Milan-Empoli Preview: Get the Balance Right

It goes without saying that Milan's season has been a mostly unpleasant rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, twists and turns, mainly the kind that leaves you wanting to vomit and with your head pounding. Obviously, there were two matches that stand out in a positive way – the Derby and the Champions League match with Real Madrid. Always followed by shockingly poor performances. And the rest of the season has been an unnecessarily rough road made even rougher by a stubborn, prideful manager who has punished no only certain players, but the entire team and fanbase with his bizarre obsession with his version of equality... or whatever. But whatever the problems are – tactically, mentality, pride and insanity – thus far, Fonseca has not managed to get the balance right.

Why is it so hard to admit you need to play your best player?

ŠK Slovan Bratislava 2, AC Milan 3: Empty Calories

Have you ever eaten something that was not even satisfying? Something that left you feeling worse than before you ate, something that did not even provide nourishment, but was just empty calories? That was kind of how this win was. Sure, Milan got the 3-2 win over Slovan Bratislava. And it was even the third win in the Champions League, which pushed Milan way up the table. But allowing Slovan Bratislava to double their goal tally from their first four matches in just one match was alarming. And Fonseca's obsession with benching Leão, but his insistence upon starting others is not only hypocritical, it's actually harming our performances and results now. So even a win doesn't feel like a win, or even satisfying anymore. It just feels like empty calories.

Victory never tasted so... empty? Unfulfilling?

Champions League • League Phase • ŠK Slovan Bratislava vs. AC Milan: Keeping the Dream Alive

Another Champions League match is upon us in the new League Phase, and Milan lost their first two matches vs. Liverpool at San Siro and Bayer Leverkusen away, then managed to win vs. both a ten man Club Brugge and Real Madrid at the Bernabéu. That sees Milan currently in 20th place on the table, currently within the unseeded spots for the knockout round. Which brings us to Tuesday's matchup in Slovakia with ŠK Slovan Bratislava, with perhaps no one more excited than their own Juraj Kucka, whose reaction to our draw went viral. The hosts are still looking for their first Champions League points, sitting dead last on the table. After watching Milan's performance vs. Juventus on Saturday, they must truly be keeping the dream alive.

The team want to keep Milan's Champions League dream alive.

Milan 0, Juventus 0: Wake Me When It's Over

Two good performances in 16 matches now. That is double the number of shots Milan had on target in this match, a lackluster 0-0 draw with Juventus. At least we kept a clean sheet, but that was probably because of the strikerless-Juve only got two shots on target themselves. Fonseca did not really have any answers postmatch as to the poor showing, because he has run out of excuses. The longer we keep him at the club, the lower Milan's chances for success this season become. But this match should have told you that, if the first 15 matches did not give it away. It was a match worth sleeping through in a season that is quickly becoming a nightmare. Wake me when it's over.

This was about as fierce as it got, unfortunately.

Milan-Juventus Preview: The Lesser of Two Evils

When it came to choosing a new manager this summer, fans wanted an established, big name manager. If they could not have that, they wanted an up-and-coming young manager such as Thiago Motta, who made a name for himself at Bologna the past two years. Instead, management chose Paulo Fonseca, a manager who constantly complains about the way teams play in Serie A, and also about having to manage the team to compete in this league. Success-wise, Stefano Pioli is comfortably making €12 million per year (three times what Milan paid him, tax free,) in Saudi Arabia, with a team of just a few superstars and mostly unknowns, sitting in third place in the Saudi Pro League. But since it seemed like everyone wanted him gone, Milan could have chosen the lesser of two evils, which looks to be Motta, who has Juventus six full points ahead of Milan on the table in sixth place. Instead, they went with Fonseca, the lesser paid of two evils. 

There is evil, and there is less than.

Cagliari 3, Milan 3: Are We Really Doing This Still?

