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.

Milan 0, Napoli 2: Misery

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.

Milan-Napoli Preview: Conte Is Finally Here

When there were finally credible rumors of Pioli being sacked, so many fans wanted Conte at Milan. Reports were that he was even Ibrahimović's first choice, but who knows if that was ever true. Well, now Conte is finally going to be at Milan, but not in the way Milan fans wanted. He comes to the San Siro as the manager of Napoli, who are four points clear at the top of the table and showing no signs of slowing down. Worse still, with the Bologna match being postponed on Saturday, Milan will be missing two key players that we otherwise would have had. Then there are new injuries, and whatever narcissistic psychological warfare Fonseca is playing with Leão. So, not great timing, but the fans asked for it, and Conte is finally here,

Conte is coming to Milan, but not in the way supporters wanted.

AC Milan 3, Club Brugge KV 1: Emotional Roller Coaster

Milan finally have three points from three Champions League matches, although to be fair, the referee and Club Brugge deserve as much credit as Milan for winning 3-1 on Tuesday. While Fonseca made a lot of questionable decisions within this match, Brugge outplayed Milan for much of the time, even partially while down to ten men. But the first half red card was the most influential factor to the outcome. Well, that and a Reijnders brace, a Pulisic corner that turned into a goal, and Camarda's Champions League debut and his goal that was called back for offside. It was definitely an eventful match and an emotional roller coaster.

So many ups and downs in this match, a heart rate monitor would have broken.

Champions League • League Phase • AC Milan vs. Club Brugge KV: The Search for Points

They say the third time is a charm, and for Milan's sake, I really hope this holds true. On Tuesday evening, AC Milan host Club Brugge for our third Champions League match of this new League Phase. Brugge have something that Milan do not: a win in this new format. Despite the fact that seven time Champions League winning side Milan should be considered favorites in this one, we currently sit in 32nd place of the 36 teams. So for Milan, a result would not only be massive, it is becoming quite necessary. And a nice goal differential would be helpful, too. This one is all about the search for points.

Still looking for that first UCL win...

Milan 1, Udinese 0: When VAR is MOTM

Milan won this match 1-0 vs. Udinese, and if you enjoyed it, either your name is Fonseca, or you hate football. Many are upset with the referee, Chiffi, but in actuality, he only enforced the rules. With the help of VAR, of course, which was also used correctly. First, Reijnders was sent off in just under 30 minutes with a straight red that seemed criminal. Chiffi called it, and VAR reviewed it and agreed. Then Udinese had not just one, but two goals called back for offside, both overturned by VAR review, even though Chiffi had originally awarded them both. Without VAR, this match would have ended at least 2-1 for Udinese. Instead, Milan took all three points, leaving a bad taste in everyone's match, and a whole bunch of stoppage time at the end. That is what happens when VAR is the Man of the Match.

When VAR is the focus, warriors like these will be forced to suffer.

Milan-Udinese Preview: Redemption or Relapse

Like picking up a cliffhanger of a book where you were forced to leave off, our Fonseca season picks back up again when Milan host Udinese at the San Siro. Amidst poor results, defiant players, a manager's tantrum, injuries, and even a player suspended, Fonseca needs to pull this team together to try to pull points off of a team who is actually two points ahead of us on the table. He's basically got two choices: redemption or relapse.

Fonseca will need a lot more from his team for redemption.

Fiorentina 2, Milan 1: Pandemonium

Sunday's match had everything. Three saved penalties. Managers carded or sent off. A player scoring against the team that owned him (but not celebrating.) Five yellow cards amongst some very questionable refereeing. A captain sent off after the final whistle. And amongst all the insanity, Milan lost 2-1 to Fiorentina, dropping another three points. But the real chaos began with Fonseca's postmatch press conference when he raised some questions about some of the players' behaviors. Which in turn raised more questions about his man management and overall competency. So, once again, we have two weeks of an international break with Milan fans and the media in a complete state of pandemonium.

It felt like this for 90 minutes.

Fiorentina-Milan Preview: Refocus

Milan need to recover from their midweek trip to Germany and more importantly, any mentality drop from their Champions League loss to Bayer Leverkusen. With only one match before the international break, Fonseca will need to get them to refocus very quickly to ensure his position is not scrutinized again for the entire break until the next match. Given his obsession with the defensive tactics in Italy in his prematch press conference, it is not only the players who need to refocus.

The players need to recover, regroup, and refocus.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1, AC Milan 0: Built For Champions League?

Tuesday's Champions League match was frustrating to watch. Certainly, this Milan side are improved from the first few matches, where they looked completely lost. Then, there was the Swiss referee, who was anything but neutral, literally endangering out players for 90 minutes. But losing 1-0 to a powerful Bayer Leverkusen side with an incredible record was not the part that hurt. The part that was difficult to swallow was that we have been told by management that this squad is built for winning in the Champions League. Not only have they recklessly removed Milan's literal DNA, they wantonly and narcissistically dismantled the Scudetto winning team, even strengthening our rivals to do so. Based on last season's European performances and these first two matches, how could anyone think this team is built for Champions League?

