I posted on their board after the signed him as they all ****ed themselves silly at the prospect after seeing the Confed Cup where the little fella starred. I pointed out that he hardly ever played for Juve and was totally a 'sqaud player' there and he simply looked good for Italy over a few games. I was laughed off their board and pointed in the direction of multiple articles from media 'experts' proclaiming him as the signing of the summer. He's really not that good, he's just an ok player who Prandelli happens to love. Under a different coach he wouldnt get anywhere near the Italy squad.
That's my point though, everyone - including clueless media who know nothing about football oiutside of the UK - got excited cos they'd seen how well he did at the Confed Cup. If they'd watched his handful of appearances for Juve the season before they wouldnt have been excited, indeed the Confed Cup games are the only times Ive ever seen him play well! Sunlan fans refused to actually believe me that he hardly ever got picked for Juve, for some reason they thought they'd nicked their star player!
I remember it well bum chin, and amusing it was. Outright ignoring of cold hard facts, I remember looking at his stats and backing you up and got called something like a jealous delusional clown when I pointed out he'd played something like an average of 10 minutes a game for Juve scattered over a handful of appearances (Can't remember the exact numbers now). You were spot on anyhow, decent player but no world beater.
It was always obvious that any player in their right mind would pick Juve over Sunderland. So it was clear that he wasn't playing, or at least I thought it was. I like him though, he's industrious a bit like Stephen Hunt!
I was just thinking about if the club would try to sign him in the summer the other day. If I recall correctly there was rumors that he had a falling out with management back in November/December and would be moving back to Italy in January. Obviously nothing came of it, but he hasn't featured much for Sunderland since that time. I think depending on the price he would be a decent signing, but he's more then likely heading back to Italy come summer.
To be fair, on this occassion they were going quite well in the league, then he decided to stop playing Giaccherini and Johnson and to take Borini off every time something went wrong for them and they nose dived, so they might have a point.
I remember the Mackems were singing his praises early in the season under Di Canio and then he just disappeared when Poyet took over. Might be a useful addition. Hard worker and plenty of skill. Bruce obviously has his eye on him and he's not often wrong.
