Disappointing result, but it wasn't a terrible performance I think. We didn't take advantage of the space behind their extremely high line, and we couldn't find space to breathe playing out against their two attackers pressing all the time. We should have spread out far more at the back with Biglia dropping between them, instead Romagnoli and Musacchio stayed narrow and that allowed Quagliarella and Defrel enough time to press. Biglia staying ahead also meant Gaston could track him easily. We had to find a way to get the ball wide and switch play, since our fullbacks weren't being tracked.
Rodriguez had a terrible game. Suso did better than most people are saying. I think it was a mistake to replace him with Cutrone, we had nobody on the right after that change.
In hindsight playing more direct and trying to break their high line would have been a better strategy than forcing it out from the back, with Casti playing closer to Piatek and Suso and Hakan wide in a 442. Maybe a more versatile and less stubborn coach would have made that change. I know Allegri definately would have changed things after that first 20 minutes.
I'm still hopeful Gattuso can show more than what he's showing in terms of tactical flexibility. Feels like i'm only seeing a Plan A regardless of what the opposition is doing or how the game is unfolding, and the only change is to panic and throw everything he's got while the side gets imbalanced.