Champions League mood.

Champions League • League Phase • Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs. AC Milan: In Search of Milan's DNA

After the worst start in decades, Milan have three league wins under their belts. Sure, two were to relegation-level sides, but the Derby win meant more than a match. However, we lost our first Champions League match to Liverpool, and now we are away to Xabi Alonso's side who earned the nickname "Neverlusen" last year for their record breaking undefeated season. While Bayer Leverkusen have lost a match already this season, they still look much more solid than Milan, having played together as a team (and won) longer. And while Fonseca's prematch comments reflected his knowledge of this, he seemed way too overconfident. I don't sense that he truly understands what Milan's history is in this competition, so in addition to looking for the result, we will be in search of Milan's DNA.

This is not a stereotypical Italian defense, they need to find that Milan DNA.

Milan 3, Lecce 0: Third Gear

After a very rough start of the season in which performances actually looked even worse than results, on Friday, Milan actually recorded their third consecutive league win. In fact, we were kings for a day, briefly topping the Serie A table before the other matches in round six were played. Even if the match also got off to a very rough start, three quick goals put a painful end to Lecce's soul crushing week, while Milan took all 3 points with a 3-0 win at home. Perhaps Fonseca finally has these guys shifting into third gear.

A team united, with happy fans again.

Milan-Lecce Preview: The Return of Rebić

After a brilliant Derby win on Sunday, Milan host 17th place Lecce at the San Siro on Friday. The same Lecce who played and lost a Coppa Italia match on Tuesday. So Milan are rested and flying high, and Lecce are tired and demoralized after getting knocked out of the Coppa Italia.(Ironically, in doing so, they gave us our Coppa Italia opponents for December.) It should be easy, right? Not for Milan. And to make matters worse, Lecce are bringing an ex with them. Beloved former Milan badboy Ante Rebić returns to the scene of his many crimes in hopes of committing another one: remind Milan of what we lost. So, while this looks like it should be an easy one for Fonseca's men, they need to beware of the return of Rebić.

Hide your women and children, he's coming back to San Siro.

Inter 1, Milan 2: Written In the Stars

I believe in fate, I believe in destiny, and after this match, I believe in miracles. Milan beat Inter 2-1 to claim the Derby della Madonnina. Coming into this match, I, like every Milan fan I know, expected the worst. But the players knew how much this match meant. They knew what was at stake, and they did not want to become a part of a historic seventh straight Derby loss. Fonseca's tactical tweaking certainly helped with both effectiveness and confidence, and he also tried some extra morale boosting. Instead of benching key players, he reportedly planned a barbecue on Friday for the players, and placed a special message in the players' lockers ahead of the match. But perhaps the biggest motivator was the cardboard star Inter put on their kits after celebrating their last win at our home Derby in April. Or maybe it was the desperate-for-attention social media post of a certain former Milan player who now plays for Inter, but cannot stop talking about us. Despite one of the worst starts to a Milan season in decades, this win was written in the stars.

Redemption.

Inter vs. AC Milan: Dysfunctional Derby

Normally, the Derby brings out the bloodlust in me, and I always relish the opportunity to destroy the team that destroyed Serie A in the Calciopoli scandal in 2006. They have whined and complained for years, creating a belief that other teams were cheating, even when they were not. I absolutely despise them. But this Derby is very different. After unusual scheduling saw us meet them five times during the 2022-23 season, losing four out of five of those, then losing both Derbies last season, including them celebrating their league win and their cardboard second star at our home Derby in April, that makes six in a row that we have lost. Given the absolute meltdown at all levels of our club right now, with a complete lack of sporting results, while Inter are still cruising along like most clubs do after winning the league, this match does not give me much any hope. For Milan, this one will be a dysfunctional Derby.

Hard to watch these guys get thrown under the bus.

AC Milan 1, Liverpool FC 3: Moneyball Miscalculation

After taking the lead in just the third minute, Milan collapsed to Liverpool, losing 3-1 at the San Siro in our first Champions League match of the new League Phase. Having watched our first four matches, I don't know why this would surprise anyone, it's not as if having a ball with stars on it and playing a team that was even stronger than any of our opponents was somehow expected to transform this Milan side into world beaters. (Liverpool's wagebill is nearly three times the highest wagebill of any opponent we have played so far.) Most of all, I am confused as to why our management told us they were building a team for the Champions League, when our only success thus far has been against a 10-man newly promoted side. They have sent away most of the team who won the Scudetto with us, who played in a Champions League semifinal with us, replacing them for a bunch of ready-to-play Moneyball players. They sacked the manager who built that team, and replaced him with a cheaper, unproven version who is alienating the players and not getting any results. It wasn't just this match, their whole project is a Moneyball miscalculation.

As if losing isn't bad enough, a bunch of criminals booed and chanted against them.

