Lazio-Milan Preview: This Could Get Ugly

The last time Milan played Lazio in Rome, there were a total of 15 cards shown, including three red cards for Lazio alone. Milan took all three points in that one with a 1-0 win, but it was definitely ugly. This match does not look to be much better, though, as Fonseca already seems to have lost the plot, we already have at least six players out of this one with injuries, and he apparently plans to sit some starters, too. Add to that a strange transfer window, and this really could get ugly.

Last time we played Lazio in Rome, things definitely got ugly.

Parma 2, Milan 1: Delayed Awareness

Milan's 2-1 loss to Parma was a shock for many Milan fans, who were still high from the feel-good U.S. friendly tour, I guess. With those absolutely hideous new Puma third kits, I'm amazed we did not lose by more. My theory is that if you look good, you play well, and the opposite also holds true. So if anything, Milan played much better than they looked in those awful kits. But if our players looked at all sluggish or delayed in their responses to Parma's convincing footballing display in their first home match of the year, it was Fonseca's postmatch press conference that was really surprising. His comments made it sound as if he had never watched a single Milan match from last season, and had no idea what the problems were that he was hired to fix. Almost as if he had a delayed awareness.

Despite what fans think, these players do fight for the shirt... OK, maybe not this shirt with the green crest.

Parma-Milan Preview: Here We Go Again

Milan are headed to their first Serie A away match of the season on Saturday evening. So far, there are two serious injuries and a muscle injury, and it is only the second match of the season, so that tracks. Also, our opening match last week was a disappointing draw to Torino, so it really is a bit like we got a younger, cheaper manager who has hair, but the storyline is the same. Oh, and did I mention the mercato is wrapping up in less than a week? So we are heading to face newly promoted Parma on pins and needles, with players moving in and out, injuries happening at the same rate as before. If you have that same, anxious feeling that has haunted you in recent seasons, you are not alone. It's only week two. Here we go again.

Thirty minutes in a Milan shirt. Injured. That is how we roll.

Milan 2, Torino 2: Learning Curva

Milan's first official match of the season did not go exactly as planned. In a match where Milan could and should have controlled the narrative, decisions by Fonseca and errors by players, particularly in the defensive phase, once again took center stage, and the result was a 2-2 draw with Torino. Vanoli's side were not necessarily better, but perhaps better prepared, without players on national team duty, and having not gone on a giant promotional tour of the U.S. across the Atlantic ocean. The Milan fans, too, were not prepared for the season, with the Curva Sud having boycotted the last 4.5 matches of the season, and not attended Raduno to support the team, their support also wavered. Even the technology faltered, with VAR compensating for Goal Line Technology (GLT) and then failing itself with human error. Overall, you could say this match was a bit of a learning Curva.

Patience and a promise to do better from everyone would be wise.

Milan-Torino Preview: War and Peace

Saturday begins a new Serie A season, and both Milan and Torino have new managers. What many may not realize is that both managers were directly and personally affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine. Many know that Paulo Fonseca's second wife is Ukrainian, but it may be lesser known that he and his family were living in Kiev when the Russians invaded Ukraine in 2022, and they were barely able to get out of the country safely. Paolo Vanoli, new Torino manager, was managing Russian side Spartak Moscow when the war began, and as a result, had to step down from his position and leave Russia as well. Both managers affected by war, and despite the conflict still raging, as Fonseca compassionately reminded us, now battling in Italy under more peaceful conditions.

Fonseca and his family were displaced by war, now he wants to brings success through peace.

Podcast • Season Preview: Fonseca Season

This summer has been yet another summer of major changes at the club, with a number of new managers and even a new U23 team, Milan Futuro. Obviously, Pete was the perfect guest to help catch us up with everything that happened and discuss what lies ahead. We covered the players in and out this summer, briefly discussed the summer friendlies, and then gave our thoughts on Fonseca, his new tactics, the young players, and the transfers so far, as well as when you can see the upcoming matches for the various teams.

Get ready for Fonseca Season.

The Fonseca Effect

After an undefeated preseason, including lifting the coveted Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi, fans have eagerly invited Fonseca into their obviously completely realistic expectations and fantasies for this season. Those expectations range somewhere between winning the treble  (without cheating, obviously) and winning the treble, plus the Supercoppa and maybe even some retrospective trophies, I am not sure. But after five years of Pioli, anything different is being welcomed with open arms and zero reservations whatsoever. For the man who quite literally moved into Milanello, fans are offering their unfettered dreams without even being concerned about the way the club has not yet properly reinforced the team this summer, or how not a lot has actually changed. That is the Fonseca effect.

Fonseca has already convinced many fans, but will it last?

The Trofeo Berlusconi: The Biggest Match of the Year

Tuesday night at the San Siro may be listed as "just a friendly," but true Milan fans know it is the Biggest Match of the Year. In one single match against a midtable team that was Silvio Berlusconi's sad attempt at re-creating what he had at Milan, we could win one of the literally biggest trophies around – the Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi. Named in honor of a previous owner of Milan who passed away, Milan are the current title holders of this trophy, having won it on penalties in its inaugural year last year. To top it off, there will be a special presentation of our new players, Pavlović, Morata, and Emerson Royal ahead of the match at 19:45 CEST. Last year in Italy, this match was the highest rated programming in its time slot. It literally was the Biggest Match of the Year. (Or at least the night.)

Two teams, one president, always in our hearts... sure, but there's only one trophy.

Milan Meeting Up with Barcelona in Baltimore

Milan have had what should be an arguably successful U.S. tour, having won both of their friendly matches vs. Manchester City and Real Madrid. Fonseca has also had a chance to look at some young players, and eve swapped some players in and out, despite the transatlantic flights. However, there are those transatlantic flights, which has meant that the last few players returning from vacation have been training at Milanello, not having even met with Fonseca or begun to integrate with the team. Then, there are the two serious injuries, both requiring surgery and multiple-month recoveries. There is also the fact that no other Serie A side traveled outside of Europe for any of their friendlies. So there are plenty of arguments against the success of this preseason as well. However, either way, on Tuesday evening, Milan are meeting up with Barcelona in Baltimore for their final match in the U.S.

A team united in training with their U.S. fans present, too.