Davy & Chin Talk A.C Milan Weekly
Davy & Chin Talk A.C Milan Weekly
Davy & Chin Discuss Juventus Stalemate, Leão's Debate, Maignan’s Future, and Previews Milan vs Fiorentina
Turin gave us a clean sheet, a roar from Maignan, and a knot in the stomach about missed chances. We walked through that draw with Juventus from both angles—control and composure on one hand, a lack of bite on the other—and used it to ask bigger questions about how this Milan wins the matches that define a season.
We get candid about Rafael Leão: the movement is back, the threat is real, but the finishes have to land. In a 3-5-2, the margins are thin; your forwards must be ruthless and your off-ball work relentless. We break down what that means for Leão’s role, what Giménez still offers with pressing shape.
Midfield minutes matter now. Modrić can still run a game at 40, but we talk about protecting his legs, creating a clear pathway for Ríči, and keeping Fofana’s engine central to the press. We also tackle the Maignan contract straight on: elite shot-stopper, distribution that starts attacks, timing that swings results—this is a spine decision you want settled early. With Saelemaekers out, we examine the right flank, where Athakame’s defensive stability needs help from patterns, not isolation, to generate better chances.
Then it’s Fiorentina. Pioli returns under pressure, which makes this one tricky, but the plan is simple: keep the defensive platform intact, flip play quickly to their weak side, and get Pulisic and the striker on the end of clean looks. We share our predicted approaches up top and the in-game tweak that can tilt tight matches.
If you’re tracking AC Milan tactics, Allegri’s rotation philosophy, Leão’s development, Maignan’s future, and the Serie A title race, this is a deep, no-fluff breakdown. Listen, subscribe, and drop a review—what’s your XI for Fiorentina, and who should start up front?
The Rostovini release stance is complete. After 11 years, once again, Milan are the champions of Italy. It's they who wear the crowd for 2021 505.
SPEAKER_03:Hello everyone, this is Dave and Chin Talk Milan. We are back again. Today is Thanksgiving Day, so it's good to have um chain and Leo on board again, you know, the full team to talk about Milan, you know, after the Juventus game, you know, right now we're an international break, actually. So yeah, it's good to have to be back with you guys. Um, Chain, what's up, man? Um, Leo, how you guys doing? I'm doing okay. Uh happy Thanksgiving to you and uh Leo.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I'm doing great. Happy Thanksgiving.
SPEAKER_03:Are you are you guys still hurt from the Juventus game? What's going on? Why are you guys so so the energy is kind of low? What's going on?
SPEAKER_01:Uh a draw from uh Juventus game away from like uh San Cinderine. I don't think it's a bad result, so uh it's nothing to be down over.
SPEAKER_03:Before we went on international break, we met Juventus after Napoli game, after the beautiful you know, um statement win against Napoli. You know, we went to Turin to meet Juventus, and unfortunately, um we should be kicking ourselves for not coming out with three points, you know, honesty, because I think um we all had the cards in our favor, but unfortunately, um, you know, if I say we are we we were lucky and also with a couple of you know missed chances as well. We finished the game um go less and then which kind of like kept us um third on the table, two two two points behind Napoli. Now we're just quickly gonna talk about the about the game. Chen, I know you have immediately after that game Rafael was the guy you went after I had to win.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, I went after Rafael because as your as Milan's best player, I think um, like that game. Yeah, I don't let me not even go at it first. Okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_03:I think uh I want to ask you this question first. Like overall, though, in the game, like how do you assess um Milan's performance?
SPEAKER_05:No, I think we played well. I think we played very well, all things considering. Uh it's Juventus. Uh again, uh away Juventus is never easy, regardless of the Juventus team. They haven't lost this season. Uh, they don't give away a lot of goals. That team, uh, Milan created a lot of good chances. It's just that we were wasteful. And yeah, Polisiji will missed the penalty. Like, there was a lot of uh waste in that game, right? And Rafael, I came at like Rafael Leo simply because you know that chance he had, like, to me, that's a chance that at least you you pull it on net and see what happened. But he didn't even hit the target, like it's it's okay. At the end of the day, let's look at the bigger picture. Milan came out of September, and a lot of positive things happened to the team, right?
SPEAKER_03:Exactly.
SPEAKER_05:Uh, we went from losing to Criminosi, and all of a sudden now they look like a a very competitive uh team that could actually compete for the league. The credibility they've built over the last over the entire month of September has actually made them now look like title contenders. Allegro was coach of the month, uh Polisic was player of the month. Exactly. That's what you do if you want to actually compete in the league. Obviously, I mentioned before that how not having uh other competitions really help, except for Copa Italia, really helps. Um, we beat Napoli, then the next week we went to Juventus and gave them a run for their money and came out with a draw. Missed penalty, missed a lot of good chances, right? So at the end of the day, it was positive positivity all around in the month of uh in the month of September and early October so far. I can't really complain too much, even though we should have beat Juventus, but I can't complain much. So let's take that for what it is. Milan has good momentum, they're doing good. I I don't want to get into too much uh negativity around the team because it's really not that much negativity around the team at this point.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, I agree with you, I agree with you. And I think I think Leo, I think I think you're also saying the same thing, right? Regarding um how the game went in terms of you know the balance game again. We coming out of Turin with um with a point, doesn't seem too bad considering it's Juventus, right? But at the same time, too, we can also we cannot we cannot ignore the fact that Juventus are not at their best at the moment as well. And again, we have the games in our hands, in all honesty. Um, aside the big chance that I think um my gym mike kind of pulled, which to me should be the best save of the of the of the of the of the season so far. That was that was massive, man. Leo, what your what you what's your take on that save, bro? Because man, when that's it happened within the split seconds, bro. I'm like, whoa.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, it was it was phenomenal. Um I I I would I want to say there's an element of luck to it because you think so? You know, he just like made himself big. I think it was his reaction though. Yeah, he made himself big in front of the player, and you know, the player hit the ball uh without much feeling, like just hit the ball, right? So um, and he saved it, so which uh you know everything happened so quick, like you said, right? Like from out of nowhere. Um, so yeah, it was it was a good save. Um, I would say probably if that had gone in, it may have changed uh the pace of the rest of the game. But uh thank God it didn't go in, uh especially because of all the chances we kind of like missed afterwards. Uh that would have been the difference between one point and no point. Uh but yeah, at the end of that game, uh my first reaction was that we we definitely dropped two points here because we had every uh chance to have buried that game without three points, which would have been massive, like getting three points away from home. Uh huge defenses, yeah. Uh the Alliance, the Alliance Stadium, that would that would have sent a lot of shockwaves uh league, right? Like that we are the team to fear. But uh it wasn't an encouraging sight. Uh, the the way we lost those chances, and uh you could see Allegri's uh reaction to some of those uh misses, like he wasn't really happy about it, uh, which is fair, right? Like you that's why you play the game uh for those chances, uh, so that you can take them, you know, when they come. Well uh let's still take the positives. Uh it was uh very compact Milan side. Uh we were very difficult uh even for Juventus to break down. Yeah, even that chance you mentioned about magic uh with Mike Manyan was from uh corner kick, right? So exactly yeah, like from open it wasn't from open play. So uh good stuff, good stuff, all right.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, you know what? Let's really just talk about the let's let's let's get into the game a little bit. Um because coming from the Napoli game, having Estupina been recorded, right, and missing the Juventus game and having Batasagi step in for him. Again, I know we had a kind of like mixed feeling, like thinking if he was gonna be able to like, you know, be up to the task, right? And when the game started, I kind of noticed that Constasal was being they fed Constasu a lot of balls to come to attack us through the left-hand side, right? And he he he struggled a bit, you know, honesty. But saga struggled a bit, but looking at the game, looking at how he handled the whole situation of the of you know in the first half, like I'm gonna start with you, Chin. How what what's your thought on Batsaga's performance though? Stepping in for his opinion. Do you think you can beat upon it?
