The End. Here, i.e.

Hey guys! After spending 3 long years with Blogger I have decided to apply for a divorce and move onto Wordpress. I know this constant movement is frustrating but this time, I have moved for good. The new season and future seasons will be covered at my new site. You have been a constant source of inspiration and motivation for me and I would deeply appreciate it if you did move over to my new site with me.

You can find me at - http://rajaththemilanista.wordpress.com

This is the URL to the new site. No more shifting, hopefully. I don't want to break the rhythm henceforth. See you on the other side, folks!

Season Review

Milan won the Scudetto. Stale news, isn't it? Many predicted this result right from the start. With Benitez at the helm of affairs at Inter and other competitors going through a reconstruction phase, the Scudetto of 2010-2011 was Milan's to lose. That being said, Allegri did well to deliver the expected. If irony be permitted, he duly delivered on the European front too. Allegri fumbled in Europe against a Spurs side, displaying his tactical naivety on the biggest stage of club football. Sokratis took the Italian Cup away from us. But all in all, one must admit, this year ended the drought of silverware at the club. Allegri brought home the title that mattered after several years of dominance by our city rivals. He finally broke the monotony.

Let's examine the squad and their performances over the course of the season.

GOALKEEPERS

Christian Abbiati - Made his rightful stake as one of Europe's leading keepers. Abbiati had earned the reputation of being a keeper who would occasionally pull wonder saves but lacked the consistency required to be tagged 'world class'. But the season of 10-11 turned out to be quite the contrary. His heroic displays won us several games which proved vital in Milan lifting the Scudetto. (8.5)

Marco Amelia - Same old, same old. Some games saw the best of the keeper while there were some that saw his worst. He can be held partially guilty for our exit from the Champions League which saw him lie down and surrender to Lennon's finish without making the slightest effort to close the winger's angle. (6.5)

Flavio Roma - Warmed the bench like a faithful 3rd choice keeper. (n.a)

DEFENDERS

Sokratis Papastathapolous (or something like that) - Horrific signing by Galliani, many expected the Greek right back to set the stage alight after his big move from Genoa. But the talent failed to come through. Sokratis looked like a fish out of water in most games turning up clueless in the heart of defense, a position he deemed was rightfully his. Tactically awful and horrid in the execution of his defensive duties when called upon, Sokratis turned in a classic performance against Palermo in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia against Palermo which saw Milan crash out of the tournament. (3)

Alesandro Nesta - If Nesta was supernatural last season, he looked human the season after. Many mistakes from the veteran yet solid when called upon. His characteristic slides were not missed and he marshaled the defense alongside Silva admirably. 24 goals were conceded over the course of the season, a joint record for least goals conceded in the history of the league. Nesta might have been slower this year but his experience pulled through when needed. (7.5)

Thiago Silva - Milan's man of the season. An almost flawless performance. Frankly, I cannot think of a flawed move by the Brazilian but he should have made a mistake that the camera missed. I mean, he should have, right? Physical, powerful, pacy, tactical and all that comes with the making of the best defender in the world. (9.5)

Mario Yepes - Deputized meritoriously. Fit in well in the absence of the dynamic central partnership of Silva-Nesta. Milan's defense did not look imperious in their absence but Yepes hardened the task of strikers when one of the two went missing. Found lacking in pace against the quicker forwards and resorted to the retarded lunge but in vain. (6.5)

Gianluca Zambrotta - After Abate declared ownership at right back, Zambrotta moved to the left flank and played most of his games at left back. Did his job without throwing any tantrums. Solid if not spectacular, Zambrotta delivered when called upon. His legs have begun to give way which reduced his ability to gallop back into defense. Found wanting in counter attack situations. (5.5)

Luca Antonini - Much hated and despised among the Rossoneri faithful. Lennon humiliated him in Europe and many successfully followed in Italy. Relegated to the bench for his inability to defend nor attack. Clearly not favored by Allegri and rightly so. Antonini's lack of pace came to the fore on a number of occasions and his weak left foot prevented him from establishing himself at left back. (4)

Ignazio Abate - Milan's revelation. Still to win over majority of the Calcio fans but made fans of several rossoneri. One of them would be me. Tassoti's training worked wonders on the blonde right back. His defending improved drastically while his crossing became more accurate. He tamed Eto'o, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale among others. Not a mean feat. (8)

