Milan Misery

[Beemer]

Rather than clog up the already-long Genoa match thread, I'm starting a new one here. Either way, it's impossible to disagree with this article.

Blog: Milan misery
After a second consecutive defeat, James Horncastle feels the winds of change blowing through Milan, but whom will they carry away?

Milan haven’t started this badly since 1986, that’s 22 years ago, a time when the Berlusconi era was only months old and the revolution yet to begin in earnest. Nils Liedholm was on the bench as the Rossoneri lost to Ascoli and then Verona in the opening two weeks of the 1986-87 season and, although he kept his position until the last six games of the campaign, he knew the writing was on the wall.

Summoned for a face-to-face meeting with Adriano Galliani, Il Barone held his hands up and resigned, paving the way for the young and ambitious future England manager Fabio Capello. Carlo Ancelotti had such a meeting on Thursday to discuss Milan’s midweek defeat to Lugano, a Swiss Second Division side. Another will be taking place right now after the Rossoneri capitulated in Genoa, leaving them bottom of Serie A with Cagliari.

Milan have been beaten seven times this summer. Sevilla, Chelsea, Manchester City, Sporting Gijon, Bologna, Lugano and now Genoa are the motley crew that have left the Club World Cup champions looking rather foolish. “With all due respect to Lugano,” said Clarence Seedorf last week. “A team like Milan should not make a bad impression against a team that plays in Switzerland’s Serie B.”

And he’s quite right. Milan are, along with Boca Juniors, the most decorated club in the world. Their successes on the continent in recent years have however, coincided with a drastic decline in domestic form, which reached its nadir in May when the Rossoneri finished outside of the top four for the first time since 2001. So what awaits Milan’s 40,000 season ticket holders and millions of fans worldwide?

After seven years in the job, Ancelotti appears to be having problems motivating his squad. His nicey-nicey arm around the shoulders approach is losing him credibility. People think he lacks fight. He apparently went into the dressing room after the Lugano game, looked his players in the eyes and said: "You have broken me!" He should have given them the hair dryer treatment. But the buck shouldn’t stop with Carletto.

The players need to take a bit of responsibility. Some have said they look unfit, but according to MilanLab they are in perfect condition, well physically at least. While on the subject of MilanLab, shouldn’t the Rossoneri boffins hold their hands up as well? They gave Milan an air of invincibility not so long ago, yet have recently done more to add to the uncertainty at the club by misdiagnosing Ronaldo and Kaka.

But my biggest problem lies with Galliani. He bought the players, some of which weren’t wanted by Ancelotti. Despite getting Ronaldinho on the cheap, the Brazilian is a shadow of his formidable self and just as much a brake as Ancelotti on Milan’s progress. Sadly, I believe the latter will fall before old Uncle Fester gets the chop.

(Channel 4)

 

[DSM]

Rather than clog up the already-long Genoa match thread, I'm starting a new one here. Either way, it's impossible to disagree with this article.

Blog: Milan misery
After a second consecutive defeat, James Horncastle feels the winds of change blowing through Milan, but whom will they carry away?

Milan haven’t started this badly since 1986, that’s 22 years ago, a time when the Berlusconi era was only months old and the revolution yet to begin in earnest. Nils Liedholm was on the bench as the Rossoneri lost to Ascoli and then Verona in the opening two weeks of the 1986-87 season and, although he kept his position until the last six games of the campaign, he knew the writing was on the wall.

Summoned for a face-to-face meeting with Adriano Galliani, Il Barone held his hands up and resigned, paving the way for the young and ambitious future England manager Fabio Capello. Carlo Ancelotti had such a meeting on Thursday to discuss Milan’s midweek defeat to Lugano, a Swiss Second Division side. Another will be taking place right now after the Rossoneri capitulated in Genoa, leaving them bottom of Serie A with Cagliari.

Milan have been beaten seven times this summer. Sevilla, Chelsea, Manchester City, Sporting Gijon, Bologna, Lugano and now Genoa are the motley crew that have left the Club World Cup champions looking rather foolish. “With all due respect to Lugano,” said Clarence Seedorf last week. “A team like Milan should not make a bad impression against a team that plays in Switzerland’s Serie B.”

