Following a draw and a loss in their opening two games, AC Milan travelled to Rome with the hopes of picking up their first win of the season against Lazio.
Paulo Fonseca made some changes to his starting XI compared to the defeat in Parma, most notably bringing new signings Emerson Royal and Youssouf Fofana in for their first starts whilst also deciding to drop Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez, which was a bold call.
Those changes, however, did look promising in the first half with Milan leading 1-0 going into the break. The Rossoneri did not exactly dominate but ultimately managed to keep danger away from Mike Maignan whilst also scoring through Pavlovic, who got his first goal in red and black.
It all came down crashing in the second half when in the 62nd minute Lazio got their equaliser through Taty Castellanos and in the 66th minute managed to complete the comeback through Boulaye Dia
Leao, Theo and the last summer signing Tammy Abraham all came off the bench around the 70th minute and combined wonderfully as Leao made it 2-2, which is how it would finish. Here are five observations from the game itself.
1. A disaster on full debut
Emerson Royal got his first start of the season replacing Davide Calabria in the line-up, who has come under fire for some poor performances in the past few months. The Brazilian was brought in to elevate the quality on that right flank, but the reality was far from that.
The right-back being the worst player on pitch offering nothing in attack whilst also being sloppy at the back, failing to mark his opponent on both goals allowing in them plenty of time and space to find a team-mate in the box.
Emerson came on in the previous game against Parma and now played from the start, but is yet to impress or even contribute to anything positive. It looks like it will be another season where that right flank will be causing a lot of trouble for Milan unless he steps up his game.
2. Hero and zero
Pavlovic has started his time with Milan fairly well as he played a good game against Parma. He was also very useful in certain moments against Lazio and grabbed his first goal, though like the last game he also made some questionable decisions at the back which hurt his rating.
The centre-back had multiple crucial interceptions and blocks, but in transition he struggled with positioning as seen in Lazio’s first goal where Castellanos was left in acres of space to finish from close range.
The potential and the heart is clearly there, and Pavlovic will probably get better with age, yet the lack of experience is hurting his team at crucial times now and he might need to mature quicker because Milan simply cannot afford to put up with further mistakes.
Frustratingly the management did not bring any experienced central defenders to help nurture the existing younger players so Fonseca will have to be the one to help the Serb reach the next level game.
3. No control in the middle
The midfield has underperformed once again for Milan with Fofana and Tijjani Reijnders failing to take control of the game in the engine room, despite being the first choice double pivot on paper.
The Frenchman made some sloppy passes and his decision making at times was not the best, and with the whole build-up being static in general we also didn’t manage to see anything impressive from Reijnders either.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek wasn’t much of a hand in the playmaker position either. He had a couple of good moments using his physique to spring breaks but that was it, and it is surprising that he continues to be getting these minutes without any end product.
#ACMilan have not started a season this poorly since 1938/1939 and 1930/1931. In both of these, they clinched just one point in the first three games.
[via @MatteoDG93] pic.twitter.com/5CO7tbWrw1
— MilanData📊 (@acmilandata) August 31, 2024
4. Some positives up front
Noah Okafor was given the nod to start up front again, with Alvaro Morata and Luka Jovic absent. Considering how limited the service was into him, he actually dropped deep on multiple occasions, getting the ball and dribbling into dangerous spaces.
He was unlucky not to be involved in a goal as he had a couple of good moments, though he should be happy with his overall display and really it is on his team-mates to help create more.
Christian Pulisic also had a decent game picking up the assist and showcasing a lung-busting work rate. He did fade a bit towards the middle of the game but then was involved in a couple of good combination towards the end.
Unfortunately their colleagues in the attack and midfield – with Loftus-Cheek and Samuel Chukwueze the chief culprits – weren’t helping a lot, so it is with that context that we must judge those who did better.
5. Saved by the subs
Theo, Leao and Abraham entered the pitch at a delicate moment after Lazio managed to score two goals in the span of a few minutes, but that didn’t stop them from leaving their mark on the game within moments.
Leao combined with Abraham really well for the equalising goal, and Theo was involved in the earlier stages of the move too. Eventually the English striker provided a nice flick for the Portuguese winger to score with a venomous finish.
If that sequence is anything to judge by there should be an interesting partnership forming with Leao and Theo on the flank and Tammy ahead of them both. The interesting bit here is that Morata will probably the one to start the games, but it’s exciting to see some instant chemistry.
