real Madrid’s Best XI Under Zidane?

Casemiro is rumored to be the odd man out in Real Madrid’s starting lineup under Zinedine Zidane, and not because of any lack of quality or form. Zidane wants to play attacking football, and there reportedly is only room for Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić because James Rodríguez needs to start as well. The French coach said that he will always use the BBC (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano), so this makes Casemiro and James vying for one spot.

To play Devil’s advocate, Casemiro is a true defensive midfielder, and Zidane knows the great benefit that Claude Makelele brought to the teams that he played on. Perhaps Zidane will want to start Casemiro because of the similar role that Casemiro plays. There is also the fact that Casemiro has been playing some of the best football for Real Madrid this season. Casemiro allows Kroos and Modrić to display more of their creativity and attacking qualities.

Everyone knows that Zidane brought Raphaël Varane to Real Madrid, and the French center back is arguably among the best two or three center backs in the world. Varane is a phenomenon that brings lightning speed, the technical skill of an elite attacking player, and outstanding defensive qualities. There’s no debate whether Pepe or Varane is better. No contest. Varane wins.

So under Zidane, Real Madrid will likely start Keylor Navas in goal with Danilo or Dani Carvajal at right back and Varane and Sergio Ramos at center back. Marcelo will play left back, but the real toss ups are in the midfield. There are too many players for the available spots. Isco and James are in direct competition with one another to play as the attacking midfielder or out wide, and both affect Casemiro.

If Real Madrid uses a three-man midfield, then starting Modrić, Casemiro, and Kroos pushes James or Isco out of the starting XI.

There is also Mateo Kovačić to consider. He brings smooth passing and creativity, and he fills the same role that James or Isco bring. Positional battles like this are normal at a club like Real Madrid, and Zidane will have his hands full.

It will be interesting to see if Zidane proves to be an elite ex-player that coaches well or that coaches poorly. The reality could also be less black and white. Maybe Zidane will improve over time as a coach.

Possible Real Madrid XI under Zidane:

Goalkeeper- Keylor Navas

Right Back- Danilo

Center Back- Raphaël Varane

Center Back- Sergio Ramos

Left Back- Marcelo

Defensive Midfielder- Toni Kroos/Casemiro

Center Midfielder- Luka Modric/Toni Kroos

Right Wing- Gareth Bale

Attacking Midfielder- James Rodríguez

Left Wing- Cristiano Ronaldo

Striker- Karim Benzema

 

Salute to Don Andrés Iniesta

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You won’t find a better footballer than Andrés Iniesta. Lionel Messi certainly has more goals, highlights, and individual awards, but you can’t really say that anyone is better than Iniesta.

Unfortunately, El Ilusionista will never win the Ballon d’Or, but Iniesta deserves to have won three or four. Ronaldinho, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Messi have kept Iniesta from winning the Ballon d’Or or FIFA World Player of the Year, and now Neymar will keep Iniesta from ever winning.

As a player, Iniesta has everything. His dribbling, passing, shooting, touch, and vision are world-class, and his work rate and ball-winning ability are that of an elite defensive midfielder. Iniesta is thought of as an attacking midfielder because he is a playmaker, but it is right to call Iniesta a center midfielder. Iniesta wears Number 8 for Barcelona and Number 6 for Spain, and these numbers are reflective of the vital central role he plays in those midfields, even if he is arguably the world’s best Number 10.

Don Andrés is universally recognized as a prodigy and grandmaster of a midfielder and footballer, but it’s important to remember that Iniesta played as big as Shaq in big games. The Barcelona and Spain midfielder is what’s known as a gamer in the United States, and without a doubt Iniesta has ice water flowing through his veins when the pressure is highest.

The Spanish midfielder has a knack for keeping possession of the ball when he is hounded by multiple defenders at once, and his ability to orchestrate the constant and quick passing of his teammates has even made some people describe Barcelona and Spain’s passing as boring because of its perfection. One characteristic of Iniesta’s game is the way that he always receives passes in just a way as to shake defenders or put himself in possession to make the next pass or go on a dribbling foray to help his team keep possession or attack.

It is Iniesta’s textbook fundamentals as an individual and team player that make him a grandmaster.  When all the skills of the game are displayed with such ease and grace plus the ability to burn defenders or finish the opposition with a golazo then one can be said to be special indeed.  Although Iniesta supplies so much running and defending, he isn’t really the unsung hardman doing the dirty work, rather he is the genius behind the team play of Barcelona and Spain.

Although Messi is capable of destroying opposing teams on his own, the argument has to be made that Iniesta (and Xavi) made Messi’s incredible scoring stats possible. Messi would have scored a ton of goals, but would he have had the ball at his feet in that key final third of the field as much if it weren’t for Iniesta?

