On the final day of last season, the number of players in the senior setup who could play left back included Luca Antonini, Djamel Mesbah, Gianluca Zambrotta, and Urby Emmanuelson. By June 30, Didac Vila and Taye Taiwo would be returning from loan spells with no clue as to where their future lies; or as to whether they have any role to play in the first team at all!
It is no secret, and certainly it takes no rocket science to realize we badly need a left back. One only need to have watched the knockout and quarter final games of the Champions League to have noticed what a tremendous asset Djamel Mesbah is. Luca Antonini has won the Ballon D’Or every year for being the most maddeningly inconsistent player; whilst Zambrotta’s legs went 5 years ago. Just to prove what a tremendous cast we have for left back, Daniele Bonera has taking shifts there; BONERA!! Infuriatingly, the player most people believe can be the solution is already in the side, masquerading as something he’s not.
ALLEGRI
Certainly he must be the most stubborn manager ever! Urby Emmanuelson was brought in as a left back, yet has barely played there. One of the more popular sticks used to beat Allegri is his tactical inflexibility, and to a certain extent it is true; but you have to give it to the man for having some pretty big cojones , who else would play a left back as a trequartista?. In an interview after the season, Allegri mentioned that Urby would be playing at left back next season, we certainly hope so.
SOLUTION??
At the moment we have five LB's. Taye Taiwo certainly has no future at this club. Antonini would always be Antonini and Mesbah is just rubbish. That leaves Urby as well as Didac Vila, both of whom I believe can be our solution. If Allegi is true to his word and Emmanuelson takes the position next season, it just might turn out to be a masterstroke. The Dutchman had a a few games there towards the end of the season and he certainly impressed, creating a couple of goals with precise left foot crosses. He's a superb passer and crosser of the ball and has pace in abundance. Understandably,there are concerns over his defensive capabilities and tactical nous, but we have all summer, right, Tassoti?
Didac Vila spent the entiire season on loan at his former club Espanyol and to all intents and purposes endured a successful spell. He played in almost every game and in the few big games I had the priiviledge of watching, he certainly turned in good performances. I think to maintain a starting spot over an entire season says something and he should be worth taking a shot on. He certainly cannot be worse than Taiwo, can he?
THIS IS MILAN
Let's not kid ourselves; we don't have any bucks to spend on this problem when we barely have any to solve our real issues. That has not stopped the press from speculating on a few though, with Aleksandr Kolarov and Andrea Dossena all mentioned. I'd rather we spent somewhere else on the field, like in midfield or at center back. Some have called for Mattia De Sciglio to try out after a solid showing in the derby, but both he and Abate would be better off with competing for right back. Bonera has filled in there in the past too, but we don't even want to see that dude at center back, hell not even on the field; we might consider him playing for Juventus!, though. Hopefully, Allegri keeps to his word or we would just have to resign ourselves to seeing Mesbah taking on Pedro in next season's Cl Quater finals!!
moonbyte
nice article boy,but i dont see urby playing left back i would prefer didac vila at the position..forza milano
ReplyDeletewould like didac there too but sadly it seems the higher ups dont have much faith in him. urby if he works on his defence can be an asset providing some much needed width.
ReplyDelete