ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - AC MILAN

Posted by Matteo Bonetti on 04/04/2010

Milan-Cagliari. Final Score: 3-2. When two attack minded teams clash, it often produces a thrilling contest that never runs dry of goals. Milan encountered yet another must win situation against a tricky Cagliari side that plays a very energetic style of football.

Borriello scored in the opener minutes after a nice interchange with Slowdorf, which was subsequently countered by a Cagliari equalizer. Only two minutes after that, the Cobra Huntelaar smelled blood and unleashed a vuurpijl (Dutch word for rocket) from about 35 meters out that caught Federico Marchetti by surprise and plowed into the back of the net.

Random Notes

- Huntelaar must be one of the most random strikers I've ever seen. He can go 90 minutes trudging around the field without even touching a ball, getting knocked around violently by defenders, losing possession all too easily, and then out of nowhere score a Van Basten-esque chip shot. Or as he showed against Cagliari, an absolute cracker with his weaker left foot.

The Cobra Huntelaar showing some Klaas ©Getty Images

- The Milan defence this weekend was a comedy of errors. Favalli made a crucial mistake at the back which almost cost Milan another goal. Pirlo attempted one of his signature Ballerina twirls at midfield and failed miserably by losing possession which led directly to a goal by Cagliari hitman Alessandro Matri. By the way, did you know that Matri was ours? Milan kept loaning him out to teams in the Serie C and finally sold all of his rights to Cagliari. He has 13 goals and 5 assists this year. Oh, and he is only 25 years old. Another mistake by Milan management by selling a young player with plenty of quality.

- Thiago Silva is much more tentative without Nesta by his side, and doesn't go forward nearly as much. However, can you blame him? Leaving all the defensive responsibility to a senior citizen who cannot cope with the speed of counter-attackers nearly half his age is a disaster waiting to happen. Favalli was dominated by an 18 year old player named Ragatzu, who just made his sixth appearance in the Serie A. Plus, the "defensive" ability of two converted wingers who are slotted as fullbacks in Leonardo's formation is another giant question mark that will need to be pondered in the offseason.

- Where was the midfield? Simply stated: this happens every time Ambrosini is paired up with two creative players in midfield, one who looks like he is running with Birkenstocks, and the other who has the strength of paper mache'. The Sardinian side made their way to our goal far too easily. Andrea Cossu morphed into a hybrid cross between Pele and Maradona, as he took us apart with defense splitting passes and consistently dribbled past any defender (Antonini) that got in his way.

- Milan's planned transfer signing Davide Astori, who is co-owned with Cagliari, looked unimpressive. Other than being bullied around and physically mauled by Borriello throughout the game, he scored an own goal after a misunderstanding with his goalkeeper.

- Leonardo has adapted successfully to life without a slew of his major players. After a myriad of injuries to key components such as Beckham, Nesta and Pato, and Digao, he has done a good job of sticking with his preferred formation with the players he has at his disposal. Not only that, but he has trademarked a sideline look: the one where he seems to be in an unresponsive trance.

Leonardo's Signature Pose ©

And lastly, I'll leave you all with some key facts to dwell on:
Three points behind Inter. Two points behind Roma.
Six games left
Home: Catania, Fiorentina, Juventus.
Away: Sampdoria, Palermo, Genoa.

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Comments

Posted by Anonymous on 04/04/2010

I dont get huntelaar either. Some days like today, i think he is amazing with these encredible finishes he has. But he is so inconsistent. what a shot with the left foot!
Keep him?
Or have we seen enough?

Selling him would go a long ways to being able to afford a guy like dzeko, or even torres (granted a bit out there, but we can dream).

Posted by nanasei on 04/05/2010

Great piece i hope we win the league but when is pato coming back we miss him.

Posted by Sil on 04/05/2010

I don't know how to comment Hunt...he is really weird,with great shots and serious inconsistency.
Dzeko is better but if we cannot afford him i don't konw whether it is a good idea to sell Hunt...>

Posted by Samuel. on 04/05/2010

We must sell Huntelaar, trade Borriello for Hamsik and convince Gourcuff to come back and wear Rossoneri colors.

None of that will happen so in the end we will end up keeping this random guy without getting Dzeko, Hamsik or anyone else. sometimes i really hate the management of this team, Leonardo must be rewarded with some quality purchases in the summer but all our management will do is buy him players that are past it 30 & above like Yepes! I'll be real ticked off if we don't land a young centerback, midfielder and right-back...

