The decision of the AC Milan ownership and management to appoint Paulo Fonseca can already be put under the microscope, according to one journalist.
After Stefano Pioli departed as the head coach following the end of last season, the media began speculating who might be the new man in charge of Milan and there was a presumption that the club would turn to a more proven ‘winner’.
Nonetheless, Julen Lopetegui seemed very close to arriving but the fan reaction was that strong that the management seemed to perform a U-turn and he ended up at West Ham. Then, Fonseca became the main candidate and he eventually arrived having left Lille after two years.
Gianluca Di Marzio stated yesterday that the likes of Antonio Conte, Roberto De Zerbi, Maurizio Sarri and Thomas Tuchel were all evaluated by the Rossoneri hierarchy but none were deemed a good fit for the project, which in itself has raised some doubts.
Pietro Mazzara spoke in his weekly column for MilanNews and he had some strong comments about Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s impact (or lack thereof) so far as well as the decision to appoint Fonseca.
“The core business of a football club is not only the accounts, but above all the results on the field. The choice of Fonseca, who is in the same range as Pioli in absolute terms, has been wrong up to now,” he said.
“[I am] Hopeful that after the break Milan will change gear, but Liverpool and Inter – after Venezia – could be 180 decisive minutes for his position on the bench. And the strong feeling is that the gap from the Nerazzurri has widened a lot this summer, all also because a top coach was not chosen.
“It’s true, top profiles cost money, but they bring you many benefits. First of all, motivation and credibility towards the players, who are anything but idiots and know well how the world moves and what kind of coaches there are and were around. And they adapt accordingly.
“Conte, De Zerbi, Conceiçao, Xavi and Sarri were (and in some cases are) high-level profiles, who rightly have demands to arrive and win. Instead here it seems that they just want to participate. Don’t come and talk to us about second place, please. Second is the first among the losers.
“The square is in fibrillation, the jeers at the Olimpico are proof of this. Be careful to let the season end in September, because then the people get tired and San Siro risks emptying. Gerry, but is this the Milan you want? Because if this is it, then it’s not good at all.”
“Gerry, but is this the Milan you want? Because if this is it, then it’s not good at all.”
As long as Milan manages to qualify each season for the UCL, it will be good enough for Mr.Gerry.
Although you can pretty much say that this season, even such a low target remains uncertain.
At this rate, Top4 is a dream.
That has been Milans aim since Ancelotti left. And since 2013 we have not played very much in CL so unless you are a new fan i dont get your expectations?
Milan has not been a great team since 2007. We have been a medioker team since then, thats a fact and I ask you again if nothing changed in 17 years why should it now?
I’m not expecting much from the current Milan. But at some point with Elliot we’ve got the impression that things were improving. Our finances started to be well once again while the team’s results started improving and we’ve won the scudetto. And while a lot can be said about how he managed some transfers, you’ve got the impression that Maldini wanted this team to be competitive and win titles.
But this current management only made a target that’s low enough to be reachable each season but doesn’t require a lot of spendings.
Were you in the coma when Milan won a Scudetto and went to UCL semifinals? You can find it on YouTube I think, that was nice to see man.
Were you asleep the last four years Patrik? We won the scudetto and the did ok in the ucl and we made over 100mil that year. Next year we went to semis in the CL and came in 2nd and made 70mil. Not all doom and gloom.
Now I don’t know what these clowns will do but it doesn’t look roses that’s for sure
Sure, they’ve spent €200 million for 4th place.
So if those are your expectations wouldn’t it be better to at least have a squad with a bit of identity and maybe some familiarity so they can at least raise their levels?
Maybe support your captain, Calabria, instead of calling for some [upgrade]?
Because said [upgrade] will be Emerson.
Be grateful for what you’ve got.
A team with Calabria, Gabbia, Locatelli, Verdi, Cutrone and Mbappé maybe wouldn’t be so bad.
You’re probably refering to someone else or not reading my comments because I’ve supported Calabria quite often and I was firmly against getting Emerson.
My apologies.
Good on ya!
The new coach and players deserve a fair opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, as we need more data to assess their impact. However, we already have substantial insights into the shortcomings of some of the older players, and there’s much to learn from the mistakes made under the old coach.
We are all aware that new coach, especially who will be replacing a popular coach who’s been with the team for 5 years, would NEED TIME.
Which is exactly why, the majority of us wanted to get a clarity as soon as possible, not because we dont respect Pioli, but we want the new coach to have all the necessary time he requires to acclimatize and get to know the team.
But what happened was a circus. The management knew they aint extending Pioli, but they took their own sweet time to appoint a successor. And when they did, the reaction was overwhelmingly negative and they got cold feet and started the whole thing all over again. How many months have been wasted?
Even when Fonseca was appointed, he wasnt at Milanello already, but was having a vacation. Some commenters here argued that most of the players were still in Euro or having vacations anyway. Well, that didnt turn up too good wasnt it? Even the recruitment processes were slow, which was far cry from the swiftness of last season’s. That also undermined the works that is being done by the new coach.
So is it any wonder that we’ve been sluggish? BTW personally I dont count on friendlies as a gauge. I’d rather lose all friendlies and identify our lacking quickly.
