Milan Renewals (Unpopular Opinion)

The media are whipping fans into a frenzy about contract renewals, particularly those of certain players. The club seem to be taking their time, as in a typical season, they would have wanted to sort these deals out by now. However, this is not a typical season. Not just because of empty stadiums and the condensed schedule due to COVID-19, but also because Milan are looking like they might actually be successful at qualifying to return to the Champions League after all of these years. Which brings with it a lot of cash. My unpopular opinion is that Milan are intentionally delaying renewals until we are closer to that qualification, because that qualification impacts how many and which players they can renew, as well as the salaries they can pay them.

Milan's two highest paid players are still up in the air for next year

Poll: Who Would You Renew?

It's that time of year, or at least the press seems to think it is. All they have been talking about this week are the players whose contracts or loan deals are ending, and who needs to be renewed. Today I wanted to know: Who would you renew? Of those who could leave at the end of the season, which players do you think are worth investing in to bring back next season?

So many players... who would you choose?

Davide Calabria: Fierce Warrior

At the age of 24, Calabria is in his sixth season in Milan's first team, and has lived through seven managers and three changes of ownership. One of the few Milan youth players who has managed to stay in the first team, he has fought fiercely at every turn to stay at the club. Most recently, when it seemed he would be forced out in the summer of 2019, he doubled down and made the right back position his own. His tenacity is one of his greatest strengths. He is a fierce warrior.

Fierce and fearless

Sandro Tonali: The Chosen One

Taking players from Inter is just the best. That was one of the reasons we fell in love immediately with Bonaventura. With Tonali, though, he was predestined to be a Milan player. He worshipped Milan fervently his whole life, and it must have killed him when his agent told him there was an agreement with Inter. He even spoke in the media about his disappointment that Milan had not made an offer for him. But then Maldini did. Not only did he take Tonali out of Inter's limp clutches, he managed to work out the terms with Brescia that we needed to help us with FFP. And then Sandro Tonali was ours. The chosen one.

His heart was already red and black

What Makes the Perfect Commentator?

Growing up, my mom did not like my dad to sit around and watch sports. The poor man rarely got any peace or television time in our house. And that is why I found myself sometimes sitting in his truck with him listening to the baseball World Series. The commentator brought the game to life, describing the plays and giving stats and information that were relevant to what was happening. I didn't even need to see the game to know what was going on and to be able to feel the intensity and excitement, because his words, voice, and inflections provided all of that for me. I have actually never been able to watch baseball since because those commentators were actually more exciting than the game itself. 

The legendary Kenneth Wolstenholme, who was later the voice of Serie A on Channel 4

Podcast: Pioli Magic

After a magical win on Sunday, it was time to recap all things Milan, including news, international call ups, and review the past two matches. Rui and I caught up on everything, and also had some great conversations about all of these things, plus injuries, and Pioli's magic.

Do you believe in magic?

Fiorentina 2, Milan 3: The Will to Win

This game could have been another disappointment. The guys were exhausted after the Europa League run, and we still had six players out for this one. But when Fiorentina equalized, Milan didn't give up. Even when Fiorentina were up a goal, they never gave up. They bravely fought and clawed their way back into the match, then took all three points, like champions do. This team simply has the will to win.

Winning mentality

Fiorentina-Milan Preview: No Walk in the Garden

There was a time during the season when Milan would have relished a trip to Fiorentina. Milan were winning every match and Fiorentina were losing more games than not. But now Milan barely have a healthy starting 11, having started Castillejo up front in desperation on Thursday against Manchester United. Meanwhile, Prandelli's Fiorentina destroyed Benevento 4-1 on Sunday. This is definitely not the ideal time to travel to the Artemio Franchi. Facing Fiorentina will be no walk in the garden.

Who will score in place of our captain?

Milan 0, Manchester 1: Relief

This tie could have gone either way, but for one tragic minute of defending. In the end, having healthy bodies proved to be the difference maker, and Milan have precious few of those. Solskjaer got 45 minutes out of a recovered Pogba, while Pioli only got 25 rusty minutes from an Ibrahimovic who was clearly rushed back to action. And that made all the difference. Still, for Milan fans, it is actually not a bad thing to go out of the Europa League finally, because our injury bench has become a war triage and we didn't even have a single striker to start in this match. So actually, this is a relief.

They came, they fought, they didn't conquer

Europa League • AC Milan-Manchester United FC: European Nights

Milan host Manchester United at the San Siro on Thursday for the second leg of our Europa League Round of 16 matchup. Milan have the precious away goal scored in the final seconds of last week's match, so come into this match with that small advantage. However, Manchester United have the advantage of having recovered more players in addition to the fact that Milan's home record this season is not great. Anything can happen in this match, and either team could go through. But for one team, it will be the last of the European nights.

Hoping Ibrahimovic will welcome his former team back the Zlatan away... with goals

Podcast: Milan's Season Survivor Edition

Milan's week included facing off against Manchester United and truly impressing, then losing at home to Napoli. It was a difficult week to discuss, so I had to get the epic Boaz to help me process everything. We discussed a lot about the referees, injuries, as well as reviewing recent matches. It just feels like with all of these injuries, Milan's season is an episode of Survivor.

Just let us survive.... please

Milan 0, Napoli 1: Sportsmanship Lost

We knew this would be a tough match, missing seven players, most of whom were starters. Having traveled and played on Thursday, Milan were at a serious disadvantage, even playing at home. Gattuso's side took all three points in a match that at any point could have just as easily gone to Milan. However, it wasn't just Milan and our Scudetto hopes that lost. There was a significant amount of poor character and sportsmanship surrounding this match that made this pill harder to swallow. Yes, Milan dropped three points, but sportsmanship lost.

