The Rumour Commode XLVII: Foamseca is out

[Soldier_of_god]

I get what you're saying, and I don't disagree that Fofana and Reijnders have put in a massive shift this season. They've been crucial for us, and the lack of rotation options certainly isn't helping their case. But looking at the numbers, they're far from being the only midfielders in Serie A with a heavy workload.

For instance, players like Anguissa, Éderson, and even Guendouzi have played more minutes than our guys, and they don't seem to be showing the same levels of fatigue. Now, of course, context matters – squad depth, playing style, and even the way they recover between games all play a role. But it does make you wonder: why do our players seem to hit the wall so much earlier compared to others?

Taken from Transfermarkt:

Top 10 Serie A Midfielders by Minutes Played (2024/2025 Season):

1. Frank Anguissa (SSC Napoli) – 1,863 minutes (21 matches, 27 minutes missed)
2. Éderson (Atalanta BC) – 1,784 minutes (21 matches, 106 minutes missed)
3. Remo Freuler (Bologna FC 1909) – 1,774 minutes (20 matches, 116 minutes missed)
4. Mattéo Guendouzi (SS Lazio) – 1,757 minutes (20 matches, 133 minutes missed)
5. Morten Frendrup (Genoa CFC) – 1,757 minutes (20 matches, 133 minutes missed)
6. Marten de Roon (Atalanta BC) – 1,755 minutes (20 matches, 135 minutes missed)
7. Jesper Karlström (Udinese Calcio) – 1,705 minutes (20 matches, 185 minutes missed)
8. Samuele Ricci (Torino FC) – 1,683 minutes (20 matches, 207 minutes missed)
9. Warren Bondo (AC Monza) – 1,623 minutes (20 matches, 267 minutes missed)
10. Simon Sohm (Parma Calcio 1913) – 1,602 minutes (20 matches, 288 minutes missed)

In comparison:
- Youssouf Fofana (AC Milan) – 1,573 minutes (19 matches, 317 minutes missed)
- Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan) – 1,533 minutes (19 matches, 357 minutes missed)

Sure, you could argue that someone like Anguissa or players from lower ranked teams doesn’t have the added burden of European competitions, but in the end, Serie A teams all play roughly the same number of games across domestic competitions. Conceicao himself pointed out that hunger and mentality are key factors to deal with fatigue.

I'm not saying fatigue isn't real, but when you see other teams players coping not only a little bit, but infact much better with similar demands, you start to wonder if our issues go beyond just tired legs.

Something doesn't quite add up.

We just don't have depth to play in all comps. That's it. Period.

So we will keep suffering.

 

[Gennaro8]

Sergio wants to play 4-4-2 but he doesnt have real strikers. If he plays 4-2-3-1 he doesnt have real NO10, if he plays 4-3-3 he doesnt have third MF.

Always smothnig missing.

 

[theduck7]

So who we signing after that disaster last night Jerry?

 

[Gennaro8]

We need at least 3 players in every department

 

[Soldier_of_god]

We need at least 3 players in every department

That is depressing to hear.

 

[ymsv]

19 of January and still no any offer from some rich sheikh to buy Bennacer . Pathetic .

 

[ACM14061988]

Primavera lost 0-1 against Fiorentina

 

[nefremo]

Our best hope of a CL spot is that Italy does well enough to gain the 5th entry. I can see us leapfrog Lazio and Fiorentina, but not also Juventus. I trust in Conceicao to get us points agaisnt small clubs and that should be enough for 5th. Let's see...

Then in the summer, gwt rid of EVERYONE that's involved in market decisions.

 

[Gennaro8]

Giacomo Beretta was better striker than Morata and Abraham

 

[MilanBG]

he shot it down the middle of the goal

View attachment 44125

tomori did well to not let him cut inside and force an off balance low power weak foot shot

it was a combination of bad positioning from mike and bad luck/timing cause he shot it right as mike was shifting his weight so he couldnt kick his leg out and for some reason didnt dive w his hands towards it.

View attachment 44126

mike literally just has to fall on this instead of staying on his feet and he gets there. this was shot w the power of a pass. im the first one to get triggered at defensive mistakes but the tomori hate train fking drives me up a wall. fofana gave the ball away r3tardedly, mike GK'd like a Kalac and people are picking on tomori who is the only one who fundamentally handled this play correctly

View attachment 44127

This is the ball that fofana managed to first touch so badly that it bounced to winston? who gave thuram an open path to advance. and then he went in like a sissy instead of putting his foot down and tackling hard. he either maintains possession or he fouls but likely doesnt even get a yellow cause it's not in open field yet. by the time thuram clears him he has no chance of recovering. if he knew he couldn't trap it he coulda dinked it to jimenez or whoever else


Like how are people blaming this goal on tomori who had to 1v1 against a winger on fresh legs is beyond me

View attachment 44128

you dont lose this ball unless you go in like a fkin pussy

as far as contain defending goes, tomori got one of the lowest % outcomes he could get. could he have done a better job? sure but that's a very slight imperfection compared to what others did. to nitpick on what he did while overlooking these blatant fuckups numbs the mind

It's another major fuck up by the whole team. I am not blaming only Tomori for the goal. Fofana fucked up big time and Mike looked like a statue, but this doesn't make Tomori's play any better.