I’m sure that Théo and Leao wouldn’t have played if Milan was leading in the game. Very well played by the coach. In the end they reached him a lesson.
The lesson they taught the coach is that he should continue to play them of the bench because they are too lazy to play from the start and entire 90 minutes.
Yeah I’m sure that Fonseca is trying to get fired. If they didn’t enter the field that game would have been lost probably.
What happened the previous 2 games?
Was Fonseca trying to get himself fired by playing them because those 2 cost Milan points, especially vs Parma where both of them combined on Parma’s winning goal, after Theo gifted Parma their 1st goal?
Was it Fonseca that passed the ball to the Parma left back that assisted on the winning goal to a player that Theo left unmarked, or was that Leao?
Didn’t Leao miss 1v1 vs Torino, plus few other chances or was it Fonseca?
Were they teaching the coach a lesson in those two games as well?
What was the lesson they were teaching?
Was it, don’t start us, bring us off the bench and will pretend 😉 to be mad at you for it.
They are as responsive for Milan bad start as much as Fonseca.
Fonseca didn’t bench them for sh!ts and giggles. No coach wants to play without his best players. They forced him to do it with the way they played.
But I doubt you have the facilities to understand that.
While the other players, most notably Emerson Royal, Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek or Chukwueze are beasts. Beware Real Madrid. I don’t blame Fonseca, like Pioli before him he is in that terrible situation because of this reckless and suicidal management. Théo must have mpox because Zlatan said he’s happy so it has to be true.
And nice I missed the personal attacks on the intellect. How this world can have so much problems with all the masterminds around here… Love from Milan man
I think it is too early to condemn Fonseca or some players ever though I didn’t expect us to struggle this early season. I am optimistic because there is quality and depth in the squad. It there is problem, it is not technical but perhaps mentality. The next 4 matches are all at San Siro so it is an opportunity to really work hard without distraction of travels.
Where is that quality? Half of our squad is a bunch of overpaid and overpriced players.
That’s right, bro, and those who cry on this forum should follow some other team or sport.
We have no midfield….
The midfield is probably the most important part of the team, and ironically was the one area which we had sorted 4 years ago.
In 05/06 Man Utd finished 2nd 8 points behind Chelsea. The next season they signed one player – Michael Carrick. He plugged a hole in midfield and they went on to be champions.
Juve finished 7th in 10/11 and Milan finsihed 1st. The following season they signed Pirlo and went onto to finish an unbeaten 1st.
This all we needed to do this summer. In fact we already had Tonali AND Krunic doing the job of plugging the hole but we decided to get rid of those two and sign……..Reijnders…..Musah……re-invent Adli (???)……and now…..Fofana…..
We have no midfield so we can’t control games, there’s no cover for our defence, and there’s no link up play for our attack (and the only midfielder who does link up player – RLC – is seemingly hated by everyone (except for the manager thank god)).
It’s a mess.
We need to sign a midfield general in January or else we won’t finish in the top 4.
There I said it. A prediction.
Ignore the nameless faceless 🔴⚫️, you can’t debate a cretin. He’s a man who claims only to use facts, and then ‘factually’ states that Sacchi didn’t achieve jack… he’s clearly never played the game and just regurgitates statistics.
It says something about a person who hides behind an avatar or moniker. He also loves Madrid so probably spends most of his time on Siempre Madrid
LOLOLOLOLO 🤡
You know nothing about football son.
Is Chuku who should follow Nuno as Emerson was on Zaccagni. Moreover Tomori needs to close once the right back is passed, Pavlovic did it many times on the left.
Emerson is not guilty on both goals, of at least it is shared responsability.
I’m surprised no one has commented that we played a 433 for much of the first hour.
Terra, Pav, Tom, Royal
Puli, Rein, Fof
Ok4, RLC, Chuk
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I learned that our mid is not screening the defense, but also cannot move the ball forward.
I am a Musah fan and even I recognize that his coming on saw us move the. All forward far more quickly. Musah needs to come off the bench like this, but if he is our forward hope we are not in great shape. He needs to develop.
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I learned that we should have sold Chuk and not Salad.
Chuk gives and effort but there is simply no quality in it.
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I learned that Fofana needs time to settle in and learn where to find his team mates.
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I was surprised to learn that Reinjders had no clue how to move the ball forward
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I learned that we play 5 touch football. And that any given touch is slow and largely without clear purpose.