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, um, I think he's the if not the only natural left-footed uh uh defend defensive player Milan has right now. So it is the right choice. Like at some point, I keep bringing this up that the young players have to end up getting minutes to play, right? So if a stupinan is off uh because of his stupidity, then that means somebody else gets to step up. And I actually hope and wish that maybe the kid can actually do it because there's a lot of positives around the kid all of a sudden. Uh he's he made his debut for the Italian national uh U U-21 team. He's doing he's doing good. So if he can carry that momentum and maybe uh you know ride it on, he might actually become a useful uh squad player. Because up until now, he hasn't had that many minutes, right? Yeah. So to step up in that big in that big moment, um you know, playing against Juventus away, Juventus again. We keep saying this, they're no slouch, like their players are really good players. To step up and they were informed as well. Yields and Cosasao, those guys were all informed players. Uh before they played Milan, obviously, uh, they were all informed and then all of a sudden he's thrown into that difficult situation and he actually did a good job. Of course, you're never going to come out of a game like that 100%. Like, if not, everybody will come out with a rating of 10 out of 10, right?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05:Um, so you always have to rate him based on on the fact that at the end of the day, was he on the, you know, did he actually come out on top most of the time, right? Because you have to remember, like, he's playing against world-class players, and those guys get paid a lot of money just like he gets paid, right? So he did good, in my own opinion. He did good. The test was yeah, a tough test, a tough assignment for him. He came out good. Uh, if he asked me, I would actually continue playing him, just just to give him that momentum. Because as Tupinan, I don't know. Something about him uh all of a sudden bothers me, especially after that whole situation with uh against Napoli, where I felt like he was just so bad. And then I saw you posted that he's injured all of a sudden, you know.
SPEAKER_03:Oh yeah, he's injured right now, so obviously it's gonna be Batsage again against Ferrentina.
SPEAKER_05:Um, yeah, what what you just keep I'll personally keep playing Batisage.
SPEAKER_03:Of course, of course, it's you. You play you play Batisagi. You don't like a stupid, of course, you complain about his stiffness. But, anyways, um, Leo, like looking at Batsagi, right? I like I think to me, I think he has he has grown a um a bit in terms of him being able to learn from Theo Hernandez. Don't forget, all through times of all the time of um Stefano Pioli, right? He's been on Milan for quite a while now. You know, he's navigating, you know, coming back from the from the academy back to the senior team and stuff like that. Do you see this kid like you know, at least, you know, gaining having that much playtime the way he's going, or you think Este Pinan is still the right guy for you, based on what you said last week that you think Estupinan is more experienced? Yes, definitely.
SPEAKER_02:Uh Estupinan has more experience. He's he's played uh for bigger clubs size, Vileria, Brighton, and he's been like uh a regular starter for those teams uh before he joined Milan. But I would agree with Chen that becoming a bit worried about him, uh Estepinian, uh, in the sense that like he's good when he attacks, but where you know I have an issue with him is his defending. Uh his defending is not clean. Uh it's always like he's you know, when you watch him, you just feel like oh, he's like letting people just take crosses, you know, uh uh without closing them down, or he's you know being clumsy uh and giving away cheap fouls um that he shouldn't be. Uh but Asagi, on the other hand, uh it's it's it's very encouraging to see. But uh even though he didn't have the greatest first half against Juventus, yeah, um it's well you could understand the atmosphere for a kid like that, you know, getting that opportunity, um, it probably got to him because in that first half, uh Concesar was you know running him down and you know that crossing to Jonathan David that he kind of like slipped. Yeah, that could have caught Milan, right? Yeah, yeah, exactly. We'll be here saying something different about Batestagi. But um in the second half, he was more solid. He was much more solid that Juetus Coach had to, you know, remove Kosessao because he wasn't he he the kid wasn't giving giving him any you know any chances anymore. And uh I I think in Batestagi I see a similar story as uh, or I hope for a similar story as uh what we currently have with uh Gabia. Uh Gabia used to be like that, struggling to get minutes. Uh he went for that loan spell together and came back. It's like he's a totally different player. Exactly. But with with Betesagi, maybe he doesn't have to go on the loan deal anywhere. Um, maybe you know he just has to show enough to uh Masim Liano that hey, I can I can actually you know be your be your guy, right? Like with these opportunities that he's getting, um if he keeps you know putting these sort of performances, um, I don't see why he should not you know be getting more playtime. Uh he has really good things, uh like you know, Chin said. Um he's also a very good crosser of the ball. Um some when he's you know, yeah, he has the qualities, yeah, but he has really good like you know um abilities up there. So so why not?
SPEAKER_03:Guys, my my my my my concern right now is so right now Milan has what 15 to like 17 players on international duty, right? Which to me it's a lot of numbers. Like we're I think we're actually I think we're what we are the first or second in in Italy with the most players on international duty or something. But yeah, we're paying the we're paying we're paying the price for being successful on the on the pitch. Well, I can say that, right? But again, I think it's a mix of feeling if you ask me, because right now, as of two days ago, Estupin um limped up the field. Salamakas is injured already. Yeah, I think he's got muscle injury, he's gonna be back in um at the Menaneno, probably like today or tomorrow.
SPEAKER_02:Politics. Leo, Leao has been sent home too.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, so dismissed from the Portuguese. So most of these guys, like that again, we are gonna be having some sort of like players not being available, like if we keep going this way. Like, how worried are you guys you know for this whole you know, players being called up for international duty? I'm gonna start with G.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah. What is your what is what is your problem? What's my problem is that they will be satisfied when when they don't call them up, James?
SPEAKER_00:They will complain that oh, you're not calling these guys up, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:I'll be sad. I'll be satisfied if they call tomorrow.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, so they don't call tomori, which helps Milan because he I saw him training this weekend. It was kind of sad watching him and uh for fan and pandal.
SPEAKER_04:You're the only one. I'm thinking yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05:But again, they didn't call for uh tomorrow, you complain. Uh they called Lofty streak, you celebrate. Like, let me tell you, as uh I think any footballer will tell you that for all of them, playing on playing for your club side, of course, is very big deal, but playing for your national team is a big pride because if you think about it, the fact that Belgium calls up uh uh Alexis Salamakas, it to me is a big deal. Because they could call a lot of people like it's Belgium, right? But yeah, they pick him, that means he's he's doing good. So it comes to the territory. If you're going to be a player like there was a time when Milan used to basically like all the players who go on international break, like almost every single player played for their national team. That was a sign of success for me, right? Like it means it means that the team is doing so well. So we're back to it now. There was also a time where man, international break, you can't find one Milan player to watch. So at least this is good. This is good now, does it come with its own uh risk, which means that your players are playing more. But man, if Milan players go on international break and get hurt, that even that's suspicious as well, because it's not like they are playing more than all the like them uh Bayern and Chelsea and you know Barcelona players that all the you know what I mean? All these people that play Champions League, they all played world club football and they did whatever. Exactly. What's what's going on? So it might just be one of those weekends, uh, because the two intense games they played against Napoli and against Juventus might have caught up with that. But I don't personally, I don't think it's something to to worry about or complain about. It's something to celebrate, and then uh they will be back. Trust me. Like, I think there's still like at least another one week. Most of these are like you know, like superficial, or there's no, oh my god, this person is out for the next two months. Can I injure it? It's like, oh, they received a knock. You know, these international teams they don't like to risk it too much with the players, right? Yeah, it's the little thing, they just cause somebody else to come and replace them. So I'm not worried, I'm happy that Milan had that many number of players out on international uh duty, tells you that how well the team is doing.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, so I really want to I I really want us to talk about Rafael Leo, the elephant in the room, right? Because again, after the Juventus game, there's a whole lot of backlash in terms of you know him not stepping up or not willing to step up to the level that people think you know he's supposed to be at at this stage of his career and stuff like that. But again, I kind of called him a slack for a reason because Rafael has been out for 45 days, he's just returning from injury, and again, um he's playing in a role where he's still trying to get familiar with, even though he's you know played it in the past, right? But you expect some level of qualities from a player like Rafael Leo, you know. Should I just say that night in terrain was just not his night? Let's just be real. But again, I know people like Chin, for example, will say otherwise. But Leo, you're the you're the neutral guy here, because I want you to give me your fact. I want you to say what's your thought on on Rafa Leal.
SPEAKER_02:It's not really positive. It's not really positive because uh yes, we can all we all give that excuse for him, you know, because we're trying to be fair. And we said, okay, he's he's been out for so long and he's back. Uh you know, this was, I think that was his second game. His first game was against Napoli. He had like the you know, the amazing run uh against like seven defenders, and everyone was like, Wow, you know, it's it's coming back. And that was his second game, and he uh he kind of you know let everyone down uh because those two chances were really good chances. Those are the type of chances that you want to get coming back from injury, right? Like it was fed uh in the you know the best possible you could ever ask for it to be given to you, but he he didn't, you know, he didn't take them. Uh especially more frustrated with the first one than the second one. But both of them were very good chances.
