Milan Obsession

This week marked the thirteenth anniversary of the Milan Obsession Blog and the eleventh anniversary of the Milan Obsession Podcast. To help mark the occasion and help recap recent matches and discuss all things Milan, I invited Sal from the Curva Mundial Podcast back on. We took a quick trip down memory lane, talked about the amazing new fourth kits from Los Angeles streetwear company PLEASURES, then talked about recent matches and the current state of Milan, and more. The LA designed fourth kits are a sign that things are looking up.

On this Episode:

· History of the Milan Obsession Blog

· Memories from Milan the past 13 years

· History of the Milan Obsession Podcast

· New Milan X PLEASURES fourth kits

· Monza-Milan

· Milan-Rennes

· Should Milan fight to win Europa League?

· Bonus question

Thank you to Sal for joining me to help celebrate the anniversary of Milan Obsession and discuss all things Milan and Europa League. Check out his fantastic Curva Mundial Podcast on Apple or Spotify, and give him a follow on Twitter @CurvaMundialPod or also now on Instagram curvamundialpod.

Connect with Elaine on social media

@milanobsession on Twitter or

themilanobsession on Instagram or now

themilanobsession on Threads

With Milan in the USA, I wanted to talk to someone who attended one of the friendlies, so I invited Sofia back on, since she attended Juventus-Milan with me. We caught up on the recent news, the transfers, then we talked about the earlier friendlies, as well as the team here in Los Angeles. Finally, we talked about what it was like to be in the stadium, including what it is like to be female in the stadium, even though it is 2023.

On this Episode: 

• News of the Week

• Primavera Transfers

• First Team Transfers

• Milan-Lumezzane

• Milan in the USA

• Real Madrid-Milan

• Juventus-Milan

• Sexism in the Stadium

Thank you again to Sofia for joining me on the podcast, in the stadium, as one of my favorite Milan fans, and a fierce advocate for all people.

Connect with Elaine on social media @milanobsession on Twitter or themilanobsession on Instagram or now themilanobsession on Threads

With a tumultuous June, Milan dove head first into July and the transfer window. To share his Milan Origin Story and help me recap everything that is happening at the Club, I invited fellow Los Angeles fan, Nolan for this podcast. We talked about the sporting sector, the players who left, the players who returned from loan, the new signings, and tried to define what is going on and where Milan is heading.

On this Episode: 

• Milan Origin Story

• Transfers

• Sporting Sector

• Contracts Up

• Players Back from Loan

• Player Sold

• New Players Signed

• #Cardinale Out

• UEFA Ruling on Multiple Club Participation

• Cardinale's Milan

• Milan's Future

Thank you to fellow Angelino Nolan for sharing his Milan origin story and helping me break down all of the transfers so far and talking about the situation at the club right now. Follow him on Twitter @NolanHack for more West Coast energy.

Connect with Elaine on social media @milanobsession on Twitter or themilanobsession on Instagram or now themilanobsession on Threads

After qualifying for the Champions League, Ibrahimović retired, Cardinale sacked Maldini and Massara, and everything has fallen apart for Milan. Despite the hopelessness surrounding the club and a Maldini-free future, the transfer market, and the future, new guest Furat joined me to share his origin story and talk about (read: rant) everything happening to us at Milan right now.

On this Episode: 

• Milan Origin Story

• End of the Season Milestones

• Saying GodBye to Ibrahimović

• Maldini and Massara Sacked

• Cardinale's Cluelessness

• Uncertain Future

Thank you to Furat for joining me to share his Milan origin story and commiserate about the state of Milan. Follow him on Twitter @ItsFurat or on Instagram FuratAlajmi to support a fellow Milanista.

Connect with Elaine on Twitter @milanobsession or on Instagram: themilanobsession

Milan missed out on all of their opportunities for trophies, including exiting Champions League in the semifinal against Inter. Now we have two games left to make top four and be eligible to compete next year, so I invited a new guest, Sal, of the Curva Mundial Podcast to join me and discuss all things Milan. We discussed his Milan origin story, discussed the recent matches, and then talked about how we can make Milan champions again.

On this Episode: 

• Milan Origin Story

• News

• Fans Behaving Badly, Champions League Edition

• Injury Update

• Recent Matches

• The Future of Milan

Thank you to Sal for joining me to share his Milan origin story and discuss all things Milan and talk about how we can make Milan champions again. Check out his fantastic Curva Mundial Podcast on Apple or Spotify, and give him a follow on Twitter @CurvaMundialPod.

Sometimes things, big things, happen in life that stand in the way of getting things done. Other times, everything just converges and creates the perfect storm. The first reason is why this episode is being published literally a week late. But the second was the point of our whole discussion. Milan have faced a perfect storm this season, and we needed some good luck, as well. To that end, last week, I invited Frankie to talk about everything that has contributed to Milan's bizarre form this season. The good news that one week later, we can see that his good luck is already working... 

On this Episode: 

• News

• Italy in Europe

• International Duty

• Injury Update

• March Matches

• Primavera Wins

• The Perfect Storm

Thank you once again to Frankie for the fantastic conversation and being a good luck charm, as well as being patient while waiting for this episode to be edited. You can follow him at @FrankieMusso11 on Twitter.

This podcast has somehow survived for ten years... barely. And the blog has been around even longer, for twelve years, with over 2500 posts celebrating Milan. To celebrate these shocking accomplishments, I invited two very special guests on the show, my own Massimo and Sofia. They shared their Milan origin stories, we talked about news and recent matches, and then we shared some of my proudest, most epic moments as a Milan mom.

On this Episode:

• Milan Origin Stories

• News of the Week

• Injury Update

• Recent Matches

• Proud Milan Mom Stories

A special thanks to all of those who have been guests on the podcasts, as well as all of those who listen. My heartfelt thanks, too, for everyone who has contributed to, read, or commented on the blog, as well as all of the amazing people I've met via social media. It has been an incredible twelve years.

