New poll is here

Van Ginkel is good, trust me. You have every right to be dubious, but time will tell. But even so, we have Honda and Bonaventura who can play as CM. Yet Pippo decides to go for the defensive approach. That's my main issue here. We should advocate a more aggressive approach.

This is what big teams do. We're not Cagliari. Look at Inter, for example. They play both Hernanes and Kovacic in central midfield. Roma play Pjanic. Juve play Pirlo, even though all their mids are very offensive-minded. Instead, we play De Jong, Poli and Muntari in midfield, and Bonaventura and Honda in attack. Nope, just nope.



At least you recognize that he shouldn't be played.

Holy God. Early contender for match of the season. Covering that chaos in one post would be absolutely impossible, so I won't even try.

I'll just go straight for ratings (which I'm sure at least one of them will offend someone )

Lopez: 5 Extremely poor/average. Have to say he's had a inauspicious start to his Milan career. A 'decent' save V Lazio plus the penalty stop, but that aside I am not impressed by him at all. He doesn't look any better than Abbiati at this point. He doesn't command his box, rarely comes for crosses, and hasn't yet made, penalty aside, one genuinely great save. The OG was one of the biggest tragi-comedies I've ever seen.

Abate: 8 Utterly superb. His nickname is the Locomotive and this match was easy to see why. Caused constant issues down Parma's left.

Alex: 6 Not his best night, clearly wasn't at ease with his partner.

Bonera: 4 I admit it, he sucks now. He's played a few times in pre-season and he just keeps on getting caught. His red card was harsh, because neither of them were necessarily yellows, especially the first where there was no contact, but his defensive solidity was completely absent tonight.

DS: 6 He was ok, not sensational, but had some weak moments as well as his better ones. Incredibly unfortunate OG.

Muntari: 7 Actually had a good match today - some good tackling and vital interceptions, and mostly used the ball well.

De Jong: 7 Guilty of giving the ball away more than usual but otherwise the usual rock in DM and his goal was just insane.

Poli: 6 Work work work. He gives exactly the same every match, never varies.

Honda: 6 Took his goal so very well but I thought he was otherwise quiet. His set pieces were generally weak and I can't fathom why he always takes them.

Bonaventura: 5 Thought he was poor. Lack of composure at all times, had no effect on the attack and spent most of the match deeper than he was supposed to be. Think he lacks confidence as a forward/winger. Took his goal well enough though.

Menez: 9 But for his horrendous inability to stay on his feet I'd have given him 10. I whined about his constant diving v Lazio, and tonight I whine again. He's a borderline cheat. And YET. F*ck me he was outstanding. He controlled the entire game, everything went through him, and in terms of influence he proved me well wrong. He was stellar. His goal was magical, and he took his penalty brilliantly. Pity he dived for the 80th time to get it.

Pippo: 5 Sorry Pippo, why the f*ck did you break up a brilliant defensive unit for the sake of playing Bonera again? Zaps was outstanding V Lazio - I can only think he was jetlagged from Colombian duty. In which case play Rami. I knew Bonera would start but couldn't fathom him being in the middle given the defenders we have ahead of him. Bonera being there is why the backline was frail - he was 'out of harm's way' v Lazio but tonight in the thick of it he was disruptive.

I'm done defending Bonera, too many errors. If Han can admit he has changed his mind on Niang, I can do the same on Bonera. But at least Pippo is now playing Abate RB & MDS LB.

The lack of leaders out there is probably the reason Bonera gets played. We basically have none, and that includes Abbiati and Montolivo. There isn't a captain anywhere in this team, no one to lead the others. Hence Bonera is picked.

+1

What a total ****!! Glad he made the mistake on De Jong's goal. What a complete tool!


We do have options though. Both Honda and Bonaventura are more than capable of taking over Muntari's spot. Van Ginkel for me is still not a sure thing, I agree, Pippo has to give him the chance to take that position off of Poli.

But atm, our midfield is just one note, it's like listening to music on a consistent annoying whine that won't change. Muntari simply cannot be in there. Also, by starting with him, Pippo is also limiting himself in terms of when it comes time to closing the match out, because he has no one in midfield to do that aside from Essien and I'd rather he just didn't go there. Instead, like today, no one could really come in to close out the midfield, Muntari could be that guy for us. While we start games taking a more offensive approach in midfield that would allow us to take the game to the opposition and control possession much better than we currently do. And by doing that it's a major form of defence as well as most of the pressure we're currently seeing on our defence would be lessened because we won't be constantly losing the ball because of clumsy passes by incapable players.

And Merkel? I don't think I was ever a huge backer of his. I think you have me confused with someone else.


I totally buy it.

There is no single fathomable reason as to why he should take the place of any one of our other CBs who didn't start today aside from Zaccardo.

Leadership? I saw no leadership skills there tonight, he's just not a leader or captain material. With Abbiati it's different. We have a top class keeper now that you simply cannot leave on the bench just to play a fading Abbiati. With the defence it's not as clear cut and you can easily excuse the choice as a technical decision.

