Much is being said about Milan's inconsistencies and big, costly errors lately. While I have my own theories as to the root causes, which are echoed by many, the team itself is playing a form of dysregulated football. Most of the time, dysregulation is used to describe emotions, such as when someone is unable to control their emotions, or their emotions do not correspond with what is going on around them. Fans and media look at the team sheets and expect miracles, but they fail to see the big picture and try to understand what is happening behind the scenes at the club. Then the media write all kinds of toxic, malicious stories that make the situation worse, which inhibits the work being done trying to regulate the team and get them playing consistently against all odds. So, instead, Milan are playing a form of dysregulated football.
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| How can they explain what they don't understand about the effects of what is being done to them? |
Also, there are always anomalies. And Milan have attracted a number of those this past couple of weeks. In this match, for example, Thiaw opened up the scoring with an own goal, something he hasn't done since... the last time we played Torino. This one was some miscommunication with Maignan, but I'm sure it made for comical viewing, if you are not a Milan fan. So, in just the 5th minute, Torino were already up 1-0, and they didn't even have a shot on target.
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| Funny how a player can be playing out of his mind, but make one error, and the fans hate you. |
Pulisic announced Milan's intentions with a shot that Vanja Milinković-Savić had to punch to clear just five minutes later. Milan were definitely doing everything they could to create chances. Then Musah was shown a yellow card for a foul on Vlašić. Torino's Vlašić turned around and began the brutalization of Pavlović, which continued throughout the match without caution. That's the problem with being so badass, the referees just figure you can take it, I guess.
Santiago Gimenez also had a shot on target, but once again, Torino's towering 6'8" (203 cm) goalkeeper saved it, sending it over the bar. It seemed as if luck had gone Milan's way when a penalty was awarded to Milan due to a Pedersen handball in the box. However, our perfect penalty taker, Pulisic, was denied by Vanja Milinković-Savić, who has a massive 80% penalty save rate. This was the first time in Pulisic's career that he did not score a penalty, but it says more about Torino's goalkeeper and less about Pulisic.
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| There is no shame in having a penalty saved by a giant of a goalkeeper. |
Torino were emboldened after Milan failed to score the penalty, and Pedersen had a shot saved, then Vlašić forced Maignan into a huge save as well. Milan continued to try to create chances as well, but Torino were still leading 1-0 going into halftime.
Conceição brought Fofana on for Leão at halftime. With Torino still threatening, but Milan needing a goal, he brought Tammy Abraham on for Musah in the 54th minute. Fofana had a shot just a couple of minutes later that was saved. Five minutes after that, João Félix took a powerful shot through traffic, forcing yet another save from Vanja Milinković-Savić. Reijnders followed that up with another great shot, and another huge save from the Torino goalkeeper.
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| João Félix continues to elude defenses and create chances. |
Álex Jiménez his a shot that went just wide, then João Félix hit the outside of the post. In the 69th minute, João Félix was subbed off for Sottil. It is a curious thing to me that Conceição often subs the new Portuguese player just after he has been close to scoring. As a fan, it is painful, because it feels like there is a goal just about to happen, and we are being denied by the changes.
But Milan were getting closer. Álex Jiménez had a shot saved in the 72nd. Finally, in the 74th minute, Reijnders capitalized on a defensive error, and he smashed it home to score the equalizer. Now it was 1-1 all. But just like that, two minutes later, Milan conceded a goal as Torino took a very quick free kick and caught Milan off guard, so Gineitis scored at the other end. 2-1 Torino. It felt so bleak.
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| Reijnders, aka Mr. Reliable, coming through with another goal for us. |
In the 79th, Pavlović continued to be brutalized, with back to back cautionable offenses not given against Torino players. But Milan were still busy creating chances. Reijnders shot wide, Santi Gimenez sent his shot way over. Sottil took a shot that actually challenged Milinković-Savić, he bobbled it a bit, but did save it. As a hail Mary, Conceição brought on Camarda and Chukwueze for Santi Gimenez and Álex Jiménez in the 88th minute, trying to give our attack fresh legs.
Yet it was Pavlović who continued to be our best attacker in the final minutes again, with a header just wide and another chance that just didn't have enough power on it. In all, Milan took 26 shots, with only eight on target. That meant Milinković-Savić had seven saves, he always plays particularly well against Milan. Meanwhile, Torino only took nine shots, with only three on target, one of which they scored with, and one that Milan scored for them.
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| Not even our one man Serbian warrior could get it past his fellow Serbian goalkeeper. |
This was a painful loss. Even though Milan have not won at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino since the brutal 7-0 massacre we imposed upon them in 2021, we desperately needed the three points. And even more, we needed the mentality of a win to help regulate this team and get their heads back on straight. Instead, after crashing out of the Champions League midweek with a 1-1 draw to Feyenoord, Milan were our own worst enemy in this match.
Midweek, the media were rightfully placing responsibility on the management for Milan falling short. But with a couple of new player errors, our narcissistic management were quick to shove the players under the bus. As if it is their fault that there is no consistency at the club, and they live in a constant state of uncertainty and misplaced anger.
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| Gimenez is a metaphor for the team, with the Torino players representing management, the media, and fans. |
The fans have been angry at management all season, so have abandoned the players, too, but the team are still expected to be perfect. Even though the management literally just changed the manager and five players last month. But now the media have spun out of control with hypercriticism, as usual, which will likely only add to our dysregulated football.
Milan Futuro Lose Again, This Time 3-2 to Pescara
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| What it looks like to be winning, before the Bonera effect kicks in. |
Every recap now must start with some version of "Bonera needs to be sacked." Milan Futuro are still in 18th place, and only have ten matches to pull themselves out of the relegation zone. I have zero ideas in hell as to why Bonera is still on the bench, but those boys desperately need a new manager to try to finish the season out right. For a home match, despite Pescara being in fifth place, this match was winnable. Yet every time Milan would score, they would then concede, and a late goal from the visitors saw Milan Futuro lose 2-3 to Pescara.
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| Camarda back to scoring ways, too bad his goal was wasted by Bonera's negative energy. |
The match got off to a great start with a Camarda goal in the sixth minute. 1-0 Milan Futuro. Then Bartesaghi conceded a penalty, was shown a yellow card, and Pescara converted the penalty to equalize, 1-1 all in the 18th minute. Captain Coubiş scored in the 56th minute to put Milan Futuro ahead again, 2-1. But in the 70th minute, Pescara equalized again, 2-2. And in the 77th, Bartesaghi was shown a second yellow card, so was sent off, and now Milan were on ten men. This numerical inequality led to Pescara scoring a late goal, in the 87th minute, to take the match 3-2. Highlights are available on the Serie C YouTube channel, or this full match replay is available on FIFA+.
Serie C Week 28
Reviewed by Elaine
on
4:00 AM
Rating:
