Well not the start we wanted but not a disaster class either. I mean, we could be Napoli fans, amiright?! I kid, I kid…but not really.
Before we get started, just wanted to announce a small change for our post-match posts. Usually we try and get a post match out the day after the Milan match. Sometimes if the game was on early locally here in the states we’d pump out a post same-day. But, in general our post-match posts have never been about a quick response to what we saw that match but rather us sharing some things we found interesting. If you’re looking for a quick ratings, there are plenty of places to find those so your options won’t be few and you can get your fix that way.
What we’re going to do moving forward, at least for this season, is try and wait whenever possible for all the round’s games to finish before posting a post-match. We’re doing this because there are a lot of light-your-hair-on-fire takes and we just want to provide something different. We want to provide some thoughts on Milan, in general, but also in the context of what the rest of the league (or competition) is doing/has done. We think this can help provide additional insight to how Milan is doing and whether or not we should be ecstatic or depressed or something in between.
So, with all of this said, let’s dive in…
Clearly none of us had a Milan draw at home to Torino on the books for this game. We didn’t think it would be a walk in the park but we thought Milan stood a good chance to walk out with all 3 points. Well, boy were we wrong. Fonseca didn’t waste any time pulling a Pioli and selecting a suspect starting lineup with favorites playing regardless if they were out of position.
With the busy international summer schedule and a defacto delayed mercato window, I can understand not wanting to play guys who just arrived (Morata, Pavlovic, and Royal), and even some trepidation playing Theo and/or Reijnders. But if you’re not going to play Terracciano at LB, who you played all preseason, or Kalulu, who for some reason you want to get rid of, then why would you play Saelemaekers at LB?…a spot he hadn’t played during any of this time at Milan or once while on loan at Bologna last season. I mean he could’ve put Jimenez out there. Combined with who was at RB (Calabria) put Milan at an immediate disadvantage. This for me was the worst of Fonseca’s miscalculations and similar to last season it lead to series of cascading issues and a collapsing of the defensive shape.
I also wasn’t thrilled with Bennacer and RLC in the double pivot. Musah has been the most active of these 3 in the preseason and would have provided a much need jolt of energy AND likely would’ve at least provided something of a connection to the forward players that was absent with Reijnders not playing. Bennacer and RLC are far to happy to play it sideways or backwards and kill any offensive buildup. While the fullback selection hindered the defense, the selection of Bennacer and RLC hindered the offense. These issues to me are what resulted in what we saw the first 60 minutes or so.
Yes, Leão wasted a couple of good chances but only one of those was the result of quality play (the other a ricochet). But overall the defense was poor again (don’t think I forgot about Thiaw!) and the offense was stagnant. Milan fought hard to earn the point and that shouldn’t be overlooked, but Fonseca needs to learn what Lisi always preaches: START THE STARTERS. Don’t chase the game.
What Happened in Serie A
Milan’s dropped points were less poor than they could’ve been with most of the league drawing their first match as well (6 of the 10 matches in round 1 ended in draws). The rest of the league, it seems, also suffered from a busy international summer. Of the teams that did win, Atalanta – who looked great despite all of their changes – and Juventus are the only serious Scudetto contenders to get the leg up to start the season. The other winners were Lazio and Hellas Verona…speaking of…
Hellas put the BEAT DOWN on Napoli, winning 3-0, exacerbating an already-complaining Antonio Conte. As someone who can’t stand Conte, this was almost as good of a feeling had Milan won, LOL. Napoli fans, some of the most obnoxious fans out there, we’re trying their best to spin this but polishing a turd has probably never had a more appropriate usage than here. People on social media (I wouldn’t be surprised if people on regular media are saying it too) are already saying Conte doesn’t make it to Christmas. I’d raise that prediction to Halloween being a 50/50 bet. Anyway, all signs are pointing to a disaster of a season for them and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving fan base…ok, maybe that’s Juve but this is close second!
