A star-studded January mercato resulted in AC Milan being able to field a ‘Fantastic Four’, but after the first run out, there is a chance the test will be sidelined.
With Milan adding Joao Felix and Santiago Gimenez to an already starry attack, fans were excited about the possibility of each forward being used in the same team. As a result, the Rossoneri’s attack were branded the ‘Fantastic Four’.
However, the four were anything but fantastic against Feyenoord.
In the leadup to the Champions League game, there were several suggestions that Sergio Conceicao would look to use the four together, and whilst there were suggestions that it may not work, the Portuguese went ahead with the plans.
As Gazzetta dello Sport writes, the plans may already be shelved. Gimenez was ‘invalid’ whilst Christian Pulisic was ‘replaced’ and Conceicao may scrap the tests in favour of moving back to the 4-3-3.
Each member of the quartet received a poor rating after the game, and this is for a multitude of reasons. Not only was it difficult to get the ball into the attacking stars, but when they received the ball, they did not do anything of interest with it.
So Conceicao may return back to the system that has done well in recent weeks, bringing in Yunus Musah seems the most likely option currently, and one of the Fantastic Four would become a super sub. Not an ideal, not at all.
They had no midfield against Feynoord. Either Musah or a new signing needs to join the XI. Sit Felix.
Or play a 442. So now everyone cry for deadwood Musah as a solution 😂
This is only small correlation right now but no Musah and Walker looked mortal.
Maybe Musah is more than we realize when in the mid? Needs watching IMO
Been thinking the same but realized that we have only 4 CB so it amounts to the same is we have in midfield right now. Not enough depth.
So I believe we could put out a better starting 11 in 3xx system but we would have the same depth issue when the inevitable injuries and suspicious happen.
There is also the matter of Leao. If not a 343 then where is he? Clearly his willingness to play a complete game has regressed with Sarge coming to lead the platoon.
Those who have been saying “poorly constructed squad” for some time are right. Pioli wanted players for a 433, then went back to 4231 and we’ve struggled to construct a roster for a concrete philosophy since then. Management issue IMO.
“Clearly his willingness to play a complete game has regressed with Sarge coming to lead the platoon. ”
Was he super-motivated under Fonseca? Nope. Coaches come and go but Leao’s attitude stays the same. Whose fault is that?
Musah got a red against Zagreb, thank to him we in numerical inferiority
Musah was very very good against Roma and Empoli, and has generally been good for Conceicao, barring the red card incident.
Not sure what game you’re watching.
If Felix doesn’t sit and Pulisic does, I’ll be done with this coach. The only reason would be to rest Pulisic and prevent injury but I’ll lose any respect for Conceicao if he benches the one dude in the attack that looks like a Milan player.
I’ve said this before, I believe Felix has been promised playing time. If Leão sits due to injury are we going to see more of this forcing everything up the left side.
With what? There’s no DM in this team. I mean I’d love to see proper 433 but with this set of midfielders, it’s just not it. Fofana is no DM. And neither is Ricci as some suggest.
I really don’t understand why no coach will try 343 or 3421 with this crop of players.
Sorry it was not meant to be a reply.
I agree with you, unfortunately I’ve seen this several times with Puli and a new coach where he is often the one who has to reprove himself. Probably because he’s American and he’s quiet. I think we’ve shown this team doesn’t respond to being yelled at. Pioli, for all his strategic faults could at least inspire the boys to compete (usually) for him. I think you either need a “best friend” coach or we need to move on from Leao and Theo, which would be tragic. Hopefully Puli doesn’t sign that new contract until he sees what’s going to happen.
DAMN STRAIGHT! Create a balance. Last night was anything but.
No balance in the midfield or attack.
Milan need to play with 4-3-3. In the summer a midfielder who can help set the rhythm of the game (maybe Ricci?) should be bought. Then Milan can play with a double pivot, and Reijnders be deployed as a CAM.
Sensible
I’d u watched the whole game during the first half. I saw the coach and his face was disappointing to see. He looked dejected, like he does not have a solution or have the words to motivate these guys. I think the wheels are off and the cart is about to crash.
When the second half started nothing changed which tells me that I was correct. I am now afraid for the rest of the season because he might get the sack before the end as well. I genuinely believe that.
