Author Archives: The Offside Blog

Two Wins in Row!?

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Been a while since we have been able to say that, but the midweek win against Bari in a match that Allegri clearly took seriously you have to believe we have built some momentum and can erase the early season shock upset to Cesena come Sunday. The match won’t be easy, and I would expect Cesena to put up a stout defend and counter performance, but more on that later, let’s first bask in the after glow of the performances of Merk and Robinho against Bari!

I still simply can’t get over the amount of work that Robinho puts in every time he is on the field. For player that was inconsistent and a bit lazy at Real and Man City, he has simply been one of the hardest workers on the team and Allegri has rewarded him for his efforts. Pato should take notice, and while Robinho joked last week about not having or needing to score, relishing his role as a support striker, he should have simply said if I am not scoring I will try and do whatever else it takes, which he has done rather admirably. Merkel was just as impressive having his hand in two Milan goals, but he found a way to play simple and not put himself into positions where he would be prone to make errors. Maybe this was a byproduct of the opponent, or simply that he had the fortune of playing with Ibra and Cassano, but either way he seized the opportunity and if fit you would be hard pressed not to hope he starts on the weekend in place of the statue known as Seedorf!

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I am glad Allegri pushed the issue this match, this team needed to find some confidence again, and this was just the way to do it, he subbed and rested enough players to be OK for the match against Cesena on the weekend. While I can’t say I am happy about the Pirlo re-injury, I hope he can recover and get back on the field sooner rather than later. Not sure what the final word is at the moment, but if anyone does have it please post in the comments. Onto the Coppa quarter finals and hopefully Allegri keeps this mentality going forward to having Milan competing on all fronts, while this is exhausting, it assures everyone will have a chance to contribute and stay sharp.

With the Bari game behind us, and a win under our belt, it is now time to erase the Cesena debacle from the beginning of the season. I don’t want to look to far into that match as the team has changed immensely both in personnel and in tactics, but it doesn’t mean that Cesena will not try to execute the same game plan while frustrating Milan’s attack. I would expect Cesena to play in a 4-3-2-1 formation and fall in narrow when Milan have possession and spread wide when they counter, it will be imperative for Milan’s bulldog mids to win the ball early but also to cover back if the Abate and Antonini get forward. This may not be the type of the game in which a player like Strasser is given a run out as it requires tactical awareness more than skill and running, I would expect a midfield of Ambro, Rino, and Flamini to keep Cesena at bay, a job they did admirably against Lecce, had it not been for set pieces errors.

Defensively I would expect Abate, Nesta, Silva, and Antonini. I would hope to see a bit less aggressiveness here from Silva to make sure no one is running full speed at Nesta without cover. But that directive will have to come from Allegri, and it would be silly if he doesn’t give the order after watching the previous match. I hope to see Abate continue to improve on his performances were he has been strong going forward and a more polished cross will start to lead to more Milan goals, something we can all be happy about. It would appear that Abbiati should return for this match and getting the first choice keeper back and everything he has brought to the table it should help tremendously. Speaking of goals, it is in the attack where Allegri has the most options, and always seems to have the most to gain or lose. Last week we watched as an impatient attack fumbled with passing and creating chances in the opposition penalty area, this week may be the same. Personally I have to believe if Cassano is fit enough he should get the start alongside Ibra. His ability to play in tight spaces will be an asset and it gives Robinho a chance to rest or play CAM, but what better way to reward Merkel for his midweek performance than by giving him a start in a game like this one?

Much like the Lecce match last week, it all boils down to Milan and their performance. If they possess the ball with patience and precision this match should be won easily and early. If not then mistakes may cost them as the match drags on and if chances to finish are not taken. A easy win here allows Allegri to make smarter subs and still accommodate some the lingering injuries. Dropped points in the last two matches while not catastrophic will start to add up and getting back into a winning mentality should start now as the CL season is just around the corner.

See you all back here Sunday for the afternoon match and FORZA MILAN!

Tactics Thursday: Lecce Part II

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I want to do a two part tactics piece, Tuesday and Thursday, previously exploring Milan’s toothless attack the last few weeks and today a quick explanation of corner kick marking for those not familiar and hopefully explain how Lecce’s goal could have been prevented.

Set piece, free kick, and corner kick marking is essentially all the same, and if done properly is usually not a problem. But one little mistake in communication or reading of the offensive and even the most experienced and discipline team can pay. Set pieces are a funny thing, and for a team the likes of Lecce, they are sometimes the only hope to get a goal against a big Club like AC Milan. We see it often in the EPL where smaller teams will bury set pieces and make the big boy’s pay, sometimes it is trickery, but more often than not it is simple mistake as was the case with Milan.

There are two ways to approach set piece marking, the traditional man marking and the zonal marking that was both popularized and demonized by Rafa Benitez at Liverpool. Personally, I have always been a strong proponent of man marking simply because it alleviates the fear of two players breaking into a zone and defenders being forced to read and react. Milan’s often relies on the man marking method, thankfully, but on this day even a defender as wily and experienced as Nesta showed how difficult man marking can really be. First and foremost three things will always happen on set pieces, and these three things will always occupy three players if not more. The first being fronting the ball, and the second third being to mark the post, or having the responsibility to fall back to the post if the team is holding a high line on a free kick. The rest of the players are required to do simple math, if the offense sends seven players into the box then the defense needs seven markers. It is also very common to see strikers track back and defend in these circumstances because of their ability elevate and use their heads effectively, Drogba is one of the best, but Edison Cavani is also a very good.

Lecce did nothing out of the ordinary with their corner, but on the first chance which went off the post, Milan already showed some cracks. It never helps to have a second string GK in the goal for set pieces because he holds the immediate responsibility of checking the marks and making sure every attacking players is accounted for. After that the CB’s need to mark the strongest aerial threats and usually in the area between the six yard box and penalty spot. Midfielders often fill in the rest but on the first corner kick the Lecce players broke sooner and in an staggered fashion and Milan was not able to asses this and mark everyone, a deflection and post saved them but the second corner was not as lucky. A great ball played into arguably the most dangerous place on a corner kick, the area between the 18 yard box and penalty spot, and Nesta was unable to front the ball quickly enough to stop Olivera from putting in a great shot. Lecce took advantage and because of this alone deserved the point.

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So how could this have been prevented? The simplest way is to overcrowd the box, especially if you have a lead, there is little need to counter quickly so bringing ten men in to defend a set piece or corner should be a given. The other most simple and almost given mantra to set piece marking is simply getting goal side. It can’t be stressed enough, but by getting between your mark and the goal you will at minimum block a shot, but this forces the attacking player to take an additional touch to make space, or look for a pass which at hopefully at this point is non-existent as the defense is pulling forward to put players offside. Teams often devote entire training sessions to this, but as you can see it is simply a matter of players doing their best to get into position and mark their man, if not any team can pay for it, and Milan is no different.

Tactics Tuesday: Lecce Part I

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I want to do a two part tactics piece, Tuesday and Thursday, today exploring Milan’s toothless attack the last few weeks and Thursday a quick explanation of set piece marking for those not familiar, and hopefully explain how Lecce’s goal could have been prevented.

The past few weeks Milan have struggled to pass the ball into dangerous scoring opportunities. Thankfully Cassano has made an impact in almost every match he has played slotting home great passes and generally making space where there appears to be none. Speaking of space the compact play of both Cagliari and Lecce puts space in the attacking third at a premium and this requires a simple shift in the way the team attacks in order to create scoring chances.

When a team organizes it defense and midfielders so closely together, as chosen by Lecce and Gigi DiCanio, they actually want their opponents to have possession on the edge of the attacking third. By letting their opponents build up play slowly it allows them time to funnel back in behind the ball and close almost every passing lane and channel with one if not two players. When this happens Milan seems to grow frustrated, specifically Zlatan, as he tries to thread low percentage passes through defenders legs and into the penalty box which is clogged tighter than a drain in a girl’s dorm room. As any good Coach will tell you, “You can’t play the ball through an opponent!”

This defensive tactical deployment is not insurmountable and Milan has often been confronted with it from the Carletto era onward. Thankfully Pirlo has always had a knack for playing a raking ball across the field to disrupt the defense and find space for a 1 v 1 opportunity to goal for players like Pato and Kaka before him. Without this long ball threat, Milan has to take a more simple approach and keep the ball on the ground, passing both quickly and in tight quarters to catch defenders off balance and get them going backwards, which has been done by Cassano in exemplary fashion.

This all starts by keeping possession a bit closer to midfield, no matter how tactically discipline a team is, eventually players will start to creep forward hoping to intercept a pass and start a counter. This requires both patience and precision and as the opponent starts to inch forward the quick one two combination passing can start to carve out the defense. Against Lecce Milan rarely had Zlatan and Pato close enough to combine, let alone create a one-two passing opportunity. When they were able to have a quick combination the only player in the box was Seedorf and his lack of height and movement were not beneficial.