Daniele Bonera, Massimo Oddo, Marek Jankulovski, Nicola Legrottaglie, Didac Vila - Barely played. (n.a)

MIDFIELDERS

Clarence Seedorf - Allegri's lab rat. Played at DM, CAM and LM, mastering all these positions. His best performance came at White Hart Lane where he ran like a mad man all over the pitch, bullying players half his age, winning the ball and delivering it forward. He tended to slow games down. In the first half of the season, Seedorf was booed of the pitch several times by the Milanisti. However, the second half of the season saw a very different player. (7)

Massimo Ambrosini - Injured for some parts of the season but relentless when fielded. Ambrosini is visibly tiring but the heart is still there. He dropped deeper this season and played in front of the defense at times which saw the best in his game. A destroyer with a brain, Ambrosini proved to be a usefull squad player. (6)

Rino Gattuso - Him and Abate dominated the right side of the pitch. Both would double team players like two leopards circling a deer. Gattuso's form improved dramatically after being snubbed by Leonardo. His speed might have dipped but his heart comfortably makes up for the lack of legs. Still at his devastating and bullying best, he could not be dropped while he was fit. He scored two goals this season setting a personal record at the club. (7.5)

Mathieu Flamini - Flamini might have left his intelligence back in London while making his transfer to Milan. The Frenchman is becoming famous for his two foot challenges which don't see red. An energetic engine which chugs up and down the pitch without ceasing. One of the few midfielders in the squad capable of making diagonal runs when the team attacks. Still to score with that lethal right foot of his. A clumsy defender and a decent attacker, Flamini saw more playing time under Allegri. (6)

Urby Emanuelson - Brought at €1.7m from Ajax in the winter window, Emanuelson offered Allegri what no one else could; a left foot. Used mainly as a late sub, Emanuelson added much needed width to a painfully narrow midfield. His versatility will be tested next season where he is expected to play deeper in defense. However, the winger managed to impress in a left of midfield role. (5)

Mark Van Bommel - Another one of Galliani's master strokes. Van Bommel walked into the first team and did not walk out. The Dutchman had trouble settling in because the referees were well acquainted with his reputation. His wisdom and experience helped him tweak his game and become a rock in front of the defense. Bommel became instrumental to Milan's ridiculously stingy defense. (8)

Alexandre Merkel - A player for the future, Merkel got tried as a trequartista and a LCM. He impressed in the few chances he received but in the larger occasions, he developed cold feet. The German went AWOL in North London against Spurs and did not see the pitch again. The midfielder holds terrific promise but is still very raw. (5)

Kevin Prince Boatang - A surprise signing from Galliani. Much was spoken and written about the nature of Boatang's signing but all that was forgotten once he started playing. He started in midfield before being pushed behind the strikers. He thrived in both those positions but became Allegri's first choice CAM. The host of 'Beyond the Pitch' termed Boatang as a 'forward destroyer' which would be an apt description of his position. Boatang's incredible work ethic meant the oppositions could not release fast counter attacks and his remarkable reading of the game found him in dangerous positions which the strikers had forgotten to occupy. The Ghanaian quickly became a fan favorite and danced to MJ's tune to celebrate the Scudetto. (8)

Andrea Pirlo - Barely played and the reasons are open for debate. The most popular reason is a tactical one. Allegri's fancies a destroyer in front of defense, the same position Pirlo enjoys playing in. However, fielding him there makes him a defensive liability. But he is Andrea Pirlo. So Allegri played him on the left of midfield. This choice came at a cost. The ruggedness of the midfield got replaced with the delicateness of Pirlo which stronger oppositions trampled over. The cons outweighed the pros of playing Pirlo which now sees him in black and white stripes. (4.5)

ATTACKERS

Robinho - The world saw a very different Robinho in Milan colors. He introduced a facet called 'work ethic' to his showboating game. He ran and ran and ran. That aside he did little else. Oh wait, one cannot forget his movement. He constantly made space and found space. But his finishing let him down time and time again. He missed one vs one's too which was hard to digest as a Milan fan. His finishing or rather lack of it should dock 5 points of the scale but his work ethic, his creation of space and the 14 goals he scored should fetch him a higher score. (7)

Pato - Typical Pato season. Goals, flashes of genius, plenty of pace packed with injuries. Ibrahimovic and Pato reportedly fell out due to the lack of working chemistry. But that claim gradually went out of the window when the two started assisting each other and complimented each other on and off the pitch. (6.5)

