Normally around this time I would be posting a semi-comprehensive preview of our season, much like my illustrious former co-blogger, Jovan, did last year. But with so many questions hanging in the balance and our first match to be played before the beloved Milan holiday, Galliani Day™ (August 31st), it makes that task impossible. So I give to you the Blankety-Blank-Blank Season Preview, and we’ll let the club fill in the blanks come September 1st.
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| Last year's favorite Galliani Day™ gift |
Arrivals and Departures
Okay,
so more than half the club left. Don’t think that’s news, and it would take
this entire post to list them, so check out the sidebar if you’ve forgotten who
has left. As for arrivals, we got full ownership of El Shaarawy straight away,
which is an excellent thing. And, it turns out that all in all, I believe we
only paid €20m for the kid, which is about the same amount we received for the
sale of Ibra. That seems totally proportional, right? But at least he seems
like the real deal. Additionally, with the Cassano-Pazzini swap, we get a 28
year-old prima punta with an eye for goal who will be great with El Shaarawy,
possibly Robinho, or maybe even _______________, who is yet to arrive.
Also
incoming was the leftover Mr. X deal from last summer in Montolivo, Bakaye
Traoré from Nancy in Ligue 1, and the long awaited Kevin Constant, all to
reinforce our midfield. Constant is a loan and a bit of luck, coming in to fill
the 6 month void that Muntari left when he had surgery on an ACL injury. We
could also sign _______________ as an attacking midfielder, and Allegri has
been asking all summer for a defensive midfielder, so naturally, we will sign
______________________. In the back, we got the 24 year old Acerbi from Chievo
and also more recently, Cristian Zapata from Villareal. No way we were going to
plug the gaping hole after Silva and Nesta both left, but both have experience
in Italy, and Zapata is sure to start, with Acerbi perhaps learning along the
way.
We
also picked up the 19 year old Brazilian keeper, Gabriel, who may come in handy
considering the rumors that __________________ might leave. And our elusive
left back saga continues with ____________________ having agreed to terms with
Palermo. Even though Galliani has said he will not be replaced, with Didac Vila
recovering from his hernia surgery, there is a slight chance that
__________________ could come to the club and offer some relief.
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| He was the shining star on Allegri's makeshift Christmas tree... will he still shine? |
Tactics
You
would think tactics would be sewn up, but if _____________________,
_____________________, and ___________________ arrive, Allegri could fashion
his formation around them. He has been incredibly stubborn about his 4-3-1-2,
but after losing the Scudetto, Tassotti came out and said Allegri was
considering having a back-up formation. The 4-3-3 was gingerly tried at the end
of the season, and more forcefully in the friendlies this summer. However, it
was not at all successful, and Allegri said he would abandon it. But the
4-3-2-1 he tried more recently was intriguing. But we can’t know anything until
we know whether or not _____________________ or others come.
Schedule
This
year’s schedule is even more balanced than last year’s, with only a few tricky
back to back games, some overlapping the Champions League, where we should
avoid some of the tougher opponents this time. We build up to the derby in week 7, then we
don’t hit our triple threat of Napoli, ________________ Champions League match,
and Juventus all in the space of 8 days until we get to weeks 13 and 14. But Juve have Lazio, CL, and then face us at that same
time, so this year it is a bit more equitable. After that big week, we have
until week 18 before we face Roma, who always seem to have our number. If we
can keep the injury monster off our backs this year, we have a fighting chance
of pacing ourselves and preparing for the big matches.
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| Let's hope this is not the only glimpse of this trophy in the future for us... |
Champions League
The
Champions League draw will be held on August 30th, so it will only be then that
we will find out that we are in Group _____ and our opponents will be
__________________, ______________________, and _____________________. The
blessing of managing to be seeded in Pot 1 will come in very handy this year,
as this team lacks the depth of previous squads, even without injuries. The
goal according to Allegri is to finish top 3 in the league and get past the
group stage in the Champions League, so we can use all of the help we can get this
year. So many of our squad are brand new, how they will play on the big stage
and how they will manage to compete on three fronts is also a complete unknown.
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| Zeman, the only one who could make a pack of wolves win |
The Competition
Our
opponents have all managed to prevent the Milan Exodus™ from their squads. I
would say that Roma have truly done the best in the mercato, reinforcing with
players such as Destro, Bradley, and Balzaretti, amongst others. Not only the
players, but the return of Zeman, perhaps the most attack-minded coach ever.
Juventus took their strength of their midfield and reinforced it with players
like Asamoah, Isla, and Pogba. Up front, they brought Giovinco back, and will
also be signing ___________________ before the transfer window closes, who
should end their scoring drought. Despite the Calcioscommesse distractions, and
finding out that Conte _______ be on the bench this season, they have continued
to increase in strength and depth, preparing to compete in the Champions League
again.
Inter
most recently practiced their sorcery on Galliani to get us to hand over
Cassano plus cash, which came in handy when they added Gargano to their roster,
too. But Handanovic might have been their coup d’etat, freezing out the
longtime _________________________, who is still displaced with his large wage
demands. Stramaccioni, Conte, and Zeman have all done well to cut the fat,
whereas the only fat Milan cut was in the wage department, so I expect with
their reinforcements to have stiff competition unless we get
______________________, ___________________, and/or _____________________ in
the next nine days. And don’t rule out Napoli. They seem to have taken over
from us as the Serie A Brute Squad, despite some roster changes, they could
take us out with sheer brute force. This year’s Serie A is up for grabs, It
could easily go to to one of three or four or maybe even five teams. Healthy
competition, the way I like it.
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| They won the 45 min. match trophy, will they win the 90 min match season? |
The Verdict
So
much wailing and gnashing of teeth from Milan fans, but the season is here,
ready or not. As the roster stands today, without injuries, we will have a
tough time filling the FIGC’s new 12 man bench, let alone competing on three
fronts. But with reinforcements such as _______________________,
________________________, and _______________________ rumored to be on the way,
they might just reinforce enough to see Allegri’s workman-like team reach our
top three goal. First up? Newly promoted Sampdoria, who just beat Barca’s B
team yesterday, so it’s not like we have any gimme matches. But like a phoenix
that rises from the ashes, I believe Milan could surprise this year, even if we
don’t fill the ____________________ or _____________________ positions. And
perhaps we will truly surprise if Galliani surprises us on Galliani Day™ as he
is prone to do. Curse the management, love the team, support the colors. If we
all do that, I believe our squad will be galvanized and unified and maybe, just
maybe, do what Milan is used to doing best: win.
This post inspired by the music of Duran
Duran
Our next match is
Milan vs. Sampdoria
Sunday, August 26th • 18:00 CEST (12noon EDT)