+1.

Leo's not the best thing since sliced bread...but he's done nothing to be fired. And there really is no one available.

Even the brilliant Spalleti couldn't do much beyond his 4-2-3-1. The bane of any attacking formation is that once it's figured out, the team is susceptible to defeat.

A more defensive formation like the XMas tree, can be stopped, not as easily beaten.


Leo's formation depends too much on defensive stability, and width, and sadly we haven't been able to have that.

I've proposed a number of alternative strategies Leo could use as a plan B/C/D if and when plan A doesn't work, and none of them involve Ambrosini going to defence.

That match at OT was the one time he did try something different, in going 3-4-3 I think it was. And it backfired badly.

He needs to have a bunch of alternative plans, and a more insightful knowledge of his squad's various versatilities.

Here's an example: Seedorf can be played in quite a few positions, such as left midfield, right midfield, trequartista, or even as left or right on a 3 prong attack. He could also play in Pirlo's position as a deep lying playmaker.

Pirlo could play any position in midfield, and also as a trequartista with his vision and skill on the ball.

Zambrotta could be an RM or an RB.

My point is that Leo is not making full use of what his squad can do when the chips are down. When everyone is played in their best position, and opposition teams know how to stop them, try shifting the team around and making a sub or two to accommodate it if needed, in order to mix it up to the opponent and try something they're not prepared for.

Another example of trying something different, would be a pair of strikers up front rather than a sole forward - try a partnership.

Because more often than not, opponents are prepared for Leo's plan A.

A partnership with any of our forwards that does not involve Pato will backfire. Pippo-Bori, Pippo-Hunter, Bori-Hunter will never work, they just don't work well in a 2 man attack, that usually requires a supporting striker (Pato)

tbh I subscribe to the notion that Borriello in particular works better alone, but what seriously is the harm in trying a partnership anyway if we're 2-1 down with 20 minutes to go?

Work on an understanding in training, try different things out, then have a bloody go at it when a plan B is needed.

And that applies over the board, not just a partnership up front.

Having only one rigid system is like a wolf trying to blow the pigs' house down when it doesn't work - you can play forever and not win.

THANK YOU.

+1

I love how you guys think that if we lose Leo its going to be a positive thing. Tell me, which manager in the world right now who is currently better than leo would take over this team?


I can just see it now:

Galliani:

"Well here is what we offer for you to coach milan"

"1.2 Million a season, yes we know mourinho earns 10x that but we have the family love and at the end of the day thats all you really need (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) "

"20M euros max in the transfer market and we buy the players for you; you don't get a choice"

"A certain amount of playing time has to be given to the seniors because they've been here for 12123213132 years and we owe them loyalty"

" Also you can't pick your own coaching/medica/scouting staff. We provide that for you"

" Whenever silvio and I make a decision, you have to follow it. You get absoloutly no say in the decision making process. If pato has to go, he has to go. Play mancini instead, hes a true champion"

" Our veterans deserve the very best, thats why they will be given renewals with high wages. Dida and Inzaghi will be getting theres shortly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) "


---------


Please tell me because i'm very keen to know who the hell is willing to sign on the bottom line of this contract? I sure as hell know I would rip it up and spit in Galliani's face and walk out of the room.

Leo can't really be judged until he has the players he wants at his disposal. To be fair to him it is his first season, he was rushed into the job and he has suffered more than most with injuries and he is still in the hunt for Lo Scudetto. He obviously has a lot to learn(closing games down, etc), but I feel he is not doing too bad a job with the squad at his disposal - carlo couldn't do any better and he had Ricky!

Blue, I'm not calling for his head - I am accepting his limitations up till now and suggesting ways he can improve.

A simple ability to learn some new formations and tactics the team can adopt in times of need.

We were very promising for a while last year, going on that run, but it floundered. So what if Leo had the ability to find a NEW winning formula? Trying different players, tactics, formations...?

But he seems unshakeable and that the 4-3-2-1 is the only system we'll use with 11 specific first choice players every time. Except in the case of injuries in which case inferior players get to try the same system.

