[X-Offender]

It was an enjoyable game despite the fact that the football quality was rather mediocre for a derby. But still, great win. It always feels awesome winning against the merda. Now if only Balo's shot had gone in as well... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

[Fillipo Simone]

So, I guess it's rating time for me:

Donnarumma - 6 - made a few decent save, but overall looked very green and created some unnecessary scares

Abate - 7.5 - rock solid and also very good in supporting Honda/Niang throughout the whole games
Alex - 7 - scored the vital first goal, made a few good tackles and was aerially dominant but caused a penalty
Romagnoli - 7 - good and reliable during the whole game

Antonelli - 6 - looked troublesome in the first half and failed linking up with the offensive part of his side but solid
Kučka - 6 - gave much dynamic and energy in the middle but also made countless passing errors
Montolivo - 7 - very reliable and in-tune with the team, commanding performance
Bonaventura - 7.5 - had problems with Miranda/Medel, but still contributed with vital passes and the assist
Honda - 7.5 - also couldn't battle the physicality of Inter, but proved crucial for the linkups after the first goal

Niang - 7 - overall poor, but still managed a fine cross and a lucky second-shot goal
Bacca - 7 - Han said it best, phantom performance, great finish, Inzaghi-reminiscent

Subs: Balotelli n/a, Bertolacci n/a, Boateng n/a

[Fillipo Simone]

It was an enjoyable game despite the fact that the football quality was rather mediocre for a derby. But still, great win. It always feels awesome winning against the merda. Now if only Balo's shot had gone in as well... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

Indeed, would've been even better.

Mediocre perhaps, but a lot better then the last 2-3 derbies IMO. You could see mediocrity and some shameful lack of quality, but also much intense football which made the match much more enjoyable.

[X-Offender]

Question: if we play Juve in the Coppa final, does it mean we're automatically qualified for the EL considering Juve will be playing in the CL?

[William405]

So, I guess it's rating time for me:

Donnarumma - 6 - made a few decent save, but overall looked very green and created some unnecessary scares

Abate - 7.5 - rock solid and also very good in supporting Honda/Niang throughout the whole games
Alex - 7 - scored the vital first goal, made a few good tackles and was aerially dominant but caused a penalty
Romagnoli - 7 - good and reliable during the whole game

Antonelli - 6 - looked troublesome in the first half and failed linking up with the offensive part of his side but solid
Kučka - 6 - gave much dynamic and energy in the middle but also made countless passing errors
Montolivo - 7 - very reliable and in-tune with the team, commanding performance
Bonaventura - 7.5 - had problems with Miranda/Medel, but still contributed with vital passes and the assist
Honda - 7.5 - also couldn't battle the physicality of Inter, but proved crucial for the linkups after the first goal

Niang - 7 - overall poor, but still managed a fine cross and a lucky second-shot goal
Bacca - 7 - Han said it best, phantom performance, great finish, Inzaghi-reminiscent

Subs: Balotelli n/a, Bertolacci n/a, Boateng n/a

Spot on ratings!

[William405]

Question: if we play Juve in the Coppa final, does it mean we're automatically qualified for the EL considering Juve will be playing in the CL?

I think so, yes.

[William405]

I have to admit I honsetly did not like the starting lineup. Why was Miha playing Honda again and Kucka when he might have had better options on the bench such as Bertolacci.

But in the end, Miha got it right. He found just the right balance, and the team was tactically great. Everyone knew what his role on the pitch was. Sure, I think there were still some problems as when Bonaventura was defending the fullback position more than Abate. The first 10-20 minutes were shaky, but after that we were rock solid.

The Alex-Romagnoli pairing is just the most secure one at the moment. Romagnoli's got talent, really good buy. We just have to find someone to partner him as Alex isn't the most sustainable option. While, Mexes, I feel, is out of the plan entirely.

A point that was mentioned by the studio talk by BEIN after the match is that this style of play might not work as well against small teams. We won't be able to break them by playing like this. Hopefully, Miha can adapt the team. Maybe a specific formation against small teams? I'm not sure, but I'm excited to see what he does and to hear your opinions about it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

[han2503]

A point that was mentioned by the studio talk by BEIN after the match is that this style of play might not work as well against small teams. We won't be able to break them by playing like this. Hopefully, Miha can adapt the team. Maybe a specific formation against small teams? I'm not sure, but I'm excited to see what he does and to hear your opinions about it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)

Agreed, it's why we go from great performances against Lazio, Fiorentina and now Inter to the performance we saw against Bologna, Atalanta, etc in recent weeks.