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Another simple way to break down the defensive front of a team like Lecce is to spread the field as wide as possible. At times Abate showed he had the skill to do this and his crossing and marauding runs grew more dangerous as the match wore on, but when the flanks are not equally dangerous the opponent can shift and cover the more dangerous side. When this happened Pato needed to move to the opposite side and switch with Zlatan, sadly Allegri and the team didn’t make this move until the start of the second half and by then the match had opened up as Lecce was down a goal and needed to attack. Sadly Milan could not capitalize.

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Cassano’s precision passing in tight spaces, and Robinho’s penchant for playing like a jack in the box and popping up all over the pitch will help this alleviate this problem, but in the meantime strikers need to take the few chances created and make the opponent pay for playing so deeply. Until that happens opponents will be happy to defend like this because Milan has proven they can’t deal with it effectively quite yet. Lack of patience and mounting frustration as shown by Rino and Pato at the half will give team’s confidence that this game plan is they way to beat AC Milan.

Lecce 1 Milan 1

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As I mentioned in my pre-match post, anything short of three points would have to come from a Milan mistake because Lecce lack the quality to really push a team like Milan. True to form a late corner kick off the post, which probably should have gone in, led to second corner from the opposite side and poor communication and a late mark from Nesta led to a very well taken Lecce goal from inside the box and two points dropped from AC Milan. Now let’s explore the rest of the match.

Possession is a funny thing, statistically speaking Milan often lead the battle against their opponents. The match against Lecce was absolutely no different, but a closer look at the possession, and what makes up good possession, tells a bit more about Milan on this day. Possession is often made of patience and good passing and in the first half Milan displayed neither. Instead, they forced balls in and through two to three defenders instead of simply passing back, switching play, and resetting the attack. They looked like a team that lacked talent and ideas on how to move the ball simply to break down a defense. Pato and Zlatan have yet to develop a true understanding and Flamini returning from injury was not sharp, albeit his passing never really is.

Defensively however, save for two minutes of utter stupidity, was solid. Abate turned in a near man of the match performance with great runs forward drawing comparisons to Cafu, and attack-stopping challenges drawing comparisons to Tassotti. He has really flourished in the position and making it hard to argue for a RB when he has become everything we need. Lecce was also unable to exploit Bonera choosing instead to attack the left flank and through the center, probably the only tactical mistake on the day by Gigi DiCanio.

The goal came from a moment of utter brilliance from Zlatan, otherwise the chances on the day were extremely limited.

Often times the only player Milan were pushing into the box was Seedorf, but the ball never really joined him because of Lecce’s supremely compact formation. Shots from distance were seemingly available but even those never found their target. Pato and Zlatan both needed to see the ball at their feet from around 25 meters out to be dangerous but it never really happened. Instead their insistence on threading the needle and not running at defenders was their undoing in the first half. The second half started much brighter with Pato really attacking the left flank very hard, but he was subbed and never had an opportunity to continue that momentum. A point I want to touch on further.

At the time Allegri brought on Cassano, many were expecting a substitution of Seedorf, but with a one goal lead I didn’t think adding an unfit Cassano was the best move in terms of balance. Allegri was probably looking to sub Seedorf as well but once the goal from Lecce came bringing on Strasser or Merkel was probably not the best of ideas when you are pressing for a second goal. Cassano did admirably well creating three very good chances in less than 25 minutes, but again finishing was a problem. It plagued fans and management so badly last season that Marco Borriello was run out of town, where he is finishing just about everything, wonder if a Zlatan witch-hunt is in order? He finished an amazing goal, but two late chances were far simpler and far more important for the two points.

A disappointing and frustrating draw to say the least, but not entirely surprising as Milan often struggle away to Lecce, and it doesn’t take a scientist to see the team is a bit out of form and out of sync. No surprise with the injuries and shifting of the first eleven, but with Nesta back healthy, Flamini returning, Cassano gaining match fitness and KPB on the horizon it is only a matter of time before this team is firing on all cylinders. Just have to keep getting something from matches and getting points in bunches sooner than later will help that dramatically. Back tomorrow with a tactics piece to discuss Milan’s toothless attack of late and the marking responsibilities of a corner kick.

Season Reset

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It was August 29th, Allegri’s new Milan, looking strangely like Leo’s old Milan, thrashed Lecce 4-0. That game was funny because it gave us a very emphatic high but a quick shot back down to Earth as the loss to Cesena showed the glaring holes in Milan’s unbalanced lineup. But we didn’t have this worry, this was in fact a new AC Milan, Allegri’s Milan and instead rolling out the same silly 4-3-3 match in and match out hoping for something different, he went back to the drawing board and learned from his mistakes. With that a new team was born, a new AC Milan, a first place AC Milan.

I don’t put much stock in the first match against Lecce, for some reason or another Lecce thought they could come to the San Siro and attack, which was a mistake. They will most likely have a far different tactical outlook this time around and while I don’t necessarily think they will all out defend and counter, I do expect them to play wider in attack to counter Milan’s narrow play though the center of the pitch. The problem is they really lack the technical quality to overcome a team like AC Milan, which means any result by Lecce will be the fault of our own team.

Allegri’s last match against Udinese was a tactical nightmare, lack of personnel forced him into a poor formation and the organization of that formation gave Udinese too much room to do what they enjoy, and that is attack. The return of Ambro should do a lot for getting Seedorf off the pitch and more importantly not so close to our own goal. This will also help the defense as Ambro’s presence along with Rino, and most likely Flamini, should help in stopping any counters.

Offensively Allegri has options, and depending on how Cassano has progressed this week in training he may return as a super sub or get a start to be subbed depending on circumstances. You could almost make a case for starting him as the CAM behind Zlatan and Pato, resting Binho, but considering the match and opponent you can also make a case for Merkel starting behind the strikers and making way for Cassano later in the match. The choice is Allegri’s but if there was a match where you can experiment a bit this is one of them. Not sure what the prognosis on Abbiati was this week but he should also be returning, and this will help further put the team back in order and get a nervous looking Amelia back to the bench.

My proposed lineup is as follows:

Abbiati;
Abate, Yepes, Silva, Antonini;
Rino, Ambro, Flamini;
Merkel;
Zlatan, Cassano

This gives Cassano a chance right from the get go if fit, and gives Allegri flexibility in substitutions and tactics depending on the ebb and flow of the match. If Milan gets a lead and they want to defend you can play 4-4-2 subbing Strasser for Merkel. If you are losing you can sub Merkel for Pato or Binho, and attack with some more pace and skill. Personally, I like options and scenarios, and by the looks of things lately Allegri hasn’t had any, so he should take advantage when he does!

Anything short of three points here will be a failure, and while I don’t like underestimating opponents this match should be won and won early much like the trips to Bari and Bologna. With that type of win it allows the team to relax, gives option for guys like Strasser and Merkel to get more minutes and the team to build more confidence as a whole. Looking forward to the weekend and more importantly the second half of the season reset, going to be a fun ride!

Tactics Tuesday: The Cassano Effect

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In less than forty-five minutes of game action it is evident what Antonio Cassano brings to the table for AC Milan. The lack of match fitness actually gives me even more hope because what have been strong, albeit sluggish performances, should only improve. Three assists on three crucial goals directly responsible for four points suddenly makes the purchase of Antonio Cassano about as smart a move as Milan has made in the past few seasons. More importantly though it gives Allegri options and as well as forces the members of the attack such as Pato, Robinho, and Zlatan to up their game to assure minutes and stay on the pitch.

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The key word and idea behind his play has been fluidity. His integration with his teammates and his ability to play in such tight spaces will only further frustrate defenses and create space for his teammates to operate in. As defenses close down Cassano, Pato can use his speed or Zlatan his strength to get in behind defenses and idealistically finish any chances given to them. It will also make defenses seriously reconsider the usual two-man marking of Zlatan in fear of leaving Cassano free to roam. If defenses still choose to double mark Zlatan with a CB and a back or two CBs then there is one less player able to move forward if a DM is forced to chase Cassano. Simply put he makes Milan’s attack difficult to contend with and dangerous.

