After AC Milan took an early lead and failed to win for the second straight game, questions about the squad size are once again being asked.
Milan’s bench for the match at the New Balance Arena against Atalanta last night told a story, with respect to the players on it: Pittarella, Terracciano, De Winter, Odogu, Athekame, Loftus-Cheek and Nkunku.
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Just seven players and five of them outfield. Atalanta, meanwhile, had the following substitutes available: Rossi, Sportiello, Musah, Sulemana, Scamacca, Samardzicc, Bellanova, Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Obric, Brescianini, Zalewski, Maldini and Krstovic.
The need to intervene
As Calciomercato.com recall, Allegri admitted after the game that this is not an ideal situation: “These are ten days in which we need to grit our teeth a bit, and then after the break we’ll start again with all our players.”
At a difficult stadium and against a strong opponent, the Rossoneri attempted to play their game, knowing they didn’t have the best weapons at their disposal to win the match.
The absences of Adrien Rabiot and Christian Pulisic are too much of a burden, as they lack two players who provide that extra something in terms of balance, quality and end product. With Rafael Leao starting despite a hip problem, the attack once again showed all of their current limitations.
Igli Tare, speaking to DAZN before the match, defending the decision to go into the season with just 19 outfield players, stating: “It wasn’t expected that six players would get injured during an international break.”
On the one hand, it’s true that there’s nothing you can do about fate. On the other, the problem of a small squad had already been highlighted at the close of the summer transfer window. There is little depth in key areas, and when the only striker (Santiago Gimenez) isn’t scoring, wins will be hard to get.
Allegri professes optimism because the project is new and requires positive energy after a season that plunged the entire club into a sporting depression. Yet, reading between the lines, his true objective is to get to the break without causing further damage.
That said, international breaks have deprived him of several players. The management in the meantime have to look for an experienced striker and a striker ahead of the January transfer window, given the almost zero contribution of Gimenez and Nkunku thus far.
“It wasn’t expected that six players would get injured during an international break.”
And what was exactly expected when you bought Nkunku for almost 40M with Pulisic and Leao already in the team, after Allegri asked for a target man? Tare messed up this season by throwing money on players that Milan doesn’t need – Jashari and Nkunku. One of the shi*tiest sport directors on the planet. Spent 75M on players that we wouldn’t even notice they weren’t at the club. And yet we have oonly Gimenez up front. As I’ve said this in early August, Tare is a literal joke. Hopefully the next sport director is someone with ACTUAL EXPERIENCE at a big club, buying players for over 10M. Tare doesn’t have it.
Personally I am happy with the result last night, but it f we could beat Roma at home, we are very much in contention.
We should have kept hold Jovic, Chuk and Bondo, having these 3 would have bridged the gap left by the injuries.
Jovic would have been ideal in this system and his movement and style of play would have been effective.
Chuck would have eased the burden on Salesmeekers, he currently has a big work load.
Bondo’s energy would have been invaluable in the last 20 minutes
Well anyone should be happy with the result since the way Milan played was just embarassing.
Interesting thoughts on if those 3 players could have stayed.
Definitely with you on Jovic. We spent 2 years thinking he’d look better in a 2 striker system. Then we fail to renew him as we make this change and don’t find a replacement either.
Chukwueze I’m not sure he would have suited being a RWB instead of RW. He is left footed after all and not particularly defensive. I haven’t been following how he is going at Fulham.
Bondo I did really like as a young midfielder. This was the only department where we had depth. Yes it does look like he’d get minutes at the moment. But that took Rabiot and Jashari to be injured. Max was struggling to even play Ricci until the last 2 games.
Agree that all 3 players would be handy right now.
tone it down a bit dude. it isnt as bad as you think it is. OR you are a new fan.
1. Target man argument – i’m with you. No argument here. we needed one, we got Nkunku instead.
2. Puli has been surprisingly healthy for us. not sure your argument here. YES he is injured now, but he has logged a ton of minutes the past few seasons for us.
3. Already calling Jashari and Nkunku trash. Geez, Jashari hasnt even played a minute for us. Talk about impatience.
4. Tare did an ok job at Lazio. He has a ton of Serie A experience. I wonder who would you have in mnd? and given our constrains, a lot of ppl argue he did well this window; shipping out a lot of players that werent needed/werent performing. Clearing out a lot of salary space, getting some decent money and investing in solid players. Rabiot, Modric, Ricci are solid investment. I’d say Jashari there looks solid, gotta see how he plays. De Winter and Athakame are young with good prospects.
Yes some misses but it’s his year 1. Not sure what your expectations are. This isnt FIFA and we arent Madrid.
Daniel, half of your replies have nothing to do with what I wrote. Try reading with understanding first.
“2. Puli has been surprisingly healthy for us. not sure your argument here. YES he is injured now, but he has logged a ton of minutes the past few seasons for us.”