Is it any wonder teams have figured us out?

Ricky sucked for us after 2007. By all accounts it's taken him 8 months to gain some form since his move to Madrid.

Back to the topic though, you're right how he was pitched in at the deep end with no preparation, and under those circumstances I truly admire how well he's done.

But if we're to go beyond being nearly men as a good team with a good manager rather than great on both counts then Leo needs to learn how to deal with adversity better than he does.

How often do you see him with his hand at his jaw and his fingers at his lips looking very thoughtful when clearly he really doesn't know how to change things so this paltry performance picks up.

I can truly say I don't trust him when we're stuttering and he has to deliver a great team talk at half time - I don't think he really knows what to say to motivate the players.

The experienced managers know how to instill belief, and how to change what isn't working - Leo needs to learn that ability and quickly.

The thing people here have to realise that coaching a team is not like playing Fifa. You cannot simply change the formation and expect it to work. Coaching a formation or playing style usually takes place in the pre-season where the players train everyday and then use freindlies to make adjustments

You cannot do a new formation during the season simply because you do not have enough time. Top managers usually have 2 formations under their belt. The first one, which they play in the league and the second they use in Champions league. Now in order to achieve that you need to have a few years at the club so you can build that foundation. Second you need to have the players at your disposal to be able to make your ideas flourish.


Coaches are not machines. They cannot simply look at a team and make it work. There are very few in the world who are capable of this and the best i've seen would be guus hiddink and even he's not that great at it.

You need time, the right squad and support in order to be successful. Leo has a certain style he wants to play and coach and right now we do not have the players for his style. Can he change, can he adapt? Not likely.

You cannot make Pato into a WC defender, just like you can't make Leo into a defensive minded coach like Carlo. He's always going to want to play the free flow football that you have seen so far this season. Thats just who he is and that is not going to change.



So in reality we have two choices. Fire him and look for someone who is willing to work with the current not so good players (insulting players is against the new guidelines, LaPalma) we have on our team or we let him sign his own players and see what he can do.

This post has been edited by LaPalma: Mar 28 2010, 12:16 PM

Wow. Calling out players trash? A bit harsh.

And what must also be kept in mind is that no coach has had carte blanche at Milan to bring in whoever they wanted- not Ancelotti, or Capello, or Trap, or Sacchi. I doubt that particular facet is likely to change.

What your talking about is making adjustments. In order to do this you have to have the players at your disposal and time in order to make those players understand your system. If Leo had say 3 players of his choice on the bench that he signed, I can assure you that he would be able to make adjustments accordingly.

But its hard when you have to deal with players who don't really play your style of football. If borri who can barely play Leo's style of football sh*ts the bed; does he have a fabiano on the bench to look to? No he has huntelaar and Inzaghi, two forewards who will never ever be able to play his style. That is why you see him with his hands on his jaws. I do the same thing, it means, what the f*ck do I do now.

Really? your gonna compare their teams to leo's team; Do you really want to pull up the list they had and make comparisions to leo's?

Also the majority of our squad is worthless trash that should not be playing on a top team.

Inzaghi
Janku
Oddo
Zambrotta
Kaladze
Favalli
Dida
Roma
Gattuso
Huntelaar
Borriello
Mancini
Abate



Should not be on a team of Milan's calibre and thats not even the sad part. The sad part is that our squad has 20 players in it and 14 of them should not be there.

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Mar 27 2010, 10:30 PM

You didn't address the actual point of my post.(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I don't really care if you think most of the team is trash.

Your point is that even the greats were given the squad they were given and they had to suck it up and work with what they had right???


But lets look at the squds they recieved. MVB, Rijk, Gull; Nesta/Inzaghi/Sheva/Kaka, Leo/Boban/Savevic/Maldini/stam/costacurta/cafu/Rui Costa/Pirlo/gattuso/seedorf etc etc (all players who were at their best years and were considered prime players)


Can you really compare them borriello, hunt, pato, silva, abate who are considered our prime players????


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also thats nice of you to say how you feel about my opinion on a forum (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Mar 27 2010, 11:09 PM