Iniesta is only 31 years old and nowhere close to done. People forget that he’s still in his prime, and football fans everywhere hope that he plays for several more years to come.

With the 2015 Ballon d’Or about to be awarded to Messi, Iniesta deserved a special salute from this writer and World Soccer Source for his amazing play for Barcelona and Spain.

Paulo Dybala, The Juventus Goalscoring Trequartista

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Paulo Dybala is frequently described as a striker, but this term is misleading. Dybala is an attacker or forward for Juventus, but the Argentine international is really a trequartista or second striker.

The term “striker” gives the image of a center forward or Number 9, and this term doesn’t accurately describe the qualities and playing style of the Argentine playmaker. Like his fellow countryman Lionel Messi, Dybala is a left-footed attacker who brings both goalscoring and playmaking to the game.

In this 2015-2016 Serie A and Champions League season so far, Dybala has six goals and three assists in 13 appearances. The Argentina man has proved to be more and more involved and influential in every game that he plays. Even with Paul Pogba orchestrating so much of Juventus’ passing and attacking play, Dybala is still a standout player for the Italian side, and it would be accurate to say that Pogba and Dybala are the focal points of Juventus.

Dybala’s play is characterized by quick combination play and outstanding dribbling, and the Argentine has a real talent for dissecting defenses with through balls and chips. The fact that Dybala even has a spot on the roster for Argentina with all of its other world-class attacking players is a testament to his skill and brilliance.

The play of Dybala should heavily affect the playing time of Hernanes and Roberto Pereyra. Both Hernanes and Pereyra play best as trequartisti, but with Dybala bringing such a combination of playmaking and scoring, it will be hard for either Hernanes or Pereyra to see much time with Juan Cuadrado also being one of the first names on the lineup.

Juventus was underperforming early in the Serie A season, but now with Juventus playing better and better, Dybala’s influence and numbers should continue to increase.

Will Dybala challenge Ángel Di María for a starting spot for Argentina?

2015 Silver Ball: Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo?

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Lionel Messi will win the 2015 Ballon d’Or. There’s no question about that.

As Messi is frequently called an alien, a freak, or not human by his fellow footballers, the real question is whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Neymar will come in second place in the Ballon d’Or voting.

Both Ronaldo and Neymar have strong cases to come in second place, but second place will mean nothing to Ronaldo but something of a milestone for Neymar who has his sights on surpassing Messi.

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar by the numbers:

Lionel Messi- 44 goals, 21 assists, 4 titles

Neymar- 41 goals, 12 assists, 4 titles

Cristiano Ronaldo- 45 goals, 14 assists, 0 titles

•The Case for Cristiano Ronaldo for Second Place•

The Portuguese forward has 45 goals compared to Neymar’s 41 goals – a slight advantage. In a year where Barcelona was universally considered better than Real Madrid, Ronaldo’s goals stats equaled Messi’s. The fact that Ronaldo’s numbers equaled Messi’s and surpassed Neymar’s is perhaps a more objective and fair standard to use to compare Ronaldo to Neymar. The Brazilian might be the more complete player, but Ronaldo shouldn’t be penalized for Messi’s and Suárez’s goals cutting into Neymar’s. The fact that Ronaldo’s numbers were close to Messi’s is a strong criteria to declare him above Neymar.

•The Case for Neymar for Second Place•

The Case for Neymar is less about stats and more about how well he played with Messi, Luís Suárez, Andrés Iniesta, and so on. Many elite players would get frustrated playing in Messi’s shadow and thus work less and produce less goals and assists, but Neymar bonded and thrived with Messi. The argument can be made that scoring 41 goals and producing 12 assists is harder to do when the focal point of the team is on another player. Neymar’s combination of playmaking and goalscoring make him a more complete player than Ronaldo, and the Brazilian was more active without the ball than Ronaldo. Neymar’s international play was far more dazzling than Ronaldo’s, so this is just another aspect of Neymar’s game that is more complete than Ronaldo’s.


•Conclusion•

Neymar deserves the Silver Ball (the runner-up to the Ballon d’Or award). Soccer isn’t just about numbers, and the way that Neymar was world-class as a teammate, as an individual achiever, and as a club and international player give him the edge over Ronaldo. The Brazilian was simply electrifying and magical. The way that Neymar played was superior to Ronaldo, and Neymar was the more successful champion.

 

What will happen in next year’s Ballon d’Or voting when Neymar is even better?

The Casemiro Effect at Real Madrid

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In Casemiro, Real Madrid has a true defensive midfielder that distributes the ball well with either foot.

