AC Milan 2004/2005 season review

August: A promising start

AC Milan started the campaign with a 3-0 win in the Italian super cup against Lazio, sending a signal to its fans and rivals that they are ready to fight for the honors in every front. Although Lazio lost their coach and many significant players, the game showed an organized and promising Milan.

September: Looking for form!

Defending the SerieA title, and aiming at dominate Europe, Milan started the championship with a draw at San Siro against the newly promoted Livorno that left a lot of question marks about the defense and midfield. Milan then suffered against Shaktar in their first UCL game. A late goal by Seedorf, gave them three precious points. A 2-0 win against Bologna in SerieA restored confidence only for another new promoted club, Messina, to raise doubts again as they won 2-1 in San Siro. Milan had to search for their best form, and where can they find it better than Rome, and against the team they beat to win their first trophy of the season: SS Lazio! After being down 1-0, with Ambrosini getting sent off, Milan resurrected and scored two goals with Sheva being the best among Milan players. Milan closed this month with a hard win against Celtic. After leading 1-0, Celtic managed to level the result, and Milan had to fight for a victory. The last minutes of the game showed two goals that sent Milan to the top of the group alongside Barcelona.

October: Welcome home Rijkaard!

After struggling in SerieA, Milan went to collect 13 points from five games. The two lost points were against their arch rival Inter Milan. Milan showed solidity at defense, and an organized midfield. But the most highlighted event in October was the return of Frank Rijkaard, the DM king of Milan in the late 80’s/ early 90’s. However Rijkaard has returned this time as the coach of Barcelona. Both teams have collected 6 points from their previous matches, and they both needed to confirm their superiority in the group. Milan produced one of their finest games all season, and managed to hold on Sheva’s goal to win 1-0 and become at the top of the group alone.

November: Going to the knockout stage!

In Europe, November was a crucial month for Milan. Three points separated the team from qualifying to the knockout stage, and three points separated Barcelona from joining them at the top of the group. Both three points were claimed. Barcelona defeated Milan and drew level with them at the top of the group, only for Milan to win Against Shakhtar in the following matchday, and secure a place in the knockout stage. In Italy, two draws, and two wins kept Milan chasing Juve, while a Milan 2 secured a place for the quarter finals with an away win against Palermo in the Coppa Italia second round leg 1 match.

December: A lesson in Football!

With a guaranteed place in the UCL knockout stage, Milan turned their attention to SerieA, collecting 7 points in three games, and teaching the world a lesson in Football. Milan won 2 – 1 against Parma, and scored half a dozen in Fiorentina, but the most important lesson of all was against Juve in Turin. Juve players joined their fans in watching Milan showing them and the world how to play attractive Football. Milan has done everything that night except scoring against Don Cappello’s defensive techniques!

January: Does September seem familiar to you?

As they left it in December, Milan started strong in the new year with a 5-2 win against Lecce, and 3-1 win against Udinese. But a draw in between and two successive defeats against Livorno and Bologna in late January rose doubts again. Meanwhile, a Milan 2 team finished what they have started in November against Palermo and won 2-0. In quarter final 1st leg, Milan won against Udinese 3-2.

Holy February!

Milan needed to confirm their strength and prepare for the UCL knockout stage. A wonderful display in Messina , where Milan won 4-1, and a late goal against Lazio sent Milan straight away to share the top of SerieA with Juve whom had lost two games at a raw. Milan was unstoppable, as they continued to win with a consistent 1-0 against Reggina, Calgari, and Inter Milan.

But February promised more! It is the time to meet the red devils of Manchester in the knock out stage of the Uefa Champions League! Many critiques predicted an easy qualification for MAN UTD, only for Milan to teach them another lesson in Football. Without the injured Sheva, Milan put their faith in Crespo and the Christmas formation to dominate MAN UTD in both legs, and to record the same 1-0 result and the same goal scorer, the EPL reject: Hernan Crespo! (Please note that the second leg was played in early March)

March: When the spring and cousins spread in Europe!

It is official now; Milan is fighting on the three fronts. With SerieA and UCL taking precedence, Milan let go the coppa Italia with a 4-1 defeat against Udinese. But March promised the utmost excitement in Europe. After defeating Man UTD, Milan and Inter were set to meet in the quarter finals. April was the month of Euro Derby.

Milan continued their good run of results in SerieA with three wins against Atalanta, Sampdoria, and Roma. After teaching the world another lesson in the theatre of football, the red devils of Manchester needed another lesson in San Siro. The teacher was again Hernan Crespo!


April: Can you play every 3 days?

The excitement is high. Every Inter fan is promising revenge for the UCL semi-final two seasons ago. Emotions are high, and while Inter were virtually out of the scuddetto race, Milan had to compete at the two fronts. A busy schedule is awaiting them. A game every three days is to be played throughout April. The “preserve energy” strategy was set! Milan is depending now more and more in their killer instinct.

In SerieA, April was a month that showed both sides of Milan, a strong and committed side, against Chievo, Parma, and Fiorentina, and a reckless side against Brescia and Siena. However, Milan stayed level with Juve on top.

