Much Ado About Giampaolo

The decision to hire Giampaolo in June was met with sensational claims that frankly, no one could have lived up to. “Arrigo Sacchi’s heir,” they said. “The next Sarri,” they said. I was not convinced. I pointed out repeatedly that he has never won anything, never coached a club like Milan, and that we needed better. That he was “Not Exactly” the coach we wanted or needed. That was well before he ever lost his first match.

"Suckers!"

Milan 1, Fiorentina 3: Indescribable

Milan’s performance seemed to leave even Maldini and Giampaolo searching for words to describe it. Not at all comforting to the fans, who in recent Milan form, have completely abused, attacked, and or abandoned the club they claim to love. Milan’s performance was terrible, but the behavior of the fans is so very much worse. Especially you, Curva. It’s simply indescribable.

Leao's first goal celebrated by Milan fans gone missing

Milan-Fiorentina Preview: 6 Underground

Milan have won two of their first five matches. By scoring three goals, only one from the run of play. Even the most ardent Giampaolo supporters have turned on him, while the club continues to support him because they must. But for how long? If he loses this match at home, will that see him go six underground?

More of these, please

Torino 2, Milan 1: Tired

Watching this game was interesting, there were large portions of the game where Milan actually played well. But to watch social media and even the media coverage, it was the end of the world. The loss of interest in the actual football, the reduction of 90 minutes of sport into 1-2 errors that people focus on, the blaming the ref for everything when the result doesn’t go our way… I’m just sick of it. Why even play the game when social media is only going to take a snapshot and abuse our own players for it? Why share experiences with fans, when they only look at the result and say “Milan are terrible”? What is the actual point of watching or reviewing a game when people only watch social media? It’s so old and tired.

You don't even deserve this pic

Torino-Milan Preview: No More Bull

Both teams come into this match with matching results, with Torino actually ahead of us due to a single goal differential. Both teams have disappointed, and both teams are looking to have a game that changes their seasons. With both coaches having made questionable calls in terms of lineups and systems, this is the game where both sides have to make the right decisions and both sides will desperately be seeking 3 points. No more bull.

We need to elevate significantly from Sunday's performance

Torino were stopped by a single Sampdoria goal from Gabbiadini on Sunday. For that match, Mazzarri lined up Sirigu; Izzo, Lyanco, Bremer; De Silves, Baselli, Rincon, Meité, Aina; Zaza and Belotti. Mazzarri will be missing Lukic to injury, while Ansaldi was injured but has managed to be called up. Mazzarri’s choices have been called into question and more is expected of this Torino side.

Giampaolo has done enough to have many of the Milan faithful already question his job security. Between waffling on formations and lining up players like Castilljo and Borini ahead of new players purchased in the mercato, his uncertainty has caused Milan to drop points and lose faith in him. Losing the Derby 2-0 on Sunday was just too painful for many, who believe that we at least could have done better.

Torino will be looking to do better as well

Milan will be without Paquetá, who suffered a thigh strain on Sunday, which is fine, because Giampaolo would not have started him anyway, he’s too good. Also missing still is Caldara, although Bonaventura is called up for this one. That is great news for anyone who likes to see our best players sit on the bench.

Both teams need to right some early season wrongs. Mazzarri has been on the bench so long, but seems different this season, he’ll need to start commanding some convincing performances to stay on the bench. Whereas Giampaolo is already needing to invoke the “support of the club” after each match, just four matches in. So his position is even more tenuous and he will need to personally convince tomorrow in Torino. One thing is certain, the fans of both teams are wanting better football and better results. So tomorrow is all about no more bull.

This post inspired by the music of the Vandals; “I Want to Be a Cowboy”

Serie A Week 5

Torino vs. Milan

Thursday, September 26 • 21:00 CEST (3pm EDT)

This match can be streamed LIVE on ESPN+ in the U.S.

Podcast: Dazed and Confused

The only thing worse than losing the Derby is having to record a podcast after losing the Derby. But in hindsight, it helped to look at what is going on at the club and how the team are playing. It also helped to put things into perspective, looking at the big picture. Or maybe to make things less clear, I’m not sure. All I know is that Milan seem dazed and confused.

Dazed and confused

Milan 0, Inter 2: As You Were

Milan fans everywhere had prayed for a miracle. The Curva Sud even invoked Milan’s patron saint, Saint Ambrose, in their coreo. But he was only able to slay a painted snake. Instead, after standing at attention for 90 minutes plus stoppage time, Milan fans were commanded “as you were.”

