The Roman wall

Marco Borriello

AC Milan 0 AS Roma 1

Stopping the league leaders might not be the easiest of tasks, especially not when you are on their playground. Ranieri was aware of that and would do his homework before arriving in Milan. Cassetti was injured and Burdisso was given a start in the right back slot. I think this has to do with more than just mere co-incidence. Zlatan loves to drift wide and Casseti, even if he was fit would have been licking the Swede's heels. The Tinkerman did surprise with his selection up front. He dropped Totti to the bench and Adriano was given a rare start. This would be one of those days where Ranieri got it all right.

Milan looked every bit of their winter champions tag. They drove ahead in the game with immense drive and determination, their forwards dancing around the defenders from Rome. It took 13' for Roma to take their first shot at goal. Even this was blatantly down to frustration. Pirlo was relishing his role as a left midfielder and was also dribbling past midfielders with relative ease. Unfortunately for Milan, he limped off with injury on the 21'. This would be the turning point in the game. He was replaced by the slowest man in the Serie A, Clarence Seedorf. No, that is not backed by fact. Menez continued to play handball as the referee turned a blind eye to all of Menez's infringements. How the Frenchman played 90' without being sent off for numerous handballs is baffling to say the least. Roma's functional midfield was having trouble settling down in the first half. Pizzaro did not feature in this game. Roma were missing his expertise and his passes resulting in Borriello's increased work rate. He didn't receive sufficient service and had to drop deep. Adriano was simply out-muscling the opposition and he did a terrific job of that. Of the three centre backs of Roma, Mexes got skinned and taunted the most by the Milan front line. Identifying him as the weak link, the forwards constantly targeted him. Robinho beat him for pace, Zlatan beat him for strength. Chances were coming thick and fast for Milan. Zlatan was gifted a one-on-one chance and his decision making was horrible on that occasion. He consistently failed to beat the offside trap and his performances in the big games leads me to question the inevitable. Is he a big game choker?

The break arrived at the right time for the visitors. Milan's momentum got distorted and Roma were beginning to feel more comfortable on the ball. They defended very deep and sometimes the defense pushed up to catch the forwards offside. This was done with immaculate accuracy. Nesta had a splendid game. With a liability beside him in Bonera, Nesta stood tall and read the game superbly. Roma eventually broke the deadlock. Menez smoked Antonini on the left to send in a cross that was somewhat fortunately turned in by Borriello in the 69'. The left back position is one of great need in the Milan camp. Antonini lacks the skill, speed or defensive knowledge to own that spot for the club and is not a threat going forward either. Another player who got run down by De Rossi and Co. was Ambrosini. He arrived late in every challenge and got bullied in the middle of the park. The midfield trio of Roma were relishing their dominance in the second half. Gattuso worked overtime to mark Menez and succeeded to a fair extent. However he lacked the legs to keep up with the trequartista. Seedorf's atrocious form continued. He moves in slow motion when he gets the ball and is hopeless when not in possession. His name appearing on the team sheet is a mystery for Scotland Yard. At the end of the day, Roma's performance was utterly professional if not mind blowing and they did what they had to to win the game. Well, at least that is how things work in Italy.

Milan - /
Roma - Borriello 69'

Pirlo to the left

Andrea Pirlo

Bologna 0 Milan 3

Their players might not have been paid but the Rossoblu know how to put up a fight at home. Their is a distinct sense of pride in the players even if their wages are five months too late. Bologna last lost at home in April this year to current high-fliers Lazio. Since then, they have held fort admirably.

The confidence was also visible in this game. They were solid at the back and looked exciting going forwards, i.e. in the early stages. Zlatan is known to be a party pooper and he did poop Bologna's party. A delightful cross from the giant Swede was met with the boot of Boatang to open the scoring. A standard highlight throughout this game was the performance of Andrea Pirlo. Allegri has asked him to play on the left of the midfield three. This leaves Ambrosini to shield the defense and Pirlo to concentrate on his creativity. However, the elegant bloke from Brescia was also working hard, rushing into tackles and winning the loose balls. He ripped Bologna apart with his creativity peaking in this game. There was a restrain in the form of Gabi Mudingayi. The bullish midfield bossed around in the first half and was making life difficult for the middle men of Milan. The Diavoli were at the destructive best up front and grabbed the second. Robinho applied the finish while Boatang bagged the assist. A hallmark of this game was Milan's passing. Though rudimentary at times, there were sparks of absolute genius which was utterly delightful to watch.

Pirlo took more shots in this game than I have watched him take in the last 6 years. His passing was superb and accurate, almost lethal at times. Gattuso limped off with an injury and Rodney Strasser replaced him in the second half. As expected Bologna saw more of the ball in the second half. Abbiati had a comfortable evening except for one particular situation where he almost made a mess of a simple clearance. The situation goes to prove that he is a clown of enormous proportions. His shot stopping might be close to world-class but his decision making is hilarious at times. 56', Antonini replaced Zambrotta on the right. Three minutes later, Pirlo picks Zlatan with a quick, fantastic pass and Ibrahimovic scores the third goal of the afternoon. Just when everything was going well, a recently introduced Seedorf pulls a horrendous challenge in the box to concede a penalty. Di Vaio stepped up before being adamantly denied by Abbiati with a diving save. The players on the park knew that there was some serious repair that needed attending to after the shambolic night against Ajax. Therefore, the players worked very hard even after the third goal, also creating the rare openings.

Milan successfully ended Bologna's run at home. They also infused some much needed confidence ahead of the big evening this Saturday against the Romans. I have dished Pirlo in my previous article and I might be praising him here. But I still hold onto my reservations about the Italian cutting it against the bigger, tougher teams. His positioning on the left seems like a expert move. Much will be expected of him against Roma.

Milan - Boatang 9', Robinho 36', Ibrahimovic 59'
Bologna - /

Pathetic Powerhouse

Siem De Jong

Milan 0 Ajax 2

Being a dead rubber, this game promised no enthusiasm or will from Milan's perspective. A formality it would be and the attitude didn't change even after going down by two goals. An important feeling called shame has not been taught at the Milanello, it seems.

It has been characteristic of Milan's style of play to dominate possession and dictate the early stages of the game through energetic bursts into the opposition's third. This has bottled up several teams resulting in them becoming very intimidated by the Milan juggernaut. Ajax however, thought of giving Milan a taste of their own medicine. Using pace to run at Milan's aging legs and adopting a physical approach against the creative midfielders put the home side on the back foot from the word go. Not only were the men in red and black struggling to hold up the fort at the back, they failed to conjure anything in attack. To make matters worse, Flamini injured his ligaments in the first half and with his substitution we lost bundles of energy in the middle of the park. Ajax were playing with immense passion and pride allowing Milan to take their first shot on the thirty eight minute. The Dutch giants had taken five shots by then. Seedorf is known to be a highly decisive player but against quick oppositions, his brain works at pace much slower than the legs of the opponents. He gets caught in possession and doesn't care a dime to track back to defend because he is already bending over, giving his thirty four year old lungs some rest. We had two second strikers in attack and we don't seem to have the understanding of passing the ball on the ground after being accustomed to years of direct football. Direct football was never going to adhere to the strengths of Ronaldinho or Robinho which rendered both of them ineffective. Ronaldinho was working extra hard on the pitch by flinging himself into tackles. All this, presumably, to impress the gaffer.

