A Day With Abbiati

A lot of people take keepers for granted, and our very own Christian Abbiati is no exception. So I wondered, what would people think if they got to know him a little better? Like if they could spend a day with him? What if I could spend a day with him? So, with the high tech resources of my semi-conscious dream state and a slightly overactive imagination as well as the liberal use of Google image search, I am able to bring you A Day With Abbiati…

A look into the mysterious (if only imaginary) world of Abbiati

Making the Grade?

Normally, after the season ends, I am just covering my head with a blanket that will not be lifted until September 1st. I call it my “Wake me when the mercato is over” blanket. But this year I have an unhealthy interest in the transfer market because of the brain drain of losing so many senators all at once. Add to that Financial Fair Play and some frightening realities about the financial state of Milan, and this mercato could play out worse than a horror movie.

Technically, the transfer window doesn’t officially open until July 1st, but Milan have already made 3 moves: an inconsistent midfielder from Fiorentina that they have been stalking since he was 7 years old, a virtually unknown Mali player from a midtable French team, and a 19 year-old Brazilian keeper who still doesn’t have his EU passport just yet. Add to that Galliani trolling for free transfers and actually begging Liverpool to let Aquilani leave for free… well, it’s looking to be a bumpy ride this summer.

Keep in mind that last year at this time, Galliani was considered an evil genius, bringing in loan deals, full ownership of players, and quality deals from other clubs, too, after back to back brilliant mercati. He followed up this pre-mercato genius with deals like the last minute purchase of Nocerino, which turned out to be the deal of the season. That deal alone erased the memory of the Mr. X joke that fans didn’t necessarily find so funny. So comparing last year to this year, has he lost his touch or have other clubs finally caught on to his methods? Or is he perhaps just messing with us while he secretly plans the most amazing mercato ever?

Today I’m asking you, the fans, to rate Milan’s forays into the transfer market thus far. Please give your grade primarily on the already reported deals, even if it’s difficult to ignore all of the haunting and also tantalizing rumors being offered hourly by the media. Also take into consideration Milan’s transfer practices and policies, as well as their financial management skills. Select your grade, and then feel free to discuss in the comments.

Also, if anyone hears of any players over the age of 30, available on a free transfer, and willing to play for less than 5 mil/yr. on a 1 year contract, please call Galliani. He is looking for “steals” like these.

"Free transfer? Call me."

This post inspired by the music of Adele

Ciao, Pippo

“Oi oi oi, oi oi oi oi, Pippo Inzaghi segna per noi.” The echoes may have faded from our ears, but they may never fade from our hearts. Pippo Inzaghi leaving Milan is one of those events you never quite forget, even if you’re not a Milan fan. And for Milan fans, it brings up powerful emotions of sadness and regret, but also joy and gratitude. I may not see him wearing the red and black again, but I will always be able to see him in my dreams.

A tearful goodbye for his 300th and final Milan appearance

Gianluca Zambrotta: Faithful Soldier

Did you ever have someone come into your life who was just always there when you needed them? Someone who was never demanding, but always true? And then, when the time came, they slipped away, almost unnoticed? Milan have recently lost a person like this, someone who faithfully served the club for 4 years. He played wherever he was needed, did everything he was asked, and wasn’t one to brag about all of the titles he’d won, even the World Cup. Gianluca Zambrotta was our faithful soldier.

Zambrotta tears up after his last Milan match

The Milan Curse

It is well known that Milan have been experiencing increasingly devastating quantities of injuries for a number of years now. This past season’s injuries were more apocalyptic in quantity, duration, and scope, and it is widely acknowledged that this single factor changed their fate in Serie A and in the Champions League. This injury problem has extended well beyond a crisis, and today, I officially dub it “The Milan Curse.”

The Milan team bus arriving in Napoli earlier this season

The Secret Life of Mark van Bommel

People know him as Agent 004, the hard tackling defensive midfielder that other players fear. But what Milan fans learned right away is that the fabled “hard man” is soft as a teddy bear on the inside, and a devoted family man. Or if they didn’t realize it before, his tearful exit from the club after only 18 months certainly betrayed his hardened reputation.

You're still tough to us

The Men of Milan

Okay, I will never understand some guys, but recently in the comments, someone suggested that all of our guys should look like adult film stars circa 1970. Yes, it was a guy who suggested this. So while I would like to point out that I absolutely disagree with this premise, I also want to be fair and give time and space to everyone. So here to fulfill your wildest dreams, guys, I present the Men of Milan… (Sorry, girls.)

Ciao, Gattuso

He was supposed to be a fisherman. In his village in Calabria, that’s what everybody did. And it’s what he was helping with, too, until he managed to convince his poor mamma to let him go for a football trial. It wasn’t ever his skills that kept him on the football path, it was always his sheer determination and his heart of a champion. Those are things that can’t be taught, which is what makes him so irreplaceable at Milan.

Ciao, Nesta

Some wounds never heal, and something tells me that this will be one of them. The departure of Alessandro Nesta from AC Milan has left a gaping hole, not only in our hearts, but on the pitch.

Guest Post: The Judge and the Jury

Some of you may recall that for the first six months of this blog's existence, I had a brilliant co-blogger named Jovan. Then he decided to do something with his life that actually made money. But for today he has magnanimously blessed us with this most excellent guest post from the goodness of his heart. Enjoy...

All Milan supporters without exception are in a sorrowful state of mind these days. After losing the title, we said goodbye to several legends of Milan and world football. To put it in plainest terms, whoever remained unemotional when Gattuso, Nesta, Inzaghi and Zambrotta said their goodbye to Milan might as well put on a black-and-white shirt and put up a poster of Conte on their wall. While Elaine prepares her tribute posts for these red and black legends, I’m going to be that petty guy that points an accusing finger at those who lost the scudetto this year. The judge and the jury, if you will - self appointed, self proclaimed and ultimately insignificant, but still - a sentence will be given.