I would assume that he will go Isma-Reijnders against Roma, he just rotated Isma out since he's more delicate than Tijjani.

As for the defence, I hope It's Gabbia-Kjaer. Gabbia has been great since coming back, especially when playing next to Kjaer. On the other hand, Thiaw has looked like he needs to relearn how to play football again since coming back from injury. The f@ck ups he's committing are truly bad. And Gabbia loses all his confidence when playing with him as well. So Kjaer is the obvious choice there and I assume is why he was given a few minutes yesterday as well.

Assist aside, he's always underwhelming to me.

His supposed best trait is his passing, and he rarely opens up play, switches play with quick/long passes. Always goes the easy route, holds the ball for far too long and makes dangerous speculative decisions, especially when playing so deep.

The issue with Maignan for example is that we have to renew his deal this summer or he should be sold. He wants big wages and he's had issues with his performances this season, not to mention he's had one big injury each season he's been with us.

We cannot give him more than Leao/Theo imo. A GK can be replaced and is not worth f@cking up the entire salary structure over.

We might be in a healthy situation now, but things could easily slide if we are not vigilant. I'd personally sell Mike this summer if he does not renew by August.

We can think big while also being realistic, a relegated side in the PL will make more this season than Inter who will win the Serie A.

Tonali last summer was a smart decision, we can do the same with another player this summer. Otherwise we're not going to spend like we did last summer

I agree, the core is good, and we must renew Theo's deal at all costs, but we need to sign a top CF and a top DM next summer imo, and those are 2 of the most expensive positions to fill in football.

I think a DM is far more important than a RB, but that's just me. We lost points in games like the ones against Napoli and conceded so many goals this season because we do not have a proper DM who can control the play. Bennacer has not been the same since coming back, we have to be honest with ourselves on that one, plus he's very injury prone and not dependable.

You know I have been a huge proponent to the PioliOut brigade, but I must confess that I've been re-thinking my position on that. The managerial marry-go-round this summer is going to be ridiculous, with many top teams potentially looking to change managers (Liverpool, United, Chelsea, Barcelona, Bayern, Juve). I don't think we can be competitive in that market. Pioli has made me insanely angry for a while now, but he seems to have held the team together and kept the players behind him even through the real worst of times.

We're improving in our play and our form has been impeccable since the turn of the year, the only blemish being that Monza game where Jovic f@cked us over.

I think if the management give him a top CF and a DM, we'll be very competitive with him as our coach next season

Inter have been unreal this year, I think the season they're having is a one off. Yes, we f@cked up games we shouldn't have, and once again we were in an injury crises of our own making which contributed to said f@ck ups.

But, we made a lot of changes this summer an Pioli took it in stride and matched his best season with us so far, which ended with a title.

Pioli will still be under contract next season, I think we should let him have another season, with the right upgrades, I think he can deliver again.

And I never thought I'd say this after January 2023

He rotated the midfield. And had that red card not happened we'd have probably lost that tie the way we were playing

I'm sorry, but Adli cannot be a starter against teams who press us. He's such a huge liability.

Musah and RLC as well were all over the place. We practically play without a midfield. Bennacer at least gives us structure.

Pioli once again f@cking up the rotation, while making Pulisic play again

No De Zerbi pls.

Motta would be my pick

Conte makes me worry a bit but I'd take him

Sarri as well

what are the options to replace Pioli? Conte has been spoken of then someone like De Zerbi..

Btw, the midfield composition we've got going right now is not only giving me nightmares but it gives me a nauseous feeling when I watch it.

Bennacer, all over the place, RLC playing nearly next to Giroud, Adli the only one central is slow as f@ck

We leave so many wide open spaces in the centre of the pitch. Why are we not lining up the mids in a flat 3 FFS? It looks like a f@cked up 4-2-3-1 that constantly leaves us exposed

And why isn't Tijjani starting games suddenly FFS?? We're so much better with him on the pitch, especially paired with Benna (who was @ss today btw). For me RLC is the weakest one in terms of movement/passing. Sure he has the phisique and has popped up with goals as of late. But he makes so many bad decisions and take so much time to pass.

Adli also can be such a big liability at times.

I'd rather see a flat RLC, Benna, Tijjani midfield. I think it's a much better mix. Still no natural holding mid, but all are relatively quick and strong so they should hold their own. The 4-2-3-1 is just leaving us wide open

Orsato cost us the game today

We've been so unlucky with these BS penalty calls all season. So many being given against us.

We played well today, finally a good performance that deserved much more. Leao looks like he's back in his groove as well so I'm happy about that at least.

We can still get that 2nd spot ahead of Juve, it's not much but it's better than 3rd. Making sure that the other teams don't gain ground on us will be key to try to go far in Europe. Lazio next away from home and it's a must win.

Another penalty... My god!

What is Jovic supposed to do with that? It cam at him from closer than 10cm FFS

Once again, we have no close on how to control a game. Cannot keep possession for more than a second, keep inviting on pressure.

2 of the softest penalties you'll see. We've been a lighting rod for these all season, and it is all because we don't dictate games, we invite pressure which creates these situations

Another shameful performance to put under our belts this season.

Cannot defend to save our lives, no shape, no structure and ill-disciplined.

Make this season be over already!

This is what I mean about Adli x-off

Slow, contemplative, terrible decision making! Really don't rate him.


Also, Pioli's rotation striking again. Absolutely awful decisions. W have the Rennes game practically wrapped up, why not rotate in that one? Absolutely boggles the mind

Agreed about Leao, and noticed those instances as well where he was ignored

If this season we only counted points based on the first half of games, we'd be first in the table. That is how bad our 2nd half performances are.

Those 2 league games you mentioned are the difference between where we are now vs fighting for the title. I'd also add the Napoli and Udinese first round games as well. Had we not thrown those games away, we'd have exactly 9 points more than we do now. Which would put us right there with Inter

A real shame.

I know a lot has to do with the massive injuries we've had to deal with in our defence especially, but some of it is just plain carelesness.

I really don't know what's wrong with him. Every time he tries to take on his man, he's failing, when in the past he'd be successful 8 out of the 10 times he does it. He's just not had that zing about him ever since he got that injury. And this is not to excuse him, but he's very obviously just not moving as he usually would. That being said, he's even getting the simple things wrong atm. His touch, the passing, all so comically non-committal from him, and I get that that's the general vibe he gives out, but if you're not at 100% at least be fully focused enough to get the simple things right!

His pass to Theo today was beautiful though. But we need so much more from him. Thankfully we have other capable attackers this season to take on some of the burden. Can you imagine him going through this kind of slide with Alexis and Messias on the other side??

Great win today it wasn't a pretty watch at all during that 2nd half especially but by hook or by crook we got the job done against one of our biggest bogey teams. Onwards and upwards.

Pioli should resign if he had any decency.