[Zed.D]

Calcio Debate: Is Pirlo A Hindrance To Milan?

Milan’s title challenge has taken a turn for the worse over the past month, particularly since the return from injury of Andrea Pirlo. Carlo Garganese asks whether the World Cup winner is a hindrance to the Rossoneri, and whether he can co-exist in the same team as Clarence Seedorf and Ronaldinho…

Andrea Pirlo has played four Serie A games this season, from which Milan have obtained just a single point. One draw, three defeats, and a whopping nine goals conceded. Compare this to the Rossoneri’s league record when Pirlo has not been playing: Played 10, Won Eight, Drawn Two, Lost None.

Coincidence? It seems not.

Milan were touted by many experts as Inter’s most realistic challenger for the Scudetto during the summer, but successive defeats against Bologna and Genoa at the start of the season dampened such expectations. Pirlo then suffered a thigh injury in training in the penultimate week of September, which would rule him out of action for two months.

Without Pirlo, and one must also take into account their excellent UEFA Cup form, Milan excelled. Only a few weeks ago, they had roared to the top of Serie A, and prior to the trip to Torino on November 23, the Diavoli trailed leaders Inter, who they also beat in the derby, by just a solitary point. A 2-2 draw with the Granata, followed by yesterday’s 3-1 reverse at Palermo, has suddenly seen this gap alarmingly increase to six points.

There can be no denying the genius of Pirlo. Old-school players like him are rare in today’s game and, when on form, which he clearly isn’t just yet, there isn’t a better deep-lying playmaker in the world. However, Milan certainly have a problem at the moment trying to tactically fit Pirlo into their line-up.

I personally have my doubts whether the 29-year-old can co-exist in the same team as Clarence Seedorf and Ronaldinho – two players who can also be considered as luxuries. With all three in the same starting XI, do Milan have enough defensive cover? Are they protected at set-pieces? Is there enough pace or athletic efficiency in the team?

Yesterday, Ronaldinho was the only Milan player on the pitch to shine. In fact, despite earlier missing a costly penalty, he was quite sensational in the second half, particularly in the last 20 minutes where he was beating opponents like he used to at Barcelona. It would be impossible to drop Ronnie based on his current form, but surely one of the three has to make way?

This may prove problematic though, as all three players are modern legends who are not going to take kindly to sitting on the bench. At San Siro, Milan can certainly get away with fielding the trio. Away from home, when they need to be more compact and show more resolve, there is always the danger of capitulating just like last night.

Carlo Ancelotti has a tough choice to make.

What are your views on this topic? Is Andrea Pirlo a hindrance to Milan? Can Pirlo, Seedorf and Ronaldinho co-exist in the same starting XI? If not, who should be dropped, and what team and formation should Ancelotti employ? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…

Carlo Garganese

[Jack Sparrow]

Bah...

[Zed.D]

Statistically speaking:

We have played 15 games without Pirlo, won 12, drew 3, lost 0.
We have played 4 games with Pirlo playing. lost 3 and drew 1.

It's no personal judgment. just the plain truth.

[Jack Sparrow]

Yup...and Carlo has tried to build an argument from that one statistic. He just comes up with feeble excuses in a bid to get a flame war started on the goal.com threads.

[Zed.D]

Look, it's not like something is wrong with Pirlo. it's just that something is obviously wrong when Pirlo plays. it could be even related to Ronaldinho's arrival...

[Jack Sparrow]

Actually..it is something wrong with Pirlo. He hasn't played in over 2 months.

[Zed.D]

Actually..it is something wrong with Pirlo. He hasn't played in over 2 months.

It is NOT about Pirlo. it is about Milan! why don't you get it? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Just after Pirlo was ruled out for two months, we started winning. now that he's returned, we haven't won for two consecutive games, and we got hammered in the latest game.

What do you think Cap?

[Jack Sparrow]

I think it was an offgame. Coz I think the draw that happened with Pirlo in it, was one of Milan's better offensive performances this season.

Actually the 4-3-2-1 would work best with Pirlo in it. Talk to han, he made this monster post with this amazing gameplay theory as well.

The problem with Milan? A cohesive defensive unit. And strikers who are neither in good touch, nor out of it. Once again, it's the age old problem of the mid-field having to carry the team.

[Zed.D]

Once again, it's the age old problem of the mid-field having to carry the team.

That's simply because Carlo builds his team around midfielders. they're the backbone of Milan

We truly have a crowded midfield. we field 5 midfielders each game (Ronaldinho is scoring goals like a striker but he is a midfielder. he plays there during a game) not much space is left for strikers, and none of them have seen regular football so far.

This post has been edited by zdrossoneri: Dec 2 2008, 12:57 PM

[kurtsimonw]

Pirlo is too one dimensional and doesn't have enough of a game about him in my opinion. When the opposition are in possession, he does nothing. When we're in possession, it's only his passing that's a real threat. But against smaller sides, his passing is almost pointless as he tries to thread the ball between 9 defenders and it's just not going to happen. He's great in the bigger games, but unfortunately there isn't too many of those.

[Ry4n]

Pirlo is too one dimensional and doesn't have enough of a game about him in my opinion. When the opposition are in possession, he does nothing. When we're in possession, it's only his passing that's a real threat. But against smaller sides, his passing is almost pointless as he tries to thread the ball between 9 defenders and it's just not going to happen. He's great in the bigger games, but unfortunately there isn't too many of those.

so in other words he makes it hard for us ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[acid911]

Yes, in a way. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) I already said in the poll that once Pirlo is back we should bench Seedorf, and bring him on as a substitute to Ronaldinho. I don't care if this happens in every game, but Seedorf for the last 30, and Ronaldinho for the first 60 is the way forward.

[Fillipo Simone]

That's simply because Carlo builds his team around midfielders. they're the backbone of Milan

We truly have a crowded midfield. we field 5 midfielders each game (Ronaldinho is scoring goals like a striker but he is a midfielder. he plays there during a game) not much space is left for strikers, and none of them have seen regular football so far.

The midfield usualy is a backbone of 90% teams, isn't it?

Nahhh,...4 matches with Pirlo and now he's the one faulty? I don't think so. It's just lake making a poll like - is Milan a dirty team, have 4 yes answers and 0 no answers in the first hour and then put a text: Milan is a dirty team decided by 100% of the voters.

In other words, this statistic is worthless.

But there is a problem with Pirlo beyond just stats. He wasn't his own last season. And I don't think it's related to Ancelotti's tactic's or approach. If someone invented Pirlo it's him and from all the other players at least he knows how to use Pirlo.

[kurtsimonw]

so in other words he makes it hard for us ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I believe so. Other top European sides don't often struggle with this kind of thing, players like Deco, Xavi, Gerrard, etc. can all pass the ball well, but they can take people on and help in other ways. Pirlo, in my opinion, can't take people on, so we struggle.

[mishie]

Pirlo is too one dimensional and doesn't have enough of a game about him in my opinion. When the opposition are in possession, he does nothing. When we're in possession, it's only his passing that's a real threat. But against smaller sides, his passing is almost pointless as he tries to thread the ball between 9 defenders and it's just not going to happen. He's great in the bigger games, but unfortunately there isn't too many of those.

thats got to be a joke surely!!
He's our playmaker in my opinion more important than Kaka he is what makes us tick and these so called statistics are biased...4 games compared to 12 games...bah!