Despite being one of the best players for AC Milan last season, Matteo Gabbia is yet to play a single minute under Paulo Fonseca’s management. Considering the struggles in defence, the manager would make a serious mistake not to give the Italian a chance.
Gabbia returned from his loan spell at Villarreal in the middle of last season due to Milan’s injury crisis. He made an impact immediately and quickly became one of the most important players, named the best player based on our player ratings last season.
As highlighted by Calciomercato.com, the fact that Gabbia has yet to play a minute under Fonseca’s guidance is rather strange, especially considering the struggles at the back. Strahinja Pavlovic has been the only positive and with that in mind, the academy product could be the perfect complement.
Pavlovic plays in advance, fights for every ball and needs a reliable player alongside him who knows how to provide coverage in behind. Furthermore, he needs someone who always maintains the right position and helps set up the game (as the Serbian’s passing isn’t great).
All characteristics that Tomori, at the moment, cannot guarantee but that Gabbia has shown since his return. Last season, he had an average of 1.5 tackles per game, only 1.5 fouls committed, 3.4 balls recovered and 58% of duels won. Not too shabby, in other words, and he deserves a chance.
I’m surprised Gabbia isn’t getting any chances whiles Tomori keeps fumbling
Povlavic hasn’t been perfect ether he has been responsible for the bad positioning for some of the goals conceded. Just because he’s new doesn’t mean he can’t be held responsible for his own mistakes
Gabbia is na old school defender under coaches who want to play high press modern football. Problem is, neither Pioli or Fonseca know how to play like that.
he really isnt tho. didnt you see that last season? He’s a modern CB with all that goes with it
With that I meant, he’s not the fastest but he’s strong and has good positional awareness. A hard tackler as well. My kind of a defender👌
Pavlovic was weak against Denmark today. Would rather see Gabbia…
I didn’t watch the first half but the second one Denmark was overall superior to Serbia. Not really sure it was down to Pavlovic though as all the players suffered against us and Pavlovic did have a few good interventions as well.
Gabbia is better than Tomori. Tomori I would sell back to England in a blink of an eye if it’s possible. I don’t like Tomori, he has no brain, no tactical intelligence, he makes many mistakes and has many moments of blackout.
I agree with you. I lose hope each time I see Milan line up and tomori is there. I hate that defender. He has no football sense.
people are still not seeing that tomori is the one who has hit his ceiling, with each season his stock and form is declining rapidly and even the management cant see it …
A good one for that matter 👍
It’s simple. 3 4 1 2
…………………..Maignan………………..
…Gabbia……Pavlovic…….Tomori….
Calabria..Reindjers..Fofana..Theo
…………………Pulisic……………………
Morata/Tammy….Leao/Okafor
Fonseca is an idiot.
So far it just looks like he is fumbling around trying to figure out how to win games.
My prediction is that he’ll be fired by November
think half of it comes from the pressure from the managment to play certain players. Pioli had to suffer the same thing. Thats why they hire yes men you know.
4 example Fofana isnt anywhere near ready to start games yet he played. badly.
They said they wanna build their def around Tomori. Thats why you’ll never see him being benched.
Emerson also isnt ready to play, but he will.
Point 2 is fosnc style has already failed in italy, and it will again. Cant play that way here. Atalanta wants to play this way and they get it right half the time. Half the time is not acceptable for Milan..
Hmmm, yet curiously Splatti never even considered to bring him to the NT, despite having one of weakest squads in history. I like Gabbia, he’s solid. But Tomori on his day is much better
Bastoni, Calafiori, Buongiorno, Scalvini when he was fit, Romagnoli, Mancini.. Which part of the cb is weak here?
I’ll acknowledge most of them arent world class Cb but they can get the job done, right?
And tomori isnt playing for his NT either, and they arent rally better in cb selection. World beater Maguire leading the line there…
It is really surprising.
I was thinking about exactly this during the Lazio game. Pavlovic needs to learn to be more static and then him and Gabbia could just sit in with Fofana and (…at the time I was thinking Bennacer but now…) Musah or Vos (not because I think they’re ready, but because we’re out of options) carrying the ball from deep positions.