Week 25: Milan - Udinese 03/03/2021 20:45 CET

[taura]

Savo I agree with most of your ratings but Castillejo one bothers me. Yes he had a nice chance to score but other than that he was dreadful for me. He passes back all the time, never takes a man on, whenever he's in a crossing position he rather passes to the edge of the box, he's so slow on counters, i really disliked him. I hope Saele stays fit for the rest of the season

[Nalim]

Originally Posted by Goodfella

Donna: Gifted them a goal. The only impressive goal line block was from Romagnoli...

Kalulu: Delivered some shitty crosses, but I think this was the best RB performance by a reserve this season. I wasn't missing Calabria. Quite frankly I didn't like that Calabria was brought on at the end.

Kjaer: Not tested much. Leao and Diaz didn't give him a chance to show off his passing range.

Romagnoli: Fucked up but then immediately redeemed himself with the block.

Theo: This is not a serious team when he's the main weapon in the attack.

Tonali: Not progressive enough but did well in defense although this wasn't a tough test.

Kessie: Unlucky not to score that header. Did his part. Converted the penalty like a boss, as usual.

Rebic: Played as if he wanted to avoid an injury. Didn't even seem to be in the mood to play in the first half.

Diaz: Wasn't as selfish and risk-taking as he normally is, but also not as productive. Low risk, low reward. Perhaps another one that was trying to avoid a re-injury?

Samu: Had his moments in the first half, but he's not much of a threat.

Leao: Always a step behind. I don't know what's worse, his mental or physical stamina.

Meite: His dribbling and aerial game was welcomed. But his game still lacks intensity and tempo.

This summary is very gentle with the team.
The performance was atrocious. Build-up play was unbelievably slow. There was only 1 team on the pitch today and they played against 11 undisciplined individuals who lacked intensity and willingness to run for each other.
Actually discipline is the biggest issue for this team going forward as I see it. A player like Theo for example - world class on his day but when it doesn't click for him he really lacks the discipline to do what's best for the team. The same could be said about Leao and quite a few other players to be honest.
Pioli is obviously a great motivator and he's far exceeded the expectations that any of us had for him and his young squad, but when the going gets tough does he know how to crack the whip?

[blacki]

Originally Posted by Savo

People calling for Leao to be sold already are ridiculous, maybe in the future if he doesn't sort things out but not yet... Leao is young and has a ton of talent so let's see how he does next season, maybe he gets more confident and mentally strong then. I hate when people give the youngsters only a few shots then they're out! It's really shortsighted. For example, we've offloaded so many players too soon like Aubameyang, Locatelli, Cristante and several several more and we were even going to offload Calabria before the season started lol, just such a strange team environment sometimes that is hot and cold on players week after week.

there is big difference with players you menitoned and that time we were in, and leao, he is getting a lot chance to prove himself, but apparntly its not working
to change player character its almost imposible, apart from 2 games where he was exelent, he play below average thats the fact...

yes he is still young still have huge potential and thats why we can cash in this and still sell him for good money, expecting him to start working hard its like expecting gazza stop drinking

[Pingu]

Originally Posted by nonsonoqui

Roma-Udinese-Verona gave us 7 points in the reverse fixtures. I will take that pace. For me it's all about movement towards our CL goal. I'd prefer to gallop there, but if we get there limping, whatever. Just have to get it at all costs.

This post If we can at least keep pace from here on out, top 4 should not be an issue. We won key H2H against Roma, need to do same vs Napoli while not dropping so many points to lower sides.

[fray]

Originally Posted by nonsonoqui

Roma-Udinese-Verona gave us 7 points in the reverse fixtures. I will take that pace. For me it's all about movement towards our CL goal. I'd prefer to gallop there, but if we get there limping, whatever. Just have to get it at all costs.

I reckon Verona is the most difficult opponent out of those 3.

Unfortunately we've now got a tricky fixture run in Verona - Man Utd - Napoli - Man Utd - Fiorentina before the international break - with a lot of injuries to key players.

[taura]

Originally Posted by fray

I reckon Verona is the most difficult opponent out of those 3.

Unfortunately we've now got a tricky fixture run in Verona - Man Utd - Napoli - Man Utd - Fiorentina before the international break - with a lot of injuries to key players.

I just wish Mandzukic would return soon, imo he would offer us much more upfront, even with our buildup play

[Bird]

Originally Posted by Goodfella

Romagnoli: Fucked up but then immediately redeemed himself with the block.

His fuck up came after he "redeemed himself".
As if one good action can wipe out a full season of blunders...

[Goodfella]

Originally Posted by Nalim

This summary is very gentle with the team.
The performance was atrocious. Build-up play was unbelievably slow. There was only 1 team on the pitch today and they played against 11 undisciplined individuals who lacked intensity and willingness to run for each other.
Actually discipline is the biggest issue for this team going forward as I see it. A player like Theo for example - world class on his day but when it doesn't click for him he really lacks the discipline to do what's best for the team. The same could be said about Leao and quite a few other players to be honest.
Pioli is obviously a great motivator and he's far exceeded the expectations that any of us had for him and his young squad, but when the going gets tough does he know how to crack the whip?

I summarized the individual performances, not the team's.
Not sure I was too gentle, only Kessie would get 6+.
Agree about Theo. I was implying the same thing. We do not look like a serious team when he's the main man. He's too dumb and selfish to dictate this team.

Much of what we're seeing are symptoms of a team that hasn't had stability or continuity for 4 months due to injuries, COVID, suspensions and unnecessary rotation. These disjointed players can't find eachother if they try to play it quick. Rebic and Diaz seemed to hold back their explosiveness out of fears of a re-injury.
There's also a few important ingredients missing to deal with teams that park the bus. A proper target forward, midfielders making late runs into the box, threats from distance.

[Goodfella]

Originally Posted by Bird

His fuck up came after he "redeemed himself".
As if one good action can wipe out a full season of blunders...

I don't think the goal was his fault.
The fuck up was when he allowed the Udi player to get past him before he blocked the shot.

[Bird]

Originally Posted by Goodfella

I don't think the goal was his fault.
The fuck up was when he allowed the Udi player to get past him before he blocked the shot.

https://youtu.be/s2PkFU37Hag?t=142

He got out thought/maneuvered by a caveman, who had just suffered a concussion and moving at 0.75x speed, within a square meter.
How is it even possible to fail at something so simple?

[VultureSheva]

Originally Posted by Bird

His fuck up came after he "redeemed himself".
As if one good action can wipe out a full season of blunders...

Wtf you are talking about?

That was an error from Donnarumma. Romagnoli haters are delusional.

[Casualista]

Originally Posted by Goodfella

I don't think the goal was his fault.
The fuck up was when he allowed the Udi player to get past him before he blocked the shot.

Donna was atrocious there but the almost free header was on him. Bird is right. He was defending the space and got completely out done by their center back.