For the past few months, if not longer, there have been suggestions that AC Milan will overhaul the attacking department. Now, it cannot be a suggestion.
The situation at Milan is dire. They do not score from the front line. Whilst the game against Juventus was never going to be a high-scoring affair, the Rossoneri looked toothless. So if it had been high-scoring, they likely wouldn’t have been involved.
It is the latest entry into a season of poor attacking performances and now the questions about the future are louder than ever before.
The forwards without a future
As Calciomercato.com write, whilst Juventus were bringing on Kenan Yildiz and Dusan Vlahovic, Massimiliano Allegri was forced to look at Niclas Füllkrug, Christopher Nkunku and Santiago Gimenez. None of which are certain, maybe even likely, to be at the club next season.
Then, you have a front two composed of two wingers. Both are clearly desperate for a focal point, but they have not been provided with one. So, it is an attack that must be rebuilt at the first opportunity to do so.
Ultimately, the forwards have not scored for a combined total of 627 days and the last goal from a forward came more than a month ago. Gimenez’s internal rating has never been lower, as proved by the Füllkrug substitute and Nkunku showed no signs of impact again.
Even with the front two, the excuses of the system only go so far. Their futures are doubted and neither is showing signs of things changing.
Dodo, Kim, Gila, Theo, Leon & Lewa, quit f around
Sell them all and keep Leao (except of exceptional offer). Im sure he will do well with a proper target man upfront.
Imagine being Lewandowski or his agent and watching Allegri’s Milan yesterday or this season as a whole and wanting to come and finish your illustrious career, where he will have to defend more than he has ever had and have less opportunity to score than he has ever had, especially for less money than you can get elsewhere.
Leao was playing somewhere near his level.
Pulisic had that run down the right and was then crowded out.
For those two there’s no need to speculate. We know their ability.
The other three we have no idea what they can do for Milan as they’ve been there for 5 mins a barely played.
Giménez had a reasonable run in the disaster that was last season. This season he was injured after an unlucky start.
Nkunku was scoring for a bit.
Füllkrug? No idea.
I’d stick with the known quantities (Leao and Pulisic) and sell the rest.
Sign a new striker – preferably an established striker like Lewandowski.
Give Camarda a chance.
Is that enough?
I don’t know if they’re playing two upfront.
If we persist with Allegri, or if he persists with 3-5-2, then one of Leao or Pulisic will need to be sold as well. They both already struggle in the striker role individually, and playing together are a disaster.
Assuming we bring in a no. 9, neither will love being the one sent to the bench. So unfortunately, unless Allegri/club clearly commits to 4-3-3, it’s probably best for one of them to be moved on as well.
In fact, I could see them both being sold, as Leao’s contract is up in 2028 and he’s on a maxi contract at this club, and Pulisic is in a similar boat in terms of contract length. I can see this club selling both and then brining in Vlahovic and Zaniolo, or something like that.
When Pulisic left the field he looked angry. I think angry at how Allegri makes him play and how the team sets up. He’ll put in a transfer request. No worries there.
I don’t know if he will or not, but in any case you touch on an aspect that some people simply don’t consider when they repeatedly talk about “giving them time”. A football career is short and a player – especially players as deep into their careers as Leao and Pulisic – know what does and doesn’t make them happy on the pitch.
We can only persevere with those two up front if they are into it.
Well… We can hope that Pulisic will wait & see who will be the next Italy coach and if it’s Allegri, Pulisic MIGHT stay. But I’m not betting any money on it though.
I think he should take up the challenge, his role is even less cumbersome compare to Leao as the point man, he plays more or less like the second striker, stop making excuses for him, winners don’t quit, quitters don’t win.
All of a sudden Pulisic supporters now realise how Allegri 3-5-2 is bad
Give another manager Leao Nkunku Pulisic Gimenez he’d get much better results. This is without doubt the worst attacking manager in the world. How have Leao Pulisic & Nkunku STILL never started together??
Because then we’d have four defenders at the back, and we all saw how that went against Udinese.
I think Gimenez has played more minutes being injured than healthy this season (or his whole Milan career). Allegri must REALLY hate him as he plays basically everyone but him.
My thoughts. I cannot understand why Allegri doesn’t put Gimenez and Pulisic upfront together.
Nah, better stick with Leao, this time he will score. Really!
Well… I guess Allegri’s theory is that since they’ve failed 20 times already the one match where they’ll shine is again one match closer. They’ve bound to play at least one good match together, right? 😀 😀 😀
It’s no coincidence that Leao had his best game for a long while (albeit without scoring or assisting) when he played more out wide and dropped deeper. His one redeeming quality is pace so its obvious he’s at his most effective and threatening running at players, not occupying a centre forwards role.
For most of the comment about Leao, I agree He can only trive well where he can have space but unfortunately, Allegri system has killed his vibes . I don’t know of other players bit for Leao and Pulisic,I think it’s Allegri system that affected the two players Allegri has turned almost the entire team into defenders. I think what Allegri has done is to stabilize this team and ensure we qualify for champions league rather than to allow individuals players play their preferred roles at the expense of champion league qualification. All the players and the coach are not bad but currently they are doing bad because of the way team is built and the formation we play. There seem not to an hygienic relationship between the kind of players we have and the system we play. The big blame should go to the management who can’t build a strong team
What is the plan moving forward? 433 or 352? We don’t even know that much because we don’t have faith in this management to bring in competent players to commit to either setup.
Plan moving forward? I think it’s not to concede. And IF lucky, maybe even score a goal from a fortunate counter attack. That’s the plan Allegri has used all his career.
Olumighty
What is with you?…You must post 25 times a day talking up Laeo and talking down Pulisic. The truth is they are both exceptional players, playing in a bad attacking system. With old mids who are not running and starting wingbacks who have a combined 7 goal contributions for the entire year. By comparison Dimarco of Inter has 22 goal. contributions…HIMSELF. If you are angry that Laeo is not shining look no farther than that. Neither guy has anyone to pass to, or moving in a way that creates room for them to operate.
Pulisic moves great without the ball and generally is lethal but needs service. Laeo’s movement and defensive work is not as consistent but can be a game wrecker when
motivated. Go enjoy your day.
Leao, not Laeo.
The attack needs to be rebuilt? I think we realized that 20 games ago. Sell them all, go back for Mateta, grab Lewandowski and keep Pulisic and Leao. Problem solved.
We would first need a coach who would play the proper striker instead of the well-performing Leao-Pulisic pairing.
I think if Milan had the right players, Allegri will play them. Like Mateta and Lewandowski…he would play them together. Instead he is forced to use Puli and Leao. The rest have been totally disappointing.
I don’t think he will/would. Allegri is just being… Allegri. The same old Allegri.