And thanks especially to Massimo and Sofia for supporting my Milan obsession all of these years. I am so proud to have the smartest kids in the world and the best Milanisti, too. Forza Milan!

No one is more harsh on a team or its players than the team’s own fans, and that is why we do midseason player ratings. Fans got a little relief after a much needed win against the mighty SPAL, having survived the wreckage of a tedious December tailspin. Luckily, the players were rated for their entire season’s performances.

For some fresh perspective this midseason, we turned to a new guest, Walid. Follow him on Twitter @Silm_213 . We chatted about:

Thanks again to Walid for sharing his passion and opinions about Milan. Please give him a follow on Twitter for more wisdom @Silm_213

Milan are celebrating their 119th birthday having just crashed out of the Europa League and then being slapped with sanctions from UEFA. Not the birthday gifts we were hoping for, but at least not playing in the Europa League might help curb our injury crisis. It’s enough to give anyone the holiday blues.

With nothing to celebrate, we needed twice the star power, so we invited both David and Pete to be on the podcast this time. You can follow David @DavidLSwan on Twitter and Pete at @PDAcquaviva on Twitter. Together, we lamented and laughed about:

Thanks again to both David and Pete for blessing us with their wit and wisdom. To further bless your lives, follow them on Twitter @DavidLSwan and @PDAcquaviva.

Gattuso just celebrated his first year as Milan’s head coach, so of course his track record has been under the microscope. But with recent results and performances improving, the microscope is looking pretty favorably at him. Much of the attention this week is turning towards Milan’s new CEO, Ivan Gazidis. Certainly, there is always plenty to talk about at Milan.

This conversation needed some genius, so we obviously invited Jovan to join us. We discussed all things Milan, especially:

Thanks again to Jovan for sharing his genius with us. Beware of exceptional genius wandering at large around Montenegro.

From Injury emergency to crisis to a full blown injury apocalypse, our season has drastically changed for the worse. Especially for so many of our players, who are personally feeling the pain of this apocalypse. We are already seeing the short term impact of these injuries, but they will also have long term ramifications as well.

We needed a true Milan fan to discuss our suffering, so we turned to Francesco. You can find out more about Francesco by following him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. Amidst the pain, we talked about:

Thanks again to Francesco for suffering with us yet again. Please follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8 to suffer along with him.

Like a most improbable dream, Milan are in fourth place right now. Which is a huge shift from recent years and shows that while our football may not be pretty, in fact it may be really frustrating at times, it is more effective than it looks. And that Champions League objective might not be quite so far away as it has seemed all of these years without it.

 With a win, a clean sheet, and fourth place all happening simultaneously, sometimes people get lost in the celebrations. That was clearly the case with our guest this week, so Jonathan and I took the reins once again. We discussed:

Any Milan fan that watched the Derby probably feels that all is lost. Coming off of an international break during which the financials were released from Yonghong Li’s Milan, it’s certainly not a fun time to talk about Milan. But with or without the aid of alcohol, those who bleed red and black must carry on. You’re welcome.

There was a man down after that Derby, so my cohost and I were forced to carry on alone this week. Despite our sorrows, immediately after the Derby, we talked about:

Milan have three wins in a row, and I couldn't be more frightened. Why? Because we cannot keep a clean sheet to save our lives. It’s like having an amazing dinner, but knowing you’re going to get mugged on the way home. Not being able to keep 90 minutes of mentality is already making our results shaky, but stand to pull the rug out from beneath us in the long run. And it’s not just one game, it’s happening over and over again.

An early game and podcast needed exceptional wisdom, so of course we asked Pete to join us. To find more of his wisdom, follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva. After the Chievo game, we chatted about:

Thanks again to Pete for Cutrone. Follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva for more brilliant gifts and wisdom.

Milan·s performances and results recently are lacking, but things are improving off the pitch. The announcement that Ivan Gazidis is finally going to come to the club as CEO was contrasted by lackluster performances on the pitch. Gattuso·s lack of exper

The clouds have truly lifted at Milanello, and the source of that bright shining light is not the sun, but rather the legendary Paolo Maldini. His mere presence has changed the atmosphere at and around the club. Victory is that much sweeter when he is watching his beloved team play as a director, where he should have been since he retired. He’s helped everyone raise their levels already, even Gattuso. That is the power of Maldini.

Even our guests were on International Break this week. But in their absence, we discussed:

Please try to keep yourself together for the rest of the break… Milan will be returning before you know it!

One game into the season and the media has already called for Gattuso’s head. Amidst all of the ridiculous hyperbole of the media and the fans, we try to sort through what actually happened in the match and perhaps apply a more realistic view of what might happen this season, particularly with our grinta-filled coach. 

Our guest this time was the amazing Debopam, who is one of the staff at goaldentimes.org. You can follow him on Twitter @rossoneri, and you should definitely check out the book “Tiro: A Football Odyssey from Amazon to Alps.” For this podcast, we talked about:

Thanks again to Debopam for his great conversation. Follow him on Twitter @rossoneri and check out goaldentimes.org. For a real football treat, pick up “Tiro: A Football Odyssey from Amazon to Alps.”

OFFICIAL: The Milan Obsession Podcast has signed Jonathan to a longterm contract as cohost. Details of the contract were undisclosed.

Following Leonardo’s example, we have signed a permanent cohost, and expect the podcast to also qualify for the Champions League of podcasts this season. So while we were under the influence of extreme optimism, we previewed the new season with unicorns and rainbows.

We invited Pavlo to bring his optimism agenda and his passion and wisdom to discuss the upcoming season. Follow him on Twitter @PavloBrk. Our optimistic party included:

Thanks again to Pavlo for raining down optimism upon us. Follow him on Twitter to hold him to his rosy predictions @PavloBrk

The long awaited Return of the King, Paolo Maldini, has finally occurred. I have a theory as to why, and it all started with one lucky fan. He won a chance to meet the team, but ended up meeting Gattuso instead. After that, Leonardo was hired on. Then Higuain and Caldara came to Milan. And finally, the return of Maldini. That is a whole lot of luck.