And he’s quite right. Milan are, along with Boca Juniors, the most decorated club in the world. Their successes on the continent in recent years have however, coincided with a drastic decline in domestic form, which reached its nadir in May when the Rossoneri finished outside of the top four for the first time since 2001. So what awaits Milan’s 40,000 season ticket holders and millions of fans worldwide?

After seven years in the job, Ancelotti appears to be having problems motivating his squad. His nicey-nicey arm around the shoulders approach is losing him credibility. People think he lacks fight. He apparently went into the dressing room after the Lugano game, looked his players in the eyes and said: "You have broken me!" He should have given them the hair dryer treatment. But the buck shouldn’t stop with Carletto.

The players need to take a bit of responsibility. Some have said they look unfit, but according to MilanLab they are in perfect condition, well physically at least. While on the subject of MilanLab, shouldn’t the Rossoneri boffins hold their hands up as well? They gave Milan an air of invincibility not so long ago, yet have recently done more to add to the uncertainty at the club by misdiagnosing Ronaldo and Kaka.

But my biggest problem lies with Galliani. He bought the players, some of which weren’t wanted by Ancelotti. Despite getting Ronaldinho on the cheap, the Brazilian is a shadow of his formidable self and just as much a brake as Ancelotti on Milan’s progress. Sadly, I believe the latter will fall before old Uncle Fester gets the chop.

(Channel 4)

The only player I can remember Milan Lab ever misdiagnosing is Ronaldo.

 

[Wolfpac4Life]

Its high-time Ancelotti has some dignity and steps down. And then dish the dirt as to what has been going on behind-the-scenes over the last few years.

 

[Redman10]

Galliani is problem until he steps down Milan will continue to struggle. If Ancelotti is fired, Galliani and co will just hire another one in the milan family that will just do whatever they say. It would be not different if Ancelotti left. There is no way they will hire someone with the personality and ego of a Mourinho, Capello or SAF. Then Milan fans will be calling for the head of the next coacha and again and again like an ongoing cycle.

 

[Beemer]

Galliani is the Al Davis of Serie A.

 

[Jivara]

we have 2 options concerning the coaching department imo, i dont know which one is the wiser choice:

a. fire ancelotti and spend a few weeks with Tassotti as coach before we find someone ready to take over and allow the team to gel, meaning we must drop some points ruling us out of the scudetto race so early.

b. stick with ancelotti until december see what happens then: either he puts up a good showing and allow him to finish the whole season, or find a replacement in January and allow him to create his own milan ready for the following season.


either way, i dont see us winning the scudetto

 

[Beemer]

I'd like to see Tassotti take the reins. Does he have any prior coaching experience?

 

[Cristina]

I'd like to see Tassotti take the reins. Does he have any prior coaching experience?

I think he's only been an assistant coach for Milan since Ancelotti came in 2001.

 

[Wolfpac4Life]

Not likely Tassotti would get the job anytime soon. btw nice sig Beemer

 

[Ashish]

All Hands on Deck, This Ship Was Made to Sink!
By: Gianfranco | September 14th, 2008

I have neither the energy nor desire to analyze today’s game. In fact I am somewhat embarrassed to be a Milan fan at this point and time, and after receiving a text message from one of my tifosi amici that simply read, “What is wrong with Milan.” I didn’t respond at the time but now I can politely say, “What isn’t.”

The notion of untouchable players at Milan needs to be abandoned and with that the necessity of the set formation. Carletto needs to reassert his authority over the squad and begin to choose only the best 11 based on form and fitness. So if Sheva, Dinho, and whoever else is playing like shit then guess where they can start their match, you guessed it, and if you didn’t, it rhymes with wench. He also needs to realize that he can’t impose the xmas tree formation on any old eleven players, he needs to look at the personnel at hand and make a determination on how to setup the squad. Milan’s formation and tactics are found out; any anyone can come out and strike on the counter when Milan commits numbers forward. This formation lacks width, creativity, and any real sense of offensive threat, it just plain sucks.
I hope to have a more constructive post later in the week, but right now this is all I can really muster. I leave you with an eerie image that I haven’t been able to shake for two weeks. When Baresi retired Milan were aging, they had a strong transfer campaign that saw the inclusion of Dutch, Davids, Reiziger, and later a young phenom named Kluivert, players to form the middle of the field, the team never gelled and the signings never materialized and Baresi left in a cloud of failure. This year Maldini is going to retire, the squad is aging, their transfer campaign saw the creation of a Brazilian foundation with a young Brazilian phenom in Pato, the team seems to lack chemistry and desire, and my fear is that Maldini will continue to follow in the footsteps of his mentor and legend before him…

