Matchday 9: Bologna v Milan

I’m posting this a bit earlier than I normally do because I won’t be around to include the actual gameday squad, which posts an hour before kickoff. Much of this season has had so much uncertainty around who would play, at first because we didn’t know who Fonseca was having a pissing contest with before the game, and then since Conceição we’ve had to deal with an injury crisis with the winger/wide players and then of course all the new players. That has made it hard to talk about what I think we’d see on the pitch. Although, feels like most of us have gotten that wrong a good chunk of the season anyway. I know for sure that applies to me. Been a crap shoot.

As for who I think should play, I’m still in favor of the Fab Four starting because they’re generating a lot of chances and haven’t really been compromised in defense. Nearly all of the goals conceded since Conceição starting fielding this attacking quartet have been howlers, own goals, or conceded while down a man. So those of you arguing for more balance, what balance are you specifically asking for?…

As to the efficiency of the attack, well yes, that hasn’t improved and still remains an issue. The attack isn’t as dire as some would have you believe, but they’re also not going to win any efficiency trophies as the best attack in Italy either. The bigger issue of late has been playing from behind, largely due to unforced errors, compounded by playing teams who were inclined to sit back against Milan anyway. In these circumstances you’re likely going to generate a lot of shots but most of them will be poor because you’re having to fire shots from distance and/or find a way through a sea of bodies. All of this usually translates to the team being down first, losing.

The inverse of this would also be true, however, and I would LOVE to see it for a change. Get a goal early and make the opponent open up. Then pile it on.

As for Bologna, this is Milan’s first time playing them this season, so we don’t have a great sense of how Italiano will want to play. When he was at Fiorentina previously, he had a few master classes, especially at home, by countering Milan with beautiful efficient football. But this Bologna is not Fiorentina so we’ll have to see but I would anticipate something similar to approaches in the past. They get solid contributions from attackers Orsolini, Castro, and Ndoye, so Milan’s defense will need to be ready. Oh, and they might have someone named Calabria starting at RB. If so, I want a TON of isolations with Leão. He may have been the Kvaratskhelia Killer, but Leão can use both feet so he’s already better than that one-trick pony…