Milan-SPAL Preview: Clash of the Feeble

Although Milan sit precariously in sixth place and SPAL sit way too close to the relegation zone in 15th place, this one will be the clash of the feeble. Both teams have regrets this season, and both teams probably should have done better than they have done. Although to be fair, only one team has won 18 Scudetti, and therefore should really be doing much, much better. Still, as both teams face off for their final Serie A match of 2018, it’s a game that matters more than it should, a clash of the feeble.

Hmmm.... Petagna doesn't look feeble

SPAL have only four wins, with five draws and nine losses this season. Many of their dropped points have come after they were ahead and couldn’t hold on to the lead. Their most recent result was a 0-0 draw against Udinese midweek. For that match, Semplici lined up Gomis; Cionek, Felipe, Bonifazi; Lazzari, Missiroli, Schiattarella, Valoti, Fares; former Milan player Petagna, and Floccari. Don’t forget that amongst his subs, he also has a former Milan player called Paloschi, aka the next Pippo Inzaghi. Or that he could also play the other Milinkovic-Savic in goal. So many ways to hurt Milan, and you know our exes won’t have a problem doing just that.

Milan have not scored in four straight league matches. Talk about feeble. And Gattuso not only has no idea what to do about it, he has basically said as much. Which doesn’t give me any hope for this match. Suso missed the last match due to pelvic inflammation, and despite not being 100%, he is called up for this one. Borini is also suddenly and inexplicably called back up for this match, despite no word on what his injury was or any comments on his progress up to now. While normally I would indicate that more of a warning than a blessing, in this situation, he might be the perfect anti-SPAL super sub. Who knows?

Deceivingly feeble

Gattuso is of course still missing Bertolacci, Strinic, Caldara, Biglia, and Bonaventura to long-term injuries. We have hopes of seeing Strinic soon, although there have been no updates from the club as to his fitness. Conti does not have 90 minutes in his legs yet, according to Gattuso, so he must wait for the infamous seven minutes of playing time he might get, if Gattuso decides to sub at all.

Nothing is more feeble than the death, stabbing, and racism that Inter and Napoli fans participated in on Wednesday. Although Gattuso did his bumbling best, by saying Italy is not a racist country and that racism is usually just four morons. Yeah, four people can be heard amidst a crowd of 56,000 fans. Sure. Please stick to your day job, Gattuso. Wait, there are questions as to whether you should even do that. However, his nemesis, Deputy Prime Minister Salvini weighed in, he made Gattuso look like a genius. He compared the boos that Bonucci received for being a traitor to the abuse that Koulibaly received due to the color of his skin. Just think about that for a minute, and I’m pretty sure he just proved both of you wrong. Italy is a very racist country.

Tactically and socially feeble?

Back to this feeble game, I can’t imagine either side mustering up enough hatred to do anything like we saw on Wednesday. I can only hope that by reinstating Borini, we have a chance at three points against a side that has only won four games this season. Although that hope is obviously way too much, and I should just resign myself now to another goalless draw. For that is the most likely scenario in this clash of the feeble.

This post inspired by the music of Weezer’s “Pork and Beans”

Serie A Week 19

Milan vs. SPAL

Saturday, December 29 • 20:30 CET (2:30pm EST)

This match can be streamed LIVE on ESPN+ or seen on RAI Italia in the U.S.