[han2503]

A tough one but getting the 3 points is a must here after the disappointment at Roma. Thankfully we'll most likely be getting Bona back, and I think Berto can be a nice surprise for us under Montella. Plus Bacca is also back so that's another option up front.

[maldini03]

I disagree, I thought Jack was far and away our best offensive player. Suso didn't produce much in terms of end results but he chipped in with a lot of running and tracking back. Lapadula was mostly isolated trying to latch onto a ball or two over the top, I think he would work well playing alongside Bacca with a playmaker behind them.

I also thought Antonelli and Romagnoli had strong performances. Atalanta is a good young team. They have taken a few scalps this year, and Gasperini has the players working in his system. They have a few studs.

I am not entirely happy with this result but I also didn't foresee us being in this position when the season began. We have essentially the same team from last year, at least this time around the boys are playing with real heart and drive. You can't support Montella and approve of his plan and then at the first sign of trouble condemn him. We don't have power on the bench, that much is apparent. Who is he going to bring on? Honda? Sosa? Maxi? none of those guys can provide much. The team is still exactly what I thought it was and that is seriously overperforming. We have a very young team and winning takes time and careful building.

Pasalic is getting better and Berto is finally getting healthy which is a good sign for our once depleted midfield, but I still think that out best lineup includes Jack and Niang. The former needs to move back into the midfield. Niang - whatever his flaws - works as a hybrid striker for us. Running our counter attacks and cutting inside when we need more bodies in the box. He is clumsy and is a terrible finisher but he operates as a wide SS and is arguably our most dangerous counter-attacking player.