Defensive reinforcements on the way?

After the Curva Sud expressed their discontent with the entire organization, perhaps Milan is set to finally inject some funds into the club.

Spartak Moscow's Salvatore Bocchetti is headed to Milan. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Bocchetti will make the move back to Italy on a loan deal with an option to buy in the summer. The player has arrived in Milan to undergo medicals.

Here is what the player said about his move to a new club:

"I haven't spoken with Inzaghi yet. I'm glad that Milan wanted me and I'm happy to return to Italy. It's what I wanted...I hope to return to La Nazionale. Playing as a fullback and a central defender? I'm ready to do it all for Milan."

Along with Bocchetti, Genoa's Luca Antonelli could join the Rossoneri in a swap deal that would send Pablo Armero the other way. This is still to be determined, however it seems to be a distinct possibility for Milan as they need an upgrade at fullback and in the middle of the backline.

Another name being talked about is Palermo's Ezequiel Muñoz. Milan have reportedly offered €1.5M for the permanent transfer of Muñoz, according to Sky. However, there is still no official agreement between the two clubs so much like the Antonelli-Armero swap, it remains to be seen if the deal will go through.

It has been a busy day for Milan, yet a disappointing one as well. Milan were defeated once again by 10-man Lazio 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia, ending one of their chances at European play. After the match, Inzaghi's fate was determined as well, with the first-time manager reportedly safe at the helm.

More news soon to follow on Milan so stay tuned.

Mattia Destro to Milan?

Roma's striker Mattia Destro could be headed to the Rossoneri, with the clubs reportedly agreeing to a loan with an option to buy for the 23 year-old Italian international.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Mattia Destro could join the Rossoneri for the remainder of the season for €700k with an option to buy in the summer for a fee in the range of €15-16M. However, Destro seems to only want a permanent transfer or an obligation to buy.

Destro's fate could be decided any minute now as it's up to him if he wants to join Milan on the aforementioned terms. What we do know is that he prefers Milan over Tottenham, who were also reportedly interested in bringing him to White Hart Lane.

Mattia Destro, if he was to arrive, would finally give Milan a viable hit-man up top that could inject some offense into a team so thirsty for goals. The Inzaghi led club has scored just nine goals in the past 10 matches which is simply inexcusable for a side looking to make a run at European play.

Expect more news soon on the status of Destro's potential move to Milan.

Suso arrives in Milan

The 21 year old Spaniard has officially arrived to his newest destination, Milan. He has chosen his number and has begun his welcome party by paying a visit to Casa Milan.

Suso arrived in Milano today to finally make the move 100% official. The winger/midfielder will wear the number 8 kit previously worn by now Empoli-loanee Riccardo Saponara and of course, the enforcer Gennaro Gattuso.

Suso has also paid a visit to the newly built Milan base, Casa Milan where he visited the Mondo Milan Museum and the Milan Store. As previously mentioned, Suso arrived from Liverpool on a small transfer fee around €1M. The player has signed a four and a half year deal with the Italian outfit, lasting until June 30th, 2019.

Suso has not played in any Barclay's Premier League matches for Liverpool this season, but has scored one goal in a Cup match for his former club. Benvenuto Suso!

Milan continue to pursue Atletico's Siqueira

Milan are reportedly after Atletico Madrid's 28 year old fullback Guilherme Siqueira as they look to find an upgrade for the likes of a Pablo Armero and to replace Mattia De Sciglio after he was confirmed to be out for a substantial amount of time with a plantar fasciitis injury.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Milan are ready to make an offer for the Brazilian fullback Siqueira from the current La Liga champions. Siqueira would give Milan a nice fullback option to spell time De Sciglio to return as well as provide a plus-option over Armero.

Now, what Milan are willing to offer is still to be determined despite what we have heard from a few media outlets out of Spain. According to Mundo Deportivo, Adriano Galliani has offered €7M for the player but Atletico Madrid have rejected, demanding €10M.

Milan has struggled as of late and fullback has been an underperforming area for Inzaghi and the Rossoneri this entire season. More developments on Milan's pursuit of Siqueira should follow in the coming days.

Match Review: Milan v Atalanta

Milan fell to Atalanta 1-0 at the San Siro. German Denis scored the decisive goal for Atalanta. Milan have lost their 5th match of the season and have earned 1 point in three Serie A matches in 2015. (loss to Sassuolo, draw to Torino, loss to Atalanta).

Milan were, again, lackluster in all facets of the game. A defensive blunder led to a quick counter attack, leaving the backbone exposed and Denis made Milan pay. In the midfield, Montolivo was poor and was very careless with the ball at times, surrendering possession when Milan so desperately needed to control the tempo of the match. Bonaventura and de Jong were two of the better performers for the Rossoneri today. Bonaventura started in the midfield trio for the first half before making the switch out wide in what seemed to be a 4-2-3-1, after Pazzini came on for Cerci. El Shaarawy played on the left, Menez behind Pazzini and Bonaventura out wide on the right. El Shaarawy, despite receiving a knock to his foot, battled through it and played well for Inzaghi, creating chances for both himself and the squad. Aside from a few good individual performances, the overall play and result were disappointing, for a lack of a better word.

After the final whistle, the frustration was showcased in the Milan locker room as an apparent mix up occurred between two Milan players. According to Sky Sports, there was a brawl in the locker room between Abate and Cerci. How or why it erupted is unknown.

When the results don't show, things like this are more likely to occur. It's built up anger from below average performances against teams Milan are capable of handling. Inzaghi has a good enough squad to beat teams like Atalanta, Sassuolo and Torino so what are the reasons for not showing more worth in games against the provincial? The management is certainly a part of the problem but the manager has to get his side mentally and physically prepared for each match and right now, that doesn't seem to be the case.

