Bologna Stadium

MN: ‘Uncertain calendar and disqualifications’ – Milan ‘damaged’ after Bologna decision

Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

Earlier this afternoon, AC Milan’s fixture against Bologna was postponed until later notice, and it is a decision that damages the Rossoneri. 

The past day has certainly been a frustrating period, with decisions being left until the last minute about Milan’s game this weekend. Nevertheless, it is a decision that has been made now, and the Rossoneri are unhappy.

According to reports, it could be six months before the fixture is actually played, and with an already hectic calendar, it sends Milanello into a strange place. As Milan News write, the decision puts the Diavolo at a disadvantage.

Already, there are concerns about the calendar, and if either club progresses in Europe, there will be further concern about the re-arranged fixture. Due to Serie A regulations, there must be an eight-game gap between the two sides facing one another, so the most likely option right now is a fixture in February.

In the present, it is also frustrating as the hosts are in poor form, so now would be an ideal time to play them, at least on paper. Added to this, the Rossoneri would have preferred to use the suspensions of Theo Hernandez and Tijjani Reijnders in this game, rather than a Scudetto-deciding game against Napoli.

Tags AC Milan

29 Comments

  1. It’s not the first time game is cancelled – not sure why people make such a big deal. Yea, Theo and Tiji will be suspended for Napoli but it will also allow Milan 5 extra days of rest. It is what it is.

    1. The rescheduling nightmare is a part of the problem only.
      The fact that we need to play Terracciano against Politano and Calabria/Emerson against Kvara, whilst using RLC/Musah and Fofana as the pivots in midfield to face Napoli is the bigger issue.

      5 days rest does not make up for the decrease in quality.
      Theo -> Terracciano
      Reijnders -> Musah

        1. Napoli will still rest for several days and their calendar is not the one being changed so their recovery time was already factored in for them. I don’t see it changing much for Napoli regarding resting time; they don’t even have to rotate because they don’t play in Europe. Meanwhile, I do see the tactical issues changing a lot for us, not having two of our main starters against them.

          I do think that having the clueless Terracciano against Politano is a HUGE problem. For me, it’s hard to know which one is weaker, Emerson or Terracciano (or, Calabria or Terracciano). Our right side is already having to face Kvara with weak/off-form RBs, and now our left side will be weak too. It terrifies me to use Terracciano against Napoli. Not to forget, Tijjani has been pretty much our only creative midfielder and he will certainly be missed against Napoli because if we concede goals due to our weak full backs, we need to score more so we need creative offense.

          With the exception of Origi and Ballo who are non-factors and are only part of the club as far as salary burden but are not part of the active roster, I see Terracciano, Emerson, and Calabria as Milan’s currently weakest players. RLC and Musah are the next weakest ones. So having to rely on these people against Napoli is definitely not good.

          Then, there is the factor of the 5 points they have over us. If we lose to them, they will be 8 points ahead which starts to feel unsurmountable. In order to remain competitive for the Scudetto, we really do need to beat Napoli (or at least draw with them, for the gap not to increase to impossible heights), so, we should be at our best possible strength against them. The way things played out with this horrible decision by the league, we are NOT at maximum strength.

          1. Well we’ll have to make do.

            Clearly someone thought that Terracciano could do a job at LB for Milan so now it’s up to Fonseca to get him to play to the level that he was playing when his talent was first spotted.

            We can’t just keep writing off players as not ‘good enough’.

            I mean the fact that you think a Scudetto winning FB who also famously marked Kvara out of multiple games isn’t good enough either suggests you really don’t seem to like any FBs. Maybe you just don’t like the position, or your seem to think that Milan never experienced any crosses from the left hand side in the 20 years that Maldini played – who knows.

            But it’s all speculation and BS so how about get behind the team and stop moaning?

            Or you get these li

        2. Napoli are also playing Lecce on Saturday in the early kick-off.
          Not exactly a tough match. It will be just an extra training session for them.

