Serie A 20/21: Page 8 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Serie A 20/21

Klaus

The idea of Milan winning a scudetto this year is just so hard to comprehend. Aside from Leicester I can't remember the last time a team made such a massive improvement in such a short time. Everyone from De Laurentiis to the Suning Holdings Group been trying for years to break Juve's iron dominance by injecting tons of cash, and it might be THIS Milan side that ends up doing it. Football is stranger than fiction.

mentalvortex

I will still argue that Juventus shot themselves in the foot by sacking Allegri for some vague idea of playing attractive football and not winning the champions league.

That did not happen under Sarri and it has not happened under Pirlo (yet).

Clrnc

Klaus wrote:
The idea of Milan winning a scudetto this year is just so hard to comprehend. Aside from Leicester I can't remember the last time a team made such a massive improvement in such a short time. Everyone from De Laurentiis to the Suning Holdings Group been trying for years to break Juve's iron dominance by injecting tons of cash, and it might be THIS Milan side that ends up doing it. Football is stranger than fiction.

Milan made a lot of transfers too. Really huge turnover of players every year till they got it right now

Claudius

It’s really impressive. Gazidis will be proud. I think it’s also worth recognizing developments elsewhere. Juventus are rejigging and Atlalanta have dropped like a rock in the ocean. The team that should be doing better is Inter. Conte has had full backing despite his public protestations.

jones

Klaus wrote:
The idea of Milan winning a scudetto this year is just so hard to comprehend. Aside from Leicester I can't remember the last time a team made such a massive improvement in such a short time. Everyone from De Laurentiis to the Suning Holdings Group been trying for years to break Juve's iron dominance by injecting tons of cash, and it might be THIS Milan side that ends up doing it. Football is stranger than fiction.

I think your last sentence sums it up really. There's no reason they should be this good, they have a couple of really good players in Theo, Rebic, Kessié, some decent ones like Calhanoglu or Bennacer and some who are blatantly overperforming like Kjaer or Zlatan really given his age. Pioli has been thoroughly underwhelming his whole managing career and has been more remarkable for dodgy team selections and somehow finding himself in big jobs, he was a game or two away from getting the sack before Ibrahimovic came back last winter. Yet they're now dominating teams for fun and have been doing so for close to a year even when missing important players.

What it demonstrates more than anything else is at this level football is a game of luck and form. When you're in a good mood you try audacious passes and runs and miraculously win second balls you'd have no hope of getting to at other times, when you're not your hesitance and safe passing fucks you over despite actually trying harder than when you're doing well. It's why there's little point in overanalysing tactics and team selections for me these days, might be just age and apathy creeping in for me but honestly most of the analyses I'm seeing are just reconstructions of what's happening from the wrong end with a guaranteed outcome.

Coombs

Exactly right, jones.

mentalvortex

RIP Paolo Rossi.

He had a tarnished career in club football but wrote his name in football history forever for his performance in WC 1982.

Claudius

Sassuolo had another good 1-0 win last night. They had to defend the whole second half down to ten men. Benevento really came on strong in the last ten minutes, pushing Sassuolo back, but again de Zerbi’s men defended resolutely. Consigli had some top drawer saves here. 2nd in the league. If Milan stumble, it’s on

mentalvortex

Serie a roundup after catching up with the highlights -

Inter won by 3-1 at Cagliari after going a goal down. Barella was once again excellent and scored a banger.

Atalanta went back to winning ways after a brief winless run with a 3-0 against Fiorentina.

Napoli had a hard fought 2-1 win against Sampdoria.
Massive credit to Gattusso for getting Chucky Lozano (goal + assist today)to perform who was truly horrendous last season after a big money move from PSV.

Juve were not very good but won away at Genoa (1-3) thanks to two second half penalties from Ronaldo. On a plus side, Dybala looked good today and scored. McKennie was also good and day by day is becoming undroppable.

Mkhitaryan, Dzeko and co. were excellent again as Roma destroyed Bologna by 5-1. Pellegrini also had a very good match.

Milan are still unbeaten but had a almighty scare at home against Parma (2-2). Theo Hernandez bailed them out today with a brace.

Claudius

Mkhitaryan had an assist as well. 6 goals, 5 assists in 11 rounds. The player was always fine. He was just miscast in two tumultuous clubs. You’ll see players leave us to do well because they are recruited and integrated properly.

Clrnc

Nah, Serie A level is just lower than them. Him and Pedro is fitting in seamlessly because of that.

Still he was better than what we gave him credit for here.

Claudius

It’s not as fast and physical, but the players are generally more technically secure. It’s a different environment.

Coombs

They look more technically secure because they have time.

Klaus

They look more technically secure because they are, same as Germans. It's a trait that is inherently valued by the domestic football culture.

Claudius

Coombs wrote:
They look more technically secure because they have time.

Nah dawg. Mid table teams’ passes stay passed. And first touches are on point. We just played a number 10 who can’t even pass the ball. And he wasn’t even the worst on our team.

Coombs

Y'all are romanced by a time and that no longer exists.

Klaus

Seriously, what's up with the thread-crapping Coombs? You don't like Italian football and you don't watch it, and that's absolutely fine, but why are you in here picking arguments every week then?

jones

Flobs is on vacation so someone has to do it

Coombs

Carry on then.

QuincyAbeyie

Many of them are more technically secure, but they definitely have more time as well. That doesn't necessarily mean the league is worse, but it's a different style of football and I think every player who's been in both leagues would say that you have less time in the PL.

« Previous Page Next Page »