full credit to Gianfranco of http://acmilan.theoffside.com/seria-a/all-hand-on-deck-this-ship-was-made-to-sink.html

 

[Billy_69]

We have the names, we have the players to make a nearly invincible team... on paper.

As a long time Milan fan I had the privilige to see the invincibles at work, Sacchi's team and Capello's team. The big difference with now and then is simple : the defense.

Every world class team, and especialy the invincibles as they were nicknamed by the press, had an iron defense and a world class goalkeeper. Every good team starts from the backline, the less you conceed, the less chance you have to lose. 1-0 victories were a common result back then, on bad days we drew 0-0, on catastrophic ones we lost with one goal difference only.

Efficiency. On bad days, you still went up a point on the table, and the sum of those points is what counts at the end of the season. Right now we have a strong midfield and an ok attack but our defense is weaker than ever, the catastrophic start of this season is very worrying as the last time that happened was in the season 1985-1986! Should we lose the third match also then it goes back to the seventies!

In january we have to buy new defenders, no question about it. As much as I love Maldini, my favorite player of all time (with Billy of course), time catched up with him and these days he has become a weak link in the defense line.

An in form Nesta patches up the backline a bit when he's available, Zambrotta is good enough for two more years at maximum, but the rest is simply below par for a club like the Rossoneri.

Bonera is a good defender for a middle table team, Kaladze lost his edge and is very unreliable, Jankulovski plays better as LM than LB and Favalli is way past it also. Darmian is too young but needs to play more, worse than the last displays is impossible and he'll be faster than capitano and Favalli. I can't judge Senderos yet, but I think he'll end up at maximum at Bonera's level. Antonini seems bench material, but he should replace Favalli to compensate speed.

Boast the defense in january if possible, and in Summer 09 buy world class defenders and a serious goalkeeper or we're headed back to the early eighties, late seventies, straight to the bottom of the table or top of the table in Serie B.

 

[KakatheSublime]

It's too early

Milan were unlucky against Bologna. They outplayed Bologna and just didn't finish. They played horrible soccer against Genoa. It is only the first two games of the season and there are new faces, formations, and tactics that the players need to get used to. I don't think it necessary to sound the alarm (just yet). Look at Man U, they aren't doing much in their first few games and lost to Zenit.

The defense is a concern. I would like to see what Senderos can do, since I didn't really pay much attention to him when he was with Arsenal.

I thought Kaka played terrible in the first half against Genoa. Sheva didn't do much either. Ancellotti did replace Sheva and Ronaldinho in that game.

However, Milan need to start getting results in the next few games. It is a long season, but they cannot dig themselves a huge hole. Otherwise, they will be in "must wins" against the table toppers and that is not an easy feat to achieve.

 

[Jivara]

We have the names, we have the players to make a nearly invincible team... on paper.

As a long time Milan fan I had the privilige to see the invincibles at work, Sacchi's team and Capello's team. The big difference with now and then is simple : the defense.

Every world class team, and especialy the invincibles as they were nicknamed by the press, had an iron defense and a world class goalkeeper. Every good team starts from the backline, the less you conceed, the less chance you have to lose. 1-0 victories were a common result back then, on bad days we drew 0-0, on catastrophic ones we lost with one goal difference only.

Efficiency. On bad days, you still went up a point on the table, and the sum of those points is what counts at the end of the season. Right now we have a strong midfield and an ok attack but our defense is weaker than ever, the catastrophic start of this season is very worrying as the last time that happened was in the season 1985-1986! Should we lose the third match also then it goes back to the seventies!