      1. Exactly: it’s about choices and panning. It’s unacceptable not to have proper replacements for your starting 11. So, without Theo, the left flank and the creativity in the middle of the park are not existent?
        Throw away all the dead wood for real, forget those cheap, useless suicidal transfers and focus on youth and real targets!

      1. Maldinis Heir, yes, Calabria did well against Kvara in the UCL quarterfinals but that was a while ago. I do believe that he has declined ever since and hasn’t been in good form. And then, even if he plays instead of Emerson, do remember that he’ll be coming back from long injury-related inactivity. That’s not good.

        Hey, you say someone – professionals, unlike me who am just a fan – saw something in Terracciano. I think it’s a scouting failure, but OK, let’s entertain it. Then, you should also realize that professionals are saying that Calabria is not good. Didn’t you see that the club has signaled that they won’t be renewing his contract, and he needs to go to Galatasaray or Marseille in January or leave for free in July? They are the club professionals. So if you berate me for not paying attention to the professionals who hired Terracciano, then I can berate you for not paying attention to the professionals who are saying that the club is no longer interested in Calabria’s services. See? Two can play this game.

        1. A ‘while ago’?

          Just over a year ago!

          And he’s only 27!

          To think we used to play a 41 year old Costacurta at LB!

          As for the ‘professionals’, when they’re recruiting elite footballers from other elite clubs I presume that those elite footballers are, well, elite.

          But of course there’s the farce of the modern transfer market and the back handers which skews everything in football.

          We probably didn’t need Terraciano and he’s suffered as a consequence with a lack of game time. Another in the long list of players we’ve ruined.

          As for the Napoli game I see this as a test. One of the games that told me Milan had turned a corner a few years ago was when we had an injury crisis in midfield against Juve and Calabria put in a match winning performance in midfield.

          These games are opportunities for players to step up. Who knows maybe Terraciano will step up and then be written off in 3 years when we get bored.

          Good times.

  2. I think extra week of rest should be used by players against Napoli. Theo is not in form and we need Reijnders replacement. Lads must do best against Napoli and close the gap.
    Later, Bologna game could be not so important.

  3. If I understand the scope of the flooding in Bologna then I suggest the use of a word like “damage” in the headline is – at best – is in poor taste.

    I hope we can each have a good thought for the people there trying to recover and return to normal.

    Fine to talk about the impact on Milan, etc. Bit please keep a good thought for the people of Bologna who were impacted.

    1. I could be wrong. but from what I understand it’s not quite that bad. In fact, several other sporting events are still taking place in the city this weekend.

      1. No the kind that would suck out a ton of police and emergency response workers if necessary, which are needed to host a game of 35k+ spectators in Italy.

        1. Yes, but then, why not play it behind closed doors? That wouldn’t need any emergency responders. And why not play it at a neutral venue like Empoli which is only 90 minutes away? That wouldn’t affect the city of Bologna either.

          It’s inexcusable that the League didn’t employ a tougher stance against Bologna’s unreasonable vetoing of perfectly viable alternative plans.

    2. Amen. There are more serious considerations than football. Huge floods in all the region, disrupting many people’s lives, and one deceased person already… And as James Hornby said, emergency services are working overtime right now.

  4. We have a strong team that can beat Napoli. Theo’s form and attitude have been poor, so it’s good he’s out. Reijnders can be swapped with Musah or Loftus-Cheek. Milan could also go with a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 setup

  5. I don’t even care that much about Theo and Reijnders being out. Our defense will probably be better for it. I’m just bummed I don’t get to watch a match this weekend.

    1. Had we kept Adli or Bennacer didn’t get injured we will have had a solution for Reijnders’ absence, but right now we will have to face Napoli with no creative midfielders.
      As for Theo, while I reckon he hasn’t been in good shape this season and showed a lot of indiscipline and poor conduct, we simply have no deputy for him. Napoli isn’t Udinese and Terracciano didn’t show himself as a reliable alternative.

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