Monthly Archive: February 2022

After beating Inter, tying Juve and beating Lazio in the Coppa Italia a tie versus Salernitana was a let down but almost inevitable. The dropped points could have been more costly than they turned out to be because on the same weekend Napoli tied with Cagliari and Juve with Torino and there were losses too with Inter against Sassuolo and Atalanta against Fiorentina. Somehow Milan are two points ahead of Inter for Serie A’s top spot (though Inter have a game in hand).

Udinese have rarely been easy opponents but a response to the Salernitana setback is needed. The defensive shape will remain as is unless injuries or suspensions occur. Maignan in goal will start behind Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli and Hernandez. Bennacer’s yellow on week 26 means the double pivot choices are less suspenseful and will be Tonali and Kessie. The latter remains an almost certain free summer departure while Renato Sanches’ name keeps coming up. He of the same agent as Rafael Leao could be one of two arrivals from Lille – alongside Sven Botman.

Saelemaekers’ form makes it somewhat easy for Pioli to pick Messias. The Brazilian scored an early goal against Salernitana, one which at the time signaled a possible easy game against the Salerno team. Diaz and Leao will line up alongside the 30 years old and behind Giroud. Ibra’s return to the pitch is almost always unknown but word is he could be ready for the Coppa Italia semis first leg coming up on March 1st versus Inter.

Romagnoli, Hernandez and Diaz are one yellow away from missing an important week 28 match coming up at Napoli.

Gerard Deulofeu’s Udinese have struggled of late and sit in 16th spot.

There is always more about this and all Milan matches on the forums.

The last time Milan lost a game it was to a team that is near the bottom of the table. In the meanwhile Milan tied and beaten Juventus, Inter, Lazio and Sampdoria to go to the top of the table. Visiting a last placed team must produce a win but recent and not so recent history makes it less than certain.

The team is still missing Ibra. The Swede has posted videos of himself doing exercises that defy any age but is nevertheless not available for game action yet. Giroud has done better than most expected in his place and will be called upon again. Messias or Saelemaekers makes for less than convincing right wing options but one or the other will be starting for now and perhaps even longer. Diaz has shown good signs and will continue behind the striker. Leao is a fast rising star and it hoped the left winger will sign an extension soon.

The two pivots are more complicated or perhaps not. Tonali is another rising star and Bennacer is slowly regaining form. Should both start? Bakayoko may get a chance against a so called weaker team and Kessie might still get minutes before his almost certain summer departure.

At the back Calabria, Tomori, Romagnoli and Theo are the starters with Kalulu ready for minutes. Maignan in goal is yet another of the rising stars on a team whose value has increased a lot this season. If it can keep up the pace and finish as high as second again the summer could see two or more reinforcements. Dreams of finishing first are surely just that, dreams.

Salernitana – another team under new ownership – fired Stefano Colantuono and hired Davide Nicola (Torino, Udinese, Genoa, etc) in his place. The team might get a new coach bump. Further danger signs for Milan’s less than perfect record against lowly teams.

There is always more about this and all Milan matches on the forums.

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1

16

Maignan

2

Calabria

23

Tomori

13

Romagnoli

25

Florenzi

8

Tonali

4

Bennacer

30

Messias

10

Díaz

17

Leão

9

Giroud

Substitutes

Optimism and general mood around the team is on the rise. The come from behind 1-2 derby win and the 4-0 trashing of Lazio in Coppa Italia has made for a good few days for Milan. The weekend approached with more good news with news of Theo’s contract extension to 2026. Even more good news was Napoli versus Inter 1-1 tie which allows Milan to go to top of the standings with a win.

This week 25 match versus Sampdoria is an early afternoon match however and Milan’s record suggests that the team finds it difficult to win these early games. Whether that is an actual thing is debatable but the opportunity to go top, even temporarily as Inter have a game in hand, is both a motivator and a pressure builder.

Milan is missing arguably its bigger motivator in Ibra, but the Swede will be on the sidelines and Pioli and the young team have shown mental strength with the help of Ibra and the few veterans like – four goals in last two games – Giroud. The team is also as healthy as it has been in a while although Kjaer is of course a long term absentee.

Maignan will start in goal and Theo’s red card suspension makes choosing the back four difficult. Calabria and Florenzi could share the full back spots but will Calabria move to the left or will Florenzi. It was thought that Tomori will be given more rest following knee surgery as Romagnoli and Kalulu have handled the recent matches well but the Englishman is apparently ready to jump in from the start.

Kessie’s form has been indifferent at best and it was further proven in the derby when Diaz’s introduction in place of the Ivorian’s more advanced spot helped change the complexion of the match. Kessie is a prime candidate for the bench and it leaves the pivots job to Bennacer and the ever improving Tonali. Leao deserves to retain his left wing spot with Diaz in the middle. Messias or Saelemaekers will play on the right with form an issue. The former is a better bet for now. In Ibra’s absence Giroud’s form is very welcome and it is hoped he can bury the number 9 curse for good.

Marco Giampoalo rejoined Sampdoria last month. His team beat Sassuolo 4-0 in the returning coach’s second game back. The team signed Major League Soccer star Sebastian Giovinco as a replacement for long term absentee Manolo Gabbiadini. Gabbiadini ruptured knee ligament and will miss a few months of action.

There is always more about this and all Milan matches on the forums.

