LOL i just saw the Goal.com player ratings. I'll make it short.

How can Aquilani be training to play in the TQ role, when he played in LCM? Jeez...nothing has changed..a whole transfer market has gone by and we still sound like last season, defence this...no creativity that...Boateng bad as CAM....too many defensive mid fielders...(all with the same ******* characteristics)...its not too early to complain because nothing has changed, we just played our 39th game of last season. Boateng has no business as a CAM, how many games does Allegri need to realise this..when we needed to score goals we had a midfield of Ambro-VanB-Nocer...What!!! what happened to Urby? so frustrating...

Allegri is intelligent...Really? Who plays the Old midfielders? he could have started with Nocerino in place of Gat, if he really had to sub Aqui he could have put in Urby..but no he likes dynamic versatile midfielders with ''SOLID TECHNICAL SKILLS''..whats does this mean?

Allegri's last years system was great for the squad he has at disposal,unnecessary changes IMO.I watched from 60 on,not sure if those were initial tactics or Milan was going for the win hence the changes.

From what I've seen Cassano should not be the TQ,had the game at his feet until Pato came on.Not sure why Aquilani went off for Nocerino at that point of the game,he seemed like he can make the difference with Lazio headless defending at the moment,especially for a no flair player like Nocerino.More of a sub you make when you're protecting result...Aquilani/Seedorf is the correct rotation for the LCM spot IMO,any aggressive DM would have an easy job bullying Aquilani in the final third.I would personally leave Boateng at the AM spot,relying on Aquilani for distribution and Cassano for delivery.If Pato starts upfront then start with Robinho as the TQ...

Same start to the new season
Same reaction from the fans

Look at our past 5 seasons and you'll see Milan ALWAYS have shaky starts. Nothing new. But also nothing to be worried about.

Some guys here still hold the perception of Lazio being the middle-table team that everyone can beat. They have two established strikers in Klose and Cisse and two fine midfielders in Mauri and Hernanes. They are not that average team anymore. Remember how good they did for the first half of last season? I'm predicting they can do better than that this season and for us to have taken a draw from this match is a positive.

I still believe we're a little Ibra-dependent but seeing Cassano and Aquilani's performances is a sigh of relief. At least we're not sticking to the "kick the ball to Ibra and hope" tactic and have a wider variety of methods to approach the goal.
I do feel Robinho could have helped today. He has a way of finding himself in front of goal and with Lazio's (and admittedly Milans) below-par performances today, I reckon he could have put away a chance and been a better substitution than Pato.

In the end, after going 2-0 down, would you guys prefer a 2-0 loss or 2-2 draw. The fact that we could score 2 goals in quick succession proves that we're dangerous.
There's still 55 hours of Serie A football left for Milan to play this season. Keep calm.

I actually believe Boateng is our best choice for AM at the moment. Aquilani's chipped pass to Cassano was Pirlo-esque today but I would prefer to have his long range passing capacity in left or right midfield.

Cassano needs to play upfront and always be involved. Same goes for Robinho who just won't be involved enough at AM.

Boateng cant create, simple as that. As dynamic he is, he doesnt have AM skills. He should lie deeper in formation.

best am we have?no way...hell,I would even chose Seedorf over Boa as the TQ

Boateng is to be played an AM against team like Barca where he needs to create space ... against Seria A team Boateng is the worst option we can put as the AM . I'd rather have Robinho or Cassano do that ...

pUsHa wrote:Boateng is to be played an AM against team like Barca where he needs to create space ... against Seria A team Boateng is the worst option we can put as the AM . I'd rather have Robinho or Cassano do that ...

completely agree.Barca is the only team he should play as AM,unfortunately it looks like hes injured.I hope Robinho is back to own barca like he did in his Madrid days

This is one of the worst starts of the season I ever saw ... lot's of players unavailable due to injuries ... it looks like all of them have worked hard in trainings but i think they flamed themselves , I mean look how fast all got injured ... and they're still not in form to play ...

in the first half, nesta was terrible.. he looked like he was not ready for the new season to start.. thankfully in the 2nd half he woke up and had a better game.
once again antonini was full of running up the pitch, but terrible in defence.
ambrosini also had a horrible game... both as the DM and the RCM... he should never be on the field at the same time as van bommel
aquilani had a great first half in my opinion, considering it was his first game for us, and he showed great link up play with cassano... LCM looks like the perfect position for him.
nocerino also looked like he is ready to fight gattuso for his starting spot

The players are not even close to match fitness. In the second half the entire field was stretched, there was only very direct play. We cannot beat Barcelona on Tuesday with the players in their current shape.

