Andrea Pirlo needs time - but top 4 failure could leave Juventus board with a big decision

Let's be honest, we all saw this coming, didn't we?

Admittedly, we perhaps didn't assume Juventus would suffer such a drop-off under Andrea Pirlo, but we can't be too surprised by the state they now find themselves in under a rookie coach with zero experience.

Keep calm will certainly be the message from Pirlo to his team after Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Atalanta, but beneath the cool surface, he must be starting to sense the sharks circling.

That loss leaves fourth-placed Juve only three points ahead of Napoli, and I Partenopei also hold a game in hand on the current champions. Lazio are four behind, while AS Roma bring up the rear in the European race.

Now, many in Turin would probably have anticipated a slight dip in the team's performances in yet another transitional year under a new coach, and for once, winning the scudetto would have been a bonus rather than a requirement.

But missing out on a top four place and spending an entire season outside of the Champions League? Gianluigi Buffon didn't return for this.

Juve's squad is not be strong or talented enough to challenge for the title this season, and that's fine. Inter are on another planet to their rivals, and the likes of Milan have made genuine improvements on last year's finish.

But this squad is definitely one of the four best in the league, and there can be no excuses for finishing outside of the Champions League qualification spots.

That falls directly on Pirlo's shoulders.

He was in defiant mood after the defeat to Atalanta, claiming that Juve 'played a strong game against a strong team'. Half of that statement was right, at least.

“It was a good game against a strong team," Pirlo said.

"We played the match we needed to, then they were lucky with the late goal, but we played with great determination and aggression. It’s disappointing, we could’ve brought home at least a point.”

The truth is, there is no shame in losing to a side as organised and talented as Atalanta, and their model is something that Pirlo will point towards in a bid to save his skin. Gian Piero Gasperini has been awarded plenty of time to mould a team in his image, and they are now arguably the most entertaining side in Europe.

But eight draws and five defeats in 31 matches, with a group of players which includes superstars Matthijs de Ligt, Federico Chiesa and Cristiano Ronaldo, is unacceptable. Their performance on Sunday lacked any killer instinct, the final ball was often missing and the courage to really take a risk against La Dea was nowhere to be seen.

Pirlo said Juve 'played the match we needed to', but if that match means mustering only two shots on target against a team that can be incredibly leaky at the back - well, that's not what the supporters expect.

So many of us wanted this to work, and while plenty of the blame can be placed at the feet of a bloated and unbalanced squad, the glimmering signs of encouragement have largely been outweighed by the miserable, clueless performances like Sunday's.

Pirlo's fate is now hanging in the balance. If he keeps the players onside and rallies to secure a top four place, there is a chance that he'll be given another summer to prove what he can do at the highest level. Miss out, and well, his time in charge will surely be limited.

Rome wasn't built in a day, but Turin is lacking in patience.