Fiorentina vs AC Milan

We face a difficult away fixture in Florence however they are a side stretched by both European and domestic cup ties in addition to numerous injuries. Regardless we can expect a well motivated side who will face us with great belief in their own ability and confident of extending their solid record against us in recent years. When we faced in Milan we were unfortunate to drop a point after a lapse in concentration from Zapata at the back but given the relative form displayed by each side, we are likely to find ourselves on the back foot in this match.

We will be bolstered by the likely return of Abate to the starting line up, whilst Alex also returns, however we are faced with a midfield crisis as Poli is suspended, in addition to the continued absence of Montolivo and De Jong. Fiorentina meanwhile will miss Pizarro, who even at 35 remains influential in the centre of the pitch, controlling the flow of possession and allowing the likes of Valero the freedom to roam. Additionally, Savic is injured, whilst Tomovic is suspended which might necessitate the use of Richards should Montella field a back four. Gomez is still out but in Babacar and Gilardino (lol) they still possess the flexibility to introduce a physical centre forward or to continue with the trident of Ilicic, Salah and Diamanti to rob our defenders of a reference point, though Ilicic has nominally occupied the highest central role.

Fiorentina are certainly not unbeatable. Their demolition at the hands of Lazio may have been comprehensive on the scoreline but they gave an excellent account of themselves for much of the game until the second goal came against the run of play and they are a threat either when pressing high and relying on their excellent width and the ability of Valero and Mati Fernandez to play in and around the box or when releasing Salah and Ilicic on the counter. It is vital that we avoid giving the ball away cheaply in our own half. Given our likely central midfield composition tonight, our capacity to bring the ball out from the back quickly and accurately will be essential not simply to challenge Fiorentina's back four but to avoid conceding cheap goals. If we are to be beaten, we must at least demand that Fiorentina earn three points rather than accepting them gratefully from us.

We've lacked intensity and purpose of late. The time to fix these issues however isn't in the summer but right now. Fiorentina left our city with a stolen point last game. It's time to take it back.

Fiorentina Squad: Alonso, Aquilani, Babacar, Badelj, Basanta, Borja Valero, Diamanti, Mati Fernandez, Gilardino, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Ilicic, Joaquin, Kurtic, Lazzari, Lezzerini, Neto, Pasqual, Richards, Rosati, Rosi, Salah, Vargas

AC Milan Squad: bbiati, Diego Lopez, Gori; Abate, Albertazzi, Antonelli, Alex, Bocchetti, Bonera, Mexes, Paletta; Essien, Muntari, Suso, Van Ginkel, Bonaventura, Locatelli, Mastalli; Cerci, Destro, Honda, Menez, Pazzini

Last time dost created a fio v milan thread (2-2)

Last time i created a fio v milan thread (0-2)

If we lose this, #DostOut #FadiIn

We've never conceded a single goal whenever i've made a Milan match thread

And my mass signature was put in place about 16 games in to the undefeated season.


#DostOut #FadiLoanThenOut

#BigDaddyTomIN

El Shaarawy wrote:Last time dost created a fio v milan thread (2-2)

Last time i created a fio v milan thread (0-2)

If we lose this, #DostOut #FadiIn

Ljajic dived, the result is invalid

However horrendous we've been this season, we seem to rise to the occasion against better teams. Hoping that happens in this match as well.

Honda's pace is 64 but he thinks its 89

Great play from Antonelli and Bona, shame Honda opted for power

Destro ffs, how can you not hit that

Honda is predictable af

We've only won 2 away games this season

Casciavit wrote:We've only won 2 away games this season

That would be a damning statistic in November let alone March.

Despite our late collapse it was one of our better performances in 2015, not that that says much. I haven't the mental energy to go into great detail after yet another disappointing result, however there were a couple of positives. Van Ginkel's first half was possibly his best for us this season, involving himself in all of our best attacking moves and making some excellent contributions in defence throughout the match, though he picked up a yellow for a very poorly timed challenge. Destro had an excellent second half, turning in a difficult chance and going on two excellent driving runs on the counter, resulting in a yellow for Gonzalo and nearly creating a goal for Menez. Destro has rarely been given the ball to feet and allowed to attack defenders but he once more showed his capacity to trouble a backline. He doesn't have the greatest top speed but his acceleration unsettles opponents and he is clever in the way he moves with the ball. He caused similar havoc in his early days at Siena and I am hoping it is something we look to take greater advantage of rather than bypassing him entirely when we look to break from our own half. He was quiet in the first half but with the service that was arriving it was little surprise and it is in part also a reflection of his style but he showed his usefulness. As much as I appreciate Pazzini's hard work, one could not imagine Giampaolo exhibiting the same cynical opportunism as Destro anymore.

After a competitive opening half an hour in which we took advantage of Fiorentina's lack of intensity in midfield and the lack of understanding shown by a makeshift right side of Richards and Rosi, we were gradually pinned further and further back. Montella's introduction of Badelj for Aquilani helped to consolidate the centre of the park for Fiorentina in the second half whilst Joaquin gave them greater penetration down the right. We had a few opportunities on the break but we never looked comfortable enough to sit back without being punished. Ideally, we would have sat higher and tried to dominate the ball to choke Fiorentina out of the match but given our absences in midfield and the lack of alternatives by which to change the game, I was not surprised to see Inzaghi simply resign himself to this approach. I would have personally looked to bring Muntari on for the last quarter of an hour to provide better protection for Antonelli who had one of his poorer matches since arriving but calling Sulley off the bench is hardly the stuff of dreams.

We eventually folded under immense pressure. That it happened so late is frustrating but it might well have occurred earlier. I lost count of how many times we had a goal kick or a deep free kick only to see the ball streaming back at us five seconds later, cutting short a TV replay. Due to the coverage I often was not even able to determine how we had lost the ball so rapidly but it was a recurring issue. We were never able to push Fiorentina back for an extended period of time in the second half and a breakthrough was inevitable. In the build up to the first, we somehow ended up outnumbered at the back post. Abate was marking Babacar at the near post originally as the cross arrived and was late in moving to cover the unmarked Gonzalo. He bears responsibility but so does our entire team unit for permitting a numerical imbalance in the box. That Fiorentina could win a free header right in front of goal in the last ten minutes of a game in which we had no other aim but to defend was criminal. That we conceded again was typical. Overall, I thought we probably merited a draw, but this team is owed nothing and we lack the mental toughness to get the results we need.

In fairness, we nearly pulled it back from Bonera's lofted ball to Destro but there are no trophies for near misses. At least, in this game, we were closer than usual.

inzaghi is the worst coach in serie a history. i'll be shocked if he got another coaching job. maybe in serie c/the lower leagues. absolutely clueless.