This was likely the last Milan home game for many of our
players tonight, and I think the mentality was to send them off appropriately:
with a win. Or maybe it was to see how many red cards we could get and have
players sent off, I don’t know. At least they decided to send them off in style
with those amazing new kits. But with some divine comedy, we achieved it all…
the win and both actual sending offs and probable ones.
 |
| Some endings and some new beginnings |
While some players are getting ready to say goodbye, with
contracts expiring or otherwise, El Shaarawy was saying hello again after a
series of longterm injuries. And he did it in style, as he scored a brace
before being subbed off in the 67th. His first goal was in the 18th, from a
Zaccardo cross of all sources. 1-0 Milan. It’s impossible to know who was the
happiest.
In the 27th, it is interesting to note that Honda could have
been given a yellow for the elbow to Molinaro’s face. But he wasn’t, because
Valeri knew he was already on a yellow from the tenth, and Valeri is a fair
referee. (looking
at you, Guida.) The foul was whistled, but no card given, because
everyone knows that the 27th is simply too early for a sending off.
 |
| Alright, who offered to pay for his vacation? |
However, the 42nd is not. Which is when Zaccardo was sent
off on a straight red. You see, he was adjudged to have prevented a clear goal
scoring opportunity. Some people pointed out that Amauri was in an offside
position when Zaccardo went in for the tackle, but keep in mind that in order
to get the offside call, the person in the offside position must also be deemed
involved in the play. And everyone knows Amauri wasn’t going to be involved in
that play, so that call was never coming to save Zaccardo. Luckily, since it
was outside of the box, De Jong was a one man brick wall on the Torino free
kick and Abbiati kept his clean sheet. But what a fantastic way for our World
Cup Winner to be sent off, leaving his team on 10 men for 48 minutes. I’ll bet
Valeri was just a huge Azzurri fan, rememberin 2006, and was just waiting for
his opportunity for revenge.
Speaking of sending off a World Cup Winner, Inzaghi earned
himself a sending off after the half, as he was seen yelling at Valeri going into
the tunnel. I don’t know what he said, but after being sent off twice in a row,
and depending on how much he hassled Valeri and for how long, the league could
give him a ban for that one. A shame if that is his last Milan game coached, no
one wants to be sent off that way.
 |
| Everyone's crazy for Pazzo |
Mexes replaced Alex at the half, and I’m no lipreader, but
it looked to me like he told Paletta “Everything is going to be okay. I’m here
now.” And somehow, it was, although I can’t promise that Mexes actually had
anything to do with that. First was some Karma, as after Molinaro was tackled
by Zaccardo earlier, he came in with a very clumsy challenge on wee little van
Ginkel in the box, earning himself a straight red. The penalty was awarded, and
Pazzini stepped up and converted it to make it 2-0. Only for his potential send
off, it marked his 100th Serie A goal. This was a mark he had been aiming to
achieve, and Abbiati, at his potential last home game, had given Pazzini the
captain’s armband in hopes it would bring him luck. Such class from a player
who had played for Milan since 1998, and had been completely robbed of his
armband since Montolivo came to town. This could be the last time he wore it,
but he gave it up for a teammate. Now that is a send off.
El Shaarawy would score his second goal in the 65th. It
started with De Jong passing it to him, then the sweet give and go with van
Ginkel. 3-0 Milan. How much we have missed his sublime footwork. For someone
who was previously called predictable, no one from Torino saw that coming. My
favorite part, though, was when Mastour came off the bench to run over and give
him a hug, they have a great friendship. El Shaarawy was subbed off two minutes
later for Zapata, who was apparently fielded to remind potential transfer
suitors that he exists. But the sub everyone was waiting for happened in the
75th, when Poli came off for Mastalli, the captain of the Primavera team. This
wasn’t the first time Inzaghi fielded a youth player this season, he had also
brought on Felicioli against Napoli. And while I agree with Inzaghi’s stance
that this really isn’t the right time or place to give these youth players
their debut, this one was merited. That was obvious just one minute in when
Mastalli took a great shot that was unfortunately deflected.
 |
| Either Mexes approves or he's hungry, I can't tell. Either way, Mastalli should run. |
While poor Cerci didn’t get to remind Ventura and his former
teammates of what they were missing, I think Inzaghi found what we have all
been looking for tonight. If you look at the starting lineup, most of the
players had been part of the team for over a year and had played together the
longest. Except for a reinforced defense (albeit not our best at this moment,)
and some fresh blood in the midfield. Exactly what we have been asking for all
along. Not these full squads worth of changes each mercato. Stick with the core
group of players and make smaller changes to our weak spots. That team that we
saw tonight was just that. And I don’t think it’s any coincidence that they
played better, with more teamwork and understanding, too. A team is not built
from mere individual talent, nor is it built from snatching up free transfers
like Wal Mart customers on Black Friday. A team is built over time, and so it
has taken this long to find that balance. Well that and the impact of injuries.
But I for one am hoping that Galliani’s BIG mercato plans include keeping a
core group and improving minimally.
 |
| Inzaghi missed a lot in the second half |
My feed cut out at the whistle, but I read that it was
Mexes, with a tear or two in his eyes, that reminded the guys to salute the
fans. If this was truly the last match for so many of these players, how
strange that Mexes would be the one to remind them of this. And yet somehow
fitting, considering we are the champions of European sending offs this year. But
at least the team gave these players a proper sending off at the last home
match of the season. In a season to forget, this was a sending off to remember.
This post inspired by the music of
Neon Trees’ “Everybody Talks”
Our last match of the season is
Atalanta-Milan
Saturday, May 30* • 20:45 CEST (2:45pm EDT)
*note the change in date/day
*note the change in date/day