AC Milan have played a 3-5-2 for most of the season, and it appears that they are now toying with the idea of a front three.
Throughout this year, Massimiliano Allegri has teased the idea of playing a 4-3-3. As is well known, he started the season with this formation in mind, but quickly changed to the system which Milan have used since.
In recent weeks and months, the suggestions about a switch have increased, and now it seems more feasible that the Rossoneri could make a change to a 4-3-3. However, it is far from a certainty.
Change in the near future?
As Gazzetta dello Sport writes, it may not even happen at all. Written in this morning’s report, it is stated that Allegri ‘does not like’ the idea of playing three forwards, and ultimately, why change something now?
The calls for a front three against Inter are growing louder, but it appears unlikely that he will make that decision, instead preferring to stick with what has worked.
This weekend, the change to a front three in the 60th minute worked, given his team went on to win the game. However, neither was particularly attributable to the switch.
With that said, Fullkrug and Leao both had good chances as a result of the change. After the game, he spoke of the importance of tempo and utilising ‘attackers’ when needed. It certainly seems unlikely that the time to use attackers may change. So, the mid-game alterations could continue.
If Allegri wins against Inter, all might be forgiven.
Milan will start the game in 2nd place and finish in 2nd place. Nothing to forgive imo.
This. One good match/win doesn’t “cancel” all the shtty performances, draws and losses to b-class teams such as Parma, Cremonese, Pisa, Viola etc.
Correction: I agreed to the first sentece but not to the “nothing to forgive” – obviously. 😂
Milan are in 2nd. That’s all that matters. One day you’ll get it.
Being second is the same as being 4th. Only winning trophies means something. Maybe someday you’ll get it.
Alexis and CBs are in worse state then. best position is RWB nor RW-sub.
maybe Estupinan a bit since he would be expected to run way more with the ball upfield while, Tomori/DeWinter will bay inverted-RB.
Saladsmaker will be a RW just like Pulisic in the 4-3-3 setup. We have Leao and Nkunku for the LW position. I need not to say much about the CF role, we paid to bring Fuelkrug in so just plant him there. Gimenze is coming back as well. Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic, De Winter, and Bart are more than enough for the defense. Tomori and Bart can play fullbacks, De Winter can cover both them on both sides. Estu and Athekame will be deemed useless because they are wingbacks whose defensive capabilities are pretty underwhelming. Can’t see them as fullbacks. Modric, Rabiot, Fofafa, Jashari, and Ricci are more than enough for a 3-man midfield. We are actually well equipped to play 4-3-3. The real question is when to deploy the setup. Allegri can’t get paid 5M a year just to blindly use the same dang setup every single time regardless of the opponent.
Milán don’t have any left back and right back to play 433. Allegri will continue to use 352 regardless if we like it or not. I trust the coach and so far he has proven right. This is not FIFA football management. Smh
Bartesaghi and Estupinan are LB’s.
Athekame is RB and Dewinter could also play there if needed.
Saleamakers can go to the bench so I don’t have to see his embarrassing diving all over the pitch.
How has the coach been proven right? The team has played awful football almost the entire season with the exception of a couple matches. He’s been extremely lucky to get the results he has gotten. We’ve had no European play at all this season and still we will not even come close to competing for any trophy. It is not some great achievement to finish top 4 in Serie A with this roster. Top 4 is the bare minimum. Not mention the football is boring, ugly and borderline unwatchable.
Pavlovic can play LB too.
4 3 3 Milan should play against “small” teams and when is necessary to catch the result.
Why 4 3 3 against small clubs.
Well, calculation is obvious. Milan have lost 2 games and 9 draws. If Milan played more openly in those situations, Milan might lose more games but woud have more points. With 4 wins is 12 points, and 7 loses, still would have 3 more points than with 9 draws.
So Allegri needs to prepare squad for 2 formations, 3 5 2 and 4 3 3.
This. At least someone gets it. You get the same points for drawing 3 and winning one and losing two. So why not go for the full 3 points as they do mean 3x the points compared to drawing.
And let’s be honest, drawing against teams such as Pisa, Parma, Cremonese etc feels like losing. As it fng should! That’s always “2 points dropped”. How many draws has Inter played against the shtty teams this season? Well, they have played one draw the whole season so you can start the math from there…
You realize Milan beat Roma Napoli Inter with the 352 right? I mean you know that right? Yup definitely the formation is the problem.