Milan will take on Lazio next week, January 24th, at Stadio Olimpico. Milan beat Lazio 3-1 in the first match of the season. Let's hope we can get back on track. Forza Milan.

Suso joins Milan, will arrive on Monday

The 21 year old Spaniard has put pen to paper on a move that will see him in red and black for the foreseeable future.

Liverpool's talented young attacker, Suso, has made his Rossoneri move official after signing the contract earlier yesterday. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Suso has signed a contract that will keep him with the San Siro tenant for four and a half years. The player will arrive in Milan on Monday to finalize his arrival.

After Saponara agreed to the loan move with Empoli, Galliani was able to bring in Suso this month rather than June, which was the initial expectation.

Suso spent time with La Liga side UD Almería last season before returning back to Liverpool. He has played in zero Barclay's Premier League matches, however he did play in one Capital One Cup match with the Merseyside club, scoring one goal.

Suso can play multiple positions, either as a right winger/midfielder or in the middle of the midfield. Inzaghi has already praised the Spanish international in his comments ahead of tomorrow's match against Atalanta. Inzaghi spoke about Suso:

"Suso is a quality player. We are glad to have him earlier in January. He could be important player for us. Suso is a player with great qualities and can even play in the midfield trio."

Suso, as stated, is expected next week in Milan and he could potentially be available for Inzaghi's side next weekend when they face off against Lazio on January 24th. Benvenuto Suso !

Milan-Atalanta talking Saponara-Baselli swap?

According to Gianluca di Marzio, Riccardo Saponara of Milan has asked to leave the club, with Atalanta as a legitimate suitor for the 23 year old Italian midfielder. Daniele Baselli could be a possibility for Milan in this deal. Talks are still on-going after both club officials met today to discuss some players.

 Saponara has played very little since arriving from Empoli in July 2013 after having a spectacular season during the 2012-13 campaign for the former Serie B side, scoring 13 goals and assisting 15. The U-21 Italy international was deemed by many as the replacement for Kaká, which is simply a lot of pressure to place on a young player coming in to a club like Milan. However, we have been unable to witness his full capabilities as he hasn't been given the proper amount of minutes, which has caused him to want to depart.

 With Saponara possibly headed out of Milan, Atalanta's young midfielder Daniele Baselli is reportedly on the Milan radar. Baselli, 22, is a former teammate to current Rossoneri midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura, who moved to Milan in the dying hours of the summer transfer window last year. Baselli is a central midfielder who would help reinforce arguably the club's biggest need and that's in the midfield. Riccardo Montolivo has recently returned from a major injury but Milan still lack the quality and depth in the center of the 4-3-3 so this would be a player that could surely help.

 Additionally, there have been reports that on loan Dutch midfielder, Marco van Ginkel, could cancel his season loan with Milan and return to Chelsea before being loaned back out to Vitesse again. If this is the case, Baselli could fill right into the midfield mix at Milan. Again, talks are in the preliminary stages but it appears that Saponara will depart Milan this month and Milan could perhaps see some new blood in the midfield. Stay tuned.

Addio 2014. Benvenuto 2015

2014 was a rough year for Milan. We sacked two managers, one of whom is a club legend and the other helped bring the Rossoneri a Scudetto title in his first year managing Milan.We saw the departure of Mario Balotelli this past summer which was a sad way to cut ties with a potential long relationship together. 2014 wasn't friendly for us, at least until the latter part of the year.

Milan currently are playing well in December, with wins against Udinese and Napoli, a draw against the second best club in Italy in Roma and recently winning the Dubai FC trophy in Dubai against Real Madrid 4-2. Looking at Milan right now, 2015 could be special.

As for our account, we have come a long way over the course of 2014. We have connected with almost 2,500 followers on Twitter and have worked with Italian Football Daily and Rossoneri TV as well, which has been a real treat. In 2015, we hope that Milan can get back into the Champions League and reestablish themselves as a European giant once again.

On behalf of the A.C. Milan Brothers, we would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. We thank you for continually showing your support in what we do. To the first followers we connected with, thank you for staying with us. To those who joined us in 2014, benvenuto! May Milan achieve greatness once again and allow us, as a global Milan family, to share in the success together. Cheers to 2015 and Forza Milan!

A Niang-Muriel swap deal between Milan and Udinese?

According to multiple sources around Europe, Milan and Udinese are discussing a potential swap deal for two players perhaps looking to make a change. The 20 year old Milan forward M'Baye Niang would move to Udinese while Luis Muriel would head to the San Siro as the Rossoneri continue to try and solve the issues up top. 

Niang has been with Milan for a few years already and was considered to be a future starter with Milan upon arrival. However, the lack of minutes for Niang has given Milan fans the indication that perhaps he isn't expected to be a part of the club for much longer. There is little doubt about his ability. Niang has speed, size and raw talent that managers would love to get in their squad. Despite his lack of playing time, he still has good value for a team looking for a player to develop.

Muriel is a different story. The 23 year old Colombian international has always received praise for his ability. However, questions surrounding his weight have caused issues with his managers. In 2012,

former Udinese manager Francesco Guidolin told La Gazzetta dello Sport that "if he wants to talk with me, he should lose 5 pounds." So this isn't the first time that Muriel has been criticized for his lack of preparation and conditioning. 

Most Milan supporters would be opposed to any deal bringing Muriel to Milan given his issues. However, the Rossoneri has good history in dealing with players with question marks not including talent, with the most recent player being Adel Taarabt. Many, including myself, questioned the move for a few reasons. However, Taarabt understood that he was playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe and he made the most of it. I'm not saying that Muriel will come here and definitely perform but its worth noting that he is only 23 and still hasn't touched his ceiling. 

