This weekend, Youssouf Fofana could start in the base of a midfield three and there have been comparisons drawn between him and a previous AC Milan player.
Ahead of the game against Atalanta, it seems almost definite that Massimiliano Allegri will make a switch in midfield.
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Almost immediately after the game against Sassuolo, suggestions were that Samuele Ricci or Fofana would be coming into the team, but now it seems that the latter could be preferred.
Fofana and van Bommel
As Tuttosport writes, Luka Modric’s injury is forcing Milan to look at the midfield again and there needs to be a solution found for the final few games of the season. Considering the Jashari ‘experiment’ did not work, Allegri is being forced to try a new idea.
Well, old is a stretch, with the report actually recalling two things. Firstly, it would be a return to a favoured role for Fofana. He has previously admitted that he is not the biggest fan of his current role within the set-up.
So maybe he is the one who should have the keys moving forward. Sunday could be a test for now and the future, then.
Additionally, it can be viewed in another previous light, too. For Allegri, it would be a flashback to the 2010-11 season, where Mark van Bommel was launched in the midfield three.
That added solidity brought the Scudetto and whilst that same feat is unachievable this season, if Fofana’s move brought a Champions League place, it would leave the Italian feeling very happy.
Another reason why we should not sell Fofana. The reality is neither Jashari or Ricci are ready to be starters and Milan should loan these players out.
No point in keeping them next season. We need players who can make a difference and raise the level of team even from the bench.
Maybe Fofana isn’t good enough for this team to compete for trophies but is still far better than RIcci & Jashari.
Fofana is the least of our problems.
True.
Has he been reading my comments?
If Fofana doesn’t perform well as a regista, Allegri would probably rather play Maignan there than Ricci. Thats what he thinks of Ricci as a regista, supposedly his natural position.
In my opinion, there is no need to require him playing as a real regista, but more like Makelele, focus on tackling and winning the ball back, then pass to the two number 8 ahead of him. Modric/Jashari/Rabiot will lead the transition phase.
Jashari from the bench?
Allegri never requested Ricci and given how he has used him so far, he has little use for him.
And Jashari, and Nkunku. And Odogu, and Athekame. He requested only Rabiot, experienced no 9 and experienced central defender. They got 1.
I didn’t see you comment on Ricci being in the starting lineup? What, nothing to gloat about how you said he is sh*t. You piece of sh*t. Inter fans like our club more than you do. Piece of sh*t.
Fofana should be the DM, not the regista, flanked by two midfielders of which one is the register just like Pirlo and Gatusso. His main mission is to protect the back line, not score 10 goals. He disrupts play and give the ball to the regista who dictates the tempo of the game. I hate to say this but Milan must move ahead and not renew modric. At 41 how far can he go? No serious team wanting trophies will have a 41 year old regista.
I have the same ideas like you. Fofana play like DM, cause we have Modric/Rabiot/Jashari to rotate in number 8 position (replicate Xavi/Iniesta role at Barca)
Unfortunately though, this guy is nowhere near the level of Van Bommel.
half of this Milan team is playing out of position. We will only see them at their best when they play the position that they played in….when Milan signed them!! Fofana is a defensive midfielder.
Very well said Savio! On point
Who is playing out of position beside him and Leao? Maybe some rotation players but no one else except these two from the starting lineup. Bartesaghi, who?
Nkunku (CAM / CF), Bartesaghi (LB / CB), Athekame (RB), Estupinan (LB), Ricci (CDM), Pulisic (RW/LW). Come on man…
You must be joking. Nkunku in 3-5-2 plays exactly that when he’s used as a second (supporting) striker. In my opinion, Bartesaghi isn’t a wing-back (at least not a proper one), I already mentioned him so I don’t know why you brought him up. On the other hand, people consider him a wing-back too so that is that. Athekame is both RB and RM so it’s only natural to see him as a RWB, he is not out of the position at all, on the contrary. What about Pervis? Just like Zach, he covers the whole flank. You could make an argument about Ricci (maybe even Ardon) but Pulisic is also an AMC or FW/SS, call it what you like, he’s not out of the position.
Fofana is good at intercept, carry ball, and passing, but poor finishing, so best way is pur him as an anchor like last season
Fofana was never a DM in Monaco, he was playing next to one. But let’s see. It cannot get worse than it already is.
And what is Modric? You don’t even understand that different players can have different roles in the same position?
I don’t understand? Ok. Fofana was always a box to box played next to a DM in two man midfield at Monaco while Modric was a deep laying playmaker next to Casemiro (DM) and Valverde (box to box) in three man midfield.
Playing 3 man midfield with 3 box to box players, in this case Rabiot, Fofana and RLC while one (Fofana) acts like a DM? We’ve had that not long ago with the likes of Reijnders, Musah, RLC and Fofana rotating in midfield. Remind me how that went lmao.
Modric a deep lying playmaker? No. Kroos was the deep lying playmaker. Those are football basics, how can you explain if you can’t do this? You decided to change the midfield they had for 10 years so it fits your story? Modric was never a deep playing playmaker, he never even played in this position. Not even from Croatia. Modric is a literal box to box player, Bielsa said he invented the position od Modric – defends like a 6 and attacks like a 10.
Thanks for explaining you don’t understand anything. Exactly my point.
Funny you’re the one talking about not understanding when I gave you an example from last season when Kroos was not around anymore. Modrić was deep lying playmaker partnered with Casemiro and Valverde last season. When Kroos was around he played mostly as an advanced playmakers / mezzala. And nice to see you borrowed my comment about Bielsa and “the Modrić role” from an article 2 days ago, lmao.
Id*ot, you used that one season to tell me how Luka Modric is a deep lying playmaker. A guy that played 19 seasons as not a deep lying playmaker. Are you re*arded?
Borrowed your comment? You mean you used something that Bielsa, a world renown manager said? Your comment? You really are a re*ard.
Oh and let’s not forget the level of your knowledge – Casemiro left Madrid 3 years ago.
“Modrić was deep lying playmaker partnered with Casemiro and Valverde last season. ”
Sure he was. He wasn’t a deep lying playmaker at Real Madrid ever. Not even in specific games. But with your level of knowledge he was a deep lying playmaker his whole career. 😀 Good job! 😀
It was 4 years. My bad. What, you asked the “AI” so it was “last year”? 😀 You’re a legend, but a really st*pid one.
amazon(dot)com/Football-Dummies-Howie-Long/dp/1119022630
Ideal for you, the US edition.
You’re the one talking about basics and would deploy a three man box to box midfield with Rabiot, Fofana, RLC. Lmao. Ok.
And yes, you even even replied under the same comment where I wrote Bielsa’s anecdote. A reply to Luigi. You lying dumbf*ck.
Modric actually spent most of his career playing with a deep lying playmaker. Kroos and Brozovic. Brozovic was also a defensive midfielder, destroyer, Kroos different. Both played in that position. Modric is playing his first season there. Fofana also played as an actual deep lying playmaker at Monaco, with a defensive midfielder “destroyer” alongside him.
Yes, we already had the Modric replacement but Tare got 2 more just in case.
Vam Bommel was consistent and was a wall on the Defense end. Fofana just runs around with his head cut off.
Some has to go, Modric, Ricci, Jashari and Fofana are all best in this position. None of them are mazala. Our midfield is still built for piolis double paviot
Fofana as a 6 is a frightening concept. If he misplaces a pass (which he does frequently) as a 6 it will likely result in a goal or a dangerous situation right in front of goal.
Yes, but Jashari did the same and that wasn’t frightening for you. You even defended him. Wtf is wrong with you? Are you racist? Stupid? What is the deal?