In january we have to buy new defenders, no question about it. As much as I love Maldini, my favorite player of all time (with Billy of course), time catched up with him and these days he has become a weak link in the defense line.

An in form Nesta patches up the backline a bit when he's available, Zambrotta is good enough for two more years at maximum, but the rest is simply below par for a club like the Rossoneri.

Bonera is a good defender for a middle table team, Kaladze lost his edge and is very unreliable, Jankulovski plays better as LM than LB and Favalli is way past it also. Darmian is too young but needs to play more, worse than the last displays is impossible and he'll be faster than capitano and Favalli. I can't judge Senderos yet, but I think he'll end up at maximum at Bonera's level. Antonini seems bench material, but he should replace Favalli to compensate speed.

Boast the defense in january if possible, and in Summer 09 buy world class defenders and a serious goalkeeper or we're headed back to the early eighties, late seventies, straight to the bottom of the table or top of the table in Serie B.

I agree on the defence part but it is not the only problem, because the defence doesnt only cosist of the defensive line, it also includes the midfield players and as zambrotta said the attackers duty to pressure upfront to relieve the defence and none of this is going for us, its a total collapse of a system that ran well for us for the last few years, its time to open up like China did politically and economically, we have a healthy environment which others envy and this will always stay with us, but obviously there is no chemistry between the players, and the offensive and defensive departments.

The Defence is laking speed first and foremost, even if Nesta is available, neither Kaladze, nor Senderos, nor Maldini have the neccessary speed to be in the right place at the right time, the only player which is quite fast is Bonera but he lacks other thinkgs such as height and positioning so I will cancel him out as a player in the center I much prefer him as RB to face a tricky winger as he doesnt get fooled easily and he can offer good offensive support and push up the defensive line nicely.

I am not sure whether we should buy yet another player as that doesnt help the new players to gel with the old ones, it reminds me of Inter when they thought that by buying more players they will solve their problems it was actually the main factor for their problems since it created alot of confusion and jealousy in the dressing room. However, I am starting to regret missing out on a excellent LB in the form of Juan Vargas and for a very considerate price of around 10M euros, I dont think any of our LBs are worthy of starting as Favalli is very slow and offers nothing offensively, Jankulovski is very shakey in defence, and Antonini I havent seen but if he is good then he should be playing, a player like Vargas is full of energy, has an excellent left foot that has been compared to R. Carlos' and aside from his threat on the Left wing offensively he is known to be a very reliable player on defensive duties and that would give the defensive line a much better balance which allows us to worry less about adding more DMs in the midfield to cover for the out of position full backs. Zambrotta is an option on the left but if he is relaxed on the right hand side then its better if we keep him there, in the meantime, due to the emergency we are facing, I would like to see him used as LB and play Bonera on the right and see if Senderos is good enough to earn a starting spot in the center otherwise we should continue with Kaladze and Nesta in the center which is shakey in itself. Next summer I am hoping we sign Zapata, since he has excellent positioning and is a quick player and is tall also.

The other problem defensively as I said before is the midfield issue, we have been bombarded with attacks constantly and for more than these last 2 league games, even if we had a good defensive line we will still be prone to many dangerous attacks due to the position of Pirlo who opens up shooting spaces from the center, a good defence is one that forces the opposition to create just 1 or 2 shooting opportunities throughout the game and knowing this they will most likely fuck it up because of the pressure, we on the other hand keep offering many chances and we give the ball back to quickly which is an invitation for more shoots in our direction, I suggest we play with 2 DMs Flamini and Gattuso or better yet Flamini and Ambrosini (but only if he can learn not to join the attacks all the time and chose the appropriate moments only) and play Pirlo in his deep lying playmaker every now and then using it as a surprise factor that would ruin the tactics and preparations of the opponents. Lastly, the AMs have to close down passing spaces once they loose the ball and not just roam around waiting for it to come back to them, we have to slow down the counter attacks of the opposition and that starts from the very to of the field, just blocking a passing route is a good enough job for them no body is asking them to tackle like Gattuso.

 

[drucurl]

This is not really misery.....nice to have another tough season to weed out the gloryhunters....expect more to go the way of Tsar....maybe to Barca or ManU etc.... We might have less users here but we'd have surely gotten rid of all the "forza-milan-ers" who simply jump on the wagon because we won a CL or something. If it's one good thing you can say about Inter during our glory years is that their fans were for the most part real.

