My computer follies’ strike again, as I was unable to get the gallery tool to work, hopefully Avia can send or post his photobucket link for the great pictures of the San Siro such as this!

David Beckham is what he is, a winger, a right footed specialist who has little to no business coming inside, playing centrally, or being counted on for a slew of goals. The expectations are unreasonable for a man who even in his peak was a bit of a “one trick pony’ albeit a good one, but again he is what he is. You can count him to do his footballing duties, which many players of his lofty stardom level would not do, and that is to dig out tackles, get dirty, and work; all positives for any footballer or even an aspiring player.

What I have always found most intriguing about David Beckham is the way he plays and respects the game, again go ahead and say he does not respect the Galaxy or MLS, but in that same sentence you can also say does MLS respect MLS?? Does MLS respect the game by scheduling games the same night the US plays a qualifier…if you wanted to be taken seriously, then get serious, plain and simple. The bottom line is love or hate this guy he plays with his heart on his sleeve and for the sole purpose of going to South Africa for his country. That is admirable no matter how you look at it. In fact it reminds me of a quote from football pundit Martin Tyler, “You do not retire from your National Team, your National Team retires you.” In a day and age were players, specifically Italians (Nesta and Totti) walked away from their National Teams or worse flip flopping about wanting in or not, this guy is doing everything he can to stay on it. Don Fabio says jump, Beckham says how high!

That desire, will, and determination is more than enough for me to welcome him back to AC Milan. First and foremost he adds much needed depth, and I am not saying he needs to play every game as Carletto did last season. But any contribution would be welcome to a team that appears to be hapless souls kicking the ball about, and ANY injection of passion and heart is a PLUS. Does he have to tear the Serie A up to be successful? NO. My expectations, unlike MLS, are reasonable and realistic, contribute and help this team get some wins, if he does that, then it is a job well done.

I want to share a video that I have shared in the past, but still to this day gives me chills, because frankly this guy was special to fans, clubs, and most importantly his country…

On a side note I want to share this piece to further my grief with ESPN and American Soccer as a whole…

Saturday: Woke up, took the dog for a massively long walk. Went shopping with the GF and then waited for my friends to arrive because we were supposed to go to Boston to watch the Revolution play the Columbus Crew, so much for soccer-free weekend, but bear with me. The game itself was abysmal; the Revolution despite being a man up for close to thirty minutes did nothing to attack, reminds me of a certain Milan. Final determination this was not football as we know it! Or maybe it was who knows…I lasted less than 24 hours…going to keep trying…

Sunday: Day of American Football, during an International break to boot, if there was a Sunday where you wanted to avoid Soccer this was certainly it. Mission Accomplished!

Monday: Day off. Went on a hike, a real hike, even took some photos of foliage and scenery. Crazy really, the only pictures on the camera that were not soccer related. Then watched my Jets implode against the Dolphins. Again yearning and wishing that this was real Football and that I was not strung along aimlessly through a seesaw battle…not sure if that really is all that much different!?

Tuesday: Day off from work so I planned errands haircut, the dreaded DMV, and bringing in patio furniture for the impending winter, oh the excitement of my life! But soon my moratorium would be lifted, I wrote this blog, penned some training sessions for the week and got ready to go to practice. Relief…

So what is my final verdict on my attempted football-free days? Empty, really truly empty, I did my best to avoid the blog, websites, and just about anything else, but in the end it just doesn’t feel right. Maybe the few days off reinforced my love for the game and how much I do truly miss it when it’s gone. So as I prepare a week of lesson plans for the boys, I wonder if Milan is on the same track, and if they are preparing for Roma on the weekend. Back to business as usual in the next day or so…thanks for sticking around during myself imposed exile, and I hope you can at least find a chuckle at my desperate attempt at a normal possibly feeble existence!