That lucky fan is Ricardo, who flew to Los Angeles from Texas just to watch the game. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram @Ricky7990. Who knows, maybe some of his luck will rub off on you. In the meantime, he and I chatted about:

Thanks again to Ricardo for sharing his great luck with all of us Milan fans and for his time on the podcast. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @Ricky7990

In spite of all of the changes off the pitch, I had the distinct pleasure of seeing Milan up close and personal here in Los Angeles. From stalking them at the airport to meeting Gattuso to watching them play right before my very eyes, it brought me great joy at a time when there are so many unanswered questions at the club.

My favorite intern, Jonathan, also has plans to see the team up close and personal this season, but at the San Siro. We discussed:

Thanks again to Jonathan for being a fantastic intern, a passionate Milan fan, and future San Siro pitch invader.

Another change in ownership, a ban from Europe, and a zero balance mercato. When will Milan fans catch a break? So much to talk about, but nothing that we would like to be talking about. And yet as fans, we are still here, still emotionally committed to the red and black. So it seems that hope is all we have.

A fan podcast requires passionate fans, and Pavlo is one of the most devout fans around. Follow him on Twitter for his knowledge, wisdom, and Milan passion @PavloBrk. For this podcast, we chatted about:

Thanks again to Pavlo for bringing hope and optimism at a time when it feels like all is lost.

Raduno literally means ·rally,· and that is what is supposed to happen to kick of Milan·s new season today. But what can we rally around? The new kit is poor, we don·t know if we·ll have Europe or not still, and now we don·t even know who will own t

At a point when our mercato should be taking shape and all of us getting excited for the Europa League and the season, we still have no idea whether or not we will be playing in Europa League. Which has put our mercato completely on hold and intensified rumors surrounding the financial stability of the club. Of course, there’s plenty of other corruption and douchebaggery in Italy to discuss, but it doesn’t change Milan fans’ unresolved pain.

I always enjoy going back to the beginning, and for Milan Obsession, that beginning included Jovan. A lifelong Milan fan and knowledgeable football connoisseur, he and I talked about:

 Thanks again to Jovan for listening to the rants and being willing to talk Milan when there’s not a lot of great stuff to talk about.

A season that was supposed to redeem Milan and the hopes of Milan fans took a sharp turn downwards with UEFA’s announcement that they refused to give Milan a settlement agreement. Despite the damper that put on the season and the far reaching implications that the news creates for our future, it was a good time to sit down and reflect on the team and all of our players.

When you want a balanced perspective on Milan, you should talk to Pete. So follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva. To wrap up all of the disappointment of this season, we discussed:

Thanks again to Pete for being willing to drudge through the disappointments and dissect our players’ season instead of sleeping or something productive. Please follow him @PDAcquaviva on Twitter.

There is plenty to talk about at the end of the season, especially our first full season under our new management. But in addition to everything on the pitch, fans have created a controversy that is literally larger than life. And I am not happy about it. So for this episode, you get to hear me rant. A lot.

Nothing is better than talking to a true Milan fan. Unless you get to talk to a true Milan fan who has also played professionally. That is why I asked Intern Jonathan on once again. In between rants, we chatted about:

Thanks again to Jonathan for listening patiently to my rants and being the best intern ever.

After a season of hot and cold performances, looming ahead of us is a cold, dark mercato where there is more confusion than clarity. Despite a meeting with UEFA and a shareholder’s meeting, there are more questions than answers coming from management. And to make matters worse, the future of Mirabelli at Milan is also swirling with rumors and speculation, leaving us further in the depths of confusion

Milan’s recent years have been so traumatic, longtime Milan fan David has become slightly confused about his allegiance. I think he checked out before Allegri left, so he doesn’t realize that Allegri has been at Juve all of these years. You can follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan to witness the confusion yourself. But I always feel bad for people with traumatic injuries, so I invited him on the podcast again. We discussed:

Thanks again to David for being a great sport and for humoring me my fashion expertise. Follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan to see if you can figure out which team he supports.

In six days we played three games and went from good to okay to the worst just like that. We also lost another starter to a season-ending injury. Milan·s scoring problem is finally unable to be ignored, and the historic worst game was enough to suck the

We hit a bit of a wall in our march toward a return to Champions League, with a loss and two draws in our last three matches. But whatever frustration we have with results and injuries, we also are blessed with a great leader to see us through the tough times. Whatever differences people may have, the one thing I think we can all agree on is that we are all on Team Gattuso.

Every team needs players like my new intern Jonathan. He can start, play 90 minutes, or be a super sub when needed. For this podcast, he stepped up once again and we talked about:

Thanks again to Jonathan for being an ideal intern and super sub and for sharing his wisdom and love of Milan with us.

For the past six years or more, Milan fans have been clinging to any hope available, with our dreams being crushed repeatedly like the endless crashing waves in the sea. But now, something has changed. Both on and off of the pitch, fans no longer have to cling to hopes. We have belief.

If you want someone with incredible prognosticating powers, then Vinny is your man. You can listen to Vinny and his sidekick on the Milan Weekly Pod and also follow on Twitter @MilanWeeklyPod and also @ACMClubMTL. He shared his genius with us once again:

Thanks again to Vinny for sharing his genius and especially for the amazing prediction of our unbeaten streak. Listen for more of his genius on Milan Weekly Pod and follow them on Twitter @MilanWeeklyPod or on @ACMClubMTL

Milan has made great strides forward recently on the pitch. And despite recent hiccups, a 13 game unbeaten streak with six consecutive wins and six consecutive clean sheets is some incredibly positive momentum. But stepping back and looking to where we were a year ago, just before the sale of the club, there is even more forward progress. Fans of every kind are already beginning to forget what the club has been through over the past six years and look forward to even better times ahead.

