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AC Milan - Milanfan.com _ Matches _ Serie A - Week 2 - Napoli - Milan

Posted by: han2503 Aug 21 2018, 09:12 PM

What a way to start...

Hakan will be suspended for this one since the Genoa game was postponed so that's another kick in the teeth for us to add to the fact that we have to play away at Napoli in the opener.

At least it won't be at the San Paolo...

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 21 2018, 11:52 PM

QUOTE (han2503 @ Aug 21 2018, 09:12 PM) *
At least it won't be at the San Paolo...


??

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 22 2018, 03:37 PM

Probable line-up: Donnarumma; Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Bakayoko, Biglia, Kessie; Suso, Higuain, Bonaventura.

Romagnoli will be our new captain, BTW. Good choice, IMO.

Posted by: han2503 Aug 23 2018, 06:00 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 21 2018, 11:52 PM) *
??

They're doing renovations and it wasn't ready for the season apparently.

Posted by: han2503 Aug 23 2018, 06:01 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 22 2018, 03:37 PM) *
Probable line-up: Donnarumma; Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Rodriguez; Bakayoko, Biglia, Kessie; Suso, Higuain, Bonaventura.

Romagnoli will be our new captain, BTW. Good choice, IMO.

Agreed about Romagnoli

And an expected line-up. Hopefully we can pull something off

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 23 2018, 06:09 PM

QUOTE (han2503 @ Aug 23 2018, 06:00 PM) *
They're doing renovations and it wasn't ready for the season apparently.


AFAIK it’s going to be played at the San Paolo.

Posted by: han2503 Aug 23 2018, 08:44 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 23 2018, 06:09 PM) *
AFAIK it’s going to be played at the San Paolo.

Hm, you're correct. I hadn't read the latest update as of yet

QUOTE
San Paolo ready for Milan
By Football Italia staff

The Stadio San Paolo will be ready for Napoli-Milan at the weekend, but there’s a total breakdown between the club and the city.

The Partenopei had their first game of the season away from home due to renovation works on the stadium, which President Aurelio De Laurentiis has referred to as “a toilet”.

There were fears that it wouldn’t be ready for this weekend’s game, but La Repubblica reports that the San Paolo has been granted a safety certificate.

It’s expected there will be a reduced capacity though, due to ongoing works, and there is all-out war between the club and the council.

There has been no new agreement over a lease, so Napoli will have to rent the stadium on a match-by-match basis.

De Laurentiis and mayor Luigi De Magistris are no longer speaking, and the stadium is expected to be an open-air construction site for most of the season.

In addition, reports Il Mattino, the club has withdrawn the 160 free tickets which are offered to councillors.

“If you say it’s fine not to go to the stadium then I agree,” Aniello Esposito of the Democratic Party told the newspaper.

“I find it absurd though that the owner of the stadium should be outside while the President, who hasn’t signed an agreement for years, can use the structure to do business.”

Nino Simeone of the infrastructures commission also slammed the decision.

“I'm absolutely not interested in entering the stadium. The thing that interests me is that the club pays to play in the San Paolo as anyone else, be it a public or private entity, would to use the city’s structures.”

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 23 2018, 10:20 PM

It's absurd that in 2018 there are still such matters in Italy. The politics are an absolute mess. Each club should have had their own private stadium by now. Disgraceful.

Posted by: han2503 Aug 24 2018, 07:46 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 23 2018, 10:20 PM) *
It's absurd that in 2018 there are still such matters in Italy. The politics are an absolute mess. Each club should have had their own private stadium by now. Disgraceful.

Corrupt practices will hold Italy back for the foreseeable future, sadly football will continue to suffer along with the rest of the country.

When you compare Serie A with the other top leagues, it's just shocking to see how far back it still is. Even a basic twitter account which is provided in Italian only shows you how far back we are. It's just sad really. To think where Italy were in the 90s to where the league has ended up now, just because everyone was lazy and thought the train would keep rolling while they did nothing.

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 24 2018, 11:16 PM

Looks like Borini will start in attack, with Bonaventura in midfield.

Good god, who in the right frame of mind would start Borini? Gattuso, I thought you were cool, man. What happened? I'd rather play in 10 then with Borini.

