[han2503]

Who: A.C. Milan vs. Atalanta B.C.



(IMG:http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah232/hannvis/milan-atalanta_zpsbca60ba3.png)



Where: Stadio San Siro



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



When:
18th January 2015 @ 3:00pm CET


Head-to-Head Record



(IMG:http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah232/hannvis/milan-atalantastats_zps1a94695a.png)

[Fillipo Simone]

I think the last 3 matches we played before the break Monto did look very good and he improved our play. He's not an assist man, but when he's doing his job right he helps to ensure the ball keeps moving and he controls tempo better than anyone we have.

I think those games vs these last 3 show a very clear slump in how he's playing, a complete nose dive in form and when he's playing like this, yes I agree, he becomes inconsequential to our game and doesn't add anything to it. However I disagree that this has been the case from day one. He had a very good first season with us. Last season was average at best and this season he's spent half of it out injured.

Very good first seasons? How tangible is that? What did he exactly make to be very good? I still think you've gotta do assists and goals to be very good in this game for a season, even a deep midfielder. You have some rare exemptions like Effenberg or Pirlo, but first, you look at their stats and you still see their contribution and secondly they add much more then just "tempo" and "moving the ball around". You like Montolivo, and out of all our midfielders, he may be the most talented one. But it's not enough. In fact, looking back, I hardly can find any past or present player like Montolivo, who sort of is our key midfielder but does not contribute with key stats. Can you name me one such (good) player?

Look at our midfield. You have Montolivo and NDJ who are practically vaccinated from being dangerous for the opposition. You can easily let Monto shoot around or cross the ball, because he rarely hits the target. Same for NDJ. You know how problematic this is? Players like Davids and Gattuso used to make up for this problem with giving their ins and outs, playing like pitbulls. Do you see this in Monto? Well, only when we play Barcelona.

I get that you say that the injury is an "excuse" but you have to factor in that he is returning from a very serious leg fracture that required knee surgery to correct. Most players take an entire year to recover from that and start playing with any sort of consistency. Most never really return back to their old selves. Think David Villa, Wilshire, etc. I know people simply cannot accept this as an excuse because we're in a position were we can't afford to have him not playing well, we don't really have a back up so his failings are magnified even more.

But no, I get the whole injured thing. But problem is: Montolivo is back and I honestly think this is his old self, a recuperated Montolivo. I don't think it has anything to do with the injury. This was his problem all the way, he never once showed 3 good performances in a row, never actually worked his *** off or made some tangible contributions.

No offense, but that's horseshit. Keeps the ball moving? Controls the tempo? He does no such things. He's a useless dud, as useless as Muntari. He's never been anything impressive with this shirt. Only one decent season doesn't make you a good, reliable player. At best he can be a DM that breaks play and makes the simple pass, but even at that I wouldn't put much faith him. The fact that he's considered the "playmaker" of our team makes me shudder in disgust.

No man, Muntari is on another level. But yes, you got it right, playmaker my ***. Just think of Boban, Albertini, Rui Costa and Pirlo. Now put in Montolivo and you can instantly shoot yourself.