Going into the break, we were very fortunate to be on level terms. The players took it for granted and were justly embarrassed in the second half. Pirlo was reintroduced into the starting line up in this game. He was quite content in loosing possession and cooling his heels when he did so. He was making no effort to create because De Jong had him shackled nor was he defensively solid. He made the midfield less combative and more cumbersome. Ajax continued to knock the ball around before De Zeeuw scored the opener. Allegri quickly brought on his 'go-to-guy', Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Milan shifted to a 4-3-3 with Robinho moving on to the right and Ronaldinho to the left. The change in formation didn't change the attitude of the midfield, who collectively were miserable. The three midfielders were busy chasing shadows for ninety odd minutes. And soon enough, the second goal arrived. Game. Set. Match. When Merkel was brought on for Robinho in the seventy sixth minute, it was a sign of acceptance of defeat from Allegri. To make matters worse, Silva was played in this game and ended up being substituted with injury. Reports are now suggesting that he could be out till January. Legs won over craft on this night, which has become the story of modern day football.

Milan might be running away with the league at home but are utterly rubbish in Europe. The change in 'DNA' has been radical and sudden. The two wins that Milan picked up in the group were against Auxerre, the weakest team in the group. Even those wins were not convincing and required Ibrahimovic's genius to settle them. A host of top clubs are awaiting the draws. I am strongly insulted that many teams would be hoping to be drawn against us.

Milan -
Ajax - De Zeeuw 60', Alderweireld 67'

Banging Brescia

Kevin Prince Boatang

Milan 3 Brescia 0

Allegri would probably have preferred Pirlo to continue his love affair with the Milan Labs. But Pirlo had returned to devastate Milan's midfield and Allegri had to field him. Fortunately, it was Brescia and not Barcelona. Boatang was promoted up the pitch and was started in the hole. The Ghanaian responded with his first goal for the club, courtesy Ibrahimovic.

Milan played at a high tempo from the start. As it has always achieved, it put the opposition under pressure from the word go and shelved them into a defensive mode. On the rare occasions they found themselves in attack, but they lost Caracciolo. The big man was isolated by the monumental centre backs of Milan who have been at their scintillating best of late. But gradually, the away side got into the game and started to test Abbiati, albeit from distance. Gattuso was struggling with the pace of the game and constantly lost his marker. Rash challenges were therefore expected and were duly delivered. There was a sudden shift in momentum with Brescia dictating the game and Milan's defense becoming increasingly clumsy. It was a slice of luck that brought the balance of power back in Milan's hands. A poorly placed pass from Brescia's defense was capitalised by Robinho who slotted home his 5th goal of the campaign. A couple of minutes later, Ibrahimovic's masterclass sealed the game. He fooled 4 defenders and unleashed a lethal drive that would clearly be termed 'unstoppable.' With 30 minutes gone, the game and the points were in the bag. The misery was almost compounded but Boatang missed a simple one on one chance with the keeper. Kevin Prince's movement has been stellar irrespective of his position. If he improves his finishing and final ball, he could be world class. Brescia were rattled by the quickfire double and seemed distorted. Allegri's men were demonstrating a physical side to their game that hasn't been seen previously this season and that is much in demand in the big games. However, just the sight of the physicality was pleasing to the sore eyes. Milan continued to press for the 4th goal. The players seemed like they were enjoying themselves. Nesta struggled in his duel with Caracciolo. The big man's pace and strength had the veteran picking up scraps with Silva cleaning up the mess.

Yepes replaced Nesta in the second half. Milan persisted with their phenomenal work ethic. Poor finishing made the 4th goal elusive. However, the home side were firmly in control of the game and didn't seem like they were loosening their grip. Allegri used his final two substitutions to introduce Ronaldinho and Flamini to give them some playing time along with providing them the opportunity to impress him. Silva had been simply superb all game long. He resembled an impermeable wall. When the team realized that they couldn't find the 4th goal, they began to knock the ball around to retain possession as Brescia chased shadows. It was a professional performance from Milan, who are beginning to look untouchable in Italy.


Milan - Boatang 4', Robinho 28', Ibrahimovic 30'
Brescia - /

Prince of Poaching

Filippo Inzaghi

Inzaghi is 37 and is on the table, nursing his wounds and reminiscing the days of the old as the Milan management are preparing a prince to accept the crown from the aging king. Names are rattled on a daily basis and the chaos is nothing short of a media racket. From Balotelli to Grameiro, it wouldn't be a long shot to suggest that the papers have covered the globe in search of the next number 9.

But who is the right forward to don the role of the poacher? Do we need a poacher? Inzaghi's choice remains Alberto Paloschi. The king has spoken but the subjects disagree and so do I. Paloschi is a promising talent, but he is nothing quite like the player he can become. Not yet. Our need is immediate. Let us consider the options.

Santa Cruz might be the ideal fit given the similarities and the price constraints but he would be a short term option given his age. Also would he like to warm the bench and play second fiddle at another club? Fabiano is simply on another level and a player of such calibre wouldn't find room in the first team. Balotelli is a hot head and a risky investment. He is yet to mature as a footballer and until then, his capture might unleash a sense of madness in the club. Pazzini would be a fantastic signing but the striker is at his peak at the moment and would not welcome a role on the bench which is but certain with an irreplaceable Ibrahimovic in the team. Rossi is a childhood fan but he is a second striker and not a central striker. This leaves us with my personal favorite, Alexander Matri.

This young forward has climbed the ladder of success taking his baby steps at our very own youth academy. He always showed promise whilst we always showed our youngsters the door. Matri has matured into a cultured goalscorer for the Sardinians and has been a boon for Cagliari. He is a near-perfect replacement for Inzaghi as a central striker and is sneaky in the box too. He would be familiar with the surroundings and wouldn't take too long to settle down. Matri is an immensely underrated striker, plainly because he is unconventional. His goals are usually straightforward but not spectacular. He became the striker he is under Allegri, the same man who holds the reigns of Milan today. This appears to be a match made in heaven. Matri also provides the option of being the player who can be the front man as Ibrahimovic could play off him. The Italian is great in the air and has an admirable scoring rate. For a young striker, i.e. all of 26, he shows immense composure in front of goal. He has a fairly impressive record in the Serie A and has already scored 8 goals this season for a struggling Cagliari side. Matri would give us an additional touch of quality that would take us to another level. Stopping this line of attack would be a task that most defenses in Europe would sweat over.

A major drawback would be the price tag. Cellino won't let him go for cheap, however that is where Mr. Galliani's expertise comes in handy. Inzaghi is one of a kind and if the scouts are out there searching for an exact replacement, they might find it easier to discover the remains of Isaac Newton in Cambodia. But Inzaghi's injury and Pato's love for the meds has caused the club to flip the notes once again. Ring the cashier and bring the Italian back home. I think we have found our prince.

