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AC Milan - Milanfan.com _ Polls _ Serie A - Week 7 - Hellas Verona vs. AC Milan

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Oct 19 2014, 04:21 PM

MoM goes to Abbiati for me. He did two extremely good and important saves in the crucial moment of the match. This is why all ended well and more or less comfortable. Honda, Abate and Alex did also very well.

Flop goes between Muntari, SES and MDS to the latter. I'm sorry, but almost all of Verona's chances in the second half came from his side. He was no-existent when it came to forward help and runs, no real contact with SES either and on top of it no defensive stability. Very poor showing. SES was a letdown again, while Muntari...it's just Muntari, no need to repeat the obvious.

Posted by: X-Offender Oct 19 2014, 04:37 PM

MoM is Abbiati for me as well. Had a terrific game with outstanding saves. Obviously he'll suck in the next one, cos that's Abbiati for ya, but he deserves it this time. Honda as a close second.

Flop goes to the terrible, terrible Muntari. So, so sick of him. Useless all around, plenty of balls lost and no incisiveness whatsoever.

Posted by: milanbuf88 Oct 19 2014, 09:03 PM

MOM to Honda. He's been incredible so far this year. 6 goals and 2 assists. He's not flashy but he gets into good positions to score.

Flop to Muntari. The usual story of giveaways, lazy defending, and aweful passing.

Posted by: Danny Oct 19 2014, 10:25 PM

Honda easy MOTM.

Flop was a 4 way tie with Torres, Muntari, MDS and Essien but I gave it to Torres. He was just invisible.

Posted by: han2503 Oct 20 2014, 01:15 PM

QUOTE (Danny @ Oct 19 2014, 10:25 PM) *
Honda easy MOTM.

Flop was a 4 way tie with Torres, Muntari, MDS and Essien but I gave it to Torres. He was just invisible.

I really don't think that's the case with Torres. He worked hard, plus you have to take into account that our midfield was just non-existent, especially when it came to actually getting the attackers involved.

Torres for my was okay.

Muntari, Essien and Rami in that first half were all appalling.

So for me it's Muntari Flop, with Essien coming in a close second (Rami redeemed himself in the second half)

Honda MoM, with Alex, Abate and SES following behind in that order.

The others were all in between that not bad but not very good either, just okay.

I thought DS improved on his previously terrible performances in the other games

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Oct 20 2014, 01:33 PM

How did DS and SES improve?

Posted by: han2503 Oct 20 2014, 01:51 PM

QUOTE (Fillipo Simone @ Oct 20 2014, 01:33 PM) *
How did DS and SES improve?

DS I thought was defensively sound, didn't push up much but I thought was okay overall, which can't be said of his last few games with us, he's clearly been struggling but I thought yesterday was an improvement


SES didn't have anything to improve on as he hadn't played in a couple of weeks. But I thought he was very good, the assist for Honda's goal was just classy in every sense of the word, nearly had another assist for Honda who shot at their keeper from point blank range from El Shaa's cut back after a great run into their area and overall his work off the ball was great he was covering DS more than Muntari was on that side and recovered a fair good amount of balls back to spark attacking moves.

If people can't see this about SES they're just nit-picking on the kid, yes he was awful vs Juve but so was the rest of the team and it's very difficult for an attacker to get into the game when the midfield couldn't even string 3 passes together in that game to get it up to the attackers.

Posted by: X-Offender Oct 20 2014, 02:35 PM

I didn't notice nay improvements in DS. His overall impact is becoming very insignificant. Right now, as a fullback, he's not offering more than what Bonera would offer in that role.

As for SES, if it wasn't for that splendid assist, I would give him a 5,5. Yes, off the ball he was very helpful, but come on, he's a striker! I only remember a couple of times when he was dangerous. For the majority of the game he wasn't incisive at all.

Posted by: han2503 Oct 20 2014, 02:51 PM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Oct 20 2014, 02:35 PM) *
I didn't notice nay improvements in DS. His overall impact is becoming very insignificant. Right now, as a fullback, he's not offering more than what Bonera would offer in that role.

