Problem possesion

I think our problem is clearly exposed now after the last awful matches we had. While it partly being a confidence the main reason is that we lose the ball to much and to early.

We just give away possesion to easily. Where we could put pressure on all teams last year, kept the ball in the team and therefore win it back fast we looked much better and kept giving our opponents headaches. ATM we can't even do that against Roma, which is a pityful team now, full of players that haven't grown a beard. As I see it the main culprit is our strikeforce.

First of all, Kaka. The amount of ball and counterattacks that he currrently waste should be enough to drop him to the primavera. But as it is, it seems like we (read: Ancelotti) go around hoping he would suddenly score. Just like he did last year when he saved his face from dreadful performances.

Then the strikers. Which excludes Sheva which is our only true form player. JDT seems to be in a rot, while he earlier in the season could at least meet up and be target player he hardly touches the ball. And when he touch the ball it is to miss chances that he would have ut in last season. Crespo is even worse, he just can't get anything right.

Rui Costa may play it slow, but currently I would prefer him. Because he is a possesion player and keeps hold of the ball. He also look really eager to play, not nervous like Crespo.

The problem for our midfield is that it is becomes to stretched out. Our defense doesn't really push up like it did. wether that is due to the problems we had with our defense early on in the season or due to us losing possesion to much I can't tell. what I can tell is that our midfield tridente have to cover to much of the field and can't put on a proper press. I suspect that this is the problem as to why they are not as aviable to pass. Seedorf can dissappear, Gattuso doesn't look as dominating and Pirlo looks tired.

All this could turn to non-problems if our players hit form again or if Ancelotti makes some needed changes, which isn't partculary easy when only one attacking player is fit and in form (possible baring Rui Costa...).

I guess you've seen the Milan-Roma match too.
I think your analysis is right. We need some changes. Yesterday I was hoping that Carletti would bring in Serginho. He could have done that when Pancaro was substituted. Cafu on the right and Serginho on the left. It would have turned in a 3-5-2, with Kaka in a free role it could have been a key to succes.

I want to point out our selfishness. Kaka and Shevchenko (Allthough it would be unfair to criticeze our most in form player) are often too selfish. If they would pass more, we would have more scoring chances.

Kaka goes down to easily. I think he's looked to much at Inzaghi the last year. No offence to Pippo, because I admire him. He doesn't need that and he may get a reputation that won't benefit him nor our team in the long term.

Not only thr Roma match, could be seen troughout the Barcelona games and the Cagliari games.

Not so against Livorno and Lazio, but as I mentioned before, the end result in those matches may have affected us to come here.

As for Shevchenko, I actual think he have searched for the pass more, expecially against Roma he took the pas instead of shooting several times. considering his form and our other offensive players form he should not pass at all.

Diving may be on thing, but Kaka also is so indecisive about what to do at them moment. Last year he took the decisions fast more often and results came, especially when he took shots. Now he wait to long and as in the case where he got booked for diving, he just didn't take a decision at all. also some of his passes have been dreadful.

I agree that poor passing has cost us a lot of grief, we loose possesion when we shouldn't. Kaka clearly need some time on the bench, with Rui Costa taking his place.

It seems that Kaka have gotten stuck on trying to live up to his reputation. He is not playing the simple one touch football that makes him great.

JDT and Sheva are the only options up front right now. Crespo is truely a mess. He acts nervously all the time.

That's why i'm prefer this line ups :

--------Sheva---Kaka'

-------------Pirlo

Seedorf---Ambrosini---Gattuso

1. Don't say it's too defensive with presence of 2 defensive midfielders (Ambro and Gattuso), why ? it's 4-3-1-2 system, it's only have 3 midfielders. With presence of Ambrosini in the centre of midfield, he can make tight marking to opponent's attacking midfielder, and he's better than Pirlo for this duty. And also with presence of Ambrosini in the centre of midfield, Gattuso can play more widely and provide more crosses (remember Lazio VS Milan few weeks ago), bcoz Ambrosini need less help from Gattuso.

