Guest Post: Thiago Silva and the Millions

It’s International Break week, so I thought I would take a break, too. Luckily, a good friend and fellow obsessed Milanista offered to give me such a break, and wrote this fantastic post for you. He is known around the realm of Twitter as Calcioreports, please read and comment. Maybe if you say enough nice things, he’ll help me out again sometime!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much is your center back?

Djamel Mesbah: Man of Mystery

When news came in January that we were getting a player that played left midfield and left back, I think quite a few of us worried that he was Didac Vila 2.0. But I think most were hoping that he would be more fullback and less midfielder. But what we got is still uncertain. Mesbah has become Milan’s latest man of mystery.

I think red and black suit him, don't you?

Milan 1, Juve 1: What Just Happened Here?

So after all of the hype and the controversy and the anticipation, the big one finally came. And as expected, it was intense and emotional. And as dreaded, the referee calls did stir some controversy. But at the final whistle, I think Milan fans had to ask themselves, “What just happened here?”

"I eat goals for breakfast!"

Milan vs. Juventus: It’s Always the Quiet Ones

If you’ll remember back to the end of September when I previewed the away fixture, I live in a home with a couch divided. Our two teams have a lot in common – both are very successful, both have rich histories, and both are vying for the Scudetto this year. And yet there are obvious differences, too. This year, I would say the biggest difference is the coaches. Both are young and dynamic and enjoying success at big clubs not always afforded so early in their careers. But while Allegri is relatively reserved with both his emotions and his words, Conte is very expressive and vociferous. Conte and Juventus have certainly been making a lot of noise about a lot of things lately, and personally, I hope that Milan can fill those loud mouths with some humble pie. For once, I hope it’s true what they say, “It’s always the quiet ones.”

Special thanks to Sposato al nemico for the artwork

Maxi López: Underrated or Understudy?

Maxi’s loan contract with Milan happened under very unusual circumstances. He only became a Milan player after sitting in a hotel room for a week in Milan waiting. Waiting to see if we could get our first choice, fellow Argentinian Carlos Tevez. His signing would only happen if we couldn’t. And up until the very last minute of the Milan-imposed deadline, it looked like Maxi should pack his bags and head back to Catania. But for once, the well-traveled player’s luck  would have it that Milan would settle for their second choice. And despite very publicly being a second choice, he humbly and gratefully accepted the challenge to play for Milan. Is he underrated or an understudy?

Cesena 1, Milan 3: For Samuele and Alice

At Inter’s match Friday night poor little Filippo held up a sign that said “Inter, could you win? Otherwise they’ll make fun of me at school.” Inter still lost, but apologized to the boy with his own jersey & a trip to their training. But they couldn’t give him what he really wanted: a win. In answer to the boy’s plea, little Samuele and Alice held up their own banner at the Stadio Dino Manuzzi in Cesena. It read “Milan, keep winning, so we can make fun of Filippo at school.” Unlike Inter, Milan listen to their young fans. So this one was for Samuele & Alice.

Cesena-Milan Preview: Focus

This season has had more than its fair share of distractions. Losing a teammate for the season to heart surgery, for example, might make it hard to focus. Or it could be a catalyst. But nothing makes it harder to focus than playing a relegation-zone team after a big win in the Champions League. And yet nothing is more important, especially if you aim to stay in the race for the league title. Focus.

Slightly more dangerous

Happy Birthday, Milan Obsession!

One year ago today, Milan Obsession was launched “for those who bleed in red and black.” 193 posts and over 128,000 views later, it is still a place for fans to share their obsession with Milan. Whether you are a new fan, a casual fan, or amongst those whose families are planning interventions, you are invited to celebrate our special day!

Champions League Round of 16 • Milan 4, Arsenal 0: We’re Back!

After a virtual plague of injuries, Milan is back. After being eliminated from the Round of 16 in our last 4 attempts by English sides, Milan are back. After a poor run of form by Robinho, he proved exquisitely tonight that he’s back. After enduring “unbiased” English commentators match in and match out, fans could laugh and say, “We’re back!” But most importantly, to our tattered and torn battle weary soldiers, a convincing home victory brought to hearts a resounding, “We’re back!”

Exactly how we feel, too, ragazzi. Grazie!!

Champions League Round of 16: Milan vs. Arsenal Preview

  Like a beautiful ballet that tells a story, yet requires great skill and endurance on the part of the performers, the characters in this match will be determining the first act of the Round of 16 for these teams. It will have all of the suspense and drama of a Shakespearean story, and the performance will likely be brilliant from those who make the stage. But rather than be a summery, fairy-filled comedy, it will be more of a A Midseason’s Night Dream (that hopefully won’t become a nightmare!) For my part, I am simply hoping that the end of this first act sees Milan victorious, I’m not as concerned with the storyline.

