[Danny]

I think he'll definitely switch it up to a 3-man back line or a 4-man back line that suits the players he has. 4-3-3 is certainly not the one though because we don't have any wingers

In fact he said today that he's considering the 3-man defence. However, with Romagnoli still injured, I don't know if we'll go with this initially, but if we are to go for a back 4 then I hope it's a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-2-1 and not a 4-3-3 because we simply do not have the players for it

That being said, I think he stuck to it because it was mostly players from last season who started with the exception of Kessie and Rodriguez, so I can see the logic behind using it for these games.

My worry is that he's not going to to have the opportunity to try the new guys out as a set 11 before we play the EL qualifiers.

That being said, we were playing Dortmund today who had what I think is probably their strongest 11 out there or as close to it as you can get in a summer friendly, they're ahead of us in their pre-season and they're already a well oiled machine as this is basically the same squad as last season. I also read that we could have gotten a better result in the second half as we had the chances but fluffed our lines


I'm not going to get into the ratings because I didn't watch so I can't really dispute, but the general consensus I got from reading on the net and watching highlight videos and individual player compilations was that Kessie was apparently as bad as you're saying in the first half - this is mostly because he was played in the regista position and was basically dropping between the 2 CBs to pick up the ball - this is definitely not his game though, I'm wondering why Montella would even use him in such a way. Kessie is pure box-to-box, and we shouldn't be using him as a DM. That being said, I also read that he improved a lot in the 2nd half which is probably why we see all the adulation as when people want to really get behind someone they forget the bad and roll with the good. So if he ended his performance on a good note, this could be why you're seeing a more lopsided assessment

Hakan, Musacchio and Rodrigues were impressive from what I read as well, also, consider the fact that Rodriguez had Niang ahead of him while Antonelli had Hakan, and this could be the reason why one looked a bit better. Hakan looked great when Bona or Antonelli overlapped him and he continuously played them in, while Rodriguez didn't have that kind of smart player ahead of him as Niang is simply a headless chicken

You know, I'm not going to worry about this, it's a friendly we've always been terrible in pre-season games even during the glory years under Carlo, add to that, Montella started a lot of the old players (some of which we know for a fact will be leaving), so he kept the old shape and tactics and just stuck the new guys in. I think we'll definitely see a change in tactics/system when Bonucci, Conti and Biglia come into the mix

Re-Bacca, I mean, I watched the highlights and he barely featured aside from that shot which was good no doubt but it was as badly conceded as the Sahin one we let in. Keepers terrible on both.

Just want to add that the result isn't so bad considering one of the goals was a penalty (Paletta is consistent if nothing else) and the other was a terrible attempt at a save by our back up keeper (maybe we should really consider making A. Dolla the number 2)


Could it be because he was playing the DM position in the first half? I'm mostly asking because from the clips I watched he looked to be playing a classic DM role in the 1st half while in the 2nd he was definitely positioned more to the side of the midfield and looked like he was given more licence to maraud forward


Montella imo is a good tactician, whether he can handle the pressure that's now been put upon him is another thing all together. But I still have faith in him.


Agreed

And anyway, Dortmun and Bayern were always going to be a kick in the teeth, we couldn't have picked worse sides to play against. Both are well oiled machines who are already much further into their pre-season than we are, there teams are already well formed and have been playing with each other for a while, so expecting some kind of miracle result while we were still utilizing the likes of Paletta, Zapata, Niang was pointless

I've forgotten what parts in here are mine so I'm just gonna smile and pray (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) In general, I mean.

[han2503]

I said the same after Rangers lost pre-season friendly after pre-season friendly. Then it got worse against Europe's statistically 10th worst team in UEL first round when we managed the worst result in the club's history.

If it looks REALLY bad pre-season chances are it's not just for sh*ts and giggles. There is a case for tactical tinkering and fitness issues, but if things aren't clicking pre-season after multiple alterations and attempts, what difference exactly is a couple of weeks before season start/competitive action going to make?

So I dearly hope for improvement against Bayern otherwise this is already looking bad.

If you think we're going to do better against Bayern think again

This was really our first pre-season game with a strange mish-mash of players put together, some of which we already know will be sold, so it's pointless to over-analyse as you're not going to get much of anything from these 2 games.

Let's also point out that we're only participating in these friendlies because they're in China, we were never going to miss this opportunity and we've been hearing how important going to China was since April

[Danny]

If you think we're going to do better against Bayern think again

This was really our first pre-season game with a strange mish-mash of players put together, some of which we already know will be sold, so it's pointless to over-analyse as you're not going to get much of anything from these 2 games.

Let's also point out that we're only participating in these friendlies because they're in China, we were never going to miss this opportunity and we've been hearing how important going to China was since April

Oh I expect to lose but that's not the same as not expecting improvement. If we try a better formation, more of our new players, then we can give a reasonable account of ourselves and see signs of progress.

But we have to play better football. Whoever we face. We canNOT go another season playing this present form of directionless guff.

[Forza Milan!]

Oh I expect to lose but that's not the same as not expecting improvement. If we try a better formation, more of our new players, then we can give a reasonable account of ourselves and see signs of progress.

But we have to play better football. Whoever we face. We canNOT go another season playing this present form of directionless guff.

I am expecting Bonucci and Biglia will help provide some direction. (Then again, It may be wishful thinking on my part.)

[X-Offender]

I am expecting Bonucci and Biglia will help provide some direction. (Then again, It may be wishful thinking on my part.)

Of course they will. As will Musacchio, Conti, Kessie, Rodriguez, Calhanoglu, Silva and whatever striker we may sign. You all seem to be forgetting that right now this team is under construction. It's a mish-mash of new players and old players waiting to leave.

