Head coach Stefano Pioli has had to make use of virtually every player in his squad at least once this season amid a demanding schedule, but there are still plenty who have not started a game.
According to this morning’s edition of Corriere dello Sport (via PianetaMilan), there are 12 players players who have not yet started a single game in any competition this season, and you can even make a line-up with them.
Goalkeepers Ciprian Tatarusanu (who will have to replace the injured Mike Maignan) and Antonio Mirante are on the list, with defenders Sergino Dest, Fode Ballo-Touré, Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia also present.
Tiemoue Bakayoko, Aster Vranckx and Yacine Adli are the midfielders that are yet to appear from the first minutes, with forwards Marko Lazetic, Divock Origi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic completing the list.
With the fixture list to get even more demanding after the international break, it is likely that a few of the above will tick off first starts.
With all due respect:
Tatarasanu – will be getting the nod again and I think he’ll do a great job once again.
Dest – doesn’t convince me at all.
FBT – is only here because Theo isn’t.
Thiaw – has no expectations only as depth.
Gabbia – is okay but will have to really convince to be selected ahead of Tomori and co.
Bakayoko – i don’t know what’s wrong with the guy, it’s like he never played for Milan at all, yet is still with us.
Vranckx – Seriously, who is this guy? lol
Adli – He is really good in pre-season, but i understand he needs to develop himself first before he can make it into the starting xi. It’s probably wise to keep him out now, since playing him too soon might be a mistake as Serie A is tactically advanced than other leagues. It might be the same for the others who haven’t played well, but with this guy, I see potential based only from pre-season. So, if Pioli has him out, Pioli has a plan.
Lazetic – would like to see more of his play but, with Giroud in form, he’ll probably be warming the bench for some time and end up like Colombo or Hauge or Andre Silva.
Origi – don’t even get me started on this guy!
Ibra – still selling shirts. Wonderful mascot!
most of the players are good, but can only be seen in games, not all potentials are seen at trainingn this coach simply has no inner eye for talent appreciation nor does he give chances to those he doesn’t like, krunic had been injured but got into the game the moment he was fit, did the coach see him play better than other midfielders? we can’t tell, but he gets to play & we’ve only been lucky to see some of them play well, he plays some out of position & everyone gets to blame them, Adli, Baka, Krunic, Vranckx are players for 3-man midfield, not the 2-man DM formation, I don’t agree that players need almost a whole season to be fitted into matches, our coach simply loves his disciples, Calabria, Romag, Diaz, Messias, Salae, have all so many times loose form, but they get to play & others are left to rot & when brought in, we criticize players that needed more time & encouragement, I saw Adli come into the last match & was charging at players, yet they said he didn’t have physique & fitness, oh wow. someone even said Serie A, being a tactical league would be too hard for someone as tactically gifted like Adli to understand, from the 1st time & every game I saw kalulu play back then, I knew he had it in him, our coach only got to know when kjaer got injured, bt the moment anyone says he prefers certain players, others go berserk that we are not at their trainings, I agree. now the injury list is growing due to lack of rotation.