[han2503]

Who: AC Milan vs. Chievo Verona



(IMG:https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/438x186q90/903/kdq28O.png)



Where: Stadio San Siro



(IMG:http://www.acmilan.com/uploads/club/sansiro.jpg)



When:
4th October 2014 @ 8:45pm CET


Head-to-Head Record



(IMG:https://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/638x194q90/904/8ektkP.png)

[X-Offender]

My enthusiasm for this game is bare after the last three performances.

[han2503]

My enthusiasm for this game is bare after the last three performances.

Hopefully we'll see improvements and the best possible line-up Pippo can field

[Danny]

EL OH EL!

[X-Offender]

(IMG:http://i58.tinypic.com/4seg5e.jpg)

[Danny]

Someone's picked the worst God-awful pic of Sheva making him look like a snapshot of someone just before they're about to kill in cold blood, while laughing maniacally over the corpse and drinking its blood...

And I went WAY off track.

[X-Offender]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[X-Offender]

Word on the grapevine has it that Mexes could play against Chievo, but Rami and Alex remain favorites.

Also, Pippo should go back to 4-3-3 as he's been using it a lot in training these days. The sucky part is that we could see the NdJ-Poli-Muntari midfield again.

Probable line-up: Abbiati; Abate, Alex, Rami, De Sciglio; De Jong, Poli, Muntari; Honda, Menez, Bonaventura.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[han2503]

Word on the grapevine has it that Mexes could play against Chievo, but Rami and Alex remain favorites.

Also, Pippo should go back to 4-3-3 as he's been using it a lot in training these days. The sucky part is that we could see the NdJ-Poli-Muntari midfield again.

Probable line-up: Abbiati; Abate, Alex, Rami, De Sciglio; De Jong, Poli, Muntari; Honda, Menez, Bonaventura.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

That's awful looking

And why is SES suddenly being frozen out? We really need some speed on those wings, it's ridiculous that we use a winger formation and place 2 relatively slow central players on the wing, play 1 of our only 2 wingers as a false 9 or AM and don't even get me started on the selections in midfield, how Muntari could ever get a look in is ridiculous!

[Danny]

I don't believe rumours any more. 99/100 times they're just plain wrong.

[han2503]

Menez a major doubt for Chievo as he has an inflamed tendon in his knee.

I think this is a great opportunity to start SES and Torres upfront and play Honda in behind them

I really want to see Bona play in midfield

[X-Offender]

Menez a major doubt for Chievo as he has an inflamed tendon in his knee.

I think this is a great opportunity to start SES and Torres upfront and play Honda in behind them

I really want to see Bona play in midfield

Menez's injury has nothing to do with how we play. Honda will still play on the wing, and Muntari will most likely start. Same fucking sh*t all over again.

[Rossoneri7]

Time will prove if Inzaghi fails or succeeds.

Think we should be able to get 3 points, team has to react.

[X-Offender]

UPDATE: Abbiati; Abate, Alex, Rami, De Sciglio; Poli, De Jong, Bonaventura; Honda, Torres, Menez.

Some sources have Muntari instead of Poli, but I think the latter will play.

Except for Honda on the wing, it looks good.

[han2503]

UPDATE: Abbiati; Abate, Alex, Rami, De Sciglio; Poli, De Jong, Bonaventura; Honda, Torres, Menez.

Some sources have Muntari instead of Poli, but I think the latter will play.

Except for Honda on the wing, it looks good.

Agreed, especially Bonaventura in midfield

[han2503]

Where is everyone?

The game is today guys?

[han2503]

Can't believe I'm seeing Muntari starting again! FFS!

[X-Offender]

We're not playing very well. This team still lacks an identity which Pippo should have given by this point. We're very sporadic, mostly relying on individualities than on collective, finely cogged mechanisms.

Muntari is terrible, as usual, but I also feel that Honda on the wing limits us considerably. Menez is very individualistic. Bonaventura in midfield has been really good.

[han2503]

Menez is simply not moving freely why start him when he's clearly not 100% fit

[han2503]

We're not playing very well. This team still lacks an identity which Pippo should have given by this point. We're very sporadic, mostly relying on individualities than on collective, finely cogged mechanisms.

Muntari is terrible, as usual, but I also feel that Honda on the wing limits us considerably. Menez is very individualistic. Bonaventura in midfield has been really good.