Toni Kroos, despite being more of a box-to-box midfielder or playmaker, has been used as the anchor of Real Madrid’s midfield three the past few years, and since he is a complete midfielder, he was able to excel in the more defensive role that he was ask to play.

Like Kroos, Luka Modrić has also been freed up to play a more attacking role by the emergence of Casemiro who has risen from promising young defensive midfielder to first-choice defensive midfielder for Real Madrid.

When everyone is healthy in the Real Madrid midfield, the true Number 10s will find themselves in even more of battle for the Number 10 role, especially since both Kroos and Modrić are themselves really Number 10s.

Five out of the six players in Real Madrid’s Front Six must be thought of as locks in the starting lineup, and these five players are: Casemiro, Modrić, Kroos, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Karim Benzema. As this is the case, James Rodriguez, Isco, and Mateo Kovačić will now be battling Gareth Bale for the final spot in Real Madrid’s Front Six.

Given both Modrić’s and Kroos’ excellent playmaking abilities and particularly their ability to feed Benzema and Ronaldo, there is less of a need for James, Isco, or Kovačić in the lineup, and this will make Rafa Benítez’s job of keeping his superstars happy even harder.

How do you put Isco on the bench, and how do you put a healthy James on the bench?

Kovačić has also showed his ability to orchestrate an attack and keep the passes moving around the field quickly for Real Madrid, and his ability to tackle and play defense makes him a strong option off the bench or to replace Casemiro, Modrić, or Kroos if they are injured.

Casemiro might not necessarily be a starting lock yet, but given the fact that Real Madrid now have a real defensive midfielder to deploy in front of the defense, we might see both Modrić and Kroos display their true playmaking skills, which will push Ronaldo and Benzema even closer to goal.

The Casemiro effect might be one where the insertion of a midfield destroyer with excellent ball-playing abilities makes Real Madrid’s attack even more dangerous, as Modrić and Kroos will be able to just play a non-stop stream of through balls and balls play over the top to Benzema and Ronaldo.

What will happen with Isco, James, and Kovačić now?

Midfield and Attacking Dilemmas for Juventus

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Despite the poor start for Juventus in Serie A and without Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and Carlos Tevez, Juventus has a deep and talented squad. In fact, Juventus has more quality midfield and attacking options than starting spots.

Newcomers like Sami Khedira and Mario Lemina have given Juventus two strong defensive midfielder options in front of the defense, and Roberto Pereyra and Hernanes are vying for the playmaker role, even if coach Max Allegri has preferred to play Hernanes in more of a regista role.

In the attack, Juventus can start Álvaro Morata or Simone Zaza at center forward, or Allegri can start both players with Morata playing as the withdrawn or second striker. With Paulo Dybala also playing for Juve, there aren’t enough spots to start both Zaza and Morata. Dybala is too dynamic and talented to leave on the bench, so even with all of Zaza’s qualities as a center forward, Morata and Dybala are thus the best two forward options.

On paper and with Juan Cuadrado starting on the right wing in the attack, the best Juventus midfield would likely be Khedira, Paul Pogba, and Claudio Marchisio, and this even excludes both Hernanes and Pereyra.

The lineup dilemma for Juventus is one of Juventus being two players deep for every midfield starting spot, and this is a good problem to have for Allegri. Although Khedira is widely-considered the best defensive midfield option, it must be said that Lemina has looked much more athletic while still displaying great technical ability and distribution.

How controversial is it to argue that Lemina might be a better option for a Juventus squad that seeks to win Serie A again and go deep in the Champions League again? Will Khedira be wrong-footed and burned by the elite and speedy attackers?

More questions abound. Should Dybala’s starting spot be thrown on the sacrificial pyre to make room for a fourth midfielder like Pereyra or Hernanes (when Marchisio is back fit)?

Juventus really has the squad to use all of these players mentioned, plus who can forget about Stefano Sturaro, the Italian center midfielder that has proven to be a strong option and a big-game player as he proved last season in the Champions League?

Allegri will have to be careful to not just start the most famous of two options as the strong argument can be made that Lemina is more effective than Khedira and Pereyra is more effective than Hernanes.

Juventus has many starting options in the midfield and the attack, but perhaps the best options aren’t necessarily the most famous ones.

Is this Front Six the best option: Marchisio, Khedira, Pogba; Cuadrado, Morata, Dybala?

Or is it this one: Marchisio, Lemina, Pogba; Cuadrado, Morata, Pereyra?

Maybe it’s neither.

Juventus has started off badly in Serie A this season, but Juventus will soon be a different team with more continuity in the lineup. Form and injuries will affect the Juve lineup throughout the season, so some of the lesser lights may become first-choice options for Allegri.

Pirlo, Vidal, and Tevez are gone, but Juventus is still deep and formidable.