Saturday's 3-3 draw away to Cagliari was a harsh return to reality after Milan's miraculous performance in the Champions League vs. Real Madrid. While those of us who have not blindly accepted the results of two great performances in 15 matches understand the limitations and failings of Fonseca at this level, it is still possible to be disappointed that he is still here when other teams with comparable performances or results have already changed their managers at least once. Of course, we should not be surprised with a management that have practically zero experience at their positions and have shown us their incompetence time and time again. However, watching this match was still incredibly annyoing. Are we really doing this still?

Even the players look tired of this same old story.

Cagliari-Milan Preview: In Camarda We Trust

Expectations were raised this week after a miraculous 3-1 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League. However, an accident in training left Morata hospitalized for a head injury, and concussion protocol means he will definitely not be available to travel to Sardinia Saturday evening. Tammy Abraham is still not fully fit after returning from his shoulder injury and Jović is still struggling with whatever his "injury" is that keeps him from playing for Milan, but allows him to play for Serbia. So Fonseca opted to give the 16 year-old phenom Francesco Camarda his first start for Milan in this match. While Fonseca is certainly not the first Milan manager to turn to a young player when injuries stacked up, it is helping journalists get clicks to sensationalize this call up. On the pitch, however, he has shown that he has earned this chance, so it is in Camarda we trust.

In Camarda we trust.

Real Madrid CF 1, AC Milan 3: Miracle at the Bernabéu

Tuesday's Champions League match exceeded all expectations. While Real Madrid were hoping for a reaction after their big loss to Barcelona, instead, they were shown their frailties in front of their own fans in their own stadium. And while Milan have struggled to play well or with any kind of consistency, Fonseca finally allowing Leão to play and starting his actual best 11 made the difference, as everyone stepped up and pulled off a 3-1 upset over the reigning Champions League holders. In a match with so much Champions League history, this made it even more spectacular, a match that was thrilling from start to finish as well. From the surprise Thiaw opener, to all the drama throughout and the final score being so convincing, this was a miracle at the Bernabéu.

This one absolutely felt like a win.

Champions League • League Phase • Real Madrid CF vs. AC Milan: In Carlo's House

Milan's fourth Champions League outing in the new League Phase sees the team traveling to the Bernabėu to face Real Madrid. This clash is highly anticipated, as it sees the two teams who have won the most Champions League titles face off. While Milan have seven titles to their name, Real Madrid are the current title holders and have won 15 Champions League trophies. More importantly, Carlo Ancelotti, the manager who has won the most Champions League trophies, won all five of his titles with these two clubs – two with AC Milan, and three now with Real Madrid. It is the most Champion League royalty that you could cram into a single match, with Carlo being the King of them all. And Milan will have to play in Carlo's house.

No one can touch Ancelotti.

Monza 0, Milan 1: Fonseca's Sorority

Milan pulled off the 1-0 win over Monza on Saturday, albeit with a controversial goal called off for Monza. (Three of Fonseca's six wins have come as a result of favorable VAR or referee calls.) The performance was worse, as the relegation-threatened Monza dominated for much of the first half, and Milan's play was unconvincing throughout. However, it was the postmatch press conference that demonstrated just how badly things are unraveling with Fonseca at Milan right now. He doubled down on his repeated benching of Leão, despite having been widely criticized by pundits and former coaches alike. But this time, he let something slip that was far more disturbing than anything he had previously said. He directly compared Leão to Loftus-Cheek and Musah and said that "Status does not play." For him, despite his choices actually costing us points, he looks at status ahead of technical ability. This is not a football team for him, this is like a bunch of catty girls vying for his approval, it is Fonseca's sorority.

When your teammate stand with you, no status is needed.

Monza-Milan Preview: Regrets

Most people have something in their lives that the regret. Some more than others. This match will be filled with plenty of regrets, on both sides. Whether it is a former CEO and director who abused his power to help destroy the club he claimed he loved, or the current CEO of that same club, who abused his power to destroy the club he claimed to love. Or that CEO getting a club director and legend fired and sending his third generation Milan son to the other club. Or perhaps it is that other club, who hired a former legend of the other club to manage their current club, and only has one league win this season. Not to mention the myriad regrets surrounding our own manager and results this season. Truly, this one will be filled with regrets.

Fonseca and the club have made plenty of poor decisions this year.