It ended up being a very tough Saturday evening to swallow for AC Milan and the fans, as Udinese scored three goals and also clinched all three points.
Milan headed into the clash with a willingness to bounce back from the Napoli defeat on Easter Monday. However, it’s possible that this was just the vibe from the outside looking in, as the Rossoneri then barely showed any spirit to stop the bleeding caused by Udinese.
The Italian newspapers didn’t hold back this morning, highlighting just how massive the defeat was, and it’s clear that Massimiliano Allegri will have a lot to work on at Milanello next week. Below, meanwhile, are five things we learned from the game…
Short Version
- Formation change: Allegri’s decision didn’t yield the desired results. There was confusion all over the pitch, and Leao as a centre-forward didn’t work. Tomori not starting also raises questions, given his experience in a back four.
- Leao hits a new low: Granted that the initial position wasn’t ideal, he didn’t have much success on the left flank either. Bad decision-making was combined with poor execution (some of the worst combos around)
- Poor at the back: De Winter and Pavlovic both struggled to impose themselves at the back, with the Belgian making two big errors and the Serbian losing duels. With them struggling, it was difficult for the youngsters on the flanks.
- Wastefulness as always: Milan had 20 shots and a plethora of chances, yet they only had three shots on target (vs. Udinese’s 6). The strikers really need to pick themselves up, otherwise it will be impossible to bounce back.
- Champions League at risk: Juventus are now just three points behind, and Como could move within two points tonight. The Verona game is absolutely crucial as without a win there, we could witness a total free fall.
1. Rushed formation change
Perhaps rushed isn’t the right word, because I presume Allegri has tested it in training before (and it was used a little in pre-season), but the timing certainly didn’t feel right. Yes, the criticism had been mounting on the manager to change something, but this almost felt insincere to an extent.
The whole situation wasn’t helped by the fact that he opted for Leao as the centre-forward, which we all knew would fail. With Santiago Gimenez supposedly fit, why on earth would you go with an out-of-form Leao? Out-of-position as well…
In addition to the question marks in attack, Milan were left really exposed at the back, especially in transition as there was a ton of space for Udinese to operate in. Personnel questions can also be asked here: Why didn’t Tomori, who is way more comfortable in a back four, play from start?
All in all, the formation didn’t work at all and you have to assume that the Rossoneri will revert to the 3-5-2 for the game against Verona at the weekend.
2. Leao hits a new low
I touched on it above, but we have to talk a little more about Leao and his performance. As a centre-forward, he struggled to impose himself in the box and also to find the right positions on the pitch. Often when there was a crossing chance, he was nowhere near the penalty spot.
Now, before going any further, I have to say that Allegri deserves a lot of blame on this front. Again, I don’t understand why you would start a Leao who’s already struggling in such a tough position. Hell, even our actual centre-forwards can’t perform in that role!
That said, Leao didn’t have much success on the left flank either as bad decision-making was combined with poor execution (some of the worst combos around). He tried, I’ll give him that, but the quality he showed a few years ago seems as good as gone.
The fact that he fully accepted a sub in the 70th minute, which didn’t even involve him, says a lot about his state of mind at the time. Or at least that’s my opinion; it just seemed like nothing went his way and he didn’t have a good response for it either.
3. Weakness and sloppiness at the back
As I alluded to in the formation takeaway, Milan struggled massively at the back as the likes of Nicolo Zaniolo and Kenan Davies were able to have a field day in the 1vs1s. Koni De Winter could have done a lot better on two goals, Strahinja Pavlovic lost an unusual number of duels and Davide Bartesaghi had his usual positioning question marks.
Zachary Athekame only got 45 minutes, but even he struggled to keep up with Udinese’s transitions and didn’t add much in attack either. I’m willing to say that most of this was due to the formation change, if not all of it, but the mentality clearly could have been better too.
The way De Winter simply followed Arthur Atta on the final goal was frustrating to see, and Pavlovic (while sometimes brilliant on this front) seemed to be all over the place. When two players who are supposed to lead the defence play like that, it’s hard for the youngsters on the flank too.