Muriel has great ability and in 2012, he showcased that. The Colombian was awarded Serie A Young Footballer of the Year for 2012, sharing the honor with Stephan El Shaarawy. If I'm Adriano Galliani, I would definitely consider bringing in Muriel while he is a potential buy-low option with upside. This could be a player that shows his worth with Milan, his first big stage club. 

Each player's agent has reportedly denied any deal. However, that certainly doesn't rule out any move between the two clubs looking to address needs this January transfer window. Newcastle United is also reportedly interested in Niang so keep your eyes on any news surrounding him this January. 

Latest: Alessio Cerci-Fernando Torres swap deal.

 For the past few weeks, there have been ongoing talks about a potential Cerci for Torres swap deal between Atletico Madrid and A.C. Milan. On Christmas Eve, talks began to heat up as Milan and Atletico Madrid reportedly agreed to the deal that would send Italian attacker Alessio Cerci to Milan and Fernando Torres back to his very first club, Atletico Madrid. 

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the deal would be an 18 month loan for both players. Each club paying the wage load for their current player. Milan would have to pay the wages for Torres while Madrid would do the same for Cerci, however, there have been talks about Torres possibly restructuring his wage pay to make the deal easier but this is a mere rumor in the deal.

Also according to Di Marzio, Atletico Madrid are exploring options to find a team for Mexican striker Raul Jimenez which is important in making this deal happen for financial reasons. Regardless of what happens with Cerci, the Madrid party desires a reunion with their former number 9, "El Niño. "

It appears that Milan and Atletico Madrid have agreed to the deal as well as Fernando Torres. The "yes" from Cerci is all that needs to be made to finalize this deal but it appears that Cerci can either accept a loan deal to Milan or he will stay at the Spanish club, ruling out a potential move to Inter Milan.

The deal has not been finalized just yet so stay tuned on Twitter to the reliable sources for more news on this potential deal as well as others throughout the entire January transfer window. We will continue to update this blog post to bring you the latest news on the deal.

Source: Gianluca Di Marzio's Twitter account, @DiMarzio. gianlucadimarzio.com

UPDATE(as of 12/27/14)

According to Sky and Milan Channel, Alessio Cerci has agreed to the 18 month loan move to Milan. Cerci's "yes" was the final step in completing the Cerci-Torres swap deal between Milan and Atletico Madrid. Here are some of the details on the entire move, according to Milanello (@Milanello).

-Milan have announced that they have signed Torres in a permanent deal from Chelsea
-Cerci is expected to arrive in Dubai tomorrow (Dec. 28th). He could get his unofficial Milan debut against Real Madrid on Tuesday
-Cerci is expected to sign the contract with Milan later tonight or tomorrow. He's on his way to Madrid now (Sky)
-Cerci will most likely undergo the medical tests on January 2nd at Milanello and at the Madonnina clinic

Fernando Torres has made a permanent move to Milan, which will then see him loaned out for 18 months. The former £50mil man will return back to his boyhood club where he stamped his name into world football as an elite striker. He ends his Milan tenure with just 1 goal in 10 Serie A matches. On January 5th, 2015, Torres will make the permanent move to Milan before being loaned to Atletico Madrid.

Cerci is expected to finalize his move to Milan next week and could have his Milan Serie A debut against Sassuolo on the 6th of January.

More details should continue to follow regarding the disbursement of wages of each player and how they will be paid.

Q&A: Daniel Gutman (@muntarinho)

Daniel Gutman is a passionate fan of football, spanning across Europe. He follows and covers Serie A, Eredivisie and the Premier League. A Chief Milan correspondent for Italian Football Daily, columnist for @football_oranje, @StuySpectator and owner of inoffthecrossbar.com (@IOTCdotcom), Daniel does a ton of work discussing the beautiful game.  He was kind enough to answer some questions for me. Here were his responses.


Q: I enjoy hearing how people gravitate to a club they wind up loving. How did you begin supporting Milan?

A: "My dad was a Milan fan for a good chunk of his life and I suppose he got me into supporting the club when I was young. Although I suppose that PES 2006 (Pro Evolution Soccer) got me to love Milan rather than just calcio as a whole. That team was immense and I think I understood why I was so attracted to the club whilst playing exclusively as Milan during my time with PES. Gattuso, Pippo, Kaka, Costacurta. What a group of players that was. That was the point of no return for me, and the rest, as they say, is history."

Q: You cover an array of different football, from Dutch to Italian. Which league do you enjoy covering the most and why?

A: "Definitely Serie A, although the Eredivisie is a very close second. Eredivisie is infinitely more exciting and entertaining to watch, and every year there is an influx of young talent starring in the place of those who left. Serie A is a tad less interesting when it comes to the title race because, as much as it pains me to say it, Juventus are going to be top for God knows how many more years. Roma are also pretty much set in their position, as no club has shown a capability to challenge for 2nd. However, the race for 3rd is almost as exciting as the title race in a non-one-sided league. I suppose it could be linked to the Premiership race last season between Chelsea, City, and Liverpool, except there are 5-6 teams fighting for 3rd instead of the 3 title challengers in England."

Q: You are a consistent contributor to Italian Football Daily, among other sites. How does being a valuable member of the staff make watching football that much more enjoyable?

A: "It has given me a new way to watch calcio. Doing things like player ratings or match reviews has forced me to pay a lot more attention to individual players and the details of their performances. I had done this before starting with IFD but working with the site has definitely increased both my knowledge of calcio and has helped me watch matches in a more intelligent way."