Posted by Ernest, Accra - Ghana on 04/05/2010

I remember the 1999 season and the greatest club AC Milan under Alberto Zacheroni. That season was no different with an inconsistent Milan side struggling to get points from games but then the team believed. Milan won their last seven games to emerge champions for the 16th time and i remember that fondly. With seven matches to go before the weekend game with Cagliari, Leonardo Nascimento began to talk about the fact that Milan would win the Scudetto and i wondered how we could do that. Now we have beaten Cagliari and there are six finals to go, lets just wait and draw from the inspirational Scudetto winning fortitude of 1999 and this inconsistent Milan team can shock us all.......... I don't expect too much tho

Posted by RobStyles on 04/05/2010

Say whatever you want about Huntelaar but he can be be credited with at least 6 points this season and that goal Saturday was WICKED!! I was screaming like a little girl when I realized that it was a goal.

Btw, I like the Digao dig...funny stuff.

Posted by Matteo Bonetti on 04/05/2010

RobStyles:

I had to include the Digao for two reasons. The first being that he is by far the worst player I have ever seen donning a Milan jersey, and the second being that I just realized I never mentioned him before in any columns. His moment of glory came in 2005, when he scored own goals in consecutive games for the third division side Rimini, and a band of ultras went around the city "headhunting" for him.

Posted by acmilandrew on 04/05/2010

I've a theory that Digao was adopted but that's another story.Wonder why Kaka didnt pull strings so his useless brother could play in the Madrid shirt.Still creating chances and still missing them by the bucket load.Please tell Boriello that every other shot doesnt have to be a spectacular volley.Favalli runs like my grand dad and i'm glad he's retiring this year...he is retiring right?

Posted by Matteo Bonetti on 04/05/2010

ACMilanAndrew:

In all fairness to Favalli, he was a quality full back in his day (before the war). Unfortunately he is way over the hill. These last few games are the last we'll see of him, that's for sure.

Posted by Bram on 04/05/2010

so, should we hope for the best or prepare for the worst?

Posted by James Martin on 04/05/2010

Firstly i'd like to say well done a very good blog!

It must hard being a Milan fan but it could be worse you could support Juve!

How Favalli is still playing for one of the best clubs in Europe is beyond beleif. It's one thing for a legend like Maldini to play on until he is 40 but Favalli was nothing more then a solid player when he was 26! Surley playing a youngster from the youth team would be more worthwhile.

I have to say that Leonardo deserves a lot more credit then he is getting for turning this poor side into Scudetto contenders. As a Roma fan i don't see you as a serious challange but i hope you stay up there to make things interesting!

Posted by Ronan on 04/05/2010

Considering the financial crisis in the modern game and indeed at Milan if we were to sell Huntelaar who else could we bring in?
Shortly after one of the best defenders (Baresi) retired I looked around to see who was out there showing protential only one player came to my attention, Vicient Kompany, at that time he was Anderlect now currently at Man City don't think is being used and is still only 25 (I think) that a player I'd be looking at for the "rear gard"
Another aspect that needs attendion is between the sticks, Dida yes was good, Abbiati??? and Roma I'm sorry C- needs to improve.
What is needed is to build a team around Thiago Sliva, Pirlo, Gattuso, Ronaldinho and Pato, bring in Kompany, Gourcuff, Krasic, Rossi.

Posted by Edinam,Accra on 04/06/2010

Favalli,Zambrotta,Jankulovski,Inzaghi,Gattusso,Kaladze have paid their dues.Time to let go of them so as to inject new blood into the team.I have still not recovered from the 4-) mauling Milan suffered @ the hands of Man U.

Posted by Magalta Vinsala on 04/06/2010

I love Parma, Hope to see them tonight at the Shirt Signing thing, Yeah I loved Brinto until he left last week, the contract offer was too good i suppose.

Keep Up the good work

Patteo Bonettisa or whatever

Yours Magalta Vinsala

Posted by Kris Indonesia on 04/06/2010

Nice blog! Actually i wasn't quite surprised with Huntelaar's quality strike against Cagliari. This guy is capable of spectacular goals. In my opinion, his lack of consistency can be attributed to limited playing time and incompatible strike partner. Boriello is a good striker, but not to be partnered with Huntelaar.
Huntelaar is a finisher, more like Nistelrooy type.
While Leonardo is trying to make do with the pathetic squad depth, I guess he could do a little better by tweaking the tactic.
A spanish-esque formation of 4-2-3-1 would be more viable now :
Dida/Abbiati
antonini- Silva - Bonera - Zambrotta
Flamini- Ambro
Seedorf-Pirlo-Ronnie
Hunter/Borriello/inzagol

Posted by Ayman on 04/06/2010

Matteo:
First, "Slowdorf".....NICE. I think you nailed it, thats for sure. By the way Matteo, you owe me a new work shirt. That comment is responsible for a huge coffee stain.
Second, i think play time is the key here regarding the cobra. Borriello has been our starting striker since day one. Now granted he played great for genoa, which prompted his recall to Milan, but i believe if Huntelaar was given more playing time it would have been different story. if you keep starting a player once every three games or so, you are not going to get much out of him, especially in Serie A.