 

[Nielsenb41]

Tough times to be a brazilian and a Milan supporter. Well, whatever, I like the thrill.

 

[gaizka22]

What worries me the most is our lack of ability to threaten to score. I mean the last 3-4 seasons ago, whenever we are 1-0 down I can always say "Ah, no worry, they'll find a goal somwehere and maybe find a winner". But this time whenever we are down, I just don't see us clawing back the point. I can't remember how many times in the last 2 seasons have we fell a goal down and eventually win the games.

 

[Beemer]

Not likely Tassotti would get the job anytime soon. btw nice sig Beemer

Thanks. I changed it before I saw this, though.

 

[inomilan]

Thanks. I changed it before I saw this, though.

correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't it supposed to be spelled as Absolute?

 

[Sasha]

correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't it supposed to be spelled as Absolute?

Never heard of Absolut Vodka?

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&suggon=0&q=absolut+ad

 

[Diavolo_7]

Never heard of Absolut Vodka?

http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&suggon=0&q=absolut+ad

This is a little bit more down our alley if not less OT...

 

[Twizzle]

whilst I'm very disappointed like everyone else, its only a couple of games and we have a long way to go yet

still a long season to look forward to

 

[dev1L]

Big Brother Milan Spy Players In Training

Milan are using ‘big brother’ style techniques to monitor the activities of their players during training, according to Il Corriere Dello Sport.

The Rossoneri have been a disaster during the first few games of the season, picking up back to back losses in the process.

Vice president Adriano Galliani has demanded answers and it seems as if coach Carlo Ancelotti is providing them, albeit on dvd.

Il Corriere Dello Sport claims the club have set up a number of state of the art cameras and equipment around their Milanello training ground in order to monitor their players levels of focus.

The equipment has been positioned above the pitch so that nothing is missed as the players are put under scrutiny.

Ancelotti will analyse the images alongside his staff and then he will use them to highlight where individual players are going wrong.

It’s a delicate moment at the club with a number of reports suggesting that Ancelotti’s time is running out on the bench.

This latest attempt to try and smooth over the bumpy road seems like a no nonsense way to get their best from his players.

No more laughing or joking around on the training ground then as the club toughens up its stance in light of the recent problems.

goal

 

[Ashish]

Tuesday Milan Musings, Still Sinking…
By: Gianfranco | September 16th, 2008
In a few days Milan will start a UEFA Cup journey that leaves me confused and a bit wanting. As I sit here and watch Chelsea vs. Bordeaux I can’t help but think where Milan would be in these group stages and if they would even have the chance to advance with the way they are playing right now. But at this stage of the season for me with no points after two matches, it is no longer about the tie or the opponent, but it must only be about the Rossoneri.

With FC Zurich on deck Milan need to prove to themselves and their fans that they a team capable of scoring a goal, gaining a lead, sustaining a lead, and most importantly winning. Basically keep things simple and try to get this squad back on track. It no longer matters who is in the starting eleven, who is injured, or who is on the bench it only matters the result and the confidence that one would hope goes along with it.

