AC Milan’s defeat at the Stadio Olimpico against Lazio not only spelled the end of their Coppa Italia journey, but also reaffirmed some worries about the summer signings.
Milan face the remainder of the season with only one major competition to focus all their energy on, which is probably a relief for Massimiliano Allegri who only seems to trust a certain small group of players, and for good reason.
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Three players exempt
As Calciomercato.com report, doubts about the summer mercato are rightly growing. However, Luka Modric, Adrien Rabiot and Ardon Jashari can be left out of the discussion. The first two have had a starring role and cost only €7m combined, while the Swiss cost €33m but has been out injured.
He returned to the starting XI against Lazio, and though Jashari’s performance was certainly a product of the rust accumulated during the three months of inactivity following his injury at the end of August, he improved both physically and in confidence after the restart.
Now we must talk about those at risk of losing ground and becoming more marginalised in the second half of the season. Goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano will likely have little playing time behind Mike Maignan, so he is a unique case as a deputy.
However, Koni De Winter, Davide Odogu, Pervis Estupinan, Zachary Athekame and Christopher Nkunku have not provided a fully satisfactory contribution to date. We’re talking about €114m invested with the theoretical goal of improving the squad.
Starting with the January transfer window, Allegri hopes to bring at least a couple of reinforcements ready for immediate action and capable of providing some additional certainty to expand the squad’s depth. A centre-back and a centre-forward remain the priority.
Interesting how Athekame and Odogu are mentioned as signings who have not provided satisfactory contributions, 2 teenagers that were bought for something like15 mil combined, from lower level leagues, without anyone really expecting them to be major contributors immediately, but not a word about the player that for 2 years we heard that was the solution for all Milan problems.
Even the backup goalkeeper was mentioned.
Like I’ve said, massively overpaid for these players, except for Estupinan, you can’t get a player with that experience for less, hardly. And that includes Jashari that was “left” out. People keep saying how great Tare is, but what exactly? 😀 3 of his signings are labeled as good, and one is Modric that would join Milan if anyone asked him and Rabiot that came because of Allegri. The 3rd one is a 39M player from Belgian league. You remember Maldini was fired for a similar transfer that failed? It cost less…And there isn’t a striker that Allegri asked. I really hope we finally get a top sports director that knows what he is doing. Nkunku for 36M on in the last moments is like buying a piece of stone for 10M. One of the worst deals in the history of Milan, Origi will be nothing compared to the cost of Nkunku in the end.
“People keep saying how great Tare is, but what exactly?”
He strengthened the team, got rid of players that weren’t needed and helped balance the books. We’re also top of the league. Tare has done a fantastic job. You haven’t been watching football for more than 5 minutes if you think every big signing works out. 1 in 3 is a good radio. Go and look at what’s happening at Liverpool and then come back and complain about Tare. Players aren’t USB C cables, they don’t always fit.
Strengthened the team? How? By leaving us with the same defence? That is Allegri, not Tare. What I wrote up there is correct, obvious from your reply.
Actually it’s not the same defense. We got rid of our worst defender and toxic attitude Theo Hernandez. That alone instantly improves the defense and the entire team. Aside from that our biggest problem was the midfield, not the defenders, as you can see by this season it was the not the defenders that were the problem. Modric and Rabiot have drastically improved our midfield.
And trying to label Jashari as a failed signing comparing him to CDK shows a stunning level of ignorance. Yesterday was his first serious minutes of playing time since being out with a broken leg!
The lengths people will go to criticize management is kind of funny.
The same people claiming now that the Modric signing was a no brainer, obvious choice are the same people that were ridiculing the move for a 40 year old has been when they made it.
Just like the same people who called the Pulisic signing “Chelsea Trash” and “only signed him because he’s an American” now act like that was an obvious choice. Pulisic for 20 mil was the steal of the century.
But no credit for the good signings – only the bad ones.
Finish 8th – Management sucks!
1st place – Management sucks!
Couldn’t agree less. Stunning level of ignorance on display everywhere.
Who said he is a fail? I sad he is a 25M player max and Milan overpaid massively. Can you read? I have also referenced the player you mentioned but you ignore that as you can’t reply really. Why do you even write the comment to reply to me when you can’t even address what I wrote? It is ridiculous…
I’ve just read this again? Are you mentally ill? I am asking seriously? How can you lie that I said something like this: “The same people claiming now that the Modric signing was a no brainer, obvious choice are the same people that were ridiculing the move for a 40 year old has been when they made it.”
