Reading Stephen King's Misery is far more terrifying than the movie could ever be. But I am beginning to feel like we are all the writer in the story, Paul Sheldon, and Fonseca is our Annie. He says he is our "biggest fan," that he is benching our best players "for tactical reasons," but in actuality, he is holding us hostage and torturing us and making both our players and us fans suffer unbearable amounts of pain until he gets his way. Even if his way means only five wins in 12 matches, or losing 2-0 to a team that we absolutely owned, even in the Champions League, just over a year ago. Fonseca's man management tactics are a source of pure misery.
When you are compared to the protagonist in a psychological thriller, you may be the problem. |
Let's just start with the fact that Fonseca is definitely no former nurse in real life. He is barely passable for a current football manager. But, like Annie, perhaps not entirely mentally stable, based on his press conferences. And Milan were struggling with Pioli, but it's not like we had been in a serious car accident. We just needed some new ideas. Not to have our entire book manuscript burned and be physically tortured and maimed. In fact, sticking with Pioli would have been so much better than all this. But our management are incompetent, and the Italian press is addicted to bashing Leão like Paul was addicted to painkillers, so Fonseca is our nightmare.
Hobbled on the bench by a deranged manager. |
That brutal reality hit almost immediately when Lukaku scored in just the fifth minute. 1-0 Napoli. I think we all felt a little like Pavlović on that one. Milan managed to regain possession and get some shots off, but Napoli's counters were largely more threatening. According to Annie Fonseca, we played well, but no one in their right mind would have left Leão on the bench while missing eight other players. Or Calabria, either, who has memorably been one of Kvaratskhelia's worst nightmares. So it was particularly notable that finally, in his third season at Napoli, Calabria had to helplessly watch Kvaratskhelia score his first goal against Milan from the bench. 2-0 Napoli. Talk about torture.
Head referee Colombo explains to Morata that VAR is checking his goal for offside. |
By keeping Pulisic in the squad instead of sending him home when he was known to be ill, Fonseca not only risked Pulisic's health, but also the health of the entire team. Obviously, the rest of the team were likely already exposed, but a normal human being limits exposure once a virus has been detected. Instead, Fonseca replaced Emerson Royal with the ill player, further humiliating our captain, Calabria, who should have replaced the right back when our defense was struggling so much. But he, too, has been undeservedly benched this season. Jović has been "injured" basically since the end of the transfer window, despite playing for Serbia in both international breaks. Like I genuinely do not understand how so many people in the industry and the media are supporting this abusive behavior from Fonseca, because he's not even getting results. And it's not the first time he's tried to push players out by benching them, as Florenzi well knows.
Pulisic should have been resting, and could be patient zero for a flu outbreak ahead of a busy schedule. |
His last act of desperation this time was throwing Camarda on for Loftus-Cheek in the 87th minute. Which also did not work, obviously, and was also only his third sub, despite having other young players called up and capable bench players available. This also raises another question: Why is this clear psychological (pathological?) nightmare overseeing our entire project, including these very promising young players? In Stephen King's epic psychological thriller, Annie was able to continue her horrors because she was completely secluded. But. Fonseca is doing this to our team in the media and on internationally televised matches. Milan has 500 million fans worldwide, and an incredible history and brand to protect.
Why is a psychological (pathological?) nightmare overseeing our talented young players? |
But at least one pundit has seen through his gaslighting and mindgames. Former defender Federico Balzaretti (politely) said that benching Leão is never a technical choice. "You have to understand how he trained and various other things, but for me having Leão out is never a technical choice, because technically he is one of the strongest. You are missing Theo and Reijnders, who are two players essential for quality and strength, and therefore it is a choice that would have left me a little less perplexed with everyone available, because Okafor is doing well, but without these players I would not have deprived myself of him."
Not even Okafor would have chosen Okafor over Leão. |
Exactly. No one in their right mind would. When someone tells you they are trying to "normalize" something, there is something not normal about what they are doing. And you should pay extra attention to it. Some people may actually be exposing a problem. But when the team played more cohesively, had less tension, more understanding of their roles, better relationships with Pioli, and most importantly, had much better results, then what are we even doing here? Pioli even managed to do more with less than Conte. Fonseca could never.
Now the roles are reversed, as Conte pointed out, Fonseca inherited much more stability. So this isn't about giving Annie Fonseca time to "implement his ideas." Thirteen Serie A clubs changed managers this summer, then Roma also sacked De Rossi early in the season. So a total of 14 clubs have managers trying to "implement their ideas," but only one club has the third highest wage bill and sits in eighth place, with a delusional manager who could pass as a character from a Stephen King novel making their team worse both mentally and in terms of results. I mean why is an Italian team with such a legacy of incredible defenders being managed by a foreign manager who retired early from his playing career, because he was such a mid defender? What does he know about improving our defense?
How are our young defenders supposed to learn about defending from a charlatan? |
Some fans try to deflect from this nightmare by saying "look at our owner and management, they are the real problem." Duh. I was skeptical of Cardinale from day one, and have been more than vocal about his crimes against football all along. Reportedly giving the power to Ibrahimović, who signed off on Fonseca, was another crime. But Cardinale is not letting go of the club any time soon, and Leão, the player we have with the highest market value, is unlikely to leave any time soon, either. Realistically, getting Annie Fonseca the hell away from our players, especially our young players, is the most crucial thing we can do right now. Both to save this season and the futures of these players.
These are the guys that brought this horror show to our beloved club. |
Milan Primavera Conquer Fiorentina Primavera 3-1
When you score a late goal to guarantee a defeat of the league leaders |
After the draw in the UEFA Youth League, Guidi's Primavera side came back with an impressive 3-1 win in the league on Monday vs. league leaders Fiorentina. Tartaglia opened the scoring in just the seventh minute, on his debut. In the second half, Milan conceded an equalizer, but fought back with goals from subs Victor Eletu in the 81st minute and a stoppage time goal from Perrucci to put the nail in the coffin. Some brief highlights are available. This match sees Milan Primavera in third place in the league, just two points behind both Fiorentina and Lazio.
Another Loss for Milan Futuro, Defeated 2-0 at Home by Pineto
Not sure if Bonera has been using Liberali in the best way... |
After earning only their second win in the league on Sunday, Bonera's side tasted defeat yet again with a 2-0 loss to Pineto at home at the Chinetti. Raveyre conceded a penalty just before halftime, and was unable to stop the ensuing penalty kick, so they were down 1-0 at halftime. They fought back and there was hope until an error led to the second goal. Highlights of the match on the Serie C YouTube channel. The loss saw Milan Futuro slip back down a spot to 18th on the table, although with a game in hand.
This post inspired by the music of Ministry's "Every Day is Like Halloween"
Serie A Week 10