SPEAKER_03:If you ask me though, I think there's just some positive in that game though, because I watched Santi Jimenez, right, play off to what, 70 minutes or 60 minutes? Like he wasn't moving into positions to create those chances. Like Santi Jimenez was in that position, right? When Rafa Leo came on, I could tell the difference of Rafael on the pitch versus Santi Jimenez on the pitch because his movement is burst.
SPEAKER_05:Come on, come on. Like, like, okay, let me let me be let me tell you something.
SPEAKER_02:No, but Dave Dave has a point. I think I think Dave's point is that if Rafa Leah can keep finding himself in those dangerous situations, like this is Rafa Lewis. There's more, there's more uh chances that you know he'll start hitting targets again, right? Yeah, which is the which is a silver lining to all of this. I feel like that's what Dave is talking about.
SPEAKER_05:Okay, no, I understand, but guys, let's let's pump the brakes a little bit on that whole 45 days, 45 days thing. I think we started talking about that. Everybody now wrong with this 45 days. It's not like he was out for for nine months for with an ACL injury. Like a lot of players have not played for 45 days. We don't complain when they bring Richie in now to play. Would you give him the same but it's how he played? What they were did he play for 45 days? So let's now like injured, he's not training.
SPEAKER_03:That's the different thing.
SPEAKER_05:Well, what do you mean he was not training? He came, did he not train a few days before the common two training? This is different. So because he was injured for 45 for less than two months, that means he forgot how to kick ball. No, because your body, your body needs to get back to that shape that you were before you got injured. Sure, sure. Anyway, so but I've said it since day one, and I'll continue saying it. Rafael does not have know how to finish, he does not know how to, he's not a natural finisher. You can you can argue with me to whatever, but I know that part. So, Dave, what my expectation is so is beating around the bush. Are you saying for 150 million?
SPEAKER_03:Chin, hold on. Are you saying that Rafael being a top striker, like or being a main man, a target man, won't work for your for for Max Allegri? Is that what you say?
SPEAKER_05:I yes, it will not work. You know why it won't work? Because Rafael Leo is not a natural finisher, just like Santi Jimenez, in my own opinion, is also not a national natural natural finisher. But was a striker middle? Who? Rafael, yeah, striking what now stones or the ball. Because I are you know, I'm telling you, like he isn't, right? So let me tell you why I say so. Rafael Leo will get in good positions, but he won't score a lot of goals for that reason. Now, let's go back. Do I think that he offers obviously he offers more than what Jimenez will offer you? That's one thing. But I think that if you go into this season, thank God January is coming soon. If we think that we're gonna go compete for the league, using Rafael as uh only uh out and out striker, I think we're wasting our time, if you ask me. Because Milan has not been getting a lot of goals, goal contribution. Think about it, how many goals are you getting from your strikers? Except Pulisic, who is basically carrying the whole team uh you know from his position there, right? Like Jimenez, zero. I think Jimenez is on zero goals this season. Yeah, isn't he? Yes, yeah. After there, how many goals has he scored this season? Forget minus 45 days. Well, how many games has he? He hasn't played any game, he just killed. Yeah, but he has so he hasn't played any game, but he has missed so many chances to score the goals. So the point I'm trying to make is this is the same of an excuse we're gonna make for the next uh few months. I don't even keep chain.
SPEAKER_02:Let me chain chain.
SPEAKER_05:You know that well, you know what, and this season is not gonna be different. Okay, are you saying 10 to 14 goals plus assist or goals plus assist goes plus goals and assists?
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, and that's your expectation for you.
SPEAKER_03:I think I I think I think Akter Falia will score 10 goals. This is minimum as a strategy. This is Allegra, but this is Allegri we're talking about. Like, this is not a coach that will take anything less from any player, like we're not talking about Fonseca or any other past coach or Pioli that will cut him a slack. We're talking about do you realize that before he actually went on that direct scale, allegory yelled at him on the sideline?
SPEAKER_05:So, can I ask you a question? Yeah, so if you if you have a top nine that scores you 10 goals a season, are you happy with that output? I'm not saying I'm happy, I'm just saying that that's the minimum. Yeah, but that's exactly so. Rafael got you though that same amount of gold from the wing, and I think he would do better than that to make it by the way. I think he'll do better than I don't think he would do better than that. You know why? Okay, we want to anyways. Let's just skip it. So for me, I think that I think he would.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I think he would because I think Leo actually operates more when he's under fire. Like when people start criticizing him a lot, like what's going on at Jibertis' game. I don't know, he doesn't it doesn't have to happen that way, but I feel like you know, if that doesn't happen, he doesn't bring out his A game.
SPEAKER_03:I think Chin always forgets the trust me.
SPEAKER_02:Trust me, he will he will get that 14 goals and assist this season.
SPEAKER_05:Rafael has not grown for the last five, six years he has been at Milan. What do you mean players grow? So let me tell you, like Rafael averaged 10 goals, he has averaged 10 goals at Milan. That is not growth, right? Growth is what you go from 10 and then you're now doing like 15 at least, and you're doing normal 20. If Rafael is going to be your striker to win you Scudetto, you have to aim for at least 15 to 20 goals from him. 20 goals is even me being nice, right? So, but that's beside the point. Let's actually move along. Here's my point um, he hasn't grown much. Me, I would have personally sold him two years ago when Chelsea Brooks came with 150 million, just like I said, I would have sold uh Teo Hernandez a while ago. Because the reality is that whatever he provides you, now except for the fear factor that he brings, but whatever he provides you in terms of output, to be honest, you can get it from a lot of people. It's not like there's anything he does that is unique, but that's that's beside the point. Because the reality is that if you look at Rafael and compare him statistically to a lot of other players that we don't rate as highly, you find out that he actually does not output that much. But then again, every week he's a guy we're talking about. Because this the fact that we're always talking about him, like, think about it. Polisic has shown up at Milan, and that's the growth. Polisic is basically Milan's best player, in my opinion. Because every game, every day, every week, you can see that he's consistent, right? Even though he missed penalty, people are not talking about the missed penalty because we know that a lot of players have improved this season, not just Polishic, including Rafael.
SPEAKER_03:Figaro Tomorrow's.
SPEAKER_05:No, Polisic is not just improved this season. Uh am I am I missing something? Lenard, Policy has improved. He no Polish has improved.
SPEAKER_03:Even for Fana that you were insulting like a couple couple games ago, I've stepped up again under allegory.
SPEAKER_05:Like, this is no no for Fana. No, no, let's be clear on something. For Fana, the issue that Fofana had before was that between him and the coaches that were people that were coaching him earlier on at Milan last year, they didn't understand what his strengths and weaknesses were. So they were trying to make him do stuff that he cannot do. So, for instance, forcing the guy to be passing ball that he's not actually supposed to be trying to pass. I don't know if you remember Leonard, like the guy with everything stupid passes left and right and spoiling ball. Now he doesn't even bother with that, and that's fine. And I'm okay. Guess what? You know why he doesn't need to because he has Modric. So Modri do that pass for him. Yes, but last year he was trying. I don't know why. Now all he needs to do is just be the extra, uh, the you know, the strength, the energy. Basically, he should he's doing what chasing chasing people around. Yeah, he's doing what you think love to streak does basically. That's what he's doing, is what everybody thinks love love to streak actually does for Milan. But for Fana is the one doing it. He radio, right? And then they don't need to pass the ball, they just give it to someone who actually never places the ball wrong, right? Um Modric always gets a pass right. So that's that's that's it. Sorry, what you're seeing is clear definition of roles and responsibility. They have defined for Fana's job for him, and as a result, it is easy for him to do. So I really to be honest with you, yes, when I watch him, I think he's he has a very key role to play at Mina, and I understand it. But last year, you can you you can you can't convince me.
SPEAKER_03:What what makes you what what what makes you believe that Max Allegri cannot really you know help Rafael to be at his best?
SPEAKER_05:Well, he can't help Rafa Lao to be at his best because in reality, you want to know the thing. I actually personally don't think that Rafael has that drive in him to want to be at his because it's up to it's up to Leao.
SPEAKER_02:I see what you're saying.
SPEAKER_05:Yes, I think Leonard, like a year ago or two years ago, we talked about this before that you can do whatever the player themselves have to take that initiative to want to drive. Rafael Leo, just to me, I always bring it up because you guys keep saying, Oh, he's back 45 days, he's back for five days. Like he's the only person that has gotten injured before. I've seen people when Haaland gets injured here and comes back, it's almost like somehow his life is gone and he wants to score five goals in one game just because he was injured, so he wants to make up for what missed time. But Rafael Kins comes back and he'd be missing goals, and you guys will give him an excuse and say it's so funny because actually, this is the you're you're you're making some sense though.
