Thoughts from Sundayās match
Milan held Genoa to a 0-0 draw after Leonardo Bonucci received a straight red card in the 25th minute for elbowing a Genoa player in the box during a corner.
Iām not sure where to begin exactly. My thoughts on this match, this season thus far, Montella, and Bonucci are all over the place. I was skeptical about him coming to Milan in the first place, let alone being given the Captaincy straight away after several years with rivals Juventus.Ā
Let me say that the preseason wasnāt terrible. The first Europa League matches werenāt terrible (albeit we played againstĀ ālesserā clubs, no disrespect intended as we are talking about AC Milan after all). The start of this league campaign wasnāt terrible, though there was much to be desired.
Now, to me, itās all terrible.Ā
The last 4 Serie A matches have seen us lose 3 and draw 1. There was a Europa League match within the time span of these 4 matches where we also were held to a draw against AEK Athens.Ā
After these matches the same thing has been repeated by Montella -Ā āWe shouldāve won. We played better. We didnāt deserve a draw/loss. We were the superior team.ā In reality, all of this is absolutely meaningless unless we can ACTUALLY win. It doesnāt matter if he thinks we were superior and then still lose. It doesnāt matter if he thinks we didnāt deserve a loss/draw even though thatās the outcome. His platitudes donāt matter unless the results are there.
Iām one to back a manager through tough times because Iām aware not all of the blame should rest on their shoulders, but why must we be given the same sayings over and over after every poor result? This wears me down and ultimately wears down my faith in the manager and Iām sure Iām not alone. I liked Montella as a manager, but now Iām only giving him a match or two until I join theĀ āMontella Outā bandwagon. Enough is enough. Iāve stood by him thus far, only to be slapped in the face with him repeating the same thing - we have new players, they need time to gel, we were superior. These are all valid (or were), but now theyāre just convenient excuses when we put in a performance like we did against Athens or Genoa.Ā
I am absolutely disgusted with him.Ā
Heās world-class or at least at Juve with the likes of Chiellini and Barzagli playing with him in defense. Now, I didnāt expect the Bonucci of Juve when he came over and now weāre all seeing that that is exactly what we didnāt get. Donāt get me wrong, he is a great player, but heās been dismal for a majority of the time heās been on the pitch for Milan. Iāve praised his good plays, but when he makes mistakes he hurts the entire club severely. The Genoa match is a prime example.
What gets me is that he was brought over as Captain. Heās not new to football and Serie A. He knows VAR is a thing now. He knows it will definitely be used as it should be. Regardless of the excuse of himĀ āmaking space for himself during the cornerā his actions were inexcusable and well deserving of a red card. Instances like this are prime VAR real estate and he and the team paid the price.Ā
Montella proceeded to say after the match that the use of VAR such as this isĀ ātelevisualā. But had this happened to a Genoa player heād be saying the exact opposite and would be praising VAR. Maybe in the time of pre-VAR football Bonucci might have gotten away with a talking to if the ref was really lenient or even just a yellow, but that is not the case. Montella saying this is nothing short of another excuse for poor football and composure. He knows good and well that what Bonucci did was well deserving of a straight red and Iād give him more respect if he would own up to that instead of giving into easy excuses.
This is a bit unfair, but I have a thought about his red card coming in the match against Genoa. He is conveniently going to miss out on the upcoming matches against Chievo and Juventus. Now, if I were Bonucci and playing how he currently is, I wouldnāt want to be on the pitch against my superior former club either.Ā
Let me continue with Kalinic. Heās dreadful. Sure he scored a couple of goals, but thatās about it. Iām not entirely sure what Montella sees/saw in him, but whatever it is I sure hope it makes an appearance otherwise Iād be absolutely fine with Kalinic never stepping on the pitch for Milan again. We have Andre Silva who is definitely more deserving of a starting spot that Kalinic.Ā
Kalinic seemed completely lost on the pitch against Genoa. He wasnāt useful in the least bit. And by the time he was subbed off it was ultimately meaningless. Cutrone came on with little time left in the match in hopes of scoring the winning goal. Iām almost certain that had Kalinic not started weād be having a different conversation here - probably a more positive one.
Make of this what you will, but I stand by what I say.Ā
