AC Milan general spiel 2.0

[p_maldini_3]

and now we have to play our next match behind closed doors because of fan insults.

that is horseshit. insults have been part of footballing culture since its inception, and now they're starting to punish the club for it? what a pile of crap. it makes no sense whatsoever.

[red]

Yeah, the way they are clamping down just now is ridiculous.

[San Paolo]

i understand the need to clamp down but it's what they've punished us for that's crazy, how many times have Juve waved big inflatable bananas at black players or made racist songs up, how many times have Lazio shouted things of a fascist nature yet we get a closed stadium for telling Napoli fans we hope a fucking dormant volcano erupts again and for telling them to use soap and water. what next, Hellas banned from the Bentegodi for calling the Vicenza fans cat eaters. this is everything that's wrong with modern football, they're trying to sterilise it as the men with money don't want to invest heavily in a product that has a stigma of discrimination. clamp down on Racism by all means but this is just mental.

[Bagg10]

Tuesday October 8 2013
Juve ultras join protest
By Football Italia staff

Juventus ultras have joined Milan and Inter with their invitation to break the rules, forcing the closure of all stadiums.

The protest movement is spreading after Milan were ordered to play their next home game against Udinese behind closed doors for chants insulting Neapolitans.

This is an extension of the rules introduced to combat racism in stadiums, but the ultras protest this is trying to stamp out traditional inter-city rivalry that has always existed.

Inter ultras showed solidarity with Milan and now the Juventus ‘Fighters – Curva Sud Scirea’ have joined in.

“This is just another pointless and unconstitutional mechanism to discriminate against the ultras, condemning freedom of speech,” read the Juve ultras statement.

“During the next game in Florence on October 20 we invite all the fans to sing along with us those ‘famous’ chants of territorial discrimination. We invite supporters everywhere to unite in our protest by showing banners and singing these chants in every stadium on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 October.”

The plan from the various different groups of ultras is for all of the clubs to receive a ban simultaneously, so that an entire weekend of games will be played behind closed doors.

http://www.football-italia.net/40391/ju ... in-protest

[RomaShield27]

AC Milan Club Focus: Time To Regroup And Reassess
Mon, Oct 7th, 2013 AC Milan / Club Focus | By Sam Lewis / http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2013/10 ... -reassess/

AC Milan have been here before. In fact, it was just last season when Milan were just five points above the relegation zone in mid-November, before a 2-2 comeback against Napoli sparked a run of form that ended with the Rossoneri qualifying for a Champions League place by the width of Philippe Mexes’ bootlace.

This year, a 3-2 loss to Juventus leaves them 12th on eight points, six points away from bottom-placed Sassuolo (2) but 13 away from league-leaders Roma (21). The scoreline suggests Milan gave the champions a rough ride in Turin but in reality Milan started well, scoring after 20 seconds before allowing Juventus to take control.

A late-mistake from Paul Pogba and subsequent goal from Sulley Muntari gave Milan a little bit of pride in stoppage time. Juventus weren’t fantastic by any means, but they were able to dominate when it mattered and the Bianconeri’s 20 shots to Milan’s paltry nine despite surrendering the majority of possession to the away side is evident of that. Juventus had the game won even before Philipe Mexes’s stupidity got him sent off, Giorgio Chiellini’s strike seconds later simply confirmed the fact. Milan are in trouble.

So does it give hope to Milan fans that they’ve got out of this hole before, or frustrate them that they’re here again? Probably the latter.

While last season Milan had a built-in excuse as they entered the 2012/13 season without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Clarence Seedorf, Gennaro Gattuso, Alessandro Nesta and others who formed the fabric of the Rossoneri in it’s recent history, this year no such security blanket is present.

What was meant to be the summer of rebuilding, restocking and adding to the good young foundation the Milan brass talked about when the exodus of 2012 happened, it was the summer of inactivity, failed acquisitions and sitting by while other teams built their squads.

While Roma brought in Kevin Strootman, a player who Galliani said Milan “couldn’t afford”, Milan waited until the end of August and brought in Kaka’ and have agreed to pay him €4 million a year. There is still no sign as to whether Kaka’s return will be a successful one, but even if the Brazilian provides more than nostalgia and shirt sales upon his return to fitness he’s not a long-term option in midfield.

After agreeing personal terms with Keisuke Honda as early as July, Adriano Galliani spent the next three months trying to bring the Japanese midfielder from CSKA for less than than the Russian club wanted for the midfielder. As understandable as it is to not want to pay a large fee for a player who’s contract would run out in January and would join you for free, Milan could have secured Honda’s services by August with a bid of €5m. Milan offered €3.5m, and Honda still plays for CSKA. He will probably join for free in January, but he will not be eligible for the Champions League.