SPEAKER_03:You're making some point, you actually make some point in which you're gonna say I was reading an article this weekend. Um, I think about uh Fonseca's interview, right? When they asked him about Rafael Leao, and he said he told him the first conversation they had with Rafael Leao when he got to Milan was that he can actually be one of the best players in the world if he puts in the work. But again, it's up to him to decide if he wants to put in the work to get to that level.
SPEAKER_05:So I can relate to what you're saying, but so Rafael has the talent, it's in my own opinion, to be one of the best wingers in the whole world. Like, but the reality is that when you watch him, the he doesn't the issues that he struggles with, yeah, he still yes. Like, for instance, like you know, what stops Rafael from being the guy that wants to press more than everybody else, or that wants to ginger everybody every time he's pulling pants down, like walking around pulling pants left and right, like that's what he cares about. And then again, I'm telling you the truth. He like, how often have you even seen him beat that ginger? Like, but by right, at this point now, Rafael is the most senior, uh most tenured Milan current Milan player.
SPEAKER_02:Technically, if I go to the butch, but chain, but change does he not remind you of uh Usman Dembele?
SPEAKER_03:I was gonna say actually you're faster than me. I was gonna say like remember like yeah, Usman Dembele.
SPEAKER_02:We've always seen yeah, we've always seen that potential, guys, especially when Basuna has chefed shelved all that money to sign him, right? It wasn't happening until he worked with the he worked with the manager that was able to unlock that exactly.
SPEAKER_05:Okay, guys, sorry, Usman Dembele had a problem. You know what's the problem was before? He was always injured. So the reality is that you can say he did he wasn't uh was it he wasn't uh he had the same personality as Rafael, he does not have the same personality as Rafael. Do you remember when Pioli came at Milan in the beginning when Rafael first came and Pioli just was at Milan? He used to take him out every time. Why do you think he used to remove the guy? Because he was tired. Rafael would gas out. Like, think about it the professional footballer gas out at like 60.
SPEAKER_03:Again, I kind of feel like this has a lot to do with how to manage your energy on the pitch, you know, honestly. Because again, if you just decide to start running all around, like, you know, taking on players one-on-one, you know, bursting on paces and all this thing, like you're gonna get tired. But if you calculate your move and know when to attack, when to when to when to when to when to conserve your energy, when to join the press, when to when to just you know join the team and suffer together and you know by dropping by dropping deep. Those are those are those are details that a coach like Alegri should be able to communicate with players like Rafael Leao to put them at their best, in all honesty. Again, to me, I also don't I think the oh the most dangerous player in our team is not police, it's Rafa Leo.
SPEAKER_04:Okay, so let me tell you, you you can say all that stuff, he's the most dangerous, but then he doesn't stab you.
SPEAKER_05:It's like somebody saying he has bazooka, but the bazooka does not speak. Like, like I'm telling you, and then police actually don't you don't you think don't you think you're being too harsh on him?
SPEAKER_02:He's just had what he's really even had up to expand this.
SPEAKER_05:To whom much is given, much is expected. Mileo is probably Milan's one of Milan's highest paid players, he's one of the most talented players player based on all well, good for you. So based on all the stuff that he has in his arsenal, he should almost be like yeah, he no, like it should almost be like as soon as Rafael comes there, like uh Milan should it's almost like the level of the team should just go up significantly, right? But I can tell you that that's not the case. You know why I say that's not the case? We're talking about Jimenez earlier. The thing that you don't notice when Jimenez goes out is that all of a sudden the other team starts uh you know opening your team like whatever, because Rafael, between Rafael and uh Ruben Love to check, it seems like they cannot do the same job that for Fana and uh Jimenez does, where they actually help make up space, cover space, press to avoid unnecessary openings. Rafael walk two steps, pull pan down, two steps, pull pan down, just let people stand there, like they don't even, anyways, let don't even get me started. All I'm trying to tell you is that you should you should increase your expectations on Rafael because it is worth it. He gets paid a lot compared to other players, he has more talent than the rest of them. So to answer your question simply, I don't actually think he has improved that much since the last few years at Milan. And secondly, I don't know if he will improve that much. So we can get the best out of him this season, but I don't know. The best might just be what we did when we won the league, when he scored 16 goals, and that's okay, as long as Milan wins the league.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, so let's talk about Magic Mike, Mike Minion, because his contract is coming off for renewal, right?
SPEAKER_05:Now you're talking about a player that has actually improved since he has been Milan and he's been consistent.
SPEAKER_03:Can you stop, please? So again, there's been a whole lot of no conversation online right now, and there's speculations around like that he might end up working out just like um Hakan Chanalolu and um Gijito Naruma, which I don't think. But the question is do you think bin Lan should go all in to keep Mike Minyan for maybe a few more years? Or wait the options of maybe his demands and see if they can actually leverage by looking for someone similar in quality and a little bit more younger. Um, Leo, what's your thought?
SPEAKER_02:Uh definitely pay the man what he deserves. Pay the man what he wants, right? Because at the end of the day, everybody has a price. So he's not if he's not signing that contract, it's because he wants something. So the land should find out what he wants. And if it's not, if it's not too unreasonable, they should pay him and keep him because he's already been with the team. You don't want to start getting a new goalkeeper that you want to start integrating into the team. Uh, and he brings a lot to the team. Like he's uh the fact that he's very comfortable on his feet and he you know uh starts attack, he's a great goalkeeper when he's uh when he's not getting himself injured. Uh, but yeah, it's it's uh it's a no-brainer who can pay what he's asking for.
SPEAKER_03:I know okay. I know you are you and I had this conversation when you were talking about when we talk about his injury, um the level of his you know injuries, like he's very prone to injury, not honesty. And again, his age. And you made mention that if this you know persists like this, you probably just suggest that Milan should replace him. Like, what's your thought on the on the upcoming renewal of my opinion?
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, even Man City did not have a lot of problems with uh Ederson, they replaced him. Uh PSG claimed that uh Donaruma could not play the ball with his leg and he replaced him. So this is the thing I think. I think you know, in the current football uh world, right? The way the way it works is you okay, there's two schools of thoughts in sports. You can pay people for past performance, or you can pay them for future performance. You can pick one. Some sports, uh, you know, some sports teams they pay they try to pay players based on what they expect in the coming years from that player, right? Their future. Some they decide they said, Oh, you've done so well in the past, let's reward you. Like Leonard said, pay the guy what he wants because he's done a lot. But the reality is which one is assimilar? I think the team that wants to reward you for your future performance, right? So you look at your squad and you say, Well, all the good players of my team are the highest-paid players. Well, then that's good. That's exactly how, in my own opinion, it should be. You don't want to be paying people and then realize that, oh my god, they passed their peak, and then now he's he's basically doing what uh Urugi is doing at Milan, right? But the other the only difference is that he's he sucks, but you have to pay him, right? Because you signed a contract with him. So to answer your question simply, I think there's gonna come a point where what Mike Milan is offering Milan in terms of services, we might not be able to, we might get better value, right? Similar to what we did with Dolaroma. Think about it. Mike came in, right? Like uh Gigi left. We all were like, Oh my god, a lot of Milan fans were disappointed. But guess what? We've got a goalkeeper because they always come up. You people forget that football has been in existence for years. There's always gonna be there's always gonna be a new one that comes up, and oh my god, that one is very good. You know what I mean? So Mike came in and then he became good. There's gonna be a point where he's gonna be asking too much. There's a point where he's gonna be asking too much for what he's going to, what Milan can offer him, and what he's going to offer to Milan, and then that's the point where Milan has to ask.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, honestly speaking, if you ask me my opinion on Mike Minianis, the last three to four seasons, there's been this sort of pattern of injuries, you know, during the either the beginning of the season or maybe in January or February, or so he has this sort of like period that he actually goes off. And again, if you look at the history of these injuries, right, and the impact it has on Milan as a team during this period, you know, honesty, it's not really been good. We kind of get away with it last season because we had what we had um we had this guy from um what's his name again? This guy from Atalanta that actually covered for him a little bit. But the thing is, I feel like what he's 31 now or 30. So age is gonna tell regardless of how you think it is, right? He's still young, you know, honest for goalkeeper, right?
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, goalkeeper what is he has like all no eight years.