Ibrahimovic - Spectacular for 2/3rds of the season and then tailed off for the rest of the season. Many would argue that he won Milan the title by December. But his dip in form affected the club's run in Europe. That being said, he won games single-handedly and became the prima-donna Milan never had. (8)

Cassano - A fantastic start to the season. 3 assists in 35 minutes. Then the Nutella kicked in. Cassano spent more time joking around players than mesmerizing oppositions with his skills. Moreover Allegri's confusion on where to play Cassano did not help the former Sampdoria striker. As time passed, Cassano became a late game sub who entertained audiences and sparked some magic sporadically. (5.5)

Ronaldinho and Inzaghi did not play enough to be evaluated.

All in all, Allegri should be duly congratulated on his first Scudetto triumph. Milan breaking Inter's domestic dominance was arguably more important. Berlusconi and Galliani will now seek to conquer Europe, a monumental task given Barcelona's stature in modern football. Serie A continues to strengthen while the Manchester City's of the world are entering the European game. Look forward to expect intense rivalries and fierce matches next season.

Helping Udinese

An exceptional manager called Francesco Guidolin

UDINESE 0 AC MILAN 0

The last round of fixtures in the Serie A were of significance to two clubs. Maybe three, if honor is of any consideration. The two fighting for the last Champions League slot were Lazio and Udinese. Bari wanted to go down in honor. An eighteen year old Gandolfa secured that honor with an impressive hatrick. Lazio's dominance in the league had taken a shocking turn with Udinese's rise to fame. This last round of fixtures would ascertain their fortunes.

Udinese hosted the new champions of Italy, AC Milan. Milan had nothing to play for and fielded a virtual second string side. Didac Vila got his much awaited call-up while Allegri tried a Pato-Cassano combination. Amelia played in goal.

Milan approached the game with a narrow shape. The full backs did not bomb forward with both Abate and Vila concentrating on the defensive side of the game. Udinese's attack is startling and they are one of the few teams in Italy capable of decimating oppositions with their width. Boatang was deployed as the trequartista once again but he failed to impress in this game just like the two men in front of him. Seedorf started on the left of midfield but appeared to play out of obligation than interest. Milan approached the match with a strong sense of disinterest, looking unimaginative and lacking in idea. Udinese attacked but could not find a way though the highly acclaimed Rossoneri defense. Flamini earned himself a booking with a characteristic plunge which in any other league would have walked him to the dressing room. But his energy powered Milan's midfield. Pato was starved of service and had to constantly drop deep to get involved in the play. At the back, Vila seemed raw in his ability to defend with Udinese's forwards always finding a way to get ahead of him.

Allegri realising that a change was required replaced Van Bommel with Emanuelson. An interesting switch from a manager who has rarely displayed an undaunted attitude while making changes during the season. With Van Bommel gone, Seedorf slotted into the defensive midfield role which instantly provided Udinese with greater penetration down the centre. Silva made sure that most of the central threats were nullified with his pace and strength. The Brazilian was Milan's best player, again. But Udinese's posed the biggest threat down the left side with Armero. The left back burned the left flank with his pace and Abate often had to turn his speed by a notch to catch up with the Colombian. Sanchez finally unleashed a whiff of pace to whiz past Seedorf managing to draw a penalty. Di Natale stepped up to make it 29 for the season but Amelia produced a wonderful save. Toto however expressed his displeasure at being denied which I found rather amusing. Udinese tried very hard to break the deadlock and enjoyed a patch of incredible form in the second half. Milan frantically defended and were repeatedly saved by the skin of their teeth. It was clear that Milan had no intention of losing but they also had no intention of winning. At the end of the game, Fruili burst in celebration and immense joy.

Udinese had secured Champions League football after 6 years and dare I say it wasn't deserved. This team is a visual spectacle and an endorsement for Italian football. They don't just flatter but they achieve too. Udinese are a phenomenal attacking power. This win could be crucial to Sanchez and Inler's career at Udinese and might just encourage them to remain and work towards writing another admirable chapter in Udinese's history come next season. Di Natale refused to join a certain Turin based giant last summer. He will now surely become a reference point in the camp.