As for SES, if it wasn't for that splendid assist, I would give him a 5,5. Yes, off the ball he was very helpful, but come on, he's a striker! I only remember a couple of times when he was dangerous. For the majority of the game he wasn't incisive at all.

I think you have to look at the players on his side for that as well, he has Muntari and DS who as I said to Filippo was defensively sound but he wasn't really doing any runs.

That is problematic for a winger imo because he'll get isolated when he does manage to get the ball as he doesn't really have anyone to play off of. Compare this to what Honda, Abate and Poli were doing on the other side and you'll get what I'm trying to say.

SES imo was good, he needs to score so some of the obvious tension he's carrying around can ease off him but other than that I think he put in an overall good performance.

As for DS, he wasn't even looking all that comfortable defensively in the last few weeks, yesterday he seemed much more in control and was more secure in his positioning and interceptions. Which is why I said he's improved over what have been a bad couple of games now for us this season

Posted by: Danny Oct 20 2014, 10:44 PM

Forgot Rami. So popular on Twitter (and among sections on here) but he's absolutely terrible.

I've never rated him and never will.

Posted by: X-Offender Oct 20 2014, 11:04 PM

Great assist. But yeah, he's very sloppy. He looked much better last season. Based on performances so far, I agree with you that Alex and Zapata should be our starters. Zapata does make the usual brain-fart passing every now and then, but I wouldn't judge a defender based on his passing abilities.

Posted by: han2503 Oct 21 2014, 11:05 AM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Oct 20 2014, 11:04 PM) *
Great assist. But yeah, he's very sloppy. He looked much better last season. Based on performances so far, I agree with you that Alex and Zapata should be our starters. Zapata does make the usual brain-fart passing every now and then, but I wouldn't judge a defender based on his passing abilities.

Zapata makes a crucial passing error in every game, he even made one in every game he played in pre-season

As you said, Rami looked better last season, but I think it was because he was next to Mexes and they have a better understanding with each other since they've been defensive partners before he came to Milan.

I think once him and Alex play a couple of more games together they'll form a really strong pairing.

Zapata doesn't just have an occasional brain-fart, but has them on a consistent basis. I don't trust him or rate him, at all. I still say we should have jumped at the chance of selling him this summer while his price was slightly inflated because of the World Cup.

Posted by: Danny Oct 21 2014, 11:46 AM

QUOTE (X-Offender @ Oct 20 2014, 10:04 PM) *
Great assist. But yeah, he's very sloppy. He looked much better last season. Based on performances so far, I agree with you that Alex and Zapata should be our starters. Zapata does make the usual brain-fart passing every now and then, but I wouldn't judge a defender based on his passing abilities.


Did forget the assist, but it reinforces the point I made a few matches ago. In an attacking sense he does offer a lot, but as a defender he's ghastly. It's clear now why he no longer plays for France, and why Valencia were eager to get rid of him.

He's the poor man's David Luiz, and that's no compliment.

Agreed also on Zaps, if he could cut out the careless pass now and again he'd be one of the best defenders around. Good in the tackle, very, VERY quick, good reactions and good at last-ditch blocks. Positional sense isn't perfect, but then a defensive partnership has two defenders with complimentary qualities. And Alex and Zapata are good foils for each other.

Posted by: Danny Oct 21 2014, 11:48 AM

QUOTE (han2503 @ Oct 21 2014, 10:05 AM) *
Zapata makes a crucial passing error in every game, he even made one in every game he played in pre-season

As you said, Rami looked better last season, but I think it was because he was next to Mexes and they have a better understanding with each other since they've been defensive partners before he came to Milan.

I think once him and Alex play a couple of more games together they'll form a really strong pairing.

Zapata doesn't just have an occasional brain-fart, but has them on a consistent basis. I don't trust him or rate him, at all. I still say we should have jumped at the chance of selling him this summer while his price was slightly inflated because of the World Cup.