SPEAKER_03:Exactly. My my my just my worry is just that that injury, why they haven't really figured it out, like what's caused, like he's always having muscle injury, by the way. It's muscle problem all the time. Like, you hardly ever see him like being having this sort of a collision, right? And having this sort of you know, maybe direct impact or stuff like that. Like he's always muscle injury and stuff. To me, I feel like renewing him is a good idea, you know honestly. I don't think if you name top five goalkeepers, I think he's still one of the best, you know, one of the top five goalkeepers in Europe. I think he's among them, and again, it's what is France national team goalkeeper. So it comes handy. Like again, hardly would you ever say a goalkeeper that put that kind of save against Juventus last weekend, in all honesty. My own thing, just again, we have to weigh the options and see if it's time. I think it's time for us to start giving these young stars in our this young stars opportunity. Like again, um, what's the Toriani is one of them? I think giving him some chance again. I think grooming him and having him, you know, learn from Menian, maybe against next season. I don't know. But the the B again, the but the the negotiation of the deal is again still needs to make sense on the other end as well. And it's not the only one, by the way. Ficar Tomori, Milan is considering his renewal as well, coming up. These are like senior players in Milan's team that I feel Milan should find a way to tie down if they really want to beat upon this season and next to three seasons. That's how I see it. I have my I have some worries though, and my worries are basically in Milan's midfield. And I know I know we've said it before we've talked about Fofana, Modric, you know, Rabio. Modric is going on international duty, 40 years old, and it's pretty giving in 90 minutes. Like, I'm worried, I'm really worried. And this is look, you might think, oh, yeah, like this is not having an impact because it's beginning of this. This is just beginning of the season. By the time we hit mid-season, it's gonna be a different conversation, man.
SPEAKER_02:You don't have faith in Richie anymore.
SPEAKER_03:I have faith in Richie, but he's not playing, he's not playing. That's the thing. I know Chief.
SPEAKER_02:He's not playing because Modric because Modric is playing, yeah. They are both similar roles, right? The only reason why Richie is not playing is because of Modric.
SPEAKER_03:But do you I don't think Rich do you I don't think Richie is playing similar role, like he doesn't, I don't think, even though they play similar role, but I don't think Richie is gonna have that sort of effect, that that sort of play pattern and start that. Of course, of course.
SPEAKER_02:That's that's why that's why Modric is starting ahead of him, because Modric is a veteran, he's ballon the all-winner. And Richie understands, like he's he's just waiting for his time. Like that's what that's the only thing you can do, right? Like you wait for your time, and you know, when that opportunity comes, because it's gonna come. Okay. Uh Modric is pushing it, but we all know that's why you're afraid now, because you know, which we all know that it will get to a point where yeah, you know, his body is gonna catch up with him. Yeah, it's gonna catch up with him, and he will not be able to, you know, go anymore. And that's where he needs to come in. And I think Richie, you know, Richie would be uh he will be a perfect replacement for Modric. Uh, because I see him, I see him train, I see him, you know, even when he gets to opportunity like uh the Coppa Italia game, like he always comes in and he's sharp. Like he's you know, he's he's he's showing that I can, you know, I can be in this team. Yeah. So I'm not so worried for Modrich. Um, I feel like you know, at the end of the day, um it's Luca Modrich. He's he's one of the best players in the world. You can't pay. And I'm enjoying the fact that he's he's giving us all these minutes. I won't lie to you. I I like it. I'm not gonna say, oh, like, you know, okay, so let's no.
SPEAKER_03:Here's my question though. Here's my question though, Chin. Like, how do you rate Allegri's rotation so far this season? Uh, very poorly.
SPEAKER_05:Really? Because I told you, yeah. What do you mean rotation? Is he rotating anybody? But the question though is it's okay, Dave. It is forced rotation. If people don't get hurt, it's not going to change anybody. If uh, what's his name? This uh um uh didn't get red card, he was not uh but the second is not getting a single minute.
SPEAKER_03:But honestly, Leo, this is my question though. Like, don't you think the consistency of his selection is actually paying off on one end? Because that's the reason why we have a selected three center backs that are really having an impact and keeping giving us like what fucking shit now in six games, you know what I'm saying? So there's there's there's there's been a win to to to to to what allegory is doing in terms of being consistent with his selections and not just switching them all around. What's your thoughts? Exactly.
SPEAKER_02:Like that was what that's what I was gonna say. Like there are some there are some coaches that you know they they play with, oh I'm gonna like rotate my team, but not every manager has to do that. Like if you feel if allegory feels like he's gonna have a first 11 and everyone should fight to break into his first 11, then that's what's gonna be, right? Everyone has to show him that okay, I should be in that first 11, or I should be the guy that comes in at 68th minutes. It depends on what you prove to the guy, and he makes the call, who gets to start, who gets to come in, and who gets to sit on the bench forever. Yeah, it sucks, but at the end of the day, I feel like it would create a form of competition on uh amongst the players, you know, because you just know that he yeah, we can hear you, we can hear you, Chin. So, yeah, you just you just know that it's either you perform to get into his you know favorite books, give him what he wants, uh, or you sit on the bench. He's that he's that sort of coach, and you you can't have it, uh, but you can't ask him to rotate for the sake of rotating. If he doesn't suit his playstyle, he's not gonna do it, right?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Chin. Again, this is this is what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_05:When you ask the question about rotation, my understanding of it is is he doing a good job of rotating the team, the squad? And that's my answer, it's no, because it's playing to them to Leonard's point, he's playing exactly what I would do what he needs. He doesn't want to even miss a bit, he doesn't want to have a sniff of oh my god, like someone drops the ball for a second, right? The only reason he would never rotate is because something happens and he has to do it, otherwise, he will not do it, which is a problem. I say it's a problem because that means a lot of people probably not get minutes, and you will never ever be able to find out what they can actually do because they never get minutes. Exactly. That's that's that's the downside. That's downside. I was gonna say about nkunku, right? He's back from injury, uh, whatever it is. When do you think the guy will ever get up to game stuff? No, bo, bo, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:He he he he actually made he actually talked about nkunku, though. He said recovering. That's what he said.
SPEAKER_05:Well, yeah, but that's the point. Recover recovering. So let's even use Rafael. If this was Rafael during Pioli's time, I'm sure Rafael would have started the game right away.
SPEAKER_00:Like I was gonna say, I'm waiting for the first person to mention that the no no no you guys, what I'm trying to say you are the winner. You are the winner.
SPEAKER_05:What I'm trying to say here is this this is simple. The point I'm trying to make is that the reason why Allegri is low key bringing Rafael late is because in the last few games Milan has been winning without him having to play, and then the fact that he comes later and gives us that spark that helps kind of momentum to finish the game. He doesn't mind that. Now, I'm actually curious to see if the next game, when like this is game number three, if Rafeleo actually starts that game against Fiorentina, because I can I won't be surprised if he may not start the game because that's a formula that's been working for Allegri. And that's what I'm trying to get across is that he caught he's very comfortable with the formula that has been working for him. He doesn't want to change it if he doesn't need to change it. And to some extent, that is that is okay. It gives you consistency the more the team plays with each other, the more they know themselves. But on the other hand, it also means that it is difficult for people to break through into the team. Because Leonard was saying how well you need to prove a point. The reality is if you never get the chance to play, how are you going to prove a point? Because something has to happen for you to get a chance. Now we're talking about Batasagi. If a stupinan never got uh red carded, we wouldn't even know that Batesagi might be a better version of a stupinian. You know what I mean? But it will not happen because uh a stupinan it gives uh allegry sleeps, knowing that in fact it doesn't even touch his formation, he knows. So I'm just being frank, it's just a little bit uh it's the same formula, which is okay, but the reality is that it makes it hard for players to break through. Players start feeling like there's no chance for them to grow within the team because if there's actually no chance, and then guess what? That's how somehow in the middle of January, people like Richie will want to go on loan just to get minutes because that guy used to play so many minutes in his videos.
SPEAKER_03:You know, you know, honestly. I I think I think I think I'll support what Allegri is doing 100% because I'll tell you why.
SPEAKER_05:Why would you not support it? Because it gives you wins, right? Look, you're short-sighted, you're very short-sighted, you're too short-sighted for my likes sometimes.
SPEAKER_03:Chid, this is the same Milan that we're talking about last season that this guy came for second, was putting everybody throwing everybody in the game, rotating the zip like shoveling cards, balance, bro. No, no, no. And what happened? There was no leadership, there was no leadership, there was no direction. Okay, everybody felt like huh?
SPEAKER_05:Was doing too much. So the reality is that you have to have your base, and then around the edges, even Pep does the same.
SPEAKER_02:You won't blame Alegre now. When you play your first game against Cremonese, and you and you get panic, you guys panic.
