Malick Thiaw was given the chance to start AC Milan’s first game of the season against Torino last night, but the signs were far from encouraging.
As MilanNews writes, if Thiaw began with the mission of casting doubt in Paulo Fonseca’s mind for the rest of the season after the arrival of Strahinja Pavlovic he absolutely failed, because the German could not have started the season in the worst possible way.
It was like night and day compared to his team-mate Fikayo Tomori, instinctively taking a touch when he needed to clear the ball showing a lack of awareness which resulted in the own-goal. There was a misunderstanding with Theo Hernandez for the second goal, meaning it was not a positive night for him.
Unsurprisingly, the Italian media have not let Thiaw off the hook for his performance and the horror show is reflected in the ratings that he received from the three main newspapers.
La Gazzetta dello Sport (4 out of 10): “The gallery of horrors begins with a failed anticipation on Sanabria, continues with the shocking own goal and ends with the misunderstanding with Theo on the doubling of the visitors’ goal. Worrying.”
Corriere dello Sport (4): “He inaugurates the new season in the worst possible way with a clumsy own goal, thus ruining the first half. In the second half he breaks away from Zapata’s marking and leaves him undisturbed for the doubling.”
Tuttosport (4): “If he had to cast doubt on Fonseca, he didn’t succeed: he suffered against Sanabria, scored a clumsy own goal and at 0-2 chose to abandon Zapata and go for Ricci for no reason.”
It’s clear that Gabbia was our best performer in defence last season. If Pavlovic still isn’t ready next match, it should be a no brainer to start Gabbia.
Sell Thiaw, and keep Kalulu. I don’t get the hype around Thiaw, he’s never looked good.
100% agree. Thiaw, for 30 mil. I will come and prepared his bags.
Milan made the mistake of the decade not selling him to Newcastle for such sums. Beyond idiotic to demand more as his true value is 1/10 of the sum Newcastle offered. Wasted opportunity that will never again occur.
Sell both Kalulu and Thiaw. Both are average players who are not good at this level.
Had it not been for Kessie and Tonali then Kalulu would have looked even worse when exposed.
I believe Matts Hummels and Chalobah are still available. Get one of them and promote Barteshagi to the first team.
I see now reason not playing Gabbi with his performance after his loan spell , he was solid and never made any individual error.
Anything over 4 is generous. It was already evident last season we had someone with the footballing IQ of Dida with a hangover on our hands – but somehow he’s still starting… Come on Newcastle – save us.
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I will repeat what others say. Keep Kalulu, sell Thiaw. Thiaw has his heart somewhere else.
Thiaw’s best period was when he first got a solid amount of games as we came out of a form and injury crisis. Pioli was using a back 3 to strengthen a really bad defensive period.
He’s never looked as good again as when he was in the centre of a back 3.
Agree with many others. Sell Thiaw and keep Kalulu.
I don’t get the hype thiaw gets he’s not that good and he’s awareness is terrible it always looks like he has no clue what he’s doing I think we should sell him and get a little more experience player, like hermoso he’s also a free agent
But but but… “He’s got potential”… 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
I have more potential swimming in my sacks.
The issue now is that who will like to buy thiaw after his awful performance of late,not even old castle.
But the m*r*ns sold Simic! Yes he was not that tall, but hey, we would win this match with him there.