Another win and Milan is back at the top of the table. Although this game was a bit of slog early, albeit with good reason, there was enough on the pitch to take all 3 points home. Milan is rolling early and this was a good test, a different kind of test from what they’ve dealt with so far this season, namely a bit of an injury crisis, but it was a test nonetheless.
I think what we saw was pretty straight forward. Milan was short handed in the midfield and attack and it’s the biggest reason for the lackluster first half. Looking at who was available, the options were VERY limited and I couldn’t think of a better lineup or formation if Giménez wasn’t out there. Need proof? The bench consisted of CF Giménez, CB De Winter (so far, so good), CF Balentien, GK Pittarella, GK Terracciano, CB Odogu, and MF Sala. What are YOU doing with that??? (nothing…the answer is nothing).
As for the game itself, I think Milan showed that it is a far superior team than Fiorentina. Our favorite coach (or mine at least), Pioli, had his work cut out for him taking that job and it’s certainly turning out that way. The team doesn’t look like it has much going forward aside from Moise Kean, and the midfield didn’t control anything, even with Milan’s midfield not at full strength. So while the first half was a slog, Milan’s quality…what they had available anyway…proved to be too much.
The game really turned in Milan’s favor once Giménez came in around the 57 minute mark, itself more and less a reaction to Fiorentina scoring a bizarre goal that was basically a Milan own goal. The forced experimentation of Saelemaekers playing centrally isolated behind Leão, himself also playing centrally isolated just further up the pitch, didn’t work and the attack petered out whenever it neared the 18 yard box. But, once Giménez came in the movement greatly improved with him moving and occupying defenders in the box and Leão’s roaming, which he was doing before, all of the sudden became easier and more effective with something doing the dirty work in the 18 yard box. Lanes opened up and actual scoring opportunities aside from dead balls started to materialize.
We all know what happened shortly after that. Leão took a ball on the left side and cut inside and fired off a gem of a shot from outside the box to tie it up (Giménez had drifted left in the box and helped create the lane). Giménez also helped draw a penalty late, one that some non-Milan fans took offense to. I myself was indifferent to whether it was a penalty or not. If the rules state that a hand to the face, even one that glances, warrants a penalty kick than so be it, but just as importantly it needs to be consistently applied. If there is an argument to have, that should be it. Be mad that the other team, any other team, that doesn’t get the call didn’t get the call, but don’t be mad at the team that did. Anyway, Leão, taking is first ever meaningful game penalty, coolly knocked it in and Milan finished it off for all 3 points.
The other thing we were all wondering about, before I bring up Leão again, was how Samuel Ricci would do in his first start of the league season. With Rabiot out injured, Ricci got the chance to show what he can do and overall I thought he did well even if he wasn’t as good as Rabiot has been. But really that was part of the problem, or at least something that could’ve been handled better, was the role he had in this game.
Essentially Allegri did a plug and play with Ricci for Rabiot and I don’t think he did that as well because that’s not really his strength. I think the better play would’ve been to alter things somewhat and have Ricci play as a DM, a more defensive-minded one than Modrić has been, and have Modrić play more advanced, as it’s (1) something he can do, and (2) it also would’ve helped a depleted attack as mentioned above. With Pisa up next, I would make this change since Milan will likely have to field a similar midfield even if Giménez can start from the get-go.
Finally before moving on to the rest of the topics, Leão. He once again came through but also once again there were a lot of you doubting his place on the team and if he’s still worth being the marquee player. I know I’ve had my doubts about how he would perform under Allegri, or more specifically the formations that we were seeing and being discussed over the summer, as I think he performs better out wide but just as importantly if not more is that he is allowed space to utilize his best abilities (being out wide often provides that space).
So far in this 3-5-2 he is clearly not getting to play out wide on the left much but he is getting space as Allegri is not crowding out the area. This has resulted in 3 goals in 155 minutes played this season in all competitions, or a goal every 51 minutes. If you only count when he was in a 3-5-2 and not the 3-5-1-1 we saw in the first 57 minutes of this game, he has 3 goals in 122 minutes, or a goal every 40 minutes. Pulisic, who has been on fire, is averaging a goal/assist every 52 minutes across all competitions, so…
Lastly, those of you who complain about his work rate would likely be the same people who complain about Steph Curry’s defense in the NBA. THAT’S NOT WHY HE’S OUT THERE. In fact, the Warriors actively work to get him off of the other team’s best guard so he can do less defensively, because they need his offensive output more. This is how I view Leão and how I would manage him. Truth be told, I think Allegri views him this way too and I think he’s wise for doing so. Look at that…me praising Allegri to end the editorial part of the post. Miracles do happen!
