Player Focus: Menez the Bright Spot in Underwhelming Milan Season
The Milan faithful will have breathed a huge sigh of relief when Cristian Zaccardo netted with a little over 15 minutes remaining on Sunday night. Pippo Inzaghi’s side had failed to win any of their previous 5 league games coming into the meeting with Parma, so Zaccardo’s goal to send them into what proved an unassailable 3-1 lead was exactly the morale-boost needed. This season has not gone exactly to plan for the Italian giants - a team of Milan’s calibre should be higher than 9th in the league.
The performances of summer arrival Jérémy Menez, though, have been a standout positive for the club. The Frenchman provided the assist for Zaccardo’s first league goal of the season having netted either side of half time himself, the second of which saw Adriano Galliani celebrate as though his side had just secured Champions League glory. As far as signings of the season in Serie A go, Menez must be one of, if not the, best this campaign.
Arriving from PSG on a free, the striker has proven how capable a player he is when playing under a manager who hands him the chance to prove his worth. With 12 league goals to his name - only Carlos Tévez (13) has netted more in Serie A this season - it goes without saying that Menez is Milan’s top performer this campaign. Of all Milan players to register at least 100 minutes of league action so far this term, it is he who has gained the highest WhoScored rating (7.32), a figure that ranks among the top 20 players in Italy’s top tier thus far.
It's a stark comparison with last season. In his final campaign with PSG, Menez registered just 687 minutes of league action, while his WhoScored rating for the Parisian side in Ligue 1 (6.61) was better than only 2 teammates. The acquisition of Edinson Cavani last summer meant his playing time was always going to be limited and as a result; a move away from the French capital was to be expected.
Those who have tracked the progress of Menez would hardly have been surprised by the swiftness in which he has settled in San Siro. His performances this term have been of a similar standard to the ones he showed in his debut league season in the French capital, which yielded a lesser 7 goals, 13 assists and a WhoScored rating of 7.35.
In Inzaghi’s starting XI, when deployed in a central attacking position, Menez has undeniably impressed. Each of his 12 league goals have come when he has either spearheaded the attack or been deployed in the number 10 role. His 4 WhoScored man of the match awards in Serie A this season also came in either of these two positions.
Despite his notable displays when starting as the striker, however, the acquisition of Mattia Destro on loan from Roma suggests Inzaghi may look to play Menez ‘in the hole’ behind the Italian. Destro may have underwhelmed on his Milan debut against Parma, but he is a striker who could thrive with Menezin support, especially if Inzaghi opts to move away from his preferred 4-3-3 formation to use a 4-2-3-1.
Menez has all the attributes to succeed with an out-and-out striker ahead of him. Statistically calculated WhoScored strengths of ‘passing’, ‘key passes’ and ‘dribbling’ are all essential for any player in the number 10 role, while a strength of ‘finishing’ and a conversion rate of 24% further highlight his ability to provide a threat in support of a lone striker. These qualities, among others, render him the ideal attacker in a central position.
It’s difficult to comprehend that a team of Milan’s stature has fallen so far from grace. Less than 4 years ago, the Rossoneri were league champions and boasted one of the best squads in Europe, featuring the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andrea Pirlo and Thiago Silva. Current boss Inzaghi was part of the side that won their 18th Scudetto, but the personnel now at his disposal flatter to deceive when compared to the team from the 2010/11 campaign, Menez aside.
The Frenchman continues to light up Serie A and is the bright spark in what has been a hugely underwhelming campaign for Milan. Menez is once again gaining the recognition he deserves as he continues to drag this disappointing Rossoneri outfit out of the mire and if Milan are to secure a respectable finish, chances are, like on Sunday, they will have Menez to thank.
What do you make of Jérméy Menez's performances of Milan this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
