The AC Milan Offside - All Posts

Wednesday Milan Musings

2013-05-22T16:54:50Z

The lunatic masses have spoken, and their ring leader Silvio Berlusconi, bringer of good fortune and doom has as well. It is no longer about AC Milan and Max Allegri, or even football. We have lost sight of the stability and practicality needed to be a good football Club. Instead a portion of these "fans" have become rabid masses no longer reasoning but look for their pound of flesh, their witch in this epic witch hunt, as this season was simply not good enough.

These seem "fans" have conveniently forgotten that the team was dismantled and decimated in the summer. They have conveniently forgot that at the beginning of the season members of this team were playing as if they were going through the motions instead of executing. They conveniently forgot that football is won by the best teams, not the best Coaches or players, but the collective, and often most practical. It is to late, like the mob who crucified Jesus Christ or the mob who burned Joan of Arc, it is no longer about reason, it is about a scape goat, opium for the masses and fans are eating up. Berlusconi will not come forward and say, I made this mess, I sold Zlatan and Silva and spent nothing. I opted to keep my daughter's bed warm with Pato instead of buying Tevez, it was me. Instead he throws a sacrificial slaughter who was never even given the tools he requested to succeed.

At the end of the day I can live with this, I have lived through it before. Carletto was once the same sacrificial lamb and from those ashes rose a loser in Leonardo. Are we doomed to repeat history's mistakes, most likely, and then what? A step backwards instead of forward? What of the angry mob, who will have moved on to support Bayern or Borussia or the newest flavor of the week while we have to deal with the instability and a new rebuilding process? I can't answer these questions, but I can say with a bit of confidence, we are a making a mistake. Seedorf is not the answer and even the Curva has pointed it out, but the few along with the most irrational fool, Silvio Berlusconi will soon have spoken.

Someday I will come looking for my answers, and my pound of flesh...until then enjoy yours...

Siena 1 Milan 2

2013-05-20T14:47:42Z

At around the 60th minute I had come to grips with the Europa League. My conclusion was simple, the team was young and inexperienced and it pressure situations that have not always excelled, this was no different. What better way to gain experienced then a year in the Europa Cup and what better way to thank Berlusconi for the season then with missing out on the CL. He put us in this mess, and the silver lining was competing for a Trophy Milan had never won!? Well, thankfully I was dead wrong and gave up maybe a little to easy!

Mexes was truly the hero, saving our bacon in they dying minutes. But a cheap penalty, a bit of reparation from the Fiorentina debacle, from the same ref no less gave us a chance. The rest well will ultimately be history! It was not as if Milan was not the better team, but like in all late season Milan matches possession and chances don't always equal goals. 15 by halftime to be exact, with five on goal and 63 percent of the ball did not equal results, as Milan seemed disjointed and struggled to break down a very disciplined Siena team. In fact, Siena deserves some credit and respect here as they were all relegated and playing for pride. Having never beat Milan they took the game to us, and unlike Pescara were not going down easy.

So our 90 minute struggle is over and we have qualified for the CL. Sure it was by the skin of our teeth, with everything to gain now! Yes there will be a qualifying match, and most likely not an easy one, but the team has grown and built over the season and the pressure won't get any easier as we move forward. This week is going to be monumental, there will be significant news both with Allegri and player turnover so stay tuned. What I would also like to see is season recaps as fan posts and we can get those front paged, as I want everyone's take and opinion as I start building my posts.

Poll

MOTM

Matchday XXXVIII: Pescara v Fiorentina

2013-05-19T11:00:04Z

Watching two matches at once when you need one to lose is a nerve wracking affair so let us suffer together!

Matchday XXXVIII: Siena v Milan

2013-05-19T11:00:03Z

Watching two matches at once when you need one to lose is a nerve wracking affair so let us suffer together!

Special thanks to KembaWalkerismyHero. Occasionally you get to meet someone talented enough to help you see a vision, in Ralph's case he took all our memories and analogy of the Beastie Boys to Milan and rolled it into a photo. WELL DONE MY FRIEND, WELL DONE!! Love the 80s texture vibe too!

Siena v Milan Preview

2013-05-17T13:08:46Z

On Sunday, should the result go sour for Milan we will have to watch the Fiorentina match with eyes wide open hoping an already relegated Pescara can steal some points from the Viola who need a win as much as we do. Odds of this happening, slim to none, so it is best Milan take care of business as they visit Siena.

Last week's match was a disappointment not for what happened off the pitch, but even on it. Milan were the better team with better chances, even with ten men, but simply couldn't find the back of the net. This can't happen for a second week in a row. All eyes will be on the attack and does Max go with 4-3-3 featuring El Sharaawy, Balotelli, and Niang/Robinho or does he mix it up. We talked about the to many striker dilemma and if he really is going to Roma he can give his owner a big old EFF YOU and play none of the six strikers, but that is not Max despite what Couch Coaches will tell you. I expect a 4-3-3 as follows...

Abbiati; Abate, Zapata, Mexes, Constant; Flamini, Ambro, Prince; Niang, Balotelli, El Sharaawy

I don't think Prince will be needed in the front line, even though Milan's points per game with him in the advance role is better than when he plays deeper, contrary to his own opinion. I expect if he is fit he plays in the mid line. Flamini foiled his hot streak of goals last week and may want another to add to his tally, taking him above even former Milan strikers in goal totals! Can El Sharaawy end the season how he started it or will Balotelli be the hero, you need to come check it out Sunday to be certain!

