Podcast: Montolivo Out

New directors, a new coach, and the mercato ready to open, yet the biggest news is that Milan gave up the Europa League to clear our FFP violations. Yet even more important than all of that is that Montolivo, the parasitical innacurate passing tattle-tell wall-ducking player who usurped the captaincy and got coaches fired is finally leaving the club. To prepare to celebrate the best thing that has happened at Milan in seven years, I give you Montolivo Out.

#NeverAgain

FFP: Bullet Dodged

I know we as Milan fans are supposed to be sorrowful and mourning our exit of the Europa League for next season. Certainly, UEFA’s statement was nothing short of harshly punitive and malicious. But while UEFA thinks they “won” the FFP battle that they waged unfairly, compared to other clubs, Milan just got four years worth of FFP violations wiped clean just for stepping out of a competition we did not want or need to be in. Bullet dodged.

Europa League needs Milan more than Milan needs the Europa League

The Donnarumma Cycle

Wash, rinse, repeat. Rumor, abuse, repeat. The media, Mirabelli, and Raiola created a vicious cycle two years ago that still has immediate emotional impact on fans. In fact, many fans still believe that Gigio Donnarumma is a mercenary, a traitor, and worse. None of which is true, of course. Fans who have any brain cells realize that he has proven his loyalty to the crest over and over these past two years, and even well before that. However the rotten seeds were planted, and all anyone has to do on social media is say “Donnarumma” as we head into a transfer market, and people go insane with all kinds of misinformation… again. You may as well call it “The Donnarumma Cycle.”

"Not this nightmare again"

Who in the World is Ricky Massara?

Milan announced last week that they hired their second choice Sporting Director, Frederic Massara. While he had been rumored to be chosen after their first choice decided to stay at Lazio, the reaction from fans was not very passionate. That is likely because most of us have no idea who he is.

He can hold a phone, that is great news

Podcast: Truth and Rumors

The transfer window hasn’t even officially opened yet, but with no Milan football, it’s like a petri dish of infectious rumors right now. Mixed in for good measure is a little truth. Some truths are more desirable than others, too. But whether you prefer to know the truth or love to cling to the rumors, this podcast will have something for everyone. Because it’s that time of the year.

Now that he's our truth, which rumors will come true?

Marco Giampaolo: Not Exactly

Have you ever gone shopping for a pair of jeans, and they didn’t have exactly what you wanted? You tried on a bunch of other kinds of jeans that you thought you might like, but they didn’t work, either. After exhausting all of your options at this store, you decided to buy the jeans that were the lesser of all evils instead of trying to go to another store. Were they the jeans you wanted? Not exactly. But they were jeans. And they were new. A lot of Milan fans feel similarly about Giampaolo. Is he the coach we wanted? Not exactly. But he is a coach. And he is new.

Experienced

Past and Future

It is finally official, the dream of so many Milan fans for so long. Paolo Maldini has been appointed as Technical Director of AC Milan. Along with him, Zvonimir Boban has been appointed as Chief Football Officer. They are both a part of Milan’s storied past, winning so many trophies for the club. Most importantly, they know what it means to be Milan. To wear the shirt, represent the crest, and to bleed red and black. They are legends of Milan’s past, and now they are the hope of Milan’s future.

The future is bright

Just Another Milan Monday

If the media were clever enough to count, I believe they would be making predictions for the scores of every single Serie A game next season. Oh, wait, that’s the betting sites. But it certainly doesn’t stop them from predicting what our new coach will wear and who his driver will be, even though we don’t actually have a new coach. Or even a sporting director. Milan are once again trapped in stasis until so many things click into place. So while the rumors are entertaining (read: ridiculous) to read, it’s really just another Milan Monday.

The future is bright, but it's still the future

UEFA is a Four-Letter Word

This week, UEFA pulled the “Go ask your mother” move… again. After re-ruling in January, then Milan trying to talk some sense into them, they further delayed their new ruling until that one was decided in the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It seems they can’t rule properly on their own Financial Fair Play guidelines to save their lives, but are becoming experts at inhibiting Milan’s ability to rebuild and progress. They have literally put the four-letter words into FFP.

Irony

Times Like These

Another summer and another long list of things Milan have to wait for before we can move forward - the CAS, UEFA, Maldini, and a new coach, amongst other things. So much frustration once again for a fan base that has had to wait year after year and then wait some more. And yet, amidst my frustration, I found a new perspective in my own life this week as I found myself sitting in the Intensive Care Unit of our hospital with my son. As the long and frightening hours passed and I watched him bravely fight, I decided to try a little experiment and reach out for support to a place that normally is filled with hate: Twitter. And to my surprise, I found an outpouring of love that was overwhelming and wholly unexpected. A Milan family that reached out from literally every corner of the world, and extended to other fan bases, too. An outpouring of love that was truly moving, especially in times like these.

We all need a little love at times like these

Podcast: Season Review

After the heartbreak of finishing only one point shy of Champions League qualification hit like a punch to the stomach on the final matchday, Milan face even more big changes. With the resignation of our Sporting Director, Leonardo, and coach Gattuso rescinding his contract, and UEFA still delaying their FFP rulings yet again, it feels like just another poor Milan season. But we found plenty to talk about while rating the players and more to make this season not just another Year Zero.

Yeah, it was kind of like that