It is Milan versus Lazio in this season’s Coppa Italia quarterfinal, today February 9 at 21:00CET. Both teams needed extra time to beat their round of 16 opponents. Milan beat Sheva’s Genoa 3-1 with goals by Giroud, Leao and Saelemaekers. Lazio beat Udinese with a sole goal by Ciro Immobile.

The injury list includes Ibra, Rebic and Kjaer while Lazio are missing Francesco Acerbi and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro.

The teams will likely use nearly all the best players available and Milan’s probable starters are Maignan, Calabria, Kalulu, Romagnoli and Theo with Kessie and Tonali in front of them. Messias, Diaz, Leao and Giroud being the front four.

The winner will face Inter in a two legged semi taking place in March and April. Inter beat Roma 2-0 to reach the semis.

Somewhat surprisingly Tomori made the bench while Ibra, Rebic and of course Kjaer were out injured. Kessie was given a midfield role, nominally further up in Diaz’s spot as a way to not get outmanned by Inter’s five man midfield formation.

After a few back and forth minutes Inter scored what was correctly judged to have been offside in the build up. In the sequence the defending and keeping did not inspire much confidence. Moment later Maignan proved yet again that his reflexes are high class punching out a shot that was deflected off Kalulu.

Inter had more control and were more confident looking. Milan remained poor in possession and unable to create vertical movement.

Just before the half hour mark Dumfries came close and Milan had Maignan to thank for stopping his shot after Milan’s defending crumbled in front of him.

The 35th minute Milan could have taken the lead, the ball was worked around outside and inside Inter’s box while Handanovic made a good save from a long range Tonali shot. Inter took the lead just a bit later. After a shot was punched out by Maignan the resulting corner had Perisic with lots of space while Milan players decided to converge into the wrong spot ball watching.

The 0-1 half time deficit could have been worse if not for Maignan’s reflexes.

Messias came on for a poor Saelemaekers at half time. The Belgian was struggling with the ball, much like most of his teammates. Minutes into the second the Kessie as marker and more advanced player was jettisoned as Diaz came on to reclaim his spot. Diaz and Leao combined for a chance that was then shot high. Inter were still in control as the match entered its final 20 minutes and Inter took out Lautaro and Perisic – for Alexis and Dimarco. And minutes later Vidal for Calhanoglu. A sub reminiscent of many Italian coaches of the past.

Soon after Milan equalized. Diaz found the ball at the edge of the box and his shot went through Inter’s defense and found a stretching Giroud who poked into an open net. The goal came from a very isolated player and at least somewhat against the run of play. The Frenchman did it again, he ran through the Inter defense took on Calabria’s pass, turned around de Vrij and just beat Handanovic. Krunic replaced Bennacer right after the goal.

Late in the game Hernandez tackled the oft diving Dumfries from behind and got a straight red.
Milan hung for an unexpected win, the first half in particular saw Milan being outclassed.

Starting Lineup: 4-2-3-1

16

Maignan

2

Calabria

20

Kalulu

13

Romagnoli

19

Hernandez

4

Bennacer

8

Tonali

56

Saelemaekers

79

Kessié

17

Leão

9

Giroud

Substitutes

Many fans have correctly voiced concerns about the direction of the team. To be sure Pioli and the players have done a phenomenal job in the past two years. Financially the team has done good business too and as reported the balance sheet and numbers are heading in the right direction, all despite the pandemic. However, as the now concluded transfer window showed, Milan is either incapable or perhaps unwilling to compete financially. Inter and Juve in particular made important if not big moves and Milan only spent on 18 years old Marko Lazetic. Whether this January window is a fair indication of how the team can improve moving forward is perhaps up for debate but finishing top 4 is certainly a requirement to maximize revenue and for now the team has been left behind. The upcoming summer – rumoured interest in Renato Sanches, Sven Botman and others – may be more exciting but for now the team has to hope that the oft injury laden team has the skills and stamina to not fall out of the Champions League places.

Other moves have not help either. While it is time to forget that Donnarumma and Calhanoglu left for free the danger that both Kessie and Romagnoli will do as well can not be dismissed as ‘it happens’. Kessie is courting controversy by questionable conduct following return from Africa Cup Of Nations duty. Conflicting reports about how and where he is training don’t help. It is at least somewhat indicative of the lack of resources that Pioli may be trying to test Kessie as a number 10 vs Inter. Diaz’s and Maldini’s forms have made for an underwhelming focal point in launching attacks. The latter was briefly linked with a dry loan move but he ended up staying.

The right wing spot will remain a sore spot for another six months at least as the team rotates between Messias and Saelemaekers. The left side is more secure as Leao has shown growth. Ibra will play up front and when he is unavailable Giroud will take his spot. Bennacer and Tonali will be the pivots when Kessie is not to be one of them. Rebic is another missing player and this further hinders creativity and options up front.

At the back Tomori seems on the verge of an early return but it is surely dangerous to risk him less than four weeks after (keyhole) knee surgery. Kalulu and Romagnoli are the available options and the recently extended Gabbia the other of course. Hernandez has done well and makes Milan’s left side very potent. Calabria will get the start on the right side of defense. Maignan is a player of the year candidate in goal.

Robin Gosens (Atalanta) and Felipe Caicedo (Genoa) just joined Inter on loan. The former is out injured but will provide quality when healthy and the latter – previously with Simone Inzaghi at Lazio – good depth up front.

There is always more on the forum.