Are you getting used to this script? I’m starting to…concede first, usually the opponent scoring on their first or second shot of the game, halftime subs, claw back 1 or all 3 points. This hasn’t just been the last 2 games either, but it’s something Milan has been better than everyone else in Serie A aside from Bologna since Conceição took the reins.
It’s a tough way to live, and ultimately it’s unsustainable. But fight back is a good trait to have and in this current Milan, it’s one of the only good traits they’ve shown. Milan still have some hope for a top 4 but we’re still a ways from that particularly with a tough stretch of games coming out of this current international break.
I won’t spend too much time on a game summary, because we keep seeing many of the same things play out. Thankfully there’s been a huge decrease in the number of mental lapses and dumb red cards to help minimize a still-too-leaky defense. But without those these games haven’t gotten out of reach and with that Milan has managed to string together 2 straight wins.
Another thing that keeps happening is Conceição needing to make halftime adjustments because the initial lineup just wasn’t clicking. This isn’t unique to Conceição, as it happens to every coach. But it’s been similar reasons for his need to make changes and it is something I want to spend a little time on.
One of the things you all hear me talk (complain?) about often is having certain characteristics on the pitch. Yes, having versatility on the pitch helps you do different things but it mostly works – and works best – when the players can do the main function of the position on top of other things. Having an attacking midfielder who can defend and run box to box is great but if he’s not creating offense then he’s not really doing his job. This effect is magnified when other positions on the pitch suffer from the same thing (think Saelemaekers at RW with Kessie at CAM…hard to generate offense consistently and those Milan teams didn’t when Leão wasn’t producing). It doesn’t mean you can’t have any of those types of players filling positions but one too many and you no longer have a functioning team.
In this game, as well as the Lecce game, we saw similar issues and remedies play out. In both first halves vs Lecce and Como we saw Musah find himself is advantageous positions only to waste the best opportunities Milan could muster. The early miss by Musah in this game was the most egregious and is something that just can’t happen. We also know that Conceição is asking Musah to get forward because when he comes out and Reijnders moves back there Reijnders is doing the same thing but obviously to much greater effect. And this here is the key.
Reijnders coming up from that double pivot and being the extra guy works because he has the skillset to take advantage of the goal scoring situations. João Felix (…or for you Felix haters, anyone with a João Felix-like skillset…) coming in was the change that kicked everything into motion because he can play the CAM as well if not better than Reijnders and it allows Reijnders to move back and be the extra guy to punish teams. We don’t have to imagine how it would’ve worked out if Musah was still the box to box and Reijnders as the CAM because we saw it the whole first half. Take the Reijnders goal. Hypothetically, Reijnders finds Abraham and Abraham finds Musah making a run and then it’s Musah taking the shot that Reijnders scored on. I don’t want that and you don’t either.
Musah wasted 2 great chances in the first half. In the second half Reijnders found Pulisic for a goal, made a run and hit the crossbar, made another run and scored, and then made another run and just missed on a brilliant 4th opportunity. All 4 of these opportunities came AFTER Felix came on and moved Reijnders back to the double pivot.
It should be worth noting that having what is traditionally your box to box midfielder getting, well, further up the pitch than just the opponent’s 18 yard box, is living somewhat dangerously defensively and we’ve seen a very exposed Milan this season. Much of this can be mitigated with other players playing key roles, namely Fofana or Bondo staying back more and not having both full backs advanced and up the pitch. Tradeoffs but more practice time to learn each other and what Conceição wants should help improve this and they’re going to need to if they want to make that run at the top 4.
One last thing and that’s Santiago Giménez is starting to look like a finisher and little else. It’s still early, of course, but I wonder if he’s going to come good. We saw a huge difference in buildup and overall offensive acuity with Tammy Abraham out there. And we saw it in the Lecce game too (and may others before this).
Many of you know I value Tammy and think he’s a smart and valuable player, but it isn’t just that I like him. He’s producing at a really solid clip and makes plays Giroud wasn’t making, or Morata, and that Giménez isn’t making now. Seriously, watch the video of the Reijnders goal and you’ll see the vision and execution (and Felix’s pass to Abraham was slick too). Heck, Abraham’s pass to Reijnders that Reijnders missed after the goal in the dying minutes was divine as well.
I think Abraham is worth redeeming, especially if it’s just a straight Saelemaekers-Abraham swap. I think I can say this now with Lisi retired…
What Happened in Serie A
The round’s biggest matchup, and there were a few of them, was Inter’s matchup with Atalanta. Inter (1st) came in 3 points up on Atalanta (3rd) and after Inter drubbed Atalanta 4-0 back in late August, Atalanta really to make up ground if they had any hopes of equalizing the league tiebreakers (head to head is the first tiebreaker but then goal difference in the head to head is second). Well, they didn’t. Sorry. Not much suspense in this second meeting. Inter got a 54th minute goal from Carlos Augusto and then an 81st minute red card for Atalanta’s Ederson meant any comeback in the dying minutes would be mostly out of reach. So now Atalanta is back 6 points and would need to get in front of Inter to win the Scudetto.