Finally, wanted to thank everyone for bearing with the server issues that are continuing. Repairs are ongoing and are being deployed as we speak, but things are getting back to normal. I also want to thank you all for enduring the MilanMan issue last week, things are going on behind the scenes as in my opinion banning people is an absolute last resort that I am often compelled to make by the outcry of many of you. I have reached out to a lot of you and thanks for your opinions in dealing with it, end rant...

SEE YOU ALL SUNDAY!

Tactics Tuesday: Pazzo and Balo

2013-05-14T12:40:15Z

Been seeing lots of discussion about the potential return of the 4-3-1-2 and playing Pazzini with Balotelli. For those who have been around long enough, I am all for it. The 4-3-3 is not my favorite formation and if you go through archives of tactics posts you will see why. But in the case of a professional football Club, it becomes apparent that you have to suit the formation to the hand you are dealt, and in the case of Milan we have a lot of strikers. To many really, so the 4-3-3 becomes a bit of a necessity...until the silly Owner asks for four strikers!?

Personally, I think Pazzo and Balotelli can play together, but at the expense of El Sharaawy. I also think they could play together with the right personnel, and Milan still have a rather simple glaring hole in the CAM role. The loss of Zlatan caused quite a ripple effect in the deployment of personnel as Boateng's shortcomings as a #10 become crystal clear, and without someone to hold possession and open channels Milan needs to rely more on the wings and moving towards naturally open space between CBs and Full Backs. Full credit to Allegri for his recognition of this, while some will say it took to long, I think he has gotten right and Milan is playing some balanced football. But getting back to the 4-3-1-2 may be a pipe dream.

The problem with two strikers is currently Milan has six, Robinho, Niang, Balotelli, Pazzini, El Sharaawy, Bojan! Granted some of them may be on the way out, and some of them just plain suck, but how do you reconcile six strikers when you only play two? Now one could argue cutting the fluff in Bojo the Clown and Robinho gives you four strong strikers, and the relative youth of El Sharaawy and Niang means you can rotate and still progress and grow, but how would this be received? Allegri rests El Sharaawy and the Owner says he doesn't know anything and "Couch Coaches" say the same, go figure!? So there are issues here clearly. But regardless it doesn't fix the issue of a missing CAM, which is crucial. So while Allegri asked for players like Cigarini, Lodi and Asamoah and got none, the 4-3-1-2 will continue to be an problem and in turn difficulty playing the two strikers.

So I think Pazzo and Balo can play together as can El Sharaaway and Niang mixed in, but without a true CAM the deployment may never work...

Poll

Should Milan...

Milan 0 Roma 0

2013-05-13T15:32:45Z

I said there were a lot of talking points and I am going to take it that way...

-A few weeks ago I joked that Milan followed a recipe in late season matches, I fully intend to stop joking. Missed chance, poor choices, and taking the hard road were all things I poked fun at and came true. If I joke again about something like this let me have it, as I don't want it coming true.

-The bigger talking point, even beyond Serie A, was the ref stopping the match because of Roma Ultras and racist chanting. Once again it was a disgraceful act and a huge distraction and really marred what looked to be a hotly contested affair. The referee was forced to suspend the match, but one could argue it should have been called off entirely as the lessons continue to be lenient and nobody is learning. It truly ruined an entertaining match that degenerated rather quickly following the stop in action as the referee clearly had no control on or off the pitch. I have been historically hard on both Roma and their fans and this only reinforces my previous beliefs.

-Speaking of referee he played a big part red carding Muntari in the 40th minute and Totti near the end. More on Totti latter, but Muntari's Totti impression was not well received and put Milan in a tremendous disadvantage so early on. He supported a team mate and it has to become evident if the racist chanting had already begun in the first half, but either way Muntari lost his head and not for the right reasons. Oddly it seemed to galvanize Milan who played an entertaining and energetic match regardless of being a man down. Everyone seemed to willing to work both sides of the ball and late in the second half Milan created two point blank chances, one from Flamini and one from Mexes that could have easily earned the crucial three points. Hindsight is what it is, but you have to imagine that with a full squad Milan would have come good as they were the better more complete team on the day. Yes Roma created chances, but Milan, for me, were the better team.

-Francesco Totti, a polarizing figure in my mind, proved again why the conversation of his greatness is always needed and yet to be cemented. For Roma fans he is a deity, I get that, but for everyone else his pestilent behavior has always been present, one minute he is taming his Ultras like only someone of his stature can and the next he is elbowing his former teammate. The referee let this one get out of hand, but that is no excuse. I will probably take flack for this but like my previous posts about Roma and their fans, my stance on Totti has not changed.

- There was one a minor ray of light to this match, and it was the urgency and tactical aggression that the team displayed. It was clear three points is what this team wanted, and while they didn't get it they certainly played for it. Allegri's choice to withdrawal Flamini and include Pazzini didn't yield a goal, but the team had a secondary focal, it allowed Balotelli to move even more and really forced Burdisso to focus on one player. You couldn't do it earlier because you are down a man, but it was a good move that will get glossed over by Couch Coaches, but should be pointed out.

So now we get to play the two match limbo on Sunday, what better way to end this maddening season!? Can't wait...

Matchday XXVII: Milan v Roma

2013-05-12T12:00:04Z

One my pet peeves is when "my" team does not take care of business for themselves and requires help to qualify for the CL, make the playoffs and so on. The point here is that Milan control's their destiny. If they can do what we have been asking all second half of the season, win one game at a time, then third straight CL berth is booked.

It has been a long campaign and Roma is no push over, and outside of Juventus is the last team to beat Milan. I want revenge, plain and simple, and my Mom's a Milan fan so that will make a good gift too!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mom's out there, hopefully Milan makes us all happy!