The midfield has been a major issue for us since Pirlo's last season, we haven't had a well rounded midfield trio since then.

SES finally getting a decent pass and gets to stretch his legs out

DS is soooo much better on the left, in every aspect. Which is strange since h's naturally right sided

Muntari has fouled a player nearly every time he got near the ball.

This is the first decent stretch of time where we've kept good possession in this entire pre-season so far

And we still lost. Embarrassing tour all in all.

But I've gotta say, I'm really disappointed in the kids. Don't get me wrong, I know these friendlies mean little.

But the body language, the overall will of the younger players is bugging me. I don't see any spirit and very small amounts of talent and quality. Take Gabriel. I'd say he really isn't up to it, he looks frightened and nervous, and his only achievement ended up injuring MDS. I really can't see he becoming good ever; no special reflex, lack of confidence and average at best.

Same or worse with the others. Niang is just Serie B level. He's not cut to play a winger or a striker; lacks precision, finishing, pass, intelligence, you name it. SES showed very little, Cristante as well. Saponara was his usual pale version.

All this makes me very sceptically. I'm not expecting miracles or surges of quality, just some spirit and attitude.

And he was rubbish. As he was this whole pre-season. As he has been since November 2012.



First time since late last year our fullbacks looked good. And curiously enough it's the first full 90 minutes where we fans got our wish of Abate on the right and DS on the left.

I don't know what Seedorf's f*cking problem was.

Other than Abate/MDS he was our best player tonight Pippo. He tracked back, he attacked, he made himself available. His attitude was infinitely better than anything he's shown up till now, and he appears to be growing up a tad.

He has MUCH to do but there were signs of improvement.

And I have been incredibly critical of him since the Roma defeat away I think it was.

His decision making was better as well, he just lacks the polish.

I agree that some of the younger players are not showing enough to even give Pippo any sort of headache when it comes to playing them once the season starts. Sapo, Cristante, Albertazzi have all been very bland

As for SES and Niang plus Pazzo, it's hard for any attacker to really make his mark when you don't have a midfield, which was the case throughout this tour. Muntari and Essien made fools out of themselves out there on a consistent basis today, Saponara had a couple of decent spurts but more often then not he tends to go missing, and that might get overlooked when he's playing in the attack, but when you're playing as a CM that's simply not acceptable.

As for Niang, I thought he was good in everything he did until it came time to release the ball. His end product and decision making is just horrible.

As I said in an earlier post, I really do think he'd be a pretty great player if he learned how to apply himself properly. And this coming from probably his harshest critic on this forum. I really do think we should look into loaning him to a mid-table Serie A side where he can be given a lot of playing time.


He's had sparks here and there, but as I said to Fillipo, it's pretty hard when you're an attacker and the team basically has no midfield. SES imo needs to be a bit closer to goal, he's not a real winger, yes he has speed but he's not really a great dribbler. That's why I can't get on board with this 4-3-3 thing, because Menez aside, we don't have any proper wingers in this squad which makes the 4-3-3 unnatural for us.


Agreed, we looked infinitely better on the wide areas today than we did against City where 4 of the goals started from wide areas. I don't get why anyone would want DS on the right side, he looks confused and awkward there, while Abate might struggle with his crossing at times (although I do think he's improved that aspect of his game in recent years), he's great defensively and opens up our play better than anyone with his runs.


I agree about Niang, the attack was isolated but he worked his @ss off to track back and make things happen on his own, I just really think he's just awful when it comes to end product. And that can only come if he's playing regularly, which he won't be doing with us. His speed and skill on the ball were one of the few bright sparks last night, I really liked the way he was picking up the ball and creating havoc by running at players AND beating them as well, which is great to see.


As for the game in general, I thought we improved a lot over the mess we saw against City and Olympiacos. Definitely better defensively as a collective, the first goals came from a ridiculous slip by Essien and the second was a long shot, which could have been closed down better but it was mostly a good take. We kept possession better in the second half and created some good chances. Honda's lob to Niang was inch perfect, we really need to find a way to integrate him into the team (NOT as a winger) no one else on this squad has that kind of vision and passing ability, to waste it when it's at such a premium on this squad would be ridiculous

From your previous opinions about Niang where you borderline had him nailed up on a cross I'd suggest you've made major progress there! I think his execution/final pass is indeed his problem - previously I was critical of that while praising his skill and pace, but became angry with his attitude.

That latter attribute has improved a lot - like I say, passing, tracking back, suddenly learning that football is not all about Niang. Much more of a team player and was trying to execute the final pass, the killer ball/shot but it wasn't quite coming off.

That's where his decision making is still not quite there, but he is certainly on the road to improvement.

And don't forget the kid is 19 - he's a child, and if these rough parts of his game can be ironed out, I honestly feel he could be a very good player for us. I've been saying that a long time, but temporarily gave up on him with that stinking attitude in aforementioned Roma game.

But hopefully his growing up is seeing maturation.

That was Balo, not Honda. If we're thinking about the same incident.

As for Essien, hold my hands up there, I've never been more wrong about a signing. The Chelsea Essien was a monster and in his day the best DM around. But now he's truly absymal and I'd suggest the worst signing this club has made in light of what we'd have expected of him for about a decade.

Utter failure and should never put on our jersey again. Keeps making c*ock ups in midfield which cost goals. He's a total and utter liability.

I don't think he's 19... Wasn't he 19 when we signed him?

And yeah, as I mentioned above I was a HUGE critic before, still am, he's just so brutal and uncultured on the ball that it's cringe worthy at times. I'm not talking about his pace or dribbling because he's clearly improved in that aspect, he was breezing past players basically every time he was given the ball yesterday. But his passing/shooting/crossing is just awful. The best way for me to explain it is that it's like playing FIFA and powering up the button until it's red every time no matter the situation.



Nope definitely talking about Honda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playe...yfIasEU94#t=186

Agreed on Essien, and I was with you when we signed him, I thought he'd be good because I was a huge fan of his in his Chelsea days, but yeah, he's been woeful, but if we isolate the mistake, I thought Muntari was equally, if not worse than Essien yesterday. Both of them are just a disaster waiting to happen and we should sell both if the opportunity arose

Nope, he was 17.



If he can be coached to improve in those areas I agree require work, he could develop well.





Ah, different incident.



Muntari CAN have his uses as an explosive player from the bench. But a midfield of he and Essien is simply unnacceptable. Muntari lacks composure but he has power, he defends well and he's strong. A very useful sub but no longer good enough to start. But Essien can leave. He gives us negative, not even nothing.

Nah, I simply don't see it in Niang. He's nothing to do with a top team, and he'll never be a top player.

Picking on the player who gave the most.... I guess that sums up our offseason or the expectations you have of 19yo prospects....

Gave the most in a 2-0 defeat? Really? He gave the most out of a very disjointed and heartless bunch of individuals who weren't function as a team. But this is not Parma. Giving the most shouldn't suffice. I think his touch, his finishing and his overall attitude don't give a nice perspective. My expectations with this player are around zero, he has potential and work effort, but I think it's ultimately too much work for more then a questionable end result.