This morning, AC Milan faced Virtus Entella in a game to raise fitness levels. However, some performances deserve a little more scrutiny.
Despite it being a game to test certain players, Milan will have wanted to win, and if Massimiliano Allegri were frustrated about the defeat, it would not really be a surprise, given how his side navigated some moments of the game.
Tops
The big positive of the game was Ardon Jashari and his performance. Operating at the base of a three-man midfield, it seems that Allegri will be using him as a direct understudy for Luka Modric moving forward.
Of course, the level of opposition was lower. Yet, Jashari did not look like a player who had been sidelined for nearly three months. Instead, he looked raring to go, and was present across the pitch. A few nice moments from him show that he is ready when needed.
Playing for 90 minutes, the game probably went as Allegri had hoped concerning the young midfielder. A job well done.
Christian Pulisic could be put here. However, whilst he scored the opener, he also missed a few chances. Instead, then, the focus goes to Chaka Traore, who had a really impressive cameo.
Allegri brought the young winger on in the 45th minute, and he instantly looked a threat. Energetic, dynamic, and raw, Traore was the main outlet for the Rossoneri in the second half, and this showed with the goal.
He burst down the wing and then delivered a nice ball to the back post.
Given that he has previously been included in the first team, it will be interesting to see if Massimiliano Allegri wants to carve out a role for him as an option. After today’s cameo, he could certainly be an impact player.
Flops
There were two clear performances for the flops, and unfortunately, they were both senior players.
It’s best to start with Youssouf Fofana, who is really not having a strong season so far. The Frenchman has had moments, of course. However, for the most part, he has not been brilliant, and that continued today.
Directly responsible for Entella’s first goal, he was sloppy on the edge of the box, and the chance would have been scored by anyone. It did not matter that the opposition were 14th in Serie B; most would be grateful for such an opportunity.
In those instances, many would hope for a reaction, but one did not arrive. Instead, he just moved through the game, not really having an impact. His time as a starter may be limited moving forward. These performances only continue to happen.
Then, Pervis Estupinan’s game was not brilliant. Last weekend, he was in focus, thanks to his mistake, which allowed a goal for Parma. Now, whilst it was not to the same extreme, in this game, he still was not great.
Again, he took a bit too long on the ball, and his choices were not up to the standard required. Unfortunately, against Serie A opposition, he would be made to pay for a few of these errors.
Davide Bartesaghi may have gained another advantage in the contest between the two of them, and he was not involved. Estupinan, unfortunately, is also heading in the same direction as Fofana may be, with others giving more.
How many times did Jashari give away the ball against this bottom Serie B team? That is good? OMG. Him and Fofana were bad. Both of them.
Chaka Traore did really good.
I didn’t think Jashari was great but he effectively hasn’t played since the end of last season. Getting minutes was important for him. Fofana however has been playing regularly- so, comparing them isn’t really accurate. You can see Jashari actually has some vision and understanding of calcio; whereas fofana runs around like a headless chicken except when hes actually supposed to be running, he has zero understanding of the space around him. Completely different.
I absolutely agree with you. Jashari was not great but due to the fact that he has been injured 3 months, it’s understandable. In the meantime, Fofana looks worse than Musah in some moments, he does not think at all, just run run and run.
Yes, but it says in the article he was great. Right? He wasn’t even close to that.
So what? How do you put him in “top”? I am commenting on this ridiculous article. Maybe they should have told he played for a 10 because he was out for 3 months?
Yea I gotta agree. Jashari had a mixed performance. Better first half than the second. He’s still rusty and needs more time to get his fitness levels up.
Estupinan and Fofana at this point are both known and disappointing commodities. Bartesaghi should start the derby and hopefully Ricci can start along Modric and Rabiot.
Agree with all of you. It was a mixed performance but it was encouraging nonetheless. Lengthy injury, coming from other league, and missing some fitness. It was encouraging though, Given how bad Fofana has been (what the heck happened to him) , Jashari should be an improvement in a midfield with Rabiot and Modric
Yeah, I don’t think he’ll be an improvement over Ricci. So I doubt he can play in first team. From what I understand he’ll cover for Modric.
Modric is irreplaceable if he stays fit. Jashari better adapt to a box-to-box role if he wants to see the field. Unless he only wants to play coppa only.
It’s another strange mercato. Our big permanent transfers were Nkunku and Jashari, neither of whom are likely starters.
Nkunku maybe a “panic buy” but cant say the same for the Swiss midfielder who we persued for weeks on end. Given we have Ricci already signed, we have an existing backup for Modric.
Very strange allocation of (limited) funds.
I’m hoping like you all are saying, Jashari is comfortable at no.8 and takes the place of a fading Fofana in the starting XI
Is this the same guy that does the ratings? Jashari made tons of mistakes, I think at least one that lead to a goal? Granted, he’s coming off a broken leg, so good to see he played the full match and looked more or less normal but hes a long way off from playing more than 10 minutes in a real game. So nice to see he can still play football but you could tell, especially in the 2nd half, he was tired and made lots of mental errors. Pulisic missed some chances but he was given the armband (which is huge) and he acted like the leader out there. Some of the youngsters looked good too because they played without fear.
But yes, Fofana…oof. he’s like the worst of krunic, musah, bakayoko combined lol. Ricci HAS to take his spot. Once jashari is up to speed it’ll be interesting to see the dif combos out there.
Proof of fitness is important, but proof of ability is even more important. While Jashari and Puli showed they can play a full game, Fofana and Estupinan proved that Ricci and Bartesaghi should be the starters, especially when Rabiot comes back. A midfielder of Modric, Rabiot and Ricci will be solid and less mistake prone. Same goes for Bartesaghi over Estupinan.
How did Jashari prove that? By giving away so many balls when under pressure from a Serie B team? You people are all delusional and keep propping up players randomly. He played a bad game. Fofana as well.
He proved it by playing 90 minutes. I never said he played a good game. Fitness vs ability, as I said. Jashari and Pulisic proved they could play 90 minutes. Fofana and Estupinan proved that they shouldn’t be starting
This game is for fitness. It’s very easy to tweak a major injury again when playing an actual match. Been there before, it’s not a happy time
I’m just glad I haven’t read a reoccurrence of an injury. That’s the main, real take away. The ones who are fit a did badly are the ones you focus on for performance metrics
Yea I think some people are reading too much into it. I was hoping Rabiot would get some minutes in pre derby but a good run for Puli and Jashari.