Having Cassano on the pitch creates one of the most difficult attacking phases to defend against, but also one of the most dynamic attacking phases to watch. Good for Milan fans and bad for everyone else. The pattern of play Milan can now employ almost resembles an accordion, and while they have done this effectively at times this season with Prince, it will be even more polished with Cassano. Simply stated, farther from goal the attacking trident spreads wide across the edge of the attacking third, stretching the defense to create space for the second step, which is to contract the attack and allowing for one and two touch football forcing defenders to move back and towards goal and unable to mark and pressure. This was done to perfection in the goal against Cagliari, and the fourth goal against Udinese also began in wider area with Zlatan and Cassano literally meters away from each other to create the goal. Factor in the adding passing of an Andrea Pirlo, and suddenly Milan’s attack can be multi-dimensional and dangerous both with long raking balls into space and tight one touch passing in and around the 18 yard box.

Milan 4 Udinese 4: WOW

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So I am actually rather speechless. For the casual fan today was probably as exciting a match as you are going to get. Goals, counters, flicks, tricks, and just about everything that makes this game so special, but to be an Udinese or Milan fan on this day was actually rather gut wrenching, frustrating, and nail biting. As I sit here a few hours later, and replaying stretches of the match on ESPN3 and I am still astounded and despite knowing the result, my heart is still racing. It is imperative to commend the team for their attitude, their resilience, and earning an arguable undeserved point, but in the same token you almost have to stand up and applaud Udinese for coming to the San Siro, not to roll over or absorb pressure, but to play football in a way that reminds you how exciting and free flowing Serie A football can be.

I have always had a soft spot for Udinese, their players, their style, their ability to simply turn a match on it’s head. I have always had tremendous respect for them because they have ALWAYS given Milan a game no matter where they may have stood in the table relative to AC Milan. They have also always done the same to our cross-town rivals, Inter, and you have to wonder if playing at the San Siro is just as comforting for them as it is for the boys from Milan. Toto DiNatale now has 11 goals in his past eight matches, and is simply maintiaining a level and caliber of finishing that is incredible. How he has not yet moved to a Club playing Europe is beyond me, because with more matches you have to believe that the small yet crafty striker would place his name amongst Europe’s top goal scorers. As if Toto’s talent is not enough, watching guys like Asamoah and Zapata so young and so composed makes me wonder why Milan has not offered 25-30M for both of them. Imagine Tiago Silva standing next to Zapata as CB’s of the future? Better yet a midfield of Asamoah, Strasser, and Flamini would set Milan up for five years to come, foolish of Milan, but credit to Udinese for finding and holding this talent and making this team competitive.

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Now enough about Udinese, they do deserve all the credit in the World, but it was made worse by the fact that Allegri got it all wrong today. Yes, his hand was forced based on personnel, or lack thereof, but his inability to read the game and adjust was simply unacceptable. Seedorf did admirably well early in the role Ambro has held all season, but his inability to tackle and cover left Milan exposed far to often, and Allegri’s unwillingness to tuck Strasser and Rino in behind Clarence gave me flashbacks of Leo’s horrifically unbalanced 4-3-3. Credit to Robinho for operating in the defensive third, but as noted many times before, his presence back there is one thing, and certainly positive, but his inability to actually dig and make tackles due to his stature is not beneficial when the opponent wants to posses with numbers. He can slow down a counter, but stopping one is a whole different issue.

Anyone still harboring a strange belief or affinity in Marco Amelia over Abbiati should be examined for lunacy. His lack of confidence and nerves today were apparent from the first minute and it almost looked like Udinese were foaming at the mouth to take shots from distance. In fact he didn’t make a single clean save and while Bonera was to blame for 3 of the 4 goals, you have to believe Abbiati would have come thundering off his line on the last goal to bottle up Denis before the shot and at least meet him head on. Nothing scares a small striker like a hulking six foot tall GK barreling down on you. As for Bonera, his responsibilities or should I say missed responsibilities on the goals were evident, and he can no longer be considered a viable option when Yepes could most likely function in a more intelligent manner, granted the goals on pace were probably going to happen with Nesta as well, but you have to wonder why Allegri doesn’t hold Silva back when he knows pace is an issue. Yes Silva was an asset going forward today on one of Milan’s goals, but his foray forward also left Milan exposed at the back for Udinese’s fourth goal.

62982336The attack put in another inconsistent performance with Pato doing absolutely nothing for stretches of the match, except of course burying two goals, which made him imperative on this day. He often falls in and out of matches and plays for what seems like five minute stretches in which he excels, only to fade a few minutes later. Robinho was just the same, his work rate was fantastic, but his inability to finish and consistently work well with the ball at his feet is a problem. If he buried his chance early in the second half this would be a moot point, but he was stopped rather acrobatically by Handonivic and didn’t get many other chances in the second half. Zlatan, like his offensive mates, was inconsistent but he always seems to find away to get in a touch that starts an attack, or flick that leads to a goal. His interchanges with Cassano were seamless and almost always one touch, and hopefully a sign of things to come, but his presence of mind to nod the ball to Antonio, beat his defender, receive a fluid pass and then slot past a stout GK was the difference between 1 point and none on this day.

The real praise though on this day has to be Cassano. Yes he is clearly unfit, and actually looks labored on the pitch, but that will come with time. But two have three assists in less than 45 minutes of game action, all of them crucial goals; you can really start to imagine what he will mean to this team playing behind the strikers and being fully fit. He has this simple way of playing the game with a quick touch, or threaded pass that utterly disrupts defenses. In an sense he does it in almost a blunt fashion straightforward fashion, the defender will get into a position to anticipate a feint but it is too late, the ball is past and the striker has scored, before the defenders even gets a toe poke, fun to watch, and even more exciting for the future.

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All and all an exciting match, but when reflecting at the fact that injuries have given us a makeshift lineup, coupled with the fact that Allegri’s tactics were all wrong on this day then you have to pleased with the point. Part of me always demands and expects more, and there was no reason Milan couldn’t grab this game and buckle down at the back, but Udinese played too well and to aggressively to not take something from this match. If you haven’t seen the match, do yourself a favor and pull it up on ESPN3 and if you have the ability to download and save it do that to, an instant classic, not for the result but for the sheer determination of both sides to keep attacking and opening the game. Not my favorite type of match as I prefer defense and tactics, but fun to watch nonetheless.

Cagliari 0 Milan 1

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I love La Befana, and as a little Italian kid growing up Stateside it was always an excuse to get an extra little present from my Parents or my Nonni on January 6th. But alas growing up is never easy, and seeing that this is Milan we have our own Christmas gift giver, ladies and gentleman, courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Shankly, please meet La Ibrafana!

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This hideously beautiful figure delivered us three points today, from the bench no less, but not without the help of our Christmas present Antonino Cassano! Cassano was given a 25 minute run by Allegri and they proved pivotal as he slotted the perfect little pass across to Strasser who buried his first chance on goal in the first team and have Milan the type of win that you build title runs. The type of win that you have no business getting, because:

A) the other team plays better
B) you simply didn’t deserve it
C) you just got lucky.

All those choices suit Milan on this day, but no one will remember because the three points are already in hand on a day where Lazio drew and Juventus lost it all worked to perfection.

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I do want to start though by given credit to the Don. With both managers having the added fun of Coaching against their old teams, Allegri as a former Coach, and Donadoni as a former player, it was the Don who came out swinging. He decided to buck conventional wisdom and attack Milan with width and pace and Milan didn’t seem ready for that as they were fortunate not to concede in the first half hitting the post, and it took a good save from Abbiati on a Lazzari shot to keep the door shut. It was actually a rather impressive day for Milan target Lazzari who had to subbed due to injury, but was clearly playing to impress. Matri and Astori were also very solid with Matri often creating most of Cagliari’s chances on the ball. Milan were eventually able to assert themselves in possession but lacked any real incisive movements going forward. Pato and Robinho have yet to establish a solid partnership and throwing Merkel into the mix didn’t help. They lacked chemistry and cohesion with every movement forward. I personally have to question why Allegri didn’t opt for Seedorf at CAM and Strasser in the three man midfield line, but Max came good on his substitutions, using them early and effectively with both Strasser and Cassano factoring in on the goal.

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A sloppier game than usual, but if you consider the team was without a handful of starters yet still managed to create chances and earn a result it was not all that disappointing. There were a few a disappointing player performances with the first being that of Pato. My immediate thought was that he would function in the same role as Zlatan, collecting the ball deeper, facing goal, and make a quick pass or break for goal. This would work, but I forget that Pato simply can’t pass, so as attacks mounted they collapsed before they even really started. Robinho was his same busy self but his touches were poor following a long break, he worked so hard to find that touch again and I hate to have to watch him do it yet again, but we may have no choice. Unless of course Allegri opts for a partnership of Cassano and Zlatan over the weekend which seems highly unlikely, because of the age old question who plays CAM?

