Yeah, that was supposed to read “without” but my proofreading skills, had I even bothered to proof, are non-existent.
You were probably distracted by feelings of empathy for Chelsea fans. Or is it pity? Let’s split the difference and call it “empity.”
For those keeping track, Pulisic got a touch in the box this week and is up to four touches in the box in five league matches this season. Leao leads the team with 33. Pulisic used to average six or so per match with Chelsea when things were going relatively well there.
This is absurd. What do you know about how the team is setting up? The left and right side are not necessarily symmetrical. Maybe Pioli asks CP to play slightly deeper. But keeping track of touches in the box as an isolated stat means ?????
I told my wife that all we talk about now is touches in the box, and she said, “Don’t you guys ever grow up?”
I wish this wasn’t a discussion. But it appears to be a theme that will carry on for the season, so I’ll just say this: CP’s role is different than Leao, and as I mentioned before, Leaos “box touches” will continue to dwarf Pulisic. I have no problem with it. But you may be happy to know that I am confident this will be Leao’s last season at Milan (even tho he just re-upped I think), because somebody in the Prem will come calling very soon with big dollars. Then maybe Pulsic will get a different role and more “box touches,” if it matters. Conversely, you may be disappointed to then realize that without Leao drawing attention from double and triple teams, it will get harder, not easier, for CP To capitalize in the final third.
It's always: He doesn't have the right coach, or that's not his role, or, my current favorite, well, he'll get minutes because they have a lot of games coming up (as if schedule congestion is a reason for optimism). For once could it be that an American is totally kicking tail?
Apologies, I read this post 3 times and I still don’t under stand what you are saying. Pulisic is kicking tail/doing great? Or he is not, and people are making excuses for him? Care to clarify?
Other than on the pure athleticism of Leao, this is a team that’s struggling to bring its attackers into dangerous areas. I think that’s relevant.
I don’t think Leao is the problem so him leaving certainly isn’t going to help. I think the midfield is what’s holding them back.
Chelsea being a joke is -- at long last -- something I'm sure everyone here can not just agree on, but indeed celebrate. Long may it continue.
How on earth can the Chelsea striker Jackson be leading the league in yellows? He has 5 and is suspended for the next match. I do not miss watching them one little bit. blech
I agree that the Milan offense isn’t clicking. I don’t agree with Ghost’s claim that Pulisic is playing poorly. When he is active and involved, like he was Saturday, he is generally doing well. Yes, he gets muscled off the ball some. He is never going to be heavier, or have a lower center of gravity than he does. But he looked quick and intent and did some good things to help the team in his role behind the front line (I won’t say #10 role because someone will identify some way in which it wasn’t technically a #10 role). The previous match he doing that “standing around wide” thing and not making any sharp movements to present or defend thing that he sometimes lapses into. So to me this looked like a good performance. I think the signing of Chukwueze is for when Leao leaves. I tend to think that when he moves to EPL, Leao will be the next Murdryk. As my son said, he is a James Harden type of player — creative and dangerous with the ball, and indifferent to the point of harmfulness when he doesn’t see a chance of doing something flashy of effective on offense. Reijnders and the rest of the midfield look decent to me. I look forward to seeing what the post-Leao Milan looks like. The worrying things for me about Saturday’s match were (1) how many good chances Milan gave up, even with Tomori back, and (2) how much less effective Reijnders was than previous matches. The 3-4-3 was interesting but I am not sure it was defensively sound. From section 262 it looked asymmetrical on offense. Offensive width of the right was provided by the RWB (Musah), but on the left Leao stayed wide and the LWB sort of tucked in and wasn’t always as far forward. Musah got back pretty well, but the opponents counters looked dangerous. Whoever was supposed to be the disruptor wasn’t disrupting well. Maybe it’s just working out the kinks of a new formation. For whatever reason Reijnders looked a bit out of sync.
Yeah, but you really have to FEEEEEEL for their fans. I hope they are aware of the feeeelings we are sending their way.
No one deserves it more than them... vile club. Here for the next good CP performance though! Hoping he gets back on track with a goal or assist ASAP. Agree with FC Tallavana; the Milan midfield, and Pioli searching for answers via new formation, is concerning. I don't like the 3-4-3. The attack is the strength of the side, but they need to be supported.