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I think I am learning that “Fonseca” is Portuguese for “Pioli with hair”
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I learned that Theo and Leao do, in fact, believe they are bigger than the club. Even if they needed no water they still need to be present.
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I guess this will be my first truly difficult season as a Milan supporter.
“I think I am learning that “Fonseca” is Portuguese for “Pioli with hair””
I think the complete phrase would be “Pioli with hair and fewer brain cells.”
Haha good joke but that’s disrespectful to Pioli, a Scudetto winner with one the best records ever for a coach at Milan 😉
I think there’s a misunderstanding about Théo and Leao. What is this “”bigger than the club” thing than we can hear all over these days? I really don’t know where it comes from, I follow the NFL and there is no such thing. I watched Saquon signed for the Eagles this summer, heartbreaking… Who cares about the sake of the club, besides Maldini or Tonali, who were expelled anyway? The ownership, the management, are here for their own interest. The players too. That’s a business. We can read all the time here that the “Maldini lovers” and Tonali fans are too romantic, that football is not like this anymore, it’s a business. But suddenly the players should play for passion, love and fresh water? If I have to chose a side between the idiots that are destroying the club and two of our best players of this decade, it’s easy. And most Italian fans think alike. Most people who are not Americans hate this ownership and management.
Let Milan buy an Italian, so we can all be happy. You write comments like a cheating husband.
Personally i hate the management. Ownership have spent more than we all thought they would but they made a mistake by hiring these clows instead of proven experienced managers and the results show. $200 mil spent these 2 seasons and we actually downgraded. How can you not hate that as a milan fan?
Of course I don’t hate it. When I think back to where Berla brought us from 2012 to 2016, this is the music. Judge based on three rounds. You cry alas the championship is over; alas disaster; alas, incompetent management; alas coach the worst. Do you have a little optimism in you? Look at every season of Allegri, how we started, so we didn’t fire him, conceded cheap goals and played badly, then everything would somehow come into its own. If you have a better team, go support them. If you live in Milan, don’t go to San Siro and problem solved. Out of 30 comments, they are all horror.
Haha man without Berlusconi none of us here would be a fan of Milan, he won more trophies than any owner in football. For the rest, just don’t read. It’s a comment section, people comment. And I have nothing positive to say about the worst beginning of a season since 1939.
It’s a good point. I admire Pioli and what he accomplished and was thinking only of my frustration with the favorites, stubbornness and poor set ups.
Fonseca seems to willing to try anything every time. Extremes maybe?
You didn’t get it right. First, I said from 2012 until the sale to the Chinese, either you want to say that we were at the top then or that was the beginning of our decline. Second, it is not true that this is the worst start since 1939, look at how we started the 2011/12 season as champions (the first round was postponed and played in December, we lost 2-2 at home, then lost to Napoli 3:1…) . After all, look at the three seasons with Allegri, how many points we took in the first 5 rounds. You can’t go against the facts.
” I really don’t know where it comes from, I follow the NFL”
Yeah, and some people follow chess but but wtf does NFL have to do with football, Italy and Milan? Absolutely nothing.
I didn’t like how deep Okafor would drop. He push Pulisic central. I thought Pulisic was playing a false nine for a parts of the match. I don’t like the vibe this team has right now. Management needs to figure out Theo’s situation or it’s going to be a rough season.
What does Reijnders actually do?
What’s his main strength?
I mean reading comments on here it seems like almost a given that he’s a guaranteed starter.
Normally a comment will say “my preferred midfield is Reijnders PLUS whoever else” but I am really struggling to see what Reijnders brings to the table.
And I think there’s something there that highlights the fundamental disagreements I get into with people on here.
If you look at some of the players I admire – Calabria, Krunic, RLC – the things that I look for are:
a) proven winners; and
b) players who have a clear idea what to do in their roles.
But people seem to like players like Reijnders, and Musah who:
a) have won nothing; and
b) seem to have no idea what they’re actually doing on the pitch.
It seems that the more touches a players takes on the ball the more they’re rated.
I’ve noticed if I play 11-a-side with people in their late teens and early 20s they tend to constantly try and dribble, and I spend an inordinate amount of time screaming at them to pass the way they’re facing AND quickly….
Maybe it’s a generational thing.
The five things we learned:
1. Fonseca is mediocre
2. Fonseca is mediocre
3. Fonseca is mediocre
4. Fonseca is mediocre
5. Fonseca is mediocre
I mean, maybe not “learned” because we knew already that Fonseca was mediocre.
d
We also “learned” a 6th one: Emerson and Terracciano are terrible full backs. Again, we knew that, already. One wonders what “geniuses” thought that buying these two players was a good idea.
