Milan 1, SPAL 0: Zombie Victory

People say that the result is all that matters. Those people did not watch this match. It is something we are unfortunately not a stranger to. When Milan’s mentality lapses, they sometimes play down to a lesser team. I am not sure if playing down to a lesser team properly describes this nightmare, but as far as Halloween matches go, it was very frightening. Amazingly enough, we did take all three points, even if it didn’t feel like something worth celebrating. It was more like a zombie victory.

Suso saves the day again

Milan-SPAL Preview: Happy SPAL-loween

As if Milan fans weren’t frightened enough, we face more of a trick than a treat in 19th placed SPAL on Thursday. They earned one of their seven points on Sunday at the expense of Napoli. And with Pioli desperately trying to stabilize Milan’s mentality, meanwhile Milan fans continue to heap ten years of failure on the shoulders of this young team, this match could turn into a frightfest. Happy SPAL-loween.

Petagna and friends: "We're here for 3 points and all of your candy!"

Roma 2, Milan 1: Comedy of Errors

We knew Roma were plagued with injuries on an apocalyptic level, which gave us the most hope we could have of coming away from the Stadio Olimpico with any points at all. But after our worst start in decades and with a young team, we have already had to change coaches this season. So it shouldn’t be a surprise that we fell to one of three teams in Serie A that have only lost one game this season. Especially since our team have clearly been suffering with mentality and focus. Losing a match due to the mistakes of our young players wasn’t the surprise. The real surprise is that fans on social media continue to be a comedy of errors.

More celebrating the good, less hating on the mistakes

Roma-Milan Preview: Not Dead Yet

Milan travel to the Olimpico on Sunday to face a Roma side suffering from many injuries, including a VAR-less emotional injury that hurts like a ball to the face. Roma will be exhausted physically from playing on Thursday in the Europa League, but also mentally. Not just from playing in the Europa League, conceding a late penalty that officials afterward admitted was not a penalty, but also from so many injuries. They’re wounded physically and emotionally, but they’re not dead yet.

Just like we used to see him all the time, only this time, it's unfortunately real

Why We Bleed Red and Black

Sports fans all have a special kind of crazy about them. There are plenty of stories of fans who have supported their teams through thick and thin. But Milan fans have more than just a special kind of crazy. Through losses and triumphs on and off the pitch, those who support Milan do it for more than just a sports team. No matter how we started supporting Milan, we are all still here for one reason: we bleed red and black.

It's in our blood

Podcast: The Pioli Era Begins

After the Giampaolo experiment ended in tragedy and 15 dropped points, we were more than happy to usher in the Pioli Era. With immediate improvement in play, it was a lot easier to swallow dropping two points against Lecce. Off the pitch, however, there was shocking financial news, so the harrowing experience of being a Milan fan still continues, despite improvements on the pitch.

"I'm here. Everything is going to be okay!"

Milan 2, Lecce 2: Party Crashers

For Pioli’s birthday, it was hoped that the team could give him three points. But apparently, there was no sale on winning, so he only got one point instead. Despite Milan’s best offensive performance this season and for perhaps at least half of last season, too, Milan conceded a goal in stoppage time to see relegation-zone Lecce take a point, too. Those are some annoying party crashers.

Bringing the party

Milan-Lecce Preview: Galliani’s Revenge

Milan have been through a lot the past ten years, and there never seems to be a dull moment. Despite trying to move forward, it seems like we just can’t escape our past. Specifically, Galliani. This week, we face off against two of Galliani’s marquee signings in goalkeeper Gabriel and striker Gianluca Lapadula. Nothing is worse than facing off against some of Galliani’s finest. And this coming after one of his biggest young signings ever, Hachim Mastour, joined ol’ Yellow Tie in Serie C, signing for Reggiana this week, too. It just never stops. And this match could just be Galliani’s revenge.

38 saves in seven games, and he's conceded 15 - both more than Gigio

Not All That Glitters is Gold

So many people got so upset about the recent coaching change. While there are still a few who inexplicably don’t understand why Giampaolo needed to be sacked, more fans were simply disappointed that a “better” coach than Pioli wasn’t appointed. Far more shocking, though was Milan’s balance sheet that was just released yesterday. A disappointing number of people think that just because we are owned by a hedge fund worth $35 billion means that Milan have no money problems. But the news yesterday demonstrated that not all that glitters is gold.

He asked for time, but with a €4m salary, he should have done something last year

This Is Not Your Pedophile’s Milan

If I had a nickel for every journalist, opposition fan, or especially Milan fan that talks about Milan changing coaches again, or financial problems, or whatever, I could afford to buy all of the news outlets and hire some respectable people to report the actual truth. Or maybe at least fire the idiots that keep giving Silvio and Yellow Tie’s comments any air time. Their comments only add to the pile of lies that are being perpetuated. People have some random disconnect between the Glory Days of Milan and now, as if Silvio still owned the club. In fact, he seems to think he does, too. But this is NOT your pedophile’s Milan.

Shut up and take it, Silvio

Stefano Pioli: Righting the Ship

As soon as Pioli’s name was mentioned in connection with the Milan job, small-minded and short-sighted Milan fans started a hashtag trending: #PioliOut. I suppose it had something to do with them wanting a manager who was much better than Giampaolo, despite the fact that they believed he was the next Sacchi just three months ago. Many wanted Spalletti, who had more experience. But the reasons for not hiring Spalletti were so much more than financial. Pioli has qualities that Milan need right now. No, he’s not a world class tactician, but he is capable of righting the ship.

"OMG, I'm talking to Paolo Maldini. Just act normal. Just act normal."

Lowered Expectations

The writing was on the wall when Milan hired Giampaolo. The praise heaped on him without any tangible merit created completely unrealistic expectations. But he fell short of even the lowest expectations of him. Without a lot of choices, Milan turned to another mediocre manager. Pioli doesn’t bring with him praise or unrealistic expectations at all, he is just another manager who has managed football teams. Perhaps that will be his biggest strength: lowered expectations.

Baby steps

Podcast: Intentional Pain

With the shockingly poor results, the horrific discipline issues, and the indescribable lineups, Giampaolo’s future at Milan is the center of much discussion. We talked about everything at Milan, but especially the theory that we have all been subjected to intentional pain.

Never hire a confessed Inter fan

Genoa 1, Milan 2: Seeing Red

Four red cards in this match. FOUR. Okay, so two were for people on the bench, but there were also seven yellow cards. It’s amazing that they found any time to play football. Milan were rewarded for… well to be honest, I’m not sure what they were rewarded for. They didn’t dominate possession, take more shots, they just managed to have more goals than Genoa when the whistle blew. And that whistle blew so often. It was definitely a match where everyone was seeing red.

Oh, look. It's four of Milan's best players and Biglia

Genoa-Milan Preview: Zapata’s Big Game

He was a fixture at Milan for seven years. He lasted from Allegri’s downfall years all the way through Gattuso, and then we let his contract run out. He was actually a great defender, scored some memorable goals for Milan. But he always had that propensity to lose focus at the worst of times, and I think many Milan fans remember him for the goals he scored for the opposing teams, or the ones he allowed at least. So tomorrow, he will either score for us or for Genoa, it’s got to be one or the other. This match is Zapata’a big game.

An own goal... please?

In Search of Milan Fans

This week, I tried something new on Twitter. I tweeted a request for Milan fans. Not just any Milan fans, but the kind of fans that met a specific set of criteria. I do realize it was foolish to believe I would find them on Twitter, because… well it’s Twitter. But I was disappointed that I did not find even one fan that met all of the criteria.