So, and here's the nub, you seem to want to forgive Rami's constant uselessness on the basis of Mexes potentially parntering him, but refuse to forgive Zaps regardless of who partners him, despite the clear superiority of the Alex Zaps partnership - still our best defensive shift of the season.

Posted by: han2503 Oct 21 2014, 01:12 PM

QUOTE (Danny @ Oct 21 2014, 11:48 AM) *
So, and here's the nub, you seem to want to forgive Rami's constant uselessness on the basis of Mexes potentially parntering him, but refuse to forgive Zaps regardless of who partners him, despite the clear superiority of the Alex Zaps partnership - still our best defensive shift of the season.

You're talking about just one game

Alex and Rami have started 2 in a row now with only 1 goal conceded. Defensively we've been frail in all the games, even the Lazio one, the problem is mostly the midfield, for the defence the most important thing is continuity, and we're starting to get that now and I'm very happy with it.

For me, Rami is our 3rd best CB, but if Mexes isn't going to start it might as well be him.

And what constant uselessness am I ignoring? I repeated multiple times here and in the match thread that I thought he was our 3rd worst performer against Verona, but he did have a very good second half, even if you don't consider the assist.

Zapata on the other hand usually makes one awful passing or positional error in each game.

Sorry, but I just don't rate him like you do and firmly believe that if he were to start, no matter who he's next to, he'd be making mistakes.

Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 21 2014, 02:11 PM

Guys OT, but GdS is running a story about Pippo and Milan and how he brought about the changes in the team in 80 days. Can anyone run a translation?!

Posted by: Danny Oct 21 2014, 03:07 PM

QUOTE (han2503 @ Oct 21 2014, 12:12 PM) *
You're talking about just one game

Alex and Rami have started 2 in a row now with only 1 goal conceded. Defensively we've been frail in all the games, even the Lazio one, the problem is mostly the midfield, for the defence the most important thing is continuity, and we're starting to get that now and I'm very happy with it.

For me, Rami is our 3rd best CB, but if Mexes isn't going to start it might as well be him.

And what constant uselessness am I ignoring? I repeated multiple times here and in the match thread that I thought he was our 3rd worst performer against Verona, but he did have a very good second half, even if you don't consider the assist.

Zapata on the other hand usually makes one awful passing or positional error in each game.

Sorry, but I just don't rate him like you do and firmly believe that if he were to start, no matter who he's next to, he'd be making mistakes.


Do we agree on any of the players?

Posted by: han2503 Oct 21 2014, 03:28 PM

QUOTE (Danny @ Oct 21 2014, 03:07 PM) *
Do we agree on any of the players?

Hmm, De Jong.... Umm, Abate....

Nope, can't think of anyone else tbh. Maybe Honda but you were ready to shove him under a bus this summer and were convinced he couldn't cut it after last season wink.gif tongue.gif

Posted by: Danny Oct 21 2014, 03:48 PM

So you don't rate Alex? You think MDS is great at the moment? You don't rate Bona in midfield? Menez sucks? Etc tongue.gif

Posted by: han2503 Oct 21 2014, 06:16 PM

QUOTE (Danny @ Oct 21 2014, 03:48 PM) *
So you don't rate Alex? You think MDS is great at the moment? You don't rate Bona in midfield? Menez sucks? Etc tongue.gif

Lol, sorry forgot about those, however you weren't so hot on Menez just a few weeks ago and you're certainly not in DS's corner right now either.

So atm it's probably 3 players that we unanimously agree on tongue.gif

Posted by: Danny Oct 21 2014, 10:10 PM

QUOTE (han2503 @ Oct 21 2014, 05:16 PM) *
Lol, sorry forgot about those, however you weren't so hot on Menez just a few weeks ago and you're certainly not in DS's corner right now either.


I know how good Menez is, he's just not currently in decent form. Hopefully he's back to his best v Fio.

