AC Milan head coach Sergio Conceicao has already made his mark in just a few training sessions, and the hope is that he can get more out of some struggling players.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport report, his past in Portugal shows us that he is a man of strong choices and strong choices usually precede unhappy players. It is logical that he will try out everyone in the group and see what he has, but some squad members could do with the ‘Conceicao cure’.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
The midfielder is the most interesting case. Under Stefano Pioli he was devastating at times, then with Paulo Fonseca almost always hesitant. He often seemed soft and simply played badly, compared to the 10 goals scored in his first season.
He could be very good in Conceicao’s 4-3-3, provided he finds strength, physical impact and goals. Sergio appreciates him and sent him an important message: he sent him on the pitch at the decisive moment of the final and Milan – with RLC out there – won the match. A good sign, but it’s not enough.
Strahinja Pavlovic
Pavlovic is last in the centre-back hierarchies at the moment. Fourth out of four, without discussion, which is not what was envisaged when he signed from Red Bull Salzburg in the summer. Pavlovic in Italy has shown all his limitations but Milan will play many games, so his chance could come.
If we consider that Fikayo Tomori and Malick Thiaw did not make a good impression for the two goals that Inter scored, there may well be the temptation to try Pavlovic with Thiaw or even Matteo Gabbia.
Davide Calabria
The issue with Davide Calabria is more complex. Calabria had been a starter throughout Pioli’s tenure but for months he hasn’t been as happy as he was when lifting the trophy on Monday. He only played a few minutes at the end, but it is significant that Conceiçao chose him with the game balanced.
Evidently the new coach trusts the old captain or, simply, he wanted to give him a chance. Davide lifted the trophy in the Saudi night and while his renewal today is at a dead end, things can change quickly in football.
Tammy Abraham
In attack, there are three players to talk about. One is Samu Chukwueze, who is injured and is therefore on a separate track. The second is Noah Okafor, who is heading for RB Leipzig as it stands. The third name is the most interesting: Tammy Abraham.
He was launched by Fonseca in the league derby and then put back on the bench, with clear disappointment over his performance levels. That goal in Riyadh in the 93rd minute could change everything because Conceiçao likes physical strikers, and can play two up front. Milan might knock on Roma’s door as a result.
Fikayo Tomori
Abraham’s good friend Tomori is an example. The Englishman was the first to be re-evaluated by Conceiçao, who put his transfer to Juve on ice and sent him onto the pitch twice in place of Gabbia, the best centre-back this season.
Tomori did great against Juve and less well against Inter, paired with Thiaw in both games, confirming the ups and downs of recent months. Logic dictates that he will stay and play but Juve director Cristiano Giuntoli how to be persistent. At Milan, a week is worth five months, or so it feels.
Different players, different problems in my opinion:
– RLC is lacking intensity in my opinion. At least to me often seems like he doesn’t care.
– Pavlovic has problems with his positioning
– Tomori is the same but in my opinion also has the problem that he’s too hot headed
– Calabria can’t block crosses and his own crosses are just bad.
– Abraham isn’t a very clinical striker (though I give him that he creates a lot of situations)
Agree on most of your points, but I do not agree that Tomori is too hot headed. He used to be, but he is not anymore. For me his aggressiveness was part of what camouflaged his positional weakness and lack of leadership skills. Too me he seems turned off in his head, lacking concentration and positional awareness. His only strengh now is his pace.
To describe his job against Juve as “great”, as they do in this article, is a big overstatement in my opinion, just thinking of his lack of awareness when Vlahovic missed his sitter (cf. this lack of awareness when Taremi did the same for Inter).
Emerson Royal is not a match to Calabria. Calabria is by far better than Emerson. There is nothing good about him
All of these players should be replaced. Starting with RLC, Calabria, Pavlovic and Tomori. Not good enough in my opinion.
Tomori and Pavlovic have very positional awareness and at times too irrational in their decision making.
Gabbia and Thiaw is still our best defensive pairing.
Abraham still has something to offer especially since he’s still young and he has a lot of experience and passion to win trophies.
That’s needed for the dressing room and he also would be useful in Conceição 442 or 433 system as it is not easy to find experienced strikers under 30 who also knows Serie A.
So I wouldn’t have a problem with Milan signing Abraham permanently especially if we sign another striker who is good finisher and better than Morata who I think should be sold next summer too.
You don’t have a problem with Tammy staying because of his age and ceiling and have a problem with Tomori (even though he’s the same age as Tammy) and Pavlovic (who is way younger)? What kind of logic is that? We would go on for another 2-3 years with less than double figures in goal scoring from him and for what??? If Fik and Pav aren’t good enough then his loan spell shouldn’t be redeemed naturally.
1. Good move by Conceicao playing Loftus-Cheek and Calabria towards the end against Inter. It was a big show of trust. The hug for Theo after the Juve match was also a sign of good man management. It seems like most players will get a fresh start.
2. Loftus-Cheek and Okafor (even Musah): In addition to fitness issues, they were signed with no clear plan in mind. Loftus -Cheek started out as a box-to-box midfielder, then an attacking midfielder, then as a pseudo-striker. As for Okafor, was he brought in to be a mobile center forward, a second striker, or just a back-up for both wings? I don’t know. It seems he’s best suited to be a second striker but we didn’t play so under Pioli or Fonseca.
3. Pavlovic: Considering we had Kalulu and Simic, it was an unnecessary move but I have no issue with the player. Currently, he is at a decent level for fourth choice and has the potential and good attitude to improve.
4. Calabria: Emerson Royal (another unnecessary signing with Kalulu and Jiminez on the team) is ahead in terms of physical fitness. Calabria is better in all other aspects.
5. Tomori: We know he can be better and he will get many opportunities to prove it considering our schedule. Worst case, having a third choice of his quality is pretty good.
6. Abraham: Penalty fiasco aside, he brings a good attitude and a lot of energy. If the goals come, he will stay.
The way i see it… we do not have the players for a 4 3 3, the closest that we can get to ideal is a 3 5 2, since we do not have that 1 devastating striker… morata (while great), abraham (decent positioning and high motivation) and okafor and jovic (in my opinion excelent bench players) are all ment to play in a 2 man attack… as for midfield i would try pulisic and leao on wings… fofana center, rein. Left center and musah right center… now we get to the problems, since none of our defenders are capable of playing in a 3 man defence… theo too attacking, thiaw maybe, tomori lacks focus… pavlovic 2 slow, royal perhaps even better than what he has to play now, calabria no chance… idk… we are buying players without regard what we need them to do and what is their natural position.