As the clock ran down on the transfer window yesterday,
there was a palpable sigh from Milan fans, and maybe a few tears, too. “The
dream” was only that, and for the eighth consecutive year, Milan did not
reinforce properly at the central midfielder position. Milinkovic-Savic was not
coming. Not even the fans’ second choice, Rabiot. And as if that wasn’t enough
to be sad about, Our Sunday game vs. Genoa was postponed after 39 people
tragically lost their lives when a bridge in Genoa suddenly collapsed. It’s
enough to give anyone the red and black blues.
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| I know, Sergej, we're kind of upset, too. |
Let me start by offering my heartfelt condolences to the
victims of the tragedy and their families and friends who are left behind to
pick up the pieces. I cannot imagine what the city of Genoa are going through
right now, and I really hope that they are able to heal from the entire ordeal.
Certainly, they have a reason to mourn.
Milan fans are disappointed about missing out on “the Dream,”
and rightly so. It is a position we desperately needed to upgrade at, and he
was the perfect player to fit the spot. Even Rabiot would have been a
significant upgrade. Locatelli choosing to leave for more playing time makes it
that much more bitter. And as if that wasn’t enough, that kasljdfaislhfialhahlasdi snake Montolivo refused to leave, too.
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| Depth. |
But many fans are doing okay. Why? Because despite
unexpectedly changing ownership and management and dealing with UEFA’s
unprecedented ban this summer, our mercato was actually surprisingly successful.
For the first time in recent memory, we actually bought players who will
challenge our starters for their starting spot. That’s right, Galliani, the new
guys bought players who might actually be better than the ones we had instead
of paying too much for Preziosi’s bench rot players.
Despite missing another striker maybe and “the Dream,” our
team was strengthened so much. Think about it: as fans we have been saying for
years that we have no bench. And now we do. Like eight new players’ worth of
depth. If that doesn’t bring a smile to your face amidst those Serbian tears, I
don’t know what will.
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| The best surprise of the summer |
The summer started off in the worst possible way, and ended
pretty darned well. With Maldini back, the club gets instant respect wherever
we go. No more poor Milan or Chinese owner insults. Rival fans have to stand a
little taller and show some respect now that the Captain is back. And along
with Leonardo, in the smallest of windows and with FFP restrictions, they
pulled off a brilliant mercato, even if every piece of the puzzle wasn’t solved
just yet. So I’m done crying and wondering what could have been. I’m looking
forward to what might be. I gotta stand tall, support my team, and shake off
those red and black blues.
This post inspired by the music of New
Order’s “Blue Monday”
Our next match is
Serie A Week 2
Napoli vs. Milan
Saturday, August
25 • 20:30 CEST (2:30pm EDT)