The weekend brings a match against Udinese which has historically not been favorable to Milan. Udinese always have the threat of Toto DiNatale and their new found vein of form combined with a strong midfield combo of Asamoah and Inler, this match can prove a challenge for Milan. Fatigue will be a factor for both teams but it will be up to Allegri to maximize his squad which he did effectively on this day. Abate, Bonera, Silva, and Ants should be good to go, but Ambro should move back to the center and Strasser to the left with Seedorf taking a bench seat. Cassano may have to play CAM with Merkel in the wings if he is can’t last the full 90. Zlatan will return with Pato or Robinho, with the other acting as a sub. If the youngsters can continue to contribute it will help Milan’s ability to competitive and give the team depth in the midfield line that desperately needs it.

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A good way to kick off the New Year and erase the dropped points from Roma, now to keep the ball rolling and build momentum to open the lead and deliver us our real present for 2011!

Mid Season Report Part III

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Well with Christmas behind us and the New Year on the horizon, it is time for the mid season report. Robinho is done unwrapping his better finishing boots, Pato hopefully a new pair of running shoes, Allegri is charging Cassano, and Antonini some DVDs of the soccer play he was last season. But all kidding aside Milan sit atop the table at the winter break for the first time in a few seasons and while the lead could surely be bigger without a recent loss the fact that this team actually resembles a team with some tactical direction and organization is a far better place than we were last season.

I want to tackle this in three parts, with the first being Allegri and the goalkeepers, the defense and the midfield and then the strikers and bench. They will post in the course of three days leading us into the New Year, and feel free to add your thoughts and opinions on the half season that was.

Strikers and Bench

I will say it without shame, I miss Marco Borriello. But I don’t miss him as much as I now love Zlatan Ibrahimovic. I will also be first to admit I never really liked Zlatan, but he has done every single thing right to endear himself to Milan fans and me personally. He has worked hard, he has played with an edge and intensity, and he has simply been ruthless. It’s funny because like Marco, he still misses some blatant chances, but the mere idea that strikers don’t miss chances is a pipe dream. I also don’t believe we are as Ibra-dependant as made out to be, because while he has scored many goal, his work with Robinho and the midfielders has forced teams to respect all the players on the pitch and not just double and triple cover Zlatan.

In the same way that Zlatan has proved pivotal, Robinho has done just the same. The little Brazilian, also guilty of missing chances, has covered more ground in his last 5 to 7 starts than Ronaldinho covered all last season! He has also given Milan competition for time on the pitch and both Pato and Cassano should take notice at Robinho’s performances and what they need to do to earn playing time. One minute he is in the box making a great run and the next he is chasing the LB to hold up a counter or tracking back to collect the ball from Ambrosini and turn and face goal. Never thought he had it in him, but something about this team and Allegri has brought the best out of Robinho and with this comfort I hope we can see him continue to improve and be a player for this team for years to come.

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Speaking of Robinho, his fellow Brazilian Ronaldinho which he rightfully displaced, now sits firmly on the Milan bench which is neither deep nor useful to Allegri when a match is on the line. A bench that is desperately screaming for a CM, CB, striker and CAM has nothing of the sort to make in impact late in a game or take a place in the winning eleven. Adding Cassano will surely helping the attacking depth, but the January transfer window should be used to add a player like Lazzari, Montolivo, or Criscito to solidify the roster and give Allegri players to compete in both the CL and Serie A while not losing too much on the pitch in terms of talent and chemistry. Bringing back Astori would also be a simple no-brainer but it is unlikely that a move that would benefit in the both the short term and long term so the young Italian can forge a ten year partnership with Tiago Silva would happen. At this point bringing home on the cheap and getting a guy like Montelivo or Lazzari would also move this team forward for the future.

It is no secret AC Milan is not a long term project, this team is built to win now, this season or next, so adding players that can contribute right away and in the future would be excellent. I don’t always have a lot of faith in Fester and the Milan brass but with a smart move like Cassano, you have to think that maybe much like the team even the management is turning the corner. Should be an interesting transfer window and even better second half of the season, win or lose, I hope we can enjoy something special.

Mid Season Report Part II

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Well with Christmas behind us and the New Year on the horizon, it is time for the mid season report. Robinho is done unwrapping his better finishing boots, Pato hopefully a new pair of running shoes, Allegri is charging Cassano, and Antonini some DVDs of the soccer play he was last season. But all kidding aside Milan sit atop the table at the winter break for the first time in a few seasons and while the lead could surely be bigger without a recent loss the fact that this team actually resembles a team with some tactical direction and organization is a far better place than we were last season.

I want to tackle this in three parts, with the first being Allegri and the goalkeepers, the defense and the midfield and then the strikers and bench. They will post in the course of three days leading us into the New Year, and feel free to add your thoughts and opinions on the half season that was.

Defense and Midfield

I think the secret is out; our best CB pairing is Nesta and Silva. Anything after that is like playing a slot machine at the Casino; the odds simply aren’t in your favor. Sokratis blew his chances early and has fallen down the pecking order; Yepes performed admirably but is only probably a tenth of second faster than Gooch who runs like molasses. This leaves Daniel Bonera, a RB who can’t play RB and a CB who can’t play CB. Not a good mix, but his mix of speed and ability to pressure the ball higher up the pitch from his RB back days make him the logical choice, but not necessarily the best. Poor Bonera has been on the pitch for ALL of Milan’s dropped points and poor omen, but one Allegri is stuck with unless a change is made in January. Silva will be back sooner rather than later, but having three first team worthy CB’s is a priority for any team, and while Silvio and Fester seem to prefer 5 first team strikers before 3 first team CBs this will always be a bit of an issue.

At least the RB spot has been solidified by the presence of Ignazio Abate. Inconsistent last season, he worked hard with Tassotti over the summer to hone his defense skills and his mix of pace and toughness have turned him into a serviceable RB. This couldn’t have happened any quicker because the thought of Zambro putzing up and down the RB is not good, but cover in the position is still a bit of an issue. Not to mention we are not Zambro free quite yet because every step Abate has taken to getter better Antonini has regressed and taken one backwards. It really doesn’t help that Ants is being asked to play LB, as a naturally right footed player. His runs forward are often very decisive but he is constantly put into positions to use his left foot by smart defenders and is exposed time and time again. This was not a problem last season with Ronaldinho’s feet firmly cemented in the area of the pitch between the touch and line and 18 yard box, but without the static figure there it is Antonini often in that space.

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I like him as a player, and I like that he makes the most out of his opportunities on the pitch, but his performances are often inconsistent making Zambro the safer choice. Even worse, when Seedorf is played ahead of him he is required to defend even more and often caught in no man’s land to high up the pitch, this was evident against Roma, giving Menez the space to create the goal in a 1 v 1 situation, whereas a pressure cover from the midfielder would have stopped the attack before it even started. Much like the CB problem, the LB is a spot that needs to be addressed, but at this point if it isn’t you have to wonder if letting DeVito get an Abate style learning curve is not the best move.

The rebirth of the midfield has been two-fold. The first being Allegri’s choice to employ three DM style midfielders behind an attacking midfielder. This has allowed players like Gattuso and Ambro to play a more controlled style not being forced to run all over the pitch as they did in Leonardo’s circus of attacks style football. They are now covering, holding their ground, and getting forward only when the play dictates. It is has also helped that Ambrosini has seemingly reinvented himself for the cause once again, collecting the ball from the defense and playing simple high percentage passes to keep possession and making the other team chase foolishly.

Allegri has also found a way to create space for Pirlo in wider position and watching him interchange with KPB was really special. An injury derailed that partnership, but I expect variations of that lineup will be seen time and time again by Allegri. Getting a healthy Flamini back will better this team as well, but adding another body into the rotation either with a January signing, or a slowly introduced Rodney Strasser will keep those players fresh and continue to allow Allegri to get the balance so desperately needed to challenge for a title.

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The addition of Cassano will make the attacking midfielder role a bit more interesting and while I don’t see Cassano taking hold of the position in every match, it gives Allegri both flexibility and versatility to put out a lineup to match the opponents work rate and tactical formation. Seedorf has done well when needed but his play his often to slow to match the quickness of Zlatan and Robinho. Robinho also worked very hard when asked to play that role, but it was KPB who had the most success in three consecutive matches, scoring in his first two, and if not for poor finishing would have probably put Roma to the sword as well. With Cassano, Allegri simply has choices in how to deploy him, Pirlo, and KPB to best earn a result.

Mid Season Report Part I

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Well with Christmas behind us and the New Year on the horizon, it is time for the mid season report. Robinho is done unwrapping his better finishing boots, Pato hopefully a new pair of running shoes, Allegri is charging Cassano, and Antonini some DVDs of the soccer play he was last season. But all kidding aside Milan sit atop the table at the winter break for the first time in a few seasons and while the lead could surely be bigger without a recent loss the fact that this team actually resembles a team with some tactical direction and organization is a far better place than we were last season.