Third, and believe me when i say this, i hope Milan win the title, the problem is if we win, Galliani is not going to clean house. Meaning getting rid of Inzaghi, Gattuso, Favali...etc. He will assume that things are perfect the way they are. Just like after the 2007 Champions league. So part of me wants to win the Scuddetto and the other part doesn't.

Finally, GOD BLESS THE ALL MIGHTY MILAN.

Posted by Matteo Bonetti on 04/06/2010

Ayman:

First let me apologize for the shirt. Second, Huntelaar was given A chance in the beginning of the season, when he started a handful of games and produced virtually nothing. Now if his two moments of glory this season came against Manchester United, I would have been much happier with him.

Posted by u.s.acmilan on 04/06/2010

When is Christian Abbiati etimated to get back to playing with Milan?
and is David Beckham going to come back for next season?

Posted by rob on 04/06/2010

iirc milan had just endured a 6 or 7 game losing streak in pre-season (a new club record) before huntelaar joined. the team was in a poor state by the start of the season and that was the side huntelaar (a newcomer to league, country and club) was immediately put into and expected to hit the ground running. the whole team was poor at that time, none of them playing well, ronaldinho getting booed and taken off against inter, leonardo still messing about trying to find a decent formation etc. so overall not the fairest period to judge a new player upon in all honesty. in this article ibrahimovic talks about when he first came to italy. huntelaar could probably have benefitted from having a coach like fabio to show confidence in his clubs new signing even if things didnt start off great in the first few games. problem was he wasnt leo's top choice and the rookie coach was under pressure so the new kid became the scapegoat. ever since he's been an unused sub more than he's actualy started.

Posted by Anonymous on 04/07/2010

Recently heard a lot about transfer news concerning Milan,yet if our president still refuses to put any money in, then next season we may see a almost unchanged team.

Posted by Pagliuca on 04/08/2010

Brother Matteo;

I know you have been a critic over Hunterlaar similarly in the days of Simone where either some liked him or didn't. But in all fairness why has Leo played him in a position (wing-attack) that he hardly has played in before, rather than having him direct in attack. Also he needs those balls to get to him not poor crosses where Rooney himself could not get it. And, the more he plays the more he'll get better.

Still 6 finals to go. Forza Milan Per Sempre e "Rossonerro Brotherhood"

Posted by Milan 1963 on 04/10/2010

Ha Ha Ha Slowdorf running with Birckenstocks......actually try and picture him with the typical Dutch wooden clogs, female national costume and a lovely wigs with a pair of blondy breads.....too hilarious too be true, you pair him with FraValli and Digao and you are ready for Carnival......:-) Let's be fair he was a great player but unfortunately when he is on the pitch we need 3 defensive midfielders and 4 solid defenders which we do not have. This is the constant problem this season, and unless Zombie Leo understands it we have little chances of winning anything. Nevertheless we are having a much over expectation season despite all this and I really hope on the scudetto....Forza Milan.

Posted by Donald on 04/10/2010

Milan should keep huntelar but they should sell slowdorf and inzaghi and try to buy a foward someone like torres. I hope Milan can still win the cup.

Ronaldinho # 1

Posted by Harshvardhan on 04/11/2010

To be fair seedorf is slow,age i catching up with him,yes,no doubt about that, but he is still a wicked playmaker - he puts in some of the best and most precise crosses and he has created many goals for us this season.I think he is pretty good even though he is old. Seedrof may have lost his pace but I thank the heavens that he has not lost his magical touch.

Posted by Phakisi on 04/14/2010

Milan should offload uncle Favalli first and foremost then Inzaghi, Zambrotta, Jankulovski, Dida, Kaladze, Oddo, Ambrosini and veteran Seedorf. basically the whole team needs restructuring, its sad that Leo finds it in this state, given a better team he would be just like Pep of Barca. FORZA MILAN!!!

Posted by Anonymous on 04/14/2010

Milan should keep Huntelar but sell off filippo Inzaghi and Giuseppe Favalli and try to buy Giorgio Chiellini from juve

Posted by lorenzo on 04/15/2010

according to corriere dello sport. a fine stagione we will lose pato and leonardo...if this happens im done. im quitting club football. basta. zio fester and berlusca can jump into bed with moratti and stop filling my heart with false hope. we have been irrelevant sincde the 2007-08 season, no matter what way you look at it. the worst part is that we wont even invest in your interesting players. no its yepes, mancini and keeping old dogs like gattusao pirlo favalli inzaghi nesta(dont care what you think of him when he's healthy he is always injured and overpaid) on the training ground. this team is constantly getting worse and the administration is incapable of admitting it. i repeat if we lose pato and pirlo while keeping men like pirlo(who has been below average for over 2 years now) on the pitch im done. magari tiffo cisco.