We simply don't know how to take the game to the opposition

[William405]

Agreed, it's why we go from great performances against Lazio, Fiorentina and now Inter to the performance we saw against Bologna, Atalanta, etc in recent weeks.

We simply don't know how to take the game to the opposition

What do you think is the solution? A change in formation? Or a change in some personnel?

[han2503]

What do you think is the solution? A change in formation? Or a change in some personnel?

I think the formation has it's pros and cons tbh, it's perfect for playing the way we've done against those teams mentioned above, it allows us to really stretch opposition out on counters and make full use of the (essentially) 4 players in attack.

But we see the drawback of that very same formation when facing the smaller sides and we continue to press forward without being able to penetrate through their defence. Once we lose the ball in those situations we usually end up being at a numerical disadvantage with Monto and the other mid busting their guts trying to catch up and the CBs back tracking.

The problem is that while it's a good counter attacking formation, it's also not one good for deploying a possession based game, a 4-4-2 used to success even without having mastermind central mids usually deploys 2 wingers that are fast, creative and capable of creating the chances themselves instead of relying on the central players.

So basically it's a combination of both, the system is flawed because we don't have the right players for it, and we don't have the smart CMs either to counter the fact that we don't have skilful wingers. So when playing against the smaller sides we tend to try to go for the possession approach which is what really kills us imo, we don't have the players for it and the system is not built for that kind of approach

[maldini03]

I think the formation has it's pros and cons tbh, it's perfect for playing the way we've done against those teams mentioned above, it allows us to really stretch opposition out on counters and make full use of the (essentially) 4 players in attack.

But we see the drawback of that very same formation when facing the smaller sides and we continue to press forward without being able to penetrate through their defence. Once we lose the ball in those situations we usually end up being at a numerical disadvantage with Monto and the other mid busting their guts trying to catch up and the CBs back tracking.

The problem is that while it's a good counter attacking formation, it's also not one good for deploying a possession based game, a 4-4-2 used to success even without having mastermind central mids usually deploys 2 wingers that are fast, creative and capable of creating the chances themselves instead of relying on the central players.

So basically it's a combination of both, the system is flawed because we don't have the right players for it, and we don't have the smart CMs either to counter the fact that we don't have skilful wingers. So when playing against the smaller sides we tend to try to go for the possession approach which is what really kills us imo, we don't have the players for it and the system is not built for that kind of approach

That's an extremely astute explanation and I think you are spot on, but with the players we have what is our best bet against the smaller teams.

[han2503]

That's an extremely astute explanation and I think you are spot on, but with the players we have what is our best bet against the smaller teams.

I honestly don't know atm, I wanted us to try a xmas tree a while back, but that was mostly to counter our incredibly shaky defence which has stabilized a lot as the months have gone on.

I think atm best bet would be to go for a slightly different tactical approach, Miha is generally speaking playing the best 11 we have atm, there really is no complaint from the majority of fans in general about the personnel he's choosing, at least that's the impression I get from most, so there's no need to change that or the formation imo.

As I said, the problem generally tends to arise when we push up too high and commit too many men while mostly passing the ball sideways, then we lose it and we get sliced through with 2 or 3 passes at the most. These are the situations we need to work on mitigating

Let's not forget that we're playing with no pure DMs, something we haven't seen at Milan in years now. I think this is a very bold approach from Miha considering how previous coaches tended to try to solve our defensive problems by sticking even more defensive/creatively inept players in that midfield

[X-Offender]

Let's not forget that we're playing with no pure DMs, something we haven't seen at Milan in years now. I think this is a very bold approach from Miha considering how previous coaches tended to try to solve our defensive problems by sticking even more defensive/creatively inept players in that midfield

Indeed. Albeit Monto, Bertolacci and Kucka are generally speaking DMs, they're not limited to just winning balls. Well, maybe Kucka is, but in a 4-4-2 he gets a much wider role than just breaking play. Obviously he sucks at anything other than winning balls, but at least he's not relegated only to that duty, and most importantly, he's not partnered with a bunch of other similar players.

[han2503]

Indeed. Albeit Monto, Bertolacci and Kucka are generally speaking DMs, they're not limited to just winning balls. Well, maybe Kucka is, but in a 4-4-2 he gets a much wider role than just breaking play. Obviously he sucks at anything other than winning balls, but at least he's not relegated only to that duty, and most importantly, he's not partnered with a bunch of other similar players.

I personally don't call either Monto or Berto DMs either, for me they are pure central mids.