Gennaro GattusoAlbania 3 AC Milan 3 (4-5 pen.)
Albania hosted us for some sidey trophy. One which Inzaghi lofted with great pride. Just demonstrates where Milan as a club have reached in terms of objectives and stature. 2 days after messing up a golden opportunity to reduce the lead on Inter and possibly steal the title, Milan were found playing a purposeless friendly. It would have been a lot better to stay home and bemoan our performance but instead we went on a trip.
Clearly shows we are making up for the lack of games in other competitions. It could be an exercise of brand building or revenue making, but it certainly isn't doing any good to the reputation of Milan. My point can be cemented by taking a look at the scoreline. We couldn't beat a national side ranked 92 in the world by FIFA. And we perceive ourselves in the Champions League next season. Well, the silver lining is we could have lost this game!
Gattuso was making a start for the first time after 5 months, post his surgery. It is an entire month before his scheduled recovery. So much for all the flak that the Milan Labs were facing over the course of the season. Tirana was the venue, Taci Oil Albania Reads was the name of the tournament. Apparently, the receipts of this game go towards breaching illiteracy in the county. Ok, whatever. From the onset, the game looked like an unwanted advertisement of the Serie A. Boring, mundane, slow and dreary. Antonini had a goal ruled out for offside. Later, some amazing hold-up play from Shevchenko and Pato provided Ronaldinho with the opportunity to score, and he did.
But it was the second half that was more entertaining. Kaka did well to set up Shevchenko who was having a good game. The Ukrainian did well to slot the ball between the keeper's legs. Then, shocking tidings befell Milan. Albania scored 3 goals in the span of 12 minutes. Vila with a lob, Muzaka's half volley, and Salili's header riped Milan's defense into shreds. Moving on, Albania seemed to derived inspiration from Milan's heroic defending in the night. Milan's 3rd goal was scored under calamitous conditions. Defenders were just falling around Kaka for practically no reason, as he strolled into the goal and cut the ball across goal, to a waiting Inzaghi who scored. Eventually the match ended by Milan winning on penalties.
As I watched the game, I was beginning to feel disconnected with a club that I once watched in awe. A defense which deservedly possessed the title of being the Great Wall of Italy, are now being static and motionless. They are entitled to hold onto the title even now. However, for other reasons. Our defense, young and old, are incapable of holding out Europe. Ancelloti, need not be blamed, but there are some glorified bureaucrats who would rather have the media make Carlo the scapegoat. From Senderos to Silva, the defense is plagued with incapability. Mattioni was solely responsible for the third goal. His inability to lift his feet of the ground provided Salili a free header. Many times, he was found ahead of the Shevchenko in the opposition penalty box! On all the goals, Silva was happily star gazing. I have never been a big fan of the number 33. He is regarded as the future of our defense. Ok, we might as well have Simon Loria, instead. Darmian should continue in the youth academy for the next 10 years. As for Albertazzi, he should take a change of profession. Perucchini makes Heurelho Gomes look world class. He dint know when to hold the line and when to attack. His basics in goalkeeping are non-existent to say the least.
Buffon says he is frightened for the future of Juventus. I can feel the same way, about Milan. A bunch of have beens, and a bunch of over-rated talent, can honestly get us nowhere. We have the toughest run in, in Italy. And going by our previous two games, we can neither beat a depleted Juventus side, nor a team ranked 92 in the world. Must I explain more?
Video Highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7WLgdIdikg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2F
Scorers -
Albania - Vila (64'), Muzaka (71'), Salili (76") [ pen. Pisha, Muzaka, Vila, Vrapi, Beqiri (missed)]
AC Milan - Ronaldinho (22'), Shevchenko (50'), Inzaghi (88') [ pen. Kaka, Seedorf, Flamini, Silva, Inzaghi]
Clearly shows we are making up for the lack of games in other competitions. It could be an exercise of brand building or revenue making, but it certainly isn't doing any good to the reputation of Milan. My point can be cemented by taking a look at the scoreline. We couldn't beat a national side ranked 92 in the world by FIFA. And we perceive ourselves in the Champions League next season. Well, the silver lining is we could have lost this game!
Gattuso was making a start for the first time after 5 months, post his surgery. It is an entire month before his scheduled recovery. So much for all the flak that the Milan Labs were facing over the course of the season. Tirana was the venue, Taci Oil Albania Reads was the name of the tournament. Apparently, the receipts of this game go towards breaching illiteracy in the county. Ok, whatever. From the onset, the game looked like an unwanted advertisement of the Serie A. Boring, mundane, slow and dreary. Antonini had a goal ruled out for offside. Later, some amazing hold-up play from Shevchenko and Pato provided Ronaldinho with the opportunity to score, and he did.
But it was the second half that was more entertaining. Kaka did well to set up Shevchenko who was having a good game. The Ukrainian did well to slot the ball between the keeper's legs. Then, shocking tidings befell Milan. Albania scored 3 goals in the span of 12 minutes. Vila with a lob, Muzaka's half volley, and Salili's header riped Milan's defense into shreds. Moving on, Albania seemed to derived inspiration from Milan's heroic defending in the night. Milan's 3rd goal was scored under calamitous conditions. Defenders were just falling around Kaka for practically no reason, as he strolled into the goal and cut the ball across goal, to a waiting Inzaghi who scored. Eventually the match ended by Milan winning on penalties.
As I watched the game, I was beginning to feel disconnected with a club that I once watched in awe. A defense which deservedly possessed the title of being the Great Wall of Italy, are now being static and motionless. They are entitled to hold onto the title even now. However, for other reasons. Our defense, young and old, are incapable of holding out Europe. Ancelloti, need not be blamed, but there are some glorified bureaucrats who would rather have the media make Carlo the scapegoat. From Senderos to Silva, the defense is plagued with incapability. Mattioni was solely responsible for the third goal. His inability to lift his feet of the ground provided Salili a free header. Many times, he was found ahead of the Shevchenko in the opposition penalty box! On all the goals, Silva was happily star gazing. I have never been a big fan of the number 33. He is regarded as the future of our defense. Ok, we might as well have Simon Loria, instead. Darmian should continue in the youth academy for the next 10 years. As for Albertazzi, he should take a change of profession. Perucchini makes Heurelho Gomes look world class. He dint know when to hold the line and when to attack. His basics in goalkeeping are non-existent to say the least.
Buffon says he is frightened for the future of Juventus. I can feel the same way, about Milan. A bunch of have beens, and a bunch of over-rated talent, can honestly get us nowhere. We have the toughest run in, in Italy. And going by our previous two games, we can neither beat a depleted Juventus side, nor a team ranked 92 in the world. Must I explain more?
Video Highlights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7WLgdIdikg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2F
Scorers -
Albania - Vila (64'), Muzaka (71'), Salili (76") [ pen. Pisha, Muzaka, Vila, Vrapi, Beqiri (missed)]
AC Milan - Ronaldinho (22'), Shevchenko (50'), Inzaghi (88') [ pen. Kaka, Seedorf, Flamini, Silva, Inzaghi]
1 comment:
I hope for lesser friendlies and more performance based games. Please improve the quality in the team as well.
Post a Comment