I don’t really understand why Tomori didn’t play, given that he has a lot of experience of succeeding in a back four. Matteo Gabbia was also on the bench and I presume that he’s all recovered from his hernia, so he could have been a good option too.
4. Wastefulness as always
Milan missed a plethora of chances on the night, and I really do mean a plethora. Their xG was higher than Udinese’s, they had a whopping 20 shots, and the possession dominance was clear. Yet, the away side managed more shots on target (6 vs. the Rossoneri’s 3).
The wastefulness reached a new high, that’s for sure, with big chances missed from the likes of Christian Pulisic (curling effort just wide), Leao (from close range, then a diving header), Pavlovic (header from close range), Saelemaekers (off the crossbar), I could go on!
If things don’t change in the coming games, and by that I mainly mean the form of Milan’s strikers, then they will be in big trouble. You simply cannot have that many chances and still fail to find the back of the net against a side like Udinese.
Santiago Gimenez will surely be eager to prove himself and perhaps it’s time for Allegri to give him a chance from start. Not that it’s a guarantee for a positive impact, but it can’t possibly get any worse than what we saw on Saturday evening.
5. Champions League now truly at risk
It has been the headline of the day, but it’s certainly worth echoing: the Champions League is now at risk for Milan. Juventus capitalised on the defeat by beating Atalanta last night, moving within three points of the Rossoneri, and Como could make it two against Inter tonight.
Regardless of how it ends for Como, though, anyone can see that this is far from a good situation for Milan. They looked so comfortable just a few weeks ago but this collapse has ruined everything, and the damage might not be done.
The Verona game will mean a whole lot, as a win there could be enough to restore confidence for the remainder of the season, but a defeat could see them drop off a cliff. Especially since Juventus will be up after that. That game could definitely be like a final.
Anyway, the fact that we are even in the position feels horrible. It’s crazy to think that it’s only been a month since that derby win against Inter, when the Scudetto was still a possibility (even if a remote one). But that’s the beauty (or in this case, struggle) of football sometimes.
1- We don’t have a team for a 4-3-3 because our defenders are simply not good enough to be trusted in a back 4. One of the reason we were successfull defensively earlier this season was that our system allowed to cover up our defenders individual weaknesses. Truth is: Pavlović, De Winter, Bartesaghi, Gabbia & Tomori are average and/or green.
2- We don’t have a team for a 3-5-2 because our “best” forwards are wingers who can’t play as strikers or sometimes even as second strikers. Füllkrug is a striker but is a sorry excuse of a football player and Giménez is just back from a long absense and is also very average, slow, one footed,…
3- We don’t have a team for a 3-4-3 because our best midfielder is too old to be tasked with such a demanding task as one of the only 2 midfielders and it also requires a lot of tracking back from our wingers, one of whom is simply bad at that.
4- What we have is a chimera or Frankenstein’s monster; a team not build for any system with each player coming from a different background that has specifities that are not always compatible with his teammates. A team that is the result of years of bad planning or lack of planning where players were brought with no particular idea in mind by individuals ill-equipped for this job, and that have most of the time just have to satisfy financial incentives and sometimes were desperate purchases in the dying minutes of a transfer window.
5- Some players should be slapped, not sold, not frozen or loaned, just slapped. This list includes but not limited to Bartesaghi, Saelemakers,…
6- This season is a bit reminiscent of Allegri’s 2023/24 season (which was his last season before today) where he managed to put pressure on Inter for a good chunk before crumbling and then barely assuring a UCL spot. We also went from closing the gap to inter, to having to worry about losing a UCL spot for the second season in a row.
7- Now if someone is gonna talk about sacking Allegri (and I get the feeling), then bet on a young promising coach, give him every player he wants, make him a corner stone of a project and give him 3 years or more even if the firsts are gonna look ugly. Kind of what Bayern did with Kompany.