Pete joined us again to offer his wisdom and perspective. And speaking of wisdom and perspective, you can get more of it by following him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva. After the Genoa match, we talked about:

Thanks again to Pete for his wisdom and insights. Follow him on Twitter to abuse him or to enjoy watching others abuse him @PDAcquaviva

Games were canceled this weekend to show respect for a player who slipped away too soon. The loss of Davide Astori allowed us to take some time to consider what is really important and to pay our respects. And in that spirit of respect, we also decided to have a conversation ahead of the Europa League match with Arsenal from both sides of the stadium.

Adam is the host of Touchline Radio Podcast, and a devout Arsenal fan (with a place in his heart for Milan.) You can also follow him on Twitter @TouchlineRadio or on Instagram or Facebook, or listen to his podcast on Soundcloud, iTunes, or acast. Despite being frenemies for the next two weeks, we had a great conversation about our respective teams. We talked about:

Thanks again to Adam for sharing his passion about Arsenal and his love of football. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook and listen in on Soundcloud, iTunes, or acast.

Celebrating five years of the podcast with a positive string of results is apparently enough to bring optimism to even the most practical of Milan fans. So much optimism, in fact, that we’re still having dreams of Europe. But with players like Borini scoring, the sky is the limit as far as our dreams go.

In my search to talk with Milan fans all over the world, I invited Jonathan to the podcast all the way from Toronto, Canada. We talked about:

Thanks again to Jonathan for some great conversation. Fiorentina are worse off, and Milan are so lucky for your devotion.

Recorded on Sunday after the first Lazio match, there was plenty to talk about on and off the pitch. With three straight wins, something we haven’t seen since the beginning of the season, that elusive optimism has popped up once again for Milan fans everywhere. It may not last, but for now we have something to smile about.

This fan podcast wouldn’t be a podcast without Francesco, aka the Other Pope. You can follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. We chatted about:

Thanks again to Francesco for more fun convo about Milan. Give him a follow on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8.

The late winter break is only really good for one thing: talking about the players and the season to date. So we took full advantage of the opportunity and hashed out every player in the squad just for you. You’re welcome.

One of the few Milan fans I could talk an hour about Milan with and not get bored is Pete. You can follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva for all of his wisdom about Milan and more. This time we talked about:

        Goalkeepers

        Defenders

        Midfielders

        Strikers

        Gattuso

Thanks again to Pete for spending so much time haggling numbers with me and making me laugh. Follow him on Twitter for more thought provoking tweets and humor @PDAcquaviva.

We watch them play on the pitch each week, we support the club they own, but who are these people, really? Are there things we should know about them that we don’t? These were some of the questions we tried to find answers to, along with some of the more tangible things to discuss at Milan these days.

How fitting that for this 100 th podcast, I should go back to the beginning. I invited Milan Obsession co-founder and original podcast guest Jovan to join me for this discussion:

Thanks again to Jovan, lifelong Milan fan and wise beyond his years, for more great discussion about all things Milan. If you enjoy his brilliance, you’ll probably also enjoy his writing, such as this classic about Savicevic and Boban.

The constant turns and twists of Milan’s fate can be difficult to keep up with. We look to every game with hope in our hearts and are rarely rewarded. Off the pitch there is even more craziness, and if you are truly looking for answers, social media is definitely not the place. But as fans, if we stick together and wade through the rumors and critics and cling to reality, we can perhaps find some answers together.

The stars aligned so that I could have Susy on the podcast to chat about all things Milan. Follow her on Twitter @SusyCampanale and also follow @FootballItalia, where she is the brilliant editor for the amazing English speaking Serie A site. A little known fact is that despite her neutrality on the site, she is a devout Milanista. So we chatted about:

Thanks again to Susy for her fantastic insights. Follow her on Twitter @SusyCampanale to get more brilliant insights and also follow @FootballItalia to get up to the moment Serie A news in English.

With the long overdue yet surprise sacking of Montella and the unfortunately predictable promoting of Gattuso from the Primavera squad, fans are dealing with yet another change at the club.  And not a change for the better. Despite making a coaching change to improve results, management have chosen a coach who is least likely to do that. It seems the club have lowered expectations.

Battling late nights, technology glitches, and having to talk about Gattuso, David truly was a Legend this time around. Follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan out of pity alone. And while you’re following, listen to what we talked about against all odds:

Thanks again to David for his wisdom and his patience. Follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan to take advantage of the money back guarantee offered. 

Milan are playing poorly, and mentality seems to be suffering. With three losses in seven league matches, everyone is getting stressed out. The players are under scrutiny. Montella particularly is under scrutiny. There have already been crisis meetings with Fassone and Mirabelli. But one solution has been largely overlooked, and this podcast reveals it: Borini for Captain.

The genius behind this solution is Vinny. Formerly of Red Card Weekly on YouTube, Vinny and his partner in crime are now the voices of @MilanWeeklyPOD, the English podcast for Radio Rossonera International. In addition to solving all of Milan’s problems, we discussed:

Thanks again to Vinny for a great discussion about everything Milan. Follow @MilanWeeklyPOD and tune into Radio Rossonera International to hear more of his brilliant wisdom.

Milan fans are pretty happy these days until there is a loss. Then it is an end of the world scenario. But not everyone wants to sack the coach after a poor 90 minutes. It’s important to keep looking forward and having healthy discussions about where the club is headed.

I always know I can count on Jovan, the co-founder of Milan Obsession, to speak practically even after a tough loss. Licking our wounds after the Sampdoria match, we talked about:

Thanks again to Jovan for the great Milan conversation. Let’s wish him the best in his travels this weekend. May he bring us all luck!

Serie A is underway, and Milan qualified for the group stages of the Europa League. With some exciting wins, fans were excited, but now with a massive loss to Lazio in the league, there are a lot of doubts flying. So I think we can say officially that Milan are in the trenches.

