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| | Monday 14 April, 2008 | | Blog: Dan & Out | | After his horror tackle on Momo Sissoko proved he has learned nothing, Susy Campanale urges Milan and Italy to drop Daniele Bonera. |  |  | | For many years now I have been saying that former Brescia and Parma defender Daniele Bonera is a liability. On Saturday night I was reminded of why and realised we can no longer use youthful exuberance as an excuse. He has done this sort of thing too often and just does not have the talent to justify risking him in a big match.
Mohamed Sissoko must be eternally grateful that his shins of steel did not crack like Eduardo’s under Bonera’s horror tackle. But for a few inches or a slightly different degree of weight placed on one leg, he could well have suffered a similar disaster as the Arsenal star. The fact the Juventus midfielder was able to get back up and continue playing should not be used to sweep Bonera’s problems under the carpet.
Now I realise he did not go into the challenge intending to hurt the Juventus midfielder, so a five-match ban would probably be a little harsh. What I am saying is that Bonera should not be allowed near a Milan or especially an Azzurri shirt until he can prove that he understands the reasons behind this latest setback.
Back in his years at Brescia and the Under-21 squad, he was considered the bright hope of Italy’s next generation of stoppers. The experts assured that the rash tackles and rushes of blood to the head would pass as he matured and worked alongside more experienced figures.
Bonera has now been playing with Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, yet still flies in with tackles like the one that effectively ruined Milan’s slender Champions League hopes, not to mention risked devastating Sissoko’s career.
He simply does not learn. The man will turn 27 next month, this is his eighth Serie A season and he certainly cannot hide behind that ‘youthful exuberance’ tag any longer.
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I agree that the tackle was bad, but has Bonera really been that bad of a defender? As a Milan fan I watch every game and I think Bonera plays exceptionally well when called upon, he is a great utility man who can play at left back, right back or even his favourite role as centre back. You can look at probably his one mistake this season against Sissoko, but against Cagliari he was one of the best on the pitch, and even the assist for Inzaghi's second goal against Juventus showed his worth. We cannot ridicule Bonera too harshly as you see these tackles done in the Premier League every week.
Stefano Sartori
Because of my love and protection for our players I found it very hard reading this piece, though I must say I very reluctantly agree. My reasoning differs slightly from Susy, though. I don’t think that Daniele is rash because of his apparent youthful exuberance. I believe that Daniele makes the tackles that he does simply because he is out of place in these big games. Saturday was not the first time he has been sent off in a Milan shirt. This already sounds alarm bells because it’s not too often you see Milan players sent off.
I was one of those people who hailed the capture of Bonera, but since coming to Milan, a few things have become clear for all to see. Firstly he is tactically naïve, while also very much positionally incompetent. Bonera is usually seen as the centre back, yet at the weekend Carlo didn’t trust him in the centre. Instead he placed a 30-plus Simic in that position. In the centre he is caught out time and time again positionally, and he seems to always get it wrong on when to press and when to hold back.
Similarly at full back he is even more incompetent. He lacks the pace and crossing ability of a typical full back. He is the kind of emergency full back you would play to close out the game, by making the back four play flat. If anyone remembers the first leg against Manchester United last season, they will know what I mean. Maldini went off at half time, and the defence fell apart. Nesta had a superb night, but unfortunately Daniele just seemed totally out of place. Too many times players are judged on the odd mistake like on Saturday, but for me Daniele does not belong at the top.
Rosario
How very convenient. Suddenly after being sent off against Juventus, Bonera is a liability? In fact, along with Nesta, Bonera has been Milan's outstanding defender this season. The weak link in the team's defence should be obvious to anyone who has watched Milan regularly this season. Kaladze mistakes have cost Milan goals against Arsenal, Livorno, Empoli, Roma, Lazio, Atalanta etc, etc.
R Mehdi, Middlesbrough
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