[han2503]

Biglia, Bona and Romagnoli are injured

Expect Borini to start again...

[Danny]

Ratings:

Donna: 7 Two or three excellent saves. Solid game from him.

Conti: 6 Struggling to make an impression - I have not once seen him defend.

Bonucci: 5 tbh he had a poor night. Beaten in the air a few times, and didn't command the box much. Must say as yet he doesn't look like his heart is at Milan. He isn't convincing me he wants to be here.

Musacchio: 6 Alright but nothing extraordinary.

Rodriguez: 6 Decent enough, but wasn't heavily involved.

Locatelli: 6 Tidy. Did his cleaning up in midfield like a solid DM would.

Kessie: 7 Our best midfielder - wasn't incredible but barely put a foot wrong. Guy is a great, great player. Becoming my favourite player and took his penalty impeccably.

Calhanoglu: 5 Struggling. Really struggling in this system. Barely does anything of note.

Suso: 8 Terrific first half especially. Goal and an assist. Job done. Can't complain.

Cutrone: 8 Just a terrier. He can only get better - clinical finisher and reads the game like a book.

Borini: 7 Didn't hide, worked hard, and solid enough.

Subs:

Silva: 7 He needs to be more clinical. All that's lacking is the conviction. He had it v Shikiniki but they're cr*p. Crotone might not be Chelsea but it's a different level playing in the league.

Abate: 6 Better than Conti although that's no high praise. But clean enough display.

Mauri: 4 No idea why he was brought on.

Montellia: 6 Team selection was not incredible but it did the job. I just do not know why he continues to force this 4-3-3. It worked tonight against 10 men but stiffer tests await.

[d'Arc.LP]

Ratings:

Donna: 7 Two or three excellent saves. Solid game from him.

Conti: 6 Struggling to make an impression - I have not once seen him defend.

Bonucci: 5 tbh he had a poor night. Beaten in the air a few times, and didn't command the box much. Must say as yet he doesn't look like his heart is at Milan. He isn't convincing me he wants to be here.

Musacchio: 6 Alright but nothing extraordinary.

Rodriguez: 6 Decent enough, but wasn't heavily involved.

Locatelli: 6 Tidy. Did his cleaning up in midfield like a solid DM would.

Kessie: 7 Our best midfielder - wasn't incredible but barely put a foot wrong. Guy is a great, great player. Becoming my favourite player and took his penalty impeccably.

Calhanoglu: 5 Struggling. Really struggling in this system. Barely does anything of note.

Suso: 8 Terrific first half especially. Goal and an assist. Job done. Can't complain.

Cutrone: 8 Just a terrier. He can only get better - clinical finisher and reads the game like a book.

Borini: 7 Didn't hide, worked hard, and solid enough.

Subs:

Silva: 7 He needs to be more clinical. All that's lacking is the conviction. He had it v Shikiniki but they're cr*p. Crotone might not be Chelsea but it's a different level playing in the league.

Abate: 6 Better than Conti although that's no high praise. But clean enough display.

Mauri: 4 No idea why he was brought on.

Montellia: 6 Team selection was not incredible but it did the job. I just do not know why he continues to force this 4-3-3. It worked tonight against 10 men but stiffer tests await.

Hm, interesting. Now we disagree Danny.

For me it would be like this:

Donnarumma: 6.5 - True, he made 2 good saves but also just like vs Shkendija, he left us very vulnerable when he left his goal just to remove a ball with his chest, a ball which Musacchio could have handeled. But I get it, he got bored just standing there in the goal not having any action.

Conti: 6 - Same amount of work out, looks that he is very tired yet again - 3rd game in a row. Yet he made some better crosses than in the game vs Shkendija. It's clear that he is more gifted in the attack, but if so he needs to run more.

Musacchio: 7 - A clear improvement over last years defence, made the most passes in the game and was very concrete. Not troubled very much, but got another clean sheet and he has some part in it.

Bonucci: 6.5 - Same assesment like the Musacchios but in fact Leo struggled a little. The captains armband shouldnt be so heavy for him. Also he tried some long passes and not all of them hit. Its only normal till the players are get used to each other.

Rodriguez: 6.5 - Nothing impressive, but also not a single error from him. Did his job, maybe we expect more crosses from him and be more concrete. Better work rate than Conti though.

Kessie: 7.5 - Was very good, did great in all the games till now. Had a very good game in the 1st half, but wasnt flawless in the second half we must admit that. Yet I liked how confiedent he looked when he took that penalty. Also, as someone here said, I like that we have midfieleders now that are confident with the ball on their foot. Made very good passes, better than we used to see from our registras in previous years.

Locatelli: 6.5 - Competent in his role as a playmaker, I agree that he could do better. But he compensates his worth in the defense, I dont know if you guys see it, but the way he stops the opposite sides attacks is very good to see. He just puts his long legs in front of them and the ball cant pass him. If he learns to pass better - not that he is awful, I wouldn't mind him getting some time in this season too and see how good he becomes. I would defenitely choose him if we were to play 3-1-4-1 and play the Busques role, but I cant see this happening.

Calhanoglu: 6.5 - Most of the people didnt notice, but he made 2nd most passes in the game, was confident and with vision but very very limited to the position he is playing on. I will never rate him under 6.5 how ever bad he plays as long as he is not played in his preferred role as AM. Serie A defenses maybe dont give much space to the AM's but I'd like to see him play there. It is clear as water to me that he is not a midfielder and not a winger. He can play there, but if we want his best Montella has to "invent" the AM role for him.