What? Of course you aren’t sure of my “argument” as you completely made up something I said to reply? Hahahah.
3. Yes. Jashari is not necessary in this team. No need for him. He won’t bench any of the current starters and to start he’d have to be better than Modric. Ricci also plays that position. Waste of money.
4. Tare did an ok job at Lazio to buy bargain players and get some of them to work. Most didn’t. He never spent big at Lazio. Not a single time. One of his biggest transfer was also a guy with Albanian roots, that failed. Jashari? hmm, interesting that it is always Albanian guys he knows the agents of. Probably just a coincidence, but ok. Anyway, he has no clue about big clubs, what is necessary, and what kind of players will make it at a big club. He never was at a big club before 2025. That is a FACT. So in year 1 the clown borught in 3 players for DM position and got another SS instead of a CF? If you’re happy with those amateur moves that is your problem.
Which constraints? You wrote a load of nonsense, and it is expected when you can’t even read.
I forgot to tell you who would I have in mind. Andrea Berta was a top target that I liked, but we went for the cheaper and worse man, Tare. As Milan always does since Redbird is in.
Jashari isn’t necessarily a bad signing, it’s just not a signing that was urgent. Modric isn’t a long term addition and someone will need to take over. Whether its Ricci or Jashari is another question. I’d wait to see how he pans out.
Nkunku though is a mystery. Tare had money to spend and THIS is who he spent it on? Nkunku just doesn’t fit into this team in any way… not as a 9 and not even as a second striker because of how we line up.
Gimenez still a flop, defense is thin and we’re back to the two areas of need that are being problematic for us 8 games in so far.
Jashari is a useless signing. YOu don’t buy 3 players for the same position. I am not saying he is a bad player but if you sign Luka Modric that asks to play in this position and then Ricci who has years of Serie A experience in this position, wtf are you doing chasing Jashari for 1.5 months? For what? Waste of money and allegedly Milan can’t spend a lot and has issues with the budget. And then 75M is thrown on players that you literally know you don’t need, Nkunku and Jashari. I knew it the moment they were signed.
On the other hand I’m saying Nkunku is a bad player. When I say bad I mean not the level of Milan, he is an average player today, there are players in Serie A that cost under 10M that are better than him. He is literally chubby, anyone can see it and his last good season was 3 years ago. Only Igli Tare can buy him permanently for 36M and pay him a huge wage, days after Bayern literally offered loan with option to buy that becomes obligation to buy after really low number of appearances and goals. And refused to buy him permanently as they aren’t mo*ons. But here comes Igli Tare the mo*on.
I am sure you are not a Milan fan. All these “intelligent” posts as if you are the best in the world. Real Milan fans are happy with Tare, (he isn’t the best ) but he did good work in the summer transfers. We back him to do better for the club but not with “fans” like you. Allegri asked for a smaller team since there wasn’t any continental football but injuries have made that decision (on hind sight) not working. You cannot know better than the coach or the Sporting Director. Please stop all these “I too know” attitude online.
The only good news is that with another international break, neither Rabiot nor Pulisic is going to be called for national team duty and will get another 10 days of rest/recovery time.
Jashari’s injury while training was freakish. I agree that we needed a target striker and another CB but instead loaded up in the midfield. I don’t think loftus-cheek has ever played the 9 but let’s try him and Nkunku up drone and see what we get. RLC can play with his back to the goal and can both run at and over defenders.
Up front. Not up drone.
I am just wondering, what about taking a look at the free agents out there. maybe get 1 or 2 players to fill the areas where we are the most undermanned. I have been looking at the list and there are some decent ones out there => defenders: Renan Lodi, Matti De Sciglio, Rick Karsdorp, sergio regulion. attackers/forwards: Lorenzo Insigne, Paco Alcacer, rafinha, bonaventura. maybe offer a contract this season with an option for 1 year extension. We could get them now, I don’t think the rules about the transfer window applies to free agents.
And what would Milan do with Insigne or Bonaventura? For which position? This is the only position that Milan has overcrowded, along with DM role. 3 players for SS and DM roles. We don’t need 4th. Defenders, Milan needs a CD, not full back.
In general the idea is ok, but not to add players that the club 100% doesn’t need.
And what would Milan do with Insigne or Bonaventura? For which position? This is the only position that Milan has overcrowded, along with DM role. 3 players for SS and DM roles. We don’t need 4th. Defenders, Milan needs a CD, not full back.
If Tare is good at his job, he’ll get Gila in January to plug the gab at CB. As for the recurring problem at the 9…. it’s anyone’s guess.
Nkunku + El Bidone =70 mln 🤡
Athekame has more goals than these 2 clowns…
Try all means to get Sorloth in January, he needs playing time.
That’s the kind of target man we need to complete the attacking department.