AC Milan are less than two weeks away from the start of the season and it’s fair to say that there are quite a few complaints about things.
When you look at pre-season, there is an underlying worry about what is to come amongst the fanbase. Of course, pre-season is not the be-all and end-all. However, the signs are not fantastic and a lot of work needs to be done in a short space of time.
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In addition to this, there are probably a few signings that need to be made before that point. All in all, it’s an incomplete squad that is still struggling to match its new identity. A bad mixture, really.
Before the Torino game, though, there is Manchester United this weekend, so improvements can be made.
Changes needed
In a column for MilanNews this afternoon, Manuel Del Vecchio has discussed the issues facing the Rossoneri as the season draws nearer.
“Celtic, Inter, and Chelsea have always seen a different Milan. And then mixed, remixed, and mixed again. Amorim rightly observed, tested, and finally evaluated.
“So much so that we’ve reached one of the key junctures in the Rossoneri transfer market: this week, the surplus players and players outside the technical project will leave, or begin to leave. A meeting will also be held between Cardinale and the Portuguese coach, which should expedite several exits and, hopefully, also incomings.
“AC Milan are still a work in progress. There doesn’t seem to be any certainties yet, except for Ramos, Modric, and Gila, currently injured and expected to return to the squad soon. This is the backbone of AC Milan’s recovery.
“Other key players, such as Pulisic (injured), Maignan, and Rabiot (still on vacation), haven’t yet been tested by Amorim, but once they’re available, they could be considered key players.
“But Serie A and the schedule don’t wait for the transfer window, nor for players to recover or return from vacation. On August 15th, they travel to Poland to face Manchester United, and it will be the last test before the league opener against Torino, away at the Granata’s stadium.
“It’s a tough match, especially since the very combative Ignazio Abate will be on the bench. Amorim therefore has just one more match to test and not worry about the result, but it’s also time to start testing the team that will take to the field at the Olimpico Grande Torino.
“Hopefully, in this first month of work, Amorim has already found a small team , something that works in his head, and players he can rely on. Obviously, it’s inevitable that the debut will be without a full squad, with the transfer market bringing further incomings and outgoings.
“However, after Chelsea, the Portuguese coach already seemed to be set on this line of thinking, at least judging from his comments. If Milan is truly ready, the pitch will tell.”
Anyone listen to That Milan Podcast telling everyone to chill out because we only played a half- strength team against Chelsea? 😂
Man, the guy that is the lead in that is a certified halfwit. He can’t do 2+2. I’m not sure how can you listen to that. In any case, no.
All he does is rant about listeners being the dumb ones 😂 I stopped listening but have slipped back into it again…
I know what you mean. Those guys can be so frustrating to listen to. Spend half their time berating their own audience.
I’m not a big fan of that podcast. Santangelo is decent though.
In other news, it would almost be poetic justice for Abate to put this Milan to the sword in his first game. Hopefully Zlatan will be in attendance.
No, it wouldn’t, Milan is much, much more than some (dz)ibrahimovic.
Don’t worry it’s gonna happen..
I think the issue with the fan base right now is expectation. People seem to be expecting us to challenge for the title this season. I’m not sure why. Last season the expectation was top 4, and we managed a title challenge through March and then collapsed. But we did that by completely parking the bus. We’re starting this season with our fifth coach in three seasons, a squad that is STILL unbalanced, and with the new coach employing a stringent tactical system and still evaluating players for that system.
Anyone thinking we’re mounting a title challenge this season should disabuse themselves of that notion right now. In fact, anyone thinking that we’re going to finish top 4 should probably disabuse themselves of that notion as well. People who think Amorim will be “gone by December” are wrong. Unless we’re in the relegation zone, Amorim is going nowhere. This is Gerry’s man, who was brought in to get this team to play a certain way, with certain players, focusing on youth development. This is why nobody at the club is in a rush to sort out transfers. Amorim will be “evaluating” players all season long. This squad build is going to go on for the next couple of seasons.
My expectations this season are very low. I think Europa League qualification (5th or 6th) is what we can aim for, but upper mid-table (7th or 8th) would not be surprising at all. Inter, Napoli, Como, Juventus, Roma and even Atalanta have better organized squads and better coaches than us. Once people accept this, all this transfer sh*t will become a lot easier to deal with.
But Gerry said he wants to win. 😀
jeri struggle to get top4 let alone scudetto
You are right 👍👍👍, I don’t know what is going on in this term.
What a pep talk, way to go, man LOL Just kidding, you’re probably right.
Agree 100% – I’ll be thankful for an 6th place finish… problem is even his supporters will want Amorim gone by Christmas and we’ll have to start all over again…
i don’t think so,
some of fans worried Milan relies in players like Estu, RLC, Chuck, Musah to progress & overspend in bench-warmer or random nobody.
Gerry can’t afford another season out of CL.
This is the only caveat, but as we’ve seen with partnerships and commercialization, Redbird knows how to squeeze blood from a stone. Gerry is trying to tread water until he gets the stadium built, and then he’ll sell and make some kind of profit. It’s going to be a long 5 years.
finish in uel or lower is a realistic target. at best this team will peek on ucl spot as season is going and is a mid-table team at worst.
if they floating around and/or finish lower than mid table then they really are an incompetent bum.
What is the Pulisic update?
Can’t shake this feeling that we’re in for another very disappointing season. At least Amorim can do himself and the team a world of good by changing his formation to one that I believe suits the players well, like a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. But he’s going to stubbornly stick to that style of his like he did at Man Utd and watch the ship sink.
Why everyone so negative. Last year we were in the race for top 4 and now we’ve signed a capable striker and defender. The team has only got stronger on paper and they’re playing a formation thats way more suited to the players. Not saying were going to win the acudetto, but another couple of good signings and were definitely a top 4 competitor. Last year we had no striker and we had leao, pulisic, and nkunku playing out of position with the worst tactics in the league. I have hope compared to how we finished last season.
Top 4 competitor? WOW! Pulisic wasn’t playing out of his position at all.
I totally agree that top 4 will be a fantasy this year. How pitiful is it that the bar is lowered every year.
As for Pulisic, yes he wasn’t out of position because he can play multiple positions . He’s one of the few on the team who is able to. For 2 1/2 years he was one of top scorers in Serie A
Then last half of season he was injured n team was playing Allegri’s horrible system.
Bottom line is we have another rough season coming . So as fans we should try to be optimistic and try to enjoy whatever good things happen. Plus maybe taking up day drinking might help. 😂😂
I have that last part well-covered LOL