Gator_McKlusky
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- Jul 17, 2017
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Hi all,
First thread I'm starting myself. If I'm missing some obligatory stuff; apologies. Also apologies for the ridiculous long post. Reason I'm writing this is because in ACM-CAG match thread opinions differed. Was it just Monty who sucked? Was it the whole team? Why? What happened? Etc.
Another reason I'm writing it, is because I was/am bored.
I rewatched the first half of the Cagliari match (second half is being worked on, but I also have other things in life to do
), focused on the chances they got and looked if Montolivo indeed had a major role to play in it, and why.
So, here goes.
The very first noteworthy chance (imo) is in the 22nd minute. Montolivo wasn't at fault here at all.
First Chance
Conti conquers the ball, Suso ends up having it. Conti keeps pushing forward, Suso tried to be too fancy and loses it. Within 2 hits the ball travels around 70-80 meters. It's hard to tell who's at fault here for the shot on target, but both ACM's CB's are looking at the ball instead of their surroundings, and RR lets the player get in front of him.
IMO Bonucci should've trusted Musacchio to stay locked on the ball so he could've quickly checked his surroundings, and RR shouldn't have lost focus on that guy.
Second Chance
For this one I do hold Montolivo accountable, but Kessié & Borini don't get a free pass here.
- First, in defense you can clearly see it's a 4-4-1-1 set up.
- Kessié and Montolivo as central mids,
- Borini and Suso on both flanks.
- Hakan plays as an anchor between mid and Cutrone.
The ball got passed from the def towards the rightback.
The ball gets passed from the RB to player marked with #1. Borini is out of position here. At this moment, its a 6 vs 8 setup. (4 mid vs mid, and 2 FC's vs 4 DC's)
Borini should be marking player tagged with number 1
Kessie should be marking player with number 2
Montolivo should be marking player number 3
But! Borini gives his man way to much space and Kessié's man dives into the hole created. Now here comes the problem. Montoliv, instead of moving either with his own man (#3) or marking #2 properly, he's indecisive. He does an half-shit attempt at literally nothing (which you can see at the grass-lines. He literally did 3 steps).
This frees up player #1 and #2 to pass, and to find player #3 who went completely unmarked towards the defense. This turned into a 3 vs 4 for the defense, so RR steps forward to intercept. Partially works, but player #2 is still completely unmarked!
Literally the whole defensive line moves back while player #1 and #2 keep moving forward. Player #3 Barely needs to move and gets a fuckton of space and receives the ball from player #2.
Because Montolivo neither marks man #2 OR #3, they have enough room and space to start a buildup. In this case a semi wide backpass that was attempted to be put behind the defense.
Borini, Montolivo and Kessié all three didn't look healthy. Kessié might've decided not to leave his position because of the guy on the middle circle and decided to mark the zone instead, also leaving himself open with space for counter possibilities. But Borini should've been on his man like flies on poo, and Montolivo should've made a decision and stuck with it. Cancel #2's space, or deny #3's free movement forward.
Personally I think Montolivo should've taken player #2 and denied him space. It would create a 3 vs 4 at the defense, but neither #1 or #2 would've been able to play the ball easily forward.
Third Chance
This one is easy for me. It's absolutely Montolivo's fault here.
The picture describes it all easily enough. Montolivo should've never done that run, Kessié had his own area under control. Opposition holding the ball there isn't so bad that you need to leave your own position. Kessie still manages to get to the player holding the ball, and Montolivo just doesn't run any further. He moved from position, generating a huge gap in mid that was exploited.
Fourth Chance
This chance I also mostly blame on Montolivo. RR receives the ball from Donna. Donna -could've- done a medium-long pass to middle, but alas. Montella plays from the back, so maybe that's why Donna didn't. Alas. RR receives the ball and gets chased by someone. He -literally- cannot play anywhere else except to Musacchio;who as a right-footed player (and someone close by) can't take the ball easily. Musacchio's limitation with his left foot is partially a fault, but tactically I can't blame the guy here. But look at Monto. He backwalks towards the guy he's supposed to mark... WHY?! You're in possession; you don't need to walk to your mark! Play yourself free.
Option 1: Move towards goaly. Either their #10 joins you, but it creates space on midfield in which to pass (where Kessié was free), or the #10 doesn't walk with you, and you can pass yourself out of that situation nice and clear.