I want to tackle this in three parts, with the first being Allegri and the goalkeepers, the defense and the midfield and then the strikers and bench. They will post in the course of three days leading us into the New Year, and feel free to add your thoughts and opinions on the half season that was.

Allegri and the Keepers

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The single most important thing Allegri has done for this team is simply making his own choices. No phone in lineups from Silvio, no media pressure, and no wavering. The problem is his lineup choices are so definitive to Allegri that even he doesn’t change them! Now that is OK if things are going well, but often his well balanced midfield line and CAM could be changed based on the course of the match and he doesn’t pull the trigger. Obviously something he can work on in the new year, and one would think that the addition of a player like Cassano and hopefully an extra body in the midfield will give him a bit more flexibility in those choices.

I also want to give Allegri credit because he has proven that a team can be exciting while not necessarily getting waxed on the defensive side of the ball. Milan are playing a good mix of stylish and substance football, and have scored some pretty good goals along the way. They have also had some gritty wins in the process and there is no better example than the one-zero win against Inter with ten men, from that day the AC Milan you see today was forged. With that performance we also saw Allegri begin to instill faith and confidence in players like Abate, Flamini, KPB, and Robinho who have all rewarded him with maximum effort and strong performances.

In the end Allegri has proven he can make the right choices tactically, albeit sticking with them a bit to long. But also that he can be respected, he can motivate, and he can make AC Milan a contender. Part of me wants to say thanks, and it is OK how it shakes out in the end, but the competitive side of me says no way, you started this and now end it just as strong. Allegri can do it and this team can do it!

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Allegri has to also be given some credit for the resurgence of Cristian Abbiati. Many Milan tifosi spent most of the summer drooling over the signing of Marco Amelia and expecting the wildly inconsistent journeyman GK to take hold of the reins of AC Milan. This was not the case, and even if the first 6-8 weeks while fans were still pining for Amelia, Abbiati simply made game saving stop after game saving stop hopefully silencing his critics and catching the eye of Cesare Prandelli in the absence of Buffon. It is unlikely that Abbiati will get that call, but no worries; it was not long ago that Milan had a GK by the name of Rossi who never got the call he may have deserved but kept Milan in match after match when called upon. I am sure Abbiati will gladly trade in a National team cap for a Scudetto anyway!

Milan Legends: Invasion of The Flying Dutchmen

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A while back Mrs. Shankly dropped me an early Christmas present. She decided to resurrect the AC Milan Legend pieces I had worked on early in my blogging tenure here at the ACMilanOffside.com. Thanks to Mrs. S the likes of Maldini, Baresi, and Albertini are joined now by not one but three of the most influential stranieri that AC Milan has ever seen. If you were to young to remember these fellas then get yourself on youtube or a DVD because it was special. Three Dutchmen and a handful of Italians comprised one of the greatest Club teams of all time! Enjoy the post and thanks again to Mrs. S!

Long before the young Klaas Jan Huntelaar slipped through our fingers, even before the elder statesman Clarence Seedorf practiced his brand of magic at the San Siro, there was a Dutch invasion that took Milan by storm. Three individual legends came together to form one super legend and brought the glory days to the Rossoneri.

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The early eighties had not been good for Milan, as they had been struggling to overcome a couple of seasons in Serie B, having been relegated due to a matchfixing scandal in 1980, and falling back again in ‘82-‘83. Enter an entrepreneur called Silvio Berlusconi, who purchased the club in 1986 and immediately invested heavily in it. In addition to hiring now legendary coach Arrigo Sacchi, he bought world class players with the intention of becoming the most successful club in the world.

One investment was Dutch player Marco van Basten. He would become known as one of the most brilliant and beloved players ever to wear the Rossoneri jersey. He was a lethal finisher with both feet, incredibly agile, and also good with his head. His individual accomplishments speak for themselves: He won European Player of the Year three times, in ’88, ’89, and ’92, something only 3 other players have managed to do. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1989. He was Serie A’s Capocannoniere (top scorer) in ’90 and ’92. He was the first player to score 4 goals in a single Champion’s League match. He is now the 7th all time AC Milan scorer with 124 goals in 201 appearances, a record finally bested recently by Pippo Inzaghi. He was also known for his accuracy at the spot, with an impressive 92% PK success rate. These stats alone would be impressive, but are even more incredible given that Van Basten had a career long ankle problem requiring no fewer than 4 different surgeries. He played his last game in a Milan jersey at age 28, and finally relented to an early retirement at 30. It is amazing to think about what could have been had his career not been cut so short.

That same season, Ruud Gullit, a fellow countryman who is known as much for his massive hair as his footballing skills, arrived at Milan. He was a strong, physical player who embodied “Total Football,” a concept where players can play at any position and do so interchangeably within a match. His power and strength gave Milan a top player that would strike fear into any opponent. But he was also fantastic in the air and played with grace and great technical ability. After being awarded the European Player of the year award in 1987, he dedicated it to Nelson Mendela, using his fame to bring attention to the injustices in South Africa. Off the pitch, he also dabbled in a brief music career tied to his political interests, but let’s just say that he was a fantastic footballer.

One year later, in 1988, the third prong of the Dutch trident came along in the form of Frank Rijkaard, a childhood friend of Ruud Gullit. Coach Sacchi took the defender and transformed him into a defensive midfielder, and he dominated the pitch both verbally and physically with his aggressive playing style. Feared by opponents, but loved by coaches (except for the temper,) he redefined the defensive midfield position. And together with his compatriots he went on a winning spree that put AC Milan on the map as one of the greatest clubs in the world.

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The first step was winning the Scudetto in the ’87-’88 season, something Milan hadn’t done in 9 years. After being back to back runners up in ’89-’90 and ’90-’91, they won Serie A again as teammates in ’91-’92 and ’92-’93. So if you’re keeping score, that’s 3 Dutch players and 3 Scudetti in 6 years. (It took Milan 80 years to collect their previous 10 Scudetti.)

Add to that Milan’s first 3 Super Coppa titles, in ’88, ’92, and ’93. Then back to back Champion’s league titles in ’88-’89 and ’89-’90. Plus the two UEFA Super Cups in ’89 and ’90. And two Intercontinental cups in ’89 and ’90 as well. Not only were they playing amazing football, they were filling the trophy cabinets to the brim.

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A pinnacle performance came in 1989 in the European Cup (now called Champion’s League) semifinal, when Milan slaughtered Real Madrid in the 2nd leg by a score of 5-0 (their first leg was a 1-1 draw.) Even more impressive is that all 5 goals came from different players. This may have something to do with their now legendary roster, which included the legendary captain Franco Baresi, a young Paolo Maldini, a player called Carlo Ancelotti and his buddy Mauro Tassotti, (where have I seen them before?) as well as Alessandro Costacurta and Roberto Donadoni. Milan went on to win the final against Steaua Bucharest 4-0, with a brace each by Gullit and van Basten. Not bad for a team who had won a penalty shootout against Red Star Belgrade just to progress past the 2nd round.

In 1991, Sacchi and van Basten had a falling out, so Berlusconi fired Sacchi, bringing in a young Fabio Capello as manager. Some might say it was ridiculous to change managers, but under Capello’s reign, Milan accomplished something that no other Serie A team has. From the end of May in ’91 until March of ‘93, AC Milan went an all-time Serie A record 58 matches unbeaten, the perfect season.

They still linger in the hearts and minds of devoted Milan fans everywhere. Six incredible years, a trio of Dutchmen, a dozen trophies, and a perfect season. Not to mention the foundation for everything we’ve won since. They ushered in the glory days of Milan. All three of the Flying Dutchmen went on to coach, 2 of them even coaching their national team. Despite dominating Europe, as players, they were only ever able to win the 1988 Euros with the Netherlands, but they were more than generous to win title after title for AC Milan.

After this year’s world cup, the Dutch have acquired a reputation for brute force and a thug playing style that overshadows their great technical skill. But not all Dutchmen played like this, not always. The trio of van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard used incredible technical skills, brilliant form, and sublime class and style to give AC Milan a wealth of trophies and a legacy of champions.

Buon Natale a Tutti

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Last year I asked for a simple wish, but this year I ask that our Milan continues on this path to deliver us our first title in six years!!

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Forza Milan! I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday with those special to you, and more importantly thank you for another enjoyable year together as our own little Milan family. Wouldn’t be the same around here without you guys!

Tactics Thursday: Cassano

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With the purchase of Cassano all but confirmed it is time to look at this move from a tactical perspective and what it means for Max Allegri and AC Milan. While Antonio is not your prototypical CAM or striker, he provides coverage on the field in an area where Allegri has made due with the diminutive Robinho, the aging Seedorf, and the surprisingly effective Kevin Prince Boateng. It is expected that Cassano will slot in directly behind the strikers and make that role his own, allowing Seedorf to be phased out and KPB to do the hard work in the 3 man midfield, a position that also needs cover with injuries to Pirlo and Flamini, and having an extra body to mix in there will be important.