On a tactically level Milan needs to play with two strikers and actually use long balls as means of attacking 99 percent of the time. Their options upfront will need to win every second ball but that is possible. Stop playing thought the midfield and start giving over it and play direct until the end of the season because the midfield is not clicking.
The only way I see us playing with two strikers is going with a 4312. But that means we wouldn’t have a lot of quality backups left over and it means we drop either Leao or Pulisic. So let’s say we drop Leao then we have Puli and Santi upfront with Felix in behind and Musah, Fofana, and Tiji in mid. But then that’s everyone and only Leao can come on that could be a difference maker. If you put Tiji as the 10 so you have Felix as a sub, than who plays in the third mid spot? Even a healthy RLC is a risk at this point. There is no good answer, the team is really poorly built.
If u watched the whole game, during the first half. I saw the coach and his facial expression disappointed me. He looked dejected, like he does not have a solution or have the words to motivate these guys. I think the wheels are off and the cart is about to crash.
When the second half started nothing changed which tells me that I was correct. I am now afraid for the rest of the season because he might get the sack before the end as well. I genuinely believe that.
On a tactically level Milan needs to play with two strikers and actually use long balls as means of attacking 99 percent of the time. Their options upfront will need to win every second ball and that is possible. Stop playing through the midfield and start going over it and play direct until the end of the season because the midfield is not clicking.
It was their first try at this formation.
It can work once it’s tweaked properly.
Just give them time. Gimenez and Felix only arrived 2 weeks ago, and our Coach a month and a half ago.
If we gave Fonseca 6 months, is it fair to start complaining about the new guys now?
433 with what? There’s no DM in this team. I mean I’d love to see a proper 433 but with this set of midfielders, it’s just not it. Fofana is no DM. And neither is Ricci as some suggest.
Now that Bondo is here (someone who can actually play pivot), Sergio could very well revert back to 4231 with Fofana-Bondo as pivots and Reijnders up front.
I also don’t understand why no coach will try 343. We have crop of players for it.
After all the games I watched, learnt this:
If I were the opposite side facing Milan, only need to do this
– shut down Pulisic, and shut down or keep Leao quiet. Then this Milan team has no way to win.
Pretty sure
The formation can’t be standard, but I wouldn’t banish it. We’ve had just a couple of matches since Felix and Giminez arrived. The media and comments are a roller coaster. Conceicao is “the man,” and then he’s terrible. The season isn’t really salvageable, but maybe a few Rossoneri can save their brains from melting.
Observations
– our corner kicks have gone from a danger to a joke. Sarge has us taking most of them short and we manage to give up the occasion counter. UGH.
– At the beginning of a game we are flat. All this talk of bringing intensity by the players. Only Pav and Puli consistently bring the work rate.
– At the beginning of games against lesser opponents we don’t have a clear plan, pattern or identity. Why? What are we doing in training, watching motivational videos?
Fonseca met players not playing at 100% with consequences. 100% or you can be a spectator. He was laughed out of here. Sarge seems to be half appeasement and half hot air, but we see individual performance drop with Reinjders, Fofana and Leao.
Is it possible that Fonseca had diagnosed the problem and we needed to ensure the solution?
As I predicted in the summer when Pioli was leaving, no coach can put this Milan on the right tracks. There are several players, kept at high regard, who lack even the most basic of winner mentality. Some are quite lazy or have too many ups and downs (Leao, Theo, RLC, Tomori). No player is able to step up and set the rhythm of the game in difficult situations. Unless some the lazy ones are moved on and more suitable ones are brought in, what can the coach do? After 3 coaches in less than a year, there is blame on the players to be made.
Milan was actually scoring most goals in Serie A from cornerkicks during Fonceca’s tenure. Now they can’t even get a cross in by playing it short. Progress?
You can try to replace Leao with Sottil as a starter, Leao played in the last 30 minutes of the second half.
Conceicau looks more amateur than Feyenoord temp coach lol.
Yes, you need 2 real players in midfield to be able to support that attacking formation. If you had Rodri and maybe Ricci for example it could work. Or Kante etc etc. Even today Kante would be better alone than our midfield. Fofana Reijnders – no way. Not even one defensive midfielder. Fofana is trying to be one but not really.