Well that was a great first 15 minutes AND WE AREN’T GOING TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
Ok, let’s talk a little bit about it…but I don’t really want to…
There’s not much to say about those great 15 minutes out of the gate. Milan got out in space, won the ball back in a great area, and Pulisic buried an early goal. Very much a carryover from the Venezia game. But this obviously wasn’t Venezia.
While Milan won the ball back on that goal on the right, and countered on the right, none of that seemed unordinary. But what became more and more apparent was this attempt by Milan to attack down the right, something Fonseca himself admitted in the post game interviews. Apparently he was trying to pull Liverpool over to isolate Leão and Theo on the left…ok.
The problem with this was that, well, the ball was on the right, and with him starting Calabria over there, that meant the ball would be on his side A LOT. He’s not great at threading passes, he can’t defend, and if you lose it on his side and you’re up the pitch then guess what?…he’s having to chase down the play. Everyone slides over that way to help (more than they already were because they were trying to play down the right) and Milan’s left side is a vast wasteland and Salah probably should’ve had 2-3 goals had he not been so unlucky.
There are obviously more areas to cover here with what went wrong but just this one example explains so much of what has gone wrong so far with Fonseca’s Milan.
The first thing: squad selection. Why would you play Calabria by choice vs a fast EPL side? If you’re concerned about Liverpool’s size (something Fonseca admitted), then why pull Gabbia who just had a solid game?
Second: why try and play down the right when your strength is down the left? Theo and Leão are your best weapons, use them, pull Liverpool over there and then get the right side/Pulisic (your other best player not named Theo and Leão) involved vs a defense that is trying to shut down your best weapons on the other side. Instead Liverpool could play more balanced, shut down your right side without having to over commit, and not have to worry too much about stopping Theo and Leão who aren’t seeing the ball.
Third: why change your tactics after stumbling out the gates to start the season, with a squad you’ve barely had together as a whole due to the Euros and late signings, AND after you finally put together a solid game? Seems like he should have kept it simple and somewhat conservative by playing to Milan’s strengths, or if you are going to change your tactics, protect your still-gelling team and play a bit more defensive vs a tough Liverpool side.
I’m at a loss with this Milan and Fonseca. In the game vs Venezia, I liked what they were starting to do more than the scoreline. The lineup was better and they started to use Theo, Leão, Reijnders, and even RLC effectively. But time is starting to run out on Fonseca. This is yet another example of him trying to be too clever by half, something he’s done in 4 of the 5 games so far. Is there a chance he turns it around (unlikely) and gets a positive result vs Inter (I wouldn’t bet on it)?
There’s more blame to go around and we may soon have to discuss all the ways Gerry and company appear to squandering all the hard work Pioli, Maldini, Massara, Gazitis, and Elliott did. I guess time will tell what happens with Fonseca but Milan could be on the phone even as we speak talking to possible replacements. I guess we wait and see…
Now onto ratings.
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
Maignan 6 – Not a bad game as neither of the 2 goals scored while he was in the game were completely on him (his punch on the first one could’ve been better but Milan’s marking was also terrible on the play). Then of course the injury…
Goal Keeping Overall 6.5
Defense
CALABRIA 3 – He’s a liability whenever he’s on the pitch. It really is that simple
TOMORI 6 – Invisible and not in a good way
PAVLOVIC 5 – 95% responsible for the 3rd Liverpool goal. Had a STUPID giveaway as he’s running forward across the midfield line, then the ball finds the space he just vacated, he scrambles to catch up (as does the rest of the team with this kind of lost ball), and Liverpool basically walk in a goal
HERNÁNDEZ 6 – Not great but seemed to be more of a victim of Fonseca’s terrible game plan
Defense Overall 5
Midfield
FOFANA 5.5 – Tough to do your job when you have like 3 runners to cover
LOFTUS-CHEEK 5 – For as good as he was in the previous game, he was equally as bad in this one. Just completely invisible…again
Midfield Overall 5.2
Forwards
PULISIC 8 – Milan’s best player on the day and their only consistent attacking player in Champions League last season and it appears, again, for this season
REIJNDERS 6 – I actually liked his coming back to help even out the midfield numbers but with Milan insistent on building on the right it kind of left him out of the equation for large chunks of the game
LEÃO 6 – This might be high for some people but it’s almost like an incomplete for me. Kind of like when the teacher has a bad question on a quiz…is it on the student for answering incorrectly (Leão’s play) or the teacher for writing a bad question (Fonseca’s tactics)
MORATA 7 – I would’ve started Abraham but I don’t think Morata had a bad game. He probably earned a penalty that wasn’t given too
Forwards Overall 6.7
Subs
TORRIANI 6.5 – Did ok. Like the first 2 goals on Maignan, the defense/team hung him out to dry on the 3rd goal
ROYAL 6 – Buying him, and subsequently letting Kalulu go, was a mistake…and it’s criminal he didn’t start and even worse that he didn’t come in for Calabria until the 69th minute. Again, not that he’s the answer at RB, it’s that Calabria should simply no longer see the pitch while being a Rossoneri
ABRAHAM 7 – Energetic, fiery, and working his ass off. Again, I don’t think Morata played poorly but I think he’s earned the starting nod in most cases, especially as Morata works his way to full fitness
OKAFOR NA – He played
GABBIA NA – Probably should’ve started
Subs Overall 6.5
Coaching
FONSECA 3 – Said most of what I needed to at the beginning. I’m usually of the perspective that a new coach has to be given time but like Marco Giampaolo, the conviction of his ideas, squad selection (remember Suso the CAM???), and results are all pointing to his being let go and let go soon. And really, I don’t have a good rebuttal to use to argue he should stay.
With Roma’s Daniele De Rossi being fired today, clearly underperforming teams are starting to ask themselves tough questions. Giampaolo had 9 points in 7 games when he was fired. Fonseca is at 5 points in 5 games with Inter up next this weekend. Where would you put your money?…
Final Thoughts
Ugh.
Forza Milan
gillis