When the framework of a rebuilding starts to take shape, you need someone who has been in the trenches. So obviously, I asked Christian to join for this convo. You can follow him on Twitter @CLumia and also check out his new Serie A account, @Calcio_Bros. This time we talked about:

Thanks again to Christian for the great convo and relaying his travel adventures. Definitely follow him on @CLumia and also his brand new Serie A account @Calcio_Bros.

The team has been renewed. The preseason matches have been played. And whether or not Milan is ready, the new season is upon us. There is plenty to talk about, plenty to try to predict, and more than enough excitement in preparation for this much anticipated season. How this ends, only time will tell. But either the Devil is coming back, or we are in league with the devil. 

Gearing up for a new season, I needed someone in the know, so I asked Pete to sit down for a chat. You can follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva and read his blog at pdacquaviva.com. This is what we talked about: 

Thanks again to Pete for allowing me to be on his podcast again. Give him a follow @PDAcquaviva and read his blog pdacquaviva.com.

Some people suffer from a serious condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which is not to be taken lightly. Milan fans have also suffered over five years of trauma, and in some ways we may have our own version of PTSD. Nothing brings the flashbacks and anxiety back like talks of funding or deadlines, and there has been some talk about those things lately. However, there is football being played now, and still so many good things to talk about that we can still enjoy being a Milan fan better than we have in a long time.

Nothing says fan podcast like a guest who was born in Milano and is a second generation Milanista. That is, of course, Francesco. You can follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. This time, we chatted about:

Thanks again to Francesco for a fantastic conversation once again. Give him a follow to see how the new signings affect the health of his liver: @FrancescoPetra8

They said it would never happen. But “they” are mostly Juventus legends who are clearly not up to date on modern football, or Juve fans who have had their hearts ripped out, stepped on, and shipped to Casa Milan. And “it” was Leonardo Bonucci agreeing to come to Milan. And be our new captain. And possibly impregnate our women. (Okay, I may have made that last part up. There is a lot of hysteria around this transfer. Forgive me.) With five new players coming in since the last podcast and more possibly being signed as I type this, Milan’s mercato has become a frenzy of spending, celebrating, and sheer excitement for the future. Please join us as we celebrate Bonucci Madness.

With Milan buying players faster than Berlusconi can get out of a lawsuit, I needed someone knowledgeable and sensible to sort everything out with. So of course I spoke with David. You can follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan (the “L” is for legend.) We spoke about:

Thanks again to David for a fantastic conversation once again. Except for the Inter bits. I should have deleted those. Still, do follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan, it’s the best thing you’ll do all year.

With the team returning to Milanello, there is excitement in the air. All of the new signings not only give Milan fans something to talk about, but also something to finally truly dream about. There are some players leaving, some deals yet to be worked out. But for the first time in years, the return to Milanello will actually feel like a rally, or raduno.

Kicking off a new season meant I needed a new guest, and that was Christian. You can follow Christian on Twitter @CLumia, and you will definitely want to follow him to see what he’s got coming up. On the podcast, we talked about:

Thanks again to Christian for the great conversation. Follow him on Twitter @CLumia to see what’s coming next.

 Anger. Pain. Hurt. Disappointment. Despite such a promising beginning to our mercato, we are all filled with anger. I never knew an 18 year old could break my heart like this, even when I was 18 years old. Donnarumma represented hope, faith, and the future of Milan, so his failure to sign a contract renewal represents a death of all of those things on some level. With emotions still raw, it was important to talk about what we know and how we feel.

I had to go back to the beginning for a conversation like this, so I asked my original co-blogger and founder of Milan Obsession, Jovan, to be on the podcast. We managed to talk about a few things besides Donnarumma, including:

Thanks again to Jovan for funneling his anger into intelligent conversation and for helping me to not break something while recording.

The sale of the club drastically changed Milan’s finances. But this season put Milan back in black in a footballing sense as well. With a positive season, a Supercoppa trophy, a sixth place finish, and thus a third round Europa League qualifying spot. And as if the season wasn’t enough to smile about, we are already making some very exciting signings in the mercato, too. So on every front, Milan are back in black.

It’s difficult to imagine such an epic podcast without the brilliant Pete. You can follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva. With so much going on, we had to pare down our discussion to:

Thanks again to Pete for helping to sum up an interesting season. Follow him on Twitter to find out when he writes again @PDAcquaviva.

With an injured mentality, there’s a lot to be down about. But we managed to find things that are much more frightening. It was too easy to jump on the sunshine and rainbows train after the close of the sale of the club, and the performances on the pitch since then have pushed people too far. Reality is not as pretty, but there are still things to be happy about (like Inter’s shambolic season.) Also, we discovered the answer for everything.

In good times and in bad, I can always count on Francesco for good conversation about Milan. You can follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. Recording after the Roma defeat, we chatted about:

Thanks again to Francesco for a great conversation after a heartbreaking game. Follow him on Twitter to show your support for a fellow Milanista @FrancescoPetra8.

After eleven months of uncertainty, the sale of Milan finally closed. The 31 year legacy of Berlusconi is over. But this new ownership raises as many questions as it brings answers. And speaking of answers, after Inter came into the Derby with a two point lead at halftime, Milan’s defenders came back with two goals of their own to answer. So recording right after that match, you can imagine what kind of conversation this was.

To discuss the massive changes at Milan, I needed a massive Milan fan, so of course I asked Michelangelo. You can follow him at @mkidj on Twitter and also on Snapchat at mkidj to find more wisdom. Find out what we chatted about:

Thanks again to Michelangelo for the great postmatch conversation. Follow him on Twitter @mkidj also mkidj on snapchat.

If you liked this podcast, you might also like the latest @touchlineradio podcast where Elaine was Adam’s guest talking about the Derby, the club sale, and experiences in blogging, podcasting, and social media. Check it out on Soundcloud or in iTunes at Touchline Radio.

Uncertain performances on the pitch and an uncertain future have left much to the imagination. With a Derby on the horizon and a European spot becoming less likely with every unconvincing performance, hopes are starting to fade on the pitch. Similarly, off the pitch the newest closing date seems more likely than ever, but only because of a massive loan that brings more questions than answers. All of it adds up to all new levels of uncertainty.

