Looking through history, AC Milan have often got it so right when it comes to central defenders. However, in recent years, they have struggled massively.
Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Billy Costacurta and Jaap Stam. Take your pick, pick others not on that list, the idea is normally the same – Milan are fantastic when it comes to central defenders, whether that is building or bettering them.
The story has changed a little recently, though. Whilst there are a few cases of successes, the large majority of choices have been poor for the majority, or unreliable, leaving the Rossoneri in a difficult position regularly.
Last season, it was due to injuries and depth, and this season, the depth issue remains, but it is more the quality that is not there. The options are certainly there, but consistency is not, as we have seen.
For Calciomercato.com, this means another ‘revolution’ is needed at the back. In a ‘disastrous season’, the defence can again be pinpointed as a key failing.
Fikayo Tomori seems to be heading towards an exit, a central defender much worse than the one of a few years ago, now without the trust of two head coaches this season. Strahinja Pavlovic, whilst eager, has too many issues with consistency again, to the point where he is ‘two-faced’ in a way.
Malick Thiaw, who is the ‘strongest’ option according to the report. Whilst not on the market, he is not safe by any means, and again, the issue is consistency. Finally, there is Matteo Gabbia, who is the ‘only safe option’, a bastion of Milanism, his performances are ‘on the rise’, and the club have trust in his ability.
Comuzzo and/or Coppola, both young, talented and importantly Italian, sell Tomori back to the premier league and bring one or even better both of these, add Ricci to midfield and Lucca to attack and there you have a solid Italian spine, which is sorely missing right now….
Coppola, Ricci, Lucca, Frendrup, Walker(buy-out), Saelemakers(reintegrate), de Cuyper
Ricci isn’t your classic ball winner. Tiji, Ricci, Frendrup would be very balanced trio. Musah, Fofana, Bondo, Zeroli being the subs.
Out: Tomori, RLC, Emerson, Okafor(0 chance Napoli buys him), 50M player package from loans becoming permanent.
25 + 15 + 10 + 16/17 + 50 = 117
Lucca rift if not patched could help us for loan + permanent option. Also Terracciano and some of Futuros can make the deal easy to agree on.
Lucca is not on anyone’s radar anymore. Why would Milan buy a player that can’t respect his teammates and coach at Udinese? How did he earn a move to Milan?
I would rather have RLC instead of musah
I think the problem isn’t with the players. Milan needs a coach who can organize a defense. A top quality central defender can look like a bumbling fool when the coach doesn’t implement a coherent system. Example: Rudiger under Frank Lampard. He looked like a confused amateur. When Tuchel came to Chelsea, Rudiger suddenly was a monster and continued to be at Real.
Agree
3 coaches same results 🤔
They are possibly not supported enough either by our /wingbacks/fullbacks or by our midfielders.
Most of the goals that we are conceding seems to be coming because of counter-attacks. Maybe we are to offensive and when we loose possession, cracks open.
i was thinking the same thing. When we won the scudetto (a lifetime ago it seems), we struggled big time to score goals. Back then, we depended heavily on Rafa and that was about it. We had Kessie, Bennie and Tonali. All 3 were strong defending and Kessie was basically a true DM. Right now, our closest person to that is Fofana or Bondo.
Pioli wanted a more offensive team and things kinda spiral downwards. Perhaps going back to basics. Perhaps a Bondo-Fofana-Tiji in the mid gives us more balance.
These a decent defenders and some have the potential to be good defenders, just need to get a proper manager and have a better environment in the club.
Milan doesn’t need decent with potential to be good from players that are all over 23 years of age. That is good enough until 20-21, at least should be for Milan. After that, time to find a suitable club of your level ( like Torino) and play.
the ones that can leave are thiaw or tomori the rest can / should stay
Thiaw is better than Pavlovic. Him trying doesn’t change the fact that he will get red cards every season and got lucky not to cause 3 penalties this season, by offside.
Thiaw gets red cards too. He has also gifted lots of goals to opponents. Your view is very biased but that’s not something new, now is it?
We don’t need a revolution in the central defense.
We should focus our energy elsewhere, especially in the midfield.
Enzo Boyomo
Zeno Debast
Tomás Araújo
Josip Sutalo
Pietro Comuzzo
Matte Smets
Ryan Flamingo
Joel Ordóñez
António Silva
Ilya Zabarnyi
Christian Mawissa
Willian Pacho
Jeanuël Belocian
Nathan Zézé
Mohamed Simakan
Ousmane Diomande
Piero Hincapié
Wilfried Singo
Armel Bella-Kotchap
Martin Vitík
Cristhian Mosquera
Mikayil Faye
Yarek Gasiorowski
It was mistake to invest 16 mil in Royal and 13 in Morata, when for that money Buongiorno could be bought.
This club need strong centre back. Tomori is man for sale duo te his ages. Thiaw is young cheap, Gabbia Italian and Pavlovic had good plays. He can even stay.
Tomori Emerson Royal are 2 for definite good buy and investment in strong centre back is necessary
8 goals conceded in the last 4 games.
Tomori wasn’t even played.
The problem is obviously Thiaw, Pavlovic and Gabbia here.
None of these guys are reliable.
None of these guys are reliable. They are all bad. Including Tomori.
Then sell them and ship them all out. At least Tomori was a protagonist for the last Scudetto won. the other three haven’t got that on their CVs.
Is it possible for THREE central defenders – repeat THREE – to go off form together in a period of 6 to 9 months? Hardly makes sense. There must be some other reason for sure. Lack of cover in midfield? Midfielders do not track back? That stupid building from the back?
Also – it is very clear that theo is NOT a defender – so when he plays, milan’s defence has a player less.
You forget stupid lost balls from Fofana and Tiji that create scoring chances for our opponents.
I can remember at least three or four goals conceded that were due to chances like that.