Time to bounce back and not let the disappointment against Inter ruin whatever momentum we have.

A must win, especially after that result which for me has mostly felt like we've suffered a loss rather than a draw which we barely deserved to get

Montella needs to show stronger character when we're leading in these bigger matches. He's so far allowed the team to retreat so much into themselves once we score that conceding would become an inevitability.

It was clear that we were struggling a lot against Inter on the set-plays, I don't think I remember us winning a single aerial dual against them, and yet we retreated so far back that we kept allowing them corssing and set-piece opportunities.

The changes he made were also baffling. Mati Fernandez looks finished from what I've seen, completely physically burned out, doesn't look like a pro athlete.

I really want to see better from him mostly. The players have shown that they do have fighting spirit this season, I don't want to see that being backpedalled by the coach himself who has so far been unable to instil the importance of closing a game out professionally

We shouldn't be much comfortable knowing that we are just 2 points ahead of 6th place. We have done some good things in this season, but in order for us to collect some things in the end we have to be more consistent. I don't think January will see us with any mentionable improvement in the squad, so we have to get used to what we have and continue getting results. I would rather loose to Juventus and beat both Genoa and Inter than do like we did, so we have to be more careful and with feet on the ground. A loss and we can say goodbye to Euro Cup too not to mention Champions leauge.

Don't totally disagree with this.

I feel most of the lost points this season have been down to fundamental errors from Montella. And I have praised him from the hilltops over the positive impact he's made since the summer - Milan look so much more together and cohesive, and it's been inspiring. But there have been some bewildering tactics and selections (Poli & Honda v Genoa REALLY?!) and it's felt at times like he undid his own good work now and then.

That said, Montella (and the players) was also the reason we beat Juve. Sure, Donna had a miracle save at the end, and who cares if 'it was onside' - the organisation in that match was terrific. Look at this in the 48th minute:



That's players working to a well-adhered system. And Montella takes major plaudits for that.

He just needs to iron out the silly mistakes. Good work in January's transfer window and this is a UCL team 100%.

Bertolacci has recovered and could be called up for the game against Empoli. Romagnoli however will likely miss the game. #GdS

I wouldnt mind to see him in the pitch for 15-20 minutes.

Let's keep Romagnoli safe. But I'd also like us to keep the second position safe.

Montella: "Romagnoli has recovered. Bertolacci was out for many months, we find him back with great pleasure."

Montella: "I saw many games of Empoli, they are an organized team defensively, and able to play well."

Montella: "We must change our attitude in the final minutes, we concede too many chances to our opponents, we must work on it."

Montella: "Romagnoli is fit to play. Bertolacci is important for us."

Montella for Mati Fernandez: "He is a very skilled player one against one, when match is in progress, he might be useful. Now is good, he can have a significant timing.

Montella: "Plizzari? He is born in 2000, made his debut in a friendly. If any team want him we can sell with the same price as Donnarumma (laughs)."

Montella: "There's no tactics that can assure you the 3 points. To win you need quality players, a good manager and capable management."

Montella for Lapadula: "He is good, has an incredible desire to be a protagonist. But for the characteristics of Empoli, Luiz Adriano can be better."

Montella: "Romagnoli will play from the first minute.

Montella: "Suso is having continuity, but I think he can be more in the game. All the players are participating in the wins of the team. Suso is today, at the beginning was Bacca and then Locatelli. In a group, each player must put his qualities."

Montella: "Gomez? It is clear that he still needs to improve a lot. He is a player on which you can work."

Montella: "Berlusconi's words? The words of the president should never be commented as Galliani always says. There is no formation that makes you win. However, I always listen to what he says."

Montella: "Kucka? On the nervous level he is perhaps a little down. While physically he is fine. I will evaluate."

Montella: "Playing with trequartista? More or less, we already play in this way with Suso playmaker and Niang who often acts as a striker."

Montella: "Bacca's possible departure? It's premature to talk about the market, often in January the transfers come in the last few days. Bacca is doing his part in this Milan."

Montella: "Honda and Adriano? Also for them it's too early to talk about the market."

Montella: "The sale of the club? I don't think about it, I have to think only about tomorrow's game. Objectives? We must not make calculations, we must thing about winning a game. I haven't seen the calendars of other clubs."

Montella: "4-3-1-2 of Berlusconi? It's not a system you can win games with."

Well, I doo agree that Montella has also done some really great things for this side, he's built on what Miha left us with last season and turned it into something that's working.

But like you so correctly said, he has made mistakes that have undone his good work. I think we've lost needless points this season, the draw against Inter has left me with the most bitter taste in my mouth because of the way it happened and to see them lose against a team called Beer Sheva yesterday continued to cement that bitter taste. But on paper, what could really end up hurting us are losses like the ones against Udine and Genoa. I just feel like there were games where we should have done a lot better in terms of closing them out and not inviting opposition onto us when we're defending a slender lead

That being said, the fact that we're playing with the youngest side in the league also plays into this. We don't have anyone who can really calm things down and set the tempo of our play. I think we need this type of player more than anything else in January.

Yes, in truth this is essentially Miha's team, Locatelli and Paletta aside.



Can't disagree with any of that.



But do we? You're basically on about a Pirlo, old-school Gerrard etc. A regista who can put his foot on the ball and pass it around, seeing gaps for wingers and dictating the pace. Thing is, I don't think Montella's system is conducive to such a player. While it would have helped Miha's system, I'm not sure Montella's requires that kind of inventiveness from midfield. We seem to succeed through hard work, togetherness, organisation and some individual skill from the likes of the improving Suso. Would a regista style player not actually violate the system rather than assist it?

