With Olivier Giroud suspended in the league and Luka Jovic having failed to make any contribution there has been a lot of talks about AC Milan being under-equipped in the striker role, but the solution might just be in-house.
According to MilanNews, summer signing Noah Okafor is seen by Stefano Pioli more as a winger than as a centre-forward, therefore more as Rafael Leao’s deputy than someone to alternate with Giroud.
However, on Wednesday the Swiss national team played against Israel and Okafor was deployed as the No.9 in a 4-3-3 in a game that ended 1-1. Switzerland have two fast and technical wingers (like Leao and Pulisic) in Vargas and Amdouni, plus two midfielders that like to get involved (as Loftus-Cheek and Reijnders do) in Freuler and Xhaka.
The positions on the pitch taken by the players, as well as their quality, is obviously different but the tactical context is similar. Okafor’s performance was a good one as he came close to scoring on two occasions, especially in the first half and in particular in his movements.
The former Salzburg star moved well and continuously to open spaces for the runs of his team-mates. He often made himself available centrally for one-twos but he also led counter-attacks and dropped deep to help with build-up play.
Okafor hit the crossbar after a nice individual bit of play that ended with a shot from the edge of the area, while he also had three key passes and two successful dribbles in 69 minutes of play.
Would he be able to replicate what Giroud does for Milan? Well, Okafor’s only two goals for the Rossoneri came when he was deployed as a striker, against Cagliari and Lazio, and they came from great movement and anticipation.
He is not yet at the level of his French teammate nor is he of the same mould, but he could offer an alternative solution against a Fiorentina side that tend to allow a lot of space.
It’s pretty simple, Jovic shouldn’t play in the Milan first team. To be honest, even allowing him to be at Milan is a disgrace. He was bad for years, not 1 or 2 seasons…If I was Okafor and Jovic played in front of me, I’d be pretty insulted.
I’ve no idea why we would waste 40M€ on David when we have Okafor and Colombo, both haven’t even gotten a proper chance to show if they can make an impact for Milan
Okafor is not a striker. Can he play there yes, but he is a winger and Colombo is not good enough to to lead the attack. He is young and needs time to grow.
Bs. You don’t know that
What do you mean. Colombo has 10ap with 4 goal and on top of that he is a young striker. Leading Lecce is not the same as leading Milan. It would be foolish to pin you hopes on a young striker who still has alot to learn. When it comes to Okafor he played as a winger and occasionally in a two man strike system, and still was not that prolific. So imagine what he would be like at Milan especially the system we play. But I can be wrong. But I would bet on other players for starting striking spot before I bet on Oka and Colombo
So what? A young player has not played a lot of games and has not scored a lot of goals.. Wow, go figure. unimaginable. never seen before…
I’ve seen what he would be like in Milan. he has 2 goals so far. not bad for a sub. Imagine a starter with a tweaked system. he’d hit 15 goals easy.
Foolsih is buying players that you dont really need
What do you mean so what. My point is based on past evidence and the coach that is here at the moment it wont make sense. You are making an assumption on him scoring 15 goals with nothing to back it up other than what you feel. Pioli tweaking a system have you not watched Milan, he has not tweaked anything since the league win. You know why Pato was able to start with milan at a young age? It was because he had genuine world class talent. Colombo not so much. Great back up, sure but not good enough based on the evidence we have now. Colombo will come back next season and be the first striker off the bench. Milan needs a really killer in front of goal that will bring in other players around him. David is not the most clinical but he is mobile tall strong and brings in others around him. If we can get Sesko I would be happy but we cant do those deals yet.
you dont have a point. Just some bs. And yes, my intuition (feelings) is top notch when it comes to this. Cant help it if i know stuff before they happen.
‘Milan needs a killer in front of the goal’. Right, have you seen Milan play? Like at all? A killer would need traffic.
Should not have used Pato, the worst example you can make.
@flyingturtle
“I’ve no idea why we would waste 40M€ on David when we have Okafor and Colombo, both haven’t even gotten a proper chance to show if they can make an impact for Milan”
Simple, it’s because we have Pioli.
“Should not have used Pato, the worst example you can make.” Pato is an excellent example. He literally did have the talent to come into the squad as an 18 year old and be productive, and that was reflected by the 24m Euro transfer fee paid by Milan for a player who was technically 17 at the time of the transfer. With inflation that would be 35m Euro today. Can you imagine Milan paying 35m Euro for a 17 year old striker right now? The closer analogues to Colombo are players like Paloschi and Cutrone. They went on to have mediocre careers.
Zirkzee, colombo and giroud next season for me
So on one hand you have one of the most talented players in pato 24M. And on another hand you have an overrated David 40M. How far we have fallen
And Colombo at 21 might not be Pato lvl but that doesn’t mean he cant have an immobile type of career. Regardless of what you geniuses write, he does have the talent for more than what yall think he’s worth
When it comes to young forwards, unless you want to pay a fortune, you need to identify talent before they are the finished article.
Both Okafor and Colombo show all the attributes one should look for in a young forward.
Hunger, skill, good touch, 2 footed et etc.
Forwards learn with experience and improve.
I think Colombo is a hugely exciting no. 9 with the ability to be a batistuta/Vieri/Vlahovic kind of player.
The talent is there, the goals will come