Pazzini Pinches

Giampaolo Pazzini

Sampdoria 1 Milan 1

Many Italian pundits are of the belief that Giampaolo Pazzini is currently the best Italian striker in the world. And not many look beyond the fact that he needs Cassano to maintain that tag. Cassano's spat with Garrone has seen him sit out of first team football, leaving the responsibility to score and even create at the feet of Pazzini. The hitman took his time to take up this responsibility but now is duly performing. After scoring a hatrick recently, he was up to the task of proving to his boss that he can sting the net against the big boys. Unfortunately for us, he did.

Robinho has been getting better and better with time. Some whispers have begun to suggest that he has won over Pato's place in the first team and also Allegri's conviction. His movement was fantastic but now he is even finding the back of the net. The Ibrahimovic-R70 partnership is getting harder for the defenses in Italy to handle. The neutral might have had a difficulty deciding which was the home team with Milan dominating the possession and the chances. Sampdoria saw little of the ball, 37% to be precise and defended deep allowing Milan to pass the ball around to their convenience. Sampdoria recklessly tackled on the edge of the box a few times giving Milan several gilt edged opportunities. But the absence of Pirlo rendered these situations ineffective. To add to their misery, Sampdoria's best midfielder, Angelo Palombo was having a horrid night in the middle of the park. Milan's now dynamic midfield of three were running all over Sampdoria's middle men but the wide-men of the home-side relished the space they found. Zambrotta's aging legs couldn't keep up with the pace on the flanks but Abate settled in admirably. Seedorf had an off night but given his splendid outings in recent weeks, this show of incompetency can be gladly pardoned. Allegri left it late with his substitutions, again. This is an area of his management that I absolutely dislike. He constantly seems to forget that game is a 90 minute affair and not a 180 minute two-legged tie.

This blip can be overlooked purely due to the fact that we have been winning games that should have been draws given Pato and Inzaghi's absences. However, we need to get back on the winning road. Brescia next and we must quite simply make our moments count. Against Sampdoria, we had sufficient chances to win 3 games, yet we scored only once. This result should urge Milan to thrash Brescia and continue this run of form. That being said, against the smaller teams in Italy, it's easier said than done.

Sampdoria - Pazzini 59'

Milan - Robinho 43'

Passage

Thiago Silva

Auxerre 0 Milan 2

Struggle has been a fore value for the club this season. A mechanical, methodical system has resulted in favorable results and therefore acceptable results. Just about, almost. That was not going to change in France. A result was absolutely essential at the Stade Abbe. So come how may, a win would be enjoyed from the top to the bottom at the Milanello.

A win we did achieve. Two wonder-strikes from two wonderful players settled the game. Ibrahimovic scored from distance and Ronaldinho struck the decisive second from a tight angle. However, it can be argued that Auxerre were hard done by this result. They attacked Milan relentlessly shooting twelve times at target with only three troubling Abbiati. Milan had eight shots at target and scored the two times they had the ball directed on target. It was a fairly even game with Milan holding the ball better than Auxerre. Auxerre however tried to do more with the ball at their feet while Milan played safe by building up slowly, carefully. Robinho's movement is getting better and better in every game and the centre backs are enjoying another wonderful season at the heart of defense. Also, Abate is quickly developing into Milan's best full back. He gallops forward without fear and tracks back to clear up the occasional mess. This facet of his game has developed under Allegri who has successfully enforced some positive changes across the squad. Ambrosini has been reinvented as the holding midfielder, a position he has donned very well since his return to the first team. However, Allegri opted to rotate the squad in this game and slotted Gattuso into that position. But Gattuso tends to venture up every now and then which was exploited by Auxerre on the counters as they attacked through the centre. Silva is in the form of his life and has been a wall in front of Abbiati. His timing on tackles and closing down of forwards has been top notch thus far this season and is rapidly transpiring into the world's best centre back.

Milan's movement and game play has been frighteningly similar over the last few games. This system might work against the mid-table sides but the better coaches and the better teams will find loopholes in this team, which are evidently visible. We have found the passage into the knock-out stages but having finished second in the group, it's perhaps recommended that fans of Milan brace themselves for elimination.

Auxerre - /

Milan - Ibrahimovic 64', Ronaldinho 90'

Benching Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho

Milan 1 Fiorentina 0

Benching Ronaldinho isn't an easy choice. Managers rather have him sold than warm the bench during games and rock the clubs at night. For Mister Allegri to show Ronaldinho the bench is indicative of the man's guts. He is no pushover. He demonstrated that yet again when he decided to start Ronaldinho in his jump suit for perhaps the fourth time in succession.

The new Milan side has come to be recognized as a team that hits the ball running from the start and Fiorentina experienced just that while they played catch up in the initial stages of the game. Milan played wide with a lot of the attack coming down the channels. Robinho played off Ibrahimovic but positioned himself on the left side-line. Fiorentina maintained a deep line which was sensible from Mihajlovic. His defenders weren't the fastest and wouldn't be able to keep up with the pace of our forwards. The deep line successfully stifled our forwards for space. Seedorf and Co. could not find the killer ball due to the congestion in the Fiorentina half. As mentioned earlier, our attack was running down the flanks and one man in particular had enough opportunity and time to thrive on the room provided. That was Daniele Bonera. But the full-back's crosses were awful and reflective of the fact that he is a centre half and not a wide-man. Robinho's movement was splendid throughout, even if he did precious little otherwise. He has demonstrated some rather surprising intelligence when off the ball and Ibrahimovic has thrived from this partnership. If the Brazilian improves with his final ball and shooting, he could be lethal. After knocking for 45 minutes, Ibrahimovic finally blasted open the door. The goal arrived from a splendid overhead kick. Such was Ibrahimovic's jubilation that he injured his elbow while celebrating.

After having faded towards the latter part of the first half, Milan returned in the second looking a lot sharper. The midfield three were working very hard, running up and down the pitch to assist the defense. This new functional midfield has given Milan great steel in the centre of the park making it very hard for teams to penetrate. Our attack began to flow from the back with both our centre backs taking shots at target. The confidence was beginning to ooze from this side. The shape of the team started to shift to a 4-3-2-1 in the second half. Robinho dropped deeper to from a line with Seedorf leaving Ibrahimovic alone up front. Though Viola played a wide 4-2-3-1, they attacked mainly through the centre. The wide-men were receiving the ball and cutting in instead of running down the flanks and crossing into the box. If they had adopted a crossing game, they would have exploited Milan's biggest weakness and tapped into their biggest strength. Allegri spotted the wide-men's movement and dropped Robinho deeper to close the spaces that Fiorentina were finding, thereby hindering any fluidity in their movement. Gilardino was being eaten alive by a two headed monster called Silva-Nesta which urged the striker to drop deep to collect the ball. This enabled his wingers to get into the game and make the runs into the box. Ljajic was quiet for most of the game by being boxed in midfield and with Gilardino dropping deeper, he got more space and room to charge up front. He was released on one particular occasion in the 83' and if not for Abbiati's block, Mihajlovic side would have leveled. Milan played out the rest of the game in a no nonsense fashion to close the game and bag the three points to go 3 clear at the top.

