#maldini robbed but we move

[cruyffista]

Claudio Caniggia was awarded June Magazine's (a Japanese magazine focused on shōnen-ai) Most Beautiful Player title in 1994 (x).

[fossadeileonixv]

Milan 3 Roma 1

One team, one dream

The usual ratings and comments

MAIGNAN 9 MOTM Made several key plays early including streaking off his line to claim a cross headed for Abraham. Later stuffed Zaniolo on a clear chance. On a night when we started our 3rd RB, 2nd RB, 5th CB and defensively inept LB across the back he had to come up huge. HE DID. Nuff said. I will fight anyone and everyone on this. 

FLORENZI 7 For a guy that was a last minute signing, that Roma was trying to GIVE AWAY mind you, has proved quite valuable. Another solid veteran performance. Free kick crashed off the cross bar otherwise this is a solid 8. 

KALULU and GABBIA 7 Did an incredible impression of late 2000s Silva and Nesta. Gabbia the stay at home guy and Kalulu making the runs. If you watched the pregame on CBS Mike Grella pointed out the kind of runs Tomori makes to cut out danger. Kalulu did exactly that on several occasions. That was massive. Got a little scattered right before the half but otherwise remained on point. 

Quick aside.... Grella’s work on tactics and analysis at CBS has been great. He started off a little slow for my tatse but is getting better every week. Straight to the point and no nonsense. He shows you something simple and then you see it in game. No over involved explanations or wonky stats. What more can you ask for? 

THEO 7.5 Great job last night. Agitated all night long and really took the pressure off the rest of the back 4. Every starter on Roma’s right got a yellow card and 2 of them saw red. Their ratings on Whoscored? 5.6, 4.8 and 4.7. Masterclass of shit housery and skill. 

TONALI 8 My second MOTM behind Maignan. Brilliant all night long on the ball. 

KRUNIC 7.5 Here we were worried about the double pivot during AFCON. How would Bakayoko hold up? Turns out Krunic is the guy and we’re fine. With his combination of durability and versatility he, along with Saelemaekers, are the glue guys keeping us rolling. 

MESSIAS 8 Love when he gets super wide. Out there he can drag defenders and beat them 1v1. Also has impeccable sense of when to make runs to goal. Exactly the kind of guy we needed at RW. Haters have vanished. 

DIAZ 7 Pre-Covid Brahim was back. Love the space that Giroud affords him by staying high. The difference between the space afforeded him against Roma as opposed to when Ibra started against Napoli is night and day. 

SAELEMAEKERS 7 Equally frustrated and agitated Roma’s flanks. Him and Theo are solidly rent free in all those guys heads. Does whatever is asked of him and does it 100%.

GIROUD 8 Created space all day long by staying high and needing constant attention. Truly a ‘team’ performance by him. Smashed home the PK. Master stroke loan move. 

subs

LEAO 8 DUDE! IT IS SOOOOOOOO NICE TO SEE YOU!!

BAKAYOKO 7 Better. Not great. Just better. 

ZLATAN 7 Great hold up play and assist to Leao. NO MORE PKs bro. I thought we talked about this? 

CONTI 7 Farewell/testimonial game for him. The guy I was legit most excited about during the summer of triple handshakes. Dude was a freak. Two busted ACLs robbed him and us of what could have been. 

MALDINI 6 He played. 

coach

PIOLI 10 Master class. No other way to put it. Things I loved?

- With no back line decided to press high and chase Roma all over the place. This took the pressure off our backline and dumped it all on theirs. 

- Krunic making runs to get super high and keep Roma pinned in. 

- Kalulu making similar runs from the back to cut out any counters. 

-Started the game with Leao and Zlatan on the bench. I think most figured they were there just in case of emergency. instead brought them on with blood already in the water. There’s not a manager in Europe that’s done better at managing the 5 sub rule. 

Mourinho came in wanting to sit back and counter in his absurd 532 and Pioli stole his lunch money AND his girlfriend. Honestly can’t remember the last time a Milan coach so thoroughly destroyed his opposition. 

THOUGHTS

- I thought the ref was ok but now the FIGC is giving him a week off I guess? He got the calls right, now doubt. His control of tempers and the temperature of the match was poor though. 

- This makes 19 different starting lineups in 20 games now for Milan, including 14 different back lines. Pioli is a wizard folks. I was wrong.

- We are currently leading the league in counter attacking goals with 6. I love that stat. 

- If you are not getting the Paramount Plus feed with Matteo Bonetti and Andres Cordero, I feel for you. For my money there is no better announcing duo on any network on any sport. Bonetti brings the passion and there is no better informed and researched play-by-play guy than Cordero. They are at the top of their game and clearly doing the league they love. Great stuff. 

All for now.

Venezia early Sunday, Genoa in the Coppa mid week followed by Spezia the following weekend. 

FORZA MILAN

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