Udinese - /
Milan - /

Dancing To The Scudetto

Kevin Prince Boatang dancing with the stars

AC MILAN 4 CAGLIARI 1

Many believed this to be the last night for some of Milan's old warriors at their beloved fortress. Seedorf, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Inzaghi and Pirlo made the squad with the latter two starting from the bench. Seedorf played behind Robinho and Pato, a position he has dearly coveted ever since losing the spot to Boatang. Several Cagliari players were playing for contracts. Unlike the home side, Donadoni's men had an objective heading into this game. Expecting Cagliari to fight is not beyond the realms of reality but the Sardinian team collapsed like a wrecked ship afloat the Pacific. Milan demolished the visitors by executing the attacks superbly. Had the forwards of Milan not stepped off the gas, the board might have read a cricket score.

Robinho drew first blood with an exquisite solo goal. The crafty forward possesses several tricks up in his boots but is clearly afraid to unleash them. Having spent most of the season endlessly running across the breadth of the pitch and impressing Allegri with his baffling work ethic, Robinho managed to cement his position in the first team. However, 21 million euros were not spent on a machine that can cover the turf but for a dribbling expert who can turn on the style. With Robinho enjoying his football, Milan carved open Cagliari's defense repeatedly like a slab of delicious beef stake, tormenting the back four. Aggazi tried uncommonly hard to stand tall but he is no 'Neuer'. Robinho's double brought him level with Pato and Ibrahimovic scoring 14 goals in the league this season. With the forwards mocking the back four of Cagliari, Zambrotta turned in a comical performance of his own. He bombed forward on several occasions at the cost of plonking on the sidelines due to sheer exhaustion for the next 20 minutes. Yepes being vested with the additional responsibility of covering for Zambrotta's athletic stamina demonstrated why he never made it to the list of greatest centre halves in the Italian game. The Colombian slides on the ground in desperate attempts to win the ball when faced with pace or skill. He did it against Lennon, he repeated the foolish act against Cossu as well. If I possessed the memory of a quad 4 processor, I would have cited more examples. Rest assured, the 34 year old's sliding fiascos are a regular feature of his game.

Pirlo replaced Ambrosini at the break. The ten year reign of the elegant midfielder in red and black stripes would end tonight. Serie A games usually demand high levels of professionalism and sincerity. Both these facets were blatantly absent. The fans were witnessing a friendly and uninhibitedly expressed their dissatisfaction ignoring the proceedings at times. Abate poured in the crosses but the absence of a big man rendered them harmless. On the opposite flank, Zambrotta's plonking sessions increased in length. The full back's invisibility became rather obvious in the second half. Cagliari were continually nailed down the centre and Milan capitalised on this weakness. All the goals Milan scored were right through the heart of defense, a cause for concern for the likes of Cannini and Astori, a much respected duo in the Serie A. With the game in the bag, Allegri nodded to Inzaghi who was met with a deafening cheer.

Milan were presented with the trophy on this night. Four Italian models smoked television screens the world over by walking on the red carpet which accounted for unnecessary distraction at the presentation ceremony. But when Boatang wore the black hat and made the moves, the beauties dimmed into the darkness. Boatang set the stage alight with his impersonation of Michael Jackson followed by an explosive party to celebrate Milan's eighteenth Scudetto.

Milan - Robinho 22', 35', Gattuso 23', Seedorf 77'

Cagliari - Cossu 38'

The Curse

Delio Rossi does it, again

PALERMO 2 MILAN 1

The biggest frustration in a Milanista's life is Milan's incapability to overhaul the curse of Palermo. Coppa or the Serie A, Milan have no answer to this pink juggernaut. What Palermo possess is the hunger and the drive to succeed. Not winning this tie was out of question for Delio Rossi's men. Reaching the final in Rome would almost guarantee a place in Europe next season, a prize worth fighting for. Pastore and Ilicic started behind Hernandez. Antonini was handed a rare start by Allegri. Palermo made their intentions known right from the start. They attacked Milan from the flanks and down the centre. Milan defended deep providing Palermo with ample space to dictate the game in midfield. Milan's defenders invited Pastore into the box which increased his threat dramatically. He thrived on the space provided to him and he ran straight at the defense. He turned on the style with the nutmegs and the dribbles, often getting into scoring positions. Pirlo played on the left of centre, spraying those beautiful diagonal balls and allowing the full backs to move up. The width stretched Palermo and Milan's attacking style expanded across the pitch. Abate's crosses bombed Palermo's box but there was no one to get on the end of these crosses. Allegri started with Robinho and Pato and neither of these have shown potency in the air. The man who does demonstrate the needed potency was warming the bench. Pato's prolific nature overshadows his characteristically invisible performances. He wore the 'invisibility cloak' for the umpteenth time and rendered another dismal performance. After a bright start to the game, Palermo ran down the clock by parking the bus till half time.

