Tijjani Reijnders impressed with the Dutch national yet again last night as they prevailed 5-2 in the game against Bosnia. The AC Milan man scored and assisted thanks to a more advanced role, which Paulo Fonseca is now being urged to copy.
Reijnders has always been silky smooth on the ball, never afraid to take on his man and make runs into the box. However, as he almost always starts in the midfield tandem of Milan, this is not something he can do all the time.
With the Netherlands, though, Ronald Koeman plays him in a more advanced role, as a No.10 of sorts if you like. Clearly, the Milan man likes this role and yesterday’s display against Bosnia was a great example of that, combining with Joshua Zirkzee throughout the game.
Given the struggles of Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the No.10 role at Milan, Fonseca has been urged by many to field Reijnders in that position instead. After all, with Ismael Bennacer and Youssouf Fofana available to play in the tandem, this would be the best possible starting XI.
In Serie A last season, Reijnders started in the attacking midfield position three times and in those games, he bagged one goal and one assist.
That is the obvious choice. Then partner RLC with FOFANA IN Midfield…
Ruben on the bench benacer on the pivot
RLC on trasnferlist and Lewis Ferguson in…
Newcastle, Nottingham, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Everton, West Ham, Brentford, Bournemouth, Southhampton… all these clubs would pay 20-25M for him and Ferguson after his 6 month injury would cost roughly the same…
Since Bologna are already stacked, loan+obligation in 6 months would be ideal… use the money from RLC and buy Ricci and our midfield is solved…
I would love Ferguson at Milan. What a player he was last season.
Ricci in
Ricci22, I fully agree with Lewis Ferguson in.
Yes!
Bennacer’s time is done. Injured again. Likely offloaded in the winter. RLC brings physicality in the middle that Benny doesn’t have.
The problem though is that Loftus-Cheek doesn’t have the workrate to play in a double pivot, so our other options since Bennacer is injured is either Musah alongside Fofana (God help us…) or one of the youngsters.
Another idea would be to switch back to a 4-3-3 where both Reijnders and Loftus-Cheek played good games and try Fofana as a CDM.
Amazing what one is capable when deployed the right way. Just shocking. A proper coach or at least someone who’s done his homework before taking over these palyers should have this resolved from the beginning. If we, common fans saw it how come someone who’s a professional didn’t. Is it the ego?
Interesting. Changing the tune.
What happened with Frattesi having better numbers than Reijnders?
When, we, the common fans, were saying that Reijnders was quality player even while being played out of position, way closer to his own goal than the opposition goal, you were hyping up Bennacer and constantly brought up how Frattesi had better numbers than Reijnders and that Reijnders is getting hype for no reason.
Now it’s amazing what he is capable if he is deployed in his proper position. Better late than never, I guess.
Koopmeiners numbers were the same as Reijnders in his 1st season in Atalanta while playing in a more defensive role, and then he started putting better numbers once he got moved further up the pitch.
Changing the tune? Maybe you should go back and read my comments again and then come back. If you’re looking to come at me at least be consistent with the facts and not just for the sake of attacking. So go on and check all of them. I said many times before Reijnders needs to play as a mezzala in 433 or as an attacking midfielder in 4231 and certainly not as a pivot.
And yes, this does not change the fact Frattesi had better season statistically playing less games. Saying there’s a difference in their roles, go and check their heatmaps from last season. The only difference between them is the side of the midfield but they practically moved and covered in same areas. In mezzala roles. Because Reijnders moved mostly in his natural wide playmaking role while playing a pivot in 4231, we suffered in defensive actions. Of course our other mezzalas, also played as pivots didn’t help. Inter plays 352 so there was no impact when Frattesi moved as wide playmaker.
But sure from someone who doesn’t hold back and takes every opportunity to bash our Scudetto winning players, be it former or present and dig at management who got us back on track after a decade of misery, I don’t expect any less.
🤣🤣
Contradicting himself.
You just said “Amazing what one is capable when deployed the right way. Just shocking.”
Which means that you admit that Reijnders wasn’t deployed in a right way last season, so why are you comparing his numbers with Frattesi who at inter is deployed closer to how RLC was deployed at Milan last season. Why didn’t you compare Frattesi and RLC numbers? It didn’t fit your agenda.
I asked you several times why don’t you compare Frattesi and Barella numbers. Don’t they play the same position, on the same team? Frattesi had better numbers than Barella, who had the same numbers as Reijnders. It didn’t fit your agenda.
Bennacer was a bench player during the scudetto season. Same amount of minutes as Krunic. Krunic started the last 5,6 games during that season next to Kessie and Tonali, while Bennacer was watching from the bench.