I think Bonaventura has been excellent in basically every position Pippo has tried him out in aside from an underwhelming performance on the left wing and he still scored.

Muntari is just a cancer in the team, whenever he touches the ball a good build up is ruined because he does everything at slow motion.

[han2503]

so-so first half, there were so many "could have-should have beens" they need to be quicker and make better decisions in the final third.

Muntari needs to come off, he simply adds nothing to the team, bring Poli on or heck, just move Honda back and bring on SES

[X-Offender]

0-0 HT

What to say. We're neither here nor there. A complete lack of game.

[X-Offender]

so-so first half, there were so many "could have-should have beens" they need to be quicker and make better decisions in the final third.

Muntari needs to come off, he simply adds nothing to the team, bring Poli on or heck, just move Honda back and bring on SES

Honda has to be removed, I think that's very important. He's as useless as Muntari on that left wing. Either play him in midfield or don't play him at all, and given Bonaventuta's excellent display in midfield I'd go with the latter. SES and Poli have to be brought in.

I really don't get Pippo. Like Danny said in another thread, it's as if he doesn't want to play his team at full potential, always finding something to screw things over. And it's honestly getting a tad annoying at this point...

[han2503]

Honda has to be removed, I think that's very important. He's as useless as Muntari on that left wing. Either play him in midfield or don't play him at all, and given Bonaventuta's excellent display in midfield I'd go with the latter. SES and Poli have to be brought in.

I really don't get Pippo. Like Danny said in another thread, it's as if he doesn't want to play his team at full potential, always finding something to screw things over. And it's honestly getting a tad annoying at this point...

Isn't this what we went through under both Allegri and Seedorf? And most fans will tell you the same thing about most coaches.

And yes, it's unbelievably frustrating

As for Honda, yes, he is an absolute waste on the wing, either play him centrally - whether in attack or midfield - or not at all imo. Just ridiculous that he's consistently used as a winger with us when never in his career has he been considered as such, not for any club or NT.

And agreed about SES. Menez is obviously not at 100%, so why play him when you have SES sitting on the bench? Just no logic!

[han2503]

So close there

[han2503]

MUNTARI!!

Typical!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[rip]

Haha . wat a goal

[han2503]

We need to score another though, because I can't see us keeping a clean sheet

[X-Offender]

The f*cker scored a Euro goal.

[milanbuf88]

I'm traveling and can't watch but it is pretty entertaining to see you guys rag on Muntari and then have him score haha.

[han2503]

I'm traveling and can't watch but it is pretty entertaining to see you guys rag on Muntari and then have him score haha.

That always happens

[han2503]

Muntari giving it away to earn De Jong a yellow and misses the next match.

Ensuring his position for next week as well (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[han2503]

How are we not winning this by more?

[Forza Milan!]

Lots of missed opportunities ...

[X-Offender]

So, Pippo is using a pure 4-4-2 with Bona and Honda on the wings, and Menez as free roamer.

[Forza Milan!]

... and Muntari almost costs us a goal ...

[han2503]

OMG!!!

Muntari!!! WTF was he doing there????


Should be 1-1

This is why his occasional goal is not worth having him on the pitch, an absolute and utter liability in all senses of the word

[X-Offender]

Ahahahaha Muntari, fucking piece of...

[han2503]

We are doing our best it seems to squander this lead

Rami now wit an idiotic pass

[han2503]

Finally SES

[han2503]

Muntari still on the pitch! Hilarious!

[han2503]

HONDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[Forza Milan!]

Honda !!!

[X-Offender]

Great free kick.

[han2503]

Rami is seriously worrying!!

[han2503]

We seem hell bent on conceding at least one goal in each game, we have done everything to try and gift Chievo a goal aside from actually putting it in our net ourselves FFS!!

So many passing errors that could have resulted in goals

[Forza Milan!]

We seem hell bent on conceding at least one goal in each game, we have done everything to try and gift Chievo a goal aside from actually putting it in our net ourselves FFS!!

So many passing errors that could have resulted in goals

Yup. Another team and it could have easily been a different result. Chievo squandered quite a few opportunities towards the end.

[X-Offender]

We played relatively well in the second half, but too many individual mistakes could have cost us a goal or two.

[X-Offender]

I just realize our next game is due the 19th cos the NT matches. Hopefully Pippo will have clearer ideas after the break. Too many changes and too much confusion in these first six weeks.

