Sorry for opening this so late, I've just been to busy to even check out what's going on here

Anyways, anyone heard anything about Bona's injury situation?

Should recover last I heard.

As of yesterday, there seemed to be some doubts about Bona's return. Hope to see him, as he does make a difference.

Whole point of Montella's system is it doesn't rely on a single player. It relies on the team ethic. If the team doesn't show up, like it didn't v Crotone, it will struggle.

If he changes things unecessarily, like he did v Genoa, it will struggle.

But if he keeps as is with minor necessary alterations, it will beat anyone in Serie A. It's even managing consistency, which forces the notion it can, astonishingly, push for the title. Probably not this season, but if you can beat anyone in Serie A, and manage mostly wins, it's the logical conclusion.

Only four behind - if we win tomorrow it's 7 points of 9 v Roma, Inter and Juve. That is just incredible. The only bogey is Napoli who got us before we truly started to click.

Yeah, but we won't win vs Roma. We'll most likely lose.

I personally don't feel as confident as you seem to be in our system

I think it's a combination of things atm that's helping us along the way.

Sure, we've seen notable improvements in how the team plays compared to last season, players are performing more along the lines of their actual capabilities, they're being used in a way that gets the best out of them as well.

But I do think that we heavily rely on individual performances on most occasions to truly get over the finish line. Look ay some of the goals we've been scoring that grabbed us point, Locatelli, Suso, Bona. All scored very individualistic goals over the last few weeks which got us a good few points. That being said, I'm not discounting the team effort as a whole, not at all, but I do think that we rely on individuality more than you might think.

Also, the bounce of the ball is undoubtedly going our way, which is something that eluded us completely last season. We've been getting out of a lot of tricky situations this season, which we never would have hoped to get out of last season. Like the games against Sassuolo and Crotone for example, in the last few years head would have dropped and we would have been done for. And obviously this is not just about luck, it's about a team spirit that's been instilled and a fighting mentality that has been missing for a while now.

But I do feel like we're in a bit of a perfect storm atm, and you can call me negative for saying the following but I do feel weary of when it will all come to an end and we start seeing the true colours of this team, which let's face it, isn't all that much to write home about.

Because the fact that you so rightly called it, that we do sort of bypass the midfield to score goals, isn't something that we should be happy about but something that is concerning. We still struggle to get into games when we're being pressed and have no clue on how to calm things down and take control of the tempo. We still struggle to create true chances (through a well worked team move). These things won't get sorted until we find the proper players to upgrade our midfield

I am not as optimistic as Danny, but I agree that when the team is "clicking" (and we have a little luck on our side) we can beat anyone in Serie A. Hopefully it will be our day, and we will handle Roma as well, but it is going to be a tough game. In particular, although Montella's system is about the team, the overall quality is what it is, and we still have players that tend to be more dependable than others (Bona is one of them).

Leave it to me to be the optimistic one haha!

I'm usually the MF grump.

Let's try to be positive. All the doubting and fearing won't ease the blow anyway.

True, we'll see what happens.

Just think we'll miss Bona and Kucka a lot in that midfield, especially since their replacements are not exactly stellar. Which will defeinately hurt us against a team like Roma who's strong suite is their midfield

Is Bona officially out?

I believe we can get a point tonight, maybe more if Roma is having a bad night. Lets see how will Montella aproach this one.

I think best approach is just to sit back and counter on them.

They have flaws in their defence, we can exploit them if we get them outnumbered on good counters. Trying to play an open game against them would be stupid

ACMilan XI:
Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Pasalic, Locatelli, Bertolacci; Suso, Lapadula, Niang

EDIT

Are we by any chance playing 4-2-3-1 with Bertolacci as AM?

No idea, just tuned in, but from the TV shots it does look like we're forming up in that shape

Highly doubtful for a win ...

PENALTY

WHY THE F@CK DID THEY LET NIANG TAKE THAT AGAIN???!!!

FFS!!

The guy is useless FFS!!

NIANG CAN GO F*CK HIMSELF!!! SERIOUSLY!!!

Dude, I am so pissed right now. Like, WTF!!!

Niang

And how was that not a RED for Romas keeper ?!

Honestly, I don't blame him this time! Why was he even taking it?? He looked like he was about to sh!t himself as he went up to take it. It was obvious he was going to miss!!

Montella should have given it to someone else!

And why was Scezney nort given a yellow?? Or even Red, Lapa was clean through

Watch us p!ss this away now.

I mean, why? Why let him take it? Just cannot understand!

Man I wish I could see the face of that man who said that Niang is having a better season than Suso Yep he is a member here

My blood is still boiling due to that penalty miss! Such an obvious outcome!

Niang is gem to have right now on the pitch. His form is terrible. Id rather see Antonelli or Honda there instead of hi.

Bertolacci has been one of the best players for us tonight, together with Lapadula.

Better than Niang?

Kidding right ?

Niang needs to come off, can't even get the most simple of touches right!

Why Montella is insisting on him is beyond me

Niangs first touch and ball control is terrible.

What do you think?

I think that Bertolacci is doing a good job and I think that Bona should play instead of Niang and Bertolacci play in mid.

.....

Great.

Terrible positioning from Donna. Once again showing his inexperience.

Donnas position was sh*t there.

Montella needs to wake up! Make a change FFS!

Take off Niang, bring in Honda

I was just thinking that.

Mati for Berto

Terrible move

I have started to think that Donna is not as gooooood as we think he is.

Can I just say that Donna is absolutely crap with his feet? The goal came from him trying pass the ball in a clever way. Just clear it off FFS!

Probably not fit to play 90 minutes.

I wish that was a penalty for us on Lapadula, then Niang forcing the team to let him take him - for moral boost and then loose it. It would be hilarious, just like this f-ing team is right now.

Suso has been rather invisible tonight.

I dont know if my speakers are to good or the fans in Olimpico are really loud. It has started to irritate me.

+1