Delio Rossi might have turned up the heat in the dressing room during the break. His 11 resembled the 300 spartans in the second half. Their fearless attack and dogged defense numbed Allegri's men, stupefying them of any response. Palermo's philosophy had changed from parking the bus to attack being the best form of defense. Milan took the turn to sit back and hit on the counter but the team lacked the pace for effective countering. Robinho might end this season as joint top scorer at Milan but his inability to get past Ilicic in a one-on-one situation raised eyebrows. A forward gifted in trickery must be able to get past an attacking midfielder with relative ease. Especially when the club paid over 20 million euros to purchase him. Many fans were restlessly looking at the bench. Ibrahimovic had to come on to add an dimension to Milan's predictable attack. However, Allegri took forever to make this change. Pirlo exposed his defensive frailities when not in possession. He does not track back, cannot keep up with a pacy forward and is tactically stupid to judge a run made by the opposition. Pirlo does not fit this system and is visibly not the type of player who would thrive in Allegri's set up. Palermo knocked and knocked until Milan's defense cracked. A set piece situation. It had to be. Silva, who had a remarkable game switched off allowing Miglaccio a free header to open the scoring. Promptly, Allegri introduced Ibra hoping for some magic from the Swede. Palermo continued to dictate skill on the ball but also revealed their dirty side. Ilicic's dive saw Van Bommel walk, unjustly. Sometimes, the Dutchman gets undone by his infamous reputation. Milan now faced the impossible task of overturning this fixture with 10 men. Bovo also saw red which levelled the playing field. The task no less harder though with the clock ticking fast on Allegri's double. Allegri's act of desperation saw new light when he introduced Cassano for Nesta. These desperate measures did win him a goal, but not the game.

Delio Rossi won the match and the tie for Palermo. The disgraced manager proved that he is a superb tactician. Changing the mentality of the team over 15 minutes is one of the biggest challenges of the modern day manager and Rossi succeeded in this challenge. Kudos Mr. Rossi. Now to the final.

Palermo - Miglaccio 63', Bovo 73' (pen)
Milan - Ibrahimovic 90'

18

Allegri with the Scudetto

AS ROMA 0 AC MILAN 0

7 years ago, we won the title in Rome. 7 years later, we were going to seal the title in Rome. History has a funny way of repeating itself. The 18th Scudetto for AC Milan; a proud moment for any Rossoneri.

Ibra returned to the starting line-up. Destiny had it that the man responsible for Milan’s pole position in November would play the game that would clinch the title. A draw would confirm the obvious. Milan appeared to play accordingly; slow, boring tempo without any penetration. Roma had much more to play for. The glitter of Europe enamoured them and a promising future with an Italian-American beckoned them to give their best in this game. After failing to show up for the first half an hour, Milan turned the heat on the Romans. Possession stats began to shift in Milan’s favour and so did the chances. Bommel and Totti were having a private duel which kept the fire in the game. With the other players entirely disinterested in the match, the two veterans kept biting at each other to make the contest remotely entertaining. Just to emphasise the extent of indifference, Abate allowed Taddei and Totti to dribble past him throughout the first half. Admittedly, Taddei has some skill. But Abate’s pace is more than sufficient to counter mediocre skill.

Ambrosini replaced Gattuso at half time. Gattuso struggled with the pace of the opposition and his passing was appalling. His incompetence coupled with Abate’s indifference made Taddei look world-class. The tide shifted in the second half. Milan created several opportunities but failed to take them. Abate dramatically improved after the break and showed glimpses of his fantastic form. Vucinic’s injury forced Montella to introduce Borriello into the match. This change reduced Roma’s fluidity up front and made Totti drop deeper to collect the ball. The threat of Totti was therefore neutralized. Milan relentlessly attacked while Roma’s struggled to construct a single attack. Seedorf added to his tally of superb performances this season. Playing on the left of midfield, he covered ground effortlessly. All this at the age of 35. On the contrary, the very reliable Van Bommel had an off-day. He continually lost possession under pressure in dangerous positions only to be saved by Thiago Silva. The pain of watching this side play was finally put to an end by the referee. The party started right after. Much booze was spilled with half naked men running around the pitch like madmen. One of the more interesting sights was that of Oddo who covered 400m of the track around the Olimpico in less than one minute in the effort to earn a contract extension. Roma might reluctantly take the draw but they will gladly accept the prestigious tag of being the only team in the Serie A with two clean sheets over two legs against the new champions.

