Monthly Archive: December 2024

Milan close out the calendar year amidst a crisis. Sitting in eighth place and some 13 points behind surprise league leaders Atalanta is not what any fan would want. Management and ownership exacerbate the poor season with business like statements. Claims that the aim is to return Milan to the top are interspersed with the need for prudent spending and taking opportunities to make 70 million (from a Tonali sale). The 70 million is apparently well reinvested and of course there are bright spots in the likes of Pulisic, Reijnders and arguably more but the position of the team and the quality on the pitch don’t show it.

Fonseca has hardly convinced as well. His appointment was of course not the most popular and his chosen 11s often perplex as well. As is customary with Milan injuries don’t help the cause either. As it stands at the end of 2024 Bennacer is back for the bench after a lengthy absence but Leao, Pulisic, Okafor, Musah, Loftus- Cheek join Florenzi as absentees. Indications are that all short term and most could be back as early as the next Serie A game vs Cagliari – which comes after the January 3rd Supercoppa Italiana match against Juventus in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The predicted starting 11 for this week 18 match versus Roma doesn’t deviate from the recent norm too much. Earlier in the week indications were that Theo would be left out again but he looks to start. The back four in front of Maignan should be Emerson Royal, Gabbia, Thiaw and the Frenchman. The absences might push Terracciano to the midfield alongside Fofana. This will push Reijnders further forward allowing him to be more of the goal threat that he has been so far this season. Chukwueze will be the right winger and Jiminez looks to use his skills on the left. Morata should start as the center forward.

Claudio Ranieri re-took over the reins of Roma in November after the capital team underperformed under Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric. I Giallorossi are nevertheless still struggling.

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A tie versus Genoa at home on a night of 125th birthday celebrations highlighted the crisis the team is in. The absentees in the celebrations, notably Maldini, added to the frustrations and anger of fans and Curva Sud. All in all Fonseca and up the team has turned the fans against the current ownership. Rumours of Elliott retaking over the team naturally appeared and were ofcourse denied.

On the pitch Fonseca opted for some youth and leaving Theo on the bench. The game didn’t provide much to reassure fans. Liberali showed glimpses but at 17 it is impossible to fully judge a player with little senior experience. Jimenez showcased his talents as well but his future is as much in Milan’s hands as it is in Real Madrid’s.

Word is Fonseca will perhaps keep the same lineup for the trip to Verona. Injuries are of course forcing his hand and the list is not getting smaller this week and into the new year. Add to that Morata is ill and won’t even be on the bench for this trip. Expect to see Maignan, Emerson Royal, Thiaw, Gabbia and Jimenez again. Theo staying on the bench again seems somewhat risky and perplexing but Fonseca did the same with Leao weeks earlier, and it is very debatable if anything was achieved. Fofana, Reijnders, Chukwueze, Leao and Abraham will play further up but as Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, Musah, Okafor are out it remains to be seen who the 11th player will be.

On the good news front reports indicate the likes of Pulisic, Reijnders and Maignan will sign extensions and will perhaps be joined by the aforementioned Theo.

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Ahead of the team’s 125th anniversary some but not all of the club’s legends will be present for the celebrations. Controversy surrounds the team in several areas. First the absentees as mentioned, second Fonseca’s comments about referees, third the coach’s comments about specific player mistakes and of course the position of the team in the table. A coach calling out referees is not new but only adds to the negativity when results are not as expected. Many would agree that mentioning specific mistakes is best kept in the locker room.

Milan sit in eighth place as this game versus Genoa is to start. The loss against Atalanta highlighted the team’s limitations and the struggle to beat Red Star Belgrade 2-1 with a late goal solidified the evidence. As is now customary for Milan injuries have piled up as well. Pulisic, Loftus-Cheek and Musah are going to be out and Morata is unlikely to be ready and could only make the bench. Bennacer, Florenzi and Jovic remain out as well. Latest reports say that Pulisic is close to a contract extension and he is set to miss games until early January after injuring his calf. The absences mean Mattia Liberali is a candidate to start as playmaker behind Abraham. The 17 year old is a promising and talented prospect but it remains to be seen if he is ready for senior minutes after getting none since the preseason.

Fueling further controversy is the apparent decision to start Theo on the bench. Fonseca seems to be gambling on his starting 11 as he did with leaving Leao out earlier in the season. Terracciano or Jimenez are set to start as left back. This also highlights how the team is poorly built with a natural Theo backup missing from the team as neither are true left backs.

Milan will meet Patrick Vieira as the Frenchman recently took the helm of the Il Grifone in place of the fired Alberto Gilardino.

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Defensively lapses and not quite impressive play but the 6-1 Coppa Italia win versus Serie B leading Sassuolo has Milan winning three in a row and undefeated for over a month. With all that Milan lie 10 points behind Napoli and first first place – with a game in hand.

Atalanta are flying high, in second place on a eight game winning streak. With the team nearing its 125th birthday it will be a big win if Milan can come away from Bergamo with a win. The line up is expected to be slightly more settled and predictable. Maignan will start behind Emerson Royal, Thiaw, Gabbia and Theo. The latter remaining the subject of question marks on and off the pitch. Fofana and Reijnders will be the midfield pivots., The latter doing much more offensively than otherwise. The Dutch midfielder has been the star of the team in recent weeks. Musah shpuld be preferred in a nominal right wing role, giving more solidity eventhough Chukwueze is coming off a two goal performance against Sassuolo. Pulisic in the middle and Leao on the left will complete the lineup behind Morata. Leao’s (lack of) usage remains controversial but it is felt he will now get more starts as expected.

Atalanta present goal scoring threat in Mateo Retegui and Ademola Lookman with the former leading the Serie A in goals. Other familiar names on the host’s lineup sheet are of course Charles De Ketelaere and Mario Pasalic.

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