[amancik]

One thing I don't get is what is going on with El Sharaawy. I mean before the season started, we were talking about how he's gonna be our main man. Now he's struggling to a hold a place in the first 11. I mean you guys saw him in the few minutes he got, he was quick, he almost set up a goal ... granted he didn't play well against Juve but the whole team didn't. Not sure why he's not starting to be honest.

[han2503]

One thing I don't get is what is going on with El Sharaawy. I mean before the season started, we were talking about how he's gonna be our main man. Now he's struggling to a hold a place in the first 11. I mean you guys saw him in the few minutes he got, he was quick, he almost set up a goal ... granted he didn't play well against Juve but the whole team didn't. Not sure why he's not starting to be honest.

Don't know, I'm just as confused as you are.

Pippo obviously deems Honda a winger for some strange reason, or he just wants a lefty on the right side and that's his justification for playing Honda there. But I think his dilemma is that he doesn't know how to fit all of Honda, SES, Torres and Menez into the same line-up.

Also, Bonaventura imo has cemented his spot as a starter in my eyes, and I think the same can be said for how Pippo feels about him

So this creates one big dilemma with regards to how you could fit all of them in.

[X-Offender]

Bonaventura was great today, easily MVP.

Regardless of what formation we play (4-3-3, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1), Pippo always plays Honda and always on the friggin' wing. That's something I'll never be able to understand. My guess is due to a lack of proper wingers, but then you can easily play 4-3-1-2 with him behind Menez and Torres.

The guy is obsessed with using the wings and will even play you out of position. Reminds me of Allegri. He was so fixated on playing 4-3-1-2 at some point that would even play Urby-goddamn-Emanuelson as AM as long as it meant playing that way.

[Danny]

Ratings:

Abbiati: 6 Decent enough, didn't have a lot to do overall.

Abate: 7 Bombing up and down, continuing to have a fine season.

Alex: 8 Cannot be dropped. Our best defender now.

Rami: 5 Accident-ridden and making too many errors. Was bailed out by Alex repeatedly. Kind of a David Luiz player - offers a lot as an attacking defender but he isn't good enough at the back. Jack, you wanted the Alex-Rami defence, well you got it. I am absolute that Alex-Zapata is our best defence, or even Alex-Mexes. Anyone but f*cking Rami. Turning into another Bonera.

DS: 6 Not an expecially good display from him - seems, sadly, to be going backwards a little at the moment.

De Jong: 6 Worked hard in the middle but those around him didn't help him out enough.

Muntari: 5 The 5 is for the goal. Otherwise words fail me on a truly pitiful, lazy, and frustrating display.

Bona: 6 Decent, but not great. Was made impotent by a stubborn Chievo devence.

Honda: 6 Great goal, but this cutting back inside is not helping him or us. He needs to be central FFS.

Menez: 7 Fits and starts of good play. Increasingly involved in the second half, but far far too quiet in the first.

Torres: 5 Bad night for Nino. Didn't work hard enough or get himself into good positions, and showed a lack of appetite.

Subs:

SES: 7 Energetic in his brief cameo. A good run led to the free kick from which Honda scored. Kinda an assist!

Poli: 7 Hard working closure in midfield. Why Muntari keeps starting ahead of him is beyond sanity.

Essien: 5 Meh.

Pippo: 6 He set out a reasonable team, Rami and Muntari aside, but there was absolutely no bite in the team first half. It just did nothing but play the ball around in midfield and defence. Second half was a lot better, and clearly what he said at HT worked so fair play. And the subs worked too. But start that slowly v better teams and we'll have our backsides handed to us.

[Danny]

One thing I don't get is what is going on with El Sharaawy. I mean before the season started, we were talking about how he's gonna be our main man. Now he's struggling to a hold a place in the first 11. I mean you guys saw him in the few minutes he got, he was quick, he almost set up a goal ... granted he didn't play well against Juve but the whole team didn't. Not sure why he's not starting to be honest.

El-Sharaawy's problem is his first touch. It's just hopeless. He has so much energy and he's quick, but his composure is poor and he also doesn't score goals now. He's also injured too much, meaning no one wants to build their team around him given he'll end up out any moment.

Menez scores goals, and is offering more than SES has been.

[Jack Bauer]

Lucky not to concede today. Muntrai created two very good chances for them and even with the occasional goal here and there, he's just not worth it. I'm not concerned about the attack, defensive stability is what we need to improve.