If we’re gonna bring another dinosaur from serie A or a coach from a weaker league that has no clue how to play against ugly teams in Italy, then just keep Allegri.
Spot on. With the 3-5-2 we saw one group of faults. With the 4-3-3 (which really wasn’t that formation) we saw another set of faults. This team is lacking. That said I would rather have seen a true 4-3-3 with Saelmaeker at RWB, Gimenez up top, Timori in the back four and Fofana instead of Ricci for some speed and more dynamic play.
5.I understand that Bartesaghi has made some mistakes that cost Milan points but let’s not forget that this is literally his 1st season playing senior football.
He should and will improve but we need to keep it in perspective.
He wasn’t at fault for the goals yesterday.
Saelemaekers has been poor for few months now after a very good start.
That’s why I said slapping.
But that aside, I’m afraid that him almost always guarantee to start (since Estupiñán is so poor), isn’t really helping him to have this hunger to adress his mistakes. He did progress during his first month or 2, but then he was going backwards and lead to more goals against us than for us.
And it’s more or less the same for Saelemakers.
I don’t care about a player’s age, if they are on the field they are judged just like every other player. Since Estupinan came from the EPL is he better in a back 4? Just wondering.
Well Bartesaghi is being judged and in yesterday’s game he was the least of our problems
Yes players are robots and never make the mistake of not closing down fast enough.
Milan need to find players who never, ever, ever make the mistake of not closing down fast enough.
I’m sure one exists out there somewhere.
Do you remember when Maldini never once made a mistake in 20 years?
No?
Welcome back to real life.
Bartesaghi has made one mistake (not closing down quickly enough against Udinese) but most people on here seem to have no idea about football and yet very strong opinions on it based on deep biases and widely unrealistic expectations.
I’m sure the defender in everyone’s heads has never made any “mistakes” (both real or misunderstood).
Good assessment, the most frustrating part is we cant point fingers at anyone specific either cuz we have no clue who is actually buying and selling players or if multiple visions at once are being utilized.
I think before we do anything we need to get proper structure around our directors and commit to one strategy
You’re right. This is what us Maldini and Massara supporters have been saying all this time. There has been no coherent team building transfer strategy under this management. Allegri did well to fight for Rabiot and publicly question the Nkunku signing. Despite my complaints of a conservative back three, Allegri has done well this season. My concern was always “what is the plan for next season?”. We need additions and upgrades if we are to be playing in Europe. Our best player has been Modric, a 40 year old on an expiring contract. If we stick with the 3-5-2, we may lose three or four of our forwards. Another mini-revolution may be needed this summer.
So much damage has been done by this management. I want to see an exciting project like we had a few seasons ago; a clear system of play, targeted signings, a good mix of experience (Ibra, Giroud, Kjaer, Rebic), youth (Leao, Kessie, Diaz, Theo, Tonali, Tomori), home grown players (Calabria, Gabbia, Simic, Daniel Maldini), and great scouting finds (Maignan, Bennacer, Kalulu, Krunic).
I hope Camarda, Alpha Cisse, Comotto, Sala, Chaka Traore, Elutu are in the club’s plans and get a chance to develop. I have been very impressed with Liberali at Catanzaro this season. If he continues to develop, Milan should look at getting him back. Having young players with an attachment to the club, used to playing together, is huge footballing and financial benefit.
Solid Take.
“I hope Camarda, Alpha Cisse, Comotto, Sala, Chaka Traore, Elutu are in the club’s plans and get a chance to develop.”
Don’t we all but we all know our management though. The players are nothing but capital gain to them.
Over-react much?
The team is still 3rd so well within Allegri’s stated goal for the season.
Maybe you should align your expectations with the actual manager and clubs’?
Bitter from your team losing to inter tonight ?
All what I’ve stated is factually correct.
It’s not my fault that you have a weird sense of what expectations are.
I’m busy defending YOUR team against YOU!
What does ‘factually correct’ mean?
You know the difference between ‘facts’ and ‘opinions’ (and ‘completely unrealistic expectations’)?
