Throughout the year, there have been several issues of AC Milan’s highlighted, but it seems the biggest of the lot is going under the radar.
Barring a few games, there have been complaints to be had about almost every one of Milan’s matches this season. Whether it is effort, application, consistency or even just general performances, there has always been something.
Questions have arisen as to who is responsible for that, and it seems there will be another overhaul this summer, with the club attempting to figure out the rot, and put a stop to it. However, it seems it will not be that simple.
After the loss last night, Billy Costacurta had his say on the issues, and highlighted something which he feels is not being discussed enough, and his words to Sky have been transcribed by Milan News.
“Loose Milan is there, it has a continuity of ups and downs on concentration that can now be considered weakness. We talk a lot about Leao, Gimenez, but it is at the back that is the problem. It’s at the back that they lose so many points, not in front.
“In front the goals come, the problem is in the back. Two frees in front of the goal in a game like that… The serious thing to be solved is this: Bellanova has two options on goal.”
Considering Sergio Conceicao has changed the defensive shape recently, it leads to asking whether it is a case of personnel, rather than tactics.
Its a personnel issue. The players are not playing to their own level, their performances have been very suspect all season, yet the blame goes to the coach everytime. Whether Conceicao is sacked or not, the problem remains with the players and their lack of consistency. The overhaul should include players too
Milan had 3 coaches during the last year. None of them solved the defensive issues, so defenders are to be blamed.
It’s midfield. Non existent midfield.
You want to play two pivot system, you need to get rid of Reijnders there. He scores goals. Ok great. But what is he doing in his role as a double pivot midfielder? He’s not contributing that’s for sure – no passing, no creativity, no cover and no defense. What he does is run, dribble and shot. We got ourselves a Kevin Prince Boateng 2.0
And Fofana is just average at best.
Defensive midfield coverage isn’t there. Look at Ederson last night – he was everywhere, breaking up play. We don’t have that figure, nor a system that mitigates the lack of.
Ederson would be a potent addition to any team in Serie A. I would like Inter to be able to buy him. He makes such a big difference with his energy.
That is part of the problem since beginning of the season, but why is Pavlovic guarding the air and not a player? Milan needs a DM and new CBs. The rest of the team is already fine.
The problem that Reijnders is also not an attacking midfielder.
Each time we tried him in front of the double-pivot he didn’t look good. His best games are (ironically) when he is paired with Fofana.
He is good at coming from behind to overload the attack but when he is already upfront that doesn’t work.
You could say that he is doing well with the Netherlands NT, but there they have way better midfielders in De Jong, Schouten and Gravenberch but they’re also not that great of a team.
So it’s a bit ironic, he is our second best player this season, but we still don’t know where to put him.
The biggest problem are defensive midfielders who can’t defend. All thanks to Moncada who allegely was the best scouting mind in France. He brought in useless, slow-thinking players like RLC, Musah who is also incompatible with current setup, Fofana and Bondo instead of 2 Bennacer’s replacements and one classic DM.
I thought it was Pavlovic letting a guy be alone in the box. You can’t blame the midfield for everything. 2 free players for Atalanta as Costacurta said. Milan has 3 CBs.
The problem with the club is the person that owns it the management the coach and the 11 num. sculls on the pitch.
AC Milan is AC Cardinale-Ibra- Jorge Mendes.
Trying to develop Mendes flop players.
All over Europe there are a lot of young talents ready to work hard, to develop themselves and perform.
It’s a waste of time watching this Milan,as I wrote before.
55 years I’m following Milan
but something like this I’ve never seen.
I’ve been following ACM even longer than you – for over 60 years.
I agree with you: the owner and his incompetent management team are the root cause of our club’s current misery. It was the owner who sacked Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara 2 years ago – after they had steered ACM to a Scudetto and a Champions League Semi-Final – because they told him that to continue its ascent the club had to bring in better players to fill key positions. Unfortunately, that advice didn’t accord with the owner’s avaricious business model for ACM, which is geared towards making money and not winning the most coveted trophies, and so the owner banished M&M from the club – a decision which must go down as one of the worst own goals in ACM history.
For ACM to return to the glorious heights where it historically belongs, we need better players. The problem isn’t coaches and tactics, but money. We need a new owner with truly deep pockets, soaring ambition, and proper football management skills to take over from the cheapskate who is currently in control, and significantly improve the quality of our squad.
The present owner has ruined ACM as a force in world football. Until there’s a change at the top, the club will remain mired in mediocrity.
Redbird out!
“In front the goals come, the problem is in the back. Two frees in front of the goal in a game like that… The serious thing to be solved is this: Bellanova has two options on goal.”
Sure. The defending is a mess but how many goals did Milan score? Oh right, none. I wouldn’t praise the attack after this match…
U understand football…