In times of uncertainty, I like to find wisdom, so of course I turned to Jovan for some much needed wisdom. He is the co-founder of Milan Obsession and always has some great perspective to offer. So we talked about some of the bigger issues at Milan right now, including:

Thanks again to Jovan for sharing his wisdom and general awesomeness in a time of so much uncertainty

I’m not gonna lie, this is not a positive podcast. If you’re not already taking any Milan-induced antidepressants, you probably should talk to your doctor before you listen to this one. Or at the very least buy stock in acohol. The club has sunk to new depths each year for the last four and a half years, and just when you think it couldn’t get any worse, it does. With the latest failure to complete the sale of the club, you’re going to need a lot of Prozac to continue to support Milan.

Luckily, David was here to save the day and give us hope. He is the best scout in the world, he’s well-versed in Milan finances, and now he will be available via Twitter @DavidLSwan for your suicide prevention counseling needs. He blessed us with his wisdom in the following areas:

Thanks again to David for saving us from ourselves and for making Montolivo’s impending return seem like a silver lining. Follow him on Twitter or else: @DavidLSwan

Six years ago, Milan Obsession quietly came into existence as a humble little blog talking about Milan. Four years ago, the podcast was added. And now, in 2017, I think it’s clear that I will never stop talking about Milan. Ever. Like it or not, I took this chance to have a great chat about Milan to celebrate these milestones. You’re welcome.

Some Milan fans are born, others become legendary, and my guest this time did both of those things. Vinny just escaped the paparazzi after his brilliant Red Card Weekly videos and now he is one of the admins for the Milan Club Montreal. After escaping the nonstop hounding by the press and the nonstop harassment from women, he was kind enough to chat with me about:

If you want to watch Milan in HD on RAI International, please sign the petition from Milan Club Montreal

Thanks again to Vinny for sharing his brief quiet moments talking Milan with me for your pleasure. Follow Milan Club Montreal on Twitter @ACMClubMTL.

Thank you to all of the support over the years here on the blog as well as on the podcast. Getting to interact with other Milan fans is the best part of all of this madness. Thank you for reading, listening, writing guest posts, commenting, interacting on Twitter, being my guest on podcasts, and everything all of you do to make my Milan Obsession seem sane.

 The podcast has freed itself, at least for one episode, from the closet in the basement which it has been hiding in. Because midseason. There’s just too much to talk about. From day to day news, a season update, talking about Montella and the squad, to the vast amount of mercato news. Oh yeah, and that little subject of the sale of the club. So take advantage of this temporary freedom and listen… for the sake of the podcast. 

An epic return of the podcast required an epic guest. Which means Pete, of course. Anyone who has ever followed him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva knows what I am talking about. So in tackling the midseason mountain of dialogue, we discussed:

Thanks again to Pete for coming out of hiatus for us. Follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva. And don’t punch babies.

Life is strange. Sometimes when things are going great on one front, they fall apart on another. For example Milan are doing so well and don’t look to be stopping soon, which is absolutely fantastic. On the other hand, Inter sacked De Boer, who was doing so well at keeping Inter in the bottom half of the table. So many lessons to be learned, so little time. But for today, rather than searching for “the Answer to the Great Question… Of Life, the Universe and Everything…” I have a very quick podcast for you….

During the International Break, there is time to reflect on how the season is going so far. As usual, it’s a mixed bag, even if the results are flattering to the performances. But the one thing that is obvious and everyone seems to agree upon is that Milan is getting younger. A lot younger. So many young players have been getting playing time, it’s actually very exciting.

To help me discuss the young talent, I needed the best scout in the world, which is obviously David. You can follow the legend himself on Twitter @DavidLSwan. And while you’re there, let’s make sure that he gets the Director of Sport job instead of Mirabelli, so be sure to use the hashtag #DavidForDS. In between saving Milan from making a massive mistake, we also discussed:

Thanks again to David for gracing us with his presence once again. Follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan and remember #DavidForDS. I want to see this trending.

The season started, the mercato ended, there was an International break. Oh and there was big news about the sale of the club. So much to talk about, some good, some not so much. But amidst all of the news, the progress toward the sale of the club stands out the most, and gives fans a reason to hope.

A new season calls for an important guest, so of course I turned to the President of the Curva Sud America, the legendary Francesco. If you want to be amongst the most important Milan fans, y ou must follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. This time around, we tried to touch on a lot of Milan news, including:

Thanks yet again to the legendary Francesco for some great Milan conversation. Go to Twitter now and follow him @FrancescoPetra8, all of the best Milan fans do.

It’s hard to believe what has and hasn’t happened this summer. With a preliminary agreement finally in place, an unimpressive preseason, and a very light mercato, fans are left to meter their excitement with a large dose of reality. With the new season starting up before the physical transformation of the club and our team, it’s harder to be excited or optimistic about the first half of our season. I think most fans are watching as closely to see what happens off of the pitch with our transformation. 

With so many changes and a new season on the horizon, I needed a big name guest, so of course I turned to the fantastic Gio of Rossoneri TV. Follow him on Twitter @RossoneriTV and be sure not to miss a single video by subscribing to his YouTube channel Rossoneri TV. He is also one of the admins for the Milan Club Montreal, so be sure to follow @ACMClubMTL. To catch up on all of the big news, we chatted about:

 Thanks once again to the amazing Gio for some great conversation in the face of a very bleak time at Milan. Follow him on Twitter @RossoneriTV and subscribe to his channel Rossoneri TV. Also be sure to follow Milan Club Montreal.

Whatever the opposite of news is, that’s where Milan is out. Everything is on hold until the sale of the club is resolved, one way or the other. And that date keeps getting pushed back and pushed back. Meanwhile, everyone else’s mercato is rolling on and our transfer targets are being signed one by one… by other clubs. Still, there are always things to talk about, so even if we’re all so stressed out, we’re still Milan fans… for now. 