Bunga22
September 2024, 18:50 at 6:50 pm
We are all aware that new coach, especially who will be replacing a popular coach who’s been with the team for 5 years, would NEED TIME.
So i guess that does not apply to Liverpool, because Jurgen Klopp spent over 6 yrs at Liverpool and Arne Slot have them not missing a beat, so i don’t believe in coaches needing time after taking over from a former long serving coach.
This is a pretty weak comparison. Liverpool have been managed and playing well for the past few years, so there wasn’t much to tinker and improve on for a new coach.
Better comparison is Man Utd. We’re just as poorly managed as they are. They’ve spent on big names and big name coaches and still haven’t figured it out.
Of course there will be coaches who adapted well and quickly like a fish that found its water. But, in general, do enlighten me; wouldn’t it be better to give more time to the incoming new coach than otherwise? Even this won’t mean that the incoming manager would ensure smooth transition without missing a beat, but IMHO, it is the duty of the management to provide that every little bit that might be helpful towards your new guy.
Similarly, this would also be the same in case of incoming new players. Of course some players WOULD adapt quickly, but generally, those with enough pre-season preparation would do much better than those without. Why shouldn’t the same thing be different towards coaches?
Erm the old coach and old players won a Scudetto and just finished 2nd.
There’s many shortcomings there.
New guy has to finish 1st to make it all worthwhile.
It’s Milan. We respect the old and the new have to prove themselves.
“It’s Milan. We respect the old and the new have to prove themselves.”
I wish that was true. There is zero respect these days (towards anything).
This is what gerry doesn’t understand. This isn’t the NFL, you won’t sell tickets with a losing team. This isn’t the Cowboys lol. Italians don’t play around and if the city senses you’re not really trying or uncapable of winning, they’ll take all of their support (money) out by not attending, not buying jerseys, and not watching milan TV when that happens on the YES network. Gotta spend money to make money. And you’ll need to dish out money to 3 coaches now and one of em will be expensive. Good job.
He’ll learn. Fans will stop going to the stadium next season if milan ends this season like they started it. Shirt sales will drop. I mean, who in the right mind buys royal’s shirt!!! (Other players as well.) People started going to the stadium again in droves after pioli started bringing in results with impressive performances. The opposite happens when the results are not there.
Mark Van Bommel is a serial winner, unfortunately he wasn’t appointed. The big boss signed someone who doesn’t win. Rightfully so…Milan is now average.
We want a “proven winner” goes on to hire someone who’s barely won anything, and decide to skip out on Sergio conciecao who is a proven winner. Also notice how it said they didn’t want certain managers because they were deemed “not good enough” it didn’t mention Sergio conciecao so there is hopefully still a chance, and one more thing, why did we not atleast try to get hansi flick
I don’t even think Gerry is running this thing. he is the money guy. He thinks strategy and expansion.
The problem is that the structure under him is suspect. Too disjointed. Feels like Moncada finds the targets based on what the coach asks, runs it by Ibra. If the two of them agree then it comes to Furlani to make the numbers work.
Too many cooks in the kitchen. Not that the players they bring in are bad, again, but without a thought out system of how to play them together harmoniously.
This season may get away from us in a hurry. i agree that we need better coaching and have to be open to spending the money it commands. Liverpool and inter will be a disaster.
I would bring Allegri in to stabilize this team. The first thing he would do is sort out the defense. Won’t be the prettiest football but the current one played is a disaster and not sustainable …
The system was made clear by Fonseca, and the players bought in where brought in to fit this system. Perhaps they aren’t world class, but that doesn’t seem to be the main problem. The mainproblem is implementing this system.
It seems Fonseca hasn’t analyzed us much from previous year, or even worse, he has and doesn’t know what to do. And all this talk about needed time – Fine, sure. But go and count how many first year coaches there are in currently in serie a, and then find me someone who did worst than Fonseca.
“Too many cooks in the kitchen. Not that the players they bring in are bad, again, but without a thought out system of how to play them together harmoniously.”
Too many cooks and none of them is actually a chef nor has experience. Zlatan has no experience (and what is his role anyways), Furlani is a banker, Moncada is a scout and Gerry doesn’t know what football is. To be honest, even Maldini prior didn’t have a lot for experience and it did show, but he had a big name and was beloved and respected.
inter’s biggest asset is neither Barella, nor Martinez or Simeone but it’s Marotta.
Milan needs its own Marotta or Galiani
Maldini has been praised by other teams’ executives in negotiations, like Sassuolo for Tonali or Bruges for De Ketelaere, and was obviously beloved by the players.
Now it’s a different era. It’s the era of arm twisting. See how it was with Maldini, Tonali. See how it was with Monaco for Fofana. See how it is with Théo. Mafia methods.
Right – they have different roles but Maldini had no experience- Ibra has no experience. Maldini made good choices and bad choices – Ibra’s making good choices and bad choices. Maldini’s respected by former players – Ibra’s respected by former players. The needle really hasn’t moved that much so you’re right – we need an experienced director like Shinter’s.
The difference is Maldini had a clear role and was respected as a director.