He’s over reacting? In what way? Most of what he said is on point. This is a limited club with players who are psychologically slowing down.
What’s he over reacting to? Can you say for sure that we secure Top4? Because the last game was a warning sign.
He’s over-reacting to a 5th defeat of the season (the joint lowest in the league).
He’s over-reacting to one of the best defences in the league having a bad afternoon.
He’s over-reacting to a team that finished 8th last season competing for the Champions League this season which is exactly in line with what the manager’s stated objective this season.
He is properly reacting to all the warning signs that were clear to some and became more clear to others after the game.
He’s properly reacting to a poorly built team that has been overachieving with Max but now suddenly finds itself in danger of missing out on CL.
He is also properly reacting to an ownership group that continues its mediocracy and incompetence in managing this club.
What ‘warning signs’?
The results are the results. The league table speaks for itself. Over the course of the season luck balances out and the best team wins.
People’s subjective opinions of the quality of players or teams are irrelevant.
Live for the moment and stop trying to race ahead to the future (usually the next transfer window).
We lost 3 of our last 4 games and even the one we won was done by the skin of our teeth.
If these aren’t warning signs, then dude please check your alarm system, it might be broken and it needs to be repaired.
Furthemore we have an example from the same coach, not so long ago, of a similar collapse happening.
“What ‘warning signs’?”
WOW!!!! 3 losses in 4 matches and this guy can’t see the GIGANTIC “WARNING!!!!!!!!!!” sign flashing in every possible color. Speechless. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
You bring up many good points. See my take below.
Agree on everything but 4-3-3. Had Gabbia & Tomori been on the pitch the defense would have been more solid. Also, Leao should have been starting on the wing.
Perhaps a bit more solid but I doubt it would be that much better.
From 2022 up until this season Tomori was a disaster, the 3 at the back did actually did him a favour. Although you might start him as RB, but Conceição tried that once and it failed miserably.
Gabbia is much better at defending than Pavlović but offers nothing going forward. There were games where Pavlović was the only threat going forward.
And finally Saelemakers. He is too offensive to play as a RB, but still not good enough offensively to play as a RW. RWB is a good middle ground for him and Athekame is too green.
Leão should start at the wing, although by the looks of it, he actually shouldn’t start.
So yes, again this team is a chimera built for no system.
Indeed. Well said.
If Milan misses on UCL, Allegri is a bigger failure than Fonseca and Conceição combined.
I completely disagree with you. Wholeheartedly.
The reason we’re 3rd and not 5th and below currently is because of Allegri. This is a suboptimal team and the fact that he’s gotten us this far is a massive OVERACHIEVEMENT.
And the fact that you’re placing the blame on Allegri and not the management is an indication that you’re not understanding the predicament we’re in.
Take a step back and re-evaluate.
Got knocked out early in Copa Italia.
Knocked out in the 1st game in SuperCopa.
Playing 1 game a week for 75% of the season.
Napoli last season had worse squad and sold their best player in January, still won the scudetto, because Conte is great when he has to coach once a week.
Fonseca coached a game every 3 days. Before he got fired Milan was still involved in all 4 competitions, especially being in the top 8 of the UCL.
Conceicao won SuperCopa, got knocked out of UCL in February because of that clown Hernandez and took Milan to the Copa Italia final.
In what world if Milan fails to qualify for UCL is Allegri not a bigger failure than those 2?
What would Allegri achieve? Beating inter couple times? Is that his achievement this season?
Fonseca and Conceicao beat them too. Conceicao beat them in Supercopa and knocked them out in Coppa Italia.
Management neither plays nor coaches.
Milan cant beat small teams who have lesser players than Milan and whose coaches are out coaching Allegri. Sarri schooled Allegri twice. Conte beat Allegri with no strikers avaliable.
You don’t understand how limited Allegri is as a coach. The game has changed and he isn’t capable of adapting
Caro Fratello, Queste non sono due squadre diverse. This is the SAME incomplete team it was last season, and the fact that we “landed” Modric and Rabiot doesn’t solve all the issues.
