Milan 2, Udinese 0: Mind Over Matter

There were several “events” in this match, any one of which one could point to and say they were game changers. Most of which involved one or more of the referees, of course. And there are those who say that Signore Valeri decided the outcome of the game. But I would remind them of Milan’s barrage of shots, 18 in all, at least six on target. Or how much time was spent with Milan attacking. Or even just how well Milan played overall. So even if some of the calls did not go our way, our boys put mind over matter, ignoring the poor reffing, and absolutely deserved the three points.

Winning despite those hideous kits is quite the accomplishment

Milan-Udinese Preview: Ready the Fortress

Udinese are in eighth place on the table just behind Milan. In fact only goal differential separates them. They have also been languishing with the draws, and I'm sure would love nothing more than to surprise and take all three points when they come to the San Siro on Sunday. Milan are coming off of a good game vs. Inter, but a disappointing result. With reinforcements in the form of several starters potentially returning, they will be hungry to earn their first win in five matches. So ready the fortress, Milan fans. This is shaping up to be a battle for the middle of the table.

Ready the fortress.

Thankful

Here in America, we are celebrating Thanksgiving today. If you have ever celebrated it with an American, you will probably think that it is all about eating way too much, watching parades and/or American football, and fighting with your family. But its true meaning lies in counting your blessings, in showing gratitude for what you have. So today, as I spend the day in the kitchen cooking and then eating way too much food and maybe watching some Europa League, I will also take some time to reflect and be thankful.

The Age of Men

If you are familiar with J.R.R. Tolkien's epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy, you'll remember that there were different ages in the history of Middle Earth. The Berlusconi era at Milan has also seen changes in power. With the retirement of Maldini, I think we can all agree that most of the magical powers within Milan left the club. Sure, the other Senatori who were left may have stayed a few more years, but they were virtually powerless to affect the changes that were coming. Despite improvements in the squad this year, I think it is quite clear that Milan are now seeing the dawn of the Age of Men.

Has his ship sailed into the West?

Milan 1, Inter 1: Evening at the Theater

It was a much anticipated Derby, even if the football was never going to live up to the hype. A sold out San Siro, the return after seven years of drums and megaphones to the stadium, and a new coach for Inter while a Milan legend oversaw his first Derby. The fans showed up in record-breaking numbers, the Milan Curva showed up with amazing coreografia as usual, and the Inter Curva did the same thing they've been doing for 45 years: suck. Perfect atmosphere for a Derby. And I think the players did their best, too. But perhaps the most disappointing thing about the night was that we were reminded once again of how diminished the level of play is in all of Serie A right now. Yet both teams  fought until the final whistle. They put on the best show they could in the theater that is the San Siro.

"When you are in hell, only the devil can save you"

Milan vs. Inter: Pride

Shame.

Pride.

Milan-Inter Preview: Throwdown

It’s Derby time. Time for wrongs to be made right. For good to overcome evil. For the balance of Milano to be restored. Unless Inter win, of course. De Jong scored in April to give us our first Derby victory since January of 2011. Can we make beating Inter a habit? With so many changes to both sides, and three points toward a European spot at the end of the year, it will be anyone’s game. So let’s get ready for a throwdown.

De Jong hands the mojo over to Lucky Jack, who has scored 4 goals in his 4 times facing Inter

Derby Villains

The Derby della Madonnina is always a heated affair. Even more so since Calciopoli in 2006, when Inter’s special brand of participation in the scandal gave them unfair advantages, including titles that stand even today. Kind of ironic, then that just ahead of the Derby, Inter would bring back the coach from that same time period, who clearly also has no qualms about the advantages his team gained or claiming the titles that Inter “won” under his tenure. So even more so than with other rivals, this Derby calls for a post profiling a few of the villains we’ll potentially face in the Nerazzurri on Sunday.

Pazzini knows how to stop the suspiciously good Handanovic

The Serie A Old Boys’ Club

Milan fans know that Berlusconi and Galliani have been stuck in their ways and have not kept up with all of the changes in football, hurting the club extensively. But what you may not realize is that they are part of a large group of similarly minded owners, club presidents and more who control much of Serie A. While there have been many factors that have contributed to Serie A’s demise, one of the most impactful has been the death grip that these old men hold on the league and their unwillingness to change or prepare for the future. Serie A is being held hostage by the Old Boys’ Club.

Three Champions against Change

Selling Milan

You may have heard the phrase “selling ice to eskimos.” But Barbara Berlusconi has the task of selling manure as if it were gold. Taking a team that has not only fallen from grace, but whose quality has decreased exponentially in the last two and a half years, and trying to increase the revenue via clever marketing, increasing brand awareness, and selling more merchandise, amongst other things. She may as well have taken that ice job with the eskimos, because it is almost impossible for anyone these days to be selling Milan.

