After the scoreless draw with Chievo Verona last week that
felt more like being backhanded across the face, this week we turn the other
cheek to welcome their rivals, Hellas Verona to the San Siro. Only this Verona
club has a little more bite, even if their leading scorer is a bit long in the
tooth. All I want from this match is for Milan to put up a fight instead of
saying “Thank you, may I have another.” There’s a time to turn the other cheek,
but not in a football match.
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| I'm already feeling pain |
Last week, Verona took down Cagliari 2-1 with goals by Numero Uno and
Juanito, conceding the Cagliari goal in stoppage time. For that match,
Mandorlini lined up Benussi; Pisano, Mrquez, Moras, Agostini; Halfredsson,
Ionita, Tachtisdis; Toni, Jankovic, and Sala. Toni now has 10 goals in 25
appearances, not too bad for a 37 year-old.
Mandorlini has some injuries, but it seems that they are all
very close to coming back. Goalkeeper Rafael as well as striker Fernandinho are
expected to be fit, while Moras, Ionita, Saviola, and Valoti could all possibly
return for our match.
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| Hmm... one of these guys is 7 years older and has 10 goals this season, the other is injured |
Meanwhile, Inzaghi has a lengthy list that got longer after
last week’s game. In addition to Zapata, De Sciglio, El Shaarawy, Abate,
Mastour, Armero, and Rami, Montolivo and de Jong were both added to the list
after being subbed off injured on Saturday. Albertazzi, Agazzi, and Zaccardo
are all reportedly on the mend, but whether they are fit and whether or not they
get called up is an entirely different question.
Also in question is the system Inzaghi will use. After a
couple of trials with the 4-3-1-2, some think he may switch back to the 4-3-3
with Menez on the wing and Destro in the center. If that happens, I am going to
have to be more careful what I say around here, because it would be as if he
actually read this blog. Oops.
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| If only we had our former Verona manboy healthy to boss his old team |
It is really hard to even feign excitement when Milan is
going to play anymore. Despite the fact that we beat this team 3-1 in their
house in October, we are not the same team as we were then at all. Call me a
pessimist or whatever you want, but I just want to see something resembling
football again. I don’t care about the result. Although a result would be nice
(that’s for you, Inzaghi, if you are in fact reading this blog.) Just please
give me a performance that doesn’t make me feel like I got kicked in the pants.
Because I’m not really into turning the other cheek.
This post inspired by the music of
Garbage
AC Milan vs. Hellas Verona
Saturday, March 7 • 20:45 CET (2:45pm EST)
This match will be shown on RAI and BeIN Sports in the U.S.