And yes those coaches have all played him, and have regretted doing so later on. Allegri regretted that decision twice over, Seedorf also regretted that decision and now Pippo as well, although Pippo is the only one who has managed to come out of a Bonera nightmare show with all 3 points. They probably do see him as someone with experience and exemplary behaviour, which is why they rely on him at first, but it's only a matter of a few games before he lets them down. I just don't buy the fact that he does something extra special in training to "convince" them that he's the better choice over the others.

As for the captaincy issue, I'd personally just give it to Abate, a youth team product who always give his 110% on the pitch. I'd hand over the armband to him along with a brand spanking new deal for a good few more years. The guy deserves it


Agreed

However, if Honda isn't moved into the midfield, I don't know where we can fit everyone in.

Honda and Menez are just unplayable atm. You can't drop either one of them, that being said, if SES is fit he's also definitely in. While Torres would bring another major dynamic to the side that could make us even more dangerous, so I'm at a loss as to what Pippo will do. Imo all 4 need to be on the pitch and the best way to do that is to just push Honda back and accommodate the other 3 in attack

But Bonera isn't really a leader either. I don't see any captain qualities in him at all. He's not vocal on the pitch, doesn't try to spur his team mates on and certainly isn't someone to lead a defensive line either.

Question of seniority and always has been at Milan.

I think that excuse got thrown out of the window the moment they gave it to Monto and guys like Muntari wore the armband.

For me it's Abate and De Jong who are truly fit to be captains

If you're critical of Bonera re: vocal and leadership then Abate isn't fit either. He can't lead any better than anyone else, and frankly I would rather not put that burden on him, likewise De Jong.

There's no one in our whole squad I'd feel at ease with the captaincy.

+1


Yup


It might not have been an ideal pass back, but I honestly think more of the blame falls with Lopez on this one.
Lopez had a horrible game as well. At times I wasn't sure who was in the post, Abiati or him.





Indeed it did!


Spot on...


Indeed it was


That he did.

Can't you guys just admit Menez, for all his footballing brilliance, is a diving cheat?

There's one thing about 'taking advantage' of a foul, another to just fall when there's just no contact.

I didn't like Balotelli falling like a lead balloon, and wunder football from Menez and a win isn't going to make me like Menez for doing it either.

If that behaviour was against us, we'd be up in arms - it's exactly the cr*p we hated Barca doing for all these years.

If he could remove it from his game, I'd absolutely love him. As it is, I admire his outstanding ability and loathe his inability to avoid diving.

One guy on Twitter tonight called him Tom Daley.

Football what a crazy game !

he dived allot tonight.

Penalty and the red card was the most funny ones the ref was pretty **** to not see it as a dive.

Actually with Abate I think he can more than do it. Leading the defensive line is something he can't do but he can be a leader figure in the team. It's all about leading by example and no one does that better than either Abate or De Jong in our squad. I'd give it to Abate before De Jong because Abate is a product of the Milan system, if we're going by seniority, Abate has been part of the Milan set-up far longer than Bonera has, a couple years on loan does not change that

And if not these 2 then who? You seriously want Bonera on the pitch just so that he can wear the armband? I'd rather just mount a stick near the goal post and hang the armband off it than watch him start another game at CB this season.

The best thing out of this game aside from the points is the fact that he's suspended for the Juve game, because something tells me that Pippo would have gone for him again, even after the mistakes.


Yes, he's a diver. But you have to admit he knows how to sell it.

Hah. I don't know about diving, but if you think he dived on the penalty, you clearly weren't paying much attention. It was foul, end of. Every report after the game said so, too.

Indeed.

Well, like I said some months ago, I'd try MDS to be honest. I know it's extra pressure on a young player, but we need someone who both represents Milan and has years to come with us.

It was a foul. You're right. Problem is he dived after the foul finished. He fell on his own. That's called diving, X.

If you try to trip someone up, but they run for 2 strides then fall, that's a dive.

If you believe otherwise then you're just seeing what you want to see.

When I said no one I meant it. No one in the entire squad is a captain. Any armband given is by default because we don't have a leader. So, if not these two, who? No one, sadly.



Oh, that's o-f*ckin'-k then! Guess Barca were just selling it well all this time. And it wasn't being whined about on here AT ALL!

PS: just because he's clever at it makes it no less dishonest. Cannot believe ANYONE is standing up for him, what the hell happened to the dignified honest Milan supporter?!

Nah, apparently we weren't watching clearly enough because every report said it was a foul EL OH EL!

First place for one whole month, suckers. Galliani style!

My sentiments exactly. Who know, the extra responsibility might motivate him to elevate his game to another level. Giving it to The Scig will at least solve this whole captaincy problem, where the armband is rotated every other match. Not sure the management would be up for it, though.

Maybe he tripped because he was fouled earlier. It does happen. Your balance is affected. But yeah, he does look like he's diving there. Still, it was a just penalty.

Anyone have the highlights

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/15..._n_5820596.html Love this goal keep on watching and watching it , the celebrations too haha

haha

MDS is a future captain. Do it now and you'll ruin him. This season is critical in his development. He had a poor one last year which dented his confidence, and now he's finally getting a run on the left - imperative he builds up confidence, his body, grows both physically and psychologically then maybe in 5 years he's ready to lead us.

