Oh boy. That picture above sums it up, not that individual play but the whole game. Milan fell asleep at the wheel for the second time in as many games vs a newly promoted side. That’s 1 point out of a possible 6. Not good.
With a short turnaround and a game tomorrow, we’ll get through this post match pretty quick as there just isn’t a ton of time to ponder.
Milan can into this game on a good run of form and even got on the board early with another Leão goal from outside the box. I thought for a second Milan would cruise, that this was the start of a multi-goal game and they’d end up somewhere around the 3-0/3-1 score I had predicted in the matchday. Well, about 5 minutes after that goal it appeared Milan was not going to go for the throat and they’d be playing with fire the rest of the way.
The team was just disinterested in scoring another and putting the game away. The players surely take some of the blame, and usually I’m inclined to put it mostly on them, but the fact is that Allegri teams, at least in the Juve years, often did this in games when they were clearly the better team. Is it the end of the world? No. But they should be probably 3 points better than they are now, and some would even say 5 points better. Instead they sit 1 point back of first whereas they could have started to put a little distance between them and teams with European commitments. Missed opportunity for sure.
I guess the thing that bugged me the most was just the meandering as Milan approached Pisa’s final third. Giménez, who had been so good as putting in the work, just wasn’t doing much to generate looks or lanes for teammates to make a run or fire off a shot. So many of the possessions would end with a lost ball or a piss-poor chip or cross to no one in particular.
Ricci and Modrić did pretty much the same thing this game as last game and if there was ever a time to get Modrić forward this would’ve been it. It allows you to benefit from Modrić playing more advanced and delivering final balls AND it let’s you see how Ricci handles being the DM. The reverse meant Ricci was often the one playing in balls and he just doesn’t have the creative skillset to carry that burden. So again, could he have done better? Sure. But Allegri isn’t putting him in a situation to succeed in that role so the fault lies with Allegri and the whole team suffered as a result.
Now the teams travels on short rest to Bergamo and whereas maybe getting a draw would’ve been a solid result, dropping points vs Pisa means Milan likely needs all 3 points here especially with Roma on deck this weekend and Inter a couple of games after that. Nothing is over and the Scudetto is still in play but 1 point vs two newly promoted teams just can’t happen. It’s made things just a little bit harder and with a smaller margin of error.
I hope Allegri makes adjustments in player roles even if the same lineup except Tomori in for De Winter likely takes the field for Milan tomorrow vs Atalanta.
What Happened in Serie A
Ok, quick rundown.
Napoli (1st) put the beatdown on Inter (4th), winning 3-1 and climbing back to the top of the league table. The game was not without downsides for Napoli as Kevin De Bruyne’s quad blew up and he’s slated to miss quite a bit of time.
Roma (2nd) rode an early Dybala goal to a 1-0 win over Sassuolo (13th) and Bologna (5th) drew 2-2 to Fiorentina (18th). The draw for Fiorentina probably feels like a win as they battled back and got two penalties, including one in the dying minutes to salvage a point and Pioli’s job for at least another week.
Como (6th) drew 0-0 away to Parma (15th) as did Atalanta (7th), who drew 1-1 away at Cremonese (11th).
Arguably the biggest news this round was Igor Tutor getting shown the door after Juventus (8th) dropped points in their 8th straight game, including 3 straight losses, losing 1-0 at Lazio (10th). I don’t know what this Juve team is but I don’t expect them to compete for a Scudetto and they probably have their work cut out for them for the top 4.
Udinese (9th) beat Lecce (16th) 3-2 in Serie A’s highest scoring game of the round, and Torino (12th) beat Genoa (20th) 2-1. And finally, Cagliari (14th) drew 2-2 again Hellas Verona (17th).
Now, ratings.
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
MAIGNAN 6 – I don’t know what he could’ve done on the second goal but I’d like to see him stop just ONE penalty. I can’t think of the last time that happened.
Goal Keeping Overall 6
Defense
DE WINTER 6 – Should’ve started Tomori? Yes, hard to really blame him as his arm was out as he was finding his man when the Cuadrado shot was taken. AND he needed to be watching the ball which I think is the bigger issue.
GABBIA 7 – Solid.
PAVLOVIĆ 7 – Liked the runs forward, one of the few making them. And I know Athekame needed to do better on the backside for Pisa’s second goal but Pavlović needed to know to watch that side with the 20 year old still getting his Serie A feet under him.
Defense Overall 7
Midfield
SAELEMAEKERS 7.5 – Did well BUT all anyone is going to think about is that miss. And boy was it bad. Why he used the outside of his foot is beyond me.
FOFANA 6.5 – Been very meh this Rabiot went out. Maybe trying to do too much?
MODRIĆ 8 – Do I need to say anything at this point?
RICCI 7 – Didn’t play poorly but if Modrić is out there with him then let Ricci sit back and be the DM. Not that complicated.
BARTESAGHI 7.5 – Welcome aboard the Bartesaghi train. Have your tickets ready because my boy is COOKING.
Midfield Overall 7
Forwards
GIMÉNEZ 6 – It’s games like this where we need him to turn a half opportunity into a goal. That’s what #9s do.
LEÃO 8 – The goal was great. And was ok after that. But could’ve done more. Still, the most dangerous man on the pitch for Milan again.
Forwards Overall 7
Subs
ATHEKAME 7 – First Serie A goal! And it was a nice strike with a little bit of luck. But good job taking your chances, kid. Oh, stay on your man on the weak side as you learned the hard way what can happen in an instant in the big leagues.
NKUNKU 6 – He didn’t really add anything. Maybe he would’ve done better with Giménez also out there?
Subs Overall 6.5
Coaching
ALLEGRI 5 – He needed to break the mold and really get after it. No reason to not go for the kill with an aggressive game plan. Maybe even toy with 3 attackers. This was the game to get aggressive and maybe try and get Giménez scoring and figure out a way to get Nkunku scoring as well.
For me the game was lost at the top, with the coach. As I said at the beginning of the post, the players absolutely have blame but these types of games Allegri is known for and I hope he has the vision to see that he needs to let him team feast sometimes. Maybe don’t come out conservatively and really make the minnow feel preyed on. One can hope anyway.
Final Thoughts
Ok, an even shorter week than last time. Maybe that’s a good thing. Get back on that horse.
Please note the time change as some places are adjusting clocks, with some changing this past week and others are doing it this upcoming weekend. So the game for us here in the states is at 3:45pm EST/7:45pm GMT. Don’t miss it!
Forza Milan.
gillis
