Football Special Report: Antonio Cassano joins AC Milan – Tactical implications
Antonio Cassano – arguably the most gifted Italian player of his generation – will officially join AC Milan in the coming days. With Filippo Inzaghi out injured for rest of the season and Alexandre Pato yet to get his body in shape, Milan were left desperately
short of quality forwards. Lady Luck finally seems to have granted Daviolo faithful a New Year’s present.
When Massimiliano Allegri took over the coaching role at San Siro earlier this summer, he was given a highly technical albeit a slow and old squad. Former Cagliari coach kept on using the 4-3-3 formation from previous regime – Leonardo used an ultra-attacking
4-3-3 while in charge of Rossoneri – but he soon realised that such a formation was compromising the team balance. Allegri had to make a decision and Pato’s injury – only player in the squad capable of playing in a wide position –made it all easier for the
manager.
Allegri duly scrapped the 4-3-3 and deployed a 4-3-1-2 formation that looked to dominate the possession and protect a slow Milan defence. Prior to Cassano’s arrival, the 4-3-1-2 formation looked something like this:
Ibrahimovic Robinho
Boateng/Seedorf
Andrea Pirlo Gattuso Ambrosini
Zambrotta Silva Nesta Abate
Abbiati
(Alexandre Pato was injured for most of the season and thus his absence in the aforementioned formation)
Massimiliano Allegri’s decision of moving Pirlo to the left of a three man midfield is hail worthy. It’s no secret that the Rossoneri no. 21 has lost much of his pace – not that he had much of it in the first place –and sitting in front of the back four,
he was a defensive liability more often than not. Operating from the left, Pirlo has been rendered free of his defensive duties. The diminutive playmaker has found a new lease of life in his new position as he can frequently be seen drifting inside to superb
effect.
With Cassano’s arrival, Boateng will be moved into the midfield where his bundles of energy can be utilised to optimum effect. Gennaro Gattuso will take the bench as the prince is relatively a ‘Zidane’ when it comes to passing a ball.
Expect Allegri’s updated 4-3-1-2 to read something like this:
Ibrahimovic Robinho/Pato
Cassano/Robinho
Andrea Pirlo Prince/Ambrosini Prince/Flamini
Zambrotta Silva Nesta Abate
Abbiati
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, provided he is fit enough, will always start the games with Milan and as a result, there will be fierce competition for the remaining two attacking berths. In such turn of events, one of the three; Pato, Cassano and Robinho, will have
to grace the bench. Since Robinho has regained much of his lost groove in Rossoneri colours, it’s unlikely that Allegri will risk breaking the Ibra-Robinho partnership. Alexandre Pato will have to wait on the bench.
Il Talentino di Bari will play the trequartista role – a position he was born to play. Since Milan are competing on three fronts; Coppa Italia, Serie A and Champions League, Pato will get ample chances to impress the manager and win back a starting role.
Alternatively, Allegri can switch back to the 4-3-3 formation. With Cassano, Milan will have two players capable of playing the wide man role. Since Boateng will play in the midfield ‘3’, the defence will have reasonable protection. Unlike Gattuso; the man
Boateng will replace, who now moves at the speed of an ancient war ram, Prince can actually make tackles to stop counter attacks.
Ibrahimovic
Cassano Pato
Andrea Pirlo Prince/Ambrosini Prince/Flamini
Zambrotta Silva Nesta Abate
Abbiati
However, Allegri won’t like to fix something that is clearly not broken. The above mentioned formation can be played against weaker teams, but it will leave Milan short on numbers in the midfield if deployed against a team that plays possession football
– Arsenal and Barcelona for instance. Rossoneri manager will go ahead with the 4-3-1-2 that is in place. Clarence Seedorf and Gennaro Gattuso will have to make way. Slow, old and devoid of any inspiration, it’s about time they do just that.