Option 2: Turn and sprint towards mid. #10 will either not join, and you can receive the ball, or, again, he will join and it'll free up Kessié.
Option 3: Go towards the sideline so you block the incoming player and give RR space to get out.
Montolivo boxed him in here, and by staying stationary, he forced RR in the only 'safe' solution; to Musacchio.
Musacchio can't clear it, and what Montolivo does next, I still facepalm. Instead of sticking with the guy he was uselessly sticking with during possession; he goes chasing after the ball. Which, yes, gives his marked target all the freedom of the world to run into the box.
Fifth Chance
Where he marked uselessly before during possession, he neglected a complete marking duty here. Ball goes to the flank, he has to run back to the box, but still isn't marking him. In the last still you can see his position in the black box. The green box is Bonucci intercepting it.
Sixth Chance
This guy. Seriously. He receives the ball after a good take-over. Borini was completely free, and RR was only slightly on his rear-left. However, he runs towards mid, and sees Kessié run forward. Together with 2 of their players, a midfielder marking the zone, and (although I can't blame him for not seeing it) a DC storming in. If he did not see Kessié getting boxed in, he's a moron. So, obviously, Kessié gets completely boxed in, and loses the ball. From around the middle circle back to the defense, he keeps walking backwards, giving the mids oceans of space in which to operate. Can be fine, that's a tactical choice you can make. But when the player passed the midfield, he still kept walking backwards. Instead of stepping in and -forcing- the player to do something, he allowed free space and creativity to the opponent. Their number ten gets room (again) and gets a shot on target. RR blocks it with his heel; Montolivo's sliding tackle was too late.
So the first 45 minutes, Montolivo caused several moments where Cagliari could've scored but didn't; either due to his teammates fixing it or Cagliari screwing it up.
I wont hate any ACM player as long as they play in the shirt, no matter how useless they seem. They're part of the team, and I want them to be the best as they can be. So this isn't random dislike for a player. I'm too old for that shit.
I was ecstatic when ACM signed Montolivo, because back then, he really was quite good. However his form never reached those high levels in ACM. Then last season, when he wasn't all that bad (iirc), he got a nice little injury that kept him out for a large portion of the season. When he got back on the field, it all was rather... sub par.
Again, sorry for the long post. Might make another one if people don't hate it.
First thread I'm starting myself. If I'm missing some obligatory stuff; apologies. Also apologies for the ridiculous long post. Reason I'm writing this is because in ACM-CAG match thread opinions differed. Was it just Monty who sucked? Was it the whole team? Why? What happened? Etc.
Another reason I'm writing it, is because I was/am bored.
I rewatched the first half of the Cagliari match (second half is being worked on, but I also have other things in life to do
), focused on the chances they got and looked if Montolivo indeed had a major role to play in it, and why. So, here goes.
The very first noteworthy chance (imo) is in the 22nd minute. Montolivo wasn't at fault here at all.
First Chance
Conti conquers the ball, Suso ends up having it. Conti keeps pushing forward, Suso tried to be too fancy and loses it. Within 2 hits the ball travels around 70-80 meters. It's hard to tell who's at fault here for the shot on target, but both ACM's CB's are looking at the ball instead of their surroundings, and RR lets the player get in front of him.
IMO Bonucci should've trusted Musacchio to stay locked on the ball so he could've quickly checked his surroundings, and RR shouldn't have lost focus on that guy.
Second Chance
For this one I do hold Montolivo accountable, but Kessié & Borini don't get a free pass here.
- First, in defense you can clearly see it's a 4-4-1-1 set up.
- Kessié and Montolivo as central mids,
- Borini and Suso on both flanks.
- Hakan plays as an anchor between mid and Cutrone.
The ball got passed from the def towards the rightback.
The ball gets passed from the RB to player marked with #1. Borini is out of position here. At this moment, its a 6 vs 8 setup. (4 mid vs mid, and 2 FC's vs 4 DC's)
Borini should be marking player tagged with number 1
Kessie should be marking player with number 2
Montolivo should be marking player number 3
But! Borini gives his man way to much space and Kessié's man dives into the hole created. Now here comes the problem. Montoliv, instead of moving either with his own man (#3) or marking #2 properly, he's indecisive. He does an half-shit attempt at literally nothing (which you can see at the grass-lines. He literally did 3 steps).
This frees up player #1 and #2 to pass, and to find player #3 who went completely unmarked towards the defense. This turned into a 3 vs 4 for the defense, so RR steps forward to intercept. Partially works, but player #2 is still completely unmarked!
