As with most of our lunchtime games, this match was a source
of massive indigestion for fans. In a match that we could have dominated and
should have won, we played our timid, defensive, offensively constipated game instead. So
much so that Parma looked like the team that wanted a Champions League spot.
And now, having dropped points, our fate is no longer entirely in our hands,
with five games still left to play.
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| Going home hungry |
Our reluctant ex, Kucka, tried to leave his mark on the game
from the very beginning. A stamp on Bakayoko in the second minute left Bakayoko
needing treatment before he could continue. Then in the 18th, Kucka had one of
the best chances of the first half with an overhead bicycle kick that went just
wide. And again in the 82nd, his effort went just over, hitting the top of the
net, actually. I don’t know what I would have done if he would have scored,
though, it would have been too much.
Gigio had an amazing save on Ceravolo in the 12th minute
when he ran off his line to make the stop. He was excellent in his first game
back from injury. But almost everyone else looked like they were playing
asleep, which is what I wish I’d been doing instead of watching them sleepwalk.
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| A super sub worth celebrating |
Gattuso gets some credit from me on his substitutions. They
were early, he used them to change tactics, and they were impactful. Cutrone
coming on in the 58th reminded everyone else that they should be running and
gave them a sense of urgency. Then Castillejo came on and scored the goal less
than three minutes later with a lovely assist from Suso. 1-0 Milan. And his
final sub was Biglia for Calhanoglu, obviously so we could get the game’s only
yellow card.
But whatever credit he might get for improving the game, he
loses more credit for creating the mess to begin with. Criticizing Suso when it’s
his playing from the back tactics that have most impacted Suso’s form. Starting
Borini and playing him for 90 minutes of whining, diving, rolling around,
complaining, and shooting off target when we have better options on the bench.
And speaking of Borini, it was his clumsy foul that gave Parma the free kick in
which Bruno Alves scored that gorgeous goal to make it 1-1 in the 87th.
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| Giving up the free kick and generally bringing the team down with his mediocrity |
That goal was crushing, but so deserved. Parma only had that
one shot on target, but had plenty of chances otherwise. Anyone watching the
match might guess, at least for large portions of it, that Milan were the 14th
place team, we were so lackadaisical. We played like we were 2-0 up the whole
match, but without being able to score at all. And then even when we were up
1-0, another costly error cost us points. Only at this point, those dropped
points could cost us Champions League qualification. A hefty price to pay for
poor tactics and players who didn’t play with enough intensity. Apparently, we
cannot play at lunchtime to save our Champions League lives. And that is enough
to give anyone indigestion.
This post inspired by the music of The
Smiths’ “Still Ill”
Our next match is
Coppa Italia
Semifinal Second Leg
Milan vs. Lazio
Wednesday, April
24 • 20:45 CST (2:45pm EDT)