Serie A Season 16/17

One of the main reasons that we are playing better is that Bonaventura is finally adapting to his role in the midfield. He had the bad habit of holding the ball for a long time, this slowed down our play and meant that less chances were being created. Montolivo is also at fault because he likes to play it safe, although I think he would do better in positions other than Regista where he wouldn't have the main responsibility of controlling the tempo. Essentially, we need players that take risks more often.

I kinda of agree with MilanDevil on Montolivo and the midfield. Plus, Milan has 11 midfielders on the first team, and only 2 "wingers" (Niang and Suso, they can also play centrally though)

Afraid of sounding too much like Bersluconi here, but what about a diamond/4-4-2?


Just an idea. I've watched most games Milan this season and while the team is clearly trying to pass the ball more, keep it short and link up, there are a lot of problems still. With a diamond you offload some individual pressure from each midfielders (imo they are the weak point of Milan), so they can focus on what they do best. Montolivo, Sosa and Honda are all "natural" AMs. I would try Sosa and Montolivo there (I don't rate Honda) to see what they can do with the freedom.

Poli is limited in doing much else but run around and tackle so a holding role should suit him, same for Locatelli who would probably benefit from keeping it simple while he grows into the team.

Bonaventura and Kucka have tons of energy and can do plenty of running wide for width, specially Bonaventura who is still not so clear in his best role. Plus fullbacks are a strength of Milan so they cover the flanks well enough.

Bacca is a beast and should always play of course. Then one of Niang or Suso could have a free role between the lines and left (for Niang) or right (for Suso).

Some ideas, I also wanna see what Mati Fernandez can do with Montella again.

Anyone else completely forgot Mati is a Milan player?

To even go to such lengths as to contact dubious reps to sign him

rincon wrote:I kinda of agree with MilanDevil on Montolivo and the midfield. Plus, Milan has 11 midfielders on the first team, and only 2 "wingers" (Niang and Suso, they can also play centrally though)

Afraid of sounding too much like Bersluconi here, but what about a diamond/4-4-2?

Niang/Suso ---------- Bacca/Lapadula    

Montolivo/Sosa

Bonaventura/Fernandez ------- Kucka/Honda

Locatelli/Poli

Just an idea. I've watched most games Milan this season and while the team is clearly trying to pass the ball more, keep it short and link up, there are a lot of problems still. With a diamond you offload some individual pressure from each midfielders (imo they are the weak point of Milan), so they can focus on what they do best. Montolivo, Sosa and Honda are all "natural" AMs. I would try Sosa and Montolivo there (I don't rate Honda) to see what they can do with the freedom.

Poli is limited in doing much else but run around and tackle so a holding role should suit him, same for Locatelli who would probably benefit from keeping it simple while he grows into the team.

Bonaventura and Kucka have tons of energy and can do plenty of running wide for width, specially Bonaventura who is still not so clear in his best role. Plus fullbacks are a strength of Milan so they cover the flanks well enough.

Bacca is a beast and should always play of course. Then one of Niang or Suso could have a free role between the lines and left (for Niang) or right (for Suso).

Some ideas, I also wanna see what Mati Fernandez can do with Montella again.

We were using a flat 442 last season, which worked decently, at the moment i think we should abstain from changing the formation, we got a good streak now. Niang and Bacca have good chemistry, my only problem is the inherent attributes of that formation, our width is basically our fullbacks, the AM spot is up for grabs with washed up donner kebab seller, a Japanese car manufacturer, Montoleader and Suso, the last one i'm not even sure if he can play there effectively. What we got now is good for the time being at least - until we lose to Juve and Montella starts tampering - we've shown good attacking capacity this season, much more so than last i think, i will use last year's game against Napoli (1-1) and this year's (2-4) i liked the showing in attack for that game, we created some decent chances, had it not been for some stupid reds, and a dubious defense maybe the result could've been different. Things that need to be sorted out is the defense/midfield, as such i think we shouldn't be changing formations with respect to the front 3 that we have now, not the best, but better than before

Yeah the attack is not a problem with this Milan when Bacca and Niang are there. I was going more on trying to play the style that Montella usually goes for. The midfield has been struggling a lot to make the passing faster and more fluid. It will probably come with time.

Montolivo is out injured with an ACL tear

This is probably career ending, sad

I really feel bad for Montolivo, he was fantastic in his first season with us but then got that horrible injury after which he was never the same player. As I mentioned before, I still think he has the ability to play in our midfield but should not be a Regista (like in Rincon's formation). I hope he has a speedy recovery and for him to stop being so unlucky.

At his age, I think Monti is done. Poor guy never caught a break. Although always solid, there were always better players than him in the National team, and in Milan he played in a very negative period.

I liked what I saw this year, even if it was not spectacular, and I think the squad will miss him.

Milan starting line-up (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Abate, Paletta, Romagnoli, De Sciglio; Kucka, Locatelli, Bonaventura; Suso, Lapadula, Niang.

Chievo starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Sorrentino; Cacciatore, Dainelli, Gamberini, Gobbi; Izco, Radovanovic, Castro; Birsa; Inglese, Floro Flores.

Bet your house on Birsa to score.

Give Kucka a lifetime contract

M99 wrote:
Bet your house on Birsa to score.

Theologically, I am not sure it is forbidden to bet that a former Milan player will score against Milan.

I knew that Birsa was going to score the moment he stepped out to take that Free-Kick.

Calabria is out of the Juve fixture with a fake injury

Zapata could get called up [Sky]

What do u mean by 'fake injury'?

You know, an alibi for the club to use, if in case he's been coming to training late, missing training, etc

So much inexperience showing in our side

We can't play out from the back at all

Once again. Donna has been saving our asses so far. Niang has been able to make decend contributions. Loca looks a bit shaky at times. But thats all expected tho

Locatelli has been very bad, so many misplaced passes

What did the banner about Monti say?

'Montolivo, the curva sud is with you'

Haha. Cant believe we actually got a refs call on our sids this time. That was close Af tho

yea i thought that was legit goal, bonucci didn't interfere with ball to be in offside position.

good game by milan, but de sciglio is a pain, everytime he is given ball he doesnt have brain on what to do with it and just shoots hoping someone from his side will claim it. ... smh

also great stuff from our front three niang suso and bacca looks they will make sth happen if we get more support from midfield..

Locatelli. You Effing Legend