Udinese 1, Milan 2: I DO Believe in Miracles

You win some and you lose some, and with our injury woes and recent form, I was quite certain that we would lose this one. Or maybe with a lot of luck, draw. But I held on to a tiny thread of hope, and that collective bit of everyone’s faith was enough for our boys to find us a miracle today. A miracle that sends a warning shot to Juventus, who can’t do anything but wait to make up their two postponed matches. And a miracle that kept Udinese in their place, at least for now, handing them their first home loss of the season. Che miracolo!

It must have been the hairstyles.

Udinese-Milan Preview: Do You Believe in Miracles?

Okay, so if you thought the lineup options were bleak in the Juventus Coppa Italia Preview, you’ll be thrilled to know that they’ve actually gotten worse. And we’re playing away. In a 2nd vs. 4th place match. To a team we drew against when we were basically at full strength back in September in our house. Are you sensing a theme? Yes, it’s going to take a miracle to pull this one off.

Can he step up in this match and be a hero?

Coppa Italia • Milan 1, Juventus 2: No Coppa For Old Men

I had a feeling we’d have a tough time in this match. When you have 13 of your 33 man squad (counting Primavera players) unavailable, it makes it hard to play the same way as you are used to. But surprisingly, we could have had this one with the depleted squad that we had available. Only Allegri decided to field a midfield with a combined total age of 128 years old. I mean, nice of him to meet the Old Lady with some old men, but I thought we learned last year that we should limit our midfield to 1-2 senators at a time. So thanks a lot, Allegri. Not only are we one step closer to bowing out of the Coppa race, but now I’ve got to cook dinner.

Look at what happens when Allegri plays young players!

Coppa Italia: Milan vs. Juventus Preview

 This time it’s personal. Truly personal. My Juventino husband and I have a bit of a wager on this one: Loser makes dinner. Shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc. And frankly, my husband makes a killer Pasta Carbonara which would taste wonderful while wearing my favorite Pippo jersey and gloating the entire evening. Of course, nothing would taste better than a sweet victory over our fiercest rivals right now. Especially considering that in the three times that we have matched up at this level in the Coppa Italia, they have won every time. Whoever said victory never tasted so sweet certainly had an occasion like this in mind. And I intend to savor it, should we pull it off. Mmmm…. Carbonara.

Ibra: "Please accept this loss as my parting gift to you and your career at Juve."

Milan 0, Napoli 0: /DOUBLE FACEPALM

I don’t even know where to begin. Yes I do. I was nervous about this match. So nervous I didn’t even sleep last night. It was important to win. We could win. But we would need the right lineup. When that came out, I knew we were down 1 count. And I knew injuries were going to hurt us bad in this one. There were some key players who could have really taken this one to the Napoli defense. Down 2 counts, and it wasn’t even 6 am here. But never in my wildest dreams did I think the match would turn out like this. Not just a /FACEPALM, but /DOUBLE FACEPALM.

/DOUBLE FACEPALM is right, Robinho

Milan-Napoli Preview: Hungry?

As I write this preview, I am honestly hoping this game even gets played. As of this writing, I believe it has been nine Serie A matches this week moved or postponed due to inclement weather, including this one. And even if tomorrow, here in America, there is one gigantic American Football game being played, nothing can take the place of a Milan game. Of course, it could be painful, too. But coming off of a painful loss to Lazio midweek and needing to grab every point possible, I am hoping that our boys will be hungry.

Can we have our cake and eat it, too?

Snow Job

This week has seen plummeting temperatures and record snowfall in Italy. With football played outdoors, it has, of course, severely impacted Serie A. With stadia personnel hustling to protect pitches and provide safety for fans and players alike as well as games being postponed, it all seemed rather annoying. But it was our very own Galliani that put pen to paper asking the league to postpone our Napoli match dud to forecasts of more heavy snow and temperatures of -8° to -10°C (about 17°F.) Following the very public letter, a conversation has started that will hopefully bring about some changes. Either that, or it’s all one very big snow job.

A view of the San Siro Thursday morning

Lazio 2, Milan 0: Come Undone

In a very strange week, this was a very strange game. We were lucky to even play this match with all of the games postponed due to the snow. The transfer market closed with mixed results. And the team that held us to a draw in our opener this season and practically handed us the quarterfinals spot in the Coppa Italia just 6 days ago, yet today they had our number. That number was 2. Two goals conceded, zero goals scored. And three very valuable points dropped. As I mentioned in the preview post, anger can be a motivator, and I guess that’s what Eddie Reja used. Whatever it was, it certainly worked for Lazio. As for Milan, we just watched them come undone.