Yikes. What the hell happened? We’ll get into that a little here but more so in the coming days as I’m going to need this to percolate…
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
TATARUSANU 6 For once not the worst guy on the pitch for Milan. Nothing he could do on the first 2 goals nor really on the third
Goal Keeping Overall: 6
Defense
HERNÁNDEZ 6.3 The best of the backline, which is like saying he was the best looking turd in the bowl. Crude? Yes. Accurate?…also yes
TOMORI 4.4 Worst game in a Milan uniform. Just abysmal. We’ve seen various poor things happen with him before but never so many in one game. I don’t like grand statements or platitudes, and this will sound like one, but the guy looks shaken, like he’s lost his confidence and is playing scared. Needs to fix this and fast
KJÆR 6 First start in a while and was very average. That, however, I don’t and won’t put entirely on him. Pioli’s gameplan seemed to have him halfway pressing and halfway sitting back. Like he was nowhere near the first 2 goals, just hanging out in no man’s land
CALABRIA 5.5 The first 2 goals came from his side, with him no where near Dimarco or Dzeko. He’s probably the best RB when Kalulu is at CB but is it time Kalulu start at RB more?…
Defense Overall: 5.2 Worst unit on the pitch today and poorest they’ve looked in a while
Midfield
TONALI 6.1 Got completely torched on that Dzeko goal. I think there might be a scorch mark of his shadow still on the pitch. Not his best performance as he seemed to be out of position a lot
BENNACER 7.1 Best player on the pitch for Milan and continued his good run of form. He’s taken a few shots from distance the last couple of games that have been nowhere near the goal and probably needs to find an outlet when in that position. But that’s nitpicking an otherwise solid performance
LEÃO 6.4 Very average from him, and when it’s average from him it’s typically average for Milan’s attack…which is exactly what it was. Has anyone noticed how wide he’s NOT getting lately? Like there’s hardly anymore overlapping runs between him and Theo. Are these being taken away or is he doing the defense a favor?
DÍAZ 6 Average effort from Mighty Mouse. Had a couple of good passes but wasn’t making himself available and leading the attack/facilitating the offense. Needs to be better doing that because that’s the biggest advantage he brings to the team when he’s out there
MESSIAS 6.3 Didn’t quite know how to rate him in this. Obviously he’s not Saelemaekers defensively, but he didn’t really provide much of anything down the right the closer Milan got to Inter’s final third. When this happens playing him puts Milan at a disadvantage because he isn’t really providing much of anything going forward or tracking back
Midfield Overall: 6.5
Forwards
GIROUD 5.7 Just hasn’t looked the same since coming back from the World Cup. He’s not finding space and not holding up play either, so the opposing CBs are freer than they should be and are able to help snuff out any buildup by Milan. Probably time to start Rebic next game and maybe…*swallows hard*…bring in Origi when a sub is needed. Doing so would let Giroud rest until the match vs Sassuolo on January 29th…
Forwards Overall: 5.7
Subs
KALULU 6.8 Nice bounce back effort for the kid. Solid albeit with Inter content to defend and not push forward very much by the time he came in
ORIGI 5.8 Still not seeing where the upside is with him. Like I’m not seeing a discernable difference when he’s out there or am I missing something? I’m also less inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt because he’s in his playing prime and is one of the higher wage earners on the squad
DE KETELAERE 6.1 Not bad but just not impacting the game like we all thought he would. At least it wasn’t a regression (god, that’s a depressing takeaway…)
DEST 6 Another decent showing by Dest, which has been on par with what we’ve seen since after the World Cup. He’s much more active going forward than other wingbacks on the bench and has the speed to really fit Pioli’s system. In this game he was solid going forward and tracking back and with Calabria’s lack of pace maybe it’s time to start him at RB???
REBIC 6.1 First game back and dare I say I was happy to see him? I know he runs hot and cold but his shot off the woodwork was the closest thing to a goal Milan saw all game. The fact is Milan needs him with Giroud looking gassed and maybe he gives Milan what he did to start the season
Subs Overall: 6.2
Coaching
PIOLI 4 Sigh. Where to begin…well, let me start by saying there’s a larger conversation to have about Pioli and we’re going to do that over the coming days but for the purposes of this game, let me ask you all, what was his gameplan today? Was it clear to anyone what his tactics were trying to accomplish? Ugh, so much more I want to say but I’ll hold off (and I want to see what you all have to say down in the comments)
Final Thoughts
Let’s break this down into the good and bad, first the GOOD: Milan’s recent run of form, since the draw with Roma until now, has included losses in the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa. Both of these are nice-to-haves but nothing I personally felt were vital to what I would consider a successful campaign. If Milan was going to struggle and still compete in league and Champions League, then struggling now and mostly in these two competitions were the place to do it. Losing in either (or in both…) CAN help Milan if they course-correct and course-correct now. As mentioned above, getting back players who have been out for a while will undoubtedly help this but it really comes down to how Pioli and Milan handle this adversity and poor run of form.
The BAD? I mean, what isn’t bad at the moment? Milan at times can’t score or they can’t defend or they can’t hold onto a lead. I mean, in the last two weeks it’s been whatever Milan needs to do then THAT’S the thing they can’t do. I personally feel much of this is on Pioli AND the injuries to what we all know is a VERY thin squad. I know some of you have been clamoring for some mercato action by Maldini & Co but even if a player or two come in they’re not likely going to be world-beaters, so I’m probably more skeptical on this being the fix than a lot of you. As mentioned above, getting some of the better guys back from injury will help but not if Pioli doesn’t make adjustments. I and the rest of the guys here at the Fossa will address this more in the coming days but wanted to at least mention it here as one of my concerns.
Either way, Milan have about a week off until their next match vs Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico next Tuesday. This is about as long of a break as they’re going to have during these run of games in January and February, so it’s a good time for Milan to lick their wounds, regroup, and come out ready to make a statement when they resume their league play.
What do you guys think about this game, Milan’s current run of form, Pioli’s tactics, Milan’s January mercato (what’s needed), or anything else you want to share? Leave us a comment below and don’t forget to subscribe!
Forza Milan
-gillis15