The model for all future takeovers, Roman Abramovich took over and immediately went to work to create and make the Chelsea brand into what we know it is today. He hired Jose Mourinho fresh off a CL win with Porto and proceeded to win two straight EPL titles and make the semifinals of the coveted Champions League four out of the last five years. He came close to the trophy he coveted but lost on a patch of wet grass and a missed PK. The most impressive part of the Abramovich takeover was his bullish nature in the transfer market, his coached wanted a player he got him, he wanted a player he got him, and he wanted a Coaches and he got them…one of them being or own.

Portsmouth

A club with a solid history, and a lack of real sustained success suddenly found themselves in a takeover and influx of cash. Sulaiman al-Fahim purchased the Club and spirits were high, but just this week the Club has been sold again!! Al-Fahim’s millions never materialized and as players were sold and salaries not paid, the Club, currently in last place was sunk as low as it could go. The fans, to their credit, have stuck by the team and management and their optimism has been rewarded with a new investor in the Saudi, Ali al-Faraj, but only time will tell how this new owner turns out and if he can save Portsmouth from relegation, or fail, and sell the club yet again?

Liverpool

Gillet and Hicks have poured a fair amount of money into Pool, even discussing a new stadium. But it now seems that despite all of the money invested they are blaming Rafa Benitez for the complacency and lack of titles for the Club. Not really the best chemistry you want with your coach and owners! They could fire Rafa who is arguably still running on fumes from his fluke CL victory, but even Liverpool looks to be teetering on the precarious edge of chaos. Sure they could bring in a new coach who buys the “right” players, but it looks like there will be no EPL titles in Anfield for another year.

Manchester City

Everyone in the other Manchester fan base is happy as can be. Sure the future looks rosy with the Abu Dhabi group owned by Sheikh Mansour, who recently bought the last few shares to become full owner the club. Forgotten however was the failed takeover and messy legal issue caused by the previous owner, Thaksin Shinawatra, the disgraced former Prime Minister of Thailand. Fans out of Man City seem to have erased the memory of frozen assets and the conducting of business as a fugitive who could not even travel. Man City surely has been “saved”, but success is still far off for the Club, granted the prospects look a bit better.

Newcastle

What can we say about Mike Ashley? He ran a historically rich club straight into the Championship with outrageous salaries, a coaching carousel, and a general inability to run a football club. Not only did Ashley sink the ship, he went down with it, unable to unload his new unwanted asset and putting Newcastle into the terrible position they are in today.

So we can all ramble on and on about wanting new Owners but in these five examples only one has truly provided silverware and while it is VERY early to tell the outcome of the rest, the plight of these clubs en route to their current positions were far from smooth, and some of them could potentially be in for even more trouble with future sales and possible relegation. So we may wish Silvio to part ways with our Milan, but at what cost? Relegation? Constant sales? The end of the Milan brand and legacy as we know it? Yes things look really bad right now, but the fact of the matter is it could ALWAYS be worse. As you can see from the takeovers discussed, it is not always a sure fire bet.

The first and most important thing is management. Yes they have let us down, but in their 25 year reign this let down has really only happened once before the era following that led down saw two league titles and two CL’s, so in this regard I still have faith. Sure it may have be done in a more frugal fashion, but this summer’s targets in Dzeko and Cissokho were promising, Fester just couldn’t seal the deal, and he needs to correct that mistake come January and in the upcoming off season. Some of you want a sale, I just want an acceptance of failure and promise to do better, all we need is a Mike Ashley type new owner who furthers this problem and then we will be proper fucked to put it rather plainly. I prefer the evil I know over the evil that could be.

Step two, Leo graciously steps down. By doing so he and the club save face and he can go back to what he does well, scouting. In his place should come either Tassotti or Baresi. Promote from within, in players we formerly trusted and have first-hand knowledge of the youth system. This rebuild will not happen without some help from the primavera and best to put guys in charge who have been at that level to make this happen.

Third, and this one should happen in January, buy GRossi! He immediately brings youth and scoring prowess to a team who desperately needs it, and he may be the answer to the role behind the strikers. He wants Milan and many of us want him, this would bring the fans back on board, and give us a danger man we desperately lack. He would also be a piece of the puzzle that you can build around and assure a bit of future for the club and the Italian heritage it proudly boasted in the past.