Milan - Ibrahimovic 45'

Fiorentina - /

Dark Arts

Goran Pandev

Inter 0 Milan 1

Allegri has brought an immense amount of industry to this chic Milan side. A team famous for classy football has now morphed into something of an engine that chugs efficiently with preset objectives. Allegri has implemented this industry by changing the face of the midfield. He now plays 3 hard men in central midfield. One of these sits right in front of the defense whilst the other two cover several blades of grass. The rugged tactic has considerably reduced Pirlo's importance to the current team bringing more dynamism into the play.

One can only imagine how nervous Ibrahimovic would have been facing the Curva Nord on the penalty. Yet he dispatched his penalty quite confidently. Benitez had chosen to go with a 3 man wide attack to try and exploit the fullbacks of Milan. Eto'o hugged the touchline but Abate's pace always slowed the Cameroonian down allowing Gattuso to track back and double man-mark the hitman. Inter played a deep line giving Milan plenty of room in midfield. AC Milan dominated proceedings for the first 25 minutes or so with Inter providing very little resilience. Allegri's solid 3 man midfield was blunting Sneijder and giving him very little space to move or create an opening. He was watched closely for most of the game. Inter were a bit fortunate with Obi's injury which allowed Coutinho to enter the game. The young Brazilian was the stimulus that sparked Inter's renaissance, giving them something extra in midfield. Gattuso's tackles were typically rough and the veteran should consider himself highly fortunate not to have seen red. Abate had a stellar half. Yes, he picked up a card in the first half, but it was arguably his best performance in defense for Milan. Positionally and tactically, he was top class.

Benitez shuffled things around after the break. An absolutely woeful Milito took the bench as Pandev was thrown into the fray. Pirlo entered the game for the departing Gattuso. Materazzi, who had been given charge to marshal Ibrahimovic had failed miserably. Therefore, Lucio took up the responsibility and succeeded in taming the big Swede. Just then, Pandev performs a bit of dark magic. He entices Abate to react and gets the full back sent off! Milan reduced to 10 men due to some dirty tactical play from Inter which is distinctly characteristic of them. It did appear that Flamini's influence on the game had dropped in the second half. He did make the darting runs into the box but wasn't very effective in defense, which is a shame given he wasn't carded and should have been more physical. Robinho and Flamini ran circles around the Inter midfielders and caused a great amount of distraction by drawing players away, creating more space for the likes of Ibrahimovic and Seedorf. Silva-Nesta looked superb all night and the midfielders weren't running short of legs. Kevin Prince was introduced to add more graft in midfield and that tightened up the spaces forcing the Inter players to try their luck from distance. Antonini however was having trouble with the pace and skill of Biabiany on the right. He was constantly faked and permitted several crosses to be floated into the box. In the end, Milan showed great character and spirit to close the game and get the vital win. We now sit six points clear of Inter!

Inter - /
Milan - Ibrahimovic 5' pen

A Costly Win

Mario Yepes

Milan 3 Palermo 1

Inviting the pink panthers to the San Siro has proved to be fatal in the recent past. With the additions of Pastore, Pinilla and Ilicic, Palermo are looking more intimidating than they have over the last few years. When you have a leaky defense and are facing one of the most talented attacks in Italy, you have to be brave and respond in attack. Allegri did just that. It seems like the Italian is finally finding the missing pieces of the puzzle. Seedorf had one his best games in a Milan shirt this season in the trequartista role against Bari which merited his start in the same position in this game. Boatang returned from suspension whilst Gattuso took his turn on the bench after accumulating the cards. Pirlo started from the bench for the second game running.


Milan bossed the possession in the first period giving the visitors very little time on the ball when not in possession. Palermo resorted to a counter attacking style to hurt Milan but they weren't prepared for a solid almost impermeable defense that AC Milan had set up that night. Pato opened the scoring after some horrific man marking from a corner. Seedorf adds another to the assist list. Ambrosini who has been reformed into an anchor man this season was flying into challenges and thereby found his name in the book. Palermo's attack was severely blunted by our defense. This is arguably the best defensive performance that I have seen from Milan in the last couple of years. Fantastic organization and positioning by the back 4. Credit must also go to Flamini and Boatang for closing down the midfielders and tracking back to assist the defenders. Pastore barely touched the ball which was largely due to precise defensive tactics employed by Allegri, who had clearly done his homework. One man who did disappoint in the first half for Milan was Zlatan. He just hasn't settled down at the club and is beginning to look rather jaded if not disinterested.

Palermo threatened more in the second half. Pastore sustained a knock and was replaced with Miccoli. Rossi put on a striker to assist Pinilla who was struggling against Silva and Yepes because he was isolated from his midfielders. A blip was around the corner and it arrived with Bacinovic's goal. It was a well placed shot into the left bottom corner of the net. Abbiati stood motionless without even trying to go for the ball. A sense of urgency seeped into Milan; Seedorf pushed from a deeper position and nearly scored only to be denied by the post. Boatang disappeared in the second half. His passing and shooting was top class in the first half but went mising in the second. The Rossoneri's efforts in attack were duly rewarded by Sirigu as he brought down Ambrosini in the box. The penalty was dispatched with confidence by Zlatan to give the hosts a deserved lead. Prior to this, Pato limped off with an injury and was replaced with Inzaghi who in-turn was injured during the build up to the penalty. Facing a draw before the derby was unacceptable to the home side which pushed Ambrosini out of the deep to make the runs from midfield. Robinho, who replaced Inzaghi was very fortunate on the third goal. Ibrahimovic sprinted down the left to cut the ball back to the Brazilian who hit the ball straight at the keeper before it sneaked under him and crossed the lined. Robinho had the chance to repay the favor to Ibrahimovic later in the game, but was very lazy with his pass. Milan at this stage were relying on counters and should have comfortably scored a couple more. The man of the match however was Mario Yepes who played his first game for his new club at the Meazza. He was like a rock at the back and made it very hard for the Palermo front men to get past him. Of course, Silva had a role in making Yepes look that good.

The points earned against Palermo are crucial for Milan and I mean that not only from the table perspective. Yes, we are at the top of the table, alone, after Lazio's loss away to Cesena. And yes, we haven't been top of the table, alone, since November 2, 2008. But we have beaten Palermo after they did the double on us last season. Palermo have psychologically messed with Milan in the past and have been a thorn in Milan's seasons. This win will help balance the records and the psyche. But the win has come at a cost. Inzaghi has been ruled out for the rest of the season and Pato will miss the next 2 games. Well, the next game is the Milan derby! One can imagine what our attack would be with an out of sorts Robinho in attack. But more importantly, it is the loss of Inzaghi that could cost us in the long run.

