In two days’ time the big wigs of UEFA will congregate to determine the next round match-ups of the UEFA Champions League. We all know quite well this random pot drawing is the cornerstone of credibility and in no way would UEFA attempt to designate these match-ups for the benefit of wealth, marketing and business. So with that said, let’s explores Milan’s options and why some match-ups are far better than others.
As many of you know, Milan did not win the group, and to the victor go the spoils so Milan is in the proverbial pot 2, or losers bracket as I like to call it, and can be drawn against the following: APOEL, Chelsea, Arsenal, Real, Benfica and Bayern. Barca and Inter are off the list because you can’t be drawn against someone from your group or association, in this case Serie A. So let’s take a closer look at each team and see where our best chance of advancing out of the first KO round for the first time since 2007, when we were in fact crowned Champions.
Chelsea
Andres Vilas Boas, or AVB, is yet another Coach with the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of the Special One. The Chelsea brass were tired of Mourinho’s shadow, so went ahead and hired his former assistant and a guy who basically followed the same path as Jose, except he never won the CL, nor Coached on the big stage, you should have stuck with Carletto, Roman! Mistake or not, the deal is done, and the young Coach is left in charge of one of the most inconsistent teams in the EPL. Studs like Drogba, Lampard, and Terry are in their twilight and winning now has never been more pressing. Big money buys like David Luiz and Torres, are looking more and more like busts, and if anyone can honestly watch David Luiz and say he is a good player, or wants him anywhere near their team, I would question them immediately. Frankly, I like our chances against this team, a leaky defense and a Leo-esque 4-3-3 give me faith that Allegri can come out on top on this one.
Verdict: Bring on the Blues!
APOEL
I am sure every casual fan says, “I hope we draw APOEL.” I say no thank you, the Cyprian Champions play a perplexing brand of football and while they do nothing exceptionally well, they present a unique challenge to any Club because of their attitude and tactical desire to play a prevention game instead of a reactive game. In the past Milan have been troubled by teams like this, and it has been a test of their patience more than anything else. Not the worst draw but not the best draw either, dealing with a ten man defense for 180 minutes doesn’t sound appealing.
Verdict: Would rather not be the victim of a park the bus underdog upset.
Arsenal
NO THANK YOU. Is there any player playing better than Robin Van Persie at the moment? If you don’t think so, take the blinders off. His goal against Everton was out of this World, and even more amazing was the pass from Alexander Song to make the goal possible. Arsenal has shed this burning need to play pretty football and have instead shifted to playing results orientated football. Turning around a dismal start in the EPL into an 8 game unbeaten streak taking 22 points out of a possible 24. Safe to say no player is hotter than RvP at the moment and no team is hotter in all of Europe. I don’t want a repeat of 08, give me Arsenal, but not until the Final.
Verdict: No reason to play chicken with a steam roller.
Real
This rendition of Jose’s Real is the best yet. The work rate of everyone has improved, and there is a balance to the squad that was not present in year’s past. They came up short against Barca on the weekend, but it wasn’t a lack of class to be clear, this is not a team I want to lock horns with, but also not mission impossible. Sad thing about the CL is at some point if you want to win it, you have to play the best!
Verdict: Not going to welcome them with open arms, but not cowering in fear either.
Benfica
Personally, I like this match up for Milan. Undefeated in the group, but their only real challenge was a wounded Man United, and only two draws to show for it. Yes they are tied atop the Portugese league, and Milan have had trouble with Portugese teams in the past, but they are youngish team missing some of the hardened experience needed to win a KO round of the CL, not to mention their roster gets thin rather quickly and will play to Milan’s advantage come the new year. Many will wait patiently to watch Milan target Alex Witsel but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, best he be subdued early.
Verdict: A-OK with this match-up.
Bayern
Past history between the Clubs gives Milan the edge, but Bayern, like Milan are a bit of a sleeping giant. Having lost to Inter a few years back in the final, the team has reshaped and reformed and are beginning to fire once again on all cylinders. Not as stout and resolute as they once have been, and also not a shoe in for Bundesliga Title either, they are in the midst of finding their new identity. They currently sit top of the table, but on a slender 3 point lead, they may run out of gas before the KO round starts, or they will cement their place as the team to beat in Bundesliga and carry that momentum to the CL? End of the day, I still think Italian teams match up well against German opposition.
Verdict: Van Buyten will always scare me, the rest of Bayern does not.