Same applies to MDS.

QUOTE
So atm it's probably 3 players that we unanimously agree on tongue.gif


I've bumped it up to 5 tongue.gif

Posted by: Jack Sparrow Oct 22 2014, 06:44 AM

Somebody answer my damn question before I personally ban all of you. I'm a mod, I have powers! I can make all of your lives hell!! realmad.gif

Btw guys, we have SeS, Torres, Menez and Honda vying for 3 spots in the front roster - who do you bench? By current form, it's easy to say Torres, but then his movements are what are enabling the others to play. Lost about this....clues?

Posted by: X-Offender Oct 22 2014, 10:59 AM

QUOTE (Jack Sparrow @ Oct 22 2014, 06:44 AM) *
Somebody answer my damn question before I personally ban all of you. I'm a mod, I have powers! I can make all of your lives hell!! realmad.gif


I would, but I have an exam in a week so I don't have time right now.

QUOTE (Jack Sparrow @ Oct 22 2014, 06:44 AM) *
Btw guys, we have SeS, Torres, Menez and Honda vying for 3 spots in the front roster - who do you bench? By current form, it's easy to say Torres, but then his movements are what are enabling the others to play. Lost about this....clues?


Easy, SES. I agree that Torres' movements are great, plus I don't like Menez as false 9.

Posted by: han2503 Oct 22 2014, 12:07 PM

QUOTE (Jack Sparrow @ Oct 22 2014, 06:44 AM) *
Somebody answer my damn question before I personally ban all of you. I'm a mod, I have powers! I can make all of your lives hell!! realmad.gif

Btw guys, we have SeS, Torres, Menez and Honda vying for 3 spots in the front roster - who do you bench? By current form, it's easy to say Torres, but then his movements are what are enabling the others to play. Lost about this....clues?

Can't help you there jacko, don't understand Italian.

Question, can you as a mod ban me as another mod? Hmm...

As for your Torres, SES, Menez, Honda dilemma, I agree that Torres is really important to how that front 3 works imo, and as x-off posted I personally don't like Menez as a false 9

It mostly comes down to someone between Menez and SES for me, both bring in their own set of pros and cons, I guess you just have to assess the game and which one of them is more suited for that particular game.

Posted by: X-Offender Oct 22 2014, 12:20 PM

It's a good thing thing though that we have decent alternatives, though. In the past, if Boateng was injured, Emanuelson would play, or even worse, Birsa.

Posted by: Danny Oct 22 2014, 01:47 PM

Menez' best work for us has been as a false 9.

Posted by: han2503 Oct 22 2014, 04:19 PM

QUOTE (Danny @ Oct 22 2014, 01:47 PM) *
Menez' best work for us has been as a false 9.

In 2 games, one was that crazy 90 against Parma

I personally don't like him playing there.

Torres is a proper CF and his movement is very important to how our attack functions, Menez interprets that role differently because he's not a CF and I think it's more beneficial for us and the formation we play to have a proper CF up there.

Posted by: Fillipo Simone Oct 22 2014, 04:25 PM

QUOTE (Danny @ Oct 22 2014, 03:47 PM) *
Menez' best work for us has been as a false 9.

Well, that's only a few games. It's maybe a good strategy against the small clubs because his movement dispositions the oppositional defense and lures them out of their comfort zone. That's something that works against Paletta or Marques, but not against a stronger opponent.

It's more natural for Menez to play on the flank (right or left). So I guess SES would be the one who'd be dropped.

Posted by: Danny Oct 22 2014, 10:22 PM

QUOTE (Fillipo Simone @ Oct 22 2014, 03:25 PM) *
Well, that's only a few games. It's maybe a good strategy against the small clubs because his movement dispositions the oppositional defense and lures them out of their comfort zone. That's something that works against Paletta or Marques, but not against a stronger opponent.

It's more natural for Menez to play on the flank (right or left). So I guess SES would be the one who'd be dropped.


Fine by me.

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