Q: For Milan, what do you see Inzaghi and the men (and woman) upstairs doing this January to bolster the squad?

A: "Realistically? Not much. I suppose that Vangioni lad who's been linked to the club since the summer will join, but that raises the question of what to do with our fullbacks. There would be too many, and the possibilities I see are either Armero's loan gets terminated or a sale of De Sciglio. Beyond that, I can see us going for a player whose contract expires in 2015 because they'd be fairly cheap."

Q: Finally, you back Liverpool as well in the Premier League. Is this Mario Balotelli's final big club?

A: "Balotelli is an interesting case. I think that it is a bit too early to judge him on his time with Liverpool because nobody is really performing outstanding on the team. As for his behavior, I think he is at the end of the road. More nonsense like his Instagram post or some other regrettable action could well mean that no big club will want to sign him. He is very close to turning into a less technically gifted (Antonio) Cassano."

Again, I just want to thank Daniel for taking a few minutes to answer some questions for this fan blog post. If you don't follow Daniel on Twitter, please do so. He works hard to bring his views and thoughts to the forefront of football. Give him a follow, @muntarinho.

Q&A: Adamo Ritacco (@AdamoRitacco)

Adamo Ritacco is a panelist on Rossoneri TV on a consistent basis. He does a good amount of work on there, shedding light on all things surrounding the Rossoneri. As a passionate fan of the game, Adamo was kind enough to answer some questions for me. Here is my Q&A with the man himself.





Q. I ask everybody. Let's hear your story on how you became a Milanista. Why this club over others?

A: "I'll admit it, I nearly became a Romanista, mainly due to the fact that Francesco Totti has been my idol since I could remember, but something about the red and black of Milan shouted out to me. I couldn't resist. It wasn't even due to all of the legendary players they had at the time, more so, the connection I felt when I first saw them walk onto the pitch."

Q. It's very early in his managerial career, but what traits do you see in Pippo Inzaghi that you can compare to past/present managers?

A: "The thing I like about Inzaghi is that he thrives off the unity/confidence of the squad. something Milan have been missing in recent years. Not that Milan is a complete unit at the moment, but he's guiding them to the right path. The key will be to find consistency within the squad as a whole. I'm willing to give him time."

Q. In your eyes, who has been the top performer for Milan in 2014?

A: "In my opinion, it's got to be Menez for the amount of important goals he's scored for the club. There's a bunch of other mentions I could make but he stands out for me."

Q. You contribute on a weekly basis to Rossoneri TV and occasionally Italian Football Daily. How does your work impact football for you?

A: " I feel that it gives people something to look forward to, as well as being something they can rely on either as a source or for a sense of entertainment. I love working within football as it's always been my dream, and hopefully I can make it to another level."

Q. Finally, I want a quick prediction from you. Does Milan make Champions League this season? And is it contingent on what they do/don't do in the January mercato?

A: "It's definitely a possibility. There are plenty of teams fighting for the position, which makes it an even tougher objective to obtain. I can see them making Europe at the very least."


Once again, I just want to thank Adamo for taking the time to answer some questions for a string of fan blog posts we are doing for the AC Milan Brothers account. If you don't follow Adamo on Twitter, please do so, @AdamoRitacco.

Q&A: Gio, from Rossoneri TV

If you follow Milan and you enjoy being involved in the large Rossoneri community that has evolved on Twitter, then you definitely know what super-account, Rossoneri TV, is all about. Rossoneri TV has amassed a large following on Twitter with over 2,000 followers. Gio, the account manager, also takes to Youtube, which he uses to share match previews/reviews, fan reactions and breaking news surrounding the Rossoneri among other things.

Over the past several weeks, my brother and I have been frequent guests on his Youtube videos and he truly has found a unique way to bring the entire Milan universe together with his work.

Because he has welcomed the AC Milan Bros (@ACMilanBros) numerous times on his post match reviews, he decided to take some time to  answer a few questions for me.


Q: How did you become a Milan fan? What attracted you to this club as opposed to other clubs in Europe?

A: " I became a Milan fan at the age of 9. My Italian decent definitely played a part in me choosing Milan over other clubs. At the time, Inzaghi, Maldini, Gattuso and Nesta were the players that I enjoyed watching the most. Shortly after, I developed a love for the entire team. I consider myself very lucky to have witnessed some great club achievements such as the 2003 and 2007 Champions League title wins.

Q: As for Milan, if you had to pinpoint the three primary areas of concern for the current squad, what would they be and why?

A: "I think the three primary areas of concern for the current squad are reinforcing the defense, getting some technical midfielders, and getting rid of the waste. As far as reinforcing the defense, Milan took small steps this summer, however we are still lacking something. I always strongly believe that defenses make you win championships. Technical midfielders are another must in our current squad. I think we're pretty set as far as defensive midfielders go, however we need players that could make the defensive-attacking transition as smooth as possible. Finally, there is a list of players that are just taking up space at Milan and must leave. A mild cleanup was done throughout the summer, however the club must keep getting rid of the junk in the next transfer windows."

Q: How long do you think it will take for Milan to be back into the Champions League as a legitimate threat?

A: "I think right now the focus is getting back into the Champions League. We need to return being competitive in Serie A before we can call ourselves a legitimate threat in Europe. Without money being spent and without the appropriate players to challenge on all fronts, we will never be a legitimate threat again. When the club changes their current philosophy and demonstrates to the fans what they're truly capable of, then we can start talking.

Q: Long term, do you feel Pippo Inzaghi is the right man for the managerial job? And do you feel he is the one to lead us to a Champions League run?