SPEAKER_00:So you just have to formula once for you.
SPEAKER_05:Let me put it this way like Fiorentina, for instance. For instance, Fiorentina, right? They are not in good, they're not in good form. And I know they always give me that a tough time, but it's not at uh San Ciro, it's when they go to the uh at any Frankie Stadium, whatever it is, right? At their stadium, but at the San Ciro, this is when you might rotate a little bit. Modrich has played 90 minutes, he didn't play the next game, but you do have to play in Modric for another 90 minutes. You want to kill the 40-year-old man, you can just give him half and half, right? Make it so that this guy gets some minute because he wanted to sign it somewhere.
SPEAKER_02:Uh Croatian national team uh coach still played it for 90 minutes, so it's not just a leg. No, he plays that's what I'm saying.
SPEAKER_05:He played him, the coach played him 90 minutes, but the next game, I don't think he played him that much. The next game, yeah. So the point is the point is that Richie will need minutes because for a guy like him that has basically been playing every single game for Torino all the time he has been there, all of a sudden now he's seen he's basically now look because he also ruined the guy's confidence. Man, the guy starts thinking that I must be a bad bad player.
SPEAKER_00:No, it helps that but change, but change it depends on it exactly, it depends on who is being like if if a mod gate is Benji, but then he will even be happy.
SPEAKER_02:Okay, yeah, like that guy is a godfather of of the midfield, like what do you want to do?
SPEAKER_04:Turn around and then he looks sorry, he turns around, he sees Ruben Lovich gets minutes, like then he's wondering.
SPEAKER_05:Kuku is there now, and Cuckoo for me at some point has to play more regularly, right? So that he can get up to speed.
SPEAKER_03:But but that's just it, but that's just my question, though. Like, look, what I would like, I understand, like you know, we have a lot of quality players this season, right? That are supposed to be getting these minutes. But the question is like the way Allegri is structuring this team, I don't think it really gives a lot of players the opportunity to be to have the sort of minute we're talking about. Like, for example, if we're playing like four, two, two, one, three formation, it's a different thing that you can say, okay, you can feed in Rafael Leao, Polisic, and maybe Nkuku at the same time. And you know what I'm saying? But with the 3-5-2, like the midfield already like taking a lot of player personnels, giving the attack just two spots, which is Rafael Leao or Jimenez, and Nkunku or um Christian Polisic. You know what I'm saying? Now, like the I don't think it makes any sense for Allegri to change the formula if he's working for him, right? It doesn't make any sense. But the question is, at some point, do you think it's right for him to switch informations?
SPEAKER_02:I was gonna say that because with with Salamakez out, injured, I don't know which whether that 352 is gonna work without that guy. Atacame, yeah. Like again, we're gonna go. I don't think Atacame gives two. Yeah, I don't think I don't think Atacame can do what uh Salamakez has been doing uh for us. Uh he defensively, yes, he'll be fine, but we will not have that attacking, you know, uh bite that uh we have with Salamake. So in those sort of games, maybe he may want to change formation, you know, do something else that can bring in you know more players into the team.
SPEAKER_05:You think so? What about you, Chin? What's your thought on that? That means you guys, both of you don't know this allegory guy. That's what I'm saying. It's allegory. He's a less stubborn guy. Allegri will die first before he decides to change this formation that is working for him. So let me tell you. So let me tell you what will happen. He will try and fit uh fit uh square square folks into square peg.
SPEAKER_00:Yes, so I remember I remember from his first from his first things that was that was what he did. I'm telling you, and that frustrated a lot of you know, yeah.
SPEAKER_05:The reality is this, right? He doesn't like to experiment because for him, it doesn't give there's no joy in the experimentation, so he's not going to do that. Like Milan's formation for the rest of the season is exactly what it is. Instead, he will probably find those players and force them to try. I won't be surprised that will now be the winger, and then he will now start complaining that Rafael is not defended or doing the work that he's supposed to do. So at the end of the day, let's just let's let's come okay, let's celebrate the good thing. This is good for Milan, there's stability in Milan, but I can also tell you that it is also horrible for all the young, young players at Milan, because that means that they would never get chances to play. It's also horrible, like I told you in the very beginning of this season, Dave, that we should just all suck it up and realize that this is our new future, which is a a Milan that there's no real, it's not like there's a lot of joy per se. We'll suffer through, we'll get good results, comfortable results, but there's no you don't watch Milan and shout, oh my god, I think this is fun for both to watch, right?
SPEAKER_03:But I mean people are watching PS come on, change they've been impressive though. They've been they've been impressive.
SPEAKER_05:What impressive?
SPEAKER_03:Are you serious? Impressive chain, come on. What I mean aside the first two games, they've been impressive.
SPEAKER_05:Like, no, no, no, Milan has been very consistent in terms of being stable and shutting out the opponents from uh considering stupid, foolish chances.
SPEAKER_03:Or maybe it's me just learning maybe it's maybe it's me just learning to adapt to the new style of players.
SPEAKER_05:Okay, you are, but did you know what impressive Milan is? There was a time where Milan were fun, and I will be at first to admit, like there was a time when Peoli was the coach that Milan was actually fun to watch. I will be honest, right? But then towards the end, he was actually they were so bad to watch because they didn't they couldn't stop people from conceding, we couldn't stop others, they couldn't stop conceding uh chances and goals. I'm telling you, that especially that time we played Newcastle in Champions League. I don't know if you guys remember, yeah. Newcastle and PSG in the same group. My god, we couldn't stop anybody, and then they couldn't stop us. It was like freeway in two two directions, bi-directional freeway. But now, Milan, I can tell you that no matter who we play, I'm very sure that we limit their chances because of what yeah, there's there's there's like uh I feel less tense watching Milan.
SPEAKER_02:Yes, because I know that the last yes, exactly I agree, I agree, I agree.
SPEAKER_00:Like you're not considering foolish goals, except for the criminal team. You were you were in traffic and you just go back and you just put the game. Oh, anyway, two goes down.
SPEAKER_05:So now you can actually, it doesn't matter who you play, I can tell you that Milan will not consider foolish chances, right? So Milan from Pioli's end there towards the last two seasons of Pioli, and then the Fonseca and uh Concessal, it was just open open gates, like anybody can come through. But Allegri wanted to fix that and he has fixed it. The only challenge that he has always had for me is that when he doesn't have very, very good individualistic players that can just create magic for him, he does not know how to create the attack for those players. So that's why you see, like I'm being honest, and that's why maybe I'm getting a little frustrated at someone like Rafael, because in reality, in this system, that's where Rafael Leo should shine. Because you know why he will stand above others because his creativity should just outshine everybody else's. But then it turns out that if that guy is the best player you have and he's inconsistent and doesn't grow, then you're going to struggle this year for that. You know, unlike someone like uh what's his name, Conte. I know people don't realize it that Conte actually attacking for ball wise, he has what he wants to do. With me, I know it, even from afar, you can see it. To lump the ball to Mr. Lukaku, Lukaku will chase the ball down and control and bring the other runners into the play, and then they will counter you that way. That was Conte's thing. In Zagid that left, it's the same at Inter Milan. Half those is two attacking players, one will be nodding down for the other one to be shooting. Like, that's how you know what I mean. That's his thing. So those guys know how to create attack. But when I watch Milan, to be honest with you, I don't think we actually have a lot of attacking play like set up. But I know we are solid defensively and in the midfield, trust me.
SPEAKER_03:We can also talk about the current players that um allegrient, right? Like, if you look at it from the right, Sanamacas from the left opinion, like this guy is like imagine if it was Teo Hernandez on the left hand side, right? Someone of his quality on the left hand side, and you have someone again who's like very attacking and has a sort of like attacking quality on the right hand side as well. Like, you know, will have made a lot of difference. But at the end of the day, I feel like these guys are still doing the job, right? Let's quickly preview the preference in that game coming up because it's gonna be the first time Stefano Pillou will be returning to San Ciro to play against Milan.
SPEAKER_05:I can imagine some guys will be crying.
SPEAKER_02:You know, he may, you know, he may he may he may get sacked after that game. I was gonna say that as well.
SPEAKER_03:That that game is a lifeline. You're probably getting sacked after that game, and it's gonna be so they're not gonna, it's gonna be not gonna be an easy game for Milan, let's be honest.
SPEAKER_05:And considering the fact that this is the Divi, the Divi David Derby, because they will be caught up in two minutes. I'm not promised.
SPEAKER_03:I would not have my books.
SPEAKER_04:My they'll sack my mentor, my my my the love of my life, you know.