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Aug 25 2018, 10:17 AM

Who would you start? Castillejo?

And I really expected Reina to start.

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 11:51 AM

QUOTE (Fillipo Simone @ Aug 25 2018, 10:17 AM) *
Who would you start? Castillejo?

And I really expected Reina to start.


Castillejo or Bonaventura.

Posted by: han2503 Aug 25 2018, 03:59 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 25 2018, 11:51 AM) *
Castillejo or Bonaventura.

Agreed, I'd prefer Bakayoko in midfield and just put Bona in attack

Castillejo is not ready to start in a game like this imo

At least Bakayoko would give us power and pace in that midfield, not to mention extra cover for the defense, which is always needed against Napoli

Borini is such a useless player, especially on that wing. He's decent as a wing back but as a winger?? Come on Rino!

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 06:57 PM

QUOTE (han2503 @ Aug 25 2018, 03:59 PM) *
Borini is such a useless player, especially on that wing. He's decent as a wing back but as a winger?? Come on Rino!


Should have shipped him this summer. Better play a primavera than him.

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Aug 25 2018, 07:10 PM

I think you two are vastly exaggerating when it comes to Borini but I agree; Bonaventura is a better option.

Posted by: Forza Milan! Aug 25 2018, 07:46 PM

BONA !!!!

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 08:12 PM

Biglia is pissing me off! What a rubbish player!

Posted by: Forza Milan! Aug 25 2018, 08:41 PM

Calabria !!!!

Posted by: Forza Milan! Aug 25 2018, 08:45 PM

1-2 :-(

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 08:48 PM

OMG, what's this obsession of holding the ball between out defenders. Obviously it would eventually cost us. We have no players who can hold the ball FFS!!!

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 08:51 PM

No wonder he took off Biglia. What a disaster of a player.

Posted by: CrazyMilanFan Aug 25 2018, 08:56 PM

Will get difficult to watch now..

Posted by: CrazyMilanFan Aug 25 2018, 09:00 PM

Poor gk

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 09:06 PM

QUOTE (CrazyMilanFan @ Aug 25 2018, 08:56 PM) *
Will get difficult to watch now..


It has been difficult the entire game. Those two goals were just lucky. Napoli will win this.

Posted by: CrazyMilanFan Aug 25 2018, 09:11 PM

We are so one dimensional

Posted by: CrazyMilanFan Aug 25 2018, 09:19 PM

Damn higuin misses

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 09:20 PM

Rodriguez, Biglia, Borini - rubbish
Calabria, Kessie, Bonaventura - limited

The only good players on the pitch tonight were Suso and Higuain. That says everything.

Posted by: Forza Milan! Aug 25 2018, 09:26 PM

Depressing. However, it is a strong Napoli team at home. Not overly surprised by the result. On ESPN, the prediction was 2-0 for Napoli.

Posted by: CrazyMilanFan Aug 25 2018, 09:29 PM

I don't understand what we play tactically.. Nevertheless this was to be a lose as we clearly cannot compete with top teams..

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 09:34 PM

QUOTE (Forza Milan! @ Aug 25 2018, 09:26 PM) *
Depressing. However, it is a strong Napoli team at home. Not overly surprised by the result. On ESPN, the prediction was 2-0 for Napoli.


Nah man, we're just crap. Don't care how good the opponent is. We could very well lose to Frosinone for all I know.

QUOTE (CrazyMilanFan @ Aug 25 2018, 09:29 PM) *
I don't understand what we play tactically..


Kick the ball, it's called. That's the only tactics we know.

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Aug 25 2018, 09:43 PM

I don't think Biglia was that bad to be honest. And Borini worked his *** of; sure, he's very limited and should be used exclusively as a sub. As for Rodriguez, well. I've been harping against him on and on. He's useless with his lack of pace and limited defensive ability.

Bonaventura is perhaps limited but he still has quality and that certain spark. Calabria? Well. He's very green and lack defensive stability.

All in all I think Donnarumma costed us also much. I really don't trust him anymore and would prefer Reina.

Finally, that same mentality that haunted us last season with starting good and then slowly (or rather rapidly) sinking in a lethargic and idealess composition is what makes me worry.

