Can’t believe GP looks to be going back to a 4-3-3, trained the team all preseason talking about how to wants to dominate games and how player movements are important but is reverting back to a formation strictly to accommodate Suso. If you ask me he seems like he’s under serious pressure already and doesn’t trust his own ideas, which is incredibly alarming after ONE game.
I still believe in GP but clearly these “player movements” aren’t so important if you’re reverting back to a failed formation at this club after one game, so why didn’t he start Kessie, Bennacer and Leao last game? He played Calhanoglu, Borini and Samu completely out of position and our performance completely suffered for it.
I understand that his system needs good attacking wingbacks to work I really do but it seems to me that last game he didn’t encourage Rodriguez and Calabria to get forward. Perhaps this is a reason why we will play with wingers but 433 doesn’t work with Suso and Hakan on the wings, never has never will. I’m extremely concerned by that predicted line up and really hope that’s just speculation because imo if GP does revert to that formation than it’s going to be another LONG season.
We’re playing Brescia ffs, I know no games should be taken lightly and being this current Milan that couldn’t be more true. However, if there is a game to back your system and players it’s this at home against this team.
70% sure it won't be a 4-3-3.
We will probably look better with 433 right now, but come on we can't give up this quickly on the formation of God's.
The 433/4321 we'll probably be playing won't be the same as the Gattuso days. The same movements will be expected from the midfielders that we saw in preseason, and the construction will still happen suddenly and mostly through quick short passing to free up a runner. Gattuso built up his game patiently and slowly, always working the ball up out wide through combinations between Suso/Calabria/Kessie or Rodriguez/Hakan/Paqueta.
This season we (should) play to set a pressing trap and attack suddenly when there's an opportunity, which is different than aiming to work the ball up to Suso in his favorite position and hoping for the best. Another big difference is obviously the compression of space, with the high line and the narrowness. This means less long crossfield passes which have a higher tendency of being misplaced.
Anyway my point is the numbers are the same, 433, but it's a very different gameplan. Or at least it should be and hopefully we'll see that in a few weeks time.
I posted this in the commode but it seems more relevant in the game thread:
This seems like the direction we're heading in for the next game based on Giampaolo's comments about Suso and Piatek especially. The idea is generally the same as before, trying to distract markers into making mistakes by over-committing to a press.
Against a 4312 like Brescia the strategy would be to bait a press against our free fullbacks, freeing up Paqueta and Kessie. So for example a pass to Calabria where he gets pressed by the player who's supposed to mark Kessie, then a pass to Bennacer to Kessie would start our forward transition.
Also since we're up against another narrow formation it would actually make sense for the front three to go wide and try for overlaps. Having a plan B like the 433 is an added weapon against teams that defend narrow. It's also great against teams that attack wide, since you make sure you're not overloaded wide yourself, so against Inter a 433 would be the best option if we expect to play more reserved.
My point is that it's not good to think of a formation as a set decision that we follow all season regardless of opposition or player form. Having options up front by playing two up front with a trequartista behind, or a Xmas tree, or a typical trident like Gattuso, these are all different tools to use against specific threats or opportunities. The only thing that's set in stone are the flat back four, Bennacer in front of them and two mezzalas either side. The front three should really depend on each game scenario.
Edit: Looking at the formation again I think Conti would work really well here, considering our fullbacks are free. Theo would absolutely dominate so it's a shame he's injured, but Conti would have a lot of fun on the right with Suso and Kessie distracting the players that will have to keep an eye on Conti bursting through. Calabria just doesn't have the same carefree sense of attacking intent.
Also, when defending the plan will be to block off the passing options to Tonali, and a 4321 is perfect for this considering there isn't anyone specifically marking him. If the front three stay focused and block any passing option to him then Brescia will be forced out wide where we can force them into errors. If Tonali plays well it will be because he manages to drop behind Piatek between the centerbacks, pull him out and play around him. I don't think he has the maturity or the experience to do this consistently at the San Siro, so i'm pretty confident we can shut him out of the game.
my record with opening match threads
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