2. Pirlo was(read: is) a Trequartista, he's creative, he's our "Creativity engine", but if we set him play more deeply, it'll make dual effect, first it'll add more creativity for our team, and second he'll take too much defensive duties, which is not his specialty(he's pretty clumsy IMO). I'll say if we are facing average opponent, or if we are desperate to win/make goals, i can accept the idea of double playmaker, but if we are facing tough opponent, it's too much(specially if we play with 2 pure strikers *cough* Riazor *cough*)

3. kaka' is a support striker, he's not a natural midfield playmaker, let him play to support Sheva on attack, and Sheva can concentrate on opponent penalty box. Pirlo create, Kaka' deliver and Sheva execute.

Generally, i don't like the idea of double playmaker, im prefer real defensive midfielder in the centre of midfield and helped with dual "half winger" it'll offer width attack and also sharp in the centre. IMO 4-3-1-2 system is another type of 4-4-2 system(4-4-2 diamond), so we need a playmaker/attacking midfield and PURE defensive midfield in centre, plus dual wingers that have decent defensive skills (agression, tackling etc). Well that's my oppinion, nuff said

Originally Posted by Milanista ID

That's why i'm prefer this line ups :

--------Sheva---Kaka'

-------------Pirlo

Seedorf---Ambrosini---Gattuso

1. Don't say it's too defensive with presence of 2 defensive midfielders (Ambro and Gattuso), why ? it's 4-3-1-2 system, it's only have 3 midfielders. With presence of Ambrosini in the centre of midfield, he can make tight marking to opponent's attacking midfielder, and he's better than Pirlo for this duty. And also with presence of Ambrosini in the centre of midfield, Gattuso can play more widely and provide more crosses (remember Lazio VS Milan few weeks ago), bcoz Ambrosini need less help from Gattuso.

That midfield lacks someone to distribute balls and would surerly not improve our passing game. Ambrosini is very static and a mediocre passer. We would end up being VERY dependant on Pirlo/Sheva/Cafu to do some individual performance that leads to goal. Or possible a rejuvenated Seedorf. Of course at present any change could turn out good since it doesn't look that good.

agree on the last point, gattuso and ambro together can't build up a single decent action, and esp ambro is just able to pass back.they have different skills, but aren't good passers.

IMO the problem, relating to the ball possession, is we are PREDICTABLE. in some ways, we rely just on Kakà actions, and full backs crosses/actions. If you stop one of this two ways, we can just rely on Pirlo's long balls. The solution is: we must play quicker, one touch and make more movement upfront, pressing higher. Hard to realise though

A kick up the arse should do the trick. Giving Dhorasoo/Rui more chance to play would have helped, but we know that is not going to happen. but I hope Rui will start against Brescia, they are not likely to give away any counterattacks anyway...

Originally Posted by kris

I think our problem is clearly exposed now after the last awful matches we had. While it partly being a confidence the main reason is that we lose the ball to much and to early.

We just give away possesion to easily. Where we could put pressure on all teams last year, kept the ball in the team and therefore win it back fast we looked much better and kept giving our opponents headaches. ATM we can't even do that against Roma, which is a pityful team now, full of players that haven't grown a beard. As I see it the main culprit is our strikeforce.

First of all, Kaka. The amount of ball and counterattacks that he currrently waste should be enough to drop him to the primavera. But as it is, it seems like we (read: Ancelotti) go around hoping he would suddenly score. Just like he did last year when he saved his face from dreadful performances.

Then the strikers. Which excludes Sheva which is our only true form player. JDT seems to be in a rot, while he earlier in the season could at least meet up and be target player he hardly touches the ball. And when he touch the ball it is to miss chances that he would have ut in last season. Crespo is even worse, he just can't get anything right.

Rui Costa may play it slow, but currently I would prefer him. Because he is a possesion player and keeps hold of the ball. He also look really eager to play, not nervous like Crespo.

The problem for our midfield is that it is becomes to stretched out. Our defense doesn't really push up like it did. wether that is due to the problems we had with our defense early on in the season or due to us losing possesion to much I can't tell. what I can tell is that our midfield tridente have to cover to much of the field and can't put on a proper press. I suspect that this is the problem as to why they are not as aviable to pass. Seedorf can dissappear, Gattuso doesn't look as dominating and Pirlo looks tired.