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Aug 25 2018, 09:44 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 25 2018, 11:34 PM) *
Nah man, we're just crap. Don't care how good the opponent is. We could very well lose to Frosinone for all I know.



Kick the ball, it's called. That's the only tactics we know.

You are a overreacting a bit, yes?

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 10:03 PM

QUOTE (Fillipo Simone @ Aug 25 2018, 09:43 PM) *
I don't think Biglia was that bad to be honest.


blink.gif

Biglia was catastrophic.

QUOTE (Fillipo Simone @ Aug 25 2018, 09:44 PM) *
You are a overreacting a bit, yes?


I'm angry cause this team has no game and no balls.

Posted by: han2503 Aug 25 2018, 10:47 PM

Hey guys. Let's face it, this was sort of expected

That being said, I'm mostly angry about our general game. It was this chaotic, rushed, frenzied approach, strangely from both sides, with Napoli being much better (obviously)

The midfield will be our downfall this season as predicted. Biglia was a complete mess, but we were even more messy and chaotic after he was taken off if that's even possible.

The passing around at the back is another huge issue. First off, to do this you need to have a keeper who is comfortable on the ball, Donna is absolutely terrible in this regard. Romagnoli and Musacchio are both ok to semi decent on the ball, but they simply cannot handle the type of pressure Napoli were putting them under. Calabria was also all over the place defensively, haven't seen him play that bad since the derby 2 years ago.

All in all, it was one giant mess. Too rushed, no coherent tactical plan, just cringe worthy stuff. Even while we were winning I was constantly shaking my head. We couldn't string 5 passes together or keep the ball for more the a whole minute.

Rino needs to get his sh!t together. That team selection was bad, the mindset was bad and the tactical approach was bad as well. How were we 2-0 up and still rushing around like headless chickens??

And we have Roma coming up next on Friday... This could be really bad for us as we'll most likely head into the international break without a single point on the board...

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Aug 25 2018, 10:57 PM

Donna needs to be replaced with Reina. And yes, as feared, Bakayoko and Kessie seem redundant.

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 25 2018, 11:52 PM

How can we fix this, though? These are the players. Biglia, Kessie, Bakayoko. We need to field at least two of them. Cos the alternatives are Montolivo, Bertolacci and Jose Mauri.

The main issue is that we don't have players who are good on the ball, i.e. who don't lose it like idiots as our midfielders do most of the time.

I've never seen anyone as lost as Biglia was tonight. Every time he received the ball he looked helpless. Sure enough, their first goal came from his mistake.

I don't know what Rino can do, he's a bit helpless himself in this situation.

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Aug 26 2018, 12:16 AM

For starters he could have wished for someone else then Bakayoko who seems totally redundant.

Then we should have tried to address the midfield problem. We lack speed and intelligence, none of our players can provide that. We should have gotten rid of Monto and Bertolacci, Biglia probably as well. But well... again, Biglia wasn't good today, but you make it sound lot worse IMO.

Posted by: Rossoneri7 Aug 26 2018, 12:43 AM

Milan played a great first half, showed courage and spirit.

I for one expect Napoli (and to a larger extent Ancelotti) to triumph today. They were afterall runners up last season. Have much experience and are a CL team (not necessarily winners, but contenders).

There is much to improve on and its good Milan are facing Napoli and next week Roma, two strong teams to get things moving. The team should start to get inform as the first couple of games are under way. Add to that Milan has 8 new players, some require time to adapt to Serie A while others need to build a rapport with their team mates.

As always Forza Milan!

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 26 2018, 02:41 AM

QUOTE (Fillipo Simone @ Aug 26 2018, 12:16 AM) *
For starters he could have wished for someone else then Bakayoko who seems totally redundant.

Then we should have tried to address the midfield problem. We lack speed and intelligence, none of our players can provide that. We should have gotten rid of Monto and Bertolacci, Biglia probably as well. But well... again, Biglia wasn't good today, but you make it sound lot worse IMO.


"Could have" "Should have"

I'm talking about right now. What solutions do we have?

At the top of my head there's switching to 4-2-3-1. Since our midfielders are so inept we need to think of a formation that puts less burden on the midfield to create and leave that duty to the three attacking midfielders instead.

Unfortunately, we need to continue relying on Biglia and Kessie since we have nobody else, unless we wanna give Bertolacci a second chance.

