Kristjan Asllani

[Dave54]

Didn't Asllani play against Barca last season in CL? He did well, except that chance where he could pass the ball, but took the shot by himself.

 

[Il Drago]

What do you mean? Inzaghi always rotates by position. Whenever Hakan is not playing he plays Asllani. He isnt a 6th midfielder. He’s the only regista back up.

I mean in terms of minutes allocation. Obviously Inzaghi sees each backup midfielder for a specific position. Frattesi for RCM, Asllani for regista, Klaassen/Sensi for LCM. But in terms of minutes allocations there are clear hierarchies among our backup midfielders. As things stand Asllani is our 5th midfielder right now and that's where it gets problematic to sign a quality experienced backup regista.

While Inzaghi rotates defence, wingbacks and occasionaly even attack he rarely rotates midfield. Hakan has started all Serie A games but 3. Same for Barella. Mkhi has started all but 1. So the chances for our backup midfielders to start games are minimal. It's a bit better in CL (mostly for Frattesi) as Inzaghi chooses to rotate in group stage but it doesn't really change the general perception.

Then it goes down to their minutes from the bench. Unless an emergency occurs Frattesi usually is the designated first option from the bencch. Then it's Asllani and lastly Klaassen/Sensi. 1127 minutes for Frattesi, 707 for Asllani, 290 for Klaassen. That's for this season.

Now we're going into next season with Barella, Hakan, Mhki, Frattesi, Zielinski and Asllani. Whether Zielinski or Mkhi gets starting spot it's certain they will both get lots of playing time. Frattesi will also get significant playing time as he's a scoring threat and a big investment. That leaves us with Asllani as the last option in terms of minutes allocation.

And that's where the problem with signing a quality experienced regista starts. A quality veteran doesn't have the luxury to wait like a youngster does. He needs to play now and he expects guaranteed playing time. We have no way to promise guaranteed playing time to another midfielder when there's so much competition. By loaning Asllani out you risk ending up with a Klaassen type of signing who is just grateful to be in the squad.

It's easy to say let's have 6 quality midfielders. I would like it too. But it isn't realistic. There isn't enough playing time for all. You will just end up with an unhappy player in the dressing room.

I have seen this club having no Brozovic backup for years with the exception when Conte used Eriksen for a short period there and in the last few matches last season when both Hakan and Brozovic were available. I don't want to see it again even if it means having a backup whose ceiling isn't really high.

 

[thatdude]

Yeah I simply don’t agree. We’ve been forced to overplay Hakan if anything. Saying we can’t afford quality is one thing. Saying we can’t have it because of playing time is completely different. It’s not a coincidence we’ve had muscle injuries recently with two players that have been overplayed (Hakan and Thuram).

We were completely fine rotating Hakan/Brozovic toward the end of last season. Also keep in mind we forced Brozo to leave, he wasn’t throwing a fit over playing time. Top clubs around Europe have better back ups then we do who are completely happy to fight for their minutes.

I’d also argue that a young player needs paying time more than a senior player who’s already developed. Keep in mind I’m not necessarily talking about signing a player in their prime for the back up Hakan position. I do understand our financial constraints. I think even someone toward the end of their career might be able to give us more than Asllani. Acerbi and Darmian are perfect examples.

I don’t think the fear of singing a Klaassen is warranted. Klaassen was a special circumstance. I don’t think it’s fair to assume we will be in for that type of last minute free panic buy if we decide to move on from Asllani. Keep in mind he was signed knowing we also had Sensi in the squad.

Overall my point though is I just don’t love the player. I don’t see the ceiling that perhaps others do for Asllani. I like the idea of having some youth in the squad but only when they’re on the level or show signs of getting there. Not seeing that currently.

 

[wera]

I don't think we know everything about the Brozo situation. I always found it weird that he suddenly stopped playing for Inter but could play for Croatia...

Maybe we wanted to sell him, maybe he was already saying he is leaving, ...

 

[brehme1989]

kid is a mezzala

 

[IL Fenomeno]

he shuttin down his FIF critics for now

 

[Besnik]

He needs to take more risks. He ain't learning as long as he doesn't make mistakes. He's got a great passing, regardless of what people think, and also I like his vision, but he's playing it safe a lil too much.

Wanna see some more long range passes, or even quick first touch passes in the middle of the pitch with Barella or Mkhi, or even Lautaro.

So happy for him that he scored. Nice finish and also a nice run.

 

[Vibe]

What a shocker of a second half.

Almost cost us the game. We were comfortable and looking to add more goals and after his mistake it turned into a nervous nailbitter instead of a cruise. Kept making mistakes as well

 

[Besnik]

What a shocker of a second half.

Almost cost us the game. We were comfortable and looking to add more goals and after his mistake it turned into a nervous nailbitter instead of a cruise. Kept making mistakes as well

Yeah but it was almost entire group collapsed in the second half. Quite a lot mistakes and no chemistry at all. This is not about defending Asllani's display in the second half, but it was more about team's approach collectively tbh.