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The biggest concern of many Milanista to this point has been one of balance, rightfully so. Balance is imperative to the success of a football team, and it is no coincidence that Allegri’s ability to strike that balance has made all the difference in the success of Milan. Gone is the 4-3-3 leaving ample space between the channels to counter attack, or drive an eighteen wheeler, instead Allegri has employed his preferred 4-3-1-2 in a very compact and narrow deployment making Milan difficult to counter against and even more difficult to clear the ball through the attacking third. Add a high pressure, high work rate attacking trio and suddenly you have team gone from slow and lazy with only a few players working to win back the ball, to almost ten players pressuring at any given time.

From what Cassano has shown in the past he has the ability to provide this work rate, and while he is certainly more dangerous going forward than he is tracking back, but if Robinho proved anything as long as you can front the ball you can hold up an opponent’s attack and be an asset on the defensive side of the ball. What Cassano does bring to the table offensively though is an upgrade from any player we have on the roster, and while I have never been personally enamored with supposed “fantasistas” it will be excellent to have a player who can collect the ball, turn and face goal and allow Robinho and Zlatan to get into dangerous positions to be successful on the finish.

Cassano-Milan His ability to run with the ball at his feet, find a precision pass, or simply finish makes him an asset to AC Milan to shoulder some of the creative burden, and also to relinquish this supposed feeling of the Ibra-dependance of AC Milan. It also marks the end of the failed experiment of Ronaldinho at AC Milan, two years too late, but adding a player who can actually make a viable contribution off the bench will go a long way. Where Ronaldinho ends up is beyond me, and the pipe dream of making any money on the deal is pretty much done, lessons learned; Rivaldo, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho all epic fails.

Cassano should beginning training with the team immediately after the Holiday and will probably make his debut sooner than the anticipated first game in February. I just hope he comes in motivated, ready to work, and focused because adding a player like this mid season has historically proven a success for Milan, and hopefully Cassano will do the same.

Time to Talk about Cassano

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There has been lots of noise the past week following the Courts’ ruling on Antonio Cassano, now it appears he will arrive at AC Milan as the first XMAS present of the transfer window. The deal is not without some details to be ironed out, specifically with wages and a strange 5M sale fee owed to Real Madrid, but it appears Uncle Fester has been working diligently and that Cassano will be signed until 2014 and the Real Madrid fee will simply be taken out of the piles of money the still owe us on Kaka.

So with that said, it’s time to really consider what Milan is getting and if it is conducive to our title run. I will do a more focused tactics piece to discuss Cassano’s value to Milan on the pitch, but I want to first address some of the concerns he brings off the pitch. It is no secret he can be volatile, but with volatility comes certain passion for the game that you can’t really teach or foster, you are just born with it and Cassano has it in spades. When it is channeled and focused that volatility can be the catalyst for some of the best football we have seen since Baggio, but when it is not we have a guy who can pout and grumble like no other. So which Cassano are we going to get?

Save the most recent bust up, his run at Sampdoria was actually calm, cool and collected. He helped Sampdoria climb the table, and make a run at CL football very admirably. He also worked his way back into the National team and seemed to grow up more in two years than he had in the last ten. So as he gets closer to Milan, you have to believe his maturation will continue. He will be on a team with old guard Italians in Ambro, Rino, Nesta, and Pirlo, and he will be on a team he will be competing for a title and even a CL run, two things that Cassano has not really had the pleasure of really being involved throughout his career. He will also have the benefit of a player like Rino, who has had a very close and friendly relationship keeping him in line.

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Above all though he will have the added motivation of winning, and when Cassano has had that drive to win he has been spectacular. His performances will surely be in the focus of Prandelli, and if he can earn Allegri’s trust and work his way into a place behind the strikers or rotate in as a striker he will surely be instrumental if Milan can win the title at the end of the season. It is a perfect opportunity for Antonio Cassano to finally grow into the player everyone knows he can become, and what better Club than AC Milan. Joining the company of great AC Milan legends should be reason enough to give it his all, and at 28 years old he has the chance to truly make his mark.

Milan 0 Roma 1: Can’t Win if You Don’t Finish

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I let this one marinate for a day, I watched the first half again, then I watched the goal again, again, and again. Simply shook my head in my frustration and started writing this post. The first twenty minutes were epic, but if you come up empty handed and don’t finish then you let the opponent off the hook, and more importantly allow them to gain confidence that they can absorb pressure and hit back on the counter, and that was the end of the AC Milan on this day.

It wasn’t even so much a master-class countering performance like the loss against Cesena, it was simply the case of an opponent being well organized and tactically efficient, and without the goal to force a change Roma grew stronger in possession as the match wore on and Milan, in extreme poor and disappointing fashion, cracked. You could see it their face: Zlatan, Ambro, and KPB, they were frustrated, rightfully so, but this lack of patience and resilience is what bothers me more than loss. No team has ever won a title without overcoming a bit of adversity, and today Milan couldn’t do it.

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Credit to Ranieri for putting together a well balanced tactical plan that included a high defensive line giving Milan’s attacking trio little room to operate. It is a risky game that only takes one mistake to breakdown, but the defense was solid, and it certainly helped that Milan couldn’t finish. Both Zlatan and Robinho had opportunities early and in bunches, and if one of those goals goes in the game changes, but instead the frustration mounted. It is funny to think that a combo that has been so clinical the past few weeks couldn’t find the back of the net, but that is the nature of the game no matter how much is spent on the attack, the players still have to finish. Fittingly the man who was sent to Roma in favor of the shiny new strike force did just that, he finished, sure he may have known little about it, but he still put the ball in the back of net. Something many Milan fans felt he was not capable of on a consistent basis, but I guess he proved his point.

The real game changer though was the injury to Pirlo, and Allegri’s lack of real options meant Seedorf was sent in to function as effectively as Pirlo, but on this day Seedorf barely functioned. It stalled the attack and weakened the left flank dramatically, and it is no coincidence that is where the Roma goal originated from. Allegri is not without fault however, he could have easily swapped KPB into the LM role and moved Seedorf into a more advanced position, this may have been a negative move at first glance but would have solidified the midfield line and given Seedorf a chance to stand up on the ball and find a through ball to break the offside trap. Some of you would have probably liked to see Ronaldinho sooner for this exact purpose, but when you consider the best way to breakdown an offside trap is with clinical one-two passing and off the ball movement, I am not sure Ronaldinho would have done much to remedy that. Yes his bicycle effort, had it finished, would have been spectacular, but it would have only tied the game, and the fact that it didn’t go in will erase that memory after a day or two anyway.

So let’s put this all into perspective, three points dropped at home, yet we go into the break top of the table for the first time in 8 years. Sure with a win we would have had a chance to have the biggest lead a Milan team has ever had since a legendary 1992 team, but that didn’t happen. We are still top of the table, and we are still a team capable of mounting a challenge for a title. I hate calling us favorites because frankly, that breeds complacency and I hate complacency. But considering the circumstances, I think we should all be pleasantly surprised at where we stand at the moment. Come the New Year the team will get healthy, and we will possibly be welcoming, a former Roman no-less, in Antonio Cassano. More on him later this week, but you have to think in a match like this he is the type of guy that can make something happen, and maybe he will get his chance against Roma, in Rome. Who knows?

Fitting…

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On a day were Zlatan couldn’t put a foot right you did what you do best, work your ass off, get in good places and score. Congratulations, Marco, you deserved it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way…if they were going to beat us it almost had to be your goal…

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This is where it ends though pal, I stuck with you, always have, BUT YOU ARE DEAD TO ME. As for the Romanista, XMAS came early but you will get yours…

Welcoming Old Friends

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It is my favorite my time of year, and no it is not Christmas, it is a Roma match! Historically this has always been a preview that lets me take cheap shots at the easily wound up Roman legions and remind them of their place in the hierarchy of Serie A, but instead I figured this time around I am older, calmer, and more mature, so I will take the high road.

Why such a change you ask? Well because our team is in first place, and the rebirth of AC Milan under Allegri has been nothing short of amazing. The benching of Ronaldinho, playing for the result with balance and smart tactics, are all things I have been preaching since Carletto left us and now I feel as though for the first time in a long time this team is taking steps in the right direction. I still can’t sit here and guarantee a Scudetto, the race is long, and in the end anything could happen, but if we keep taking care of business week in and week out and let the play on the pitch do the talking then there is no reason we can’t be the last team standing at the end of the season.