———-
There is one thing that I know but apparently many here don’t:
Neither Theo nor Rafa are “lazy.” Theo was just exhausted and unmotivated. And Rafa has characteristics that don’t make of him a good defender/tracker-backer, but he is still a formidable left winger and without him our offense doesn’t work so well.
The people who keep calling these players “lazy” are just managing to alienate them, until they get fed up and leave, and then Milan will be even worse than it is, now. Banter years, here we come.
Theo rolling around in the ground while we get scored on last season.
Theo not running to keep us conceding this season.
Theo with dumb yellow car accumulation.
Lazy. Intellectually lazy.
Unmotivated is the word you used. Motivation is a choice.
Cherry picking. ALL players, even Messi, have bad days and/or make questionable decisions sometimes. You seem to have forgotten the NUMEROUS times when Theo played phenomenally and earned essential victories for us. Theo is CLEARLY one of our best players, together with Rafa, Mike, and Puli. Of course, haters will scapegoat him and focus on the much rarer occasions when he screwed up. Theo is world class and has never been compensated as such, and like Rafa he is often a victim of unfair criticism. No wonder he is unmotivated.
No player is bigger than the club, but the current management and the current coach don’t deserve Theo. Have you ever asked yourself why he plays much better for France than for Milan? That’s because he’s appreciated there, and plays for a better coach there.
Great; continue to alienate Theo (and Rafa) until he gets (they get) fed up and leave. Then, when you realize how much worse Milan will be without Theo and Rafa, maybe you’ll understand, and regret it.
If Theo and Rafa get into an antagonistic relationship with our idiotic, moronic, mediocre loser of a head coach, anybody who truly supports Milan should side with Theo and Rafa and ask the bum coach to be fired, rather than supporting the imbecile coach thus alienating Theo and Rafa until they leave.
Cherry picking. ALL players, even Messi, have bad days and/or make questionable decisions sometimes. You seem to have forgotten the NUMEROUS times when Theo played phenomenally and earned essential victories for us. Theo is CLEARLY one of our best players, together with Rafa, Mike, and Puli. Of course, people will scapegoat him and focus on the much rarer occasions when he did poorly. Theo is world class and has never been compensated as such, and like Rafa he is often a victim of unfair criticism. No wonder he is unmotivated.
No player is bigger than the club, but the current management and the current coach don’t deserve Theo. Have you ever asked yourself why he plays much better for France than for Milan? That’s because he’s appreciated there, and plays for a better coach there.
Great; continue to alienate Theo (and Rafa) until he gets (they get) fed up and leave. Then, when you realize how much worse Milan will be without Theo and Rafa, maybe you’ll understand, and regret it.
If Theo and Rafa get into an antagonistic relationship with our idiotic, mediocre head coach, anybody who truly supports Milan should side with Theo and Rafa and ask the coach to be fired,
A bad day is what happens even though the player is making a professional level of effort.
The lack of that professional level of effort is an observable fact. It is a choice made by the player and speaks volumes about their character. Given they are in a leadership role (vice captain) it also says something about the leadership of the organization that would set such low expectations for such a role.
I’m not saying Theo isn’t talented. I am not saying Theo should be on the bench. I am saying there is an observable problem that was not addressed in any way I – as a fan – could see until the Lazio game.
Then I observe Theo, the vice-captain – abdicate any leadership responsibility during the cooling break.
Great show up every game. What I observe in Theo is not great. It can be, as he needs to choose to be 100% motivated and 100% present.
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Do note that I am not criticizing Leao. I have noted Leao playing inside the left back. He even went for several headers already this season as a more central ol layer. He is tracking back more
Yes he made a bad pass that ultimately was a score against us. However the number of players that ball had to go past for the score to happen (including Theo) is the issue, not the mistake.
Theo is vice captain and wants a raise. He needs to show he deserves to be vice captain. Then we can talk about a raise.
I think people are reading way too much into the cooling break controversary….
The two had literally just come on, had just been given their instructions, and didn’t need a cooling break!
You don’t get to where Theo has got to with a bad attitude but it can happen, and has happened to Theo, that he needs motivation.
But this is where I criticise the transfers.
The players who worked hard for Milan were ultimately punished. Fonseca came in and wanted a RB to replace the club captain, and a CB to replace last season’s break out player in Gabbia.
