The official Milan site wrote up a summary of this match entitled "Unlucky Primavera Lose 2-0 to Atalanta Primavera." Perhaps if I had been there, I might have come away with a similar sentiment. But at some point, we have to look at this realistically: Milan Primavera are not just unlucky. They have two wins, a draw and now three consecutive losses this season. They currently sit in 13th place on the table, with this Atalanta Primavera side one point behind them in 15th place. That's just seven points earned after six rounds, while our city rivals top the Primavera table with 14 points. And it is not this season only, last season, Renna's Primavera finished 11th place in the table. So instead of claiming they are "unlucky" over and over, maybe it's time for the Club to be realistic and do a proper damage assessment.
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| One loss is disappointing. But three in a row? You've got a mentality problem brewing. |
Many of us are familiar with the story of Abate, former Milan player who then excelled as manager the U16 team, then became our best Primavera manager in recent years, reaching an unprecedented UEFA Youth League semifinals, then UEFA Youth League finals back-to-back before Ibrahimović betrayed him, foolishly giving Bonera the reins of Futuro instead, then sacking Abate's father, a longterm goalkeeping coach for Milan. (Keep in mind that Ignazio Abate is now head coach of Serie A team Torino.)
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| Abate's teams struggled in the league, but excelled in Europe and developed as players and as a team. |
After that complete debacle, it would seem that this ridiculous group of clowns charading as our management made a good choice in hiring Federico Guidi. He had been very successful with Roma's Primavera. However, he left after only one season. Then they promoted Giovanni Renna from the U17, who has failed to impress at all. And that is where the damage assessment needs to happen. Is he even helping this Primavera team?
Given the talent that was in our youth sector, and even the talent that is still left, I believe that we can and should be doing better to develop our young players. I am tired of hearing that "Milan Primavera are younger than the other Primavera sides." That is a management choice. Choosing to bring players up too soon, filling the team with players with less experience, not giving them older players to learn from, and not building a team for success are all fundamental management flaws that can prevent their development.
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| Abate's UEFA Youth League Semifinalists: Where are they now? (only Bartesaghi and a couple remain.) |
I mean, if you're going to hire a manager like Abate, promote him with his players, and keep him at the club, then fine. But if you're going to let a certain "Senior Advisor to Milan" not renew or promote him because he didn't play his own son (who was too young,) and then fired his father, too, because he was a petty little Swedish bitch, then you need to build a Primavera team for success, not hire someone like Renna, who now has to find space for both Seedorf and Ibrahimović's sons, lest he suffer the same fate as Abate.
Again, this match was not about luck. First of all, Renna was missing two players to suspension after red cards in their last match vs. Roma. Just 10 minutes in, Atalanta Primavera went up with a goal from Ciapini that was directly due to an error from Catalano and no backup from his defenders. 1-0 Atalanta Primavera.
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| Catalano seems good, but Longoni was a generational talent they let walk for free. |
At this point, I also need to point out that Longoni walked away for free this summer, and is now at PSG. You know, the reigning Champions League holders? Longoni was a generational talent, and he was so poorly treated at Milan, he walked for free (and he was hardly the only one.) At the age of 18. Now we have Catalano, who is also 18, but no offense (I love my goalkeepers,) is not at all on the same level as Longoni. So basically, for me, this goal is on management.
Grassini was shown a yellow card in the 11th minute, and about 10 minutes later, Domniței took a shot, but it was saved. Milan Primavera were actually lucky when Atalanta's Bosisio only hit the post in the 20th. Vincent Ibrahimović was most unlucky to have to be subbed off in the 25th minute due to injury, he was replaced by Geroli. At halftime, Atalanta Primavera were leading 1-0.
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| Geroli did all he could after replacing Vincent Ibrahimović. |
There was some great news as we saw Le Mantia make his return from his brutal cruciate ligament injury after nearly a year, and sub on at halftime, replacing Grassini. And he definitely played like he wanted to make up for lost time. Unfortunately, Atalanta scored again in the 48th minute with a Ruiz goal that, again, was not about luck. 2-0 Atalanta.
Renna subbed Zaramella and Zanaga on in the 56th minute for Martini and Petrone, respectively. La Mantia saw his shot blocked, and Zanaga's shot was saved. In the 68th minute, Leonardo Colombo replaced Mercogliano. The 72nd minute saw a scrappy effort in the box with shots from La Mantia, Anastasio, and Domniței all denied by either the goalkeeper or the post. Both sides had a couple of other shot attempts, but it was still 2-0 for Atalanta Primavera at the final whistle. Brief highlights of the match are available.
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| Le Mantia, making his return after a long injury, watches as Tartaglia works to create a chance |
The Primavera started their season by battling for a 3-2 win vs. Torino, then looked very much like last year's team away to Cesena, then pulled off a brilliant win at home vs. Juve. But now, three straight losses, conceding five goals in three matches and scoring zero. That is more than just a pause for reflection. And Sunday, they will face Cagliari, who sit above Milan in 9th place on the table.
I can't speak to Renna's specific coaching methods, as I'm not in training or at the matches. But I can speak to the fact that all last season, the Primavera dropped a lot of points after having led or due to basic errors. And that I have not seen any particular inspiration from him, tactically or developmentally in the year plus of his Primavera tenure. I know there are good, hard-working people at Milan who have the best interests of our players at heart. But this is just not working, and given the brilliant moments we have seen, I don't think it's necessarily a problem with our players or their level of talent.
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| After more than a year of this, Maybe Renna is just not the guy? |
Given the disastrous moves made in the first team by this management, I've been foolish enough to put my hope in our young players. I love them as if they were my own kids, and watching them be mismanaged like this, when I know they are better than this and that they deserve better brings out the Mama Bear in me. Just because the club is owned by an arrogant, ignorant American should not mean that the destruction of my beloved club needs to run all the way through to the youth sector. It's time that we get a proper Sporting Director again, with actual football experience, and most importantly, someone who can properly oversee and rebuild our youth sector again. We are long overdue for a serious damage assessment.
Milan Futuro vs. Piacenza
Wednesday, Ocotber 14 • 11:30 CEST (5:30am EDT)
Thursday, October 15 • 18:45 CEST (12:45pm EDT)
Saturday, October 17 • 11:00 CEST (5am EDT)
This match is not being televised in the U.S.
Chievo Verona vs. Milan Futuro
Sunday, Ocotber 18 • 15:00 CEST (9am EDT)
Sunday, October 18 • 18:00 CEST (12noon EDT)
Reviewed by Elaine
on
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