The team was incomplete then and it is still incomplete now. Where did Fonseca and Conceicao leaves us last season? Supercoppa, Real Madrid win and ….. 8th in the standings.
The management doesn’t coach or play, it just gives you a suboptimal product that neither Previous 3 coaches nor current one can do a whole lot with. It provides us with no real plan for this team nor a sensible synchronized mercato, nor any quality depth for a coach to work with. I don’t care who you put in charge of this Milan – they won’t get further than Max in it’s current form.
I was comparing the coaches, remember?
You brought up the incompetent management and incomplete squad. All 3 worked with the same issues under the same management.
So what is it that you completely and wholeheartedly disagreed with when I said that Allegri would be bigger failure than Fonseca and Conceicao if he fails to finish top 4?
Who would have had better season, Fonseca/Conceicao or Allegri?
Allegri would be the least of the failures.
“This is the SAME incomplete team it was last season, and the fact that we “landed” Modric and Rabiot doesn’t solve all the issues. ”
Nope. No Theo disrupting the spirit. M&R doesn’t solve ALL the issues but have lifted the level a helluva lot. Getting rid of Royal has also raised the level.
Seems like Leao is going to be shown the exit. A sad ending. He should be shut down for injuries for the rest of the season. Rolling him out and having him produce nothing isn’t helping is transfrmkt value. he’s worth more to Milan on the bench as ‘injured’ than playing. If they can get $50m eu for him, they should transfer him – he also deserves to be in a system that has 3 up front and maximizes his talents when healthy.
6: Watching football that looks like it’s being played under water is tolerable when you’re winning but rage inducing when you’re not.
So find another hobby.
That’s a ridiculous comment. You are roundly disliked on this site and I’m one of the few people who regularly defends you because you are at least balanced and consistent – so why come out with internet-standard duality bulls**t like that?!?!
Clearly, I was being facetious.
We have been awful to watch this season. Ive defended Allegri against those who’d have a new manager every two games and I hope he stays next season, I also hope the football improves.
Do yourself a favour and read the room better, you might put fewer noses out of joint.
He’s upset his team just lost to Inter….
🤣🤣🤣
I admit I am too easily triggered by all of the negativity around here.
But seriously all we ever see is endless moaning by people so it does strike me as odd that so many people take time out of their lives to do something that clearly isn’t bringing them joy.
“endless moaning by people”
INCLUDING YOU!!!! 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
When have you posted anything positive here? 2011?
That’s rich coming from you of all people.
💯
Inter doing Milan a favor.
Since the derby we got 3 points out of 12 possibles.
Had we gotten 12 points we would have been level with Inter before their game and be rooting for Como.
But now we actually have to root for inter.
No Gabbia, no party
Gabbia is the leader at the back. The sooner he returns the better.
Don’t fool yourself. This team was never going to hold up with a back 4 no matter which combination of our CB’s you use.
Who’s talking about back 4? Defense started crumbling ever since Gabbia got injuried.
I mean…. it’s not like we’ve never conceded with Gabbia in a 3 man line. Guess what I’m trying to say is none of them are anything special by themselves – they all work in a 3 man back line. And at the same time, they would all fail in flat 4.
People are absolutely obsessed with formations but formations really make very little difference.
The key is the personnel and most importantly having players who compliment each others characteristics.
In that respect the key issue with the team against Udinese was a lack of physical presence in midfield.
Ricci, Modric and Rabiot (the latter had a degree of physicality) are too similar and lack mobility (especially the former two).
Fofana really should’ve started as he offers that physicality up and down the pitch.
It was a terrible idea to combine that midfield with a false nine striker and two floaty wingers especially with both Pulisic and Leao struggling.
Saelemaekers‘ lacks the goal threat to be part of a front three which is why 352 suits him.
So there were some bad tactical choices by Allegri.
I see what he tried to do with the dynamic strikers but it’s just not working.