They signed Pavlovic who has never won anything in any major league. How is Pavlovic barking orders at Theo when Theo is a winner and Pavlovic is not?
If they had signed Hummels now you have got instant leadership and respect. But no they signed someone who had won nothing of note to lead the line of a defence that had actual won the Scudetto (by keeping 16 clean sheets in the run in).
The difference between success and failure, motivation and demotivation is razor thin.
The club took its leaders from granted and fawns over players who have won nothing.
Well, people went on and on about Theo and Rafa not having enough effort resulting in goals conceded… well, they were not on the pitch when Lazio scored two goals. And as soon as they came in, they constructed (together with Tammy) our second goal. By the way, our goal against Parma also came out of Theo and Rafa.
I’m not saying that you’re the one doing it, MyKidPlayedSoccer. But on another forum, I saw people saying “sell Rafa, he never did anything for Milan!” Then they praised Puli for his effort, contrasting him with Rafa who supposedly is “lazy” and “does nothing.” How misguided is that??? Let’s look at hard data. Since Puli joined, he had 27 goal contributions (goals + assists). During the same period, Rafa had 28 (how is that for “doing nothing”???), being the most prolific Milan player, only 2 below Lautaro. Let it sink in: Rafa is the second most prolific player in Serie A, barely behind the extraordinary Lautaro (I hate it that Lautaro plays for Inter). Don’t read me wrong, I love Pulisic. My Milan jersey has Puli’s name and number. But I also love Rafa and I’m appalled at the level of criticism and scapegoating he gets.
And now the same is being done to Theo.
I didn’t like it when Fonseca blamed the players after we lost to Parma (criticized their attitude). People bash Pioli but he was elegant and never threw the players under the bus; always said it was his fault and the boys did well (even when they didn’t). Blaming our own players, that’s more what Mourinho does. And now, Fonseca is doing it too. He blamed the players after Parma, and then benched Theo and Rafa, to show that he, Fonseca, is a big macho and will set the players straight, and to scapegoat Theo and Rafa.
Well, that backfired big time, predictably. And did you notice how Rafa didn’t even celebrate when he scored?
Rafa and Theo are upset at being scapegoated. I completely understand them. I side with them and against Fonseca.
Big deal, this cooling break episode. They had literally been inserted into the game 2 minutes before the cooling break. They had had their instructions from the coach when they were brought in. They were upset. So they stayed away. Maybe not the most mature attitude but I do understand it.
You say they weren’t acting as leaders. Maybe in a sense they were. Maybe in a sense they were also sending a message (in case their absence from the cooling break was actually a message and not simply not needing the break or further instructions because they just had them 2 minutes earlier): “We don’t like it that this coach blamed the players collectively after the Parma game, and then scapegoated two players.” If that was a message, it was a valid one.
Fonseca is losing the locker room, and is alienating and losing the respect of our two best players. This can only spell disaster.
I support Theo. I support Rafa. I do not support Fonseca. I think Fonseca needs to be fired as soon as possible or else we won’t even make the top 4. I hope it’s done fast so we don’t lose Rafa and Theo as well.
“Neither Theo nor Rafa are “lazy.” Theo was just exhausted and unmotivated.”
Aren’t you getting tired of your nonsense-propaganda? Exhausted? Why isn’t he on vacation or injury list then? Exhausted after 2 minutes against Parma? Sure, sure. Definitely. Those first two minutes are always the hardest. Even the thought of the first two minutes makes my hamstrings cramp.
Where can we watch Milan Futuro games?
Rumor has it that kid Silvano Vos looked very good today.
Bring him up and play him in the RLC role.
Ajax fans say he is more of an attacking midfielder.
Lol so someone had a good game in seria C and now we need to bring him in the first team right away? Btw you know who had a good game in Seria A as a AM ? Maldini thats who, maybe we should have tried him. You can watch highlights of Milan Futuro on youtube btw, just write seria C, they do higlights its just on italian.
Thanks, I just checked the highlights.
Does anyone broadcast their games live.
Yes. FIFA+
They had today’s Futuro game live. But they don’t show all Serie C games, just a small selection. Apparently once the season progresses more, they will show more games. You can start a free account for FIFA+ at the main official FIFA website. The service is free; the only thing is that you have to disable your ad blocker if you have one.
Thanks! Great to know Luigi!
After watching 80 minutes of Juve vs Roma I just realized that the “great” new Roma striker Dobvyk was playing. He was getting subbed off in the 80th minute.
