AC Milan: Full Report Card for Every Position for September

In just a month, everything happened to AC Milan. They scored a penalty kick and conceded one. There were a couple of red cards, goals for the highlight reels and blunders no eyes should see.

Right now, Milan are sixth in the table. It all started well enough—two wins to start the season. That had not happened in years.

Since then they have dropped five points. 

But 85,000 people returned to San Siro to watch Milan play against Juventus a couple of weeks ago, and coach Pippo Inzaghi is trying to recapture the essence of this club.

"We have a good team spirit and maybe those who watch us risk a heart attack," Inzaghi told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football Italia), "but at least they are entertained! That’s what we wanted to bring back to Milan."

It is still a work in progress, but let's assess the team as they are.

Goalkeepers

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Diego Lopez looked sturdy, until he pulled a hamstring while chasing a back-pass that eventually led to an own goal. It was embarrassing, but not entirely his fault.

He has sat out the last three games, but he is certainly the No. 1 goalkeeper on this team.

Michael Agazzi was supposed to start the year in net, but he was disastrous in pre-season games. Then the club brought in Lopez.

Technically, Agazzi is the back-up and Christian Abbiati is the third-stringer. However, it was Abbiati who relieved Lopez.

Abbiati has come up with some big saves, but against Cesena he parried the ball right to an opponent and invited him to score, which he did. Abbiati is a man of extremes in goal, never a rock.

Still, Milan have allowed nine goals, third most in the league, and the goalkeepers are not excused.

Grade: C+

Defenders

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

For years now, Milan have struggled to defend like professionals. Inzaghi continued to start Daniele Bonera, their worst possible defender, and goals were inevitable.

Already, Bonera and Cristian Zapata have been suspended after receiving red cards. Alex has been injured and Adil Rami—who paid €500,000 out of his own pocket to come to Milan in the first place—has spent a lot of time sitting on the bench.

When Rami did play, he scored. 

They don't know what they're doing, in other words.

Milan continue to concede goals off set pieces. Inzaghi made a point of showing videos of their opponents' plays from these situations before one game against Empoli, just to prepare his team. They went out and allowed two goals anyway.

Grade: D

Full-Backs

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At least one part of the defence is working—and it's on offence.

Ignazio Abate was always a decent defender. He could run with almost anyone and make a good tackle. But he was never a source of offence. He could not cross the ball.

Something changed.

Abate has four assists in just five games. He never managed more in any whole season before.

But his partner on the other side is not enjoying much success. Mattia De Sciglio has struggled on the left-flank, often switching from his left to his right foot. He has not delivered a good ball, and he has struggled to keep up with his man. Out of position, out of sorts.

Milan lack balance right now, and it's also true of the full-backs. One is pulling his weight, the other isn't.

Grade: B-

Midfielders

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Milan would be lost without Nigel De Jong. He is the heart of this team, even if he is not their captain.

His passing is close to 90 percent (according to WhoScored.com). He makes the little passes that matter and plays the long balls if necessary. De Jong also has to play with Sulley Muntari and Andrea Poli, and there is not much balance to the midfield either.

Muntari and Poli tend to veer out of their positions, leaving De Jong with more ground to cover. Bad defence starts from midfield, and the three midfielders are not doing enough to help an already poor set of defenders.

Grade: C

Wingers

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There are some positive things to say about Milan. They are a quicker team than last year, thanks in part to the attackers on this team.

Keisuke Honda has been a surprise on the right wing. His natural position is behind the striker, but he has sacrificed himself for Inzaghi. At times, Honda plays like a right-back, switching positions with Abate to help out on defence. Honda runs as much as any other Milan player. 

Giacomo Bonaventura came to the squad late, but he has been a competent substitute for Stephan El Shaarawy, who has been injured. 

Of course, Jeremy Menez is the standout player. He has been deployed as false-nine by coach Inzaghi, so he has the freedom to take up every part of the pitch. Menez wins balls in midfield, and he is difficult to track.

Seven of Milan's 11 goals have come from these players.

Grade: B+

Forwards

Paolo Lazzeroni/Associated Press

Fernando Torres tweaked his ankle, so he wasn't able to start on time. But in his full debut for Milan, Torres showed us the kind of player he was.

The 30-year-old nodded a looping header into the Empoli net for his first goal of the season. But what was most impressive was the way he tangled up defenders as he moved this way and that. The trickery is there.

Unfortunately, Giampaolo Pazzini has not been given the same opportunity. All three of his appearances in September came off the bench, playing little more than 38 minutes. 

"Many say I am good at coming off the bench and I am training to be always ready, although I’d like to step on to the field in the starting XI," Pazzini told Milan Channel (h/t Football Italia).

We have just not seen enough of these two to make a reasonable evaluation.

Grade: N/A