Well that game was a roller coaster.
Milan drew 3-3 with Genoa in a game that went back and forth. Genoa got an early penalty on a DUMB challenge by Tomori. I wasn’t pleased and it was a stupid play by him but I immediately started seeing calls for a new #1 CB to be brought in, which is just as dumb as Tomori’s decision to challenge on that play.
He’s been one of the best CBs in Serie A the last 3 years and was having his best run of form since the Scudetto season at the beginning of this season until an injury sidelined him for a couple of months. Even after the injury he’s been pretty good even if not as locked in as before. Still, the knee-jerk reaction to things needs to stop and this was a great example of it.
Overall, I thought Milan fought hard and was much more energized than the Juventus game. I don’t think Pioli did himself any favors with the last month of performances, with at least two of those I would put mostly on his shoulders, but I don’t think you can pin this one on him. He didn’t tell Tomori to make that stupid challenge and he didn’t cause the football gods to deflect the Genoa shot off of two Milan defenders for their last goal (an own goal at that).
No, in this game, Milan fought and kept clawing back into the game. They were wasteful at times, and sloppy especially on basically every Genoa goal (or that resulted in the PK). But they kept fighting and fighting so I’m mostly content with the outcome.
This leads to the last thing I want to discuss and that’s expectations. As it stands right now in Serie A, some things are decided (Inter are league champs), Inter-Milan-Juventus have all qualified for Champions League, and Salernitana are headed to Serie B. While Bologna have the inside track on Champions League, Atalanta and Roma still have a chance to surpass them. Lazio, while needing a miracle to make Champions League, still have some work to do to ensure European football next season.
What does this all mean? It means this is crunch time and every team is fighting like hell for every point. Need proof? Here’s how the top 10 teams did in round 35:
- Inter – lost 1-0 to Sassuolo
- Milan – drew 3-3 with Genoa
- Juventus – drew 1-1 with Roma
- Bologna – drew 1-1 with Torino
- Roma – drew 1-1 with Juventus
- Atalanta – won 2-1 against Salernitana
- Lazio – drew 2-2 with Monza
- Napoli – drew 1-1 with Udinese
- Fiorentina – lost 2-1 to Hellas
- Torino – drew 1-1 with Bologna
That’s a combined 1-7-2 for the top 10 this past week, with the goal tally at -1 combined. Only 3 of the top 10 scored more than 1, with Milan scoring 3. Milan obviously haven’t played well for the last 3 weeks but does this seem like a team that’s cashed it in? Sure doesn’t seem like it to me.
I think we’d all do well to check our recency bias and emotions at the door and try to look at this with clear eyes. The sky isn’t falling and despite what the Curva Sud think, Milan doesn’t need to be torn down and rebuilt. Let’s get through the next 3 matches then evaluate Pioli, the players both new and old, and management on the whole that is the season…and not what happened in the last 2-3 weeks.
Now, ratings.
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
SPORTIELLO 6.5 – I’m not going as low as I’ve seen with other sites since I don’t think most of the goals were on him. Still, can’t have a glowing score after giving up 3 (well, 2 and an OG)
Goal Keeping Overall 6.5
Defense
HERNANDEZ 7 – Solid but seemed just out of sync with the rest of the team, especially Leão
TOMORI 6 – Probably not a 6-level of performance for the game, but that challenge was moronic. Dude’s chasing the ball to the end line with no angle on goal…just get in front of him and close him down
GABBIA 8 – Not an 8 for the defensive work (he probably should’ve gotten over to cover Ekuban on his header), but he’s been really good in the air, even more than his 2 goals in the last 4 games
FLORENZI 8.5 MOTM – Why does Calabria play again? Because they’re about even defensively but Florenzi can be a FORCE getting forward. Wonderful reading of the play during transition to notice space for him in the middle of the pitch to get on the end of the cross. Then of course the solid assist on the Gabbia header. MILF! (Man I love Florenzi)
Defense Overall 7 (seems high for a backline that gave up 3 goals but they also scored 2 and had an assist)
Midfield
REIJNDERS 7 – Very workman like and had a couple of beautiful balls into space
BENNACER 6.2 – Couldn’t read the play to get the ball moving forward and did a ton of backtracking/playing balls back
PULISIC 8 – LOVE him as the CAM. Even during the slower first 45 minutes he was moving around and just generally in the right position. Then really turned it on in the second half and had that beautiful lofted ball to the back post for Giroud’s volley
Midfield Overall 7
Forwards
LEÃO 6.5 – Was terrible in the final 3rd but actually worked his tail off so I’ll applaud that
CHUKWUEZE 7.7 – Dude! You’re doing it! Now spend half the week working on offside drills because you are WASTING golden opportunities
GIROUD 7 – Jekyll and Hyde game. Really good or really bad, nothing in between
Forwards Overall 6.8
Subs
OKAFOR 6 – Did better than Leão at keeping the width and should’ve had an assist on Giroud’s sitter
KALULU 6 – My boy! Loved seeing him back out there. NOW STAY HEALTHY and pair up with Tomori for a couple of games so we can be reminded of how epic you both can play together
ALDI 6 – I didn’t miss him starting but I thought Pioli brought him in at the right time
THIAW NA – Another bit of bad luck for him on the OG although his positioning could’ve been better. I’m nitpicking though
Subs Overall 6
Coaching
PIOLI 7 – As mentioned at the beginning, Pioli can’t be blamed for Tomori’s dumb decision nor Thiaw’s own goal. I thought he fielded a solid lineup and the substitutions were decent as well. The thing I liked the most (aside from Pulisic as CAM…which was somewhat forced due to RLC being out), was the team fought on the day. I don’t mind the losses and but what we saw vs Juventus was the worst game of the season for me. The team had no life but that wasn’t the case vs Genoa. Let’s get 3 more efforts like this to end the season and let the chips fall where they may…
Final Thoughts
Ok, that’s about it for this post. Share your thoughts on this game or Milan in general – let’s us know what’s on your mind. We should have a midweek post as Lisi has been eager to start end-of-year posts…so be on the lookout for that. Until then…
Forza Milan
gillis