[CrazyMilanFan]

One thing I don't get is what is going on with El Sharaawy. I mean before the season started, we were talking about how he's gonna be our main man. Now he's struggling to a hold a place in the first 11. I mean you guys saw him in the few minutes he got, he was quick, he almost set up a goal ... granted he didn't play well against Juve but the whole team didn't. Not sure why he's not starting to be honest.

i dont know if it is related to getting ful fit.. or maybe for the time being in order to avoid injuries he is being used an as impact player. Overall he is good yesteday hopefully he is remain fit and improve.

[kurtsimonw]

I'm traveling and can't watch but it is pretty entertaining to see you guys rag on Muntari and then have him score haha.

Match threads have become unbearable.

[Danny]

Match threads have become unbearable.

That said he IS bloody awful. I defended him endlessly the past two seasons but his attitude now is truly appalling - doesn't concentrate, has no awareness, has no composure. He absolutely p*ssed me off v Juve and he did the same last night. A goal, welcome though it is, isn't compensation for almost costing us 12 at the other end.

[kurtsimonw]

That said he IS bloody awful. I defended him endlessly the past two seasons but his attitude now is truly appalling - doesn't concentrate, has no awareness, has no composure. He absolutely p*ssed me off v Juve and he did the same last night. A goal, welcome though it is, isn't compensation for almost costing us 12 at the other end.

The majority of the squad is poor to be honest. It's easy to hide behind bias and make excuses for players that you like, but the fact is not many are good. All 5 CBs aren't good enough. MDS had an awful season, Armero has consistantly been labelled overrated and not good enough by many on here. NDJ aside, it's a who's who of medicore midfielders. Menez has never been great, Torres is an awful forward and SES has barely played for 18 months.

Lopez, MDJ and Abate are the only players who play well and even Lopez has barely played. People can say I'm bias, underrate players, etc. but that's just an excuse. I say it as I see it. han has criticised me for not liking Abate, but he's been good for a while, so I'll say as much.

Just my opinion.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Oct 5 2014, 12:18 PM

[X-Offender]

The majority of the squad is poor to be honest. It's easy to hide behind bias and make excuses for players that you like, but the fact is not many are good. All 5 CBs aren't good enough. MDS had an awful season, Armero has consistantly been labelled overrated and not good enough by many on here. NDJ aside, it's a who's who of medicore midfielders. Menez has never been great, Torres is an awful forward and SES has barely played for 18 months.

Lopez, MDJ and Abate are the only players who play well and even Lopez has barely played. People can say I'm bias, underrate players, etc. but that's just an excuse. I say it as I see it. han has criticised me for not liking Abate, but he's been good for a while, so I'll say as much.

Just my opinion.

No, I completely agree with you. This team, for what's worth it, is only average to decent. Aside from a few individuals, the rest are very average players that would never start in a big club. The fact that we have a rookie coach doesn't help either.

That being said, it doesn't mean that we can't demand the maximum in every match, and starting players like Bonera and Muntari is not doing that. I don't know if you saw the game last night, but Muntari was abysmal, so we have every right to criticize him. If that makes the match thread unbearable to you, that's your own problem.

[kurtsimonw]

No, I completely agree with you. This team, for what's worth it, is only average to decent. Aside from a few individuals, the rest are very average players that would never start in a big club. The fact that we have a rookie coach doesn't help either.

That being said, it doesn't mean that we can't demand the maximum in every match, and starting players like Bonera and Muntari is not doing that. I don't know if you saw the game last night, but Muntari was abysmal, so we have every right to criticize him. If that makes the match thread unbearable to you, that's your own problem.

No I agree with you, but it's the same every game. We've had games where nobody has shown up and it's still the same "It's all Muntari's/Bonera's fault" nonsense. Players like Zapata consistantly put in Serie Z performances and barely get a mantion.

[X-Offender]

No I agree with you, but it's the same every game. We've had games where nobody has shown up and it's still the same "It's all Muntari's/Bonera's fault" nonsense. Players like Zapata consistantly put in Serie Z performances and barely get a mantion.

Not true. Many other players have been criticized as well. Abbiati, MDS, Rami, Poli, Torres, SES etc. Zapata has been severely bashed by Han, I criticized Honda in this very thread. Muntari and Bonera will obviously be mentioned more often because they are 5x worse than any other player we have in our roster, but that doesn't mean we use them as scapegoats. When they are directly responsible for goals conceded, like Bonera has been so far, or Muntari nearly was last night, then there's nothing you can say about it.