For my part in Milan’s commitment to youth, I found an awesome new guest who also hails from the West Coast here in the U.S. His name is Pierluca, and you should absolutely follow him on Twitter at @PierlucaCalcio. Despite our massive concerns about the club and all of our frustrations, we talked about:

Thanks again to the awesome Pierluca for some great conversation in the face of a very bleak time at Milan. Follow him on Twitter @PierlucaCalcio

A new coach is the start of a new era. How long that era will last largely depends on how much power Berlusconi is given, if the rumors of the club’s impending sale are true. But for now, it’s a new coach, a new season, and a new mercato. Nothing says new like revamping your website and club channel, too. But will Milan’s past come back to haunt them? Or will we finally change for the good? This week the spotlight is on one man, the one they call l’Aeroplanino, to see if he can get us back to winning ways.

Speaking of winning ways, my guest this time was the legend himself, Vinny of @RedCardWeekly. You may also know him as one of the admins of the Milan Club Montreal. We discussed all things Montella plus:

 Thanks again to Vinny for the great convo. Follow @RedCardWeekly for the very occasional tweet, and follow @ACMClubMTL because it’s the best Milan club in the world.

In the mostly quiet lull that we are all forced to endure while negotiations for the sale of the club continue, there isn’t a lot to talk about that is concrete. But there are a couple of little tournaments going on and a few things that are known. So give a listen and feel free to join in the conversation as we are waiting and speculating.

For this podcast, I called upon the legendary cofounder of Milan Obsession, Jovan. If you are new to the blog, you missed out on his epic posts here, but at least you can listen to is brilliant wisdom now:

Thanks again to Jovan for the fantastic chat in the midst of so much unknown. And good luck with that Euro bet.

If you thought there wasn’t a lot going on at Milan, think again. Or I guess I should say that if you thought things were bad at Milan, think again. They can always get worse. Especially with the season over, the only entertainment is Berlusconi’s concept of a joke. And it’s more criminal than entertaining. With so much at stake but so little actually happening, many are questioning their fanship, and with good reason. For those of us who are still loyal to the club, we realize that the M in Milan is for masochism.

Longsuffering fans are getting harder to find, but when you find them, you know they are the best of fans. For this podcast, I found one of the best, Gio from Rossoneri TV. You can follow him on Twitter @RossoneriTV and his YouTube channel, rossoneritv.com is a must subscribe and watch. Also help him rebuild the official Milan Club Montreal by following @ACMClubMTL. Sifting through the good and the bad post season, we talked about:

Thanks again to Gio for commiserating with me and discussing all things Milan. Follow him on Twitter @RossoneriTV and subscribe to his awesome YouTube channel rossoneritv.com. Also help him rebuild the official Milan Club Montreal by following @ACMClubMTL, the one club that you can be sure is properly rebuilding.

Just when we thought Milan were finally rebuilding, Berlusconi derailed this season with only six games left. With negotiations happening for a potential sale of at least part of the club, the season left us on a giant cliffhanger with very little optimism justified. Still, out of duty or madness or some other reason, a season wrapup seemed the least we could do to maintain some loyalty. Rating the players was also difficult, so I took a high school yearbook approach to make it bearable. For me, humor is the only thing we have left, at least until the big questions are answered.

Milan fans everywhere are praying for something to finally change, so I also went to The Other Pope for guidance, Francesco. Follow him for divine Milan tweets @FrancecoPetra8. For this epic hour long podcast, we chatted about:

 Thanks again to Francesco for taking the time to share his thoughts on Milan at this delicate time. Follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8

Everyone was stunned when Mihajlovic was sacked and replaced with the promoted Brocchi with only six games and a Coppa final left. After seemingly finally doing some of the right things to actually rebuild after almost four years, this took us spiraling straight down to that horrible limbo between the champions of yesteryear and the success of the future. So while we wait to see what becomes of our beloved club, all we can do is talk about what can be done to make Milan great again.

For such an important discussion, I needed a truly passionate fan, so I asked Steve, aka the Bonaventura of Milan fans. Steve didn’t let his fame from @RedCardWeekly go to his head, instead he founded a fantastic company called vintagepitch.com with amazing football t-shirts, which you can follow on Twitter @VintagePitch. And as if that wasn’t enough, he is involved in the relaunch of the Milan Club Montreal, or @ACMClubMTL on Twitter. We chatted about:

Thanks again toStevefor taking time out of his insanely busy schedule to talk Milan with me. Follow him@RedCardWeekly,@VintagePitch, and especially support the relaunched@ACMClubMTL.

Milan fans everywhere seem to be not only deflated, but writing off this season like the past three. However an unpopular opinion is that there has actually been quite a bit of progress and growth this season. As that is my unpopular opinion, for this conversation, we explore whether or not that is true and why and how. So listen and feel free to let me know if you agree that this year could finally be year zero in a Milan comeback.

This discussion required the ultimate guest, Francesco. He is a second generation Milan fan, born in Milano, and now spreading the gospel of the red and black in Argentina. Follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. In the face of technical difficulties, we discussed:

Thanks again toFrancesco for being an amazing fan and for valiantly fighting the interwebs to be on this podcast. You can follow him on Twitter@FrancescoPetra8

Reflecting on the Silvio years after the recent 30 year anniversary of Berlusconi buying the club, it’s important to look at all of those 30 years. Through triumphs and tragedies and trophies, how will he be remembered? As Silvio the man? Silvio the businessman? Silvio the politician? Or Silvio the owner and President of Milan? Or maybe a combination of all of those? As fans I suppose we can pick and choose, especially those of us outside of Italy. But the anniversary was worth catching up on all things Milan and having that discussion.

Following a lunchtime match at Chievo, I needed someone who was willing to stay awake so early in the morning here in North America, and that person was my good friend Vinny of Red Card Weekly fame. Like the best of celebrities, Vinny is only very occasionally on Twitter, but you can follow him @RedCardWeekly. For our early morning chat, we discussed:

Thanks again to Vinny for sacrificing sleep and sharing his views on Milan with us. Follow him@RedCardWeekly to see if there is going to be a Red Card Weekly reunion!