A: "Pippo Inzaghi has the right qualities in my opinion to hold the manager job at Milan. For a club that currently has many problems and has to do without top players (unlike the top teams), I feel that he is doing a pretty good job. I believe fans are over-criticizing him at times when the results don't come. No one should expect any coach to perform miracles at Milan right now. I sincerely hope he stays at the club for a long time. It would be wild to see him win the Champions League as a manager after having witnessed him winning it as a player twice."

Q: Lastly, Milan take on Roma this Saturday, which is the last match of the year. Predictions? 

A: "Roma is a very strong team of course with qualities in every sector. They're currently battling with Juventus for the Serie A title and they will want to keep up the pace with them. It will be a tough match at the Olimpico on Saturday, but I don't write off our chances. Christmas could come early for us Milanisti. After a win against Napoli, our morale is high enough to capture a result against Roma."

If you do not follow Rossoneri TV on Twitter, please do so, @RossoneriTV. Also, be sure to subscribe to his Youtube channel as he covers everything one would need to know regarding Milan. Here is the link to his Youtube channel: (www.rossoneritv.com) Forza Milan!

Match Review: Milan v Udinese

Milan faced off against Udinese at the San Siro yesterday, a match with rather important implications. Milan, after drawing 1-1 to Inter the previous match, needed 3 points. Of course, that has been the case for weeks now as the Rossoneri have been prone to dropping points with below average draws against clubs they should handle. The result of this match ended in a 2-0 win for Milan, with both goals coming from Jeremy Menez. Here is how the match went.

Milan fielded a 4-3-3 formation that looked as follows: (Diego Lopez; Armero, Rami, Mexes, Bonera; Bonaventura, Essien, Van Ginkel; El Shaarawy, Menez, Honda) This formation included a few new faces like Van Ginkel and Armero, who both made their first starts for the club.

In the first half, Milan controlled possession and it wasn't really a contest. Milan created numerous chances to take the lead and run away with this match very early on but nothing seemed to fall their way. Still, the club continued to generate chances in hopes of getting that decisive goal which we thought came from Rami, who headed a ball into the net. The goal was not granted despite it appearing to fully cross the line. Later, it was shown to have been the correct call. The 1st half ended 0-0 despite the dominance by Milan.

The 2nd half wasn't nearly as dominant for Milan. Udinese began to control possession more and it seemed that Milan would really be in for another disappointing result. In the 54', Essien received a yellow card which would come into play later on. Despite this, Milan kept Antonio Di Natale in check as the defense was stellar and allowed Diego Lopez to break virtually no sweat in goal. The match would turn in Milan's favor in the 62' when Honda was pulled down by Domizzi in the box which resulted in a controversial penalty and red card decision. Honda appeared to have touched the ball with his hand prior to the foul but regardless, both calls stood. Menez put in the penalty easily, giving Milan the 1-0 lead.

In the 71', Essien would commit his second yellow card offense and it was now a 10-on-10 match for the remaining 20'+. But Milan would add a 2nd goal and one that seemingly sealed the win. Bonaventura fed Menez who made a great individual effort to put himself in scoring position for the goal.

Finally, Pippo used his 3rd and final sub, which brought on captain Riccardo Montolivo for Marco van Ginkel. It was Montolivo's first appearance in a professional match since the devastating injury ahead of the World Cup. He played a few minutes which was a nice finishing touch for Milan's 2-0 win over Udinese.

There were several solid performances for Milan, including Menez, Honda, van Ginkel, Essien and Mexes. However, the ones that stood out the most for me were: Menez, van Ginkel and Mexes. Menez of course scored the two goals, giving him 7 on the year already. van Ginkel started his 1st match and didn't disappoint. Confident on the ball and was at the center of many build ups. Lastly, Mexes turned in yet another solid outing. He seemed to be the leader in the back and as a unit, the back line was organized and prevented Lopez from having to get his gloves dirty. Again, many were solid and this list could include more than three top performers.

Milan have Genoa next Sunday, December 7th followed by Napoli and Roma to end the first half of the season.

Preview: Milan vs Inter

After the current international break for Euro Qualifying concludes, Milan will take on their most hated rival, Inter, in the newest chapter of the historic "Derby della Madonnina."

As it stands, Milan is ahead of Inter in the league table but only by a narrow margin. Milan is in 7th with 17 pts while Inter is in 9th with 16 pts. Of course, there is more than half a season of fixtures left but like Milan, Inter can't afford to drop points and fall deeper.





So how is each team playing and what is their current form? Below is a small review of both Milan and Inter as well a preview of the upcoming Derby della Madonnina.

Inter's last 5 matches w/ result:
Oct 19 v Napoli- 2-2 draw
Oct 26 v Cesean- 1-0 win
Oct 29 v Sampdoria- 1-0 win
Nov 1 v Parma- 2-0 loss
Nov 9 v Hellas Verona- 2-2 draw

Form: D/W/W/L/D


Milan's last 5 matches w/result:
Oct 19 v Hellas Verona- 3-1 win
Oct 26 v Fiorentina- 1-1 draw
Oct 29 v Cagliari- 1-1 draw
Nov 2 v Palermo- 2-0 loss
Nov 8 v Sampdoria- 2-2 draw

Form: W/D/D/L/D

Inter have 8 pts out of their last five matches while Milan have 6 pts. Each team could really use three points here as it would be big in moving back into one of the Europa League spots.