 

[finnishhacker]

Tomori can be horrible, like the worst defender we have. But why are we gambling it by giving him to Giuve? What if he turns out to be a very good player for them? Will we have strengthened a direct rival for top4? While making us even more week than we already are? Fuck this team man

 

[Curupira]

pussy

 

[Master Smurf]

With Tomori gone now we are the ones that want Antonio Silva

Milan, interesse per Antonio Silva: se parte Tomori serve un altro centrale

Il futuro di Fikayo Tomori potrebbe essere nuovamente accanto a Pierre Kalulu: anche il centrale inglese rossonero potrebbe presto diventare un calciatore della Juventus. I...

m.milannews.it

This would make sense ..... too much sense

We havent seen that from this club in some time, but we live in hope

 

[Dokoa]

Tomori can be horrible, like the worst defender we have. But why are we gambling it by giving him to Giuve? What if he turns out to be a very good player for them? Will we have strengthened a direct rival for top4? While making us even more week than we already are? Fuck this team man

Most of the players that left started performing better in other clubs. Won't be surprised if Tomori does the same. I still can't understand why they bought Emerson. Who's idea was that?

 

[nefremo]

This would make sense ..... too much sense

We havent seen that from this club in some time, but we live in hope

Makes sense, sure. But the article also says Benfica doesn't want to sell and there's a 100m buyout clause in his contract. Additionally, and this is very important, that our offer will be.....get ready for this.....loan + option!

So yea....we're not getting this guy if Tomori leaves.

 

[Curupira]

This would make sense ..... too much sense

We havent seen that from this club in some time, but we live in hope

Hold your horses.

It makes sense bc Tomori is cheaper than what Benfica is asking for Antonio Silva, so def make sense for Juve. It is yet to be seen if our management will shell out that type of numbers to get a hyped player in January

 

[Master Smurf]

2 sites analyzing fikayo tomori's defending as if we wouldn’t know his occasional brainfarts and slip ups

There was also the high ball that he mistimed earlier allowing the double chance after Theo failed to properly clear.
Last year's Thiaw may make that mistake but neither Thiaw or Gabbia this season have been that shaky.

 

[The Cat]

One would think MONCADA is in charge of the sporting side of things .
I hate this guy, this useless pathetic prick needs to be fired asap

 

[Master Smurf]

black baresi

Well he isnt wrong ... I dont understand why Bro Cloren is upset because Kalulu said water is wet

 

[The Cat]

This Tomori business...If he goes, do we somehow bring in silva?? Is that the plan?

 

[Curupira]

There was also the high ball that he mistimed earlier allowing the double chance after Theo failed to properly clear.
Last year's Thiaw may make that mistake but neither Thiaw or Gabbia this season have been that shaky.

I think it doesn’t really benefit anyone (other than people with just specific narrative of either Tomori sucks or he’s not at fault) to discuss fault in specific instances.

For the last two seasons, if you ask me overall how I feel about his performances id say it’s average at best with some bad moments. If you ask me whether we should pay Juve’s offer to buy a player like him my answer will be no, so that’s why I think their offer is fair and has the “it’s January and we really need a cb, oh crap” mark up baked into it already.

People keep saying management is selling to Juve like they are turning down phone calls and higher offers to just sell to Juve. If the mystical “stupid EPL club” who would “easily pay 60m” actually existed, I’m sure our greedy management would have taken that offer

 

[R.Akbar]

We need at least 3 players in every department

i guess its better to follow the path of Gerry's favourite sport, which is to have a totally different team for:
1. Offensive Play starting 11
2. Defensive Play starting 11
3. Penalty kick Team of 8

 

[Wild]

It’s looking bad real bad. If we don't make top 4, I think the “star players” will finally leave to serious clubs. No way this management is capable of putting together a good squad. How longer it takes to be a serious club, how harder it gets to attract quality players. The pull of this club is already low. Kids these days don’t care about Milan's past, maybe only if their parents were Milan fans back in the day. 2007 is almost 20 years ago. After scudetto #19 it felt we like we were almost there….2-3 years away from being Milan again.