Allegri improved dramatically as a manager last season. He learned from his mistakes. Now he has several glaring problems that he should have dealt with in preseason training.

The midfield will not be any more dynamic if Aquilani was bought simply to rotate with Seedorf at LCM. I saw no tactical variation at all. It is obvious that our lack of stamina is hurting us in midfield, and Allegri's rigid approach in that area is not doing us any good either. We resort to a direct style of play far too early in every match. Again, this is due to a lack of stamina and a rigid approach. Only once or twice a match are we treated to a burst forward by Ambrosini or Van Bommel. I would like to see our fullbacks given more a more restrained role, rarely crossing into the final third, while having our midfield press on through the middle. Abate and Antonini should be used to cover and press the midfield zone when the midfielders are out of position. It is clear that Abate and Antonini are the least creative, least technical members of the squad who regularly play. It does not become us to have them constantly galloping down the flanks. When they do move into the final third, they never run at defenders or play through balls. Our crosses never connect, so why even attack with them?

Ibrahimovic has had to work with very little service in his time at Milan. I fear we will become dependent on his wonder goals and glorious playmaking again.

It is clear to me now that Boateng is not the link between midfield and attack that we need. I have often praised his work rate and sensible play, but now we need a creative player who can take on defenders and play a weighted pass. When Boateng plays in midfield, I notice that he is often caught out in defense. Again, I would like a more restrained role given to the fullbacks, though Boateng needs to improve his positional sense at the same time. He has great stamina, a good first touch and is decently creative even if he can not play a perfectly weighted pass. He is what we are missing in midfield.

Cassano should play as the trequartista. I have noticed over the Summer with the Azzuri, in preseason, and in our first match vs Lazio, that Cassano has been increasingly indecisive the closer he gets to goal. When playing with a 10 behind two strikers, there is less of a need for a second striker. Cassano did a lot less playmaking today (he didn't have much service to be fair). He was also called for offside numerous times. Why not play him behind the strikers? He has the agility to dribble around defenders in tight spaces. He has the vision and unpredictability. He has the beautifully weighted passes. The only problem here is his work rate. Can Allegri afford to add another attacker into the squad?

Hopefully the old guard has another year in them. Nesta really surprised me with a lackluster first half today. Our midfield could use a pair of young legs (Boateng) to help keep things tight and allow for some more short passing. While it is obvious not everyone was match fit, the game was ridiculously open and direct in the second half.

Allegri made some curious substitutions again today.

Nocerino on for Aquilani around 65 minutes - Aquilani turned invisible in the second half. At that point, everyone had tired legs. The midfield could not run any further, resorting to long ball tactics once more. The game was literally crying out for Emmanuelson to exploit the acres of space available. Perhaps Allegri was more concerned with giving his new acquisitions their home debuts (the dreaded 3 def mid complex?). Nocerino was nervous. He often played a holding role which was not needed. I was disappointed by him today, but I expect great things from him in the future.

Pato on for Boateng around 75 minutes - This change was made 15 minutes too late. Boateng was tired and took a knock. He should have been subbed right then and there.



Many Serie A teams have figured out how to beat us:

Man mark Ibrahimovic

Congest the middle, allow the fullbacks time on the ball, but deny the central midfielders

Wait for one of our holding players to make a positional mistake and hit on the counter



We need one more creative passer in the first 11. Our fullbacks should be used primarily to add pressure in the midfield zone and cover at the back for our midfielders. We need more fluidity in the midfield area.



EDIT

@ Arquitecto - to respond to your initial post... You called them flash goals. While we were hit seemingly out of nowhere on the two goals, Lazio dominated the first 20 minutes, so the goals did go with the run of play. We were lucky that Reja was so absent minded to think that his team could defend for 70 minutes at the San Siro. I think that we would not have conceded one of the goals had Taiwo's strength been available at left back (notice Antonini's inability to muscle the attacker off the ball). Nesta was also victim to a brilliant touch by Kloese, though I believe Abiatti had a chance to save that ball.

Last year Milan only once conceded in the first 20 minutes of a Serie A match.

Clearly I agree that our lack of stamina (leading to a lack of movement) hurt us in midfield. The players are not yet match fit, though these same problems can be found in most matches last season.

I was disappointed with Cassano after his eventful Summer.

I agree with most other points.

ask our captain, he played too bad last night. while boateng once again shows that we badly need "trequartista". not megaloman like him. Indeed, boateng brought energy to the team, but not technical. while Nesta is nesta he's the best we have although his agility is now being seriously questioned as his years advance.

I forgot to mention one glaring positive: We scored a goal off a corner kick!!!