I also never underestimate Roma, and while they are wildly inconsistent, reasonably average, and generally unlikeable they have an X-factor that makes them dangerous. Like any average team, they can come out swinging and beat just about anyone on their day, so the key is don’t let them have their day. In Ranieri they have a wily tactician who on his best days is cerebral and on his worse days leaves you wondering what on Earth he is thinking. Guessing his lineups is sometimes a game of chance, and regardless of who he puts in the team sheet Allegri and Milan will have to continue to build off the momentum from the unbeaten run in Serie A.

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One name that will surely be on the team sheet is Marco Borriello. No secrets here, I love this guy, but I would probably trade him for Zlatan three more times, though I would like him back on the bench in place of Dinho and maybe Roma can get a second Bidone D’Oro, congrats on that by the way, and take Dinho off our hands to sit with Adriano!? Wishful thinking I know. Either way Borriello’s ship has sailed, and while I wish him the best, I would rather he not play on the weekend. He will come out with a head of steam and like his new team he could easily bury two goals and kill his old Club, or he can miss a few sitters and reinforce what many of you believed all along. However you look at it, Nesta will have his work cut out for him because Marco Borriello will be motivated, and if he does score, and he actually celebrate he will be dead to me.

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Enough about Roma because the most important issue here is AC Milan. I have always been a firm believer that if Milan plays their game nothing can stop them, and that is the goal for Allegri and company. This won’t be so easy with three prominent names unavailable in Flamini, Rino, and Zambro. Zambro can easily be replaced, but losing two of the gritty midfielders’ means balance can become an issue. Allegri has one of two options he can drop KPB back into the 3 man line and lose the success he has had working behind the strikers, and turn to Clarence in the CAM role and ask the team to play a more controlled possession game and keep the ball away from Roma. Or he can give Strasser Rino’s place and continue with KPB and Pirlo, neither situation is ideal, but a choice needs to be made.

My gut feeling says go with Seedorf, simply because possession forces Roma to chase and chasing means they will get frustrated, and when they are frustrated they and not focused making them easy to beat as clinically proven by Palermo only a few weeks back. The other part of me wants KPB to run riot on DDR and force the DM to chase all over the pitch, leaving space for Pirlo to join the attack and time to work in the midfield. If Seedorf does play the mids will have to stay pin backed to guard against counters forcing the fullbacks to join the attack, this may work because Antonini is better going forward than staying home, but as you see both choices come with positives and negatives. I don’t envy Allegri in this circumstance, but I am strangely calm that he will make the right choice and tactically drill the team to make this work.

Defensively having Bonera alongside Nesta is a little bothersome with the pace of a guy like Menez, and to put it rather bluntly, we don’t have anyone outside of Abate who can keep up with the Frenchman. He likes to roam so pressure and cover is imperative to keep him under wraps, and keeping him out of the box means his penchant for going to ground won’t be a problem. Keeping him from running with the ball and keeping Borriello in wide areas are key to a Milan victory and there is no doubt Allegri recognizes this, so let’s hope the team can execute and get it right.

I am not going to predict the lineup because frankly at this point I am torn, and I never predict the score so that is not going to change today. But I will end simply with this, Milan has come a very long way from early in the season both offensively and defensively and for the first time in a few seasons I can look at this team and say if they play the way have been there is little not believe they can be successful in this match or any other, this is not the Milan that struggled against Juventus, this is not the Milan that was shredded by Cesena, this is a new Milan; a Milan that shouldn’t be underestimated or taken lightly and one that has me hopelessly optimistic for the first time in a long time. That doesn’t mean we are invincible or that we can’t be beat, but it means we are not going down without a fight.

Tactics Tuesday: Pirlo and The Prince

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I have to admit that when Pirlo regained form I was a bit tentative to see what Allegri did with him. I wasn’t keen on the idea of the playing him back in his usual roll and behind Seedorf. The steely balance achieved by three hound dog ball winning midfielders, a key to Milan’s success, would be negatively affected and Milan would fall out of form. Midweek we got to see firsthand exactly how the Pirlo/Seedorf combo in the center of t pitch would work, and looking at the poor result doesn’t even say how bad it actually was.

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What Allegri has done instead is to employ Prince and Pirlo in the center of the park, in a very fluid and dynamic midfield that morphs so effortlessly play after play sometimes a 4-3-1-2, 4-4-2, or 4-1-2-1-2. It is amazing to watch, and hellish on defenders trying to defend their marks. They key to this has been the understanding between the four midfield players to recover narrow and centrally depending on who is joining the attack. If Pirlo steps forward, Prince has dropped back, if both Prince and Pirlo can join the attack the Ambro and Rino have fallen back and central at times even joined by Robinho to present volume in the midfield and maintain pressure in the opponents attacking third. This has worked with amazing success in the past two Serie A matches with Milan winning possession on the edge of the attacking third and creating scoring chances in what would have historically been a dangerous counter for the opponent.

Credit for this has to be given to Allegri, but also the players’ willingness to do what is asked of them and to take on their roles effectively and consistently. There is no one doing this better than Ambrosini, and since his return from injury and inclusion in the midfield Milan has been dominant. His ability to collect the ball often time behind Pirlo and in front of the defense and still manage to keep things simple and play us out of the back has been excellent. It also frees up space for Pirlo while defenders try and stop the ball and worked wonders on the pass to Zlatan for the third goal against Bologna.
The injury to Flamini does create a bit of an issue with depth, but hopefully he returns quickly and that Stasser can find some form and be a factor in the mean time. One negative to this formation has been that the team has been playing narrowly in the midfield and at times forcing Robinho and Zlatan to get into wide positions, not exactly where you want strikers on the pitch, this could be resolved with marauding fullbacks, but the team’s defend first mentality has yet to find a compromise in getting Abate or Zambro/Ants forward with regularity to turn Milan into an attacking force. At this point it would be tough to demand those forward runs with the team earning results and playing well.

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A masterstroke by Allegri that has given Milan’s tactics a strong bit of dynamic positioning and movement that will force even good teams to take notice, no longer will teams be able to defend deep and bite back on the counter, instead they will have to put numbers in the midfield and open the game in our favor. If you recall the two matches against Madrid and the loss to Juventus, Allegri had yet to find this winning formula, but now I can’t help but feel this team could compete admirably, I guess the CL will go a long way in proving or disapproving that opinion.

Bologna 0 Milan 3

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The things we do for our AC Milan!? Some of us had to wake up very early (looking at you MrsS!) on a Sunday morning to watch this match live, and while I am sure some of you chose the comfort and warmth of your nice warm beds after a night of fun and drinking, what kind of fans would we be without some Sacrifice:

the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable (ie SLEEP) for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim (ie A MILAN VICTORY!).

For the few who stayed up all night for this match, I say simply, my next beer goes out to you, and enjoy the fleeting days of your youth!

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So onto the match, and credit to Bologna at the outset who to date have the best home record in the Serie A and conceded the fewest goals at home. The Prince(s), both literally and figuratively, versus the Pauper(s), who despite being dangerously close to administration and losing their Serie A registration have played admirably of late and was not match taken lightly by Max Allegri. His choice to deploy the same formation as the match against Brescia, save TSilva, was a great choice because not only was the result the same, but the goal scorers were as well, in succession even.

The Prince goal was actually rather odd, if he had missed many would have been quick to wonder why he didn’t use his head, but after such a great cross from Zlatan, his second in two games was a foregone conclusion. Robinho’s goal was just as pretty and the quick feet and precise off the ball run put him a great spot to slot it past the keeper. His confidence is brimming at the moment, and while a few weeks ago he would have maybe kicked straight at the keeper, today was clinical. While both goals were very nice it was the third that was vintage AC Milan, Pirlo raking over the top ball to Zlatan who took a touch and finished so calmly, the defenders and Viviano didn’t stand a chance. Three goals, dominant in possession, smart on the ball and solid in defense for the second week in a row. Despite a midweek loss that had many up in arms the Red and Black Machine keeps pressing forward.

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There was however a few moments of panic, Abbiati was called on once again to make a fine save early on while the game was still nil-nil. He came through yet again, but also saved DiVaio’s late PK which would have done little to impact the match but the fact that Abbiati made the save should put him square in the eyes of Prandelli as the best GK in Serie A and Italy in the absence of Gigi Buffon. Midweek Amelia was solid, and said he was a bit upset about playing time, but the way Abbiati is playing Amelia may as well snuggle up next to Ronaldinho because I don’t see a reason for either of them to come off the bench anytime soon.