Preview:

With Nigel de Jong a question mark to play in the derby after sustaining a hamstring injury, I expect Inzaghi to strongly consider a different formation, perhaps one that is more offensive minded. He could maybe look at a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 with a centre attacking midfielder instead of a defensive midfielder, which is what they currently use with de Jong in the starting squad. Here is what the squad could look like with a 4-3-3 attack (again, STRICTLY an idea):

Lopez; De Sciglio, Rami, Zapata, Abate; Muntari, Bonaventura, Poli; El Shaarawy, Menez, Honda

The key players for Milan against Inter, in my opinion, are: Stephan El Shaarawy, Adil Rami and Andrea Poli. Obviously, Milan need Stephan to hit his stride and start scoring on a regular basis. His goal against Sampdoria on the counter attack was an encouraging sign for Milan fans. Adil Rami will need to be at his best for Milan if Alex cannot start. Inter have some good attacking players that will need to be contained and it will be up to Rami to anchor down the defense on set pieces, which has hurt Milan for quite some time. Finally, there is Andrea Poli who, if he starts, could be an x-factor for Inzaghi. Poli has always been a fiery player and one that shows the adored "grinta." If de Jong is unable to play, Poli will have to bring the energy and turn in a gritty performance in the midfield. Regardless of formation, I believe Poli will start and this could be the game he solidifies himself as a mainstay in Inzaghi's squad moving forward.

Milan need a good performance here, which is what they have been lacking since defeating Chievo and Hellas Verona in consecutive matches in October. A win would be huge for Milan especially in a game of this magnitude and with the next group of matches leading up to the winter break being pretty challenging.

Let's hope Nigel de Jong is fit and ready to go for Milan. He scored the decisive goal the last time these two clubs met back in May so his inclusion could mean the difference here. Forza Milan.

Milan in 4th after 9 weeks.

After each team in Serie A finished 9 weeks of matches, Milan is tied with Lazio on 16 pts but sits in 4th instead of 3rd due to goal differential.
Here are the standings of the top 6 teams in Serie A thus far:

1. Juventus- 22 pts
2. Roma- 22 pts
3. Lazio- 16 pts
4. Milan- 16 pts
5. Sampdoria- 16 pts
6. Udinese- 16 pts

As you can see, we are in for yet another tight race for European qualification. Juventus and Roma remain the favorites to battle it out for the Scudetto. However, the race for the 3rd and final Champions League spot as well as the two Europa League spots (4-5) could be a back and forth war until the end of the season.

Of course, Milan, under Inzaghi, are off to a better start compared to the last two seasons. We have seen quality play from the team's leading scorer, Keisuke Honda, and Ignazio Abate among other good performers. However, issues remain in the midfield for Milan as they still lack a creative presence. Stephan El Shaarawy still hasn't scored a goal yet this season but one positive is that he is fit and its only a matter of time until he gets into a scoring rhythm.

Additionally, Fernando Torres has only supplied one goal for Milan thus far, which arrived in his first start for Milan. Inzaghi has given Menez more time in the false 9 role so its still difficult to say what we can expect from Torres. Giacomo Bonaventura and Jeremy Menez have combined for 5 total goals which is a nice return. Still, unless Milan get production from El Shaarawy and Torres or perhaps Pazzini, staying in 4th place will be a challenge.

Despite being in 4th place, Milan have yet to get into a rhythm as a squad. Against some of the more easier opponents, they continue to earn just one point which could really hurt down the stretch. Sure, the point isn't bad but Milan have yet to play Roma, Inter, Sampdoria and Udinese. The positive to take from this all is that Inzaghi has yet to get the best of his squad. With the return of Montolivo and hopefully a more productive El Shaarawy, there is no doubt that this club could get back into a European tournament.

Top Performers Through 4 Matches

Milan has revamped the squad from last season and have added some key players to the squad as new manager Pippo Inzaghi looks to restore order to Milan and bring the Rossoneri back to the Champions League. Through 4 matches (Lazio, Parma, Juventus, Empoli), there have been some standout performers for the club that have surprised us all. Here are the top three players for Milan through four weeks of play in the 2014/15 Serie A season:

1. Jérémy Menez: Menez arrived from PSG this past summer for free. The move was questioned by many Milan supporters as issues surrounding the Frenchmen's work ethic and energy remained. Inzaghi was impressed with Menez in the friendly matches leading up to match day one so he decided to  start him in the false 9 position. In his first match v Lazio, he earned and scored a penalty goal to help seal a 3-1 victory for Inzaghi. Against Parma, he scored his second penalty and earned a brace by scoring a superb back heel goal in a 5-4 win. In four matches, Menez has 3 goals and has impressed everyone. Expect him to be a major contributor for Milan the rest of the way.

2. Keisuke Honda: Honda arrived for free last January from CSKA Moscow and was immediately expect to be a big contributor. People began to debate about whether he would be best suited as a right-midfielder/winger or a central midfielder behind the striker. In the second half of last season, Honda failed to live up to the immediate high expectations placed on him. It was unfair for a guy to be asked to be his normal self after changing to a completely different environment in Italy. This season, he has improved dramatically for Milan, playing out wide. Through four matches, he has scored 3 goals while assisting 1. Honda has looked far more comfortable this season, playing out wide while cutting in at times to score which he did v Empoli. Honda has given Inzaghi a quality talent on the right, a strong left footed free kick taker and perhaps a good scoring threat. This is the Honda we expected and he has shown why we coveted him so much.

