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.
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| I guess he figures if there are no old and new, then we'll stop complaining about not playing the new? |
Where to begin… things were going pretty well preseason. There was a significant shift in style of play from the Gattuso era. Everyone was happy. Then came the Cesena match. A goalless draw in which Cesena looked more like the Serie A side, and Milan looked more like the newly promoted Serie C side. His starting 11 were all “old” players. But he did sub some “new” players on.
Next came the incomprehensible loss
to Udinese. Not only did Giampaolo look like he was going to vomit or
something at the beginning of the match, but once again, he started no new
players. He played a 4-3-1-2, but afterwards hinted at switching back to a
4-3-3. This was completely alarming because our entire transfer market was
based on the 4-3-1-2, and we had only played one competitive match. One. And
this “ideas man” was already out of ideas?
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| Sometimes laughter is not a good sign |
Next
up was Brescia. He did start a “new” player in Bennacer, but only
because Biglia was injured. And he benched Piatek and Paqueta, instead playing
the outgoing Andre Silva and the fashion illiterate Samu Castillejo. After
Piatek and Paqueta were brought on, the play improved so much. But no, Paqueta
was "too Brazilian." And Giampaolo would start whomever he wanted up front. He
was like a crotchety old man.
Although Bennacer was easily Man of the Match against
Brescia, instead, on Sunday, Giampaolo started Biglia away to Verona.
And again, he started no new players. Ahead of the match, he now infamously
said in a press conference, “There are no new players and old players. There is
only Milan.” So ungrateful. And so incredibly stupid. The whole point of the
mercato is to improve your team. Why did Maldini and Boban work so hard to try
to get good players for him? Just to sit on the bench? That is a direct insult
to their footballing knowledge. And every other coach in the world plays their
new players.
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| "Paqueta is too Brazilian for a midtable team" #FakeQuotes |
Additionally, his “Paqueta is too Brazilian” comment has
stuck with the young player, and after having been played out of position in yet
another new position, then subbed off at the half, Paqueta went to Instagram to
post “Proud to be Brazilian” on Sunday. So Maldini and Massara had to meet
with the two of them and iron out their differences. In week 3. Who does that?
And when asked about Castillejo, who wasn’t even the greatest at his natural
right wing spot, he said, “I’m offended, he’s a great worker and I like him.”
Well, sir, we are offended. You have already pissed off
players, forced management to try to explain the unexplainable, and lost all of
the fans. You have been lucky to win two matches, your lineups suck so badly,
and your tactics are barely existent. Please pretend not to be you for the
Derby. None of us deserve to lose so badly because of your “wisdom”. And the “new”
players deserve to start, while we’re at it. The “wisdom” of Giampaolo is going
to cost you your job and Milan its season.
This post inspired by the music of AC/DC’s
“Highway to Hell”
Our next match is
Serie A Week 4
il Derby della Madonnina
Saturday,
September 21 • 20:45 CEST (2:45pm EDT)