I totally agree. I think Pirlo, for better or worse, was in at the start of every single worthwhile attack tonight. What Jack on the right and Mata/Wallace on the left did with the pinpoint passes they got from him is on them, not on Pirlo. And I don't think there was one instance where he was dispossessed and ORL started a dangerous counter because ORL pretty much did no damage except for the goal and maybe 1 other clear chance. The only way I could see Pirlo being a liability tonight is if his pace forced Maxi to stay away from more dangerous areas and had him playing more 6 than 10. To my eye, Pirlo looked very comfortable, not pressured, and was able to create. His way of providing a final pass will always be from 50 feet away, so that may give the impression he's not incisive enough, but if you look at the dozen of useless bombed crosses from Mata/Wallace, well that's what not incisive looks like. In that sense, only Tommy Mac has something that approaches his quality and imagination, and that's why the quality of the chances improved when he came in for Wallace. Because of the way the team builds from the back, etc. I think we're condemned to play at a Pirlo pace. If we take him out of the lineup it's going to be faster but dumber too. It would be a completely different project.