3. Ignazio Abate: Abate has been with a Milan for several years now and has seemingly been the number one option at right-back. However, last season, he had a down year as did the entire club. Rumors began to swirl around about a possible departure from Milan but he has remained for at least one more season. His contract expires this June so his great run of form this season will surely appeal to many teams across Europe. Abate has always been a suspect crosser at a position that desperately cries for that ability. His ability to move forward and back to defend with sprinter pace has always been appreciated but his poor ability to swing in consistent crosses has left Milan fans questioning his stay. This year, he looks like a rejuvenated player for Inzaghi. He still has great speed and his work rate is just as good. Abate has improved dramatically as a crosser through four matches which is great for Menez, Torres and Pazzini who are the top three number 9 options. The 27 year old Italian international has arguably been the club's most improved player as he has finally learned to cross with consistency. In four matches, Abate has 4 assists (leads the team). Factor in his quickness, effort and ability to now provide good service on the right flank, Abate has been reborn. Milan will surely want to offer him a contract and keep him away from reported suitor, Juventus.

New "Kid" On The Block: The impact of Jérémy Ménez

The arrival of Jérémy Ménez to Milan for free this past June was, at the time, a questionable move for Galliani. Questions surrounding his work ethic and the impact he would provide swirled throughout the summer. But with 3 goals in 2 Serie A matches (both wins), Ménez is all ears, asking "and you were saying?"

Mnez arrived to Milan this past June for free in the hopes of lighting a fire under the rear of his career which seemingly started to decline a bit. PSG didn't have a place for him and when Pippo Inzaghi and management met with the player, Ménez instantly felt Milan was the right place to go to prove to the world that at age 27, he can still be a dynamic player. Of course, Milan had a few wingers already penciled in to be given ample time so Ménez would have to prove his worth both in training and in friendly matches leading up to the Serie A campaign. Ménez showcased himself at the summer tournament, International Champions Cup. This was his "tryout" for Pippo to see how much he could be relied on this season being as Milan lacked the amount of quality wingers needed for Inzaghi's 4-3-3 formation. Despite the club underachieving at the ICC as a whole, Ménez showed determination and energy which were two of the main concerns with him coming in. Still, most Milan fans wouldn't think much of just a few decent performances in friendly matches with little meaning. Milan is in a downfall and unless the club starts winning, individual performance don't really mean much. Postitive results are what Milan fans desire. Simple. We all wanted quality play in games with meaning and with the Rossoneri opening up the season with three tough opponents, one being the Juventus, this is the stage.

Match day one arrived and Milan opened up the season v Lazio. Ménez got the nod from Pippo to start up front in the false 9 position, a spot he typically doesn't play. Throughout the game, we saw the "grinta" and passion of not just Ménez but the entire squad. Pippo appeared to have instilled a different type of motivation into this squad that we haven't seen in some time. The club looked genuinely thrilled to be playing for Pippo and Milan. Ménez earned a penalty and scored it with ease, netting his first goal in his debut for the club. The result was a 3-1 win for Milan and Ménez, being asked to play out of position, performed extremely well and was Man of the Match in the eyes of most Milan supporters. At this time, Milan fans witnessed just a glimpse of what this player could provide.

On match day two v Parma, Ménez again played as a false 9 due to Torres not being active for the match. Again, it was the Frenchman providing the spark in the attack and even at times dropping into the midfield to retrieve passes. He was doing it all for Milan and the confidence Pippo instilled into Ménez paid dividends. He earned another penalty and punched it in but it was his second goal that caught the attention of not just Pippo, Milan and Serie A but also Europe. Ménez took advantage of a
poor back pass by the Parma defender to Mirante and he took a delicate touch brilliance to beat the keeper before finishing off the play with a nifty, out of nowhere back heel goal that had the manager erupting on the sideline. Milan hung on to beat Parma 5-4, earning 6 points in two matches.

Through two Serie A matches with Milan, Jérémy Ménez has netted 3 goals from the false 9 position. Yes, you read that correctly but in case you don't believe me, rub your eyes and read again. 3 goals in 2 games and he has instantly earned the confidence of Pippo. His motivation to score, the drive he shows up and down the pitch and his immediate love for the crest has ignited the Milan fans already. With a huge contest this weekend v Juventus, Ménez will surely get the nod to start regardless of whether or not both El Shaarawy and Fernando Torres are fit. Currently, Ménez is clicking on all cylinders and if this is what he will bring to Milan week in and week out, he will no doubt be the best signing Milan had of the summer.

"El Niño" Rossoneri-bound?

If you haven't heard, Milan have sold their best player in Mario Balotelli earlier this week to Liverpool as the Italian signed a contract with the Anfield tenant. Balotelli made a €20M move (£16M) and in the blink of an eye, Milan were faced with the tough challenge of replacing a player who scored the most goals and had the most assists last year for a poor side that finished 8th in the Serie A league table. With the departure of Mario, who will be the main man up top for Inzaghi?

Several names have been mentioned by multiple reports throughout the week including Roma's Mattia Destro, Liverpool's Fabio Borini and the now frontrunner to fill the vacant centre-forward role, Chelsea's Fernando Torres. After Destro's asking price exceeded what Milan wanted to dish out, he was ruled out. Borini, although a player Milan liked, wasn't considered a player the club was convinced with as he has been disappointing with both Liverpool and Sunderland who he played for last season on loan. So, Fernando Torres is the favorite to be Milan's number 9, also the number he wore for Liverpool when he was in the best form of his career. Let's discuss Milan's potential new signing.

Fernando Torres ( now 30 years old) has been nothing short of a disappointment since arriving to Chelsea in January 2011 for a record £50M fee from Liverpool. At the time of the move, "El Niño was 26 and despite the major leg injury he suffered around the time of the World Cup 2010, he was still one of the world's best at his position. There is no need to go into detail how bad he has been at Chelsea. All you need to know is that he has scored a grand total of 20 league goals in 110 matches. That is about 1 goal every 5.5 matches which isn't exactly impressive when you factor in his past scoring rate. What is perhaps more shocking is that he is still with Chelsea, particularly because they are a rich club who don't hesitate to go out and spend to reinforce the squad. Now that Demba Ba has been sold to Besiktas, Drogba has returned from Galatasaray and the big arrival of Diego Costa as the main hit man, Torres has finally been shown the door as he is no longer an option for Mourinho.