+ves

Aquilani - very impressive, that chip to set up Ibra's goal oozed class

Nocerino - A hard worker with tackling ability, will fit right into Allegri's system, a bit reserved today, but promising

Cassano and Ibra - look in great form, Ibra missed a chance where the Lazio keeper saved the ball, but otherwise passed and ran well; Cassano was great when he had the ball, unlucky not to have 2 goals when he hit the post,

Abate - Continuing good form of last season, would've liked to see some better crossing though

-ves

Ambrosini and Gattuso on at the same time -

Nesta and T. Silva - Unusually sloppy defending, that just won't cut it against Barca

Antonini - Anyone else notice both goals conceded came from his side? We sooo badly need Taiwo.

Pato - Maybe subbed on too late, didn't really have an impact

---
General notes:

Would've liked to have seen how Robinho is shaping up, but hopefully we see his best against Barca.

Ibra-dependency? Hardly. I just think that Allegri's attempts to rest players made our tactical setup a bit one-dimensional for this game.

Aquilani to take corners!

3 DM's is horrific, maybe it was also a result of trying to rest players for Barca and giving Gattuso a game (cause he's suspended in the CL anyway)

Boateng - Best played in midfield rather than CAM for 3 reasons:
1. He rarely scores or makes assists for a player in CAM
2. He solves the 3 DM problem with his dynamism
3. It allows us more freedom to change-up our attack and bring in 3 of Ibra/Cassano/Robinho/Pato at a time

---

All eyes on the Nou Camp now...

Hell but you lot Love to over-discuss things. Writing long essays when the adjustments that need to be made are simple.
1. You have the dilemma that this season may be one too far for Nesta. The dilemma is that Mexes is nowhere as good as him.

2. Same "old guard" rubbish team sheets. Ancelotti is long gone, the glory days are over for those old midfielders. You have better young players. Time for Gattusso and Ambrosini to be permanently dropped.

3. Allegri has to put more faith in the future: Aquaman, KPB, Emanuelson, Flamini (when fit), Nocerino.

4. Shitonini is an awful fullback, absolute waste of oxygen. I know Taiwo will be the new 1st choice, but Antonini doesn't deserve to be any choice.

5. Simple tactical switch of Aquaman to AM and KPB to LM.

6. Concerning the older midfielders, if they must be used, I suggest a preference of Seedorf and van Bomb. They stil have more gas in the tank.

Sidenote: I find it unbelievable how Pirlo gets the axe, but Gat and Ambro fly under the radar.
I'm not trolling. Love Milan, want only great things for them! My favourite Italian team. Forza Rossoneri!

i wasnt impressed by ibra today...
he was just darn too lazy... i once saw him not moving and staying in the same position for 2 who minutes while around him near the box cassano and abate were playing their asses out

Milano Siamo Noi wrote:Well first of all, this was the first time under Allegri that we have gone down in a game and got a point from it, .

no..
milan vs udinese (january)
4 - 4

Milan vs Inter (Super cup)
2 - 1

shamr9pato wrote:

Milano Siamo Noi wrote:Well first of all, this was the first time under Allegri that we have gone down in a game and got a point from it, .

no..
milan vs udinese (january)
4 - 4

Milan vs Inter (Super cup)
2 - 1

Correct. Who could forget the Udinese game!

I don't like those open games. It reminds me the game against Udinese.

Aquilani wasn't bad,except he was running forward like a madman in the first half,and at the same time we missed counters. It's not bad when the team covers his space,but when you have Anto behind yourself it's
I don't know whether it's a curse or sth. else, but we've acquired Taiwo, we have Zambr and Anto is still playing

Cassano and Ibra were good and frustrating when they were slow and static. Cassano probably is in the best of all our forwards,and his performance really deserves a starter place.

Anyway I don't see the point in making so much fuss about this match. Obviously it's an improvement from last year (Cesena :lol!: )

cheers and forza Milan

How can anyone say Cassano played "ok", he Aquilani, Abate and probably Nocerino were the best Milan players on the night in my opinion. Ambrosini looked lost in the position he was playing

Randomly popped in to your section to see your reaction to your first game of the season, was surprised what a good thread here was to be found, keep it up guys

Art Morte wrote:Randomly popped in to your section to see your reaction to your first game of the season, was surprised what a good thread here was to be found, keep it up guys

If it were a Juventus match and had we drawn or lost the thread would have been locked by now..

Art Morte wrote:Randomly popped in to your section to see your reaction to your first game of the season, was surprised what a good thread here was to be found, keep it up guys

It's all good on the right side of Milan!