Dorothy, I mean Dobvyk, has a feeling he isn’t in the Spanish league anymore.
1 shot on goal in 3 games. Zero goals zero assists.
Tammy will have more productive season at Milan than Dobvyk at Roma.
Tammy looked motivated and dialed in yesterday. He ran hard and to good effect.
Dovbyk looked lost. He got out worked those entire 80 min.
Here’s hoping for a bright spot.
Milan is only 5 points from being on top of serie A with 35 games left to play.
We are exactly where we want to be. 😂
Dobvyk was useless at the Euros too. Maybe he needs time or maybe Roma just wasted 40 mil.
Based on the EUROs Roma wasted 40M€. Which is good. 🙂
I’m closely following Slot’s Liverpool. He started their preseason with 433 but without proper reinforcements in DM department (they were chasing Zubimendi but he turned them down), Slot reverted to 4231 playing Szoboszlai in AM role with Mac and Gravenberch in the pivot roles. And they are on fire. Now to me, Reijnders resembles Szoboszlai so I cannot understand why Fonseca’s not trying him in that role?
Fofana-Benny
Puli-Reijnders-Leao
To me this seems much more balanced.
Liverpool has a solid defence and two wingers that constantly put pressure on the defence. We have one winger on the right who pressures the defence.
They move the ball quick. We don’t. Liverpool is a menacing team. They recover the ball quick. They press all the time. They have dynamic players.
We can’t play like them.
It’s really different this season with Slot. They seem more compact on the ball and more in possession. More tactically disciplined. With Klopp it was all out anarchy with his intense gegenpressen.
We have what it takes to try and play like Liverpool but instead we currently play more like United. Like a bunch of Sunday league amateurs.
I agree and have maintained that Reijnders should be playing the 10, or the double pivot. RLC is useless there with the ball at his feet.
Reijnders isn’t good defensively album not sure why Pioli and Fonseca both are trying to use him there.
*not the double pivot.
How is RLC ‘useless’ when actually scored and set up goals last season from that position whilst Reijnders really did nothing of note.
Even against Lazio RLC got the ball turned quickly and won free kicks.
What did Reijnders do?
Do you know what an AM is supposed to do ? Be creative. And that’s exactly what RLC isn’t doing and can’t do.
Last season RLC almost played alongside Giroud and scored mostly against sitting ducks. We weren’t playing a 4-2-3-1, we were playing a 4-2-4.
Against better teams (or I guess this season any team) a 4-2-4 won’t work and we can’t get away with an attacking midfielder who can’t pass.
Hey pigeon holer…you do realise that players have different strengths and scoring is a pretty good strength….
And that terrible system we had last season ended up with us finishing SECOND in SERIE A.
I know you and everyone else just thinks that, and scoring 10 goals in your debut season, and anything else you deem to be beneath you, is the easiest thing in the world but…..
Does any of it actually matter?
He’s started and played 90 mins in all 3 games so far so clearly Fonseca like Pioli before him rates him.
So maybe sit this one out from your armchair.
What does Reijnders create?
“Hey pigeon holer…you do realise that players have different strengths and scoring is a pretty good strength….
And that terrible system we had last season ended up with us finishing SECOND in SERIE A.”
Playing with 4 forwards works pretty well against certain types of teams (those who can’t handle our individual superiority). To fight for the scudetto and the UCL, you need 3 good midfielders, not 4 forwards.
“He’s started and played 90 mins in all 3 games so far so clearly Fonseca like Pioli before him rates him.
So maybe sit this one out from your armchair.
What does Reijnders create?”
So on the one hand, you make the argument that RLC should start because Fonseca and Pioli started him, but Reijnders is trash DESPITE both Fonseca and Pioli are starting him.
So what it is ? You can’t have both
I agree.
Agreed except for RLC instead of Reijnders.
RLC actually does something every time he gets the ball.
You could make an argument for him being the worst player in all three games
How?
Because he turned and started attacks and won free kicks?
And it’s not just me some randomer on the internet. The actual manager, a qualified coach, had in play the full 90 mins in all 3 games so far.
This just seems like another bandwagon where everyone on the internet agrees that RLC is a terrible player (or that 911 was inside job).
I like it
midfield? Backline is painfully slow in possession and Mangion is not always great w the ball at his feet. the passes are weak and lazily made. That will cost us a goal or two this season. If the tedious ball possession in the back is Fonseca strategy, it’s making me crazy. It doesn’t allow our midfielders to dominate.
