At the moment we just know that Sanchez had a negative experience in Manchester United. But just before he made difference in Arsenal, in same league. The player is not  old , so it'd not be weird if in a new team , new environment, under a coach to exploit his quality (for example playing closer to GK, not on wing) he can do good. It is enough to be the half of Sanchez admired in Arsenal to make difference here
The beginning seems encouraging

Napoli 2-1 Brescia

Tonali assisted Balotelli's goal from a corner and scored a long range shot that was ruled out by VAR. The kid is killing it.

today it seems summer in South Italy
Before Napoli and now Lecce ... very hot climate , expected coolin break and it might not help the players

Bologna the better team and unlucky to have conceded. Udinese are so unlikable nowadays.

Tune in to 80 mins and Kolarov has an uncharacteristically meek penalty shot saved. Did not look confident even from the stance before the shot.

Glad Dzeko slotted in his powerful header off the cross but Roma hanging on in the final minutes of the game at the 80th in Lecce.

Still 0-1 so far.

That wasn't a pen anyway so I'm not surprised he missed. Ball never lies.

As for the game overall, it was plagued by really poor decision-making not only from Lecce, but mostly from us. Should've been 2 or 3-0, but nearly every attacker apart from Dzeko just didn't seem to make the right decision in the key moment. That has got to be a massive worry for Fonseca. If this doesn't get fixed, our opponents will adjust and the goals will dry up.

Going to ask the same question on Smalling, who just came off a very accommodating interview with a lovely young correspondent who spoke her best English to assist the Englishman in her interview. But yes how was he?

I feel the decision making errors come from the adaptation of the system itself as Fonseca's build up is far more fast moving and mercurial than a more thoughtful and controlling Di Francesco who did instill his system into the general squad within what they are used to as Ranieri does not count given he merely steadied the ship.

With time once the players do adapt to a more breathless system I see further improvements given they have been obvious by the game.

Just not defence beyond Smalling, individually.

Arquitecto wrote:Going to ask the same question on Smalling, who just came off a very accommodating interview with a lovely young correspondent who spoke her best English to assist the Englishman in her interview. But yes how was he?

He was good once again. Seems to have a stabilizing influence somewhat on the center of defense. I like his partnership with Mancini a lot. I think this will be the first choice partnership we'll see for this season.

Smalling has always been a good defender. Just inconsistent and never got to where he was supposed to reach. But he was always the best of what United had for a while.

Not surprised he has started well at Roma. Hopefully he doesn't feel homesick and come back next season.

Thanks once again for that assessment. Very exciting if that would be the partnership.


Milan-Fiorentina line-ups:

Milan: G Donnarumma; Calabria, Musacchio, Romagnoli, Theo Hernandez; Kessie, Bennacer, Calhanoglu; Suso, Piatek, Leao

Milan bench: A Donnarumma, Conti, Duarte, Gabbia, Rodriguez, Biglia, Bonaventura, Krunic, Paqueta, Borini, Castillejo, Rebic

Fiorentina: Dragowski; Milenkovic, Pezzella, Caceres; Lirola, Pulgar, Badelj, Castrovilli, Dalbert; Ribery, Chiesa

Fiorentina bench: Terraciano, Ranieri, Boateng, Sottil, Cristoforo, Ceccherini, Ghezzal, Venuti, Benassi, Zurkowski, Vlahovic, Terzi


Another match with Kessie pairing a lost Hakan in midfield but glad to see Bennacer and Theo get the start.


Ribery is always exciting to see in all the freedom Montella gives him and likely will rip us apart.

Milan looking to play a clear 4-3-3.

I am glad this match is on tonight.

Ribery and Chiesa

Ks om Hakan, kebab *bleep*

knew calhanouglu will be liability...
there are only 3-4 four ways milan will always concede

from calabria, calhanouglu, kessie or mussachio mistakes... these are the most likelyhood...

Fiorentina have been absolutely destroying us from minute one.

Ribery and Cheisa combine so well and Ribery just now made the most beautiful dribble past two defenders in the box and earns a penalty within the ensueing chaos.

0-1

Pulgar slots it pass Donna.

Giampoonani needs to GTFO

if we look at pitches on midfield battle its obvious fiorentina will be a winner

Montella

Poetic justice

Fiorentina look like another team all together after their last win.

Full of verve and flair. Then again they did have an unlucky start and play well anyhow this season.

Ribery really has found his Robben in Chiesa.

rincon wrote:Montella

Poetic justice

their midfield are too good

castrovilli creative and control
pulgar grit and character
ribery dances around
chiesa will leave players dead with his pace

Arquitecto wrote:Fiorentina look like another team all together after their last win.

Full of verve and flair. Then again they did have an unlucky start and play well anyhow this season.

Ribery really has found his Robben in Chiesa.

They already looked like this in these matches, just had unreal bad luck vs Napoli and vs us. Absolutely did not deserve to lose and draw those matches.

great time to be a viola fan, as I am

Correctly ruled off, would have been a nice goal.

Love Chiesa. Need him at Juve

I agree Rincón as they've had the most unlucky start from all Serie A teams this season and have looked good each match.

Giampaolo has to be the most overhyped manager in a long time. Literally produced close to nothing in his career to warrant such hype beyond some neat attacking systems. Retire.

Giampaolo trying to shoehorn Hakan fucking Calhanoglu in midfield. Man thinks he's Pep and he's playing Xavi, Iniest and Busquets and has to somehow include him like Cesc.

Chiesa if he can tune his decision making which is poor, and his finishing, but more so the final ball he can live up to his hype because his skill otherwise is very high and complete.

These last 2 Chiesa plays
Lirola became a very nice player. I thought he would come back to Juve eventually