Milan 3-0 Napoli: The Ugly Duckling is Not So Ugly After All

Once upon a time, there was a team that won the big game in stellar fashion. But first, let’s hear the story of our favorite ugly duckling:

Milan-Napoli preview: a step towards the title or a step towards chaos

Strange things are happening in Italian football. Either we have been collectively sent back 20 years in time, or a team that's not based in Milan, Torino or Rome is a real title contender 26 weeks into the season. Led by the seemingly unstoppable Edinson Cavani, Napoli's attack is one of the best in the league, but it's the return of the 3 man defense that's proved intriguing and decisive on many occasions. Going into this match after a hard-fought victory against Chievo, Milan has everything to lose by putting in a lackluster performance on Monday.

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Cavani?

As the leading goal scorer in Serie A, Edinson Cavani is a force to be reckoned with. In 26 league games played, he has 20 goals, an average of .8 goals per game. Which means if you are the opposing coach, there’s an 80% chance he’ll score against your team. Unless you can stop him.

Where Are They Now?

Do you ever wonder what has happened to some of our ex-Milan players? Well, for inquiring minds, I've compiled a list of some former players, the years they played for Milan, and their current whereabouts and pastimes. *

Temporary Insanity

Testosterone x 2

He is both feared and respected by opponents. His determination outweighs his skills at least 2 to 1. He has more heart than any player I can think of and despite his tough reputation, he is usually quite the gentleman. Well, except for during the Tottenham match. On the world stage, Gennaro Gattuso had some rare moments of temporary insanity.

Chievo-Milan 1-2: bad game + Pato = 3 points

Sell, sell, sell! Let's cash in while we still can. What else could a club possibly do with the single most efficient striker of a generation? Certainly not show patience and allow him to build his game around the three magnificent traits he's shown so far - pace, dribbling and a certain cynical cool in front of goal. Pato did nothing right today, apart from winning the game and wonderfully setting up Robinho for what should have been another goal in Chievo's net. His passing was woeful, his movement seemingly random and his decisions childish. Is this a reason to get rid of him?

Chievo-Milan preview: conquering the flying fortress

Remember when Chievo were the new kids in Serie A? A team led by Corini from the midfield, with Marrazina and Corradi up front and Sergio Pellissier as their substitute? Surely anyone who watched Chievo's debut Serie A 2001/02 season remembers the two flying wingers, one of whom turned out to be some years older than he claimed to be? Eriberto, Manfredini, coach Luigi del Neri and the rest of the protagonists of that miraculous season went on to become household names in Serie A, most of them joining bigger clubs. And some failing terribly, but that's another story.

My Obsession

obsession: n., an unhealthy and compulsive preoccupation with something or someone.

Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that this absolutely describes my relationship with AC Milan. Everywhere I go, I see red and black. Even when I dream, it’s in red and black. And when I wake up again, it’s only to watch my team play in the red and black.