The other big outcomes were defending champions Inter needing a late goal to take the lead only to give up the equalizing goal late in extra time to stumble out of the gates with a draw at Genoa, and Roma playing to a 0-0 draw at Cagliari. I should note that Bologna, a Champions League team this season, also drew at home to Udinese. So again, a strange start to the season.
Now onto ratings.
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
Maignan 7.5 – I didn’t mention it above, and despite the 2 goals allowed (which weren’t on him), Magic Mike looked about as well as he did at any point last season. Early, obviously, but a rebound season could be in the cards
Goal Keeping Overall 7.5
Defense
CALABRIA 5 – Terrible. Got smoked on the second Torino goal. I won’t say more to avoid angering the Calabria-loving-contingent out there…
TOMORI 6.7 – Best of the backline but was still not great
THIAW 6 – Looked like the early 2023 season version: LOST
SAELEMAEKERS 5.5 – Could maybe go a little lower but he did provide some nice getting-forward moments. But defensively, even when switching over to RW late, was abysmal. Should have never started at LB
Defense Overall 6
Midfield
BENNACER 6.3 – Looked slow which has been the case for a while now and was given opportunities to run forward and just didn’t
LOFTUS-CHEEK 6 – One of my least favorite players on the current squad. Usually doesn’t do anything while taking away opportunities from others. He’s that physical specimen, which convinces coaches to play him, only to meander throughout the game and not do anything of note
Midfield Overall 6.1
Forwards
CHUKWUEZE 5.5 – WTF was that?
PULISIC 6.7 – Did what he could but the double pivot couldn’t find him and he ended up dropping further back just to receive the ball. Played ok regardless
LEÃO 7 – Did everything but finish…a familiar refrain. He’ll be fine but I’m expecting him to convert at least one of those chances he had today and kick his game up a notch this season
JOVIC 6.2 – Just can’t seem to produce on the regular when he starts. Hot and cold…hot and cold
Forwards Overall 6.5
Subs
REIJNDERS 6.8 – Came in for Bennacer and immediate gave the double pivot some presence. Don’t know what Milan is going to do when he doesn’t play because there’s no one else on the squad with his skillset
HERNANDEZ 6.7 – Immediate upgrade over Saelemaekers despite not being fully game-ready/fit
MORATA 7.5 – LOVED everything I saw from him. Tons of movement and energy. That quick reaction shot on Reijnders shot/pass into the box was a striker’s goal
MUSAH 7 – Start him in the double pivot next to Reijnders, at least until Fofana is ready. Was a million times better than Bennacer and RLC
OKAFOR 7.5 MOTM – Probably didn’t play enough to warrant a rating but that volley on the Musah cross was a GEM. Worth a point. Like literally
Subs Overall 7.2
Coaching
FONSECA 5 – Not a good way to start his Milan tenure and I was very disappointed with this unorthidox lineup he fielded to start the game. The terrible fullback play jeopardized the entire team, both offensively and defensively (I know he pretty much had to start Calabria but Saelemaekers at LB was an unforced error). His subs were fine but also straightforward since most of these guys should’ve been starting from the get-go.
STILL. It’s early and we need to wait and see what happens moving forward. Trying to manage minutes and fitness and bodies is not easy with the aforementioned busy international summer, but just about every team is going through that and Fonseca needs to manage this better than he did in this game. If he’s going to do this again until he feels his guys are fit and ready, then sit back in a low block and counter. Pulisic and Leão (and even Chukwueze) are more than capable of stinging a team getting too far forward.
Final Thoughts
Alright, thanks for sticking with me until now. I won’t add much here but one thing to note since the conclusion of this game is that Morata apparently injured himself in practice, a muscle injury it appears, and could be out until after the first international break of the season. This would put him out until matchday 4 vs Venezia on September 15th. Not ideal and this is all too familiar for us…let’s hope it’s nothing more than this and that we don’t lose anyone else.
We’ll get more news on this and other bits (like how ready the starters are) throughout the week before the next game vs Parma this Saturday. That game is going to be a big deal here in the states with both teams American-owned, the game will be the first Serie A match ever broadcast on one of the big 4 major networks. Let’s hope Milan can put on a show.
Forza Milan
gillis