Milan - Pato 19', Zlatan pen 77', Robinho 83'
Palermo - Bacinovic 63'

Growing Guts

Pato

Bari 2 AC Milan 3

Questions have been raised about Allegri not having the personality or the air of authority to be able to talk down the big boys at Milan. And these words must have flown with the wind and fallen upon his ears. The man must have straightened his tie and stood up like a manager of this club must, which could be an daunting task for someone who has recently walked down the glorious corridors of the Milanello from a humble provincial side based in Sardinia. His decision to bench Pato, Ronaldinho and Pirlo would have come as a stupendous surprise to fans and neutrals alike. He opted to go with Ambrosini, Gattuso and Flamini viz, a very work-man like midfield against a gritty side of Bari. Seedorf was given the role to assist Robinho and Ibrahimovic as Yepes partnered Nesta in the heart of defense and he did so, quite literally twice in the game.

Ambrosini's trademark has been his ability to head the ball exquisitely and he showcased this talent with the opener. Flamini struggled initially and the lack of match practice seemed rather evident. Milan played a zonal marking system when not in possession of the ball. Gattuso has been reborn this season and continued to be a live-wire in this game. He chased players, closed down creators and put in the inevitable crunching challenge from time to time. Robinho played off Ibrahimovic, however he was perhaps given a free role. Marking him would have been a tough job with him moving from the left to the right and sometimes even running down the centre. His movement is second best to only Inzaghi in the team but his finishing is unbelievably poor. He created chance after chance but couldn't find the back of the net. I can't think of another reason but low confidence to be the trigger for not scoring given the chances he was provided. Allegri has probably realised that teams will attack his wings. This was visible as midfielders pulled wide to assist the fullbacks. The absence of the creator meant that the centre backs would have to direct the long pass to find the forwards, but both the centre-backs were poor with their passing, their passes often being easily intercepted. Flamini's darting runs into the box are amongst his brightest assets and he put that to good use on the second goal. The opposing midfielder however should have tracked his run. Barreto's runs and sharpness tested Yepes a number of times. The forward turned the defender on one occasion and should have put Bari in touching distance before the break.

Ibrahimovic has been a bit off with his performances lately. However, he still comes up with a goal or an assist in every game even if he doesn't blow the oppositions away with his enviable talent. He tried to go for the spectacular a few times in the game when simplicity was the easier option. Bari found themselves on the ball a lot more in the second half. Pato was introduced to give Milan more bite in attack and he responded with a brilliant goal from the edge of the box. That, with his weaker foot and from a tough angle. The goal is a must watch. YouTube it. But that wasn't before a former Milanisti walked though our defense to peg one back for the home side. Gattuso's legs refused to match up with his effervescent spirit. He simply couldn't keep up with the pace of the game in the second half. Bari's right sided midfielder Alvarez consistently employed pace to get beyond Zambrotta, who dragged him down on a number of occasions. Bari intentionally focused on the weaker full back and attacked him with pace and overlaps. They refused to give up and scored another in the closing stages. A well weighed lob into the box was volleyed into the back of the net by Barreto. I would like to add here that he was Nesta's man on this occasion. Enough said. Yepes had the added responsibility to cover up for Zambrotta's lack of pace in the latter stages which created a massive hole in the defense which the home side couldn't take advantage off.

We are getting the points, somehow, someway. This is characteristic of a title winning team. Therefore, I am not complaining. The quality of performances need to improve though. Our opponents this week are Palermo and Inter. Two cracking games against two formidable sides. Did I tell you that our natural full backs are either injured or lack match practice? And to make things worse, Thiago Silva is out with injury too. This is hardly the time we could say 'Bring it on Pastore, Ilicic!'

Bari - Kutuzov 66', Barreto 90'
Milan - Ambrosini 5', Flamini 31', Pato 72'

Mourinho's fear

Howard Webb

Milan 2 Madrid 2

Ronaldo would run down the left and it was necessary that someone with more than adequate pace kept him quiet. Abate was thankfully assigned the role of doing so. Ronaldo could rarely cut in from the left with Abate proving him with very little room to run riot. He closed down the winger superbly at the risk of getting sent off. Also, the former World Player of the Year couldn't penetrate through the heart of the Milan defense. He therefore chose to dance at the sideline and catch his face when contacted on his throat. Allegri's selection of Ronaldinho made sense however he was positioned out wide on the left where Ramos would shackle him for the rest of the game. Madrid played a high line of defense which caught Pato and Ibrahimovic offside a number of times to the frustration of the forwards and the onlookers. The home defense started revealing the cracks in the fort when Pepe was left unmarked on a free header. That should have been 1-0. Almost instantly, Pirlo clears the ball of the line not once but twice! Should have been 3-0. After these close calls, I stopped counting. Madrid began to control the tempo and the San Siro effect was neutralized. Those in white passed freely around the park with the Milan front three cooling their heels up front. Gattuso had to work his socks off to cover for Pato and Ronaldinho's indifference, which he did rather admirably. Ronaldinho had a couple of flicks in the game. That aside, he had no answers to Ramos' marking. Inevitably, Madrid took the lead. Higuain was left free in the box by Nesta who stepped out to close down Di Maria. The winger found the forward quite comfortably. Unfortunately, this time, Higuain made no mistake with his finish. For the rest of the half, Pato and Ibrahimovic contributed by conceding several offsides. Enough perhaps, to strain the lungs of the linesman.

Madrid continued to win the midfield battle. They toyed with Milan by passing around inviting the midfield onto them. However, the midfield of 3 were so stretched that they didn't know which direction to move in. Madrid seemed content to keep the ball and slow the pace of the game. Ronaldinho was later axed for Inzaghi. This move was going to be the turning point for the home side. A lapse of concentration from Madrid and a surge of the same from Inzaghi saw Milan claw one back due to Ibrahimovic's endeavorer. Ibrahimovic was getting more involved in the game by dropping deep and creating from a trequartista position. Madrid were rattled by the equalizer and Allegri decided to bring Ambrosini on for Pato! The logic of this move is beyond me. Adding Robinho to the fray would have brought some width and skill upfront which was hugely lacking with Pato on the pitch. 10 minutes later, Inzaghi scores again! However, the goal was clearly offside. Mourinho hooked Carvalho and gave Leon a run-in. This move was soaked in intent. With 12 minutes to go, Milan use theatrics and corner flag possession to kill time. This, against a supremely talented Madrid side. Madrid answered the taunt with a goal at the death. Pedro Leon left Zambrotta for dead as he turned and blasted the ball through Abbiati's legs.

Inzaghi cemented Mourinho's fears with a brace. Jose wasn't taking a jibe at Milan with that comment some weeks ago. Inzaghi instilled the fear in the Special One and taught the younger lads what it means to score. Howard Webb was my man of the match. A superb performance from the Englishman who produced the cards only when necessary. He kept his composure and bullied the bullies showcasing why he is the finest referee in the world. Pato has shown time and again this season that he is unreliable and his performances in the big games has been nothing short of awful. Ronaldinho has most likely booked his tickets to LA Galaxy and Milan might have booked their tickets to the Europa League. Auxerre away are a nasty opponent and Ajax are massively unpredictable. The Dutch side will be sniffing qualification which would make them a lot harder to beat. The next two ties are must win for Milan if they have a genuine interest to qualify for the knockout rounds. However, such a feat requires top quality football, which is currently lacking in great proportions in this over-rated Milan side.