What Happened in Serie A
Milan back in first, baby! But let’s talk about the rest.
The only team in the vicinity of the top 4 to win was Inter (2nd), as they beat Roma (4th) 1-0. Backup striker Bonny got an early goal and the game got a little boring after that. Napoli (3rd) dropped a 1-0 game to Torino (14th) in Turin, a game Napoli never really looked good in.
A couple of teams got closer to the top 4 with those teams dropping points, with Bologna (5th) beating Cagliari (13th) 2-0 and Como (6th) beating Juvenus (7th) 2-0 as well. Nico Paz had a wonderful goal to put that game away and it’s probably just a matter of time until Madrid activate the buy-back clause.
Atalanta (8th) are in full Ivan Juric mode, having drawn for the 5th time this season in 7 games, a 0-0 game against Lazio (12th). Sassuolo (9th) earned their first draw of the season, a 0-0 draw against Lecce (16th). Cremonese (10th) like Sassuolo, continue their strong return to Serie A, drawing with Udinese (11th) 1-1. With 10 points in 7 games, both teams are on pace for 50+ point season.
Rounding things out, Parma (15th) and Genoa (19th) played to a 0-0 draw as did Hellas Verona (17th) and Pisa (20th). If it seems like scoring was down this week, it was. There were four 0-0 games, two 1-0 games, and one 1-1 game. Yikes. Let’s see if we see a bounce back in scoring this weekend.
Now, ratings.
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
MAIGNAN 7 – This was the best goalkeeper pic I could find on the official Milan site for the game! Look at him way up there at the top! I really wanted to find a pic of when he broke Kean’s ankles but couldn’t find one. Lame. Also, solid game. Fiorentina’s goal was basically a Milan own goal even though it won’t go down that way in the score book.
Goal Keeping Overall 7
Defense
TOMORI 7.5 – He had one lazy pass that didn’t result in anything for Fiorentina and all of the usual haters started chirping, LOL. I loved reading today that he may be working on a new contract with Milan.
GABBIA 7 – Solid game but the best part was making Leão keep his shirt on and avoid a yellow. It’s a dumb rule but not worth getting carded.
PAVLOVIĆ 7.5 – His runs forward will never not be funny looking.
Defense Overall 7.5
Midfield
ATHEKAME 7 – I thought he did well. Wasn’t crazy about taking the yellow but in hindsight it helped nudged Allegri to make the sub to bring in Giménez.
FOFANA 6.5 – I’m kind of mixed on his performance. Sky jousting shots into the heavens appears to be back in his arsenal.
MODRIĆ 8 – Do I even have to say anything at this point?
RICCI 7 – I mentioned this above in the editorial but I thought he was solid for what he was asked to do but if he’s in there then I think the play is to let him sit back and have Modrić get more advanced, whereas it was the other way around in this game. I hope Allegri makes the adjustment.
BARTESAGHI 7 – I love seeing so many of you asking to get aboard the Bartesaghi train. Welcome abroad! Choo-choo!
Midfield Overall 7
Forwards
SAELEMAEKERS 6.5 – A tale of two halves for him and Leão. He was like a 5 in the first half, but like a 8 in the second. So I’m not going to penalize him for being played out of position considering the injury crisis.
LEÃO 8.5 MOTM – Its Leão. He’s a star. Many people have a problem accepting that.
Forwards Overall 7.5
Subs
GIMÉNEZ 7 – I do think the goals will come. His finishing is too good. But it’s been refreshing to see how well he’s been playing basically as a solo striker. Much needed considering the lack of options in the squad.
DE WINTER NA – I don’t think he’s going to replace anyone on that back line permanently, but he’s definitely good enough to get starting rotations. If anyone goes down I think we all feel comfortable with him slotting in. Either way, I think we’ll start to see him more towards the end of the year when the Coppa and Supercoppa arrive and there’s a few more games.
BALENTIEN NA – He played.
Subs Overall 7
Coaching
ALLEGRI 7 – Look at that pic! Milan’s last two Scudetto winners. Everyone knows my fondness for Pioli but Allegri has been excellent for Milan so far, something I was highly skeptical of when he arrived (or came back?).
As for the game, the injuries really played a part in that porous first half but thinking about it, I couldn’t think of a better lineup if the assumption was that Giménez was fatigued and didn’t have 90 minutes in his legs. Maybe you start him and pull him? I tend to want to go that route as it’s easier to defend a lead than chase a goal late. But it worked so not much to complain about…for now.
Final Thoughts
Ok, short week this week with Milan hosting Pisa this Friday at 2:45pm EST/7:45pm GMT. Be there or be square.
Forza Milan.
gillis
