With the winter recruitment, AC Milan have recently gained the ability to play four forwards at once, but it has not been a positive experiment so far.
Despite the hype of the new arrivals, there has been little action upon it. Santiago Gimenez has shown his promise, whilst opinions of Joao Felix are certainly mixed. When added to the squad together, alongside the other attackers, the unit has underwhelmed.
After their first outing against Feyenoord, there were questions about the system and the potential it had, and since then no answers have been found, leading Sergio Conceicao to plan a recall.
As Corriere dello Sport (via Milan News) writes, this shelving will happen once again against Bologna, and the four will become three on Thursday night.
A decision about who will be benched is yet to be made, but the report suggests that Gimenez and Christian Pulisic are the ‘only certains’ given they have shown their quality despite the change in the system.
The same cannot be said for Felix and Rafael Leao, though, and it seems that the winger will be the one on the bench once again – something which seems more likely with Conceicao’s usage of the Chelsea loanee. It is reported that the decision will be made after the final training session this afternoon.
Using Felix at the expense of Reijnders and Leao is quite the head scratcher, Sergio.
100%. Everyone can see that. So there has to be something else to this. Mendes Directives?
Tee only balanced way is to alternate Felix/Leao on the left flank, play puli on the right and Reijnders at the 10. Throw two DM’s behind him and Santi up top.
Well that makes total sense so you know they won’t do it.
Yeah that’s what I think we should do
Reijnders is not a 10, at all
Yet he scored 12 goals making late runs into the box…. Hmmmmm.
That’s not the defining characteristic of a 10 tho… (and I would contend many of his goals have come towards the edge of the box). He’s not a creative passer, he doesn’t have great vision… he barely provides assists.
He makes great progressive movements into the attacking third and is really effective carrying forward from midfield. He has a high work-rate and is great box to box. He’s good at shooting from distance (this season at least) and doesn’t really hang around goal. He’s like an offensively-minded 8.
I agree with your lineup btw, but as a 433 – ideally he would be a bit deeper (which also leaves more space for the wings to drift centrally), more like an “offensive 8” than a pure #10.
Hajjball on YT had some really good analysis on this as well
How about putting the squad names into a hat and draw 11 players ? Unless that’s been tried already…
How does felix have a guaranteed spot? Especially on the left. He hasn’t shown tk be more effective than any of our players. At this point I’m just annoyed that it’s like he’s untouchable without any end product.
He can score a hattrick and you will still be annoyed
Leao does jack sh*t for half the season and he’s exempt huh?
Are you in favor of having to force Felix into a starting spot?
Terms agreed with Chelsea. I’m strongly of the opinion that his playing time was written into the loan contract. So even if he’s sh!t he has to start when fit otherwise maybe we owe Chelsea extra €€
I really like Conceição and I want him to be our coach and succeed next season but I don’t get why he’s always keeping faith in Joao Felix at the expense of Reinjders and Leao.
Milan should play with Musah and Fofana in the double pivot so that Reinjders has the freedom to support the wingers and Gimenez.
Felix can be a good sub for Reinjders but we need 2 defensive midfielders to cover the back four and recover the ball. Both Musah and Fofana has the stamina to do it. There’s no reason to have 4 attacking players on the field at the same time.
Bondo can also play alongside Fofana or Musah as well. But this is the best setup for the players we have in the squad.
Reijndeers has proven the effectiveness of his presence up front. Why deviate from that?? Also, as much as I don’t think Musah is good enough, he is closer to bring a Frank Kessie than Fofana is. He should be in front of the defense. He will grow into the role.
Bench Theo. No exceptions.