I guess the first and most important thing to reiterate is that this game had little bearing, but it still doesn’t relinquish the players on the pitch from what was in fact a shambolic ending to the match. Yes, PLZEN was at home, and playing with the hopes and dream of Europa League football, something they deservedly earned with a strong fighting spirit. Those pining for youth over experience, you got what you wanted today in Allegri’s lineup choice to some extent, and the result proved why sometimes it’s better to stick with the old hands who now how and when to kill a match.
This match was a golden opportunity for a handful of players, and a run about for others. For Pato a chance to play a full 90 minutes, for De Sciglio a chance to prove his worth, Mexes a chance to make a case to be Nesta’s replacement and Taiwo a chance to show Allegri he can play in all matches. Some players capitalized, others did not, and in the end you look at this as an opportunity wasted and poor showing in the eyes of many.
Pato to his credit, scored, but he usually does, but not until the second half when he actually started moving a bit and working off the ball. In the first half, however; he was vintage Pato, no idea when to dribble, no idea when to pass, and no idea how to move laterally. Scoring goals is not the only thing a player, a striker for Milan should do, and Pato needs to get the memo. De Sciglio lacks the blazing speed of Abate, then again many do, but defending he can handle. He moved well off the ball, tracked back regularly, and while he could have done more attacking, it was best he kept things simple in his first full match. Reminds me a bit of Darmian before he was shipped off to various Clubs, but for a team desperately seeking defensive cover this was a solid debut. The same, sadly, can’t be said for Taiwo, who seems incapable of any sort of tactical defending, how on Earth can a player so gifted in terms of strength and pace, be so unwilling to those tools when defending. A simple step to a cross, or a the ability to twist and turn to cover a runner, all too difficult. I badly want him to succeed, but it appears that will not be the case as he runs out of chances and now begins pondering his own future. Finally, Philou Mexes, was solid did everything asked of him until very late in the game when his experience should have done better, it was not the case, something to be said for all the “older” players on the pitch.
End of the day, what was a meaningless game for the team, was not meaningless for some players. Not sure if the gravity of that situation was lost on them, but their play didn’t show it. So when Allegri continues to turn to his trusted group, you can quite simply why. News on Nocerino is good, but this was a game where he could have been rested, instead of risked, and I am sure Allegri will be more cautious going forward. Now as we wait for the weekend, and a reprieve from two games a week, we sit anxiously waiting to hear if Tevez will arrive in January and what that means for the team.
Here in the States we have “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” well today I introduce to you, “No Tevez Tuesday!”
Now I will gladly come right out and tell you that I am a big fan of Carlos Tevez, the player. Industrious, hardworking, and a tireless work rate I remember his season with West Ham as he seemingly single-handedly staved off relegation. What I am not of fond of is Carlos Tevez, the person. In fact to be rather blunt, I am not a fan of any player who spends more time mired in controversy then on the pitch playing, are you listening Mr. Balotelli? So while I firmly believe that Milan is not the place for Carlos Tevez, it is not as cut and dry as some want to make it out to be. He also doesn’t look all that bad in Red and Black!?
The biggest negative for me, is also the clearest, and that is Tevez’s off the field issues. Now Milan has had success in the past with a player just like him, in the form of Robinho, another Man City want away, but Tevez isn’t coming into a team with a strong Argentinean presence, nor is he coming into a team assuring him of first team football. Both of which could cause him to act up and upset the balance of a team that has finally taken the shape and attitude that Allegri has worked so hard for. It is not secret Allegri would rather a CDM and some defensive cover, but management seemingly still continues to lust after attackers despite the fact that it remains the position with the largest glut with Zlatan, Cassano, Pato, Robinho, El Shaarawi, and Pippo.
Zlatan is proving epic this season, and is easily the most dangerous and in form striker. His most effective partner in crime has been Robinho, who proved his chemistry last season and seems to be carrying over just as well. Pato has been injured and inconsistent, nothing new, and El Shaarawi is still rough around the edges leaving Pippo and Cassano. Cassano may be out for the season with his heart condition and while Pippo is a sentimental choice more than a tactical one, you can see the reason for courting Tevez, or any striker for that matter is puzzling, but not outlandish. Is it possible that Pato could be sold? Cassano never to play again, El Shaarawi not as expected or Pippo poised to retire? All these questions are unlikely and remain unanswered so management wants to hedge their bets and make sure the team is deep and competitive on all fronts as the new year arrives and the potential for two matches a week until May becomes a real reality.