1. I’ve been saying it since last season. People underestimate how valuable Tonali and Diaz were. We are yet to replace them. Krunic was also a valuable squad player that we didn’t replace. Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek, Musah, and Chukwueze are not good enough to play for Milan.
2. The recruitment strategy is chaotic. I haven’t seen any clear direction when it comes to signing players. Are we signing champions to win now? Clearly not. Are we signing for the future? No. Do you see Morata, Abraham, Okafor, Reijnders, Loftus-Cheek, Musah, Chukwueze, Emerson leading Milan 3-5 years down the line? I don’t.
The uncertainty around Jovic, Saelemaekers, Bennacer (our best midfielder), and Kalulu was also embarrassing to see.
3. Lack of preparation is alarming. Going into a season without a clear formation or style of play is asking for trouble. Most of the new signings arrived late and the players involved heavily in pre-season (Liberali, Gabbia, Saelemaekers, Bennacer…etc) are not featuring or are no longer with the team.
4. Loyalty shown to the new boys at the expense of Leao, Theo, Mike, Calabria, Bennacer who have actually delivered for the team.
5. I hate to say it but Serie A is over for us if we lose to Inter. Fonseca has to perform a miracle over the international break.
When you said that Reinders is not for Milan and that Bennacer is our best player in the middle, everything is clear to me 🤣🤣🤣
What has Reijnders actually done for Milan?
He has been playing for a year, came from the Dutch league and was our best midfielder. As a Milan player, he entered the national team and led it to the 1/2 of the Euro. Don’t write nonsense, because everyone will laugh at you.
Specifics?
He started most games last season, and in those games we had no midfield.
His arrival coincided with our midfield collapse.
He scored 4 goals despite being involved in over 50 games last season.
Meanwhile RLC scored 10 in 40.
Like I said specifics.
So true.
I was saying the whole way through pre-season it was a waste of time because none of the players would actually be playing for the club this season.
But that’s been the case for years apart from the odd season under Maldini.
Look at Fonseca, he comes in and immediately asks for players to replace the club captain and probably one of our players of the season last season in Gabbia.
Their reward for hard work and loyalty was to be replaced.
And he seems to have lost Theo and Leao as well.
Sorry how has Calabria not been performing for the past few MONTHS???
I know he had a terrible Euros (sorry that was Di Lorenzo) but….
The double standards being applied to
Pavlovic, who has only arrived at the club and has won nothing for it, and conceded lots of goals;
And
Calabria, club captain, Scudetto winner, longest serving player, and one of our most consistent players who had helped turn the club around,
is striking.
When Calabria gets done 2 v 1 it’s apparently his fault.
When Pavlovic gets done 1 v 1 it’s someone else’s.
A club that cannot respect its club captain, that wastes money on a player like Royal all because it has this idea in its head about what ‘Milan quality’ should be even when that ‘quality’ should just be ‘proven winners’, is going nowhere.
Only 2 Scudetto winners started against Lazio, 1 Italian, and the side had no identity or real connection.
That is the biggest problem regardless of who plays.
Agree, Calabria is unduly criticized. And in going forward at least he knows what he’s doing. He has a good IQ.
Against Parma the guy was literally flicking the ball over people’s heads, doing 1:2s and knocking in dangerous crosses, and people still said he was below par!
I guess everyone but you realizes that Calabria had to be upgraded on, Copernicus.
I will admit that Emerson is no upgrade. But the fact remains that now we need both Emerson and Calabria upgraded on.
It’s the same issue time and time again.
This never ending search for new players that means that the squad is never settled.
It means we have not had an established CB pairing for over 20 years. In that time Juve, Real, Barca, Man City, Bayern and other top sides had CB pairings who played together for HUNDREDS of games. Chiellini and the Bang Average Bonucci played together over 200 times.
We have also not had an established midfield, and when we found a Scudetto winning, Champions League semi-finalist midfield, we dismantled all in the belief that there was something better out there.
We signed over 20 strikers in the time that Benzema played for Real Madrid.
The problem for Milan is that fans are living in the past and also have a completely misguided view of the players who used to play in the past.
They actually think that the likes of Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Tassotti, Galli, Massaro, Rossi were some sort of godlike figures rather than players who just played for the club for years and gave it a base on which to add world class players.
30 years ago Calabria would’ve comfortably made the Great Milan Teams especially the ones that were limited to 3 foreigners.
