It will have been over 50 days since we played a competitive game when the Serie A schedule resumes on Wednesday. Here’s a brief recap of the first half of the season along with a look forward to the the season that remains.
WHERE WE HAVE BEEN
The season started off well enough with a home 4-2 win against Udinese. Theo got on the board, as well as Brahim and good time Rebic even started off in style in with a brace. The defense was sketchy and the game was back and forth but an opening day win is always huge, especially when defending the crown. Little did we know at the time, but the ups and downs of this game would foreshadow how the first stretch of the season would go. A condensed Serie A and Champions League schedule meant very little rest. Rest, rotation and some unfortunate injuries would challenge everyone. The Serie A campaign went mostly to script with the only losses coming at home to first place Napoli and on the road to Torino. It also featured wins against contenders Juventus and Inter. We arrived at the break in second spot. Not bad at all considering time was missed by Rebic, Origi, Calabria, Kjaer, Saelemaekers and Maignan.
Despite all those injuries Milan was able to circle the wagons and gain Champions League qualification. The campaign started off well with a draw away to Salzburg and a win at home against Zagreb. That was unfortunately followed up by 2 poor showings against group winners Chelsea leaving us on only 4 points through 4 rounds. Despite that Milan were able to power through with back to back 4-0 wins in the return fixtures against away to Zagreb and at Salzburg. What appeared to be an embarrassing group stage effort turned out to be a solid showing. Second place in the group and knockout date with Spurs would be our reward. Even with a few ups and downs in the first 3 months a second place spot in the league and CL knockout stage qualification isn’t bad. Through the first ‘half’ of the season Giroud led the way with 9 goals while Leao pitched in with 7 and Brahim with 4.
WHERE WE ARE GOING
The Serie A campaign resumes with a bang on Wednesday January 4th with all 20 teams playing on the same day. Milan kicks off the day away to Salernitana. From there it’s 9 league games in 36 days before a bit of rest. Getting back injured players like Calabria and Saelemakers will be huge. Maignan, a must have, remains a question mark. The latest update being a targeted return date of mid February hopefully in time for the first leg against Spurs. Both Theo and Giroud are questionable after playing all the way through the World Cup with France. It remains to be seen just how much time they will miss before returning full time. On Valentine’s Day Milan returns to Champions League knockout action for the first time in 9 years by hosting Spurs at the San Siro. It’s a long ways, a lot of games and even a transfer window between now and then. Hard to say right now what that matchup will look like. No matter what, that night is gonna be special.
THOUGHTS GOING FORWARD
- It’s a blessing that Milan had very few players go to the World Cup. The issue now is the 2 that played the biggest part, Theo and Giroud, played all the way through the final. They also play in spots we are incredibly thin at. Who steps up at LB and striker through this early stretch is gonna be massive towards our second half fortunes.
- As I touched on earlier and Gill did in the PSV wrap up, the keeper spot is all of a sudden very murky. I like Tata slightly over Mirante but neither is gonna offer much. With Maignan out until what appears to be mid February now the transfer rumor mill is starting to heat up. The possibility of a short season loan for Edoard Mendy is especially tantalizing.
- The CB spots appear ok with Kalulu and Tomori at full strength with Kjaer, Gabbia and Thiaw around to fill in the gaps. That group also gives us flexibility to switch to a back 3 if needed. The FB spots are somewhat thin til Theo recovers but that doesn’t worry me a whole lot. Calabria returning is gonna be big. He and Dest are both flexible as far as playing left or right. Kalulu can also play either FB spot if needed.
- Midfield DOES concern me. Tonali and Bennacer are fine but they can’t play every 3 days. Bakayoko is a train wreck. Pobega appears to be favored further forward. Krunic is a fine rotation guy but the king can’t start every game for us. Vranckx? Your guess is as good as mine. A 3rd pillar in that double pivot is a definite need for the second half.
- CDK and Adli… oh boy. After 6 months of watching both in friendlies and in spotty game action I am starting to get a little worried. I love Adli’s passing range but his decision making and movement is just SO SLOW. I’m surprised we aren’t playing him a little deeper, but him in the double pivot might be a stretch. Finding the right spot for him is proving difficult. CDK has me just as worried. There are flashes but then huge stretches where he vanishes. It’s still too soon to say he’s in over his head or not. Does he just need a goal to wake up? Perhaps a cameo at striker to fill in while Giroud rests is just what the doctor ordered. I’d like to see him playing off Leao closer to goal.
- Leao is a beast. No problems there.
- As mentioned at striker we need some options with Giroud out. Origi? Rebic? CDK? Lazetic? None has separated themselves via the friendlies. That has to have Pioli and Maldini concerned. No choice now but to play them in games and see who steps up.
- RW is just fine… right? RIGHT? Kidding of course! I still think it’s better than most would concede but long time readers know that already. My personal fanboy crush Saelemaekers is back which is huge for us. When he and Calabria both started on the right side together last season we were nearly unbeatable. Messias is also again healthy. Most importantly Diaz has proven he can hang over there a bit. If he can continue his solid form into the second half of the season that would be a massive boon for us. That all being said and positive thoughts aside, I’d still get in a car and drive Ziyech from London to Milan.
That’s it folks, Things are gonna come thick and fast. It’ll be reminiscent of the resumption of the league after Covid. A period by the way that Milan and Pioli totally dominated. Let’s hope he can reproduce that remarkable stretch.
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FORZA
Lisi