 

[ath]

After the goal it was SO obvious he was hiding; afraid from the ball that we played not at 11 vs 10, but 12 vs 10.

 

[Raul Duke]

Yeah but it was almost entire group collapsed in the second half. Quite a lot mistakes and no chemistry at all. This is not about defending Asllani's display in the second half, but it was more about team's approach collectively tbh.

Exactly. We had a total collapse for about 10 minutes.

He had some shocking turnovers in that span, but Hakan has those moments also, we just happen to get away with it.

 

[brehme1989]

After the goal it was SO obvious he was hiding; afraid from the ball that we played not at 11 vs 10, but 12 vs 10.

That was before the goal and before the game in other matches as well. That's how he rolls in that position. He doesn't fit it. He is always in the wrong spot, missing the correct passing lanes, takes the defenders 2-3 passes at the back before he realizes he has to drop deeper and offer a passing option (he should always be their #1 option based on role) and he was usually higher up when we had possession at the back. This is standard, it's not a one off from today. These are the things that one who pays attention to the tactical element of the player sees without really having to think too much about what's going on. It's like spotting a dead bug in a glass of milk, it's painfully obvious.



Problems became more evident in the 2nd half because teammates began to trust him more and hoped that his goal gave him confidence but unfortunately he crumbled. Barella's reaction when the ball was lost before the Genoa goal was extremely quick, he saw that before the Genoa players, Asllani and even the camera realized that the ball was lost! These players can sense amateur hour mistakes before they even happen.

Losing the ball isn't the problem, that can happen. Maybe not acceptable 3-4 times a game at this level, but it does happen and it's okay to happen. The problem is the lack of tactical awareness, because this is an extremely well drilled team and a misplaced cog that's getting in the way or isn't where it's supposed to be makes everything not tick so well. That's why I was upset vs Atalanta and that's why I was upset today as well.
It took Bisseck 1 month to learn the tactical setup, it's not an age thing. Asllani is just not a regista. Bisseck would also be a liability if we fielded him in a role he's unsuitable.



He has good runs and can kick the ball well, he's pretty much a weaker version of Frattesi that can take set pieces. Shouldn't play regista any more than Frattesi should. It took Genoa 50 minutes to realize that they can capitalize on that weakness in our team and after pouncing a few times and adding an extra player there, we were out of the game until we fixed things later on. That's what Atalanta did not do. But that's what every top team will do in Europe if we're in the unfortunate position to slot him as a starter.

 

[vex]

Hopefully some eyes were open tonight for the people who were on the fence or not sure. For the rest, I know there is no hope coz they believe in football manager development trajectories, giving a youth chance under any conditions etc...

Simply not good enough and passenger just like the last game with an added bonus of making a lot of costly mistakes in this one. Yes, the whole midfield was off tonight, but I have a feeling mkhi and especially barella have to run twice as much just to cover for his inadequacies. The only good thing was a goal, but that's like 51st thing on the list that I want from my regista.

 

[Fapuccino]

To me as long as he can come in and can be a part of a winning team, that's all that matters.

Yeah, he's not on Hakan's level yet, but no one is arguing he should be a perma-starter. His job is backup.

 

[pupivn]

on side note, he plays higher, sometimes winger in national team.

 

[Raul Duke]

People have to remember what Brozovic was like at his age. Or even Hakan a few years ago.

He’s far from being a sure thing, and I’ve been very critical, but people are being way too melodramatic.

 

[Alex de Large]

And this is what happens when you give a chance to a youngster instead of bitch about everything about him.

 

[Besnik]

It's very normal to have tactical issues while as a youngster, especially when playing in such a critical position. Digging deep into such details to write off a promising youngster just because they made X mistake or Y, or they aren't as good as arguably the best regista in the world atm.

Might as well give up discussing in this matter.

 

[varmin]

It's interesting how some people try to put all of the blame on this guy, and make it like it's his fault that the all team crumbled after the goal. Because the other players "have to run twice as much just to cover for his inadequacies", and because of that got tired. This is huge overreaction.
He is definitely struggling at this position, but he is very young and he can learn it. If he doesn't, he will get sold most probably. I also think that he is more suitable as mezzala, and I said it many times before, but the coach insists to use him as registra.
So, part of the fault is on Inzaghi as well.
For me, he did well before the Genoa goal, and all of that "hiding" and "missing the correct passing lines" is exaggerated.

 

[vex]

People have to remember what Brozovic was like at his age.

People also need to remember on what level we were with that version of brozovic. This isn't banter era anymore where we just fight for cl spot and don't have anything to lose giving certain players a chance. This team fights for highest prizes and plays under immense pressure every game. Every single weakness will cost us dearly.

If and when we revert to that level again, players like asllani will be more than welcomed on my part.