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Ignazio Abate - savage_mau - 03-12-2011
He is a raising Star . Below artical is from www.goal.com by By Kris Voakes
He might still not be an international quality full back, but Ignazio Abate has made one of Milan's problem positions his own over the last few months. Kris Voakes puts it down to the work of his coach at Milanello.
Milan may well have crashed out of the Champions League against Tottenham on Wednesday night, but for once there were some positives to be taken in defeat. Chief among them was the performance of Ignazio Abate, as the right back added another mature display to what has become an ever-improving portfolio this season.
With most commentators, including yours truly, pointing to the battle between Spurs’ explosive width and the Rossoneri’s defensive deficiencies as a potential game-breaker, it turned out to be one of Milan’s key successes as they dominated the second leg. With Aaron Lennon and Steven Pienaar – and later Gareth Bale – stymied, the Diavolo were able to forge goalscoring opportunities and, though the chances were not taken, credit must go to Abate and Marek Jankulovski for laying the groundwork.
While in the Czech’s case this was a display which came somewhat out of the blue, for the Italian it was further proof that, with the right coaching, a struggling talent can become a player of real worth at the top European level.
When he was first given a run in the senior side by Leonardo last season, Abate showed pace and promise but little else. A converted right winger, he continued to be possessive of a neat touch on the ball, but had a tendency to run with his head down, showed no real crossing ability, and would be all too easily beaten defensively. The most telegraphed of touches or the simplest of runs would often be enough to leave the No. 20 for dead.
Come the summer of 2010, it appeared as though Abate’s progress had reached a ceiling. Like many of his team-mates, his skill set had not been developed under the Brazilian coach. Though the Rossoneri had qualified for the Champions League, no one player had progressed significantly enough for Leonardo to be considered a trainer with that magic touch. But since the arrival of Massimiliano Allegri at Milanello, the former Torino man has gradually become a different prospect entirely.
His much improved awareness and reading of the game comes partly as a result of the in-game coaching Allegri can be seen giving to his full-backs in back play. Whilst Luca Antonini has continued to frustrate his boss, the 24-year-old has flourished, allying the new skills of judgement in defensive situations to his searing pace, whilst also beginning to show a coolness in key moments – both on and off the ball – which was rarely in evidence 12 months ago.
Though still not a full-back of the very highest quality – his defensive positioning is still not that of a natural – Abate has developed enough under the former Cagliari boss for his berth to become less of a headache. Whereas Urby Emanuelson and Didac Vila were acquired as extra left back options in January, it was not deemed necessary for a right back to be sought by the powers that be in Via Turati. And his display at White Hart Lane was just the latest in a string of performances which suggest that if wholesale changes are on the cards in the summer, Abate will not be one of the sacrificial lambs. Between Allegri’s guidance and the right-back’s eagerness to learn, Milan might just have solved one of their bigger problems.
RE: Ignazio Abate - LebRN - 03-12-2011
Yes i have to say that Abate has been the best surprise this year and certainly our most improved player.
The Leo vs Allegri argument definitely holds as his improvement was surely helped by the solidity in defence which we totally lacked last season and which would make most players look fragile, let alone a player learning to play a new position.
I know Ignazio is not WC yet, however he is still 24 and with the amount of improvement he has shown this year, I will really hate it if we go out and buy Sergio Ramos for example who is one of those hugely overrated players especially in defence.
By the way, and that's for Reza, i think it would be a good idea to have a poll at season end for awards like:
best player
most improved player
best young talent
and stuff like that
RE: Ignazio Abate - reza - 03-12-2011
Very pleasantly surprised by Abate, he has alleviated some of them FB problems. He has shown qualities going both ways, always very important but especially in situations where the midfield is narrow and/or defensive.
Poll will be set up, thanks LebRN
RE: Ignazio Abate - GeoTav - 03-12-2011
As a proof of his improvement, I stopped calling him a "mad dog" running like if he was behind a sausage !!
RE: Ignazio Abate - idowu - 03-12-2011
so far, so good for IGNAZIO ABATE, i mean it's unbelievable compare to the abate of 12 months ago. thumbs up buddy, keep it up. and reza i think lebRN has a point there for the award for the most improved player, promisable young talent, and maybe team best player. it will be nice. i think so
RE: Ignazio Abate - Aficio - 03-13-2011
It's hard to change Geo's opinion
Recently Abate has learnt the sliding tackle, not at Maldini & Nesta's level yet, but very promising.
RE: Ignazio Abate - ACMILAN1983 - 03-13-2011
In all honesty I always believed Abate had the characteristics to make a very good wing back (it doesn't take a genius to see this and I'm living proof
), and I felt Leo last season laid the groundwork for Abate's improvement. It's obvious Allegri's helping him get to the next level and tbh, he may not be world class yet, but his rate of improvement has been pretty incredible and in the near future I can see us talking about him this way. Under Leo his positional sense and confidence were always lacking, and Allegri's worked on this a lot.Now Prandelli needs to give him a chance.
RE: Ignazio Abate - LebRN - 03-15-2011
(03-12-2011, 05:25 PM)reza Wrote: Very pleasantly surprised by Abate, he has alleviated some of them FB problems. He has shown qualities going both ways, always very important but especially in situations where the midfield is narrow and/or defensive.
Poll will be set up, thanks LebRN
thank you reza for taking up my suggestion...nice to be contributing
RE: Ignazio Abate - ElMago99 - 04-04-2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMS4-Q9_-Rk
Abate vs. Inter Milan.... Great Game!!
RE: Ignazio Abate - xudong - 05-09-2011
I have a question about Abate. Is this scudetto his first or second for Milan? I know that he was at Milan at the season 2003-04, but didn't play any game in Serie A.
He did play one match in Champions League (1-2 loss to Celta) and was the youngest ever Milan player to play in Champions League (surpassing Maldini's record). It was the "useless" match before we went to Tokyo for Toyota Cup, and I remember that Abate played as a right midfielder. I would say that he must not be too bad, as I remember that I liked his performance. It took this long but he is now finally an integral part of Milan success.