Very bad outcome, but the only positive side if we did fight in the end, which is what lacked against Fiorentina and Cagliari.

Top goes to Lopez, flop to Zapata.

Top Lopez

Flop for me has to go to Menez, I'm getting so frustrated watching him. Over dribbling, not passing to open team mates, just totally selfish

Lopez and Torres.

Think this game should be archived and we move on to Samp. Not much can be made of this match except a lack of stability in midfield. With Monto now back in training, and players like Poli getting their feel on the team, we should produce better results going forward. We need more depth in the DM department, maybe quality we can't afford except for bargains and the likes, but rather someone to fill in for or even better take Muntari's position on the field.

Come winter and this game should be long forgotten, or I hope so.

Yes and no.

I'm not sure about Poli. He's rapidly turning into a new Nocerino. About the DM's, we need to offload Muntari and Essien in order to get one real good player for this spot. Someone fresh and preferably good as a box-to-box player. I wish we hadn't shipped of Flamini, he was the best of the bunch.

I think Poli is better suited as DM in the double pivot. That's the position he used to play at Sampdoria. Giving him box-to-box duties is asking too much because I don't think he's got the skills to pull off that role, despite what we initially thought of him.

Will you shut up about the double bloody pivot! If it's not Monto and De Jong who'll be great in it, now Poli will apparently!

DP does not work at Milan, never has, never will.

I'm not saying we should go for the double pivot. Just giving my two cents about Poli and what I think is his ideal position. Don't get mad at me.

I'm not

I'm just trying to point out you have a little history for wanting the DP at Milan, be it De Jong and Monto or now Poli and whoever.

The DP only works with two hard-core DMs. Two tough enforcers protecting the defence and breaking up opposition midfield, freeing the 3 in front of them for the creative work behind the striker. I thought when we got Essien he and De Jong could do that role well but that was miles wrong.

For me Poli is as good a utility midfielder as there is. He can work most areas, without being outstanding in any, so I see him as the guy you bring in when one of your first choices isn't available and it's not a huge downgrade.

Which is why I want the 3 in midfield of Bona, De Jong and MvG with Poli as backup. But of course with Monto on his way back in the next two weeks or so that changes things a little.

Real Madrid play Kroos and Modric there, Chelsea Matic and Cesc, hardly the poster boys for hard core anything.

The DM culture is so stuck in our minds as avid Milan watchers while the rest of the footballing world has breezed past us. No team plays with 2 DMs these days, some don't even utilise one in their system, no matter what formation it is.

Reasonable rebuttal but one flaw - Chelsea and Madrid are arguably the best two teams on earth right now, with only Atleti and Bayern competing. For lesser teams, like us (), you need two enforcers there if playing DP because few players are as good as Kroos, Modric, Fabregas and Matic. These are incredible players and the laws which apply to my logic don't apply in those cases.

It doesn't really matter imo the scale of the team

Kroos and Modric could just as easily be exposed defensively which we saw happening a lot during the first few weeks of the season

2 DMs in any system for me is asking for it in today's game.

That's why it's a problem...

The reason they aren't now is Real are so top-heavy and the players have started to blend.



Nah, 2 DMs behind 3 quality AMs is perfect for a lot of teams IMO.

For methe most important area on the pitch that requires brains is in midfield, 3 AMs won't do much if the engine room does not keep the ball ticking over, that's what we lack most imo, a midfield capable of keeping the ball moving and imo that's a crucial element

Also, just to clarify, are you talking DMs in the De Jong/Ambro/Rino mould or DMs in the Khedira/Busquets mould?

Because there's a huge difference between those 2 types of DMs and we've never had any in the second category. Also, imo what you're saying can only work if you have the second category types .i.e 2 DMs that are good on both sides of the ball

Love how no one even had the enthusiasm to whine about my troll vote.

Didn't even notice it until you pointed it out