Posted by Matteo Bonetti on 04/15/2010

Lorenzo:

I read the reports, almost had a heart attack. Well, I'd really be crushed if Milan sold Pato and didn't do anything with the money made from him. Selling Kaka turned out to be a profitable deal, except that we used that money for Huntelaar and Abate. Does Milan know something about Pato we don't? i.e injury prone? Who knows, either way I'd be shocked if they let him go.

Posted by Anonymous on 04/15/2010

why would milan even dream of selling pato???that would be just plain stupid. the should sell some of the old not so good players, instead of even thinking about selling pato...

Posted by Kaleb on 04/16/2010

Look, I understand your annoyance at Seedorf's lack of his old pace. However, he still puts in some great moves, amazing crosses, and good goals. To say that he isn't an integral part of this team is wrong. He has many more aspects to his game than just speed. Look at this goal from this season
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw55LIEQTOA

Posted by Matteo Bonetti on 04/16/2010

Kaleb:

Oh, I would never dispute Seedorf's class. He can pull out a moment of sheer brilliance out of nowhere. The point I was making is that Ambrosini simply cannot be left alone with ALL of the midfield defensive duties. Can we at least agree that Seedorf & Pirlo are suspect defenders?

Posted by D on 04/16/2010

Oddly enough, mentioned something similar in my comments to ur last post:

F - Isn't Mancini on loan? Send him back. Dzeko is a must. Sell Marco. Let him be a big fish in a small pond again 'cause he doesn't seem to do well in the big pond. I'd look into what it would take to pry Balotelli away.Didn't think I'd say this 3 mo. ago, but see what you can get for Pato. If you can get 55M from Chelsea do you do it? It would pay for Dzeko plus give cash to spend on some of these other names. Who says we have to play with wings up front?
4-3-1-2 would work. Put Ronnie behind Dzeko and whoever(Balotelli,Matri,Morimoto)

I'm ok with selling Pato, provided they overhaul the rest of the squad - get rid of the aging non-contributors and bring in some young fresh talent to carry the club for the nxt 5-7 yrs.

Any combination of: Dzeko, Hernanes, Balotelli, Bonucci, Cesc (probably my 1st choice from this list), Kompany, Motta, Matri, Taiwo, Torres, Weah [wait, goin the wrong way]

Posted by Milan 1963 on 04/17/2010

Yes it is true we make fun of Seedorf but he is a class player, however I agree 100% with Matteo, he can not start the game together with Pirlo on a 3 midfielders formation this is insanity. Look at the game against Catania, our midfielders were constantly outruned by the opponents. When Catania was attacking or counter attacking, nobody was defending, when Milan had one chance at counter attacking, I saw 5 players of Catania running back like mad dogs to make sure they could cover their defense. This is what Milan is not able to do with Seedorf, Pirlo and Dinho on the pitch. If you add Pato then it is over. In my opinion we should play with 3 strong midfielders who can run the entire game (Ambro, Flamini, Abate) and 1 between Pirlo, Dinho and Seedorf behind the two strikers or one striker and two among the 3 creative players. The defense needs loads of reinforcement a part from Thiaquinho.

Posted by Anonymous on 04/18/2010

How could you be ok with selling Pato??? he is 20 years old on a team with at least 8 30 year olds, and a few people above 35 years old...if you want to sell a superstar sell ronaldinho...i have absolutely no idea why you would wanna sell one of milans youngest players who most assuredly gonna be a super...of course inter or Barcelona would appreciate that kind of stupidity...

Posted by D on 04/19/2010

So u'd hang onto one 20 year old surrounded by a bunch of 4o year olds? Wake up dude. Mr. B doesn't look like he's going to throw any $ into the club anytime soon so where do you get the capital to overhaul the squad?
I've already said in the past I'd sell Ronnie.
Grow a pair and put your name next time.

Posted by Anonymous on 04/20/2010

so on a team with a bunch of old players you would sell one of the youngest and best players you have? maybe if he wasnt on a team of old players and milan had young players to replace him, and he was not doing good in milan id say loan him or slap a big price oh him, but on this curret team sell the old people if they can afford to replace them, but keep the young highly skilled, high goal scoring players...and i personally would keep ronnie and pato they are both brilliant play-makers and pato will only continue to get better.

Posted by Anonymous on 04/21/2010

what about buying Landon Donovan, he a decent player? yes he is has never played with the truly good European teams and is currently a big fish in a tiny pond, but he did do a good job as midfield on la galaxy and he would probably be really cheap...it would be a gamble but not a very expensive one.

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