Literally the whole defensive line moves back while player #1 and #2 keep moving forward. Player #3 Barely needs to move and gets a fuckton of space and receives the ball from player #2.
Because Montolivo neither marks man #2 OR #3, they have enough room and space to start a buildup. In this case a semi wide backpass that was attempted to be put behind the defense.
Borini, Montolivo and Kessié all three didn't look healthy. Kessié might've decided not to leave his position because of the guy on the middle circle and decided to mark the zone instead, also leaving himself open with space for counter possibilities. But Borini should've been on his man like flies on poo, and Montolivo should've made a decision and stuck with it. Cancel #2's space, or deny #3's free movement forward.
Personally I think Montolivo should've taken player #2 and denied him space. It would create a 3 vs 4 at the defense, but neither #1 or #2 would've been able to play the ball easily forward.
Third Chance
This one is easy for me. It's absolutely Montolivo's fault here.
The picture describes it all easily enough. Montolivo should've never done that run, Kessié had his own area under control. Opposition holding the ball there isn't so bad that you need to leave your own position. Kessie still manages to get to the player holding the ball, and Montolivo just doesn't run any further. He moved from position, generating a huge gap in mid that was exploited.
Fourth Chance
This chance I also mostly blame on Montolivo. RR receives the ball from Donna. Donna -could've- done a medium-long pass to middle, but alas. Montella plays from the back, so maybe that's why Donna didn't. Alas. RR receives the ball and gets chased by someone. He -literally- cannot play anywhere else except to Musacchio;who as a right-footed player (and someone close by) can't take the ball easily. Musacchio's limitation with his left foot is partially a fault, but tactically I can't blame the guy here. But look at Monto. He backwalks towards the guy he's supposed to mark... WHY?! You're in possession; you don't need to walk to your mark! Play yourself free.
Option 1: Move towards goaly. Either their #10 joins you, but it creates space on midfield in which to pass (where Kessié was free), or the #10 doesn't walk with you, and you can pass yourself out of that situation nice and clear.
Option 2: Turn and sprint towards mid. #10 will either not join, and you can receive the ball, or, again, he will join and it'll free up Kessié.
Option 3: Go towards the sideline so you block the incoming player and give RR space to get out.
Montolivo boxed him in here, and by staying stationary, he forced RR in the only 'safe' solution; to Musacchio.
Musacchio can't clear it, and what Montolivo does next, I still facepalm. Instead of sticking with the guy he was uselessly sticking with during possession; he goes chasing after the ball. Which, yes, gives his marked target all the freedom of the world to run into the box.
Fifth Chance
Where he marked uselessly before during possession, he neglected a complete marking duty here. Ball goes to the flank, he has to run back to the box, but still isn't marking him. In the last still you can see his position in the black box. The green box is Bonucci intercepting it.
Sixth Chance
This guy. Seriously. He receives the ball after a good take-over. Borini was completely free, and RR was only slightly on his rear-left. However, he runs towards mid, and sees Kessié run forward. Together with 2 of their players, a midfielder marking the zone, and (although I can't blame him for not seeing it) a DC storming in. If he did not see Kessié getting boxed in, he's a moron. So, obviously, Kessié gets completely boxed in, and loses the ball. From around the middle circle back to the defense, he keeps walking backwards, giving the mids oceans of space in which to operate. Can be fine, that's a tactical choice you can make. But when the player passed the midfield, he still kept walking backwards. Instead of stepping in and -forcing- the player to do something, he allowed free space and creativity to the opponent. Their number ten gets room (again) and gets a shot on target. RR blocks it with his heel; Montolivo's sliding tackle was too late.
So the first 45 minutes, Montolivo caused several moments where Cagliari could've scored but didn't; either due to his teammates fixing it or Cagliari screwing it up.
I wont hate any ACM player as long as they play in the shirt, no matter how useless they seem. They're part of the team, and I want them to be the best as they can be. So this isn't random dislike for a player. I'm too old for that shit.
I was ecstatic when ACM signed Montolivo, because back then, he really was quite good. However his form never reached those high levels in ACM. Then last season, when he wasn't all that bad (iirc), he got a nice little injury that kept him out for a large portion of the season. When he got back on the field, it all was rather... sub par.
Again, sorry for the long post. Might make another one if people don't hate it.