But I'm pulling at straws here. Honestly, I don't see any clear solution. If the players could man up and have the balls to fight for a change, that would be a good start.

Posted by: han2503 Aug 26 2018, 01:12 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 25 2018, 11:52 PM) *
How can we fix this, though? These are the players. Biglia, Kessie, Bakayoko. We need to field at least two of them. Cos the alternatives are Montolivo, Bertolacci and Jose Mauri.

The main issue is that we don't have players who are good on the ball, i.e. who don't lose it like idiots as our midfielders do most of the time.

I've never seen anyone as lost as Biglia was tonight. Every time he received the ball he looked helpless. Sure enough, their first goal came from his mistake.

I don't know what Rino can do, he's a bit helpless himself in this situation.

Biglia was terrible yesterday, no doubt about it. But when he's in form, he's the only player we have that can distribute the ball and is capable of playing a defensive role in midfield through correct positioning. If he can't get his sh!t together than there is no hope for that midfield. We might as well try to put Monto in there.

Bakayoko and Kessie cannot play a holding role. They're constantly running around like maniacs and chasing the ball around instead of positioning themselves to win it back. That's why we looked even worse when Biglia was taken off yesterday, because no matter how terrible he was, Bakayoko running around chasing everything put us in an even worse situation as huge gaps opened up in the midfield. Kessie does the same thing essentially.

I think a 4-2-3-1 could be a solution, but whoever plays next to Biglia will need to learn the art of positioning and not just running around like a headless chicken chasing the ball

QUOTE (Fillipo Simone @ Aug 26 2018, 12:16 AM) *
For starters he could have wished for someone else then Bakayoko who seems totally redundant.

Then we should have tried to address the midfield problem. We lack speed and intelligence, none of our players can provide that. We should have gotten rid of Monto and Bertolacci, Biglia probably as well. But well... again, Biglia wasn't good today, but you make it sound lot worse IMO.

The fact that we didn't address the midfield issue is something that will haunt us throughout this season, just like it has for the last 7 years.

Countless coaches and 3 ownership changes and still no one has addressed this issue or even acknowledged it. It can't be something that it's just us who see it (as in the fans). Last summer they tried to address it with Biglia but he's been a huge let down.

QUOTE (Rossoneri7 @ Aug 26 2018, 12:43 AM) *
Milan played a great first half, showed courage and spirit.

I for one expect Napoli (and to a larger extent Ancelotti) to triumph today. They were afterall runners up last season. Have much experience and are a CL team (not necessarily winners, but contenders).

There is much to improve on and its good Milan are facing Napoli and next week Roma, two strong teams to get things moving. The team should start to get inform as the first couple of games are under way. Add to that Milan has 8 new players, some require time to adapt to Serie A while others need to build a rapport with their team mates.

As always Forza Milan!

I disagree about it being a great first half. The socre was misleading. We were a chaotic mess out there throughout the game. I simply do not understand why Rino would go to the San Paolo and have the team trying to play quick, one touch, play out from the back football when we have no one in this team capable of doing that. We should have defended with a deep line and frustrated them, picked our moments on the counterattack. This especially when we found ourselves miraculously a goal up. But we simply did not do this. We went gung ho all game long, with not a hint of composure or fluidity to be seen.

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 26 2018, 02:41 AM) *
"Could have" "Should have"

I'm talking about right now. What solutions do we have?

At the top of my head there's switching to 4-2-3-1. Since our midfielders are so inept we need to think of a formation that puts less burden on the midfield to create and leave that duty to the three attacking midfielders instead.

Unfortunately, we need to continue relying on Biglia and Kessie since we have nobody else, unless we wanna give Bertolacci a second chance.

But I'm pulling at straws here. Honestly, I don't see any clear solution. If the players could man up and have the balls to fight for a change, that would be a good start.

I agree about the 4-2-3-1. I'd shackle Biglia and Kessie/Bakayoko to a more defensive midfield-pivot and let the 4 upfront deal with the creativity. Playing a 3-ma midfield with this bunch, especially when Biglia is so off form is a mistake.