Milan agreed personal terms with Adem Ljajic from Fiorentina, angering the Viola board members, who branded Galliani’s tactics to try and undermine Fiorentina’s attempts to re-sign the Serbian attacker as “violating the rules.” Despite agreeing personal terms, the offended Fiorentina ignored Milan’s bid and eventually sold Ljajic to Roma for €11m. Roma are now top after winning all seven of their games this season, and Ljajic has three goals. Milan are 12th, and Sulley Muntari is their top goalscorer in Serie A.

After receiving €11m from Schalke for the erratic Kevin-Prince Boateng, Milan used the money from the German club to agree a €12m fee for Alessandro Matri, a 29-year-old former youth player who was on the periphery of the Juventus squad. They send promising youth prospect Andrea Petagna to Sampdoria on loan. Alessandro Matri has played in five games for AC Milan, scoring none. Gazzetta dello Sport described Matri’s performance against Sampdoria as “embarrassing.”

Players that cost less than Alessandro Matri this summer: Carlos Tevez, €10m (now at Juventus), Adem Ljajic, €11m (now at Roma), Josip Illicic, €9m (now at Fiorentina), Fernando Llorente, free (now at Juventus), Jose’ Callejon, €10m (now at Napoli).

Special mention to Mauro Icardi, who joined Inter on a co-ownership deal for €6m, which mathematically makes him the same worth as Alessandro Matri(Inter own 50% of Icardi). The 21-year-old has two goals from five games as a substitute. Matri has none from five games as a starter.

Combined with the injuries that have robbed Milan of key contributors like Stephan El Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio, Kaka and Daniele Bonera, Milan have a squad that doesn’t currently have 20 fit players. The squad selected against Juventus had just three forwards, with two starting.

Despite no traditional attacking midfielder in the line-up, Riccardo Montolivo was picked to play behind Matri and Robinho and the former Viola captain looked uncomfortable in the position, constantly returning the centre circle to receive the ball rather than remaining in the attacking third. As a result, Milan’s midfield was consistently disjointed, looking poor without a creative presence to link a sluggish Nocerino-Muntari combination with it’s invisible Matri-Robinho pairing.

The international break arrives at a great time for Milan, who will be able to wait for their players to return from injury before heading out to face Udinese in two weeks time. There is time to re-assess, re-group and move forward with a larger and more talented squad. If the returning talent cannot provide a win or two, then expect coach Massimiliano Allegri to once again be fearing for his job. It’s fast approaching now-or-never time if Milan are to compete for a top three place this season, they’ll probably need a breather to prepare themselves.

[p_maldini_3]

looks like we have signed adel rami from valencia on a 400k loan with an option to buy set at 7m. for that price, it's a great deal.

otherwise, he's a brutish defender of whom i've never been a fan of.

[RomaShield27]

Just what Milan need: a big, brutish defender, one who will take no shit and put in the hard tackles, and one who'll fit nicely alongside the calm and composed elegant defending of Mexes and/or Zapata.

I don't get how you can sign a player now, though. I know he's not able to play for Milan until January when the mercato window opens again, but how can he be allowed to leave his current club now and join a new one, be unveiled, and train away, if the transfer can't officially happen for almost another three months?

[red]

Why wouldn't it be allowed if the two clubs (and the relevant insurers) agree to it?

[RomaShield27]

Well, because the transfer window isnt 'open' until January. I was under the assumption the two transfer periods – July/August and in January – were the only times club could buy or sell players.

[red]

Yeah, the registration of the player won't happen until then and the transfer fee won't be paid until then.

Nothing official will really happen just now.

[RomaShield27]

Except for a Valencia player arriving in Milan and having a medical with another club?

[maro]

"registration," "official" . . . .

[red]

[p_maldini_3]

the primavera beat the first team 1-0. aka, inzaghi beat allegri.

as much as i love pippo, i still think it's a huge risk if/when he takes over. but regardless, he's was always a very cerebral footballer, and i don't doubt that he can translate that over to coaching.

[p_maldini_3]

Milan have Balotelli concern
By Football Italia staff

Mario Balotelli could be missing from Milan’s upcoming games against Udinese and Barcelona because of injury.

The Diavolo have this afternoon confirmed the striker is suffering with muscle pain in his right thigh.

The former Inter and Manchester City forward will undergo tests over the next few days to ascertain how serious the problem is.

Balotelli had missed the previous three Serie A matches through suspension.

[RomaShield27]

Balotelli really is an idiot. You would think he'd get injured while he had a 3 match ban, not after it just ended.

lol at Inzaghi beating Allegri. How did your first team manage to lose to your primavera?

[ancient milanista]

[San Paolo]

does that say a lot about the quality of the Primavera and Pippo's coaching or does it say more about Allegri and the quality of the first team?

[red]

Or was it just a kick about in training that tells you very little.

[San Paolo]