Francesco Camarda made his full AC Milan debut last night in the 3-3 draw against Cagliari, and it was a performance with some predictable ups and downs.
As La Gazzetta dello Sport write, Camarda’s first start for Milan lasted 67 minutes and there were not many key plays. Camarda had two chances to make an impact: the first in the second minute of the second half.
The striker attacked the space behind Palomino, called for the ball and Christian Pulisic got it to him in the area. A selfish striker would shoot with his left foot in his position, but instead Camarda looked for Chukwueze who didn’t convert.
The second chance came nine minutes later. Pulisic crossed from the right, Camarda broke away from his marker but didn’t quite get his header right after an off-timed jump.
The final key moment was when a Piccoli header back into the middle saw the striker do some defensive work and clear from a dangerous spot.
The game was not easy for Camarda, but he stayed in the game and gave his all, perhaps a little high on emotions too. The most peculiar aspect is that Fonseca asked him to move like Morata, and Camarda – with Milan in possession – went towards the ball a lot, often leaving Rafael Leao as the most advanced player.
Of course, Morata’s technique and experience are different, so his team-mates looked for him less and he made a couple of bad passes, but the application was there and it was evident. Camarda moved a lot, ran and chased, pressed a lot and, when he came out, he was applauded.
We have to go more all in. Camarda already better than Jovic in my books and will only get better.
This season we have to do top 4 and hopefully advance past 16 in UCL. The real team will be next year, when we get rid of final deadweight and sign 4-5 quality players.
i agree we should give camarda chances but we’ve been saying this deadweight nonsense for years.
look where our ‘deadweight’ are now:
– kalulu: starter at juve
– adli: starter at fiorentina
– de ketelaere: starter at atalanta
Not forgetting Simic at Anderlecht (2 goals in 12)
Despite the result, we can say that it was more or less a positive first start by him. He could have gotten an assist and he didn’t do a particularly flashy mistake. He was tasked to do what Morata usually does, and it’s not particularly easy.
Obviously there have been 16 y/o who played more regularly and were more impactful (Yamal, Aguero and Messi came to mind among the more recent ones) but what he did is already great for a kid.
Let’s give him time to develop and in the same time, not rush the process.
Yes, and what did those three have in common? They play at Spanish first division.
There, a young player get more opportunities and can thrive because the defender are less physical. Many senior players have smaller build in average than Italy/English/German, heck even one of Barca players say that before Hansi Flick comes, there’s almost no physical training at the club.
So it’s easier for younger player to play there, where on other more physical countries usually youngster start at slightly older age (around 18)
You are wrong…Rooney was just sixteen when he started playing for Everton in the EPL,and he scored wonderful goals for Everton.what about Michael Owen?he came unto the scene at Liverpool at just 17+.
I think Milan is rushing the process here with Camarda. He’s not even physically ready to face players in any top flight league competition and his skill sets are not good enough yet to make any difference in a top tier league.
I don’t even understand why they would choose a game like this that we needed to win by all means to get back into the title race to play a 16yr old kid who is definitely no Lamine Yamal.
Abraham should have started the match instead. This club is run by some incompetent clowns who are not even qualified for the position they hold in management. From bad signings like Pavlovic and Emerson to bad coaching appointments.
It taking them more 3 seasons to rebuild the midfield that won the scudetto and we still don’t have a natural attacking midfielder and it’s taking them another 3-4 season and they can’t even get their defensive signings right.
We don’t even have a quality player to challenge Theo Hernandez and Augello outplayed him in defense and attack.
Milan management is problematic and the most incompetent management along side Manchester United incompetent management. Unbelievable
Jovic was not all that bad last season. it all has to do with motivation and a sense of belonging. when a player starts seeing training as “just” a 9-5 job, with no passion, his performances drop.
On another note, Camarda tried, but the lack of a physical presence still showed in his game.
Theo should sit on the bench for a while to get his thoughts together, cos it seems he is not “present” on the pitch. he might need the “Leao” treatment.
But up to minutes before the game everybody was saying that Abraham couldn’t score if his life depended on it. He had been very ineffective every time he played. He even missed from 1 yard. Morata and Jovic were both injured; what exactly could Fonseca do? Had Chuk converted Camarda’s assist, everybody would be calling Fonseca a genius for starting Camarda.
It’s easier in hindsight after Camarda failed to score and assist (although the later was Chuk’s fault, not his) and Abraham did, but that’s not what people were saying before. Much the opposite; they were bashing Fonseca for NOT starting Camarda, including the president of the federation.
Camarda. Is. Not. Ready. Period.
Let the kid continue to develop without pressure.
If you ask me, the kid had a great game.
I spotted at least two runs he made but his teammates didn’t pay attention.
Let him play more. He would even gain more experience and confidence than in that Futuro thingy. (Here he plays with more intelligent players).
The only thing to be careful of is injury due to the physicality of the league.
What I’ve learned, he is 16 years old and still have a lot things to learn. With the right coach and teammates, he will develop.
He had a good game. A goal will give him more confidence. He got close to zero opportunities but he did well tracking back and stole the ball in Cagliari’s defensive third a couple of times. I don’t think he looked out of place so relax all you wet nurses, he’s here to stay.
Btw my nan would have scored the Abraham goal and it would have been the kids if he was still on…
I didn’t mind the move at all and I’ve been critical of ppl calling for Primavera players to just jump into a Series A game. I would have still preferred him to come off the bench when the game has been settled though. But for a 16yr old it’s quite impressive. He didn’t seem out of place on the field. First real start so there’s that too.