Or about Pulisic? What? Why do you have to lie? You can’t write a comment without lying?
As usual, what you wrote isn’t correct. It isn’t the same defence, Thiaw and Theo left. And there’s no Allegri without Tare.
There is no Allegri without Tare. Hahahahahahahahahaha
I won’t even bother with 1 to 3 and Liverpool. I don’t care who any other club is doing, but only a mo*on can pick the club that is doing the worst as an example. How about I find the complete opposite to prove a point? I won’t, I am not re*arded.
But liverpool won the league last season and they are struggling this season..with all the money spent on transfers..lets use common sense here..tare is not 100% to blame for the transfer window flops..moncada is a part of the web..and furlani also..to me alegri is doing just fine with the materials available
And? So what if they won last season? The mo*on picked the club that is doing worse compared to last season as an example? I can find the opposite example? What is the point? Why are you so stupid?
Why are you excluding Estupido? He is the best player in the world, better than Messi, according to you! hahah clown 😉
It is too complicated for you to understand what I wrote, obviously. Don’t bother.
We definitely underpaid ESsstupido lmao right?!
Hey Estupido…what did you think of Estupinan’s performance last night? Oh, don’t bother. I know you can string together an intelligent comment.
Hey Savvio, Estupido and his friends they all missing you! You didn’t watch the game!? He did reallyy well last night, Of Course. Put up a fabulous show. Lmao. You’re don’t deserve to be his fans you missed his show hahah 🙂
You don’t need to ask this question, estupido always put a great show. lmao
BTW Savvio, since you’re his big supporter, how much is the right amount that we have paid for Estupidonian? his performance we def underpaid right.. lmao 🙂
I have told you nicely up there but you need a drawing like a 7 year old kid to understand. Tell me how much does a 27 year old left back, with 80+ Premier League games and 80+ La Liga games cost in 2025? Coming from Premier League? How much are those players? 2M€? 10M€? Or 20+M€? He was so bad they started him until he got a bad injury, he played in Premier League against top players, and before that in La Liga. That means he was a starter in most of those games in those leagues for the past 6 seasons? What do you think, he was bad so they started him every game? This is like a little quiz for the super low IQ. Give it a go, it still might be too complicated for you.
@Sure ” Who said he is a fail?”
Also Sure : “You remember Maldini was fired for a similar transfer that failed? ”
If you are not trying to say its a failed signing, why even bring it up? WHo says they overpaid? You?
Time will tell if that was money well spent or not. Certainly not going to take your word for it.
I love how it’s always “let’s not talk about the good signings who have carried the team ” Those don’t count for some reason.
First of all, it’s completely idiotic to make judgements about new signings not even halfway thru the season. Especially young kids like Odogu and Athekame. Not everyone is brought in to be an impact starter from the beginning. Athekame hasn’t played much but when he has he has looked pretty good, even scoring a late goal to get us a draw. I have no problem with that signing.
De Winter hasn’t been bad either, a little shaky on the ball at times but a good defender.
Estupian was arguably our best player yesterday against Lazio. I’m quite comfortable with him or Bartesaghi starting and that’s a good thing.
To even try to judge Jashari yet would be foolish.
Sometimes it takes a little time for a player at a new club.
I remember a lot of people killing Pavlovic last season and this season he’s been one of our better players.
Reijnders was mediocre in his first season with us and brilliant in his second.
CHill out. We are top of the table. What a horrible squad!
Yes, typical trash headline, looking to make trouble when there’s no reason to.
I only see Nkunku as the one and only legitimate failure. Athekame can be the back up for Salads, he has done it before and he looked comfortable with defensive duties. He still has a lot to improve when going forward but overall he will become a more complete wingback just like how Bartesaghi is transforming. Just bring in a veteran CB and CF, and get Allegri’s opinions on the reinforcements before spending any money.
Modric and Rabiot – super signings
Jasahri – n/a he hasn’t played so jury”s out on him but looks promising and should replace Fofana
Esphihian – no good can’t beat out a teenager
Nukunu – no good so far
Terraciano – n/a hasn’t played
Atekhame – hasn’t really played but doesn’t look great when he has
De Winter – ok but needs playing time
Ricci – disappointing. When given opportunity he hasn’t shined yet
Odugou – n/a
Salad – has been solid
So the article isn’t wrong. Take away Modric and Rabiot and we are in trouble. Credit is to Max (not Tare) for installing a coherent team orientated defensive system.
Bottom line is we STILL need a #9 because 35M Gimenez and 35M Nkunku stink
@ Sure…. People keep saying how great Tare is, but what exactly?
