Serie A: AC Milan v Empoli

[artan]

Serie A Week 23 - 15 Feb 2015 (11.30 UK)
Milan - Empoli
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza
Empoli
Milan

Milan welcome Empoli on Sunday hoping to put their disastrous start to 2015 behind them.

The Rossoneri (9th) have lost four times since the start of year, and have endured another controversy-marred week after Adriano Galliani’s complaints about favouritism following Milan’s 3-1 defeat to Juventus.

His words have done little to mask his team’s deficiencies, Milan have conceded 81 shots during this period, with only Chievo [86] allowing more. Filippo Inzaghi’s men come into this game without the suspended Philippe Mexes, or Keisuke Honda, who is slated to start on the bench after the Asian Cup. Riccardo Montolivo is also unlikely to start.

The Milanese outfit is still very dependent on its star players, namely Jeremy Menez, who has been involved in 43 per cent of his side’s goals, with twelve goals (second in the league) and two assists. At least Milan will avoid the indignity of having their loanee Ricardo Saponara score against them as he is out with chickenpox.

The Rossoneri have a habit of struggling against opponents who play the ball with confidence, something Empoli [15th] have done with relish since being promoted in the summer. Mirko Valdifiori and Daniele Croce have monopolised the ball in midfield, Daniele Rugani has been linked to a move to Juventus, and three fullbacks [Elseid Hysaj, Mario Rui and the injured Vincent Laurini] have all impressed.

Maurizio Sarri's men were able to dominate Milan in the first half of the reverse fixture, going two goals up before allowing Milan back into the game thanks to Fernando Torres.

All is not well at the Castellani, however, as Maurizio Sarri had to answer more questions about his attack’s poor showing in front of goal before this weekend’s 2-0 win over Cesena. The team’s top scorer, Massimo Maccarone, still has as many goals [four] as Tonelli, a central defender.

Though Empoli have gained many plaudits for their football, the results aren’t as impressive. The Tuscan side sit only four points above the relegation zone.

Keep an eye on: Mattia Destro. The former Siena striker could make an immediate impact following his move from Roma. When he plays, he is lethal. He’s netted 18 goals from his last 22 starts, and 16 of his last 18 goals have come against mid-to-lower table opposition. Milan need the kind of stability that this kind of striker can bring. Destro has scored one goal every 131 mins in Serie A since 2012/13, an impressive stat by any standard.

Form Guide: Milan (D L L W L) Empoli (L D L D W)

Last season: Not applicable, Empoli were in Serie B.

Stat fact: AC Milan have conceded 9 goals from corner kicks this season, which puts them behind only Cesena, who are on 10. They face an Empoli side which just so happens to have scored more goals from set pieces than open play. 10 out of 21 of their goals have come this way, with Tonelli and Rugani netting six goals in total.


Milan (probable): Lopez; Rami, Alex, Paletta, Antonelli; Poli, de Jong, HONDA, Menez, Bonaventura; Destro

Suspended: Mexes

Empoli (probable): Sepe; Hysaj, Rugani, Tonelli, Mario Rui; Signorelli, Valdifiori, Croce, Verdi, Pucciarelli; Maccarone

Suspended: None

[artan]

A must win game. Everything else than three pts is shit. No slip up allowed. Do it or leave it for Pippo

[artan]

disaster

[artan]

With Inzaghi Milan have touched the bottom of the bottom. this cant go on like this. Empoli, for Gods sake,literally dominating the game at San Siro for 90+ minutes, outplayed Milan in every aspect of this game. I dont buy the story that these players arent good enough for Milan. Our defense was woeful in January, it is so still in February, despite making reinforcements in the mercato. It was painful to see Milan suffer at home against a minnow like Empoli. We dont connect more than 3 passes, we have zero movement without the ball, long balls are all we try to do. Lucky to have scored one and didnt lose the game.
Inzaghi, if he has any dignity, has to resign AS SOON AS POSSIBLEand possibly never ever try coaching again. Soon we are going to fight relegation, i am very convinced. after the game vs Juve, where we saw some positives, i thought we would turn a new page and beat the hell out of minnows like Empoli,Cesena, Chievo and Verona.

[drew]

With Inzaghi Milan have touched the bottom of the bottom. this cant go on like this. Empoli, for Gods sake,literally dominating the game at San Siro for 90+ minutes, outplayed Milan in every aspect of this game. I dont buy the story that these players arent good enough for Milan. Our defense was woeful in January, it is so still in February, despite making reinforcements in the mercato. It was painful to see Milan suffer at home against a minnow like Empoli. We dont connect more than 3 passes, we have zero movement without the ball, long balls are all we try to do. Lucky to have scored one and didnt lose the game.
Inzaghi, if he has any dignity, has to resign AS SOON AS POSSIBLEand possibly never ever try coaching again. Soon we are going to fight relegation, i am very convinced. after the game vs Juve, where we saw some positives, i thought we would turn a new page and beat the hell out of minnows like Empoli,Cesena, Chievo and Verona.

Inzaghi sucks! He's just too infant in his career for this job! This is the prime example of clubs trying to find a Guardiola on the cheap! Inzaghi should've worked his way up the league. Brian Clough once said his back to back European cups with Nottingham Forest were won at Hartlepool where he learnt the ropes

A manager needs to earn his stripes

[drew]

We have regressed since seedorf left. Seedorf had us playing aggressive football, we are getting dominated at home by nobodies! The squad isn't that bad. Seedorf Nearly dragged us back into Europe

[drew]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/...2/15/8951162/-

1. We shouldn't be counting on scoring a 1-0 win at home
2. It wasn't a bad team at all he started with

Inzaghi is out of his depth

[artan]

Pippo has no clue what he is doing. there is ZERO organization, everything is in a mess. i dont see a player who can pass the ball to the forwards,menez obstructing our attacks, honda is as fast as my 93 year old granpa. we have no game. fuck the stories inzaghi is telling, injuries, bad luck, red cards, this and that. fuck that, you are the manage of ACM and pls do behave so. i shall remind, that all you won as a coach, dear Pippo, is Viarreggio Cup with the Primavera.
i cant believe that Empoli had 7 shots and we only 2 for 90 minutes.

Quit here, go to a Serie B side, learn the job and then come back.