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It was also good to see Milan keep a clean sheet with Bonera on the pitch. Bonera holds the dubios honor of being on the pitch for all the matches in which Milan has dropped points, but today he was effective and move forward when needed. He played simple enough to not expose the squad in the back and while never truly challenged held up admirably. His choice was probably based purely on speed as a combo of Nesta and Yepes is strong but sluggish. With news that Astori may be on his way to Napoli I hope Milan can resolve something to assure CB coverage for any other potential injuries. Also on the defensive side of the ball Abate continues to make his choice a foregone conclusion, and with Zambro off injured with a bicep problem, Antonini should hopefully build on his performance today and improve as he will be needed in the coming weeks.

The story of the day, and I am sure the focal point for many, was the inclusion and rather lengthy performance of Rodney Strasser. Unlike throwing a player to the wolves in a CL match, today was the perfect opportunity to be cautious with Rino’s injury and play Strasser in a match where he could get his feet under him, get some touches, and find the speed of the match. Frankly, he did nothing all that entirely well, and but in the same sense he did nothing all that poory. It was a good smart performance in which he played simple two touch passes in the midfield, marked his runners well in the midfield, and didn’t force himself into poor situations. If anything he has surely earned himself another inclusion in the coming weeks and hopefully his confidence continues to improve.

It does need to said that the following the second goal, like most teams, Bologna was demoralized and defeated. But they did start admirably but could not sustain that level as Milan continued to improve following each goal. But Milan like a boa constrictor continued to suffocate the opponent, maintain pressure and put the match out of reach. All very good traits needed to make a title run, and burying bottom table teams is an absolute must. What seems like eons ago Milan failed to finish off Chievo, it would appear that team is gone and long forgetten, replaced by a team firing on all cylinders and playing with confidence and passion that I personally haven’t seen since 2007. Credit to Allegri and the squad, and onto Roma!

Milan 0 Ajax 2

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I am caught in two minds regarding this match. Part of me says it was meaningless, changes in personnel and deployment made the team disorganized and less dangerous, so no reason to read too much into it. But there is this fiercely competitive part of me that is furious that our unbeaten run is over and that momentum is lost, but that’s not all. A good team is only as good as its weakest link and today exposed more weak links than I would have liked to see or worse, have seen by everyone watching!

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Allegri’s pseudo 4-1-2-1-2 today was clearly an effort to see if Pirlo and Seedorf could operate in a midfield diamond as effectively as the three bulldog midfielders are working with the CAM. It was an intriguing idea because it gives Milan a more dynamic passing attack if executed properly. The problem with this diamond midfield is that it leaves Seedorf and Pirlo down the middle of the pitch and if the wide DMs get out of position it gives the opponents a lot of space in which to operate, as the team gets overly narrow. Throw in a static figure in Ronaldinho and the balance that has been so solid for Milan in their consistent run of form is basically thrown out the window! Hopefully Max wrote a simple two word note to himself following this match, lesson learned, or the more cryptic, epic fail, depending on how you like your notes to self! I think it is safe to say we won’t be seeing that formation again anytime soon, it is a personal favorite of mine, but this team lacks the personnel ten times over to make it work.

Now formations and tactics are only part of it, what bothered me most about today was the general inconsistency of everyone on the pitch. It was like they decided to play for only a few five to ten minute stretches at a time. I understand the game had little meaning, but there are ways to play deep tactically, conserve energy, and still manage to earn a result. With that much “experience” on the pitch I just figured maybe they would be capable of at least that much. Nope, dominated in possession, dominated in the center of the park, and dominated on the score sheet, no doubt Ajax deserved the win on this day.

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Now I don’t want to beat a dead horse here, he is clearly doing a fine job of that on his own, but can someone please write a eulogy for the career of Ronaldinho, or at least Ronaldinho at AC Milan!? Yes, the game may have been meaningless to the team, but for him it should have meant something and he should have shown that, now when his butt is planted firmly on the bench there is literally no one to blame but the player. Hopefully this one of the last few times I even have to mention his name. To some extent the same can almost be said for Pirlo who over complicated matters with low percentage passes and poor choices in possession, why not play simple, move the ball, and play within your means. I pretty much expected this type of lack luster performance from Ronaldinho, but Pirlo should be smarter after returning from injury and keeping things simple in the center of the park.

Onto Bologna for the weekend with the strike being “called off,” Allegri will have to erase this game quickly in training and get this team back into a balance organized unit. I can live with this loss a little easier if the team comes out swinging on on the weekend. I would expect Rino to return, the defense to go back to normal, and KPB most likely getting a start, but there is still a small issue of who plays CAM and will Ambro be able to go 90 if Flamini is not fit for the weekend? All problems that could have been avoided if Allegri put some faith in Strasser and Merkel on this day, and maybe the loss would have been even more palatable blaming it on the lack of experience in exuberant youth.

A few more odds and end to consider…

Bonera: he is officially the “mush” of AC Milan, no player has been on the pitch for more dropped points than this guy, a dubious honor to say the least. Maybe he and Ronaldinho should become better friends on the bench.

Ants: what happened to this guy? Last year he was in Prandelli’s plans, this year he can’t seem to recover from a forward run!? Kind of bothers me because he is our most fit and athletic LB and he can’t seem to get it together, this means more
Zambro, and that is never good. He had a great chance in a deep end line position to rake a ball across the face of goal, and instead a hopeful cross to know one, pretty much sums up his season to date.

Enoh: one word, WOW. Imagine this guy playing CM for AC Milan? Someone tell Braida and Fester he is Brazilian so they at least put him on the scouting list.

Diving: two cards for two blatant dives, finally some good calls. Hopefully with a little consistency from CL refs this problem is slowly eradicated.

Borriello: played a great game today for Roma, and got the goal to see them through. Here’s hoping Ranieri decides he needs to be rested for the match against Milan…

San Siro: there was a time not so long ago that teams came to the San Siro in the CL and knew they were going to drop points, I am not that big into nostalgia, all good things come to an end, but as I watch some of these little sureties disappear I can’t help but wish for the Milan of my youth…

Tuesday Milan Musings

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Some musings as we lead up to the match against Ajax, I would preview it but it is rather meaningless and the fact that this point I have no idea who Allegri will send out in this match or the Coppa match on the following day so your guess is as good as mine. I will touch briefly on it after the jump:

-Max says he won’t snub Ajax, I wonder if he should? Milan is qualified and for some strange reason I feel like we should push the issue with the Coppa Italia. One thing is for certain, some players will be rested, ie Zlatan, Abbiati, Nesta, and Silva, but Ronaldinho looks a lock. Get your popcorn ready Dinho fans; this may be the last full 90 you see for a while! There was hints that the defense would contain Oddo, Sokratis, Yepes, and Bonera, with that I say poor Amelia, but hopefully Antonini or DeVito see some minutes this week. Antonini should play for the sake of match fitness and his current lack of it, while DeVito is an option because he is supposedly pretty solid and our need for a LB is pressing. At this point anyone but Bonera is the rally cry. For those of you wondering what is happening with Montelongo, see previously Cardaccio and Viudez.

-If the weekend match against Bologna is in fact called off due to strike, the team will be even more rested come the match against Roma. My only fear is such a long layoff may slow some of this momentum, I hope the strike issue is resolved so Max can decide what to do with the next three matches without a strike hanging over his head.

-The more I watch Milan play well with makeshift CAM’s in Prince, potentially Pirlo, or an aging Seedorf, the more I feel like Cassano would bring this team over the top! I know he is a loose cannon, but Allegri has proved capable of dealing with such enigmatic talents and adding Cassano gives us a legitimate playmaker at a very nice price, FREE. I will make one small point here, isn’t it better he comes to Milan than goes to a direct rival like Inter or Juventus?? Cassano in January, Lazzari in the summer, throw in Astori and a LB suddenly this team is starting to look like a real contender.

-For those of you salivating over the potential of Mario Balotelli, wipe the drool. First and foremost unless we lose Pato or Binho to transfer or season ending injury he is surplus to need. You also don’t need his attitude sitting on the bench, granted I was all for Cassano, but Balotelli on the field is one thing; Balotelli whining on the bench is another! Man City and Mancini won’t let him go so easily either, so I think we can all forget that one.

-It is looking increasingly likely that we won’t get a striker a January, which is OK considering the roster has a few. Borriello was bandied about as coming back, which was squashed. Matri was also an option but with Donadoni in charge of Cagliari, who are winning and trying to stave of relegation, this is also a long shot. I wouldn’t read much into any further rumors though.

-There was a time when Inter would consider a player Milan would buy him just to make sure Inter couldn’t. Now that is what I call good business! If ever that should happen, this is one such move. Ranocchia is the closest thing to Nesta I have ever seen and throw him alongside Silva and you have a ten year CB partnership, bring Astori home as well and suddenly your three man rotation is better than some starting pairs. This is what Milan needs to assure future success, fortify the defense the attack will sort itself.