You can’t really say Ibra is beloved or respected in his current role nor that he made good choices (what choices did he even make ?)
I’ll never forgive Allegri for the way he treated our senators so he’s out for me. We should try for Conceição or Xavi imo if this sh*t show continues. Who’d have thought we’d almost be missing Pioli after 3 games 😅?
This thing will either completely implode under Fonseca or with enough time might start catching on and actually yielding results.
Do we have time to wait and find out? Or does he leave management with no choice but to cut him with losses to Liverpool and Inter?
I agree with 99% but Maldini have something else, class. He is respected on a level that Ibra is not, and for other reasons. But as with Ibra he needs/Ed an experienced sporting director by his side.
I tend to agree on Allegro, but he would stabilize our defense which is much much needed.
Conceição would be ideal for me.
Interestingly…Milan fans revolted virulently on social media against Lopetegui but not against bringing in Fonseca. Is this mass stupidity or were those “protests” used as an excuse to bring in a cheap and obedient coach
The American 🇺🇸 owner has no money 💰
He should sell Milan to PIF and new owners will fire the current management and bring in proper sporting directors who know how to run Milan and make Milan winning team again‼️
Inter’s best signing is Marota, with him, Inter became like well oiled machine, and they don’t even need Arab money 💰 to do so.
Newcastle isn’t exactly a world beater under PIF, despite what players they can afford.
I hear Chelsea has money too. And success on the pitch? Oh right…
Lets cut the head of the snake. And blame, whom, deserved to blamed! #CARDINALE/OUT
I’m not lover of Redbird, but only one thing what is valued from them is the health of club. We are the only club in seria A with profit…
This is great and now we need to go to the next lvl.
Players what we signet are good reinforcement, we have everything and now, we need to go up with clear ideas and tactics… Fonseca has same time like Conte, Motta or Vanoli, who has (in my opinion ) weaker starting 11 then us, but still they play better football and has good results… there is an article from Sacchi about ” Give Fonseca time , it will be good”… yes maybe it is true, it will be good but when? Somewhere in the end of november when we will be dead in CL and in Seria A we will be 18P behind the first? I love Zlatan and I know this is new job for him, he need to learn new things how to do, but definitely Fonseca is not a Klop and our young team need experienced masterclass like was mentioned in this article ( Alegri or Sarri, I prefer Italian coach with charisma and their wages would be acceptable for us )
Told you so, this management is incompetent. It seems the american “fans” simmilar like Cardinale just started to watch football last year and thats why they couldn’t see what was right there in front of their noses. If you want to fix this first get proper management, like Inter, Juve, Atalanta did. Not some banker and a former scout who is a total fraud. Or at best just sell the club to Saudi who want to invest and be done with it.
i don’t think Moncada is scout, he’s more like French/ Lig1 players provider agent, he discover noOne, he just help players get club & clubs get players so he can get fee,
a real scout knew player & talents esp they who’s around, it’s call local knowledge to get local resource as priority, it’s sport more than business, it’s not expansion so local core is fundamental, it’s not McD nor KFC
The worst RB in the league was found by Moncada. That says everything that needs to be said. Now GTFO and take your royal Royal with you!!!
but but but we still the best financial in Italy, we still in CL every year & got many sponsorship bla bla
One of the realest, most on point statements I’ve read.
Not getting Chiesa for 10 millions is ridiculous.
Not getting Chiesa for 10 millions is ridiculous. More proof that winning and Milan’s way is dead at the moment.
These journalists are stuck in the past. De Zerbi is already playing catch-up to PSG, his teams can’t defend, Conte wanted Lukaku more than Osimehn, Sarri has done nothing in years.
Even Pippo Inzaghi would have won scudettos with the team Sarri had while in Juve.
Gerry doesn’t know jacksh*t about football. He doesn’t even know that Milan has won Champions League for 7th time!
I think better to see Milan right now in Playstation. Because they will win against Torino and Parma and Lazio too.
So, yes this the right Milan for Gerry
I’m willing to wait longer. When I read about what Fonseca wanted to do, I said the crux will be how Leao responds to the demands to counter press and play some defense. I worried the two would fight and only one would stay, with a good chance one or the other would be gone by January. Fonseca took his shot on Saturday with the benching. In the first half, it looked like his gamble might pay off, prove that team is more important than individual and win the dressing room. But….then the defense fell apart. And Leao came off the bench and scored nicely, played well, at least in attack and played a little defense. Theo also actually sprinted to break up an attack or two.
It’s been interesting to watch the guys who are bought in vs those who are not. Pulisic has done a lot of tracking back and ball winning.
I think Fonseca has mishandled Calabria. Calabria was key to winning the dressing room. But he’s too slow and not very helpful going forward. So they brought in Royal, who is faster, but has not been good. So now the captain and the two best players were benched, and the dressing room is about to implode, unless Fonseca can conjure some magic.
Is Royal really faster though? Faster or not, but the right side is now leaking worse than ever. 100x worse.
Let get together as a team and see what we are doing wrong. Every players must take there responsibility, the management must take there responsibility.Result must be on the field and milan has the ability to get good result.lastly let us be positive so that we can be a great..team..milan forever..bless.