The Devil Inside

December 17th, 2011 | by: gadsby | Comments Off

So yesterday, the 16th of December, AC Milan celebrated (I don’t want to know how) 112 years of a glorious and rich history spanning back from the club’s foundation as The Milan Cricket and Football Club in 1899 to the present. As a tip of the hat to this fine sporting institution, I will dedicate this post to that faction of Milanese society that is eligible to play for another fine, some may say finer, institution, the Italian national team, one half of the pure and unabridged reason for this blog’s existence, the other half being to spread evil rumours about a defenceless old lady.

Milan, like most Italian sides, have played precious little amounts of possible Azzurri fodder, coach Allegri mostly delegating either foreigners and/or aged relics of the 1990s, the two not necessarily being mutually exclusive, to set foot on the pitch of the Stadio Meazza. This unpleasant state of affairs has been somewhat rectified recently by the inclusion in the Rossonero fold of new signings Antonio Nocerino and a rare and exotic beauty in Alberto Aquilani, to play alongside Ignazio Abate and Antonio Cassano.

Antonio Nocerino has benefited immensely from his move to Milan, immediately settling in well to Massimiliano Allegri’s tactics. To think; it was a move that only happened due to Mathieu Flamini’s late preseason injur. Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani, seeing his team in need of a defensive midfielder, moved quickly to sign Nocerino, who had carved out a reputation as a solid if generally unspectacular regista at Palermo. Acquired for 500,000 Euros, I think it can be safely assumed that Nocerino is one of the best signings of the season, possibly only topped by Juventus’s Andrea Pirlo, whose once untouchable slot in defensive midfield is now filled by Nocerino. The ex-Palermo man would be a nailed on certainty in Prandelli’s plans if it weren’t for the emergence of the long dormant sleeping dragon in Claudio Marchisio, who has given the Juve tifosi some mouthwatering performances this season, despite the considerable disadvantages of being vastly overrated.

Another new signing, only marginally cheaper than Nocerino, has come in the form of Alberto Aquilani, on loan from Liverpool at a fee of 600,000 Euros. Aquilani played with distinction for Juventus last season, providing the glue in the Old Lady’s fragile midfield in a season which saw the Turin minnows finish an admirable seventh, thanks to the transfer nous of Giuseppe Marotta, who has worked wonders in Piedmont on a threadbare budget. Aquilani has so far replicated his excellent yet unpredictable form of last season for the Rossoneri, and has performed admirably for the Azzurri when called up, though he has faced competition in the Trequartista role from fellow stunner Riccardo Montolivo.

As for Il Diavolo’s other two potential representatives in the earthly manifestations of the whiles of Cesare Prandelli, namely; Antonio Cassano and Ignazio Abate, their posit. (as Bertie Wooster would put it) is marvellously tenuous, with Cassano, though a guaranteed squad player, proving himself to be a much less pivotal member of Prandelli’s plans than he was in, say, this time last year. The continued (though delayed to injury) emergence of Giuseppe Rossi may scupper his chances of an automatic starting spot with La Nazionale once back from injury. This dilemma, however, is of the more pleasant kind for us as supporters.

As for Abate, I think the situation at right back has been extremely well documented on this blog. While the blond angel has shown magnificent pomp and form in the red and black of Milan, Christian Maggio has done likewise in Azzurro of Napoli, causing a similarly pleasant headache for Prandelli. It is my opinion, however controversial it may be, that Abate should be a starter. Feel free to get the pitchforks.

Nonetheless, let us remember the reason for the season. Happy (belated) birthday, Milan, and may you for many years continue to provide La Nazionale with quality players without, you know, actually winning anything. (my neutrality has a stretching point) Tanti Auguri!

Gadsby is on twitter, where he is entirely serious. He never makes a joke. Ever. You’ll be sure to like it there. Follow him @FJGadsby