Champions League • League Phase • AC Milan vs. Liverpool FC: The RedBirdShow

The first Champions League match of the season is here, and it is a matchup that evokes nightmares or dreams, depending if you are thinking of Istanbul or Athens. Milan are hosting Liverpool at the San Siro in our very first League Phase match, the new format of the Champions League. Cardinale must be thrilled about this draw, because RedBird technically wins either way. Liverpool is 60% owned by Fenway Sports Group, of which about 10% of that is owned by RedBird Capital. As RedBird are also the owner of Milan, either way, Gerry wins, and this matchup becomes the RedBird Show.

This is the team coming into this match.

Milan 4, Venezia 0: First Blood

After such a poor start in the first three matches, Milan were desperate for their first three points. Not only that, but they were greeted by thousands of fans ahead of the match on the team bus, with only a slightly menacing banner from the Curva Sud that read, "No more excuses, Last call." Fonseca, too, had been criticized for his stubborn tactics nonstop the past two weeks, and even in his prematch press conference said he believed in his football, but ultimately made the changes everyone else was encouraging him to. The result was the reaction that Milan was in such dire need of to qualm the myriad controversies surrounding the club right now, and poor newly promoted Venezia were the victims. There are still many problems, but the mentality of the fans and team will be much improved now that they have drawn first blood.

United in victory.

Milan-Venezia Preview: Vortex of Controversy

Milan host Venezia on Saturday with fan morale shockingly low for just the fourth week of the season. Why, you ask? It's not just that we are winless, gaining only two points from three matches, the worst start for Milan since the 1938-39 season. That would obviously be discouraging. No, the entire club is trapped in a vortex of controversy. The players, the manager, injuries, tactics, management, Ibrahimović, the stadium project are all in the spotlight, and the hopes of any success this season grow dimmer with every report, every match. Now, Milan host a newly promoted side, who actually sit below us on the table, though we are in 14th place. But nothing is guaranteed when we are caught in the nonstop vortex of controversy.

Everyone and everything at Milan is surrounded by controversy.

Lazio 2, Milan 2: Lost the Plot

Fonseca lined up his Milan side without his captain and two of his best players, saying ahead of the match it was "for the good of the team." Yet the team struggled, and it took Lazio scoring two goals before Fonseca finally put two of the players on, who immediately created an equalizer, securing a point with a 2-2 draw. Everyone and their Nonna's cousin's hairstylist's uncle's butcher's friend's dogwalker is talking about the subsequent cooling break, but what they should be talking about is how Milan played. And how Fonseca seems to have already lost the dressing room. And, listening to his postmatch comments yet again, lost the plot.

Theo, dubbed "not a leader" in the toxic media scandal, leads the team to thank the fans.

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.

Will Milan Win in the Windy City vs Real Madrid?

After a surprising 3-2 friendly win over Manchester City in New York on Saturday, Milan head to Chicago, also known as the Windy City, to face Real Madrid. Milan also launched their new white away kit while in New York, midmatch, actually, along with Manchester City and Puma, part of an initiative called "City and Milan for Change." That was not the only change in that game, as fans saw more signs of the team's metamorphosis into Fonseca's new style of play. Fans are excited about the win and so many passes, but we cannot forget that we lost Sportiello to a freak hand injury even before the match, and Florenzi is facing arthroscopic surgery on his knee for an injury during the match. There have been some roster changes, too, but the question remains: will Milan win in the Windy City vs. Real Madrid?

Will the arrival of the new players help Milan to victory? Or at least no injuries?

Milan Meets Man City in Manhattan

Milan arrived in New York Thursday evening and immediately got to work Friday morning, continuing their preseason training and beginning their promotional fun in the city. Captain America, Pulisic, was called to return to duty a day earlier with an appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Thursday evening, then on CBS Mornings with Zlatan Ibrahimović on Friday morning, both to help promote this match. Manchester City have already been in the U.S. for a week, and have already played their first match, a 4-3 loss to Celtic in North Carolina on Wednesday. So they will have less jet lag, and will be looking for revenge when Milan meets Man City in Manhattan (technically, it's at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, but that ruins the whole alliteration thing.)

Ready or not, here Milan are.

The Summer Calm Before the Storm

The long-awaited, overspeculated, and definitely over hyped arrival of Paulo Fonseca raised a lot more questions than answers. From his delayed arrival, his unusual living situation, to the questions all Milan fans had from the moment his name was mentioned with the club: Is he actually the right man for this job? His debut friendly match, a 1-1 draw with SK Rapid Wien last Saturday, did not really answer any of those questions. (Well, other than what do players look like after they've returned to training and have done double training sessions for two weeks?) And worse still, there is the question about whether the club is even setting him up to succeed, as they have signed exactly one player so far, with less than a month left until Serie A kicks off. But the team leaves for their U.S. tour on Thursday, and from that point, it is a whirlwind until the season actually begins. So, while it feels a lot more like frustration than peacefulness for us fans, this is probably the last bit of summer calm before the storm.

Maybe Milan fans should demand a signs of life video of these three, with their lack of transfer activity.