Strahinja Pavlovic has only been at AC Milan since the end of July, and yet his short time at the club has already provoked some question marks.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport recall, Pavlovic was in the running for a starting spot against Bayer Leverkusen but in the end Paulo Fonseca chose to field Fikayo Tomori alongside Matteo Gabbia, for the third game in a row.
The reality is that even if he doesn’t play, to still be in a battle with some team-mates right up until the eve of the match is a good sign: it means that he has quickly fought his way into contention and it will keep him sharp, knowing the next start could be very close.
Lately, however, he hasn’t played. Against Leverkusen he started on the bench for the third game in a row and he came on in added time against Inter in place of Tammy Abraham, to reinforce the defensive wall.
What happened? In reality, nothing particularly striking. The Serbian lost his place after a bad performance against Liverpool, one in which the whole team were at fault but he in particular was brutally caught in the middle of the accelerations of Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo.
He also took a good portion of responsibility for both Lazio goals, but scored in that game and denied Boulaye Dia. There is no panic at the moment, because Pavlovic is showing that he has the capabilities and above all the heart, he just needs fine-tuning from a tactical and decision-making standpoint.
The causes of his drop in the hierarchy is also because there are a couple of players in Tomori and Gabbia who have performed well recently. The former tends to alternate good performances with less convincing ones but still remains a leader, while the Italian has had exponential growth.
It is essentially Gabbia who has consigned Pavlovic to the bench with high-level performances but the Serbian’s time will come, potentially on Sunday against Fiorentina. The problem is that coaches, rightly, when they find a balance in the central defenders, tend to go forward with the same pair.
An autumn schedule that is packed will help the former Red Bull Salzburg man to find some playing time, especially with the consideration that Milan paid €18m to sign him, making him the second-most expensive summer signing.
For me he looks like a poorly scouted signing. He has grinta and physicality, but not much more.
Pav have great passing. His passing to slobozlai liverpool is great one.
Pavlovic has pure raw talent and just needs time to adapt into Italy and Milan’s system. He needs to play next to someone call and collected to truly shine I believe. I think he would be strong next to Gabbia.
Relax.
If Gabbia drops his level even a tiny bit you’ll be back in and then you can make a few more mistakes before Gabbia will get his chance again.
He was dropped because he cant communicate yet, he literally just arrived, give him time
He needs someone teaching him. He has the physical attributes.
I have no doubts that Pavlovic will be our best transfer this summer at least long term.
When that is said I always disliked Morata before his arrival but he has pretty much already won me over with his tenacity and leadership skills on the pitch so short term he is our current best transfer but I’m confident to say that Pavlovic will develope into one of the best cb’s around in years to come.
Lost his spot?
As some of us been saying here for second summer now, that’s what you get when you sign a prospect from abroad. This is no fantasy football. He needs time to settle.
He’s been thrown in fire the moment he arrived and what’s even worse, the start’s been awful from this team. So I don’t doubt this starting debacle also had an impact on his mentality.
Nobody above mistake ,give him more time.
Unfortunately Tomori won’t be benched so it’s always between Gabbia and Pavlo and Gabbia has an edge with his leadership. While Tomori pavlo pair is leadershipless. Is that even a word? It is not.
On paper Gabbia and Tomori should have better understanding of each other’s game, but the latter is too aggressive and chasing players around the pitch, leaving spaces behind him, so does the partnership level even matter? Then again, Pavlovic should not be rewarded for horrible games like the one against Liverool. For a lef-footed player he really sucked at clearing the ball. He needs to improve in that aspect. Gabbia should be the only starter right now. Maybe give Thiaw another chance at some point.
He never had a starting spot imo. This was a just a mistreatment of Gabbia. Gabiia is head and shoulders right now our best CB. He has been since he came back from Villarreal.