For me he needs to drop Leao (first time I’ve ever called for this) and back one of the other three strikers the club has signed in the last year (yes the club has signed three strikers in just over a year and hasn’t decided between any of them).
Fofana needs to start every game.
Gabbia needs to be back in the centre and I’d probably switch to a 352 to get him on the pitch alongside De Winter and Pavlovic.
See, I was being facetious: you’re just being outright critical of The Infallible One! For shame.
Might one suggest one finds oneself another way of whiling away time? A new deviation? Tennis? Kayaking in Como with Cutrone and Clooney?
I have stood by Leao for nearly 7 years (yes he’s coming up to 7 years at the club which will definitely trigger people on here to despise him more) but this season he has clearly struggled and I wonder about his physical condition returning (at Milan).
Like I said the other day this seems to have come to a natural end.
The difference is people on here are saying this about 90% of the players who have played for the club for the last 20 years.
THAT makes it pointless for them watching a team with players and a manager they dislike playing terrible football in a terrible league.
” watching a team with players and a manager they dislike playing terrible football in a terrible league.”
*Fans* don’t abandon their team and go root for Como when things don’t go their way. They stick around until the end.
People complain because they care. People who switch teams don’t.
You are partially correct. The midfield neither controlled nor stretched the play much. The 433 was more of a 442 because Alexis always tucked inside, but even so we were narrower than Udine.
The problem is that there are holes all over this team and that’s why anything other than 3cb’s in a 352 results in leaking goals and nothing up front.
Yes it was a kind of narrow 442.
352 plays to players’ strengths.
Pavlovic is great at coming forward. Gabbia (when he’s fit) is a greater sweeper. De Winter/Tomori work well on the right (I’m not convinced about De Winter in the middle and Tomori does provide good physicality and fight).
Bartesaghi and Saelemaekers work well at wing backs (particularly with the former offering slightly more defensive cover which compliments with Pavlovic, and the latter more attacking which compliments with De Winter/Tomori).
A midfield trio of Fofana, Modric and Rabiot is pretty close to perfect as they have complimentary characteristics.
The issue is upfront with none of the 5 strikers firing.
Pulisic just needs a goal.
Leao is struggling physically and mentally.
The other three haven’t been around long enough to really know what to do with them.
The team needs a goal scorer. That is what cost them the Scudetto this season.
352 plays to nobody’s strengths – it’s a damage control tool to all the limitations of this squad Max has used well to get the team to this point without conceding 40+ goals.
Gabbia has great positional awareness but that’s about it. He’s a rotation piece among better CB’s that we would need.
Evidence shows that both KDW and Tomori only work in a 3 man back line due to their limitations.
Bartesaghi is OK, but stellar neither offensively nor defensively. But he’s young, I’ll give him the benfit of the doubt. But he keeps repeating the same mistakes defensively without improving on them.
Saelemakers was great the first half of the season because without a proper alternative to his skillset he got burnt out contributing offensively or defensively. Dumfries by comparison has been far better. Hence Alexis’ current poor form. Against Napoli he offered nothing offensively. Against Udine – nothing defensively.
Moving forward Modric’s minutes need to be managed better. Rabiot is great. Fofana is a rotation piece in presence of a better midfielder. He would always be second string to the likes of Ederson, Thuram or Kone.
Issue up front is the same issue we’ve had upfront since Bacca – no 9 worth a d*mn. Everyone since has been a stopgap. Bring in a proper 9 and play wingers in their natural positions. Otherwise scrap this 2 ban BS.
I don’t know what Puli’s deal is. Part fitness, part poor matchups, part break up with his GF. Who the fvck knows, but he needs to get it together in the last 6 games because CL depends on it. I’d take turns pairing him with Santi or Nkunku and rest Leao.
Leao is a failed experiment and is psychologically fragile – always has been. He isn’t working in what Max is having to do. Moving forward, bench him for the remaining games and figure out what the EFF the plan is for the next season.