Funny how it’s OK to bash some scudetto winning players like Calabria, Krunic, Saelemakers, Rebic, players who contributed as much amd more than Bennacer, but saying that Bennacer is fat, lazy, bad defensively outside of pressing and mostly unavailable is forbidden.
Speaking of bashing management that got US on track, Milan current technical director was part of that management and very involved in identifying most of the players that helped win the Scudetto, especially Bennacer. It’s OK to bash him through, but not Paolo and Massara.
Even after Bennacer came back last season, he was still played further up the field than Reijnders. Reijnders in Bennacer role had better numbers than Bennacer has ever had.
BTW, your guy Bennacer, injured again. Shocker.
He is Milan’s best midfielder only if you compare him with the midfielders in the recovery room.
Bennacer just doesn’t look the same after his injury. Add the current injury. Management must have picked up the signs and were trying to offload him for a reason. Hopefully DeZerbi comes through in the winter.
Also, I never understood how anyone can compare Reijnders to Bennacer – two completely different players in different positions. Reijnders had been deployed in a position that doesn’t suit him at all since last year, while many of us had been calling for him to be deployed behind the strikers.
From reading your comment you seem to be hyperventilating. Breath easy.
Why would I compare Frattesi to Barella when they are totally different players? That’s like comparing Tonali to Reijnders. Again and read slowly this time, Reijnders and Frattesi heatmaps are practically identical but one played left side mezzala role (Reijnders, although in 4231) and the other player right side mezzala (Frattesi in 352). These two players are comparable.
Sure Moncada was working in previous management too he also got us the likes of Ballo-Toure, CdK, Adli, Vranckx, Duarte, Pellegrino, Saele, Dest, Lazetić, And now he got us even more fringe players.
I mean we can go on and on and we won’t ever agree.
I don’t know if it was Ted (who can keep track of that?!) who criticized Reijnders, but there certainly had been a LOT of talk about Reijnders being over-rated and overpaid for just looking pretty on the ball. Or that he was a poor replacement for Tonali.
Whoever was saying that hopefully watched the Holland performances. Above all I hope Fonseca watched him play.
The stupid coach will still want to do his mind
Good point Ted. I question that ALL the time. It’s shocking that Fonseca even persist with playing RLC as a 10 when it’s obviously not working. Smh
How can you expect from this coach to see that,a coach who said that they bought emerson because he is much more offensive player than calabria… Its litteraly looks like he never watched a single match of a player he wanted and they brought
I still need an explanation on why RLC continues to start as the 10.
I think cause the management is trying to prove that they were right. He also has a big salary, so leaving him on the bench while he makes double then some starters wont look good for the management. Otherwise he is no starting material for sure.
Gee… maybe give Theo and Maignan what they deserve and sell RLC in winter or next summer?
don’t forget additional 2.5M Jovic, 2M Ballo-Toure, and Origi another 4M, Florenzi 3M… 15.5M just wasted this season in dumb salaries…
RLC brings physicality to the midfield. He shouldn’t play the 10 though and needs to press better. he’s hard to push off the ball, unless you foul him or he misplaces a pass.
RLC should remain in bench and Reinders must play in his position. Fonseca makes the same mistake with Pioli who used CDK as Reinders now and became much better when he moved to Atalanta and played as number 10.
With Bennacer out injured again, RLC would have to play in the 3 man mid, on the right. Fofana left. Reijnders middle.
up front Leao, Morata/Tammy, Puli.
Only in Milan you can see Rejnders and Adli as DM while Cheek and Benacer play AM
LOL. Don’t forget they did the reverse with Calhanoglu and Inter is using him in the right way which is in a deeper role. Sigh!
The incompetence our coaches is mind boggling frustrating. Smh
We have the team for an xmas tree formation. The only player that doesn’t fit in is Leao. It’s a real pickle.
How long have many of us been asking for this? And how long has RLC been alternating with Puli there?
Reijnders played behind the trident then dropped deep when he had to with Nederlands and looked stellar.
If this doesn’t scream a 433 with him in the middle of it, I don’t know what will…. I hope Fonseca was watching.
If Rejnder play no 10 as attacking midfield no problem but Ruben Loftus cheek be on the bench then Benercer and Fofana should play as double pivot. But Fonseca should bring Chaka Traore or liberali to be as support for Rejnder as attacking midfield
I’ve been saying Reijnders as no. 10 forever. Unfortunately, Bennacer just got injured AGAIN, so it would mean RLC or Musah next to Fofana.