All this could turn to non-problems if our players hit form again or if Ancelotti makes some needed changes, which isn't partculary easy when only one attacking player is fit and in form (possible baring Rui Costa...).

Good Post and I agree with all of it except for the butt-kicking part. A normal kick on the butt won't do now. A real hard one is needed. We have a very short time before the Juve game is coming up and after that it is the BUSINESS END of the season where these current mistakes will cause big time trouble!

Yesterday in the first half our defence did push up a lot and contributed in the attack and for better finishing it should've been 4-0. I noticed that even after the goal we were eager to score more but in the second half it was not the same!

I've spoken about our inabilty to hold onto to the ball before in another thread, so I won't go into detail about it here. However, I do agree that we lose the ball far too often and easily.

Its a good post Kris and I thought the point about the defence getting too deep is a valid one. I too have noticed our midfield struggles to cover the pitch as the defence gets too deep. I think these are areas we need to work on and if the defence pushes up a bit more at times it will allow us to improve in an area where we seem a little poor, which is pressing the oppostition more.

I still have faith in the side and I still think we'll see things like these really come together in the second half of the season, so I'm not too worried. The only worry I have at this point is we are VERY wasteful at the moment, which is one characteristic that could hurt our season badly if were not careful, as at this point of the season, its important to take what you can.

yep..Pirlo was playing way too deep as a playmaker... he should have played up front behind the 2 strikers..like wat Milanista ID has state in the formation...relieve off some or if possible all the duties a defensive midfield should do..bcoz basically..he is not as capable as a defensive mid as he is a creative midfielder...how can his creative juice flow if he has to worry bout the defence in the midfield?..let ambro and gattuso handle those problem...they r more than capable to handle the midfield...seedorf can orchestrate the midfield from deep and pass it onto Pirlo, whom would then release either Shev or Kaka, where both r pacy n clinical.

Since dunno when i thot Pirlo have switched to playing as a attacking mid...how come he is back as a defensive mid?

if Milan could try out this formation on Brescia or Siena..it could prove a turning pt for us if it succeed...no need to splash out during the Jan transer window and still keep the team tt has won the scudetto and CL together...the spirit would be great!!

I agree with what was said about the midfield MilanistaID suggested, but it has one advantage; It plays Sheva in a true prima punta possition, supported by Kaka. When Inzaghi or Crespo plays with Sheva, he tend to move out of the box where he is less leathal.

Originally Posted by BaggioForever

yep..Pirlo was playing way too deep as a playmaker... he should have played up front behind the 2 strikers..

Since dunno when i thot Pirlo have switched to playing as a attacking mid...how come he is back as a defensive mid?

What are you taking? He has always played as an regista since Ancelotti began putting him there. He doesn't play to deep as a playmaker, he play too deep in his reigsta midfield role, sometimes...

Originally Posted by kris

That midfield lacks someone to distribute balls and would surerly not improve our passing game. Ambrosini is very static and a mediocre passer.

We are talking about ball possesion aren't we ? lacks someone to distribute the balls ? and not improve our passing game ? Pirlo still there, and also Seedorf the one thing that miss is a striker that only waiting for the ball, which mean we have more player that can provide more ball possesion, more ball possesion will make us to control the game, more chance to control the game can improve our chance to win the game. Ambrosini is not a must, the point is i'm prefer pure defensive midfielder in the centre of midfield, and covered by two "half wingers" (winger that have decent defensive skills like aggressive, tackle etc, definitely not Giggs or Figo Style ), just like these :

1. Seedorf---Gattuso---Ljungberg

2. Emre---Gattuso---Seedorf

3. Jankulovski---Gattuso---Seedorf or

4. Seedorf---Gattuso---KRIS

And let Pirlo to play freely in trequartista role to produce those beautiful passes, and Kaka' will support Sheva on attack.

I like option 4, I have all those qualities needed. Unfortunately I am not just good enough.