First position on a table with just few weeks on a job before the window opened and 100m budget lol. You make me laugh
We lost a game and now this, we forget that he signed Allegri whom I do not personally approve but I stand corrected.
Guys Tare has nothing to prove yet, we are top of the league and our goal is CL, that’s it.
When do you ever stop crying. Enjoy the show and let professionals do the job. Stop this maddness
Tare left us with exactly the same defence all of you sh*t on last season and suddenly it is Tare who improved the team? If anything our defence is weaker as Thiaw is x2 the player De Winter is. I am letting professionals do the job but Tare is doing his job badly, whatever you say. Allegri on the other hand is above what was expected of him. You seem to give too much credit to the wrong person, and ignore the correct guy for getting compliments for the 1st spot? Is Furlani also there with Tare? 🤣🤣🙈🙈
It’s not the same defence, Thiaw and Theo left. The midfield is the best in the league. Nice of you to forget. Tare got Allegri. First you tools complained about the owners, when I told you they were doing a good job, and now you’re complaining about a SD when we’re top of the league and debt free.
I think the key here is to complain no matter what for some. We have least goals after Roma, we are too of the league and somehow Tare has failed us. For some it’s easy here go buy lol
Meanwhile Man U billions gone and still nothing, but Tare failed miserably. Well if this is a failure, Tare please keep failing us
Sure is saying he can do the job better, but unfortunately he’s not qualified lol.
“Sure is saying he can do the job better, but unfortunately he’s not qualified lol.”
No that is what a low IQ mo*on like you said that I am saying. Big difference.
“Milanezi”. Did you hear me complain about Allegri? Not once, he is doing an amazing job considering Tare couldn’t buy him 2 players he asked for. Barely got Rabiot in the last days…I honestly don’t care if all of you losers think that being first means that Tare did a great job by putting 80m€ into Nkunku. He is going to cost Milan 80M€ total if they don’t find a buyer for him. He is useless. Bayern refused to loan him with obligation to buy because they aren’t id*ots. You know who is an id*ot? Igli tare that bought him outright for 36M. Guy is a complete mo*on, whatever you say.
You told me that they are doing a good job? HahahahahAHAHAHAHAAH. Hahhahahaahhahaaha.
THe midfield is there why? Tare was focusing on Rabiot since day 1? Or what happened? It is due to Allegri he is here. Modric joined Milan because he was a fan? If Tare was the SD of Inter would he join them? Or any other club? No. So what are you talking about? I am talking about what Tare did, and he overspent Milans money massively. Allegri was a target for Milan before the end of last season. Conte was also an idea before Tare was even close to Milan. You made up more than one thing?
I think all of this criticism of the transfers may be a bit harsh considering that our manager sets the team out to keep a clean sheet and nick a goal every game. We could be playing Inter or we could be playing Parma. We’ve dominated very few games and rely on individuals (as always) to make things happen. Either Leao or Puli popping up with a goal, Rabiot or Modric to one-man-team the midfield, Mike to make another reflex save. It’s a conservative way to play and it can achieve results, but it also has limitations. Like when we come up against an equally good defensive team that can nick goals. When we win we’ve “ground out the result” and when we lose it’s a “poorly constructed squad”.
The only error this summer was not finding a proper target man, and then maybe being one player short in the CB department and getting Athekame over a more experienced option. Hardly a death knell. Otherwise last night I saw a typical Allegri side that rotated in a number of players that simply need more minutes together. This is on Allegri, as we’re one of the sides that uses the fewest subs in the league, and also down to a number of injuries that have occurred to different players and different times.
Well said. It’s hard for players to shine in such a conservative minded system. In fact it’s quite remarkable Pulisic has been able to be as productive as he has in a system where you basically have 8 guys defending and 2 guys trying to create offense.
Milan has a good squad. A few tweaks in attack and defense is all we need.
Savviio, you’re such an intelligent dude. Your friend Estupido was asking you how to do better in attack and defense at Milan.
Can you teach him and provide some tweak. Thanks! 😉
I completely disagree that Jashari can be left out of the discussion. The money is gone with no benefit to be had.
Milan is still top of the table lmao
No one cares about Copa Italia
Imo, they did good on the market. What changed everything is Allegri’s sudden change in system. I believe he saw our defensive fragility and thus decided to go with 352. But now we have wingers playing as strikers. I still think, in order to get the best out of this bunch, a formation change is needed. A 433 or a 343/3421 with Leao and Pulišić on the wings.