Week 19: Milan – SPAL, Gattuso out?

Week 18 only offered a 0-0 tie at 19th placed Frosinone. The impotence in attack and creativity is at its height, or is that at its depth? Calhanoglu getting starts and even be declared crucial by Gattuso only adds to the frustration of fans, observers and it should to management. Higuain – in the midst of early departure rumours – misfiring at personal records and not being helped by the service adds further more. Late in the week Leonardo seemed to give a vote of confidence to Gattuso but whispers of a dismissal are swirling and this SPAL game might prove the final nail in the coffin. But who are the possible successors? Conte and Leonardo Jardim (ex-Monaco) are possibly the only two realistic and exciting names, at least until the summer.

Suso missed the midweek encounter and as this game comes so quickly after that encounter he was to be at risk but returns to start. The rest of the 11 are more or less predictable and the midfield of Kessie, Bakayoko and Calhanoglu have not helped the cause of the team but will need to do so if 2019-2020 Champions League football is to be in the team’s future.

The team needs the cash injection of the big European competition to have any chance of escaping future UEFA sanctions. The team might be forced to make even fuller use of chief scout Moncada’s skills to unearth emerging stars.

For now the defense is likely to feature Zapata instead of Musacchio. At least Donnarumma has been one of the bright(er) spots this season.

SPAL sit in 15th place with a solid 3-5-2 and are led by none other than Andrea Petagna.

The winter break begins after this match. The break will be interrupted by a Coppa Italia match at Sampdoria on January 12th and the Supercoppa vs Juventus in Saudi Arabia on the 16th. Serie A returns on January 21st at Genoa.

Follow the match as it happens, on the forum.