SPEAKER_03:But I don't think I don't I don't think they should I don't I don't think they should be sacking Peoli if you're in a lose to Milan because again they should sack Pioli if you're in a losing no way. But Milan, they are still lands. It's Milan though, it's Milan. Milan, yeah, but how did they get to 17? It wasn't only Milan they've been playing all season. Come on, guys, they've been playing other teams. Come on, guys. I think I think if you know I think if Milan has been hold on, if they're gonna sack Pula, I think you should know it should not be it should not be um the Milan scheme after I see Milan, which probably poetic justice. Let's just quickly just um look at the team, right?
SPEAKER_02:So it will make good headlines if they sack him after uh after we beat him.
SPEAKER_03:Well, um, so there's chances that we're still gonna have a regular back three, which is Gabia, which I'm not really impressed about, you know, is international duty. Um, you know, lack of minutes, right? Lack of minutes that I didn't. I'm not impressed. What do you want?
SPEAKER_00:They no like play now and you come back with a knock. Gabia, are you not happy?
SPEAKER_03:Gabia is a player that should be playing at least, beginning some minutes in the national team at the moment. Look at it this way. I look at it, I look at it guys that complained that other people too many minutes. They're playing back three, right? They're playing back three. It wasn't those days that like we're playing back four, that okay, they might say okay, maybe it's not used to back three or something. They're playing back three, they had um very fun. They have Bastoni playing in the central of back, which is supposed to be Gabia's role, and they had um Calafiore, he'll play in the left center back, and they had what's his guy's name and yeah, that's the problem because it's not even a center back or whatever, right? He's in a center back. I'm like, so why are they putting um now? Why are they putting Gabia in a bench?
SPEAKER_02:For it doesn't make sense because it's it's because it's because it's Italy, they do this mafia kind of thing in Italy, like it's it's always an Italian thing, right?
SPEAKER_05:So well, okay, but sorry, guys, Dave. What do you want? Gabia did not play his sweet, he's good, and you're complaining. Modric played and you're complaining. Like, what do you want? Anyway, the reality is that see, we all know that just like according to you, Tomorrow is top five defender in the world. We all know that Gabia is again doing a great job. Uh, maybe not top five defender in the world yet, but he's doing good. But the reality is that, like, at the end of the day, Gatuso is a coach, right? Isn't he? Yeah, yeah. So the coach will do whatever the coach wants to do. The other part you forget is the you also forget is that sometimes the team formation is based on some other attribute other than your ability to play. So sometimes it's actually maybe leadership he's looking for. He realizes that maybe he needs it. Maybe it's that one. He needs that guy on the field. You know what I mean? So those are little things that you don't also factor in, and to Leonard's point, maybe there's also the politics about it too, where they're saying too many people from too many people from one region of Italy, right? Versus another region of Italy, because he's from Napoli. How many Napoli players played? Something like that. Those little things I don't know. It's like super eagles those years those days, right? So, anyway, it to me it's not a concern. I think he's getting called up, that's fine, and then he's he's also you know getting the the uh representation that he needs, it's just like he's not playing.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, so my concern right now is obviously um um the right wing back because Salabacas is injured, obviously, he's gonna miss the game, right? Um, Atakame is the next, yeah. Yeah, he came back with muscle injury, and it's probably gonna be a couple of weeks or so. Well, they were diagnosed him on Monday, so we'll probably know get a new news about it on Monday. But again, Atakami is nesting line. Like, how confident are you guys with Atakame? I feel like he's a like I watched him. He maybe he's just he wasn't he wasn't very good against Napoli. I think he's just lacking confidence though, you know, honestly.
SPEAKER_02:Like I don't know whether it was the the the size of the game that swallowed him up when he he was he was just you know all over the place.
SPEAKER_03:But uh because defensively I don't think I don't think we have any other option. But he looks solid defensively, though.
SPEAKER_02:He looks solid defensively. So defensively, he's he's he was solid, yeah. But then the the trick about playing uh three defenders and five midfielders is it gives you an edge when you when you are off the ball when you're on the ball and you're attacking. Yeah, so if I have somebody that is useless on that right wing, uh how is how is my attack gonna be? So that's the question, right? Yeah, going forward, he cannot beat his man and he cannot put in decent balls into the box. Then what are we doing with him?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, that's the question. Again, don't forget because the way things are looking now, we might not also have a stupid and a game playing on the left hand side, right? We might have batsak, which is probably again he's he's getting better. This is Ferrentina. We shouldn't be you should be able to deal with that sort of the game of that sort of caliber, right?
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, I'm not worried about almighty almighty PLUS Ferrentina.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, I'm not worried about uh the left side, it's that right side with that sort of case.
SPEAKER_05:So I'll tell you what will happen. So Milan will start with at the came for the time being, right? And then what will end up happening is that as the game proceeds, it depends on the score line, they will decide that they want to go more attacking and they'll bring in some one of the one or two attacking players. Because at the end of the day, again, I keep telling you guys this thing. Allegri is a cookie cutter coach. He looks at the whatever the one that is closest approximation approximation to the ship. That's the one he puts on there. He tries. Because that guy, like that a comic guy, cannot go forward to save his life.
SPEAKER_03:So do you think do you think politics might end up in the right wing back?
SPEAKER_05:Well, it depends. No, I say it depends because it depends on who the at the other the attacking uh the opposite uh player is for. Oh, yeah. No, for the opposite, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:If it's someone, um if it's someone that has to make him so anyway, at the end of the day, this guy this guy that runs like a like a demon.
SPEAKER_03:I think I think pu um I think Peoli might come with you know a do-or-die affair, obviously, to save his career, to save his his he said. It's not gonna be an easy game. We always have difficulties playing against Moise King, by the way. And Fiorentina are not in good shape right now, and I think a disciplined Milan should be able to like actually just you know take care of take care of them easily. He might probably end up in like one or one nil or two, two, two nil, but I don't see them like they're not really at their best, they struggle. I watched them against Roma. They did well in the in Europe, in the conference league, but again, in in the league, they've been they've they've never really been good. Um, my question is in this game, like, do you guys think allegory should actually give Rafael Leao with his feet, give him um let him start the game or still put Santa Jimenez?
SPEAKER_05:You I know the answer to the question.
SPEAKER_00:It was that what do you think? Leave what Alegri is going to do. We understand what do you think he should do? What's the right thing? What's the right thing to do, Chief?
SPEAKER_05:Well, in if in Alegri's textbook, the right thing to do is to start Santa Jimenez. I don't know what you guys are doing. So Rafael is not going to start a game at Milane until somehow he alegri is a very sneaky guy, he hasn't come out and said it out loud yet. Uh Leo, you were saying how he was mad at Leao on the bench, or somebody was saying that was missing other chances. Do you know the problem with Leao is that that work rate, right? He doesn't have it. And he doesn't have that work rate, and as a result, he's always going to be on the bad, bad books of uh of allegory, in my own opinion, until he gets it. So Alegri will be using this 45 days out excuse for the time being to just excuse why he wouldn't play Rafael Leao. I'm telling you how it's going to go down until Rafa Leo. I actually agree with work rate.
SPEAKER_02:I actually agree with you because I I felt there I was going to start the Juvenus game, and it was a shocker to me that he went with Ibnis. Me too. Uh but now yeah, now I know why. I wasn't surprised.
SPEAKER_03:I wasn't I wasn't surprised though. No honestly.
SPEAKER_05:Why weren't you surprised? Because he has already primed you by saying that he just came back after 45 days. The guy came back after 45 days, played against Juve. Think about it, he came on with the team that we now were losing.
SPEAKER_00:If it was purely once once started training, he's going to play two ninety minutes.
SPEAKER_05:Can I ask you a question? Which other top player? Okay, can I ask you a question? Mike Miyan. Mike Miyan got hurt. Did he not come back right away to the team? Yeah, he did. Okay. So which other top players you know in their on their team, their best players, usually again, get go off and come back, and then you start bringing them for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes. Unless Rafael is seriously, seriously injured. But I don't think he is. I just think what's his name? I like using this as an excuse to not play too long because in his mind, Rafael is a danger to his defensive strategy, and he doesn't want it. But he won't say it because, of course, he doesn't want to lose the team. Because that's what the foolishness that uh what's his name? Uh Fonseca did last year that sort of the whole issue. Okay, I have a couple of things. Exactly.
SPEAKER_03:Do you guys see playing as a as a as a as a fourth nine for Milan?
