Is MDS our long-awaited answer at LB/RB?

LB options since Maldini's retirement...


Maldini
1985-2009 (retired)
...Kaladze
2001-2010 (by the time Maldini retired he was past his prime)
......Jankulovski
2005-2011 (by the time Maldini retired he was past his prime)
...............Favalli
2006-2010 (by the time Maldini retired he was past his prime)
.....................Zambrotta
2008-2012 (by the time Maldini retired he was past his prime)
...........................Antonini
2008- (not good enough)
.................................Mesbah
2012- (not good enough)
....................................De Sciglio
2011- ???

I believe it's too early to tell, his response in the Champions League and throughout the season will speak volumes of his potential, however for the moment he should be allowed to play and make mistakes, it's a position that he will need a lot of time to grow into.

He has the benefit though of beginning to grow into this position at a relatively young age still, in an environment which is more willing to give opportunities to youngsters than is the norm and without significant competition for game time.

He's certainly one of our brightest prospects and given the investment we look set to make in him, we can rightly have high hopes for him in the future. Not to mention that the kid is an absolute stud, think of the shirt sales.

I say no.

Watching Mattia De Sciglio last season in the Primavera side, along with Cristante the two were clearly the two most technically gifted players in the side. When playing on the right in the senior side a similar Mattia is seen.

However, when he is moved to the left we see a too one dimensional De Sciglio. I lack the stats to back it up, but the amount on times he choses the simple ball to the CDM / CB's over that incisive ball he plays over and over again to the treq. / winger is intriguing to say the least.

A similar situation appears not only when in possession but in a positional sense. He was caught out of position more times in the Parma game along then in his whole senior career when playing on the right.

In my own humble opinion I do not believe that Abate is a good enough right back to be at a side wanting to do big things in football. Looking at Juve's squad and seeing Lichtsteiner, Isla and Caceres as their right back options makes me so, so jealous. All three would start over Abate.

Which brings me to my main point: Abate is not a good enough right back for Milan while Mattia De Sciglio, through his brilliant early performances, has shown he has the potential that he may well be. On the left, this changes.

If I were the manager of Milan, I would play Mattia on the right and Didac on the left but hey, who am I to say we should start La Liga's third back left back last season over Antonini?

In short, if we want a winning, young side, the best solution would be to drop Abate and play Mattia De Sciglio on the right and look for a new left back solution. This guy is a fantastic right back, but it ends there. He isn't our long term LB solution. Until a better solution for the left can be found, fine, play him there for the experience and the minutes, but beyond that? No.

forza.milan wrote:I say no.

Watching Mattia De Sciglio last season in the Primavera side, along with Cristante the two were clearly the two most technically gifted players in the side. When playing on the right in the senior side a similar Mattia is seen.

However, when he is moved to the left we see a too one dimensional De Sciglio. I lack the stats to back it up, but the amount on times he choses the simple ball to the CDM / CB's over that incisive ball he plays over and over again to the treq. / winger is intriguing to say the least.

A similar situation appears not only when in possession but in a positional sense. He was caught out of position more times in the Parma game along then in his whole senior career when playing on the right.

In my own humble opinion I do not believe that Abate is a good enough right back to be at a side wanting to do big things in football. Looking at Juve's squad and seeing Lichtsteiner, Isla and Caceres as their right back options makes me so, so jealous. All three would start over Abate.

Which brings me to my main point: Abate is not a good enough right back for Milan while Mattia De Sciglio, through his brilliant early performances, has shown he has the potential that he may well be. On the left, this changes.

If I were the manager of Milan, I would play Mattia on the right and Didac on the left but hey, who am I to say we should start La Liga's third back left back last season over Antonini?

In short, if we want a winning, young side, the best solution would be to drop Abate and play Mattia De Sciglio on the right and look for a new left back solution. This guy is a fantastic right back, but it ends there. He isn't our long term LB solution. Until a better solution for the left can be found, fine, play him there for the experience and the minutes, but beyond that? No.

Very interesting.

My question is whether MDS is that much worse at LB than RB that we should sacrifice Abate for him?

IMO, the short-medium term option is playing MDS at LB. In the long term he could switch back to RB.

What it comes down to, on balance, is that I'd rather see Abate on field than Antonini.

He aint left footed so not really. But the kid is obviously better than all the lB we had after Janku.He can be like Zambrotta ,Zambro was obviously better at Rb than Lb

Seriously people stop hating on abate he is a very solid RB and MDS is a very raw talent and im pretty sure if he is good enough he can adapt to the left easily.

He can and will adapt to Left Back, he has looked good there since he started playing in that position. He is the best option we have for Left Back hands down

Easily our best option at LB currently and until there is someone else who is better than him at LB then he should be starting.

forza.milan wrote:I say no.

Watching Mattia De Sciglio last season in the Primavera side, along with Cristante the two were clearly the two most technically gifted players in the side. When playing on the right in the senior side a similar Mattia is seen.

However, when he is moved to the left we see a too one dimensional De Sciglio. I lack the stats to back it up, but the amount on times he choses the simple ball to the CDM / CB's over that incisive ball he plays over and over again to the treq. / winger is intriguing to say the least.

A similar situation appears not only when in possession but in a positional sense. He was caught out of position more times in the Parma game along then in his whole senior career when playing on the right.

In my own humble opinion I do not believe that Abate is a good enough right back to be at a side wanting to do big things in football. Looking at Juve's squad and seeing Lichtsteiner, Isla and Caceres as their right back options makes me so, so jealous. All three would start over Abate.

Which brings me to my main point: Abate is not a good enough right back for Milan while Mattia De Sciglio, through his brilliant early performances, has shown he has the potential that he may well be. On the left, this changes.

If I were the manager of Milan, I would play Mattia on the right and Didac on the left but hey, who am I to say we should start La Liga's third back left back last season over Antonini?

In short, if we want a winning, young side, the best solution would be to drop Abate and play Mattia De Sciglio on the right and look for a new left back solution. This guy is a fantastic right back, but it ends there. He isn't our long term LB solution. Until a better solution for the left can be found, fine, play him there for the experience and the minutes, but beyond that? No.

+1

I've got nothing to add to this. Once Didac returns from his injury we must definitely try this pairing once in a while. Abate, as much as we rate him here, didn't have a better season than Antonini by any means. It sucks really to think that we've spent nearly 3 years trying to convert a winger into a proper fullback and suddenly a wonder kid for that position comes out of the blue. It isn't such a bad position actually, having two good players for the same position.

De Sciglio is going to become a superb player and i really respect his commitment and mentality on the pitch. It's just a matter of time before he finds his place in Milan and personaly speaking , i would like to see him play both right and left back.

He could play equaly well at leftback (in time) imo, the question is , is there any need for it ? Constant does well there and we still have Antonini there. There's also Didac , however i think it's safe to say he won't be staying in Milan after January.

So... who agrees we should drop Abate for MDS now?

ffs make that thread about fans and sign me into it MDS has potential to be beast. We'll see how he develops so far I love him even thou he is milanista.

Jankulovski I hate that guy

Long awaited solution at Right Back (knee jerk)