Like a disappointed father

Milan-Napoli Preview: Showdown at San Siro

Gattuso's Napoli are heading to the San Siro tomorrow night after a week off of football, having crashed out of the Europa League in the Round of 32. Anxious to make up some points to keep their Champions League hopes alive for next season, they will be rested and ready for battle. Pioli's Milan will be tired, having played in the Europa League Round of 16 on Thursday. Still riddled with injuries, they'll be anxious to keep pace at the top with Inter, who will be playing the almost certainly relegation-bound Torino earlier that afternoon. Two teams in the top six with everything to play for, it will be a showdown at the San Siro.

Bonera's debut against his former teammate ended well, but how will Pioli fare?

Manchester United 1, Milan 1: Important Life Lessons

This match exceeded expectations for a lot of us. But within the match, there were many important life lessons. Like if you're going to score an incredible goal, have your arms surgically removed first so that VAR cannot find a frame where the ball brushes your arm. If you're on a yellow card, you'd better hope that the ref cannot count to two. But Manchester United learned the toughest of the important life lessons: Never let a Viking in the box.

Never let a Viking in the box

Europa League • Manchester United-AC Milan Preview: Bloody Hell

As if we didn't have enough injuries, this Europa League gig is just ridiculous. I always say that anything can happen in 90 minutes, and that is why we play the game, but Manchester United are definitely favorites to win this tie, as well as the whole competition. Milan have the youngest team in Serie A and one of the youngest in Europe, and we have also had the most injuries in Serie A. Returning to the Champions League is our goal, and finishing top four in the league seems much more viable than getting past Manchester United in the Round of 16 and then winning the Europa League. Plus, just think of the injuries if we tried to go all the way to the final. This match is not just a football match, it's a minefield for new injuries for our team. Bloody hell.

Dalot returns to Old Trafford flying high

Podcast: Sunday Squad

In a week that saw Milan's performances vastly split, this podcast was also split, recorded on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. Glenn was almost a whole day ahead of me in Australia as we talked everything Milan. We discussed everything from the magic of the Milan shirt to the possibilities of this Milan season and everything in between. We agreed that the matches this week were divided between a midweek squad that disappointed and a Sunday squad that thrilled.

Milan's Sunday Squad

Verona 0, Milan 2: Star-crossed Love

Traveling to the fateful city of Romeo and Juliet fame, Milan were missing seven starters. Our fate seemed written in the stars, but it was our bench players who earned all of the love today. Verona were left empty-handed, and it was Milan who took all three points back home. After such seemingly bad luck with injuries once again this week, this match was a bit like star-crossed love.

So much love today

Verona-Milan Preview: Rescue Mission

Milan head into matchday 26 in dysfunction once again. Injuries have wreaked havoc on this young team this season, which has damaged the extraordinary mentality that got the team this far. Last Sunday, they played one of their best games of the season against Roma, but midweek, with three very important players out injured and some squad rotation, they barely scraped through with a point. If the Sunday squad shows up in Verona, then we have a chance of beating a very impressive Verona side. But if anything less shows up, Milan might need some kind of a rescue mission.

Can he come good and rescue our season?

The Trouble with Being Ibra

The trouble with being Zlatan Ibrahimovic is that Italy does not know what to do with him.  Although they are quick to point out his age, he still hasn't been given the same respect as other younger players who haven't even accomplished as much. Most recently, he was accused of being a racist. The Italian media went crazy with the story, though he appeared before the sporting judges and proved he had not made racist comments. Not only have they barely even reported this fact, there have been no apologies, no walk-backs, and most shockingly, no mention of him receiving actual racist abuse himself in Serbia two weeks ago. The rest of the world reported a little bit about that abuse, but not Italy. They moved on to the next thing to criticize him about. And the next. Sure, he speaks his mind. Sure, he speaks about himself in third person. But they are slow to acknowledge his accomplishments and quick to criticize him unfairly. That is the trouble with being Ibra.

Italy love to hate him

Milan 1, Udinese 1: Seeing Yellow

Midweek games are hard enough, but worse when you face a team like Udinese today who played so defensively and scored with one of their two shots on target. Their yellow kits were like a giant yellow school bus parked in front of the goal. While we only got 12 shots off, with seven of those on target, they frustrated us into getting four really dumb yellow cards, too. It's the kind of game that leaves you seeing yellow.

A picture tells you 90 minutes

Milan-Udinese Preview: Balancing Act

After Sunday's win, the world is paying attention to Milan again. Having completely discarded our title hopes with the painful Derby defeat, their results-driven hype is back on our bandwagon, even though our spot on the table is still exactly four points behind the top. Where much is won, much is expected. Only this time, we are expected to do it without Ibrahimovic and Calhanoglu. Facing an Udinese side who are in decent form and never give up, it will be important to keep that focus we had prior to this calendar year to maintain our position on the table. Managing the squad to survive our six matches in the next 16 days, as well as keeping the positive momentum from Sunday's match will be a balancing act.

Milan need another great performance despite the impacted schedule

Podcast: The Aftermath

After an incredible match between Roma and Milan, a very brave Roma fan joined me to talk all things Roma and the match. Marco helped us to better understand Roma's strange season and many disappointments this year, as well the aftermath of his team's loss.

The picture says it all