Milan - Inzaghi 68', 78'

Madrid - Higuain 45', Leon 94'

Unpredictable

Luca Antonini

Milan 1 Juventus 2

Del Neri's favorite 4-4-2 lined up on the pitch to match Milan's 4-3-3. Right from the start, Allegri had lost the tactical battle with this formation. Del Neri's men had an extra man in midfield which would mean that even if Milan controlled the game, breaking the Old Lady wouldn't be easy. Chiellini was called off action after having injured himself during the warm up. Ibrahimovic would have been all smiles when he sighted Chiellini limping to the bench. As expected, Milan dominated possession and looked the most likely to score. However, Quagliarella had other plans. He took advantage of Antonini's defensive lapse and headed home a beautifully placed header from a De Ceglie cross. The goal provided a sucker punch to Milan. Spirits and heads dropped while Juventus found their feet in the game. The Bianconeri grew in confidence after the goal and the home side did precious little to dampen the opposition's mood. Antonini has easily been Milan's worst player this season which begs me to ask, why isn't Bruno Montelongo being played this season? The highly rated right back was brought in the summer on loan to add to the numbers of the Primevera? I think not. Then why does Allegri still stick to the faded champions of the squad? Antonini can't dribble to save his life, his positioning sense is awful and his passing probably his worst attribute. How he makes the Milan first team remains a mystery. On the right flank, Bonera had a collision involving De Ceglie. The young left back was stretchered away with Pepe replacing him at left back. Yes, Pepe. Just to emphasize, Juventus' defense looked like this - Motta, Legrottaglie, Bonucci and Pepe! One would expect a flamboyant attack like ours to run riot, especially since we were at home. These are the occasions when Milan defy logic, which they successfully did. A lot of credit has been given to Abbiati over the last season. But he is astonishingly incompetent from set pieces and crosses. He fearfully flaps at the ball like a 15 year old would flap at a harmless mosquito. He cuts a sorry picture as a professional making it an embarrassing viewing experience. Juventus gifted Milan enough chances for this to become a mauling. However, Ibrahimovic chose not to take them.

The tall Swede continued to let chances slip by with poor first touches. His partner in crime Pato has taken to the idea of being Italy's Messi. But the Brazilian lacks the technical skill and quality to replicate the Argentine wonder which no one evidently has told him so far. Therefore, his runs into the penalty box inevitably ends up with lost possession. Aquillani and Melo were defensively efficient. Aquillani dropped deeper in the game to let Melo move up in attack and the Italian was relishing the midfield battle. Bonucci who has the tactical awareness of a tortoise was combining admirably well with Legrottaglie to keep Ibrahimovic very quiet. It was perhaps Chiellini's chance to smile. Just like in the first half, Juventus hit Milan out of the blue. Antonini to be held responsible again for not using his feet to clear the ball. He was trying to be innovative by doing the salsa with Sissoko but Del Piero didn't dance. I thought to myself, no Krasic and no Chiellini and Juventus are up by two goals to nil at the San Siro! Unpredictability can rarely be demonstrated any better. Following the second goal, Juventus dropped deep and opted to defend the lead. Ibrahimovic bagged one in the eighty second minute with Pepe unable to hold of the big Swede on the cross. Special mention to Antonini for playing a part with an assist. Milan dominated possession whilst Juventus relied on the counter. One of the notable observations that was made was of a talent called Sokratis. This Greek is a disaster waiting to happen; he is brash and crude with his challenges and lacks the composure at this level.

Its shocking that we could not beat a severely depleted Juventus. If our men had trouble against Pepe and Legrottaglie, it doesn't take an immensely imaginative mind to fathom how we would cope with Carvalho and Ramos. Ronaldo is arguably on top of his form at the moment and his razor sharp movement will hurt Milan. A defeat on Wednesday might see us getting knocked out of the Champions League much earlier than we would have imagined.

Milan - Ibrahimovic 82'

Juventus - Quagliarella 24', Del Piero 65'

Dubiously Fortunate

Massimo Oddo

Napoli 1 Milan 2

Only Allegri can explain why Gattuso still starts over Flamini. There are no signs to indicate that Flamini is hurt or isn't match fit but he continues to start from the bench and is handed a cameo role for 5 minutes at the end of each game. With Ronaldinho being injured, Allegri lined up a 4-3-3 with a rotating front three. Robinho was handed a rare start and he seemed fired up. Amelia was Milan's best player at the Bernebau and perhaps merited a start, but Allegri favored Abbiati.

The game was quite scrappy in the initial stages. Antonini and Maggio collided into each other while going for the ball resulting in both leaving the pitch. I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity for the highly rated Bruno Montelongo to make his appearance for the club but Allegri opts for Oddo instead! However Oddo immediately responded to the global skepticism with a cut back for Robinho who scored with a superbly placed shot. Pato was poor in front of goal with his dribbling and passing being painfully mediocre. Pazienza continued to flirt with danger and the referee put his misery to rest by sending him off for two consecutive handballs. This became a stimulus for Napoli who started attacking fervently.

We returned from the break with a solitary goal lead having narrowly protected it after Robinho scored in the 22'. Napoli chose to use pace against our weak fullbacks and this resulted in Dossena sending in a few crosses that should have been converted. Ibrahimovic continues to look indifferent and ghostlike in attack. Nesta's positioning sense was receiving a beating as he was caught out of position more than once. Milan chose counters as the only route to score the decisive second but were incredibly passive while given the opportunity. Just when Oddo's influence on the game was fading away, he popped with a delightful cross that Ibrahimovic met with his head. Second goal of the game for Milan and Napoli's efforts perhaps unfairly crushed. Criminal defending on the part of the Napoleans who should have marked Ibrahimovic closely. Instead he was given a free header which he rarely misses. Ibrahimovic was then substituted for Seedorf. Allegri probably had Juventus on his mind while making this move. But still no Flamini. The duel between Sokriris and Lavezzi was a very interesting one. Sokritis used his strength against the front man while Lavezzi used his trickery. Sokritis was fortunate to be on the pitch after a rough challenge on Lavezzi when he was clean through on goal. Sokratis looked most likely to be the sore pin and he didn't let his opposition down. His poor clearance gave Lavezzi the chance to scoop his shot over Abbiati into the back of the net. Suddenly out of nowhere, Napoli were back in the game. They pounded Milan's goal for the rest of the match but Abbiati stood tall. Except a few rather ridiculous flapping efforts, the net minder was solid.