A Maniac Called Malesani

Alberto Malesani - your team listens to you

AC MILAN 1 BOLOGNA FC 0

Malesani proved to be Bologna’s saviour this season. His imperative involvement in aiding the club to safety brought him immense credit and probably thickened his head with an overdose of air. After securing the club’ position in next season’s Serie A, he allegedly told the media that ‘we can lose every game from now’. The team gladly adhered.

4 defeats on the trot, Malesani’s objective had shifted from survival to dignity. To make matters worse, his opponent were title-bound AC Milan. Milan drilled a hole in his objective right from the start. Flamini opened the scoring for Milan which put the home side in the driving seat. Bologna’s two brightest players, Gimenez and Ramirez were warming the bench, much to everyone’s surprise. Malesani probably thought to himself that he could come to a packed San Siro and pull the carpet from under the feet of the future Italian Champions. Idiot. Ambrosini started this game after a long injury lay-off and visibly struggled against the pace of the game. Milan failed to convert their chances in the box. With Ibrahimovic, Pato and Inzaghi missing due to various already famous reasons, the task of leading the line squarely fell upon Cassano’s shoulders. Flamini continued to burn the right side with his immense energy. The goal surely pumped his confidence which transmitted into the Frenchman’s output. Viviano impressed in goal for the umpteenth time, standing tall and proving to be the only resistant force for the Rossoblu.

Beretta eagerly waited for his chance on the sidelines. The Rossoneri faithful were rubbing their hands in anticipation, picturing what this young lad could be capable off. Malesani introduced Ramirez on the 54’ after learning that his side is probably not capable of altering the fate of the game. Cassano cannot lead a line for any team and he knows that better than any other. He assumed the frustrating role of setting up Robinho who characteristically missed one-on-ones. Zambrotta pushed up and played the role of a wingback throughout the second half. Seedorf covered for him in a counter situation while Silva too dropped towards the left of centre to prevent Ramirez from running riot. Zambrotta’s legs have given up on him. An old man can get off his chair faster than Zambrotta can cover ground. Thankfully, the left side of Milan will no longer see the lack of speed at least for a few years now. Malesani finally played the Giminez card with twenty minutes to go. Milan looked cumbersome and bored in the second half. Watching them play might have put Allegri to sleep. The bench remained the same with no activity whatsoever which frustrated the fans. When a change finally arrived, Pirlo replaced Boatang. Absolutely ridiculous, I thought. Beretta, Beretta. The prayers of the fans were heard at last with Beretta given 5 minutes to impress. And he did. The youngster showed glimpses of strength and pace but is very raw and perhaps is not mentally prepared for a stage like the Serie A. But, he is a promising prospect for the years to come.

Milan - Flamini 8'
Bologna - /

Ibrahimovic; a trequartista?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - Milan's new trequartista?

Milan's search for a trequartista is taking them on a world tour. From Brazil's Ganso to Belgium's Eden Hazard, the management is busy scouting the planet for someone to replace the huge void left behind by Kaka. Many have been tried in that position but none came close to emulating the Brazilian's influence. Perhaps the man to resolve Milan's concerns is already within the squad.

Contrary to popular notion, Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not a target man. He doesn't like playing with his back to goal. However, he has been typecast as one mainly due to his physical presence. Zlatan loves to peel off the defender's shoulders, get the ball on the sidelines and tread those fine balls to the on running attackers. His tally of 11 assists in the league go to show that he is a team player, one who possibly enjoys setting up goals for his fellow forwards. He is two crucial passes short of being the man with the highest assists in the Serie A. The stereotypical understanding of him being a target man has possibly reduced his effectiveness in the clubs he has played at with very little emphasis given to his passes and vision.

Zlatan is no Kaka. He will not run at defenses at the speed of light or dance around defenders with pretty feet. What he will do is find the forwards with the final ball with endearing efficiency. With his height and build, he brings an added dimension of strength to the attack. Milan could use him in the hole while employing two forwards infront of him. Currently, Milan's options include Pato, Inzaghi, Robinho and Cassano. A combination of any two with Zlatan behind them could wreck havoc against any opposition. Here is how.