FFS, I’ve never asked them to play 4-3-3 all the time. 3-5-2 isn’t working against the shtty teams in relegation battle.
“4 3 3 Milan should play against “small” teams and when is necessary to catch the result.
Why 4 3 3 against small clubs.”
At least try understand what we’re talking about, eh?
Playing with 3 up front would be doing inter a favor.
100%
Against Inter, for sure. But we’re talking about 4-3-3 against the “park the bus” teams we’re struggling with.
Let me get this straight – Allegri fixes our defensive horror show thanks to the 3-5-2, but fans are mad at him, because they are not entertained? Same fans want 4-3-3 from the first minute with 40-year old, playing DM? Same fans want an obviously raw defensively Bartesaghi to play as a left back and hot tempered semi-winger Saelemakers to play as a right back? Same fans want Allegri to abandon the only formation where our mid-level CBs compliment one another and overpeform?
Yeah, no.
Completely Agree.
A good coach should be able to change tactics based on the opposition they are facing. Against Inter, yes the 3-5-2 counter attacking style is most likely the best way to compete against them. But against weaker sides we should be more attacking, be more aggressive, control possession, even god forbid play with 3 attackers and actually attack from the opening whistle. Then maybe we won’t always find ourselves in the 80th minute desperately hoping one of our Center Backs can get on the end of a cross just to even the match.
The problem with Allegri is that he lacks courage and he plays the same way against Lecce and Cremonese as he does against Inter and Napoli.
And yes, the matches are horrible to watch and yes sports are supposed to be entertaining.
There is absolutely not a single way in this physical universe that we occupy that Allegri DOES NOT play 352 against Inter. This IS the perfect game to play 352 and counter down the middle against Inter.
Forza Corto Muso!
I have said this over and over again, using a 2 striker system isn’t the best for us considering the crop of players we have.
4-2-3-1 or 3-4-3 would be more ideal.
4-2-3-1:
Saelemaekers – Tomori – Gabbia – Bartesaghi
Rabiot – Fofana
Puli – Modric – Leao
Füllkrug
OR
3-4-3
Tomori – Gabbia – Pavlovic
Saelemaekers – Rabiot – Fofana – Bartesaghi
Puli – Füllkrug – Leao
(This formation unfortunate for Modric)
Allegri needs certainties from his CB’s to consider a switch to a 4 ma backline. Certainties that he currently does not have. DeWinter is currently the best CB we have and that’s not saying much.
343 wouldn’t work with the wingers we have and just Rabiot/Modric in recovery and would leave us vulnerable to counters.
433 wouldn’t be optimal with a good 9, better CB’s and another Rabiot profile on the RT side.
Yes I agree and conquor using two striker is not Good for acmilan so acmilan should line up with the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formations
M.maignan
Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic, batasaghi
Fofana, rabiot
Pulisic,modric, Rafael leao
Fullkrug
M.maignan
Athkame, Gabbia, Pavlovic, batasaghi
Ricci, Fofana, rabiot
Pulisic, fullkrug,leao
So Allegri should observe this tactics
Allegri’s terrible 352 formation had Milan unbeaten in 23 games, recorded victories against all the top teams using that same horrible formation and has Milan sitting in 2nd place. And this forum wants him to change it. Allegri is playing 352 end of story
“This weekend, the change to a front three in the 60th minute worked, given his team went on to win the game. However, neither was particularly attributable to the switch.”
LOL. It was bloody obvious to anyone who watched the game that Leao got better involved in the game and the dominance shifted. Milan started to make a constant threat and – more importantly – looked like they actually wanted to win. 3-5-2 didn’t give you that impression at all. It was all about keeping the clean sheet until the formation change.
Who knows whether we would have gotten the corner kick that lead to the winning goal if we had played with 3-5-2. 🙂
The only thing that is obvious is that Allegri has Milan in 2nd place utilizing is 352 formation. everything else is, well, just delusional fan nonsense, as usual.
thing is, even if he does change to 433, the personnel barely will.
The whole world would want Pulisic to play RW but we know Alexis will play there, and Tomori will simply shift out a bit to RB. I’d still be in favour though because it would get Leao back to his actual position.