When Antonio Nocerino, Mark Van Bommel and Clarence Seedorf start as midfielders for four games in a row, you know you have a problem. AC Milan, which consistently targets to be one of the best teams in Europe cannot and should not be fielding a 34 year old veteran and an average work horse beside a largely immobile holding midfielder. Not that these players are of poor quality, but Milan need better.
The injury to Kevin-Prince Boatang has pushed Alberto Aquilani into the trequartista position which increased the Italian’s anonymity on the pitch. Had the Ghanaian been fit, Aquilani would be starting on the left of midfield. Juventus replaced Aquilani with Andrea Pirlo. If the past few games are anything to go by, Juventus have won the bargain hands down.
In situations like these, people are quick to judge and declare a crisis at Milan. 2 points in 3 games is by no means a statement of intent by the defending champions. But one glance at the injury table and another glance at the fixture list should ease the Milanisti’s tensions. The famous names enlisted in the infamous injury list are Robinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Boatang, Gennaro Gattuso,, Mathieu Flamini, Massimo Ambrosini, Phillipe Mexes, Daniele Bonera and Luca Antonini with Alex Pato joining the list on Wednesday.
Taye Taiwo and Pippo Inzaghi have recently recovered with the latter getting some game time against Udinese. The list would indicate our attack is severely depleted and our best battlers are on the treatment table. All of a sudden, Milan’s attack does not appear as deep as many presumed. Where Milan do look strong though, and I mean this in terms of numbers, is at the back. Milan still possess five centre backs and four full backs with Daniele Bonera capable of playing out wide. Let’s take a deep breath here because we shall dwell on areas that are screaming for attention.
There are gaping holes in this squad. Some that meet the eye are the absence of a vice-Ibra, a qualified trequartista, an additional holding midfielder and a central creator in midfield. Pato has confessed his preference to be that of a centre forward but there are serious question marks over his strength and consistency when employed in that position. Milan have displayed a shocking lack of creativity in the recent games which is powerfully referenced by the cluelessness of their midfielders when they reach the opposition box. Milan faced Lazio, Barcelona, Napoli and Udinese post this crisis and have taken 3 points of a possible 12. If only Adriano Galliani had strengthened the squad with quality players in the above mentioned positions, I’m fairly certain that the club’s standing on the league table would have looked far prettier.
Let’s move beyond numbers and look at the quality. A friend of mine told me, ‘If Boatang is a significant player in your team, then there is something wrong.’ All you Milanisti will be enraged after reading this, surely. Boatang was indeed superb last season. But more than his individual quality per se, Boatang’s performances were strongly influenced by his novelty. Playing as a forward destroyer, teams had little understanding of how to deal with this powerful attacker.
I reckon it was more the surprise package than the player quality that brought him the much adorned success. Milan’s trequartistas in recent history have included Rui Costa and Kaka, authentic central attacking midfielders of world class calibre. I pray I be forgiven for asking for someone of a similar stature. Antonio Nocerino might be a last minute purchase but is he anything more than a poor man’s Flamini? His end product is largely disappointing and he shows limited promise in attack.
Aquilani appears to be a Pirlo replacement, the one who creates from midfield. Frankly, I am yet to meet someone who thinks Aquilani is capable of running the creative duties of Milan’s midfield. I’ll be cruel yet honest in saying that Seedorf, Ambrosini and Gattuso have passed their best years and are currently no more than utility players. Of course, there is a fringe player named Urby Emanuelson, a left back turned central midfielder turned central attacking midfielder. The manner in which Emanuelson is being shuffled around the pitch is confounding and amusing in its own way. So Mr. Galliani, where is the quality in the depth of this side?
This Milan team can still win the title, oh most certainly they can. But come January, Galliani must enter the market and add some much needed depth if Milan are to compete on three fronts. This Milan side probably has one more title winning year in them, but at the cost of another disappointing term in Europe.
Follow Rajath on Twitter: @rajathkumar and check out his Milan Blog as well.
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