Boy, this is exactly what I get for thinking Allegri and Milan had this figured out. I know there wasn’t clear-cut evidence they were going to fully right the ship against smaller teams and yet I still drank the Kool-Aid. Not anymore. Even if Milan run off 10 straight wins, I will remain pessimistic. A straight up Debbie-downer and you can point to this game and this moment for it.
This game had a little bit of everyone’s go-to pet peeve to latch onto to assign blame:
- Don’t like Leão? He was terrible for most of the game.
- Don’t like shabby defending in the box? Watch Gabbia get owned by Colombo in the box.
- Fofana gives you ulcers? You certainly had one when he sh*t the bed on an open net.
- Don’t like VAR when they fail to get the correct call? Well Bartesaghi’s penalty and the possible penalties not given to Füllkrug and Athekame check those boxes.
- Don’t like VAR when they get the decision right but it hurts your team? Pulisic’s handball was the correct ball that negated a goal.
- Don’t like Allegri’s conservative approach against smaller teams? Watch this game (or pretty much any other game against bottom table teams).
- Don’t like Leão central, especially behind a true #9? Look at the formation even after Füllkrug came in.
I’m sure there are more I missed but you get the point. The only solid part of this game was the first 10-15 minutes when it was somewhat open. And if you’re keeping track at home, Milan isn’t quite at the halfway point with the round 16 match vs Como still to play (midweek next week), but they have played all the lower half of the league and they have gone 5-4-1, earning 19 points in 10 games (1.9pts per game). Compare that to vs the top half where they’ve gone 5-2-0 and have 17 points in 7 games (2.4pts per game). Think about that for second. They are on a borderline Champions League qualifying pace vs bottom half of the table teams, that’s how bad they’ve been.
Looking at those stats I just mentioned, clearly the problem is the approach. Yes, there was this in-betweenness I’ve been talking about, the inability by Allegri to either sit back vs these smaller clubs and invite pressure or get bodies forward to attack, in most cases against a low block. It’s almost like he’s telling himself, “we’re better than this team and should beat them…but I better play it safe to not concede. Maybe I’ll tell Fofana to move up a little.” It’s clearly compromising both the attack, yes the attack, as Milan has to rely on late goals to salvage points vs bad defenses (1/3 of the goals scored in these games has come in the final 30 minutes to tie or take the lead), and Milan’s defense, as they go from conceding 0.29 goals per game to 1.1 goals per game.
But most importantly, and what this really comes down to is: this isn’t working. Just once, once (!), I’d like to see Allegri come out of the gates and put the opponent under assault for the first 15-20 minutes. Overwhelm them and generate some big chances. It doesn’t have to be all game but it has to stop being when Milan is already down or tied with 10-15 minutes remaining in the game they should be winning.
Allegri has another chance vs another bottom half of the table team this Sunday against Fiorentina, a team they beat in their first meeting this season but needed one of those late goals (86th minute penalty) to get all 3 points. Everything is lining up to make a formation change amid squad rotation during this busy part of the schedule. He can rest one of Leão or Pulisic, who are both not at 100%, play Saelemaekers at RW with Füllkrug center, and switch to a 4-3-3 with Tomori out due to accumulation. Get Modrić some much needed rest and play Jashari. But most of all, GO FOR THE F**KING THROAT.
What Happened in Serie A
Let’s do a quick round 19 round up…
Inter (1st) took care of business, easily defeating Parma (15th) 0-2. Napoli (3rd) was not as lucky, although they were just lucky enough to get a point as they drew 2-2 at home to Hellas Verona (18th). Juventus (4th) took down Sassuolo (11th) at the Città del Tricolore with ease, winning 0-3.
Roma (5th) got back to winning with a 0-2 win over Lecce (17th) while Como (6th) took care of Pisa (20th) easily, winning 3-0. Atalanta (7th) and Bologna (8th) are going in opposite directions, with Atalanta beating Bologna 0-2. Atalanta have won 8 of their last 10 in all competitions while Bologna have won only once in their last 8.
Finally, Lazio (9th) drew with Fiorentina (19th) 2-2 and Udinese (10th) beat Torino (12th) 1-2. Cremonese (13th) earned a point, drawing 2-2 vs Cagliari (14th) but are winless in their last 5 games.
Now, ratings.
Player Ratings
Goal Keeping
MAIGNAN 6.5 – Gabbia didn’t do him any favors (and neither did Rabiot and anyone else who could’ve helped on Malinovsky’s ball to Colombo), but I still think he could’ve at least gotten a hand on it.
Goal Keeping Overall 6.5
Defense
TOMORI 7 – Another solid game but he didn’t mess up so no one has anything to say…
GABBIA 6 – His near goal/off the post shot almost salvaged this bad performance. Colombo owned him, made a dumb foul 50 meters from goal and got carded, got subbed late but probably should’ve come off before.
PAVLOVIĆ 7.5 – Nice having the marauding Serb back.
Defense Overall 7
Midfield
SAELEMAEKERS 6 – Maybe his worst performance of the season.
FOFANA 1 – Allegri doesn’t sub at the half. But he subbed him off. That’s how bad that miss was in front of the open net.
MODRIĆ 7– Played a solid game. No complaints.
RABIOT 6.5 – Took Malinovsky’s fake hook, line, and sinker and left a wide open lane for Malinovsky to find Colombo. Respect the shot, put up a leg, but you can’t bite like that from 22-23 meters out and put yourself completely out of position to further defend.
BARTESAGHI 7.5 – Delivered some gems and damn near scored again. Everything I saw on his penalty shows that the Genoa player fouled him at the end of the game, not the other way around.
Midfield Overall 5.5
Forwards
PULISIC 7 – Hard done but played well. Had a couple of wonderful strikes and plays that result in goals on most other days.
LEÃO 7 – Got the massive goal to salvage a point but he did not look good all game (the goal is the only reason I’m giving him a 7). Not sure what was going on. This didn’t look like loafing but something else. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he’s not fit but he can’t do this again. Either put in the effort or if he isn’t 100% then sit him.
Forwards Overall 7
Subs
LOFTUS-CHEEK 6.5 – I mean, he did ok I guess.
FÜLLKRUG 6.5 – Again, like his first appearance, he just brings something else the team lacks in terms of characteristics. I like it. Allegri needs to change the formation.
ATHEKAME 6.5 – I like this kid. He’s never out of position and on top of the game-equalizing goal he had earlier this season, he could’ve maybe drawn (and maybe did draw) a penalty in this one that just wasn’t called for some reason. More to that point, he seems to read the game well like Kalulu and I love his speed. Start him next game in a back-4.
Subs Overall 6.5
Coaching
ALLEGRI 3 – Grow a f**king pair and attack these minnows. What a coward.
Final Thoughts
Ugh. I’m still bugged. We better see some changes, including the formation the next time we see them.
Next game is Sunday at 9am EST/2pm GMT at Fiorentina. Oye. I’m not optimistic. That place has snake bitten Milan more than I can count.
Forza Milan.
gillis
