Allegri's A.C. Milan Show Signs of Promise

After last week’s efforts against Ajax it was clear the Milan’s new young coach, Max Allegri, was still trying to configure the best possible way of utilising his players.

Having experimented with a 4-3-1-2 system in Amsterdam, it remained to be seen whether Allegri would continue with this same system after his side collected a valuable point away from home.

Despite the positive result, Allegri opted to revert back to his preferred 4-3-3 against Parma, but it proved in no way to be a backward step. On the contrary, Allegri deployed a 4-3-3 system with a slight alteration that proved highly successful.

Both Ronaldinho and Robinho played a little deeper and more central than usual, making Milan’s formation appear more like the old Xmas tree formation that Carlo Ancelotti was once famous for.  By doing this, Parma’s central midfielders were given less space which made it hard for Parma to retain possession.

As a result, Milan were allowed to dominate possession and with more help in the centre of the park, Andrea Pirlo was given more time to do what he does best, control the tempo of the match.

Pirlo was back to his brilliant best in Parma as he was at the heart of everything positive for the Rossoneri. It was fitting and deserving that he would go on to score an absolutely wonderful winning goal.

It may have only been a one-nil victory, but it could have been so much more had it not been for some wasteful finishing by Milan’s attackers. Despite not being able to score more, it was a sign of progress to see so many chances created.

It really does not matter that these chances were not finished, with the likes of Ibrahimovic, Pato, Robinho, and Ronaldinho, the goals will come eventually. Also, it has to be remembered that Parma goalkeeper, Antonio Mirante had a great match.

Ronaldinho showed some good form playing in a more central role, perhaps suggesting that if Milan needs to play with a trequartista than he is the man for it. Certainly, with only Clarence Seedorf as the other option it is of the utmost importance that Ronaldinho adapts to this role if needed.

Milan’s full backs, Luca Antonini and Gianluca Zambrotta, did their jobs defensively, though they could have offered more in attack. But, ultimately, if the defense can keep a clean sheet on the day than they have done their job, and thanks to the stellar performances of Thiago Silva and Alessandro Nesta, another clean sheet was indeed recorded.

Allegri, understandably, was delighted with the result which now leaves Milan just two points behind leaders Lazio and most importantly, level on points with their city rivals.

With the progress evident in Milan’s display in Parma, along with the promise of seeing the likes of Robinho, Pato, and Ronaldinho getting back to full form, Milan are very much back on track.

Now, Milan fans can start to believe again, if they had lost some faith, that silverware is still a possibility this season.