The line-up and formation deployed by Montella against Dortmund was a mess, and it doesn't represent what we should expect when the new season starts.

Be patient. We're starting a new era, it will take a short while till things start clicking.

[Danny]

Of course they will. As will Musacchio, Conti, Kessie, Rodriguez, Calhanoglu, Silva and whatever striker we may sign. You all seem to be forgetting that right now this team is under construction. It's a mish-mash of new players and old players waiting to leave.

The line-up and formation deployed by Montella against Dortmund was a mess, and it doesn't represent what we should expect when the new season starts.

Be patient. We're starting a new era, it will take a short while till things start clicking.

Short while is fine. I literally define that as a few weeks of competitive action. Even if results are not impeccable to start with there has to be a clear sign of progress.

You don't spend 200M to wait 6 months for it to work.

[Danny]

I am expecting Bonucci and Biglia will help provide some direction. (Then again, It may be wishful thinking on my part.)

Bonucci is a marquee signing and could well kick start the lot of them into action. But Montella does need to develop a better system to suit his players. We now have the tools at our disposal to construct a great team - Montella does not have the excuse now he had last season.

If there is no clear improvement by around October I would genuinely say his position is under threat. So let's hope we do see it before then, and it's tangible.

[X-Offender]

Short while is fine. I literally define that as a few weeks of competitive action. Even if results are not impeccable to start with there has to be a clear sign of progress.

You don't spend 200M to wait 6 months for it to work.

Yes, of course. End of October is when I expect things to be in line.

[Fillipo Simone]

Yes, of course. End of October is when I expect things to be in line.

By the time we get to October, we'll be out of EL - just like a Glenn Campbell line hahaha.

[han2503]

By the time we get to October, we'll be out of EL - just like a Glenn Campbell line hahaha.

Nah, we'll go through from the qualifiers and I think we'll do well in the groups.

I'm not expecting a diabolical start, but I'm definitely expecting a patchy one. That's why I've reiterated that no matter who we sign, we're not going to be Scudetto contenders this season. Juve and Napoli are already finished products. It's going to take time for us to come anywhere near them in terms of team cohesiveness/chemistry

[Fillipo Simone]

Juve? I don't think so. They've lost Alves and Bonucci, Sandro seems to be leaving as well. I think they took some pretty nasty blows and by loosing two very combative fullbacks their midfield deficiencies could start showing. I don't know.

As for Napoli, Sarri is a good tactician and all that, but with all honesty I fail to see the real quality in this team. Hamšik and Insigne are very good players, while the rest - especially the defense - is nothing special to be honest.

[han2503]

Juve? I don't think so. They've lost Alves and Bonucci, Sandro seems to be leaving as well. I think they took some pretty nasty blows and by loosing two very combative fullbacks their midfield deficiencies could start showing. I don't know.

As for Napoli, Sarri is a good tactician and all that, but with all honesty I fail to see the real quality in this team. Ham�ik and Insigne are very good players, while the rest - especially the defense - is nothing special to be honest.

Sure they've taken some blows in the market, but they seem to take a blow each summer and they continue plaughing on through the league.

I don't think they'll let Sandro go now that they lost Bonucci and Alves, last I read he was going to extend and they rejected a massive bid from Chelsea. And even if they do lose important players, they're still a much better unit then us atm, we're a completely new side so we're going to need time. If we get an easy fixture list to start with we could do better than I'm expecting, but if we get a tricky schedule we could struggle for consistency

As for Napoli, imo they're one of the most fluid sides I've watched in a while, sure they have weak areas and it doesn't look like they're doing much to improve them this summer, but it's good that they're keeping a low profile as the key for them is to keep their best players

I'll give you the defence, but their midfield and attack imo is the best in the league right now. Mertens, Insigne, Hamsik, Allan would walk into the Juve line-up imo

[Fishdoll]

Juve? I don't think so. They've lost Alves and Bonucci, Sandro seems to be leaving as well. I think they took some pretty nasty blows and by loosing two very combative fullbacks their midfield deficiencies could start showing. I don't know.

As for Napoli, Sarri is a good tactician and all that, but with all honesty I fail to see the real quality in this team. Hamšik and Insigne are very good players, while the rest - especially the defense - is nothing special to be honest.

Pretty sure Alex Sandro is staying. That said, the rest of their backline is aging - Bonucci was the youngest of the group - and the backups aren't anywhere near that level.

The Gobbi's real on field issue is their midfield and buying all the wingers in the world isn't going to fix that.

Some Gobbi friends were chatting the other day (yes, I hang out with Juve fans sometimes) and they seem to be of the opinion that something is off at the club, whether at the squad/coach level (rumors that others aren't happy with Allegri) or something to do with management. They're concerned, for what it's worth.

[Danny]

Juve? I don't think so. They've lost Alves and Bonucci, Sandro seems to be leaving as well. I think they took some pretty nasty blows and by loosing two very combative fullbacks their midfield deficiencies could start showing. I don't know.

As for Napoli, Sarri is a good tactician and all that, but with all honesty I fail to see the real quality in this team. Hamšik and Insigne are very good players, while the rest - especially the defense - is nothing special to be honest.

Have to agree on Juve. There's a little groundswell of change. Some dissent against Allegri, loss of Bonucci and Alves on emotional rather than football reasons, and the feeling of an end of an era. An era which probably ended when they lost UCL final. They're still the ones to beat, but they're more vulnerable now than they've been since before Conte took charge.

[Forza Milan!]

Have to agree on Juve. There's a little groundswell of change. Some dissent against Allegri, loss of Bonucci and Alves on emotional rather than football reasons, and the feeling of an end of an era. An era which probably ended when they lost UCL final. They're still the ones to beat, but they're more vulnerable now than they've been since before Conte took charge.

+1