You lost me at:
“Gabbia has great positional awareness but that’s about it. He’s a rotation piece among better CB’s that we would need.”
It’s this attitude that makes it all so pointless.
Milan had the best defence in the league this season when he was playing but it still wasn’t good enough for you.
If you’re looking for something bigger and better go find another team that has that something bigger and better.
You won’t find it at Milan.
Milan don’t have the money but more fundamentally if Milan are ever to return to BEING Milan it needs to be built around players like Gabbia who represent what the club is.
It’s toxic attitudes like yours that has taken the club to where it is now.
The club forced out all of the youth products to make way for mediocrity all in the misguided belief this was going to somehow create a competitive ‘team’ (rather a bunch of passersby).
Even looking past the above quote it’s clear you don’t rate most of the players. Look at the way you talk about Leao.
Where’s the respect for a player who gave you a Scudetto?
Why do you get to celebrate that Scudetto and then turn around and insult the player?
And this is what we see from the majority on here. It’s all just toxic with endless insults directed at the coach and players. The Inter Fan is one of the few people on here to show any respect.
The club can’t hope to return to what it was when it’s biggest handicap is its fans.
“352 plays to nobody’s strengths”
Pavlovic. The exception to the rule.
I find it fascinating that most of the users here are split into “player’s fault” and “allegri’s/tactical fault”. The truth is those are just the symptoms of a much bigger and obvious problem which is rarely mentioned: Poor planning by this management to provide Allegri with the tools he needs to get this team to where it needs to be.
1. Week in and week out we see the same problems in different packages. The one thing that was new and quite worrying was the psychological state of our players against Udine. We were behind mentally the entire game as Udinese had their way with us up and down the field. Have the players given up since the Scudetto is far out of reach? What goals were the players given? What were they given to believe in? To play for? Because they looked like a team that had nothing to play for.
2. We are 32 games in and none of our problems have been solved. Our attack is a giant question mark. As mentioned, we scored 0 goals with 1.78xG while Udine scored 3 with 1.19 AND attacked effectively both directly in possession and on counterattacks and we had a hard time with it. Our attack was always poor and not synchronized. Rabiot and Modric were often pushing further up to help create channels and when Udine attacked were too far up the field to come back in time to help defend. That opened up spaces especially between Pavlo and Bartesaghi which Zaniolo took advantage of every time. And anyone who says Tomori would have helped apparently hasn’t watched Tomori play any of the last 3-4 years. None of our defenders are good enough for a flat 4. NONE. And our press is DISJOINTED and unorganized especially when we do it higher up.
3. Modric is a legend but he slows down the game. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Partially because he can’t dictate attack from that far back and partially because he doesn’t have anyone not named Rabiot skilled enough for quick passing and movement of the ball. He HAS however played A LOT minutes. His playing time needs to be managed – we have 6 games to go. put someone else in, let him rest. I’d give more minutes to Jashari.
4. For me all tactical discussions need to be put to rest. This game has proven to us why Allegri wouldn’t budge in the 352 – because this is the only way this team DOES NOT CONCEDE much. Like I mentioned above, our CB’s only work when there’s 3 of them with wingbacks. Except our wingbacks aren’t good enough offensively and not even that good defensively. 433 is supposed to widen the play but we don’t have the players for it. In what we attempted to do, Alexis was constantly tucking in the midfield so it was never really 3 upfront leading to the same offensive problem. We couldn’t stretch sh*t. But before everyone turn on Alexis (and there are many of you here) please realize that our GENIUS management never gave Allegri an alternative to Alexis. Athekame does not work in a 352 he’s more of a RB and too young and raw at this point to affect the game as we saw on the second goal – Arms up in the air, not even jumping.
THIS TEAM IS A RESULT OF TERRIBLE PLANNING BY OUR MANAGEMENT and instead of realizing this, mane turn on the players and Allegri instead of pointing the finger where it belongs. What good, COMPETENT management should do is come out and put shield this team from all the outside noise, like media speculating who’s terrible and who stays and goes. Instead, Allegri is always the one doing it. But this is why the brought him in – so that WHEN sh*t goes wrong, the fingers aren’t pointed at them, but at the coach instead. And many here are have fallen into that trap.
