Just goes to show what a good job Gattuso did. We are closer to the bottom 3 than the top 4 at the moment.
This isn't on Pioli this is down to who ever forced Gattuso out and brought in the incompetent GP. If that was Maldini then it is on him.
Salvaging this season is looking less and less likely.
This is actually very similar to the opening months of last season with Rino.
Pioli is also playing a high risk, high reward game, which isn't paying off.
The main difference is that Higuain, Cutrone and Bonaventura were clinical compared to Leao, Paqueta, Suso, etc.
The team only stopped leaking goals when Rino dropped the attacking ambitions and was forced to integrate Bakayoko following Biglia's injury.
Bakayoko played a crucial role to the defense that kept the most clean sheets in Italy - not just in open play but also on set pieces. That became evident once again when Biglia returned from injury and Rino thought he could afford dropping Baka.
Pioli does not have Baka on the bench, and neither would Rino had he stayed.
Matching the 68 points of last season with these players would've been a massive challenge regardless of coach.
Pioli will probably also settle for something less ambitious eventually, like Rino, Seedorf & Montella also did. More compact, less risks, more reactive, attack with fewer numbers. Which would be sad, because it might get slightly better short-term results but it has gotten us nowhere in the last 6 years. It's basically settling for mediocrity.
I don't think we're that far off from handling this progressive 4-1-4-1 though.
But Pioli needs to give bigger priority to work-rate and athleticism for it to be balanced. Conti-Paqueta-Suso on the same flank is suicidal. Conti is a disaster, but so many of his fuckups could've been avoided with a more energetic RCM than Paqueta. And Paqueta wouldn't tire out as quickly if he wasn't forced into doing the off-ball work of 2 players. Look how many times it's Paqueta and one of Leao/Hakan double pressing the CBs. Why?
Like I said, the combination of these 3 is suicidal.
Suso needs to be dropped no matter how you twist and turn it.
Same goes for Conti. Calabria is not as bad, but Duarte should also be considered.
Paqueta might be okay, without Suso, but I wouldn't mind Krunic starting ahead of him.
Biglia leaves a lot to be desired, but the Bakayoko replacement(Bennacer) looks more like a Mauri replacement.
Okay that was a bit harsh on Ismael, but he's no anchor.
A CDM/anchor and a solid RB should be the top priorities for the winter mercato.