Serie A: AC Milan v. Bologna
View attachment 269693Sunday, 13 December 2015
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Enough fans showed up to watch the match that the Renato Dall'Ara would have been a sell-out. But on this filthy, wet and cold day in Milan the San Siro looked pretty sad.
I had the full bundle going on. Running tights under my heaviest wool suit, full Himalayan Bologna-Wear parka, scarf, mittens and a hat on under my hood. Finally, I wore the battery-powered heated socks that Gwen had given me. I was not fkn around today. It felt like one of those cold damp days England when the damp cuts right through everything you are wearing.
View attachment 269691I'd wound my players up in the pre-match talk with lots of words concerning pride, professionalism and mumbo jumbo about how we needed to show we deserved to be in Serie A after last weeks performance.
We played a more aggressive 4231 because I wanted to man-mark in midfield and turn the center of the park into a wet and cold quagmire in which nobody could manage anything creative. After last week's thrashing, my prime objective was to not embarrass ourselves.
We started well enough. Gaël Kakuta whipped in a cross that Antonio Vacca steered toward the near post that Diego Lopez did well to save. Then after a tame effort by Fernando Torres, we broke up the pitch and Parker smashed a volley of a Gaël cross right at Lopez.
And we'd survived the first fifteen minutes. I hadn't felt the need to get up out of the dry and comfy San Siro visiting bench and yell at anyone.
Then Francesco Migliore thought it would be a good idea to try and tackle Jeremy Menez from behind in the box.
TWEEEEEEET!!!!
Yup. You got that right. Menez splashed down with aplomb as the ball squelched over the end line and Antonio Damato had little choice but to point at the spot.
1-0
Alex has taken six penalties this season so far and has scored all six times.
Milan then decided to put the boot on our neck and lean on us. We barely broke out of our half. Only Vacca managed a long-range shot. And that guy will shoot from nearly anywhere. We defended solidly and I can see why Torres is so maligned. The poor ****, he has absolutely zero luck. On 42 minutes, he had a mazy run with the ball starting about 35 meters out including a quick give-n-go with Menez and was denied by a brilliant diving save by my keeper, Dejan Stojanovic. Then two minutes later grazed the outside of the post on a free kick with Dejan frozen to the mud.
We were lucky to be down merely by one. But at least we were playing with some ***** and this time were not intimidated by the San Siro. It also helped that it was pretty empty.
I did some yelling and jumping around during halftime. I had two goals for this talk. First, get some blood circulation going in my body so that I wouldn't freeze during the second half. Secondly, try to pump my guys up for a better performance in the second half. I don't know about them, but at least my blood was circulating better when I shut my yap.
Sadly, the match continued in the same vain. Torres beat everyone in the 52 minute only to shoot right into Dejan's gut. In the 57th, Garics utterly and completely forgot about Stephan El Shaarawy. He easily converted a Menez cross and we would have been two in the hole but for the generosity and benevolence of the linesman who flagged him for offside. When guys are as open as Il Faraone was, linesman usually just raise their flag just because. I wasn't entirely sure the linesman got it right, but I wasn't about to complain. Frank Rijkaard was incensed and screaming at the fourth official and ref for a while after that call.
A minute later and I've got Loris Damonte limbering up as quickly as he can because Shawn Parker got run over by Alex and flopped down in a puddle clutching his side. Gianni Nanni indicated it was his ribs. Loris would play right wing and Andrea Russotto would move up top.
****, I hope this isn't serious.
Well, it certainly dented our hopes of trying to get into the Milan half and do anything. From the hour mark to the eighty minute mark, it was trench warfare in the middle of the mudpit that the center of the San Siro was becoming.
I replaced Federico Casarini with Leonardo Guerra in the 77th minute and Casa looked exhausted. Plus, maybe the kid could generate some magic. Casa sure hadn't done much in the second half anyways.
And the match bumped and splashed along past the 80th minute mark. In the 85th, Vacca had his planting foot lumberjacked by Torres. The Milan players were all remonstrating with the Damato that it wasn't a foul probably in an attempt to make sure that Torres would only get a yellow and not get sent off. Bizarrely, Damato didn't even end up carding Torres.
I sent Michele Pazienza on to replace Vacca who as stretchered off.
****, I hope this isn't serious.
The match limped along toward full-time. The fourth official signaled there would be four minutes of injury time. Suddenly, my players awoke up out of their stupor and began pressing forward. I might have helped by standing on the sideline and screaming at them after I got done haranguing the fourth official over Torres foul.
In the 91st, we get the ball to Kakuta's feet. He races into the box. He splashes a weak, skipping shot well wide of Diego Lopez's goal.
View attachment 269697In the 92nd, Boyata brilliantly intercepts a pass up toward El Shaarawy. He thumps the ball over the Milan defense and for Gaël to race Mattia De Sciglio. Gaël wins the race and passes back to Migliore who sprinted up in support. Migs kicked the ball directly into Andrea Poli. He had three other viable options.
My face met my mitten.
Our defense immediately wins the ball back. We zip a few quick passes around and Damonte and Garics have a two-on-one against left back Vasco Regini. Damonte just lets Regini have the ball. I just stood there this time with my mouth agape. WTF, Loris?
And that was it, folks. One stupid tackle away from a morale-building nil-nil draw at the San Siro against the Rijkaard-inspired Rossoneri.
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