The point of concern here for me has never been strikers, but always defensive cover. As Nesta is set to miss a month we still have no real groomed back up for him, and stop gap solutions like Mexes and Yepes don’t give Silva that partner for the future to assure Allegri and Milan a menacing CB duo for the next ten years Astori, Ogbonna, Chris Samba, or even the pricier and less attainable Hummels are far better buys. Not to mention buying a striker doesn’t address the fact that only two players on this team can play a vital CDM role for Allegri, and both of those players are on the wrong side of thirty. Can this team really afford an injury to Van Bommel and Ambrosini for long stretches with two matches a week? Not at all, yet we are not sniffing around for a real solution at CDM. Maybe Milan sign De Rossi, something that would surely cause me some grief, but why not make the big splash and get a guy like a Alex Song , hugely underrated, but makes this team World Beaters almost instantly, or offer a player like Essien a chance for a fresh start in a new venue?
So while I don’t disagree with a player like Tevez, he is a surplus to need and has a real chance to disrupt the chemistry of a team that is really gelling at the moment. Now if you are were going to ship off Pato for 50M, bring in a guy like Song, and then take Tevez for free, we can talk. But in the meantime it remains “No-Tevez Tuesday.”
Occasionally two teams come together and instantly create a match for the ages, an instant classic. I guess someone forget to tell the two teams that this is the group stage, and not the Final, but that wasn’t stopping anyone from leaving it all on the pitch! End to end action, stout defending (from one team) and slick passing (for another) made this match a joy for the neutral supporter, and hopefully struck a bit of fear in the Barca-machine…
We may as well start by discussing Barca, they are in fact what they people say they are. They pass the ball, very well, they move and pressure, very well, but their defense is suspect and it is because of that our very own AC Milan fought tooth and nail and kept themselves in the match. But sometimes just keeping yourself in a match is not the sign of a great team, but a scared team, and one that didn’t take risks and capitalize when Barca looked feeble. Unfortunately, I don’t really like the idea of moral victories, and the fact that many are in fact proud of the team is only a sign of where we stand. If we are going to be proud of a 1 goal loss in a game we could have won then we will always be second class citizens to the likes of Barcelona. Today could have been our day, but a few mistakes from the outset put the team at a disadvantage.
I didn’t like Allegri’s decision not to use Nocerino, instead choosing Aquilani who had a travesty of a match. I can even justify the inclusion of Seedorf, but when it was time to introduce Pato, Allegri had it all the gain and could have left Robinho, Zlatan and Pato to trouble Barca’s weakest link. I have to say I am wholeheartedly disappointed in Pato, he was nonexistent and did little to impose himself on the match. If he is going to be a true star, it will be in matches like these where he will shine. Even Zlatan was able to score when Milan needed him most, something he has been criticized about on bright CL nights. At the end of the day Milan didn’t create enough chances to truly make Barca bow when there were chinks in the armor and Allegri didn’t go for the jugular when he had the chance.
Credit to Abbiati for having a MOTM performance and keeping Milan in the match, and to Prince whose passion is infectious, even three thousand miles away on my couch I was thumping my chest in Prince-esque fashion after his incredible goal. His little touch and feint to bury the ball near post was stellar. The rest of the squad was inconsistent and even while defending admirably the diving and theatrics of Barca are difficult to handle, but not as infleuntial on the match as many will make them out to be. While there is no place for them, they didn’t change the match, and even the referee, while consistently bad for both teams, was at least fair. To be clear, Van Bommel negated Xavi’s offside by touching the ball, but it didn’t appear the linesman was going to make the call anyway. The PK was fairly clear, though soft, but the third goal left nothing to chance and the pinpoint passing was incredible. A far cry from Milan’s disjointed passing and lack of connection from the defense. Passes more then ten meters always seemed to be to short, off target, or simply to no one. Not reflective of what Milan is capable of on the ball.
So where does Milan stand? Disappointed is a good start, we had this one and didn’t exert enough class on the game to combat Barca, even though at times it looked as though we could. Like Rocky, the team stood there and took all it could, throw in a few blows, but lost in the end. Now, like Rocky again, I hope only for a rematch to prove that this team can in fact stand toe to toe with the best. So while I believe moral victories are for the weak, this should prove to Milan and the many fans that boldly claimed Barca would wipe floor the with us, that we can in fact compete, with any team, and that Serie A is ours to lose.