Once these three steps have been put in place Leo can know be instrumental in bringing in talent in the 5-10M range under the age of 28. Wingbacks, specifically on the left are of the utmost priority. Soon thereafter a player in the mold of D’Agostino should be brought on board to fill the aging apparently lead filled boots of Andrea Pirlo. It doesn’t have to be the Udinese man, but likely candidates need to have his skill set. An additional striker wouldn’t hurt but if you really stop and think about it, KJH could eventually produce and along with Borriello and Pato, it isn’t all that bad. If KJH is a failure, which I feel like could happen just the same, then unload and start again. Players are out there and we can find them, but the task has to be taken seriously and efficiently. Stop for a moment and consider a team with Storari or Abbiati, Abate, Nesta, Silva, New LB, Flamini, New CM, Ambro/Rino, GRossi, Pato and Borriello it really is not all that bad now is it! So for the love AC MILAN make it happen, it is going to get worse before it gets better, but this rut can’t last forever, it hasn’t in the past and shouldn’t in the future. This club is far to legendary and far to special to many of us, even the management believe it or not, to let it crash and burn like this!

We sucked last night. I was starting to cheer on Bari last night, not really because I wanted them to win, but the fact that they were really trying, and playing some good football. They carved us open on a number of occassions with simplicity and ease. Watching us never mustered any excitement at all. It was like watching paint dry.
I’m going to keep on defending our attackers, not because they are any good, but they aren’t getting any service at all with which to demonstrate if they are any good or not.
I noticed for the umpteenth time last night, that our opponents counter attack us with real pace, and when its our turn to counter attack, we get up to the halfway line, by which point they have all 11 players on the edge of their box, and we are just about getting up to full speed, around 3 or 4 mph it seems.
Why didn’t we cash in on Pirlo? Why do we insist on playing these idiots at the back (excluding Nesta)? Why do we insist on playing such defensively minded players in midfield? I’ve-played-my-good-game-quota-for-the-season-Dorf is back to his uselessness self after a good couple of performances. Gattuso and Ambro are okay at breaking up play but they are useless at creating play, Pirlo is useless, insisting on still trying long over the top balls with zero success, and Dinho can’t run, and now can’t pass the ball either.
I don’t have the solution to our problems. But I’m reasonably confident that it doesn’t lie with our current crop of has-beens.
I can’t remember who told me that relegation isn’t a possibility because other teams are far worse than we are, but I’d like to ask who is worse than us right now?

For the beginning Leonardo should be sacked and Spalletti appointed. He won`t do miracles, but some pride should be restored this year. And when the club will spend something, he is the man for the job
Leonardo can`t create chemistry, he has no authority and his team is unable to score goals, period.

oh and FUCK RONALDINHO. i am fucking sick of it. I also want to know where those fucking pricks that were here in the pre-season telling me that they will come back here after the season has started and to fucking gloat and tell me to go fuck myself when Ronaldinho carries this fucking team. I am no longer taking the moderate approach with Ronaldinho. Bench the SOB like Ancelotti did and let him fucking sit there with his thumb up his ass.
Where are the Dinho nut-suckers? Where is Silvio and co. Supposed Milan fans for 20 years that have disappeared like the hope that Ronaldinho could return to his previously lofty heights. I hope he he and Berlu crawl up each others asses and die.

I chose not to cite the commenter, but the sentiments are more than enough to show the feelings of many and the need for change sooner rather than later.

1. Seedorf or Dinho against Bologna, why?
2. Would you be upset if Pippo and Seedorf were used exclusively in CL play while Dinho and KJH were used only in Serie A?
3. Should Abate get the start?
4. How long before we try Abate at RB?

I do want to add that with the dropped points at Livorno the next three home games are most certainly must wins. Is it early, of course it is, but with a three game home stretch against average competition nine points now will go a long way in making this season one above the Mason Dixon Line of Serie A Clubs.