Pato has got the pace to stretch defenses. He often finds himself in free spaces. Zlatan's vision can find the Brazilian, which we have seen a few times this season. Robinho will be more decisive and precise in his finishing if he isn't expected to drop deep. With Zlatan holding the ball around the box, Robinho could use his pace and his movement to draw a defender away and create space for the Swede. Also, allowing Robinho to play higher up the pitch could give him the freedom to unleash those mesmerising dribbling skills which the Milanisti have been craving to see. His biggest strengths are taking on defenders and sprinting over short distances which will be better utitlised if he is positioned closer to the goal. Inzaghi would thrive on Ibrahimovic's through balls and will constantly have one defender beside him throughout the game. The other defender would have to switch between the second striker and Ibrahimovic to prevent the movement or the final pass. I can see why most defenders may fret in moments such as these. If Cassano is played, Allegri holds the option of interchanging the role of the creator between Cassano and Ibrahimovic leaving the defense baffled on where the creativity would spring from. Hence, the sort of options that Allegri has at his disposal is flattering and much deeper than people would initially believe. Milan's midfield comprises of a couple of options who would attack the box from the left and the right when the team moves forward. Boatang and Flamini are enthusiastic midfielders who enjoy making late runs into the box. The availability of these players in the first team increases the scope of passing options present to Ibrahimovic. The width provided by the midfielders creates a gulf in the heart of defense which opens up sufficient room for Ibra to launch a long range effort on goal.

The challenge though, is in Allegri's system, the trequartista is expected to track back and do the dirty work. Boatang has therefore thrived in this role. His work ethic astounded oppositions and prevented the opposing midfield from launching quick counter attacks. But the Ghanaian is not as gifted as Ibrahimovic is. The graft is there but the craft is missing. If Allegri can get Ibrahimovic to work harder than a sloth does, Milan's attack will experience a dynamic change which could transform them into the most potent attack in Europe.

The Spirits of Relegation

Alesandro Diamanti - Brescia's diamond

Brescia 0 AC Milan 1

When the spirits of relegation come upon a team, one of two things happen. Either the team collapses like a monument with a cracked base or it finds unusual strength to battle. Brescia are battlers. They have not rolled over like Bari but are battling hard to survive. By the time you read this, they would have been relegated but they did put up a mighty fight.

Allegri knew he had to change things at the back. The Sokratis experiment had failed, there is no doubting that. The Greek simply isn't 'Da Milan' and should seek playing time with the raccoons of Parco Sempione. Yepes was called upon in this game to solidify the backline alongside Silva. The sense of automatic assurance trickled down the defense. Milan played with a high line which is unusual to Allegri's style. Abate rarely got down his flank, surprisingly. After a bright start, Milan fazed out of the game with no spark in attack. Caracciolo constantly won the physical battle with Yepes and posed a threat in the box. A similar threat was dearly missed by the away side. Cassano and Robinho are not natural centre forwards and love to hug the sidelines. The absence of a striker left a gaping hole in the box and often no one was on the receiving end of the crosses or through balls. To make matters worse, Boatang unusually played down the right as well and did not step up to become a make-shift centre forward.

The lack of a centre forward continued to haunt Milan. Cassano missed two headers and Robinho characteristically scuffed his chances. The passing was lateral due to a shapeless attack which hugely influenced Milan’s build up play. Boatang endured a disappointing game and looked confused about his role in the side. The Ghanaian suffered with no front men to feed or feed off. He did some defensive work but remained ineffective in attack. Allegri was preparing to unleash Beretta, a true centre forward, who by many people’s opinions should have started this game. Diamanti resembled a deer, jinking past several Milan players in Messiesque manner. The Italian troubled Milan’s cumbersome backline with his movement, passing and dribbling skills. None of this embarrassed Allegri enough who appeared to be waiting for Christmas to introduce Beretta. His patience annoyingly paid off when Cassano set up Robinho for the winner. Brescia pushed their men forward to grab the three points like most English clubs do, albeit in suicidal fashion, and were duly punished on the counter. Just then, Allegri implemented his provincial club mentality by substituting Cassano for Ambrosini.