If we, the fans, cannot see this, then the owners will keep getting away with making these terrible decisions.
Because we, the fans, demanded a new RB and CB and LB and DM and CM and AM and RW and LW and CF and another CF, over and over again.
We can’t hold the owners to account because we’re so caught up in the nonsense surrounding the transfer market.
I’d disagree partially. You could argue that all of our goals conceded this season have come from the right flank. I do believe that’s he’s being scapegoated a bit, but it doesn’t change the fact he’s been a consistent weak point in this time, and him being Italian doesn’t excuse that. If anything him being a leader in this team means we should expect a level quality from a player. Although there were times where he was getting 2v1, it’s because teams focus him as a weak point and he was mostly losing 1v1 battles. Also apart from the last Lazio goal, Pavlo has been hung out to dry by our fullbacks.
So far every single full back (6 in total) have struggled under Fonseca.
He wasn’t being beaten 1v1. I really have no idea where this myth has come from.
And he’s not the weak point because under Pioli teams mostly attacked us down our left hand side.
Pavlo (are we using nicknames already?) wasn’t hung out to dry nearly as much as our full backs who were left exposed 2v1.
The Pav-Meister should’ve had a penalty awarded against him for randomly grabbing the shirt of the attacker in the box.
I love how how people blame our mediocre coach for all the failings and have forgotten the fact that our sh+% management has failed miserably on all fronts:
1) they chose the worst coach they could ever choose during the only summer where they had a pool of coaches to choose from.
2) we are not Barcelona or Man city – bottom line is … u want to play possession football ensure ur midfield and defense can hold the ball. The likes of RLC, Musa, Fofana, Reijnders are not technical players – most of them are box to box players
3) they havent chosen the right player for the right position on mostly all fronts this transfer market. It was clear after Kjaer and Giroud left that we needed a leader in defense. I mean i like Pavlovic but for gods sake u need someone to drive that defense and dictate the tempo. Hummels would have done a good job at that for at least the next 2 yrs. A hummels / pavlovic defense wouldve been great this year.
4) we also needed a 2 midfielders- and AM and a DM. Perhaps Samardzic would have been great.
5) Emerson Royal – i dont get how u buy Royal for 15 million when u couldve gotten bellanova or even keep Kalulu who btw i rate higher than Thiaw who has lost his flair since last year.
The worst part is the management will have limited choices if they do decide to fire Fonseca … (1) bring back Pioli and allow him to finish his contract – but i think they will be too proud to take those steps (2) get Sarri to fix things but i guess they dont want to be in a position to pay salaries for 3 coaches.
The only 2 other options which based on this sh*% managements track record will probably happen – they will promote Bonera or bring back Abate from Serie C ….
Oh and dont get me started on the fact that Furlani kept saying we have time – Ibra kept saying its day 4 out of 7 and all that bull shi$ ans that has cost us a lot. U need to complete ur team as soon as u can so it integrates well during the summer
almost all goals conceded starting from Emerson pos cz he failed to defend & worse they just bench the heart of the team (Calabria) by that,
if i’m Leao/ Theo i’ll upset too
Fonseca came into a team that had played together for years and specifically asked to replace the club captain……
And the fans called out for more.
If management thinks Leão and Theo aren’t playing up to their abilities bring in someone better to challenge them for playing time or at least someone they feel will challenge for the top player at club.
Or it’s up to the coach to get the most out of the players???
Theo and Leao were never really a problem before so how is this only happened now?
Because Theo doesn’t have Ballo Toure breathing down his neck?
Don’t you think Leao doesn’t always try that hard tho? He’s so gifted with so much potential but it seems that quite often he doesn’t give 100%.
Every player has strengths and weaknesses and it’s up to the coach to make the most of the strengths and to cater for the weaknesses.
That’s what Pioli did really well.
Fonseca is not a serious coach. He dressed up as the mask of Zoro during the UCL so I don’t take him seriously. He ruined your precious captain and won’t even play your other BF Gabbia. His tactics are worse than Pioli so if you think he can motivate anyone you deserve Toure breathing down your neck.
Hu?
Sandro Tonali…hmmmhm. The heart of Milan and a beloved player. We sell him and bring three in the middle. I resented it then, but not today, and I look forward to the genius work of the administration. Sandro was immediately suspended for betting and missed the entire last season, and it is questionable how much he will provide this season considering that he has not played a competitive game for 10 months. So, all you fairy tale tellers, read them less, this is real and true.