Week 9: Milan - Juventus October 22 2023 20:45
#71
Pioli was questionable in tactics, the only explanation is to prepare for PSG and the tight schedule.

If not, bringing Krunic in for Adli and taking Tiji out, or giving minutes to Romero & Jovic (and crossing more) couldn't be the decisions for a comeback.
Maybe a RC + a concede made him abandon the match.
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#72
Milan play 1v1 football all over the field. This tends to result in bookings. No surprise there, so not sure why we are talking about it as if it's anything new. Thiaw made the same mistake vs Inter and that cost us a goal. So it's a bit more concerning for me that he's repeating the same mistakes.

But the most frustrating part are Pioli's substitutions. I really don't remember the last time a Pioli substitution changed the match IN OUR favor. I thought Adli was playing well. Defending and attacking, holding the ball, etc. Making 2 like for like subs in the 60th minute, on the dot, wad really unnecessary.  But especially, replacing Adli with Krunic.....who apart from playing a part in their goal, did absolutely NOTHING. Jovic is a shit player anyway, so that one is what it is. But also, Allegri throws on an 18 year old LCB on the field, and we kept Leao on our left to play against Bremer in a man down situation????? I mean, it's a no brainer. Move Leao to the right.

But anyway. It is what it is. Another big game where we seem to beat ourselves. Defending 1v1 is fine, but the players have to realize when to play tight and press, and when they have zero help and 40 meters behind them to cover...in other words, stall and wait for everyone to get back in position. It's really frustrating that Thiaw misread that situation like he did against Inter. Defending 1v1 doesn't always mean that you go aggressively to the player like a lunatic in every single situation. 

Last comment, on the referee. How is it possible that Gatti (and other players going against Leao in general) made that many fouls and was only booked in the 70th minute? How is it possible that Locatelli didn't get a yellow for blatantly stopping a quick forward movement by digging his knee into our player? Doesn't mean we would have won with those cards, but it does change the game. Even the dumbass Paramount commentator said "Gatti now has to start playing against Leao differently". Well, yes....but when? In the 70th minute after they are 1-0 up? And Allegri took him out a couple minutes later....so yea, problem solved, game won. Gatti should have gotten a card 20 mins in, and not 20 mins from the end.
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#73
This 1v1 defending has to be looked into, way too dangerous IMO. You can do that when you are in desperate need for a goal, when you have no other choice.
But this can go wrong so easely. Though offcourse Thiaw has to be smarter and dont pull that man down, it is always going to be a red when you are the last man. Why are both central defenders pushing up so high? Better leave at least one of them behind. Its not like we are dangerous in attack while doing that, so I dont see the point in doing it. The margin to make a fault is too big.
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#74
1v1 can't be changed, so better to have some workarounds.

Thiaw now is similar to Tomori in the past who was tricked easily by Immobile, Lautaro, or Mount.

The problem is the three are tricky players, while Marcus Thuram and Moise Kean are straightforward forwards.
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#75
That CF position will kill us this season. Giroud is good for the final 25-30 minutes. But you cant play him every game for 70 minutes.
What is really bad, are this decisions. Maignan tackle, Thiaw decision last night, Theo 5 yellow cards in 7 games...add the injury lover players, Maignan, Bennacer,RLC, add Tomori who from time to time he forget how to football, and what you get? A team that can win the scudetto, or a team that can loose bad some games.
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#76
Not only do they play ugly boring football under Pioli but also the worst disciplined side in the league.

No one in Serie A has more red cards than Milan who have received 22 yellows this season in the league. Only Juve (24) and Salernitana (23) have more, but adding reds moves Milan top on 25 total cards.
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#77
Adli needs to play more forward. A deeper playmakig role is not for him. He is serviceable there but not his best position.

It seemed like we played 4231 yesterday. I thought it interesting Reinjders played in the front three and not in his double mid role. I think had Pioli switched Reijnders and Adli we may have better luck breaking down a compact defenses. Playing in that old Diaz role is very tough.

Thiaw was caught out, but again Pioli plays a very aggressive manner against these compact teams. It leads to Tomori and Thiaw frequently isolated with no aid in sight running back towards goal. It is a very difficult way to defend and puts the honus on the defender. There would be less pressure on Thiaw if the mids were closer and we didn’t pack 8 players in the final third. Such a team stance can force defenders to get up to speed quickly or destroy their confidence. Thiaw is good but Pioli can also break him psychologically. He is young.
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#78
(10-23-2023, 03:40 PM)Santino Wrote: That CF position will kill us this season. Giroud is good for the final 25-30 minutes. But you cant play him every game for 70 minutes.
What is really bad, are this decisions. Maignan tackle, Thiaw decision last night, Theo 5 yellow cards in 7 games...add the injury lover players, Maignan, Bennacer,RLC, add Tomori who from time to time he forget how to football, and what you get? A team that can win the scudetto, or a team that can loose bad some games.

Very true, we needed to sign an new CF this summer!! Having a great striker is so important. A 38yo ibra won us games! We miss him. Giroud is a totally different player. He aint a starter, he will score some goals but has too many flaws. Getting that striker is the most important thing our mgmt has to do now!
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#79
Giroud now is like Pippo in 2006-2010
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