Here is Calcio-Italia’s Preview…

Milan will be out to settle a score when they invite Bologna to San Siro this weekend. Cast your mind back to August 2008 and the corresponding Week 1 encounter last term. The Rossoblu caused a massive shock as they upstaged Ronaldinho’s Rossoneri debut. Marco Di Vaio and Francesco Valiani netted the goals to secure a surprise 2-1 victory.

Granted the Diavolo did earn a quantum of vengeance in January when they thumped Bologna 4-1 at the Dall’Ara. However, they were affronted on their home turf by the Bolognese outfit and need to avenge that slip-up.

In truth though Milan just need a win, regardless of scores they may want to settle. Since their opening day win at Siena they have suffered the indignity of a crushing by rivals Inter and an underwhelming draw against Livorno. If ever a confidence boosting League win was needed it is now.

With just two goals from their first three Serie A games there needs to be more clinical finishing, and when you have just brought in a highly-rated new striker you can feel justified in expecting him to deliver.

New boy Klaas-Jan Huntelaar needs to break his duck. With veteran attacker Pippo Inzaghi netting a brace midweek against Marseille, will he get a chance against the Rossoblu?

If the Milan tactician had any thoughts of turning his plans back to the aging Inzaghi he need only observe the visitor’s top target man – Di Vaio. After making his first start of the season in the loss to Chievo last week he will be eager to remind one of the big guns that he is still a threat.

And you would not bet against Bologna causing an upset. Not only did they win at San Siro last year but they also won the meeting before that in 2004-05. Consequently they are looking for a hat-trick of wins over Milan at the Scala del Calcio. However, they shouldn’t forget that back in 1990-91 the Rossoneri hammered them 6-0.

Milan’s injured list contains goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, midfielder Gennaro Gattuso and homegrown strikers Marco Borriello and Davide Di Gennaro. Bologna miss Greek defender Vangelis Moras for this fixture due to injury.

Keep an eye on: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Milan) – No debut heroics from Huntelaar, to match that of strike partner Pato. No second game goal either, or even third. If he fails to net against Bologna questions will start to be asked of the Rossoneri’s new Dutch bomber.

Last five in Serie A: Milan (- – W L D) Bologna (- – D D L)

Oh and one more thing, a little revenge never hurt anyone!

In the beginning, there was Super Pippo. Through him all goals were scored, and without him there was nothing. He was the one player to light up Italian football’s darkness. And it sometimes feels as if he has been answering our prayers since the beginning of time.

For the first time in all the years of Silvio’s ownership I finally feel that I can say enough is enough. The game has moved beyond our enigmatic owner. His evaluation and affection towards certain players is mindboggling and his insistence and complacency with certain issues may prove the final straw that unravels our Club. Whatever excuse you may come up with for Silvio: politics, women, and divorce he no longer understands and pay attenention to the game in a way that could make him vocal and hands on owner. In his current position the best thing he can is stay away from the club as he did during his term as President. Uncle Fester is not the best number two in the World, but his bossing of the club is far more preferred to Silvio’s recent rambling and diarrhea of the mouth.

Please don’t take this post as a call for Silvio to sell the Club. This would be far worse than any of us can imagine at the moment. A sale could leave the club in a carousel of owners which can lead to a myriad of problems that I cannot deal with at the moment. Sure Silvio is pinching pennies but with the current economic crisis this is not a terrible thing, if we come out stronger in the next few years than even better, but a sale now would be devastating to all parties involved. Instead take this post as a call for Silvio to step out of the club lime light, shut up, an let the people you hired do their job in making this club what it is. Don’t talk about players, formations, tactics, and “great champions!” The current status of the club is that we don’t have great players, great tactics, or great champions, so don’t run your mouth and let this team get back to a position it once was. A word of advice to our “great” owner would be to get your life in order, solve your divorce crisis, and decide how on Earth you want to continue funding this team, leave the football related stuff to the people who understand it, barely…