Well if you look at his Fiorentina side he had a great mix in his midfield of talented players capable of doing this. He had Pizzarro, Aquilani and Valero, sure they're not exactly Pirlo, but they're all very capable players on the ball. Imo we don't have any of that right now, and it's pointless to expect it from Locatelli at this point who imo is looking more like a dynamic mid capable of player on both sides of the ball rather than a regista.

I'm not saying we specifically need a Pirlo, but a Fabregas imo would be perfect for Montella's system. I wouldn't call him a regista either, but he's someone who's experienced and technically capable enough to accomplish this and this is exactly what we're lacking

Mediaset: Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Pasalic, Locatelli, M. Fernandez; Suso, Lapadula, Bonaventura.

Wow, is such an overhaul in midfield really necessary?

I like it actually, except for Pasalic. I would rather see Kucka or Bertolacci there.

OFFICIAL XI vs Empoli (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Abate, G.Gomez, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Mati, Locatelli, Pasalic; Suso, Lapadula, Bonaventura.

Hmm, last time Montella made so many changes we lost against Genoa...

Let's hope this works out better for us. Can't afford to drop points against Empoli

Interesting choices for the line up. A few things I'm curious to see in action today. 1. Romagnoli and Gomez together. I hope they are disciplined enough. Both can be aggressive tacklers at times. 2. Mati and Passaic from the start. Mati needs to show more today than he did against Inter and Pasalic hasn't convinced me yet. 3. The front line. I'm hoping Bonaventura can have a big impact from the wing and the midfield doesn't suffer with him there. I really want Lapadula to score today. He has worked hard every time he's gotten game time so far. I hope Suso keeps his red hot form. I imagine we'all need any magic he can muster against a team sitting back defending.

Here you go again Han

Anyway, seems like Mati is turning into the new Brocchi, Emerson or Emanuelson.

Double brainfart by Donna, wow!

Harsh yellow for Romagnoli

Mati off for Kucka. Must be an injury. That's unfortunate. I liked some of the passes Mati had made early on.

Mati already injured. Subbed by Kucka

LAPADULA!!!!!!!!!

LAPADULAAAA

Suso with a nice cross. Glad to see he's still in great form.

The passing around at the back needs to stop!!

Damn it Donnaruma. Terrible decision to come out for that ball.

What an idiotic move from Donna

Locatelli is starting to piss me off.

Empoli seem to be doing a better job than Inter against Suso. He needs to look for an open man when they double him instead of going through them every time.

Our midfield is absolutely shite. Locatelli and Pasalic are mediocre, only Kucka is doing fine but the guy's muscle, he can't create sh*t. We need a couple of decent signings in January if we wanna compete for the CL.

Pasalic is utterly useless when combined with those two. We need at least one midfielder who can hold the ball and make a pass. Mati looked like he could do a bit of that in the opening minutes. I'd bring in Sosa at half. At least he can put in a decent pass.

Why do we always make Maccarone look like Messi when we play against his teams? Always baffles me

Abate doesn't know how to play defense and great positioning beats hard recovery running over time.

Terrible first half

It's not just Abate, it's the entire defence that's having a hard time. We're getting pressed high up the pitch and yet we insist on p!ssing around with the ball at the back, inviting further pressure. We have a player upfront who's shown that he can do the flag pole type work, we can punt the ball up to him and let him bring the others into the game, but we've only done that once.

Also, Pasalic needs to come off. I don't understand why Montella is so unwilling to give Sosa a decent chance, he's a good player on the ball and exactly what we need. Locatelli and Pasalic are both inexistent, and Locatelli has also added a couple of mistakes in there as well which could have cost us

What a horrible performance so far. And against one of the weakest Serie A teams.

Donna gifting that goal so stupidly while also fooling around with his reluctance to shoot the ball when necessary is making me especially angry. Locatelli is having a nightmarish game so far. Gomez also too many times out of position and irresponsible.

Midfield again with so many problems. Montella, wake up!

That's Donnarumma's fault. Showing how green he is.

He's not alone in struggling today but if you notice where Maccarone has had the most success it has been on the Empoli offensive left exploiting the gap between Abate and Gomez. I think Abate has lost a step or two speedwise and he doesn't have the positioning intelligence to make up for it.

I have to believe that it's a specific instruction, all of the backline seem reluctant to just hit the ball long from the back, and not just today, we've been messing around with this all season, and when teams press us high we get punished for it because we don't have players that are skilled or smart enough to play out of high pressure situations.

Also, Lapadula gives us an extra option in this regard as he's shown that he can bring the ball down and play it to his oncoming team mates, something Bacca cannot do, so we should be going this route since the midfield is basically down and out

Yeah, you're right there, Gomez's erratic style also doesn't help the cause either

Any reason why Paletta isn't playing? Is he suspended or injured?

Yea they definitely aren't a natural pair on that side. Paletta is on the bench so it can't be suspension. What's with Calabria? Is he injured?

SUSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!

Suso!!! He is dangerous when he has space.

SUSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Yeah, he's been out for a while now

I love Lapadula's link up play. So much better than Bacca in that respect.

Finally a smart piece of play

Now don't p!ss it away again

BONAAAAAAA what a run.

Own goal! Bonaventura with the wonderful run!

Agreed, he looks like a modern version of Pippo Inzaghi.

Really great to watch how he moves around on the pitch, so smart

What a run from Bona!

Finally, we look like we're going to close a game out

Don't want to count my chickens too early though

Honestly he makes me more ok with the possibility of Bacca departing this winter. I'll take the money if we can put it into the midfield.