SPEAKER_02:I would I would love to see and pull the siege instead of him and just and pull himself. I don't know, because just because if him and just has uh he's he's uh I don't know, he's got the most like XG's to score, but he's uh he's been struggling in that department. So yeah, I would like to see Nkunku uh because we need to start getting goals and we need to start you know getting them fast.
SPEAKER_03:I agree, I agree, I agree, I agree.
SPEAKER_05:Well, the problem with Nkunku is that Nkunku cannot play Fourth 9. So Nkunku, I don't think he can do force nine. He wants to do like 10, he wants to do 10. Like his position is like, eh, what he wants to drop deeper, basically. Yeah, he wants to basically like almost like in a weird way what Polisic is doing, but like behind the striker, support second striker kind of thing, but not full unnecessary workload, right? So that's the issue. Like, I still find it a little weird that when Milan wanted to buy player, the only one they couldn't get is Nkonku. Because he's this night, he doesn't solve a lot of the problems that we have. I'm saying that because think about it. What was the problem that we're trying to solve with Nkonku? Nkunku is a good player, but what is the problem you're solving? Because Milan's biggest problem is we don't have striker. Yeah, our problem was not that we don't have a a because it's like Joe Felix, basically. Well, no, no, no.
SPEAKER_02:No, but but the but the truth is that we never knew which formation.
SPEAKER_03:We never knew which formation is a good finisher, he's a better finisher than than than than Jimenez, even if you ask me.
SPEAKER_02:And and if you're gonna play like 4, 2, 3, 1, he would he would always have a place in that kind of formation, right? Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05:Uh but that formation is gone now now because uh Legri would never play because I I okay, so I'll start with you, Leo.
SPEAKER_03:What's your prediction though for the Fiorentina game?
SPEAKER_02:Uh 2 new Mila. Right on the couple because we're not the we're not the we're not the high-scoring team, so we don't see us scoring more than two goals. And who do you think is gonna be on the score sheet? Uh maybe Pulisic and uh Leo.
SPEAKER_04:What about you leech?
SPEAKER_02:I intentionally put Leo to anger Chin.
SPEAKER_04:I don't know.
SPEAKER_05:So I think the only issue I see is that Milan struggles with more skin. Moi skin, but I I think Milan will keep a clean sheet, right? Because if none of the those midfield three guys and the the center backs are hot or injured, they will keep a clean sheet. The issue now is can we score enough goals? I think we might just be able to squeeze out one goal because we forget that they're coming back from international break. The same one that you guys are complaining, everybody's hot. Usually 15 players, right? So those games are usually sluggish games. So I just my prediction is one-nothing for me.
SPEAKER_03:Like with the way we've been playing and again, we're having our center backs, not really doing much, you know. During the international break, we have Tomori, we have um Gabian up playing. So I think we might still be fresh enough to be able to nullify um Franklin's attack. So again, I see it as maybe 2-0 as well. 2-0. But I think Santa Jimenez might surprise you guys this time. Um, let's really talk about the rest of the team in the league. Uh, Napoli are back on the top of the league. And you remember I told you, Chin, in the beginning of the season that Roma is a team that you shouldn't um overlook them because they write them off, right? Because they have a very good coach, even though they didn't get the best of signings during the preseason, but they have a very good Gasparini is a really good coach. Um, how does the the way the table table is looking now? Do you think this might be the top four that finishes, which is Napoli, Roma, Milan, and Inter? Or you think so there might be other teams that might squeeze in later on?
SPEAKER_05:I think the the league is taking shape. Um, the way it's kind of slowly building up. Um, the only big surprise for me so far is your boy Pioli, you know, pooping the bed in uh Florentina. Which again, to be honest with you, I'm not surprised. That's his level. Um so so other than that, like Napoli, Milan, Inter will build up again and get back up slowly, but they will not be able to catch up just because of their coach. And then Aroma is they've won five in a row, bro. Which who inter Milan? Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:Which five, what has been their what has been their opponents, too? That's what you're gonna look at. What's the quality of opposition?
SPEAKER_03:But that's typical Inter though, that's what they do, right? They beat they beat the the lower level team.
SPEAKER_02:They beat all the yeah, the lower level teams, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Which is what Melan struggle with most of the time.
SPEAKER_02:So again, I I think this I think this season, this season is gonna boil down to how you fare against bigger, bigger teams. That's that's what it's gonna be this season.
SPEAKER_05:A lot of people are seeing Napoleon. You're saying they've won five in a row. I'm asking now in the league, or just so overall. I think overall, no, yeah. So Champions League and the league, they have a game against uh against uh Roma, and I think that's a big test for both teams, right? Because for me, it's a test for Roma to see how serious they are, and it's a test for in Tamil to see if they really are serious instead of beating up all the small teams in town. So overall, I think the league, the league will end up the way, like a como to me is big is a big surprise. Um, they they they end up mid-table, but I don't see them pushing for Champions League sport. The big the big players will always be the big they will be the big players at the end of the season, except I don't see the right-off como the right of combo. I'm not writing them up, I'm just saying they can go, they can make those boys.
SPEAKER_03:No, man, no, like look, como will probably end up in Europa League, man. Look, when it give this is the this is how will happen at the beginning of the season, right? You see all these young teams, you know, pulling all the weights and stuff like that. By the time the league reached the level, you separate boys from men, man. That's how it works, man. At the end of the day, I feel like if they if they're able to make it to Europa League, I think it's a good achievement for them, in all honesty. Um, Napoli to me, I still feel like it's still the still the the favorite to win the league, the way things are looking.
SPEAKER_04:But well, they struggled a lot, they struggled to be honest with you. They struggle, but they always find a way to win.
SPEAKER_03:That's the thing. They always find even against Genoa, they struggled, but they always find a way to win.
SPEAKER_05:It's a mark of a champion. Now, again, we have to bear in mind that to me, their best player is not around. That's the thing that we miss. The fact that Lukaku has hasn't been playing, right? He's gonna be back maybe in the next month or two. But when he comes back, they will get back to you know the normal uh what's it called? Slayer, slayer mode. Yeah, they've no dump the ball to Lukaku, let him hold up everybody and wait for people to come up. Um Highland cannot Holland cannot do that right now. But aside from that, they are still they are still really good. And I think to me, all around, they are still the best team in Italy. That's what I think.
SPEAKER_03:Well, I think Milan probably Milan to me, Napoli first, Milan second. That's how I say it. Then every other team follows, anyways. Yeah, um top four is the goal. Top four is the goal, yeah.
SPEAKER_02:For Milan. I don't I don't think we can win the league this year.
SPEAKER_03:I I I disagree with you, Leo. I disagree with you. I think we can win the league. I think we can win the league. You don't have you don't have a striker, you don't have a striker.
SPEAKER_02:You don't have a striker, you don't have you don't have a backup for Salamarkes that he's injured now. There are lots of gaps in your team that you're not seeing. Yes, we're we are sold defensively, but maybe that could just get us you know the elusive champions league sport, which is top four. But I don't see us winning the league this season, honestly.
SPEAKER_03:Well, top four is the minimum, anyways. That's how I say, but I think we can I think we if we win, I will I will take it.
SPEAKER_02:Uh I think we're going to challenge, of course, we'll challenge, but I don't know, especially when Napoli crashes out of the Champions League or in or in that crashes out of the Champions League, like and it takes to be added. That's also there as well. Forget it. Yeah, forget it. We're not gonna be able to, yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Anyways, guys, thank you so much, Leo. Thank you, Chin. It's been a pleasure talking to you guys about mainland again. Um, we're looking forward to the big well, to the interesting um game coming up this Sunday. Again, it's uh coming home of Peoli. Dave's mentor coming home of Stephanie to quote the Father Peoli. I it to me, it's gonna be a little bit emotional for me. I won't lie to you, but no, it's not a little bit.
SPEAKER_04:I know exactly that it's gonna be a lot of emotion to me.
SPEAKER_03:I hope, I hope our victory doesn't the best thing, you know the best you know the best thing for you, Dave.
SPEAKER_02:Don't watch the game, just wait after the game.
SPEAKER_03:It's a loose, it's a loose loose for you. It's a loose boost for you. Anyways, guys, I have to go. Um, thank you so much, guys. Thank you, Leo. Thank you, Chin. Thank you so much, our listeners, for all the download and and and streaming. Please give us a feedback on iTunes if you have the opportunity to do so. It means a lot to shoot us up on the on the on the podcast list as well. Thank you very much, guys. Happy Thanksgiving and have a wonderful week. Forza Milano.
SPEAKER_05:Thanks, Dave. Bye forza Milano.
