Massimiliano Allegri has pretty much decided the starting eleven for AC Milan’s game against Torino, but there is one midfield battle that he hasn’t declared a winner of yet.
After the Coppa Italia defeat, Milan and especially Allegri are eager to show that they remain on the right track. A win against Torino would certainly send signals despite Il Toro’s shaky start, as the Rossoneri have only won once in the last 12 away games against the club.
As mentioned at the start, Allegri has a good idea of what the starting eleven will look like, with Matteo Gabbia, Davide Bartesaghi, Luka Modric and Christian Pulisic after the rest mid-week. In the midfield, however, there is still one battle to decide.
Two very different choices
Gazzetta dello Sport reported this morning that Samuele Ricci, Ardon Jashari and Ruben Loftus-Cheek were all contenders for the final spot. However, according to MilanNews, the Swiss international can be ruled out of the race, leaving just the other two.
It’s a decision that could make quite a big difference, as Ricci and Loftus-Cheek are very different players. For example, the Englishman often moves into the box for headers, which would allow Pulisic to drift out wide where he’s very good in 1v1s.
Ricci, meanwhile, isn’t so much about size and physique as his colleague, but rather elegant plays and smart movement. The fact that he played for Torino last season could perhaps be a perk, even if the start to the season has been a bit rocky for the Italian.
Predicted Milan XI (3-5-2): Maignan; Tomori, Gabbia, Pavlovic; Saelemaekers, Ricci, Modric, Rabiot, Bartesaghi; Pulisic, Leao.
Rlc … Ricci seems to be a side to side player. RLC will drive the ball forward, make runs in the box, and can head the ball.
El Stupido + Nkunku + El Bidone Gimenez
We have thrown 90 mln on these аsshоles🤡
Just imagine how angry the true tiffosi ❤️🖤 are!
Allegri is doing miracles with this half team, no strikers, no backups for Saelemakers, Bartesaghi or Gabbia…
“…Elegant play and smart movement” I’ve watched all of Milan’s games this season and I’ve not seen either of those things from Ricci??? His play can be better descried as unnoticeable and average.
Who is supposed to bring the elegance in Milan’s midfield? Ricci? Ha ha ha.
Someone said that Ricci is side to side player. Thats not fair. He also passes backward. He is more of a east-west- south player. He is scared to go north.
Play RLC or Jashari.
I would play Jashari. I know Allegri wants Jashari as Modrić’s understudy but I find Ricci is better fit to that role and Jashari is a box to box midfielder.
Jashari can drive the ball forward. Just give him a helpful linkage up front like Pulisic and good things will happen. RLC in the number 10 position is the most hedious and insulting thing ever. Leao is alright in the number 9 position as long as he can stay mindful and focused.
Ricci is a side to side player, confirmed. Allegri can refuse to play him in the number 6 all he wants but it is what it is. Ricci bounces from side to side and keeps the midfield tidy. He brings the workrate. If somebody asks for fancy stuff from him and get frustrated because they’re not getting what they want then it is on them and their dumbness.
I actually think that Ricci is somewhere in between the high and low comments about him. When he played in Rabiot’s absence, he did fine. He even scored a goal. The difference is that he had Modric playing next to him, backing him up and giving him confidence. The game Thursday showed that he’s just not ready to be a Modric. He isn’t experienced or confident enough to handle and control a team that plays at the top of the table and has to deal with those expectations. There’s a big difference between being the “guy” At Torino and doing the same at Milan ( or Inter, Juvi, etc…). No offense meant to Torino.
The good news is that some day he can be that guy. Not just for Milan, but for the Nazionale too. He just needs to learn from the best in the world while he has him as a teammate.
Hi Joe we missed Rabiot terribly when he was injured, his absence was noticeable, like a cruise ship in my living room. We missed him so badly because the player replacing him could not do any of the things Rabiot brings to the team. Ricci is not at the level being ‘wished’ on him. Maybe he plays a good game today. The rest of his matches have been underwhelming and average.
Please alegri use 433 dis formation is not helping leo
Play Jashari instead. He can do all the things these two can and more. He’s actually the only one out of these three who can create something.