The UCL, however, showed one side of Milan. At last, the Euro derby is here! Emotions are high, and both clubs are confident of win. The Euro derby witnessed the return of Sheva and the 4-3-2-1 system. Clinical finishing from Stam and Sheva sent Milan on a two goal advantage for the second leg. Again, Inter fans were promising revenge and a game full of surprises. They couldn’t be more accurate! The first surprise came in the 31st minute were an unstoppable shot from Sheva made it 3-0 for Milan on aggregate! But the mother of all surprises was introduced 20 minutes from the end of the game, when Inter fans threw flares on the pitch. The game was over; Milan was awarded the game with a 3-0 win and a 5-0 on aggregate! Next opponent: PSV

May: Six minutes of madness = Winless season, sour defeat, broken hearts, but most important: very proud fans

Milan met PSV at San Siro in the semi final 1st leg. A good performance in the first half awarded Milan a 1-0 lead. But a reckless one almost awarded PSV more than an equalizing game. JDT added another goal in the dying minutes of the game to award Milan a 2 goal advantage.

The one game not to be remembered in this season: UCL Semi final leg 2, PSV – Milan. The poorest show ever by Milan, and yet, the most crucial goal of the season. It is almost over; it is injury time; it is 2-0 to PSV, but the final word is for Ambrosini. Milan are in the Final

In SerieA, the mother of all games has finally arrived. A well prepared, well rested Juve, against a very tired Milan. Another terrible display in the first half showed Milan losing 1-0. A heroic comeback in the second half was not enough to change the result. Juve is ahead in the scuddetto race by a mile! Another two draws against Lecce and Palermo confirmed Juve as the 2004/2005 SerieA champions.

May 25, 2005: 500 million are switching their sights to Istanbul. The UCL final between Milan and Liverpool. The final chance for both clubs to win silverware this season. Liverpool has not lost a game in UCL since the knockout stage, with 1 goal conceded since the quarter finals, while Milan has not win yet in May! The tension is high, and the hopes are big.
Every thing goes as the plan. A 3-0 lead, a perfect display, and an outstanding discipline! And yet, six minutes showed Liverpool leveling the score. Chaos all over Milan players, shock, insecurity, and disbelief! But Milan fought back, and controlled the game again only to lose in Penalties!

An exciting season

Apart from the Italian super cup, Milan did not win this season. But they have entertained and produced a lot. Any Milan fan can not help but feel proud of what Milan has done this season. Every Milan fan has one word in his mind for the squad: GRAZIE!

Without fear together in Paris in 2006

Forza Milan Milan Campoione

Dabdob,

You've said it all, Dabdob. But couldn't you rewrite the ending a little bit? You know, so we can score a last-minute goal in Istanbul or something?

Forza Milan!

Well written Dabdob

I'll post a review here when I have come to terms with certain realities

Originally Posted by Ruffian

You've said it all, Dabdob. But couldn't you rewrite the ending a little bit? You know, so we can score a last-minute goal in Istanbul or something?

Forza Milan!

Damn you, Ruffian.






P.S. forgot to compliment dabdob: great work!

good post, nice to read, despite the end

Thank you all for your comments. The end will just make us better We will bounce back

Forza Milan Milan Campione

nice review dabdob

Throughout this season I felt a little of everything...hapiness, excitement, dissapointment, etc....but now that the season is finally over one feeling stands above all, and that is pride. We didn't win the Serie A or the Champions League, but we fought for them until the very end, we were in the mouths and eyes of everyone all year long, in other words, we were in the center of the stage all along, and that makes me proud. I certainly thank the players, the coach and the staff for a magical season, even if we finished empty-handed, GRAZIE TO ALL!!....we'll come back next season with even more hunger to win, and with the eternal support of the fans we shall do it!

!!FORZA MILAN!!

Originally Posted by Goirre

nice review dabdob

Throughout this season I felt a little of everything...hapiness, excitement, dissapointment, etc....but now that the season is finally over one feeling stands above all, and that is pride. We didn't win the Serie A or the Champions League, but we fought for them until the very end, we were in the mouths and eyes of everyone all year long, in other words, we were in the center of the stage all along, and that makes me proud. I certainly thank the players, the coach and the staff for a magical season, even if we finished empty-handed, GRAZIE TO ALL!!....we'll come back next season with even more hunger to win, and with the eternal support of the fans we shall do it!

!!FORZA MILAN!!

Well I'd just like to say... hats off to you and Rezaq, and all those involved in making this prediction league thing possible. It took a lot of work with the sorting and all the point tabulat'n. I dont know how you were able to do it and still get through school! Is it possible to get all interested, into a private league from some other website??? You know what I mean huh?? Like the CL fantasy one at the UEFA website. Make a private league and all that are interested must notify one of you moderators and you private message us the secret password to get into this private league. I know there are serie A fantasy leagues but am not sure where to find them. I've seen them but I cannot relocate where they are. That way you can spend time doing something else like chatting with us more than always doing the points spreadsheets week in week out.
Again GOOD WORK CARLOS!

Originally Posted by Kui

I know there are serie A fantasy leagues but am not sure where to find them. I've seen them but I cannot relocate where they are.

http://it.seriea.fantasysports.yahoo.com/

Excellent work dabdob.....couldnt have said it better myself.