Allegri's dubious choices worked. Had they not, he would have been deeply scrutinized by the media. I assume that most people would have thought that bringing Oddo on for Antonini is a terrible move, yet Oddo assisted with 2 crosses which is highly unexpected of the veteran. Keeping Flamini out for 85 minutes of the game perhaps is a sinful decision but Seedorf helped calm a brawl which Flamini would have contributed to. Starting with Abbiati when Amelia was deservedly crying out for another chance might be harsh, but Abbiati delivered a strong performance. Allegri got his tactics right but there is a sense of fortune to it.

Napoli - Lavezzi 78'
Milan - Robinho 22', Ibrahimovic 72'

'Whitewashed' at the Bernebau

Massimilano Allegri

Real Madrid 2 AC Milan 0

It's always tough to go up against Mourinho. It's tougher, perhaps much tougher when you are in your first season in the Champions League and you are facing the 'Special One'. This might result in tactical errors and a few lapses in judgment . But to get your game-plan wrong from the start to the finish would be counted as plain dumb. Allegri is likely to face this allegation.

He started with the same team that appeared against Chievo at the weekend. The same midfield which accounts for a whopping 97 years in the middle of the park. And these fossils are only 3 in number in the middle of the park unlike the traditional 4 man midfield. When facing a team as slick and quick as Madrid, one requires legs in the midfield. Allegri opted for crutches. Seedorf started the game and astonishingly clocked 90 minutes! Also, Mr. Allegri opted for Bonera to partner the ailing Nesta. I reckon he has forgotten that Sokritis was purchased in the summer to cover for first team injuries. To compound his erroneous ways, he chose to go with Zambrotta at right back. This is the side from which Ronaldo would attack. A 34 year old against a pacy 24 year old who is in blistering form at the moment. Allegri probably asked the defense to hold a deep line in order to deal with the pace of the attackers. This made sense initially but invites too many attackers into the penalty box and increases the space between the midfield and the defense since Milan didn't have an anchor man. Both of Madrid's goals were a result of defending deep and not closing the front 4 effectively. Zambrotta chose to run away from the ball rather than attack it. This helped Ronaldo to attack Milan's goal a lot more and provided him with a number of options as he got closer to the goal. He could then choose from Ozil, Di Maria and Higuain, all of whom he found throughout the game with relative ease. Gattuso and Zambrotta were assigned the task of keeping him quiet but he was simply too hot to handle. At times, he toyed with both these players showing a clear lack of respect for their seniority. This compelled Pato to backtrack and suddenly all three players on the right hand side of Milan's line-up were attempting to close down Ronaldo. This still proved to be ineffective. AC Milan didn't have too many shooting opportunities because Carvalho and Co. kept the defense very well organized. This is a hallmark of a Mourinho side. Pirlo did work Casillas from a set-piece though. Ronaldo turned Nesta inside out countless times making the legend resemble an amateur. Amelia kept the scoreline respectable by pulling out some spectacular saves and by charging at the right times. He made a solid debut and was clearly the best player for the away side.

Even after being 2 goals down, Milan showed no urgency in their game. They relaxed when Madrid had the ball, allowing the home side to pass and move without applying any pressure. So disappointing was the attitude that the players in the red and black looked lethargic and disinterested. Allegri introduced Boatang and Robinho in the second half which changed the complexion of the game and also impacted Milan's attitude considerably. Both these players added mobility and guile into the attack causing Madrid a few concerns. Robinho also worked Casillas after coming on, something Ronaldinho couldn't manage to do. Madrid put in a professional performance and shut out Milan adequately for the rest of the match.

Allegri was tactically outclassed but in his defense, he didn't even try to be tactical. There could be very little reason to explain why Seedorf played the whole game when he was responsible for the first goal and was also guilty of ruining Milan's best chance in attack. Also how could one explain Zambrotta's inclusion at right back when Sokritis can be employed in that position and could have shut out Ronaldo competently thereby nullifying Madrid's biggest threat? In the substitutions front, Pato was sacrificed for Inzaghi. It's been fairly obvious for sometime now that Inzaghi and Ibrahimovic can't play together and still Allegri opts for that combination. Antonini was playing as a left midfielder leaving plenty of space for Di Maria and Ozil to exploit on the right. Therefore, Nesta had to cover a lot more ground which evidently he couldn't do. Why was Antonini given the license to attack? Also, why did Allegri wait till the 58th minute to bring on Boatang when the entire footballing fraternity thinks that the Ghanaian should have started? Allegri asked for perfection before the game. He should be perfecting his plans before asking anything off his players. Allegri either didn't do his homework or he was too afraid to implement his plans and chose to be safe by fielding Milan's most experienced players. Whatever be the reason, this is Allegri's worst performance of the season so far. He has a few stern tests coming up and it will be interesting to note how he changes his tactical approach after this experience.

Madrid - Ronaldo 13', Ozil 14'
Milan - /

Crumbling Midfield

Mathieu Flamini

When I tell people who my favorite player at AC Milan is, people feel stupefied. Do you know who my favorite AC Milan player is? Mathieu Flamini. Stupefied? Or atleast surprised?

Flamini was said to be the heir to Gattuso's boots when he arrived on a free transfer in 2008. He was one of the most promising defensive midfielders in the world at that time. Ever since, he has seen a change of management thrice. So he has had to impress 3 different footballing philosophies. I understand that to be a very hard task. Flamini has looked a bit out of shape since he has arrived. But that is because he hasn't seen enough of the ball with Gattuso whining in the background. The club policy of adhering to seniority is ridiculous and retarded, especially when everyone talks about the start of a new cycle. Well, if a new cycle is starting at the club, why are Gattuso and Seedorf still starting with Boatang and Flamini warming the bench? Flamini has a higher value proposition than Gattuso because the Frenchman is not only solid in defense, but he also makes darting runs into the opposition box. He also possesses the fantastic ability to drive shots from distance. His tactical awareness is low, but having said that, it's not high for Gattuso either. The 'pitbull' usualy sees yellow in the first half and performs tamely then on. Flamini might pick up a card but rarely slows the tempo. Gattuso's performances this season have been spirited but he lacks the legs for the big games. Therefore, the former Rangers man is a liability.

Boatang has looked decisive whenever he has played for Milan. The dynamism that he brings to the midfield is unparelled by any in the team. Yet he starts behind Seedorf and Ambrosini. Allegri has started to show his weakenesses as a manager, particularly his inability to stamp his authority. This was politely put across by Ibrahimovic in an interview recently and is fairly evident from his team selection.

Lets look at Boatang. He is another player who contributes in defense although he is an attack minded player. Kevin always gives his 100% and that really counts since he is not Christian Brocchi. He makes those drifting runs in the opposition third which draws defenders away, providing our illustrous forwards with oodles of space. His physical presence in midfield makes him a bully, the sort of player we have lacked for a very long time. However with Seedorf, we have a man who confuses the viewers with his pace and static approach to the game. Sometimes I feel that I might have hit 'pause' on the remote when I watch Clarence on the ball. He is slow, has a poor work rate and can't play at a consistent level on a bi-weekly basis. With Ambrosini, Milan have an average midfielder who simply runs from one end of the pitch to the other, assisting neither in attack nor to defense.