Right now I couldn't pick anyone I'd rather have the armband less than he. For his own good.

If you look at the laws of the game, I never said it wasn't a penalty. But he definitely dived, and good on you for admitting that now.

It's the horrible fine line between honesty and justice. An honest player would have stayed on his feet and gone for goal - he decided to go down having been fouled, a delayed reaction where he could have stayed up and scored anyway. His actions achieved justice, but but those actions were not just.

Ultimately you could argue that won us the two points.

I understand, and I am taking into account his vulnerable position right now. Sadly, we haven't any other option, someone that can take the armband and make it his. But my personal hopes aside (that DS will improve after wearing the armband), I'm fairly certain the Milan management will not make him the captain.

Not for another 5 years, if he stays that long, that is. Other options, none are worthy.

Not many like these around now, mate. They only made these guys in bulk until the 90s.

Agreed. I respect your opinion, Acid, but personally I feel giving the armband to MDS right now would be madness. In all honesty, I see no better candidate than De Jong. The guy has personality, gives his 101% in every game, is not a dirty player and has the respect of all his teammates and fans.



Diving is part of the game. You got players who dive whenever they feel an inch of a contact, or those who dive without any contact at all. Jeremy was fouled enough to make him lose balance. In such cases the consequent dive becomes irrelevant in my opinion.

I didn't see him dive that much for the rest of the game TBH, but I only watched around 60% of the game, so maybe he was diving during those moments I wasn't watching.

Hey, I knew full well that was the romantic in me speaking. Never in a million years can I see DS getting the armband right now, and well, if Milan were that sort of a gambling club, we'd not actually be in a much better state to begin with. A stable team, a stable coach, a more improved DS, a gelled squad. A few more wins, too.

And as for De Jong, yeah, he deserves it on the merit alone that the guy gives 100% in each game. Or 101%, like you said. Even though I still haven't forgiven him for that karate kick that he hit Alonso with in the world cup. Other than that, the guy has earned it all in his time here.

Will have to think really hard to name a better DM these days.

I would reluctantly settle on De Jong if I had a gun to my head. But I feel like he thrives as part of the team and not as the leader of it. He's respected by all, but I'm not sure he'd feel the burden of captaincy to be a good thing. Look how it absolutely wrecked Montolivo - he couldn't cope with being captain of Milan and he'd already had experience of the role at Viola. De Jong hasn't even had THAT experience.

Nah, I just feel like there's no one stand out, just some weak candidates each of whom has a major flaw or two regarding the idea of being captain.

He's definitely top 5 on earth. Alonso is arguably up there, if you wish to class him as one, and I probably would. Busquets too. But De Jong is definitely the best in that slot in Serie A by quite a margin.

Exactly, only a few contenders, all very close to each other up top. De Jong wins the battle for playing like a champion every time, and playing in the toughest league in the world. My only concern is how long will be able to keep him in the Milan shirt.

If he stays another year or two, then he'll retire here. Or leave for one final stint in some rich league.

Yep. He cares if he knows how to sell it, a dive is a dive and the guy is a cheat. I wonder if we'll find no problems with it when it happens to us?

I think Monto was just off form last season, nothing to do with the armband imo. At first I thought it effected him negatively as well. But now looking back I just think he wasn't in the kind of condition that he was in during his first season with us. Some might call it a classic second season dip.

We'll see how he does when he returns, although I can't really see him holding down a regular spot this season since it takes major time to completely recover from a break and we have a lot more options in midfield this season as well

I'd still give it to Abate at this point


We'd whine and get over it. Simply because everyone is a bit of a cheat in football, everyone dives and play acts. If we can gain from it, who cares, if we get burned by it, we complain and move on. Not like the first time it would have happened

I cant relate to the new players, let alone identify a good DM.

But DJ is a solid player, he has impressed me since the first day in our shirt. Whatever he did in the past is history, what matters is today and today he is a mature, experienced and model professional. Someone who deserves to be singled out. But the captain's arm band should be sacred in these parts, Bonera and Abbiati are the rightful heirs of the arm band if you ask me.

But of course the coach makes his own assessments.

It's sacred but you want to give it to Bonera or Abbiati? Bonera has been a perennial bench warmer in this team for as long as he's been with us, plus he's just one huge liability on the pitch, good behaviour doesn't or at least shouldn't automatically mean you get the armband, you need to have leadership qualities, you need to be an example for your team mates both on and off the pitch and you need to be able to be that voice on the pitch that either spurs your team mates on or calm things down when needed. Bonera is none of those things.

Abbiati on the other hand is far from an exemplary person, a self proclaimed fascist for me isn't an ideal captain.

For me atm, looking at our squad it has to be; Abate, De Jong and DS in that order

Yes and it is called my opinion

You don't rate them, I find that they are the few that I can relate to.

You only feel that way because they've been here the longest and were (sort of) part of our more successful yesteryears. But aside from that, they've never been symbols of Milan or a definition of what we stand for.

I agree there's few players on our roster that I can relate to or really like as well, Abate and DS are surely that for me, same as De Jong.

+1, especially the bolded part.