Good news predicted for tomorrow’s match, Milan v Cagliari: “Given Ruben Loftus-Cheek will still be absent, a change in the system is also expected, and Pioli is set to revert to the 4-3-3 system, which has served him well previously. After several games at full-back, Yunus Musah will be played on the right of the midfield trio, and he will be alongside Ismael Bennacer and Tijjani Reijnders.” Probable Milan XI (4-3-3): Sportiello; Kalulu, Gabbia, Thiaw, Florenzi; Musah, Bennacer, Reijnders; Chukwueze, Giroud, Pulisic.
He was struggling to track runners from midfield at times yesterday early in the second half, perhaps because of the mid-match positional switch already mentioned.
You could have stopped with he was struggling.... I like the guy but he needs to make the next step while he is still getting chances. He is an athletic specimen for sure and is more than capable of producing at this level if he can get the part between the ears worked out. Namely not panicking inside the box with the ball on his foot, passing to the right colored jerseys in the defensive third, and not switching off on his defensive assignments. He shows flashes but is often let down by what appears to be lapses in concentration. When coaches jobs are on the line with every result, that is going to lead to a diminished role sooner rather than later.
He probably gets like two weeks off for “off-season” and I doubt any practice will cause improvement.
Give musah credit. He realizes his passing is poor, so he tries to dribble through four or five players. It's smart actually. Doesn't ever really lead to goals as of yet.
His behind the back foot rolled pass to spring Leao on Pulisic's first goal yesterday was nice. Leao did an awful lot of work there but just pointing out that Musah is pretty good at the close-range interchanges. But I agree with others, he has a lot to improve on if he wants to stick around at a club that challenges for a top sport in a top 5 league.
Given how good at dribbling he is in the middle third, it would be great if he translated it to dribbling in the final third, but he hasn't done so. He's not as good with the slowed down 1v1 or 1v2 dribbling in and around the crowded box as he is around midfield. Perhaps he needs more space to free himself up.
I find his lack of improvement to be disappointing. Just doesn't have the quality and vision to impact the final 3rd. The quality is more the mental awareness as he's very skilled on the ball just doesn't see attacking opportunities. He doesn't think like an attacker. Should try to become a DM. Higher ceiling there and his body will allow him to become more physical in the next few years.
I worry his lapses and positioning would be problems as a true DM. I just think his brain isn't processing situations in the attacking third as quickly as it needs to. He's still young (though not as young as he was last year or the year before ), but things could still turn around for him if the game starts to slow down. May not, but I'm not sure I'd bet against him making a leap forward next year after learning the ins/outs of Italian football. The talent/skill is there, he just needs that brain to catch up. Strangely enough, I could be completely wrong and his problem could be that he's thinking too much in the attacking third and just needs to let his body react.
I'll go with the latter, The problem is that a team with trophy aspirations are going to require a short learning curve. I wouldn't bet against him, but he has work to do. He needs minutes and a consistent assignment.
Another start projected … “What should be Stefano Pioli’s penultimate Milan game sees his side travel to face Torino tonight, and the Rossoneri will be hoping to give the fans one final away performance to cheerthis season. The midfield three is down as being Yunus Musah, Tijjani Reijnders and Ismael Bennacer, while Christian Pulisic, Luka Jovic and Noah Okafor are expected to be the attacking trident as Pioli once again goes with what looks like a 4-3-3 on paper.” Predicted Milan XI (4-3-3): Sportiello; Kalulu, Thiaw, Tomori, Terracciano; Musah, Reijnders, Bennacer; Pulisic, Jovic, Okafor.
Musah (5.5): Similarly to the full-back above, the American often made the right runs and made himself available, but nothing of value came when he was in possession. Better compared to other games, but still not great. Pulisic (6.5 – MOTM): He hit the crossbar with a thumping effort and then won the penalty. He helped create a few more chances but also missed a few with his head. In any case, he’s the MOTM for tonight thanks to a willingness to make things happen.
40 matches and 2,245 minutes in his first season at Milan. A season that started when he was still 20 years old. It's pretty nitpicky to have anything negative to say about him or his season at this point.
He was bubbling but never really got to a boil. Hoping he can build on this season in the next. Hoping he gets 2000+ minutes next year too. Hoping he can find a final ball.
That's an understatement. No other American player has the record he has at the same age. In fact, I wonder if there's *any* North American player who has as many appearances in top leagues and the Champions League (not to mention national team appearances) at his age. Dwight Yorke had his first EPL appearance at 21, and he's one of the all-time regional superstars. Yunus has done phenomenally well so far. I've watched him a lot, like most of you. Yeah, his end product is very frustrating all too often, but I think he finds a lot of ways to contribute. I think it's a matter of whether he's going to be a solid player or a great one.