Monthly Archive: October 2017

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The season has been derailed to the point of questioning the coach and formations. The international break meant that Montella perhaps has time to restart the season and put the team back on the better path with which the season started. The week 7 0-2 loss to Roma wasn’t the worst performance seen by Milan fans by any stretch but far more is expected than 7th spot in the Serie A standings.

Inter have had a more reassuring start to their season and under Luciano Spalletti have performed well enough for their fans. Led by Mauro Icardi the team sit second.

The aforementioned formations and tinkering has settled on a 3-5-1-1 for week 8 and this is at least in part due to Kalinic’s injury. The Croat has an injury that is expected to be short term and misses the derby. Suso and in front of him Andre Silva should start. The latter has performed well and is very deserving to lead the attacking line. The middle five is expected to remain predictable and will be Rodriguez, Bonaventura, Biglia, Kessie and Borini. The back three has to remain the best three available as there are little other options. Romagnoli, Bonucci and Musacchio haven’t played mistake free but will of course start.

Follow the match as it happens, on the forum.

Week six’s loss to Sampdoria is already threatening to unravel a season with high expectations. The 2-0 away loss increased the pressure on the team to the point of putting Montella’s job in question. This game vs Roma and the next vs Inter after the international break are to be crucial for the team and perhaps the coach’s position. Why has it reached to this point this early in the season?

The back three looked and has looked mistake prone in most games this season. Starting Zapata vs Sampdoria was also adding to the likelihood of disaster and so it came to be as his poor header or clearance gave the ball away for Sampdoria’s first. The midfield hasn’t looked great and the forwards are somewhat under-performing. Montella’s rotation of attacking players is not allowing for continuity either. Suso has struggled and has seen on and off action in place of pure strikers like Kalinic and Andre Silva. The 3-5-1-1 has not helped and should not be used. Suso should arguably be a starter every week but not in that formation behind a sole striker.

The midweek game vs a supposedly weak HNK Rijeka team has added to the air of crisis. That game which some hoped would provide a retrieve from the slump was only rescued by a last kick Cutrone goal after Milan had thrown away a 2-0 lead courtesy of Bonucci and Romagnoli mistakes.

Roma have their injury worries with but have more than enough to provide a tougher test of course and the likes of Edin Dzeko and El Shaarawy can very easily take advantage of mistakes at the back. The 3-5-2 persists for now as the options and time are too short for any possible change. Kalinic and Andre Siva could start together up front and the midfield is probably the best it can be with Rodriguez, Bonaventura, Biglia, Kessie and Abate in front of the back three. The back three must include Musacchio as the team can surely not afford another Zapata trademark costly mistake. Bonucci and Romagnoli must be at their best and perhaps this is the time to draw back the high defensive line a bit. Neither of the three have shown the ability to keep up with an attacker that beats the offside line and runs by them.