[han2503]

Match threads have become unbearable.

Are you saying he was good and we should have been praising him? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

He almost assisted Chievo twice, had they not been utterly awful in the final third, this could have easily been a draw all thanks to Muntari

[kurtsimonw]

Are you saying he was good and we should have been praising him? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

He almost assisted Chievo twice, had they not been utterly awful in the final third, this could have easily been a draw all thanks to Muntari

As I said above, I wasn't just talking about this game but in general. Even when he's far from the worst player on the pitch he's the one that gets all the stick and it's getting very old and boring. But it's easily solvable.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Oct 5 2014, 04:54 PM

[han2503]

As I said above, I wasn't just talking about this game but in general. Even when he's far from the worst player on the pitch he's the one that gets all the stick and it's getting very old and boring. But it's easily solvable.

He's the easy target because he's consistently bad and for some strange reason always gets picked, that's why people focus on him so much

[Danny]

I put out a tweet highlighting our starting XI yesterday cost 15.5M and while many agreed with my summary of 'embarrassing' some seemed to suggest this was genius on Galliani's part.

I admit it seemed it at the time, but a Milan team that only cost us 15.5M is absurd.

Torres, one goal aside, has been shite.

Menez, one performance V Parma aside has been patchy at best.

Bona hasn't been given enough time in his best slot.

MvG looked great till injury so cannot yet be judged.

Lopez has been cr*p. One penalty save and that's it.

Armero's signing was praised at the time - I was the only one who said it was pointless and I stand by that.

Alex HAS been good. He's the one genuine window success and he's only had two fucking matches for God's sake.

Point is this Milan is made up of other teams' rejects or young prospects. The only outright signing we've made in recent years, NDJ aside, at the peak of his career, is Bonaventura.

As Kurt says, the only players to impress are De Jong & Abate. I just think this Milan team is going nowhere. We're a midtable team and show no ambition to improve upon that.

[Danny]

He's the easy target because he's consistently bad and for some strange reason always gets picked, that's why people focus on him so much

They call that a scapegoat. Yeah he's sh*t, and I don't deny it, but he is NOT the reason Milan are sh*t. That's down to the lack of investment in the team and use of other clubs' cast offs.

This post has been edited by Danny: Oct 5 2014, 07:08 PM

[X-Offender]

I completely disagree with you about Menez. If anything, I think in these few games he's shown he stands one step above everyone else. The guy has too much class, but he's not Ibra so he can't win alone and be decisive. Sometimes I feel he's a bit individualistic, but his teammates also have to step up and give him a hand.

[Danny]

I think you over-rate him massively but I don't deny he was our best performer last night.

But you're basically saying he's our best player overall?

[X-Offender]

I think you over-rate him massively but I don't deny he was our best performer last night.

But you're basically saying he's our best player overall?

Yes, absolutely. Him and De Jong.

[Danny]

Abate and De Jong are our best players. That is without question IMO.

Menez hasn't done consistently well enough in his appearances to be classed, after a few games, as our best player.

If he can improve his level of performance, in terms of doing it frequently (when played), like De Jong, like Abate, like Alex, like even Honda is starting to, then I too will subscribe to him being one of our best.

But even that loser Balotelli could produce it now and then. It's doing it at least every other match - that's what separates the average/good from the best.

[X-Offender]

Abate and De Jong are our best players. That is without question IMO.

Menez hasn't done consistently well enough in his appearances to be classed, after a few games, as our best player.

If he can improve his level of performance, in terms of doing it frequently (when played), like De Jong, like Abate, like Alex, like even Honda is starting to, then I too will subscribe to him being one of our best.

But even that loser Balotelli could produce it now and then. It's doing it at least every other match - that's what separates the average/good from the best.

But this is where we disagree, as I think Menez has been very consistent. Except for the game against Cesena, where he looked tired, in every other game he's been very involved. He's always at the center of all our attacks. He's very energetic, moves a lot, rarely loses the ball, and more than often successfully takes multiple opponents by himself leading to a dangerous ball or scoring opportunity. That's why I think he's the best player we have.

He should be less individualistic and pass the ball a bit more often, but then again his teammates end up losing it afterwards or do something stupid, so in a way I can understand his behavior.