Yes, Milan won. But there is not much pride in winning 1-0 against Brescia. Allegri is highly praised for his man-management skills but when it comes to showing balls on the pitch, he tends to shy away. Beretta merited a start in this game. The highly regarded centre forward’s hunger and drive combined with his Primevera form could have resulted in a comfortable win. I also have a problem with his provincial club mentality as mentioned before. Allegri takes a 1-0 with much pleasure against teams he should be thrashing and making a statement. One big flaw in the otherwise sound manager. One big flaw.

Enough with the Papa

Sokratis Papastathapolous - The Greek must go

AC Milan 2 Palermo 2

Max Allegri has consistently reiterated the importance of the Coppa Italia. I for one think of it to be a vital trophy while the likes of Adriano Galliani treat it like a mickey mouse cup. I suppose that is fair but the irony kicks in when the same people take great pride in winning Intertoto Cups and Club World Cups. Coming back to Allegri, he never downplayed the relevance of this competition.

However, when he fields Sokratis and Massimo Oddo in the same team, one would have question his motivation. This anomaly somehow got balanced with Zlatan and Andrea Pirlo returning to the starting line-up. Call it tactical genius or sheer luck but Oddo combined with Zlatan for the opener. Milan surprisingly had the upper hand in a game against Palermo. Sokratis hates to keep a low profile and added to his long list of dreadful mistakes. His poor man marking allowed Javier Pastore to charge at Marco Amelia and slot the ball past the keeper. Suspect keeping again from Amelia who completely avoided guarding his near post. The full backs kept bombing down the flanks for both the teams. Palermo have the best pair of full backs in the league but not the quickest by any stretch of imagination. Mattia Cassani's lack of pace was stripped bare when Luca Antonini out ran him on several occasions. Up front, Zlatan had characteristically fazed out after his goal.

Palermo do not have a air tight defense. Far from it actually. They have been hammered by less flattering attacks than Milan but the Rossoneri find it hugely challenging to penetrate Delio Rossi's pink wall. The Italian has educated himself on Milan incredibly well and knows how to organise his side when he takes on the Lombardy giants. He makes it very hard for Milan to score against him. On the contrary, Milan's defense were clueless against the trickery of Palermo's forwards. Abel Hernandez in particular was proving to be too slick for the Milan defense so they resorted to playing a high line of defense. This tactic backfired and Abel got behind the defense before unleashing a furious shot to give the away side the lead. Predictable. Palermo ahead of Milan, again. Thankfully, Thiago Silva was ever present to clean up Sokratis' mess. Allegri had not given Sokratis too many chances this season and might just have given the Greek defender his last chance to represent Milan. Allegri finally rigged some changes by bringing on Emanuelson and Robinho thereby injecting pace into a slow, predictable Milan side. Even then, Milan played direct, playing the long ball to Zlatan which was dealt very professionally by Dorin Goian and Guilio Miglaccio. Both these players marshaled Ibrahimovic and gave him very little to work with. They are physical players and matched the bid Swede with strength. Therefore Milan's decision to continue playing a direct style baffled me. Antonini isn't a good right back, much less a left back. His attempts to cross with his left foot can go into a video guide of 'how not to cross'. Milan's lack of a natural left back has killed the width in the team. That added dimension of play might have made a drastic difference in this game. Zlatan got a lot of attention from the opposition team. He was clearly pinpointed as the danger man for Milan and probably had his name written in bold letters in the Palermo dressing room. He continued to draw players to him which gave room to the others to move into attack. Emanuelson became the impact sub as he ran into space and unleashed a left footed drive to equalize. Emanuelson makes a great impact sub, he brings the vibrancy and the enthusiasm to attack tired legs towards the end which has proven to be crucial. Allegri has identified the Dutchman's role in this side for this term. Until he has that leap in quality, I don't see him being anything more.

The game ended in a draw with Milan now forced to get a result at the Renzo Barbera. If I didn't know better, I would say adios amigo to the Coppa. This is a pressure situation for Allegri, a much bigger task than many would like to believe. Out of the remaining teams in the competition, Palermo are the only ones who seem like they have an appetite to lift this cup. To snatch it from them at the Renzo, where Milan haven't won in 5-6 years is going to be a challenge that will test Allegri. He is certain to fail this test if he is decides to field Sokratis again.

Milan - Zlatan 4', Emanuelson 76'
Palermo - Pastore 14', Hernandez 53'