Honeslty, I have a bad feeling about Rino this season. I don't think he'll last long tbh

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 26 2018, 07:03 PM

Reina
Abate - Caldara - Romagnoli - Laxalt
Kessie - Biglia
Suso - Hakan - Bona
Higuain


Scrap Donnarumma, Calabria and Rodriguez. They're not good enough.

I think Kessie does better in the double pivot, because it establishes him as a pure defensive midfielder, which in turn exalts his physical qualities (not to mention that's the position he played at Atalanta). When played as mezz'ala, he is given too much freedom which ends up in him running like a headless chicken and leaving plenty of gaps behind. And Biglia would also have a supporting partner rather than being by himself and hence succumbing to pressure.

Obviously I also think that's the perfect position for Hakan, whereas Suso and Bona would continue playing in their respective roles. Don't forget Bonaventura was the left winger in Atalanta's 4-4-2 back in the day.

I seriously think this is the best we can achieve given the roster of players at disposal. It's far from perfect, but any other formation would simply give us problems.

But does Gattuso have the brains and balls to switch to it? I have my doubts.

Posted by: han2503 Aug 26 2018, 08:28 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Aug 26 2018, 07:03 PM) *
Reina
Abate - Caldara - Romagnoli - Laxalt
Kessie - Biglia
Suso - Hakan - Bona
Higuain


Scrap Donnarumma, Calabria and Rodriguez. They're not good enough.

I think Kessie does better in the double pivot, because it establishes him as a pure defensive midfielder, which in turn exalts his physical qualities (not to mention that's the position he played at Atalanta). When played as mezz'ala, he is given too much freedom which ends up in him running like a headless chicken and leaving plenty of gaps behind. And Biglia would also have a supporting partner rather than being by himself and hence succumbing to pressure.

Obviously I also think that's the perfect position for Hakan, whereas Suso and Bona would continue playing in their respective roles. Don't forget Bonaventura was the left winger in Atalanta's 4-4-2 back in the day.

I seriously think this is the best we can achieve given the roster of players at disposal. It's far from perfect, but any other formation would simply give us problems.

But does Gattuso have the brains and balls to switch to it? I have my doubts.

Agree, but I don't think Abate is the solution.

He's declined a lot. Calabria was great last season. He's started rusty, but we should give him some time, at least until Conti is fit again. Laxalt might be a bit defensively suspect but I agree, he should start at this point. At least he has speed which allows him to recover his positioning

I'd really like to see what Castillejo can do as well. Bona is a rather limited player for that position imo, but he's good for now.

Problem is, I can't see Rino switching to this

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 26 2018, 09:17 PM

QUOTE (han2503 @ Aug 26 2018, 08:28 PM) *
Agree, but I don't think Abate is the solution.

He's declined a lot. Calabria was great last season. He's started rusty, but we should give him some time, at least until Conti is fit again. Laxalt might be a bit defensively suspect but I agree, he should start at this point. At least he has speed which allows him to recover his positioning

I'd really like to see what Castillejo can do as well. Bona is a rather limited player for that position imo, but he's good for now.

Problem is, I can't see Rino switching to this


I think Abate is far better defensively, plus has experience, which Calabria clearly lacks. But still, I wouldn't mind Calabria there either. The point is to actually play that formation.

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Aug 26 2018, 11:00 PM

Well, I agree that a 4-2-3-1 could be the right answer.

Han, I don't think Calabria had a special season. He was okay but the problem with him is that he's neither defensively solid like Tassotti or Maldini were nor offensively good like Sergio or Cafu. Beside the midfield situation the fullback problem is something Milan bears ever since the two mentioned Brazilians retired. Just think how modern teams deploy their fullbacks. Look at ManCity how they play a defensively awful Mendy to their advantage. Or Bayern with Kimmich and Alaba. Defending for fullbacks has been reduced to sheer speed and pace whereas the main part is their "pendolino" running and offensive work. Can Calabria deliver? Rarely. One of ten crosses will be good, one of ten forward runs will result in something dangerous. Too little. So I agree about Conti being the first choice and until then - Abate.

Posted by: X-Offender Aug 27 2018, 03:18 PM

According to Sky, Gattuso will play 4-3-3 vs Roma as well. Caldara and Laxalt should play instead of Musacchio and Rodriguez.

dry.gif

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Aug 27 2018, 10:39 PM

Meh.

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