Suso: 8.5 MOM - Perfect in the 1st half, scored an impressive 1st touch goal, made runs, assists, dribles, passes, everything you would want from him. For me he has the best technique from all our players and he is showing that. For me it's a joy to see him play. Whenever he dribbles, I never know if he is going to cut to the left and shoot or make a short whipped cross, or he is going to pass the player to the right and make an accurate cross just like he did with Cutrone. Sometimes he starts one thing and goes to the other and if we as fans are surpriesed, imagine the opposite players. Very good pair with Kessie, and if Conti improves his game, I would be set for our right wing. Also, I dont doubt he can perform in big games too, cos we saw him vs Inter, Lazio and Juve last season, so I really believe he will be one of the leaders of this team.

Cutrone: 8 - So much debated regarding him, even I dont trust him fully, yet he seems so natural and connected to the rest of the squad. Not only was he included in all the goals - got the penallty, scored a header and got the assist for Suso, but he also seems very good in his positioning. Maybe he should learn more on how to play with his back to the goal but I wouldn't mind to have him as a back up to Silva and Kalinic. Who knows, we maybe will need him if any of them gets banned or injured.

Borini: 6 - As I said earlier, everyone and even himself knows that he is only enjoying time cos we are yet to make another signing in the left win, Bona is injured and Niang is leaving. He could have ran the most from our players, cos its clear that he is trying very much but there is no skill there, none. Tried to shoot, screwed it, tried to pass or assist, not even close to it. The only reason why I would use this guy is if we have a sure win and we dont want our winger to get injured, but we have to play with 11 players, I would give him a go. Otherwise, I will never expect him to create something.

Subs:

Abate: 6.5 - I agree he was better than Conti, at least he looks smarter and more competent. I feel sorry to say this, but in an important game, if Conti continues to play like this, Id choose Abate over him.

Silva: 6.5 - One chance, that impressive header that was saved by Cordaz. I liked him, he didnt have much chances cos the game was over by then, but I like him much more than I did when he played vs Betis. He is better than I initially thought he is, but he isnt as good as others thought he is. But what I think is that he has potential to be very good and is in a good track to achieve it. Especially if we continue to play like this, an open game with much possesion and lots of chances for the strikers.

Mauri: 6 - I was between of not rating him for no time or for rating him a 6 and I chose the latter cos while he came in close to the end and made an arguably good shot, he seemed lost. Really lost. I liked that he had the confiedence to shoot, made a decent one - could have been better, but for the rest of the time he was inexistent.

Montella: 7 - He is getting us results, even if they are vs weaker teams, yet he has Romaginoli, Biglia and Bonaventura injured and also lacking a winger and a striker (cos Niang and Bacca are out) so he is forced to use a Borini. I would rate him a grade higher if he would actually play Calhanoglu in his proper place and be more confiedent with the formation. Maybe he will in the future when he will have a full squad.

[han2503]

Conti: 6 - Same amount of work out, looks that he is very tired yet again - 3rd game in a row. Yet he made some better crosses than in the game vs Shkendija. It's clear that he is more gifted in the attack, but if so he needs to run more.

Bonucci: 6.5 - Same assesment like the Musacchios but in fact Leo struggled a little. The captains armband shouldnt be so heavy for him. Also he tried some long passes and not all of them hit. Its only normal till the players are get used to each other.

Why do you say Conti looks tired? I don't see him as tired tbh, be runs a lot, maybe he's not back to full fitness since he started training late due to the U-21 tournament, but he doesn't look any more tired than the rest.

And disagree about how Abate was better when he came on, Abate barely did much of anything. Look at how Conti supported Suso in the first half. I really like the Conti-Kessie-Suso dynamic we have going on on that right side.

I think you guys are forgetting what Abate brings to the table. Conti is acclimating with the rest of the group, this is only his 3rd game for us, he will need a bit of time, Rodriguez was quite as well so far. The FBs will have to build up that understanding with the other players. But so far I'm really liking Conti and how he helps out in attack, I like that he goes for the smart cross instead of the blind punt like Abate

As for Bonucci, I think he's taken very well to the captaincy, but he is coming out of the Juve bubble, so he'll need a bit of time to adjust in terms of how the team plays and such, especially with his passing

[X-Offender]

Why do you say Conti looks tired? I don't see him as tired tbh, be runs a lot, maybe he's not back to full fitness since he started training late due to the U-21 tournament, but he doesn't look any more tired than the rest.

And disagree about how Abate was better when he came on, Abate barely did much of anything. Look at how Conti supported Suso in the first half. I really like the Conti-Kessie-Suso dynamic we have going on on that right side.

I think you guys are forgetting what Abate brings to the table. Conti is acclimating with the rest of the group, this is only his 3rd game for us, he will need a bit of time, Rodriguez was quite as well so far. The FBs will have to build up that understanding with the other players. But so far I'm really liking Conti and how he helps out in attack, I like that he goes for the smart cross instead of the blind punt like Abate

Conti was definitely tired. It was the 65th minute and after one of his runs he looked out of breath. He definitely lacks stamina, but it's something he can work on with the right training.