The only one in management who knows what the fans want

Calendar Boys

For years I wanted a Milan calendar for my wall, but could never find one. Then, last winter, Milan were selling a wall calendar and desk calendar combo for a very reasonable price, so of course I bought the set right away. I was thrilled and so proud to show my Milan pride. At least until I realized that there would be two transfer markets this calendar year. So the team whose photos are on my calendars is definitely not the same team Milan have now. So much for my Milan pride. Now when people come over and ask who that is, I have to tell them he’s an ex-Milan player.

January 2014: So right and so wrong, so very long ago

Podcast: Milan Impossible

Despite early encouraging results, more recently the squad have shown that getting the Milan back that we know and love is not going to happen overnight. We fans have been tested already this season with a roller coaster first part of the season including wins, draws, losses, goals scored and conceded, and all of the hype that goes along with those things. Many of our players also want to play for their national teams, but how many of them will? We try to answer that and discuss the newer players and the season so far for you in this episode of Milan Impossible.

Sampdoria 2, Milan 2: The Long Way Home

The match everyone was watching to see which Milan would show up for did not disappoint. Four goals, five yellow cards, a red card, and plenty of action, it was certainly not boring. And while there were great moments like El Shaarawy breaking his goalless streak, there were plenty of question marks about the squad, their performance, Inzaghi, his eyesight, and our chances of making it back “home” to European competition. I think Milan have opted to take the long way home.

Il Faraone strikes true to break his drought

Sampdoria vs. Milan Preview: Well Blow Me Down

So Milan will be playing their fifth game in 13 days on Saturday. That’s like a baseball schedule, except baseball players don’t even work up a sweat. Worse still is that it is away in Genoa at the Marassi (aka the Haunted Stadium.) Oh, and did I mention that Sampdoria are in great form, in a deserved 4th place in the league? So yeah. This might be a good match to watch with one eye closed, watch while inebriated, watch with a support buddy, or all of the above. As Popeye would say, “Well blow me down!”

This sailor is remaining neutral in this match, wearing both teams' colors and not wanting to root against fellow sailors

A Tale of Two Trophies

While you were sleeping or working or trying to get the aftertaste of Sunday out of your mind, Milan won another trophy. That’s right, this Milan have bagged two trophies so far this season and it’s only the beginning of November. Granted the names of the trophies are probably not the ones you’d hope we’d add to our collection. But they are a testament to the celebration of mediocrity that surrounds the club this season. Just a tale of two trophies, nothing more.

A trophy for Berlusconi, even if he provided it for himself

Trofeo Berlusconi Preview: Milan vs. San Lorenzo

Honestly, I don’t even know why we are playing this match. San Lorenzo is the Pope’s team, and Milan are the Devils, and we all know how that matchup ends: not good for Milan. Despite the fact that San Lorenzo could have a decent case of jet lag, morale at Milan can’t be good after that horrifying display on Sunday. So if it’s true what they say about mind over matter, then having a poor mindset is worse than jet lag. No matter which way you look at it, it’s not looking good for Milan midweek.

A lifelong fan and card-carrying member of San Lorenzo's supporters club and namesake for their new stadium

Milan 0, Palermo 2: Shattered

I’m not even gonna try to sugar coat this one, because there is absolutely nothing to sugar coat. Also, if you missed the game somehow and still have a little bit of optimism left, you should know why you shouldn’t. Not only did the newly promoted Palermo shatter Milan hearts in front of 28,000 fans at home with a decisive victory and some help from Zapata, they shattered the illusion that this Milan were going places, that we were doing something special, that Inzaghi was some kind of magician. They shattered the belief that somehow Galliani’s thrift store shopping for players had actually created a team out of nothing. This was not just one game, this was a revelation of what we all feared, but were hoping was not true. All our hopes and dreams. Shattered.

Shattered.

Milan vs. Palermo: Hope for our Midfield

With Muntari suspended, there is hope for Milan’s midfield today

Milan-Palermo Preview: When Death is on the Line

In the classic movie “Princess Bride,” the proud Sicilian Vizzini reminds us of one of the classic blunders: “Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.” Of course he tells us this mere seconds before his death, so I’m not sure that it is necessarily true. But then again, unless you believe the hype, hosting Palermo on Sunday will not be Milan’s death, either. But I still hope that Milan play fearlessly, like the Dread Pirate Roberts, against the Sicilian side. Because, you know, you just can’t be too careful when death is on the line.

Don't fire the man who brought you back to Serie A, Zamparini. Give him a raise so he can afford some fashion sense.