Of course, Milan need a striker and Chelsea want to allow one to leave. Seems like a match made in heaven for Berlusconi and Galliani right? Fernando Torres has become Galliani's top target for the number 9 role and talks have ignited between Chelsea and Milan officials as they both look to come to an agreement for the Spaniard to make a move to San Siro before the summer transfer window shuts. Let's just say Milanisti aren't too fond of this news and based on the current form and wages of the player, who would be?

Torres has reportedly agreed to make a move to Milan but only on a permanent basis, not a loan. Also, his extraordinarily high wage pay has put a snag in a deal to Milan as well as the contract length demands by the player. Torres currently earns about €6M/yr but it appears he could be set to take a pay cut of around 50% to join Milan if Chelsea agree to pay the severance package to cover the wages he is reducing. Torres' agent, Chelsea and Milan officials are to meet tomorrow to negotiate and fine tune the deal. According to Sky, Milan have offered Fernando Torres a 3 year contract worth €3.5M + bonuses per year.

Aside from the business view of the whole negotiation, Milanisti have taken to social media, Twitter in particular, to express their dissatisfaction with Torres as the replacement. After selling the club's best player for less than par value for a player of Mario's age and ability, fans feel that Torres isn't the man to help Milan win matches. Of course, we feel the same. Torres is a player we respect simply because he gives it his all on the pitch and he will take the field with no issues about work rate. However, most feel that he has little to give a club and he is far past his Liverpool days when he was one of the world's most prolific scoring threats. At the moment, we are disappointed in the reality that Torres could be leading the attack come opening match day v Lazio but Milan fans are veterans when it comes to questionable moves. However, once (or if) he becomes an official player of Milan, I will welcome him to the squad with optimism and open arms which is what all Milanisti should do as well. Remember, club first over player. Put your disgust aside and wish for the success and positive results of the club.

The Italian transfer window shuts on September 1st, 2014 so stay tuned to Twitter in the coming days as Milan could find a deal with Chelsea that would bring Fernando Torres to the Rossoneri. Forza Milan.

UPDATED: (as of 08/29/14)

According to Sky Sports, Milan have reached an agreement with both Chelsea and Fernando Torres. Torres reportedly won't receive any severance package. The length of Torres' contract with Milan will be for 2 years with a reported annual pay of €3.5M. Torres is believed to be arriving to Milan on a free transfer but it has not been confirmed so stay tuned to the usual reliable sources on Twitter (Di Marzio, Amoyal, Milanello etc)

Milan Channel are also reporting that Torres could undergo the medical tests tomorrow in Milano. The player should arrive tomorrow morning in Milano to take the medicals, the first at La Madonnina clinic and the second at the Milanello training ground, via @Milanello.

Is There Time To Save The Summer?

Late last summer, Milan made some major moves at the end of August, adding and subtracting from the squad. Milan sold Kevin Prince Boateng to Schalke but of course, Kaká returned back to Milan for what would be his final season with the Rossoneri. But with Milan supporters pleading for a revamped squad that can contend, can Galliani and the Berlusconi's save this disappointing summer transfer window?

Earlier this week, Milan were busy trying to regain the respect from the Milan faithful as they made some key subtractions with a few additions as well. Kevin Constant was sold to Trabzonspor for a fee north of €2mil and to fill the void, Pablo Armero has been brought in from Udinese on a season loan. Perhaps the most important move was the deal to send Robinho on loan for the season to Santos which could help get the ball rolling for Milan to address some areas of need this summer. Milan are also in heavy talks to bring in Real Madrid keeper Diego Lopez. Lopez is a player Milan surely need as Abbiati is nearing the end of his career and Agazzi already showing to be a disappointment in just a few friendly matches. Diego Lopez is a very good goalkeeper who would be welcomed with open arms unless of course his wage demands exceed what Milan is willing to pay.

The three areas Milan need to address before their first league match v Lazio on August 31st are the midfield, goalkeeping and of course, right wing. Milan appear to be getting close to securing Lopez but what about the midfield and right wing? Let's take a look.

Starting with the midfield, its quite clear that an upgrade is needed. The projected 3 midfielders to start for Inzaghi are Poli, de Jong and Saponara. Of course, Cristante and Muntari are options with Montolivo not expected to return until the winter months. In all honesty, I doubt this area gets addressed. Inzaghi will have to get creative and understand how his former Primavera players fit into the squad.

As for the right wing, Milan remain a suitor for Alessio Cerci with Atletico Madrid also courting him. With Robinho out, the time is now to pursue Cerci as he is the prototypical option to play right wing in Inzaghi's 4-3-3 formation. However, Niang has been showing signs of quality in the past few weeks particularly in the match v Chivas earlier this week where he scored the first Milan goal of a 3-0 win for the Rossoneri. The Frenchman is still a young 19 years of age and his better years are certainly ahead of him but perhaps this year isn't the year to become a starter for Milan. Honda is also an option outside although most would say he is playing out of position. Milan could also look to bring back Adel Taarabt who played well under Seedorf last season when he made the loan move to Milano.

Here is the bottom line: Cerci needs to be acquired. He is left footed and has tremendous pace which is just one of his many skills. Robinho is out on loan, making the move more likely. But will Milan dish out the €18-20mil for Cerci? Will they look to match the asking price for Taarabt? Or will they find the solutions from within the current squad? The final month of the transfer window could either be disappointing or enjoyable. Stay tuned. Forza Milan.