With one
of the most incredible transfer markets ever, this season there is finally
something to really talk about. It’s been so long since there was anything
exciting enough to preview, I have to confess that this is very refreshing.
Certainly, it is nearly impossible to predict what will happen, but there are also
plenty of things to look forward to… finally.
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| Milan are back... or at least well on their way |
Arrivals and Departures
The part
that everyone, even other teams in other leagues, is talking about, is our mercato. Having brought in a red carpet
list of players including Mateo Musacchio, Franck Kessie, André Silva, Ricardo
Rodriguez, Hakan Calhanoglu, Andrea Conti, Lucas Biglia, and Leonardo Bonucci
was quite the feat. A feat not entirely marred or eclipsed by also bringing in
Antonio Donnarumma and Fabio Borini. And there are still a couple of weeks left
in the mercato. Having signed ten new players and renewing Gigio Donnarumma,
it’s almost like a completely different starting eleven. Add to it players like Bonaventura and Suso, coming off of injuries, and the exciting young Cutrone, and this team is completely improved from last year's squad.
Most
notable departures include De Sciglio, Kucka, Honda, Lapadula, Poli, and Bertolacci, as well as the loans that ended for Deulofeu, Pasalic, Mati Ferndandez, and the epic Ocampos. It's hard to miss many of them, though, with the quality that they have been replaced with. And considering that this new management have actually managed to get money for many of their departures, it feels more like we improved by losing those players. Keep in mind that Bacca, Paletta, and Jose Sosa have all been transfer-listed, so that list could increase in the next couple of weeks.
Also notable is the changing of the captain’s armband from the notorious never-should-have-been-captain to the world class Leo Bonucci, aka the man who punches armed robbers to protect his family. It is widely believed that he will provide the leadership desperately needed since Galliani threw Ambrosini and Abbiati under the bus. Oh, and speaking of Abbiati, as our new team manager, he has been both visible and vocal on behalf of the team. I can’t even imagine teammates trying to snap towels at each other under his strict but fatherly leadership.
Also notable is the changing of the captain’s armband from the notorious never-should-have-been-captain to the world class Leo Bonucci, aka the man who punches armed robbers to protect his family. It is widely believed that he will provide the leadership desperately needed since Galliani threw Ambrosini and Abbiati under the bus. Oh, and speaking of Abbiati, as our new team manager, he has been both visible and vocal on behalf of the team. I can’t even imagine teammates trying to snap towels at each other under his strict but fatherly leadership.
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| Brute force, brute skills, brute impact |
Europa League
I am
still not confident this competition is necessary or even healthy for this
team, despite so many amazing signings. We have yet to put on a truly confident
display in our preseason games, and we haven’t even qualified for the group stages yet. Playing in the Europa League will make
our players more exhausted and we will wind up with more injuries. For example,
Biglia apparently got injured just trying to get his bonds sorted out for the
next round (I may have made part of that up.) But if this team can gel quickly, gain
confidence as a team, and fight the exhaustion and injuries that travel and
playing extra games causes, then I suppose we could possibly make it to the
Europa League final. And this is the one European trophy Milan have never won,
so that would be amazing. But other than that, it might be wise to go out of
the competition early on and focus on Serie A instead.
Serie A Schedule
Maybe
it’s just me, but I feel like the league schedule smiles upon Milan. A nice
balance of fixtures, starting with some teams that might challenge us a little
less, and working our way up to the bigger teams. Of course weeks seven and
eight are Inter and Roma back to back, and that will be brutal. Additionally,
should we qualify for the group stage of the Europa League, it will be
interesting to see how those fixtures align with the league schedule. But from
our current vantage point, we got a good draw.
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| Labelled by the Curva as the "signings of the season" |
Tactics
For the
second half of last season, Montella stopped talking about possession and
really put his attacking ideas to work. He stuck primarily with the 4-3-3
formation, barring a couple of games at the end, when he lined up a 3-5-2. With
the arrival of Bonucci, he hinted at lining up a 3-5-2 again. But I honestly
hope he doesn’t. I agreed with David on a recent podcast that we lack the depth on the wings to sustain this formation long
term, amongst other reasons. Other than that, Kessie, who was overwhelmingly voted your favorite signing,
will provide a level of steel in the midfield we haven’t had in years, along
with some exceptional skill. Our crossing and set pieces are likely to go from
woeful to breathtaking with the addition of Calhanoglu and Rodriguez, which
immediately gives us all new threats tactically. The level of quality alone
gives Montella so many new options, and is already giving fans a reason to
return to the stadium.
Coach
Montella
fast became the weakest link, or at least the most questionable link, when the
summer’s brilliant signings were made. Is he up for the task? What will he do
with so much talent? Is he capable of more than a single-dimensional tactical
idea? Can he manage three competitions… and succeed? It’s way too soon to tell,
but after what he did with the team last year, the man deserves the opportunity
for sure. With the primary goal of returning to Champions League qualification
for the following year, he needs to achieve top four in the league. While our
team has been strengthened in talent, so many changes can actually weaken all
of that mental strength he was able to muster last year. One has to believe,
though that a coach of his level will not fall flat on his face, even if there
are concerns that he may not be “the one” to return Milan to full glory.
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| He'll need to find the balance between substance and flash, mentality and physicality |
Opposition
Juventus
have been the team to beat for six seasons now. But the loss of Bonucci to a
direct rival (that’s us! Hahaha!) is massive, as well as losing a number of
other key players. Their mercato has been okay, but rebranding with a stupid
logo does not inspire a lot of confidence in their ability to win a seventh
straight Scudetto. Which leads us to Napoli, a team that has a core of very
strong players, and a coach that football lovers are in love with in Sarri.
Many believe they will challenge for the Scudetto, but not if De Laurentiis has
anything to do with it. He’ll hop on a scooter and ride off into the sunset
before he lets his team actually win something.
Roma have
had an interesting mercato. If by “interesting” you mean “sell all the
players.” While they got themselves a fantastic coach in Di Francesco, I am not
convinced that their young and largely unknown reinforcements will equal a
Scudetto this year. The team that only wins when they wiretap have chosen an
interesting coach in Spaletti. He brings his “always the bridesmaid, never the
bride” mentality to a club that is often the poor little ringbearer that
dropped the ring. Their mercato started out weak, but they are trying to
reinforce well now, and could make a run for fourth place… if Moratti jumps
back in and pulls some strings… er… wires.
Despite
us having raided Atalanta of two of their young jewels in Kessie and Conti,
they are still a dark horse to run for a Champions League spot. However while
also competing in Europa League matches, they may not be a match for clubs that have more expensive players.
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| Predicted by many to be the coach thrown in the air with a Scudetto win this year, but will he manage it? |
It’s
impossible to know just what to expect this season, but universally everyone
knows that this season is going to be so much better than recent seasons.
Better ownership and management, much better players with better attitudes,
much better quality of play, and much better support from fans. Oh, and don't forget the three most amazing kits ever. On paper, we
could take a top four spot in the league. And some people believe that on paper
we could win the Europa League, too. But I think we should work on qualifying
for the group stage first. Wherever we end up, this season is absolutely going
to be better. And better is good enough for me.
This post inspired
by the music of Public Image Ltd.’s “Rise”
Our next match is
Europa League Playoff Round
AC Milan vs. KF
Shkëndija
Thursday, August 17
• 20:45 CEST (2:45pm EDT)
Our first match of
the Serie A season is
Crotone vs. Milan
Sunday, August 20 •
20:45 CEST (2:45pm EDT)