Massimiliano Allegri

[Gio-mania]

Hopefully you guys will post your responses, the forums need more activity.

Heck, why not.

Have Allegri’s previous two seasons been a success?

I think so. Sure there have been some disappointments down the road and it seems like we could've done better, but ultimately two trophies in two years isn't something to be ashamed of. If we consider that we fought Juventus 'till the very end with a depleted roster and that there was also the phantom-goal incident, coming second wasn't too bad. In the CL we were knocked out by the best team of recent years and actually Allegri did show that we could cause them serious trouble. Lets not forget the "dodgy" refereeing in the second leg, though it must be said we didn't really play great then.



Do the management want Allegri to succeed?

I think the management want Milan to succeed, and as such even Allegri. If I'm to interpret the question to my liking however, I'd say they wouldn't mind using him as a scape-goat. If we wins I think they'll be glad, if we fail they can easily put the blame on him and avoid accusations against themselves. This likely wouldn't have been as possible with someone like Ancelotti, a Milan legend and successful coach. So really it is a win-win for Berlu and Galliani.

Will Allegri’s proposed 4-3-3 or 3-man defense be utilized this season? Does a change in formation matter since he intends on keeping the same tactics in the midfield area?

To be honest I don't expect he'll field a 3-man defence. Granted I've only seen one pre-season game (Trofeo L. Berlusconi) and the two league games, it doesn't look like he has implemented it yet. So I don't think he has any plans on doing so now. Plus, I don't think we have enough CBs do to so consistently through injuries, and I think Allegri realises that.

I do think, however, that he will make changes to the midfield (and attack). With players like Prince, Robinho, Bojan and SES all potential starters, I think he realises a new formation would make more room for them. And let us not forget that Allegri does appreciate the 4-3-3. Needless to say, I think we'll see some variations on the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 this season.

To what extent do you believe Allegri is responsible for the injury crisis in Milan? Some have suggested his training is too rigorous. Do you believe this to be a valid concern?

This is a tough question. The situation has reached a point where it just cannot be a coincidence or "bad luck"; one or more people or things have to be responsible. The injury graph by La Gazzetta (which I think most have seen) clearly shows the problem is not purely Allegrian. The problem existed in the last year(s) of Ancelotti's tenure and during Leonardo's season things were actually worse than Allegri's first.

It is entirely possible Allegri isn't making things better with his methods, but I think it'd be wrong to say he is the main culprit. Clearly Milan Lab is at fault here. Also some have talked about the winter training camp in Dubai, which I think started with Leonardo.

Also interesting is the fact that this crisis isn't just affecting the older players (which are now gone) but the youngsters too, so I don't think the problem will disappear this year. Pretty much every player has been out for injury last year at least once. Maybe Ibra was relatively healthy. Then again, in an interview with Swedish television he did say he avoided going to the routine check-ups at Milan Lab....

Do you believe Allegri will make it through this season with his job intact?

It is all about results. I do believe though that he will be given less time and patience than another coach would've gotten. If at Christmas we look far from the top 3 and we flop in the CL, I think Allegri's job will be at serious risk. Then again, unlike Inter or other Italian clubs we do not have the tendency to sack managers half way. So Allegri may very well survive the season despite results (unless they are VERY bad), but may see himself sacked at the end of the season. This coincides with rumors of Pep or Ancelotti's return.

Blaming coaches is nothing new in football, however Allegri in particular seems to garner criticism from fans of Milan and opponents alike. Why do you think this is? Is it valid criticism?

Honestly I don't really follow what opposition fans say so I can't really answer that part, though I suspect that his nagging on the phantom-goal may have irritated a few.

As for our own fans, I think many weren't big fans of him from the get-go. So unless he performed miracles, it's hard to believe they would've changed their minds. Other than that, I think I agree with what Pete Acquaviva had to say on this very matter.


What is Max’s future at the club? Can he become the manager that is expected to lead the new-look Milan as it is formed?

I can't say. The management may not be on the best terms with him, but they can't really expect someone like Pep or Ancelotti to do better with this team and transfer budget. At the end of the day though, it all comes down to results. If Allegri does well this season the management would be foolish to let him go. Nonetheless, I think it'd be unlikely for him to stay more than 4 years, which is something only Ancelotti did, mainly because he was in charge of one of the Great Milans and he is part of the family. But if Allegri convinces the management this year, keeps his job and does very well his 4th year I don't think we can exclude him staying for the long haul. Whether he will get said results, I do not know.

Cheers.