Pietro Mazzara has suggested that Massimiliano Allegri could and should turn to the 4-3-3 more in order to unlock difficult games.
Milan made things more difficult than they perhaps should have been on Friday night in Pisa, especially after taking a first-half lead through Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Niclas Füllkrug’s penalty miss seemed to inspire belief in the home side, who drew level through Loyola.
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The introduction of Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic to flank Füllkrug seemed to mark a formal switch to a three-man attack, something we have seen from Allegri this season but mostly in in-game situations when a goal is needed.
4-3-3 the future?
Mazzara published his weekly column for MilanNews and in addition to addressing the officiating debacle in Inter-Juventus, he commented on what we learned from the Pisa victory.
“Milan, unbeaten in twenty-three consecutive matches, are forced, for themselves and for the Italian football product, to win their next three games to get to the derby within striking distance of trying to pump oxygen into the lungs of a competition marked, almost indelibly, by Saturday’s events at San Siro,” he said.
“They will have to do so by overcoming Como first, but they will have to do so by trying to evolve their attitude and approach to matches. Even though Milan won, Pisa left me – personally – with a bitter taste in my mouth about what the Rossoneri could have done to take the game earlier.
“And I’m not talking about Füllkrug’s penalty. But rather a dull first half, where Loftus-Cheek’s goal came on the first move, executed with rapid, incisive, and precise timing. Furthermore, in this crucial phase of the season, Allegri will have to figure out how to calibrate his attack.
“Loftus-Cheek isn’t a centre-forward; he struggles to do so and often plays with his back to the goal, 50 meters away. True, he scored in Pisa, but it wasn’t his goal. This team opens up, technically, when it switches to a 4-3-3, and that’s the key to making the most of their technical potential.”
4-3-3 or 3-4-3. Or heck, even the Christmas tree would suit us much better when it comes to our attacking players.
Fofana, Bondo, Ricci, Jashari, Modric perfect for pivots
box midfield with Leao, Puli, Nkunku, Rabiot up front supporting ST: Gimenez, Fulkrug
You said what i have been saying all alone. You said it all. That is our best formation, to play Leao & Pulisic in their natural wings
You think? LOL. But sadly, it ain’t going to happen. THIS IS ALLEGRI BALL. You’re playing your two best offensive players out of position. It’s obvious that Pulisic is looking around with all the noise going on in the UK and he wants to play in a situation that fits his skill set. And he doesn’t want to sit on the bench for one position behind two players. He and the team looked great when they were in a 4-3-3. ACM is putting out a ridiculously high transfer fee as a negotiating fee, but that will come down. Now, you don’t change a system for one player unless it makes you better. But in 8 mins last game we looked better than we did the other 70 before the switch. Oh, I know we are in second… Blah, blah, blah, blah. But honestly has this team grown? To me they look the same as they did 10 games ago.
Forza catenaccio! /s
This is true but does anyone actually think Allegri will play 3 attacking players? We can’t even get him to play 2 attackers up top. He’s basically been playing 5 defenders, 4 midfielders and 1 striker.
I can already foresee this next match. Como completely outplays us, goes up 1-0, then Milan about the 85th minute, finally attacking will level the score for another 1-1 draw, like we’ve seen so many time already this season.
Better than como rushing out to a 2-0 lead in the first 10 minutes
Oga, just shut up. Mk abi Nkechi, just shut up.
You are making a lot of sense here. Very insightful comment.
433 or 343 but a 352 with a proper 9 is also good
Even Conti plays a 3-4-2-1. Attacking options are limited when you play a 3-5-2. Yes, you may get a breakaway, but I am seeing more teams drop a defender back a bit almost in a sweeper position. With ACM’s slow build up the front two are pretty quickly neutralized. Plus are real wingers are in the middle of the field with their backs to the goal. I’ve stopped blaming the attackers as they are in a system which limits their options.
Allegri has no choice but to play 3-5-2. Our defenders are not good enough to handle 1vs1 and the 5 midfield give them coverage.
In my opinion we will see the 433 or the 343 after Milan secure the CL for next year or after they signed a good central defender in the summer.
Tbh I absolutely agree with abi as none of our cbs are that good in 1v1s