DATE: September 23 2012
TIME: 1300GMT
VENUE: Stadio Fruili-Udine
It's matchday 4 and the task now is a trip to Udine for a joust with the Zebrette. For a side in obvious disarray as ours is, a win is almost as much as a neccesity despite it being something you can say for any game. The team's chemistry, interplay, or any other thing even remotely needed by Football Club's seems to have gone AWOL, and performances since the start of the season have been nothing less than atrocious. Three games without a win or even a goal at San Siro means it's quite a respite playing away from there for now. A solution would eventually have to be found to that malaise but for now an away game is a welcome sight indeed!!
The circumstances surrounding the team now are far from ideal but the one constant is that nothing but a win is required this Sunday. The big stories within the week have been the possibility of Allegri being sacked and the infamous bust up with Super Pippo. The papers seem to have reached a consensus that Allegri is playing for his job this weekend, something I think is quite far fetched since miracles can hardly be expected from a squad so low on quality. Allegri hasn't exactly made a stone cold case for continued employment with the team's insipid play and general cluelessness but a look through the alternatives hardly inspires any confidence. The best bet now is to stick with Allegri and hope he comes up with something new because with such a weakened team, sacking the manager just negates any progress made through pre-season till now.
UNDER-FIRE...? YOU BET
Regarding the row with Inzaghi, the farcical and obviously staged 'peace talks' on Milan Channel just underlined the fact that said row actually took place and relations between those two are anything but just fine. Allegri made the final years of Pippo's career hell (understandably giving he was way past it), but the Champions League snub is one I think Pippo is never going to let go. Both are fiercely proud men, so it's a situation we should keep an eye on. As one Milan fan mentioned, quite a shame it didn't turn physical; with Rino on the other end!!! Regardless, an issue like that is the last thing we need now, and to get the team down from sh*t creek requires every waking moment Allegri's got.
TEAM NEWS
ETERNALLY INJURED DUCK
Whilst quite not on last season proportions, the injury list is still quite substantial, with eternal resident Ducky, and Robinho, long term absentees Muntari, Strasser, and Vila. As if things weren't bad enough; Daniele Bonera has joined the injury list, BONERA!!!!. It's almost like all the gods hate us: we just need to see Antonini and Mesbah join them to prove how unlucky we are.
Abate should be fit again, as should Montolivo. Robinho apparently is a game away from full fitness, Pato roughly two or three.
Allegri has tried various tinkering just to try and find the right balance for this team without a reference point, but nothing seems to be working just yet. He still hasn't tried 4-3-3 though, despite the abundance of potential wing forwards. Expect the immortal 4-3-1-2 for tomorrow though, with a line-up looking something like this...
(EXPECTED)
4-3-1-2
Abbiati, Abate, Mexes, Acerbi, Antonini, Montolivo, Ambrosiini, Nocerino, Boateng, El Shaarawy, Pazzini
It's quite a shame about this Abate-De Sciglio sitaution, as at this period games are the one thing that would complete the kid's development, but Abate would probably get the nod. I personally do not think he should be shuttled to left back as some people seem to think, though he's more than capable of playing there. De Sciglio's quite the crosser, and he's the highest rated Milan player on Who Scored so far this season. It's quite a dilemna to have; though no one's complaining. Boateng needs to really step up, as he's been woeful so far this season. He still has Allegri's unquestioned confidence, but he has to start repaying some of the faith or he'd be a substitute sooner rather than later.
A game against Udinese is never an easy one. The Fruili outfit have been one of the most consistent sides in Serie A over the past few seasons, and Toto is always a goal threat whenever he plays. So don't let their poor start fool you, this is a side that can easily beat any top side in Serie A on their day, and I'm not quite so sure we're a top side anymore. In February, a win in Udine temporarily revived our season, and one can only hope for a similar result and effect on this team; God knows they need it.
MATCH FACTS(via whoscored.com)
*AC Milan have scored at least 2 goals in 12 of their last 15 away matches in Serie A
*There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Udinese's last 3 games in Serie A.
*There have been over 2.5 goals scored in AC Milan's last 3 away games in Serie A.
*Udinese have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 3 matches in Serie A.
*AC Milan are undefeated in their last 5 matches against Udinese in all competitions.
moonbyte
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