Vincenzo Montella is starting to think about his line-up for next Sunday as he’ll need to find replacements for Kucka & Niang and decide on Romagnoli’s partner.
Milan will return to Serie A action on Sunday afternoon (15:00 CET kickoff) when they face Giuseppe Iachini’s Udinese at Stadio San Siro for a match on which you can bet on sites like M88 online.
In the first two matches of the season, the Rossoneri defeated Torino 3-2 and lost to Napoli 4-2 but perhaps the biggest thing to take away from Milan’s games is the 3 red cards they received over the span of just 180 minutes. In fact, they conceded the same number of red cards in 38 Serie A matches last season when they were coached by Mihajlovic and then Brocchi.
Gabriel Paletta was sent off in the last minute of the Torino match and was therefore forced to miss the match with the Partenopei. The 29-year-old had a decent showing in the friendly match with Bournemouth on Saturday and he is back available against Udinese, who beat Empoli on Matchday 2.
Paletta is challenging Gustavo Gomez for a place alongside Alessio Romagnoli. Gustavo is currently with the Paraguay national team (they have a match versus Uruguay on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday at 02:00 CET). The reason behind Montella’s uncertainly over Romagnoli’s partner, writes Gazzetta this morning, lies with the fact that Gomez will only return to Italy on Thursday & won’t have a lot of time to train with the squad, while Paletta has been working at Milanello during the break (Update: It turns out Gomez returned earlier than expected and was already back today).
M’Baye Niang and Juraj Kucka were both suspended against Napoli and Montella will have to replace them. The position taken by Giacomo Bonaventura will be important as the Italian, who yesterday played a good match in Italy’s 3-1 win over Israel, is capable of playing as both a midfielder and a winger and there are conflicting voices in the media over where he’s expected to play.
If Bonaventura takes Niang’s place on the wing, then space in midfield could be opened up for Poli or one of Mario Pasalic and Matias Fernandez – who will also return on Thursday from international duty and will only have his first-ever Milan training session then after joining on deadline day. Andrea Bertolacci is of course still injured and will miss the match with the Zebrette.
Kucka’s position – at least as things stand today – is expected to be taken by Jose Sosa. If Jack keeps playing in midfield, then it’s possible to see Gianluca Lapadula on the wing of a 4-3-3 with Carlos Bacca in the middle and perhaps Milan’s most impressive player so far Suso on the opposite side of the attack. Today’s Corriere dello Sport, Lapadula has in fact overtaken Honda in the pecking order.
Montella has a lot of thinking to do ahead of Matchday 3. There is still a lot of time for him to make up his mind and decide on the best starting XI that will have Milan winning 3 points again.
Comment:I’ll love to see pasalic
To all the Honda lovers, even thinking he can play in front of the defence! I wished Milan had cashed in and sold Honda for good money…
U were happy and jumping when Honda scored against inter Milan last season. Pls guys let us appreciate our players and by doing so we can bring their confidence back and see the best of them. Honda is good with his crosses we scored many goals last term
Maybe use Honda first and then later sub in Lapadula into the wings, i still like the hard work Honda puts in every game, and would love to see more of him, maybe in Coppa Italia! Lapadula can come in as a late sub to provide new threats going forward later in the game when most defenders tire out. Since our defense is not really that yet solid much, (conceding 6 goals in 2 games in a row) i’d suggest we try and focus on attacking as our main objective rather than sitting back and hoping for that counter-attack!
they should use honda in the place of niang on the wing of 4 3 3
Im not sure if Lapadula could substitute Niang, as he is a cf and would play out of position… maybe he can play instead of Bacca cause Bacca will arrive at Milan on Friday, so maybe he wont start the game… midelfield will defenitely be of Montolivo and Sosa, we just have to see who will Montella pick for the left mid spot… lets all hope for good game and easy 3 points! Forza Milan per sempre!
Dona-abate -Paletta-Romagnoli-mds-Montolivo(we dont have options)-sosa-pasalic-suso-bacca-bonaventura. Subs will be decided according to what we need during the match. To me poli should not even make the stadium.
Put Lapadula and Bacca in front and Suso behind them for this match alone…Use Bonaventura and Sosa in midfield. And to hell with it, give our grande capitano one more chance in front of defence. Gomez with Roma
I would really love that (without Monty part, but who else can play there?)…
But Monto would likely play, except he returns with an injury from the Italian camp. It’s most likely, Monto, ‘Principito’ and Palasic. Mati hasn’t trained with the team, so a bench role at the most. Bona is a possibility, but I think him on the wing in Niang’s place is better. Bacca will likely not finish the 90mins, so Lapadula will likely come in. L.Adriano too may come in for Bona on the wing.
Sosa has played in Monty’s position in the last friendly and looked better than Monty the only issue would probably be the defensive phase of Sosa’s play but i still say he can to do and put the so called Captain on the bench, Pasalic can play on one wing, if Mauri was still around he could play the right wing. Lets not forget about Locatelli even if he is young he should still play league matches, at this point we should be giving league matches to the future players of Milan and not waste it on the likes of… Read more »
Sosa played montolivo’s role perfectly in the friendly. He shd replace Monti. Monti must b benched forever. Forza Milan
Suso – Bacca – Lapadula
Pasalic – Bonaventura
Sosa
That’s the midfield and attack Montella shd play. Forza Milan
I hope Montolivo gets a seatbelt to strap him on the bench
Our problem is not having midfielders for 3 man midfield… if we want to play 3 man midfield we need 1. someone destructive but great when driving forward (Kucka) 2. someone who runs, tries hard, keeps opening up space and who is also great passer and fast on transitioning the ball (?) and 3. someone who is great passer and creative mastermind but also great at defending (?)… – we have flop Montolivo who cant take pressure, makes silly mistakes and who makes 1 great long pass per month – we have headless chicken Poli who is good at best… Read more »
Everyone thinks Honda is useful to Montella’s plan – well he’s not. He is too slow for Montella’s offensive style. That is why Niang and Suso are ahead of him. Even L. Adriano is considered ahead of him. In the midfield, he is not much use either, because if he was, he would have been playing alongside Monto and Kucka in a midfield 3. You guys need to get it that Honda did not fit in and should have been cashed a long time ago. He is two slow for the trequartista role fans keep saying he should play. Are… Read more »
The absence of some players is an opportunity for others.
I think Bonaventura shall remain in MF especially as that is his position with Italy.
I also think Gomez shall play instead of Palleta.
Anyway it is Montella’s decision.
All things being equal and forza Milan, I just need 3points! thats all!!
Formation yes formation no all what we need is winning I pray the coach select the right choice of player I can wait to see mati Fernandez show wat he is capable of doing consider his age Forza Milan Wining is Certain Amen
I believe milan can bounce back from napoli defeat and was horror mistakes from the player’s. Play lapadula on d left and push Bonaventura into midfield
Am from Ghana and Milan is my heart and can someone show me milan site to view all information concerning the club?. U guys are doing wonderful job to promote the club despite milan in crisis.