At last we won against one of better teams in Serie A.
Napoli were far from their best attacking-wise, but as far as the defense and even midfield are concerned, this is the best they've got. I'm glad because I was sure at the start of the season, and I'm sure now, that we are a third place team without a doubt.
I don't like to say 'I told you', but this is a part of my post of a thread from almost two months ago:
The way I see it after last night's game, I ever overestimated Napoli. Their defense is even worse. I don't know where they've found this Koulibaly, but last night even Albiol looked at least as bad as Bonera.
As far as our team is concerned, I like how Mexes and Rami worked together in the last couple of games. Mexes has his moments, he seems slower than ever, but hell the guy hardly put together 5 games in a row in years. Diego Lopez was great, and based on the season as a whole, I think he's the best purchase we made in years. Great keeper. Armero wasn't bad. It's obvious that he needs games, he lacks confidence when he has the ball, and he's not nowhere near as quick as he is naturally. His cross for the goal was great. It's good to have a side back that can cross with his left foot. Midfield was very good.
Attack also looked good, but I'm afraid that this system still doesn't get the best of attacking players. If there was Genoa instead of Napoli, or any other team that came to San Siro to defend their goal, we would struggle. Honda looks worse and worse on the side, and we still have issues to use the gaps in the middle that we create with our width. Only for the second goal we witnessed our two midfielders in the box, and that was only for the cross. I think both Boneventura and Honda would feel better if they would play a bit more in the middle, something like Boateng and Robinho played in first two seasons under Allegri. That way they could defend on the sides, but they could attack more centrally, because at the current system they are tied to the sides to much.
Napoli were far from their best attacking-wise, but as far as the defense and even midfield are concerned, this is the best they've got. I'm glad because I was sure at the start of the season, and I'm sure now, that we are a third place team without a doubt.
I don't like to say 'I told you', but this is a part of my post of a thread from almost two months ago:
(09-23-2014, 02:06 PM)Revolver Wrote: Napoli is stronger than Fiorentina IMO, but let's face it, are Albiol or Britos better than, say Zapata? It's a close call. And they are Napoli's best defenders. OK, Hamsik is better than Honda, Higuain is much better than anything that we can provide, Inler is better all around midfielder than any of our midfielders. But, IMO Milan has at least a match for Napoli team, on paper. And in reality, they were expelled from CL quals by Athletic Bilbao! Enough said.
Really, we are putting too much against this squad. Many people here are reacting like this is a Serie A of 10-15 years ago. We see Abate, and think "God, this guy is soo bad". And he is bad really. But the same that "bad" Abate is a starter in NT, and a player like Maggio (among best players in Napoli for years) is the second fiddle.
I'm sure that now, when we've got rid most of worn-out players, and players that were making bad atmosphere on and off the field, we have a squad that can fight with likes of Napoli, Fiorentina, Inter, etc.
The way I see it after last night's game, I ever overestimated Napoli. Their defense is even worse. I don't know where they've found this Koulibaly, but last night even Albiol looked at least as bad as Bonera.
As far as our team is concerned, I like how Mexes and Rami worked together in the last couple of games. Mexes has his moments, he seems slower than ever, but hell the guy hardly put together 5 games in a row in years. Diego Lopez was great, and based on the season as a whole, I think he's the best purchase we made in years. Great keeper. Armero wasn't bad. It's obvious that he needs games, he lacks confidence when he has the ball, and he's not nowhere near as quick as he is naturally. His cross for the goal was great. It's good to have a side back that can cross with his left foot. Midfield was very good.
Attack also looked good, but I'm afraid that this system still doesn't get the best of attacking players. If there was Genoa instead of Napoli, or any other team that came to San Siro to defend their goal, we would struggle. Honda looks worse and worse on the side, and we still have issues to use the gaps in the middle that we create with our width. Only for the second goal we witnessed our two midfielders in the box, and that was only for the cross. I think both Boneventura and Honda would feel better if they would play a bit more in the middle, something like Boateng and Robinho played in first two seasons under Allegri. That way they could defend on the sides, but they could attack more centrally, because at the current system they are tied to the sides to much.