Gigio was up for the Derby

Milan-Inter Preview: Not Exactly

The Derby is the biggest game of the year. Even more so when Inter fans have been behaving badly. The desire to win is exponentially bigger. After Inter fans racially abused Kessie in the last Derby, it would be amazing to get redemption for him on the pitch. But unfortunately, Milan have a massive liability in our manager, Giampaolo. He will likely singlehandedly undermine any chance we had at winning this for Kessie or anyone else. Do I want to win? More than life itself. Do I think we can win? Not exactly.

#RedemptionForKessie

The Wisdom of Giampaolo

There was no way that anyone could ever live up to the expectations that everyone placed upon Giampaolo this summer upon being appointed for Milan. You name the famous person, they had wonderful things to say about him. He’s got great ideas, they said. His teams play great football, they said. But I don’t think anyone could have ever expected him to leave all of his new players on the bench or to say such mindboggling things that are so out of touch with reality. I guess it’s just the wisdom of Giampaolo.

I guess he figures if there are no old and new, then we'll stop complaining about not playing the new?

Verona 0, Milan 1: A Violent Affair

The Stadio Bentegodi is always a passionate venue, and tempers flared during Milan’s visit there tonight. There were seven yellow cards and two red cards, one for each team. After 98 minutes, Milan emerged victorious. But we were not without battle scars. And Verona likely felt like they deserved something out of this match, too having played on ten men for most of the match. My preview for this match juxtaposed this fixture with the tragic love affair of Romeo and Juliet, which was also set in Verona, but this was just a violent affair.

Not sure if celebrating win or just still being alive

Hellas Verona-Milan Preview: Wherefore Art Thou?

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was set in Verona, and we all know how that ended. Milan really struggle at the Bentegodi. In fact, we lost two of our last three matches there, which is no love story, I’m not gonna lie. Milan have a decent squad, and Verona didn’t do as much as perhaps they should have as a newly promoted team. But they come into this match ahead of us after two games. The biggest questions center around Giampaolo. The hearts of Milan fans everywhere are asking, “O Giampaolo, Giampaolo, wherefore art thou Giampaolo?”

"Dear Maldini, Thanks for the new players, but I prefer the old ones"

More Reasons to Hate Inter

As if anyone needed more reasons to hate Inter… they are a plague to society, and their fans have the IQ of a rock. Wait, I’m sorry, rocks, I didn’t mean to insult you. If it’s not wiretapping, matchfixing, and taking down a whole league, then it’s racism. So it shouldn’t really surprise that they are quickly developing a reputation for sexism, too. Just one more reason to hate Inter.

It's not just indoctrination, it's child abuse

The Shrinking Wage Bill

Amidst all of the angst and concern that we as Milan fans suffer like the worst kind of PTSD, today’s La Gazzetta dello Sport shed some light on something really amazing that is happening at Milan: our wage bill is shrinking. Quickly. Meanwhile, it seems like our squad has improved a lot in quality, even if it is still very young in comparison.  Even if we don’t find the immediate success on the pitch that we seek, this news is some of the best news we’ve had in a long time and points to a lot of hope for our future.

Captaining a young, sustainable Milan squad

The Trouble with International Breaks

Players will often talk about how no matter how much they love the club they play for, there is no higher honor than playing for their country. Which is great for fans when they support the same club and national team that player plays for. But players can get injured on national team duty, or come back late or tired and not be available for their next club match. And that is the trouble with International Breaks.

Please don't injure him...

Podcast: Why I Hate Inter: Calciopoli Edition

Some people don’t have any idea why I hate Inter so much. It goes well beyond sport, it’s not just a cross-town rivalry for me. Most people don’t seem to know or remember the events of 2006 and the scandal known as Calciopoli. Fewer people know Inter’s role in this scandal, let alone how they benefited from it. So with the Derby on the horizon, this podcast is all about why I hate Inter.

So many reasons to hate Inter

Racism, Hypocrisy and Serie A

After Romelu Lukaku was horrifically racially abused on Sunday by Cagliari fans, I wanted to use the only tool I know of that could possibly impact the situation - or at least other people – writing.  But then I realized that I already have written about this problem. So many times. And nothing changes. It keeps happening. It’s like an infinite loop of racism and hypocrisy in Serie A.

Going backwards