I will question Theo & Leao's ambition if they stuck around after this season to be honest.

 

[Wild]

One would think MONCADA is in charge of the sporting side of things .
I hate this guy, this useless pathetic prick needs to be fired asap

I agree.
I was fooled to think he is a top notch scout.

 

[Curupira]

I will question Theo & Leao's ambition if they stuck around after this season to be honest.

That’s fine but for us as a club it needs to happen one at a time unless they are ready to write next season off as a complete dice shoot again.

Contract wise, might make sense for Theo to go first. But if they think they can get a good enough offer for Leao might make sense to move him for max value and ride out Theo and sell him for a bit cheaper

 

[Pigeon]

I think it doesn’t really benefit anyone (other than people with just specific narrative of either Tomori sucks or he’s not at fault) to discuss fault in specific instances.

For the last two seasons, if you ask me overall how I feel about his performances id say it’s average at best with some bad moments. If you ask me whether we should pay Juve’s offer to buy a player like him my answer will be no, so that’s why I think their offer is fair and has the “it’s January and we really need a cb, oh crap” mark up baked into it already.

People keep saying management is selling to Juve like they are turning down phone calls and higher offers to just sell to Juve. If the mystical “stupid EPL club” who would “easily pay 60m” actually existed, I’m sure our greedy management would have taken that offer

the “stupid EPL club” who would “easily pay 60m” sold him 4 years ago

 

[Alo88]

We just don't have depth to play in all comps. That's it. Period.

So we will keep suffering.

But Atalanta, Lazio and Bologna have played just as many games as we have this season – if not more – and yet their midfielders, like Éderson, Freuler, de Roon and Guendouzi, have logged even more minutes than Reijnders and Fofana in Serie A. Across all competitions, I wouldn’t be surprised if their total minutes are roughly the same, if not higher.

So why do our players always look like they are the ones on the verge of collapsing, while theirs don’t?

I haven’t dug deeper into the numbers yet, but I wouldn’t be shocked if none of our players – whether in attack or defense – even crack the top 10 for most minutes played in the league. And yet, fatigue remains the new en vogue go-to excuse to shield the players from responsibility. Wonder what it will be next.

I completely agree with Conceicao on this one. Mentality is key to cope with fatigue and the increasing amount of games per season.

Of course the players are tired with the number of games they’ve played. I'm not denying that. But so are Inter, Lazio, Fiorentina, Atalanta, Juve, Bologna and Napoli. And I don’t think all of them have a significantly superior or deeper squad than we do. In fact, I’d argue Juve’s squad is just as unbalanced as ours, yet yesterday they looked like they just came off a two-week holiday – fresh, fast, explosive and with an undeniable determination to win.

I 100% understand where Conceicaos growing frustration is coming from.

 

[Curupira]

But Atalanta, Lazio and Bologna have played just as many games as we have this season – if not more – and yet their midfielders, like Éderson and Guendouzi, have logged even more minutes than Reijnders and Fofana in Serie A. Across all competitions, I wouldn’t be surprised if their total minutes are roughly the same, if not higher.

So why do our players always look like they’re on the verge of collapsing, while theirs don’t?

Kamikaze tactics from da manajah

 

[SuperPippo]

It's been known for a long time by everyone but management (somehow) that Milan's squad is full of people who are weaklings physically and pussies mentally. A clear out is needed.

 

[Pigeon]

But Atalanta, Lazio and Bologna have played just as many games as we have this season – if not more – and yet their midfielders, like Éderson and Guendouzi, have logged even more minutes than Reijnders and Fofana in Serie A. Across all competitions, I wouldn’t be surprised if their total minutes are roughly the same, if not higher.

So why do our players always look like they’re on the verge of collapsing, while theirs don’t?

I haven’t dug deeper into the numbers yet, but I wouldn’t be shocked if none of our players – whether in attack or defense – even crack the top 10 for most minutes played in the league. And yet, fatigue remains the new en vogue go-to excuse to shield the players from responsibility. Wonder what it will be next.

I completely agree with Conceicao on this one. Mentality is key to cope with fatigue and the increasing amount of games per season.

Of course, the players are tired with the number of games they’ve played. But so are Inter, Lazio, Fiorentina, Atalanta, Juve, Bologna and Napoli. And I don’t think all of them have a significantly superior or deeper squad than we do. In fact, I’d argue Juve’s squad is just as unbalanced as ours, yet yesterday they looked like they just came off a two-week holiday – fresh, fast, explosive and with an undeniable determination to win.

I 100% understand where Conceicaos growing frustration is coming from.

this silly 'fatigue' talk is the same shit we discussed back in 2023 when everything fell apart just cope and another excuse