5. This team needs to go back to a 352, stay compact and not concede. The attack isn’t likely to provide any solutions. But if I were to make a change, I’d sit Leao out – he offers nothing in a 352. Pair Pulisic with either Santi or Nkunku. Fielding Fulkrug is like playing with a man down. Pulisic at least moves around a lot and attempts to create something, even if when shooting he can’t hit a barn door.
I know this is long but it’s so frustrating to read complete nonsense here when the real problem all along was the ownership and management and the way this season is unfolding is proof of that.
THIS IS A POORLY ASSEMBLED TEAM (yet again) and Allegri is doing the only thing he can to try to mitigate for all the holes.
Jesus, Lord! That was long, sorry.
Is there actually a problem though?
What if, the club is actually moving in the right direction and people don’t need to panic?
That’s a good assessment of the situation
Not long ago you were one of the most vocal supporters of Gerry and the Bunch, taking every moment to insult us who saw through the bs he’s bringing. You’re really not the one to lecture about this here.
I always told you that I would judge based on results and what I saw. At the time when I was giving Gerry the benefit of the doubt commending the financial stability at the club, there had been few detrimental decisions affecting the club. I was even OK with letting Maldini go based on inexperience and questionable decisions.
But steadily, this ownership and management has proven itself completely inept and inadequate in returning this club to where it belongs in the upper echelons of football elite. Every step they have taken has raised more questions and provided less solutions and I was completely in the wrong.
I have NO problem admitting when I am wrong. Can others say that as well?
“Poor planning by this management to provide Allegri with the tools he needs to get this team to where it needs to be.”
The can do it twice a year. The players we now got are the players we now got. Can’t go asking for the management to fix the team in April when the transfer window is closed.
Oh wait… They can. By sacking the coach. That’s the only thing management can now do. The rest is up to the players and the coach until the window opens. But then it’s already too late to salvage this season.
And how many coach merry-go-round are u expecting? There’s a common denominator here and that’s the management
Gerry would need to fire the current management but I don’t see that happening unless the club’s value goes drastically down. Easier/quicker fix would be changing the coaching staff. Also cheaper than getting Allegri the players he would need/want – and he’d still manage to fail to deliver any trophies.
Problem is there’s little faith in Gerry to begin with.
Milan still have a good chance to finish top 4 or even top 3, as they just need to win 4 matches , plus draw? ..for now depending on Como’s result as Milan is 5 points clear from 5th place, the best is to beat Verona and Juventus and Milan would be 6 points clear and would just need two more wins after that as Milan’s head to head record would be better against Juventus if they beat them at San Siro, So No need to think so negatively, they can just concentrate to wine remaining games, Milan will bounce back and make it UCL next season ‼️
Thank you.
Everything went wrong for Milan, in my opinion.
They choose unsuitable coach Allegri, they brought wrong players (I don’t mean the players is bad), and sell wrong players too.
I choose sell Leao than Tonali. Because for me Leao is just player with good speed and technique, but don’t have passion, that’s why his performance is like roller coaster.
Sold Tiji is also a wrong decision.
But, what to say, I just a fan of AC Milan. But, seeing this team like now. I think the Udinese coach is more better than Allegri in tactics and formation.
What Milan played right now, under Allegri, is not good to see at all, even if win, this team played bad.
I’m not a fan of Pioli, but seeing Milan with young players under Pioli, with this Milan with big names under Allegri, sorry to say, Pioli’s better.
“Sold Tiji is also a wrong decision. ”
No, they got it right. Allegri would have had zero use for him as he’s poor at defending.
Leao is just a new Balotelli. He doesnt care to put effort in unless he has the ball. He is more concerned about his appearance than potentially making a play. Milan would be wise to sell him for a discount in order to move him quickly. The summer rebuild must begin immediately after the season.