The other big matchup was Juventus (5th) and Fiorentina (8th), and Juventus…whoa boy. Talk about sh*tting the bed. Fiorentina was up 2-0 before the 20th minute and would go on to win 3-0. Juventus, for those of you keeping score, have lost the last two games by a combined score of 7-0. Milan have had their issues this season but they haven’t lost one game like this much less two and back to back. Yikes. Needless to say it’s meltdown mode in Turin and on Juve Twitter.
Circling back to the second spot in the table, Napoli (2nd) drew 0-0 at Venezia (19th). You read that right. Napoli now sit 3 points back of Inter for first and have won just once in their last 7 games (1-5-1)…*coughs* paper tigers *coughs*.
Bologna (4th) continue their hot form after demolishing Lazio (6th) by the score of 5-0. Clearly Bologna aren’t this good and Lazio just snuck by Viktoria Plzen midweek, so maybe some hangover there. Bologna have picked a good time to get hot but a tough remaining schedule await them with 7 of their last 9 league games vs teams in the top 10 in the league.
Roma (8th) clawed one out, beating Cagliari (15th) 1-0 via a Dovbyk 62nd minute goal. This is Roma’s 6th straight league win and is a nice bounce back after losing in Europa League to Athletic Club Bilbao. Rounding out the top 10, Udinese (10th) dropped a disappointing 1-0 loss to Hellas Verona (14th). Hellas are now at 29 points and nearing safety.
Torino (11th) beat Empoli (18th) 1-0. I keep bringing this up but it’s mind-blogging: Empoli have 3 points in their last 13 league games…3 out of 39 points. Let’s add some misery for Juve fans and remind everyone they beat Juve in the Coppa during the middle of this streak of ineptitude.
Lastly, Genoa (12th) beat Lecce (16th) 2-1 and Parma (17th) drew with Monza (20th) 1-1.
Now, ratings.
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
MAIGNAN 7 – I thought he could’ve done a little better on the goal but it would’ve been a hell of a save had he gotten to it. Sometimes the opponent just hits a quality shoot in a good location.
Goal Keeping Overall 7
Defense
WALKER 7 – Stayed back more than we’ve seen. Wonder if this is by design. I hope so. He got beat to balls a couple of times so that pace is fading. Still a solid player but Milan and Conceição will need to be mindful of that moving forward.
GABBIA 7 – Solid.
THIAW 7 – Solid.
HERNÁNDEZ 6.5 – Apparently came off at the half due to a minor calf issue. Doesn’t seem major but hopefully his international duty is light.
Defense Overall 7
Midfield
BONDO 6.5 – Not quite as good as his debut starting nod but still solid. Again, nothing flashy, just doing what the DM needs to do.
MUSAH 6 – I actually want to go lower but I don’t think it’s entirely on him. I don’t think being an around/in the box player is his role so Conceição needs to stop putting him in those positions.
Midfield Overall 6.3
Forwards
PULISIC 8 – Best finisher on the team.
REIJNDERS 8.5 MOTM – What a second half and it could’ve been better (hit the crossbar and just missed his second). Still, an assist on a beautiful ball to Pulisic and the dart to the bottom right corner for the goal. KEEP HIM IN THE DOUBLE PIVOT!
LEÃO 6.5 – Solid but unspectacular.
GIMÉNEZ 6.5 – As mentioned in the editorial, I just want to see more especially if he isn’t scoring.
Forwards Overall 7
Subs
FOFANA 6.5 – The practice time is helping. He’s staying back more and DM-ing the midfield again.
JIMENEZ 6.5 – Solid. Versatile player. Part of the build up in the Pulisic goal.
FELIX 6.5 – Solid movements and really knows how to read the defense and find the holes, both with his movement and passing.
ABRAHAM 7.5 – Can we keep him?! LOVE this player. I might get sh*t for it but I’m good with it. Loyal readers know my knack for spotting talent and/or value. He’s a valuable player to have especially for the money.
LOFTUS-CHEEK 6.5 – I’m going to try and be positive…he might have a role on this team, preferably as the box to box in the double pivot, spelling Reijnders IF HE MAKES RUNS INTO THE BOX.
Subs Overall 6.5
Coaching
CONCEIÇÃO 6.5 – Can’t go higher than this because I think he’s overthinking the starting lineup. I mean see the whole editorial at the top. But the team has fight and the practice time is paying off. A lot of the bad habits are breaking (Leão is staying wide, Fofana is staying back, Reijnders is making himself available again) and the team is starting to look like they’re becoming familiar with each other.
Keep it up, coach. I’m pulling for you because if you succeed so does Milan.
Final Thoughts
Still a ways to go for 4th but positive signs. Keep cleaning up the fundamentals, tighten up the defense, and keep making solid halftime adjustments (or just get the starting lineup correct more often!). Do those things with this fight to the end mentality, and maybe Milan get lucky.
International break. FINALLY a little break for me too.
Forza Milan.
gillis