Ask me who my second favorite player at the club is and I would respond by saying Aleksander Merkel. The German is a spectacular talent and is being wasted in the Primevera. The few times that I watched him play in the friendlies, he impressed me greatly. Why isn't he in the main team? Why isn't he being given a chance to gain some experience at the top level? Even Chelsea with their midfield power find occasions to accomodate Josh McEachran. Merkel is as good and if given a chance could probably turn out to be better!

Milan's midfield would easily get mauled by several top sides in Europe. The current first choice midfield has neither the guile, the creativity, the bite or the strength to be able to withstand a top side. Allegri is heavily relying on the front three to win games. But in football, games are won in midfield. Milan do posses the talent and the quality to succeed. And if the younger boys are given a run-in the midfield would also find the drive and desire. The players he is currently using bi-weekly are at best impact players. It's only down to Allegri's risk appetite and his ability to stand by tough choices. The blame currenly lies squarely on the manager.

A dream called Kaka

Kaka with Robinho

Many years ago, when I saw a young Brazilian glide through the midfield with magical pace and divine elegance, I realized that football is truly the beautiful game. Kaka is one of those forwards who makes attacking football a joy to behold. No tricks, no flips, no crossovers. Nothing fancy. Just sheer pace, finesse and class.

Kaka possesses a demi-god status at Milan, a cult icon. Tears were shed, hearts broken and windows were smashed when he nearly boarded the plane to Manchester. And now we hear of his return just a season after he left for the Madrid life. This is exciting news for a chap like me who would love to see his favorite player combine once again with his favorite team. But with experience comes maturity and maturity dictates that football's practicality often kills the spirit of romance.

Berlusconi intended to replace Kaka with a bunny named Ronaldinho. The latter has performed admirably well since Leonardo but he is nowhere near the standard Kaka once stood at. We didn't get a chance to miss Kaka as Ronaldinho stepped up to the challenge of the creative force in attack, settling in comfortably. Crafty as he might be, he isn't nearly as elegant as the Sao Paolo star. Kaka hasn't quite cut it at Madrid with the mercurial Ronaldo predictably steering the limelight in his direction. Madrid have complained that Milan sold them an injured Kaka. Hello, medical tests aren't a formality. Aly Cissokho will testify to that. Perez intends to gift wrap the Brazilian and send him packing back to Italy with Galliani dwelling on the possibility. Is this a move for the better?

Ronaldinho runs out of contract end of this season and he is refusing to take a pay-cut. MLS is knocking on the door with bags of money which Ronaldinho is already sniffing, albeit pretentiously. He has avoided talk of contract extensions in the media. If he leaves, we need a world class trequartista to replace him. Frankly, few are better than Kaka. There are a couple of other options though who I would love in Rossoneri colors. Yoann Gourcuff, Antonio Cassano and Diego. None of these will come cheap but will provide us with greater endurance and assurance than Kaka will. Kaka's dodgy knees have him shackled and has pretty much stamped him out of returning to his previous lofty standards. Then is it worth it?

Kaka will inject pace in the attack, but he won't possess the vision and creativity or the guile of Ronaldinho. Moreover, Pato and Kaka are similar in many ways and will inevitably run into each other. There are also questions of how Ibrahimovic would combine with Kaka. All these forwards love the ball at their feet. Kaka also brings with him injury concerns. Milan already have their hands full with Pato. Kaka will become an additional liability. The likes of Cassano and Gourcuff are likely to demand lesser wages which would please Galliani, who is trying to tighten the purse strings. That being said, Kaka will win Berlusconi the brownie points with the Curva Sud and the Ultras. This signing will also act as the cherry on the cake called Ibrahimovic, given the elections are just around the corner.

But as much as it is a dream to see him don the legendary red and black again, this move hampers us on the pitch and in the bank. Kaka continues to be vulnerable to the odd injury and its in games like these where we would need depth. There are other areas, particularly in defense that need immediate attention. Also Ronaldinho brings with him an element of consistency. This page is missing in Kaka's book currently. Thus, it appears that Kaka to Milan under current circumstances is not favorable to the Indian population. Allegri need not be bothered in attack for sometime now. I wish Kaka the very best and wish he succeeds at the clubs he goes to. But facts, stats and intuition indicate that the club isn't AC Milan.

constant constantly

Alexander Pato

Milan 3 Chievo 1

One of the things that is hard to understand is Allegri's obsession with Ibrahimovic. Why does he play the Swede even when the latter complains of physical deterioration? Especially when Madrid are preparing a nightmarish welcome at the Bernebau? Ronaldinho was handed the trequartista role once again. His media statements of 'I don't need to run because I can do what I do without running' weren't yet met with criticism. It feels like I am the only one awaiting criticism for such retarded statements.

Chievo are known to be a team that soak in the pressure before hitting the opposition with a speedy counter. This tactic has worked wonderfully for them, you may to ask Genoa and Napoli. And so they stuck to that tactic, only for it to be turned around after Pato's volley from Ibrahimovic's cross. It's finishing like this that is going to keep Robinho's shorts firmly attached to the bench. Another player who is going to be giving Robinho company is Amelia. Abbiati produced a stunning double save in the first half that would only further cement Allegri's trust in him. Pato quickly doubled his tally after some intelligent thinking from Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic had left his shooting boots at home but had his thinking cap on. Pato's awareness needs to be praised on this goal as he spotted Ibrahimovic's idea and made the run. Chievo decided to attack Milan and Milan comfortably sat back to hit the visitors on the counter. Ironically, Abbiati was having a busier night than Sorrentino.

Kevin Constant has been one of Chievo's standout players this season. He shined bright in yellow as he darted past a failing Gattuso many a time, constantly troubling our back-line. Antonini was having his second bad game in two weeks for Milan. He is wasteful in possession and often found himself feeling the grass when he should have been closing down wingers. Milan dropped the tempo in the second half. Perhaps, the players were saving the energy for the big game in Spain. That very reason seemed enough for the fans to digest the disgusting indifference that was being displayed on the pitch. Just when Chievo were beginning to lose hope, Silva got stretchered off and Bonera replaced him. Such is called 'sight for sore eyes'. Chievo suddenly appeared charged and inspired. And it eventually happened. The home side conceded a goal from a corner to abysmal marking. The disinterest was duly paid. Antonini was clearly responsible for marking the player who got his head on the ball. I needn't say more about him. Pato had just been replaced with Robinho and there was an urge within the Milan camp to score the third and wrap up the game. And surprise surprise, Robinho seals the deal by turning the keeper and coolly slotting home his first in Rossoneri colors. Boatang had come on for the final thirteen minutes or so and the midfield looked mobile and dynamic and less static.

There is cause for concern though. Silva would be missing for the Madrid game and we have Bonera or Yepes to face Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo and Higuain. The very thought is inspirational for an Oscar winning horror script. We are two days away from the clash. Mourinho's men blew Malaga away. Let's hope that we aren't a similar prospect.

Milan - Pato 18', 30', Robinho 90'
Chievo - Ibrahimovic O.G. 70'