Who is to blame for the current state of affairs of the club from the picture? If you said Fester and Berlu then you’re are mostly right. As many of you know I try to watch Milan games twice, the first time as a fan, the second to analyze the game a bit deeper. My hobby has been very very hard to continue with these poor games, but as I watched the game from Sunday I saw more than a just a poor formation selection. I saw a club disorganized, players not getting involved, and responsibilities not be fulfilled on both sides of the ball. Carletto put them out there, sure, but the players did absolutely to impose themselves on the game and lead Milan to victory, a feat that I have not seen any member of this team do since the game against Man U at the San Siro during the CL Semifinal of 07.
At this point we have all diagnosed the problems that surround this club suggesting poor player form, poor formations, a transfer window that fulfilled ABSOLUTELY none of our needs, and complacency amongst the players that looks border line criminal in a group of players that have experienced so much class and success in their careers. So why not take a look at the some resolutions to these problems…
1. Play only the players on form. So your name is Ronaldinho, but you are not in form!? Have a seat, same goes for Kaka and anyone else who is not on their best game. Forget Fester and Berlu, they don’t know their face from their ass anymore when it comes to modern football and they need to take a back seat and let Carletto do his thing.
2. Once you have eleven fit players, work your formation around them. If you have three fit strikers then play a 4-3-3. If you have 1 fit striker but three attacking mids then play a 4-2-3-1, the point is make due with what you got.
3. The transfer window did not address defensive needs so call up youth and give them a run. If Darmian and Antonini are going to sit on the bench and we are going to lose anyway, wouldn’t you rather lose knowing they got some game time? It is time to rely on the youth system that produced a fair amount of Milan legends, and if the club truly does not want to rely on the system then it is time to rebuild it to what it once was, but that is a topic for a rainy day.
4. This leads back to step one, but if a player is looking like they give two shits about the game, then take him out. This is not a time to coddle or wait and see, it is now a time to shake things up and find a group willing to carry this team forward. If it means no Pirlo, Maldini, Kaka, Seedorf, or anyone else for that matter, then so be it. They can earn their way into the team; they are all capable of this and should be made to fight for it. The era of untouchables needs to be over, I hate typing it, I hate reading it, but I had to say it.
As I say all this it is important to also realize that this team has had a fair amount of injuries with the list being quite exhaustive. Borriello, Janks, Kaka, Senderos, Nesta, Kaladze, Rino, Pippo, and now Pirlo it leaves Carletto with very few options in a season that was supposed to show limited use of Maldini as an example. But instead of wallowing in their own sorrow, it is time for Milan to make due with the inclusion of some youth in an effort to spark this team. Fill the injury voids with Cardaccio, Darmian, Antonini, Borriello and Pato. Borriello showed a hunger in the second half of Sunday’s game that needs to spread like a virus amongst his teammates; I just hope we can see it again very soon.
On a side note, watching Gourcuff in this game makes me wonder why Milan let him walk, but then again, Gourcuff seems to be in shape, in form and capable of make headway in a game, so that is probably why he was considered surplus to need.
On a further side not, I have been in some dark days as a Milan fan, but this is starting to get a little scary…

full credit to gianfranco of http://acmilan.theoffside.com/oddities/tuesday-milan-musings-still-sinking.html
he reminds me of wise giaz

 

[grounder]

One word: Nice

 

[Billy_69]

"On a further side not, I have been in some dark days as a Milan fan, but this is starting to get a little scary…"

Lol try Serie B then idiot. That's dark days and scary, he's just a spoiled little bratt.

 

[Ashish]

"On a further side not, I have been in some dark days as a Milan fan, but this is starting to get a little scary…"

Lol try Serie B then idiot. That's dark days and scary, he's just a spoiled little bratt.

LOL typical billy
he has got a blog and have to feed guys every day

 

[Charbel]

@devil:...If this is true, Then this might be our so called " Solution"..And I for One thought we were gonna change some tactics

 

[Besfort]

While watching TV today (CL Highlights), passed my channel suddenly to BBC; and there was Ruud Gullit talking in a TV show.

The guy asked him about Milan's situation, and he responded with an: There are to many veterans on the team.
He said that he really liked the way Milan somehow rejuvenated the squad and also added that it will need a bit time for the players to adapt with each other, and later the good results will come.

They asked him: Would you like to coach Milan?

He: NO!

 

[Jivara]

he once said he doesnt like the environment in milan as much as he did in sampdoria or with chelsea, so maybe thats why he doesnt want to coach, i understand why, if all the shots are called from the top then why would you wanna do that, B+G have to loosen up this stupid policy of theirs.

 

[Senatore_M84]

reading some of responses... 1 guy is commenting its not ronaldinhos fault. He holds the ball up and people move around him. another said kaka does that. another said thats pirlos job, Another says no seedorf does that others sould run...but really it drives at our core problem NO ONE RUNS. They all want the ball, no1 wants to one touch and move. Perhaps a coach like spaletti would be nice.... perhaps not, you cant force guys like pirlo, dinho sedorf to change now....

just a poorly assembled squad of names