When this podcast began three years ago as a personal challenge, I never dreamed that I would still be spending an ungodly number of hours editing these things in 2016. However, it has been so much fun to have different fans on discussing Milan, I can’t imagine life without it. All 70 of them, specifically. It has been a fun way to interact with fans on top of the blog and Twitter. So for that, along with the signs of improvement with the team and a couple of other milestones coming up later this week, it seems like it’s time to celebrate 

A milestone like this required going back to the roots of Milan Obsession, when my dear friend Jovan and I co-founded the blog. Now he is the genius mastermind of a suite of fantasy football sites, including fantasyseriea.com. While catching up on all things Milan, we talked about:

Thanks again toJovan for a great podcast and for his part in the roots of Milan Obsession. Check outfantasyseriea.comand his other sites, where it’s still not too late to get in on head to head action from now until the end of the season.

Nothing could follow the most deliciously epic Derby win on Sunday, but I had to try. I stopped my laughter and screaming and wiped away my tears of joy and set out to talk about all things Milan with a massive smile on my face. The Derby win was a moment of healing and a reprieve from all that fans have endured in the past few years, as well as a gigantic slap in the face to our most hated rivals, something fans could only dream of before today. But after the celebrations are over, there are other games to be played, and so much to look forward to.

An epic win required an epic guest, and luckily @RedCardWeekly’s Steve was available. Which is impressive given his newest venture, vintagepitch.com, where you can order some killer new vintage themed Serie A t-shirts. You can keep up on the new designs and releases by following @VintagePitch. Despite our exquisite joy following that delicious win, we were able to discuss:

Thanks again toSteve of@RedCardWeekly for joining be back on earth after a stellar win to talk all things Milan. Go now to vintagepitch.com to order your awesome Serie A t-shirts and be sure to follow @VintagePitch on Twitter for new designs and releases.

It’s so hard to keep one’s head on straight with all that has happened at Milan. We lose or draw to a relegation side, and it’s easy to go to that dark place where we have spent so much time in these past few years. We win a game, and it’s easy to start building expectations too high again because we want to return to glory so badly. And that’s just the fans. But if you look carefully, the team at least seem to be gradually improving their mentality. However there are clouds on the horizon, with changes possible in the mercato and elsewhere. With a very fragile new mentality following a big win, it’s best to explore all things Milan with a grain of salt.

Because this is a fan podcast, I am always looking for passionate Milan fans all over the world. This time, I found Joe, from the East coast of the United States. Recording after the Fiorentina win, we talked about:

Thanks again toJoefor a great chat and for his undying support of Milan from afar

It may be a new year, but we are nearly mid season and it seems that we are destined to remain stuck in the middle… in the middle of the table, in the middle of a neverending rebuilding, and in the middle of a crisis for fans. We are continually asking ourselves why we continue to support this club. But for many of us, there are a lot of signs of life with some of our players, and that is worth talking about. So near the midseason mark, it seemed appropriate to talk about our midseason player ratings instead of our usual search for justification of our devotion to this club.

With a new year, I needed a new guest. So I invited long-time Milan Obsession reader Nathan. Follow him on Twitter for all of his Milan opinions @NathanTManuel. You can also read his guest post from a while back. For this special epic movie and holiday edition, we talked about:

Thanks again toNathan for ringing in the New Year in Milan style. Be sure to follow him on Twitter@NathanTManuel for great opinions about Milan and more. And don’t forget to re-read his passionate guest post from last year.

There is a disturbance in the force. Can you feel it? No? Not surprising, as Milan are still struggling to discover who they are. But there are questions as to whether or not we will see an awakening in 2016. I’ve been using Star Wars as an analogy (but without any spoilers!) because it resonates with our struggles as fans, and of course because the new movie is freaking awesome. So for the last podcast of the year, there are two important messages to take: Merry Christmas and May the Force Be With You. Well, okay, there’s a little more to talk about… just listen already.

For such an epic podcast, I needed an epic guest, so of course I asked Francesco. He is my appointed President of the Curva Sud America, currently residing in Argentina. He is also an important member of The Resistance, so be sure to follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. For this special epic movie and holiday edition, we chose to chat about:

Thanks again toFrancescofor sharing his thoughts with us. As a Christmas gift to your timeline, follow him@FrancescoPetra8, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

With so many token moves from the club at the beginning of this calendar year and so many claims of moving forward, fans have subjected themselves to poor performances galore hoping to see some progress. But as one by one, things have fallen through: the deal with Mr. Bee, the stadium, and Berlusconi’s random opening of the wallet, it has become obvious that progress is not in the plans. But with the announcement that Boateng is likely to sign in January and the reports that Montolivo is set to sign a three year extension, not only are we no longer going forward, we are actually regressing.

 The victim of all of this bad news in one podcast was Pete, of pdacquaviva.com fame. If you miss his regular brilliance there, then you should follow him on Twitter at @pdacquaviva. We commiserated about:

If you are not following Pete on Twitter @pdacquaviva, you are seriously missing out. And if you are going to reminisce about the good old days, go back and read his old posts at pdacquaviva.com Your mind will thank you.

After an extended injury break, the podcast is finally back. Hopefully, Milan get the memo and step up and give us some more good things to talk about. Until that point, like a baby deer learning to stand and then walk, Milan will most likely still be finding our footing. That process allows for successes and failures, but does not demand the consistency that most of us fans are craving. But even with a run of three consecutive wins, consistency is still very much lacking in this season. Whether it be mentality or injuries or just missing pieces still, Milan are definitely still looking to find their footing.

To bring us back online with the podcasts, it had to be David as my guest. He is the mastermind behind acmilanfinance.com and you can always find his words of wisdom on Twitter if you follow @DavidLSwan. This time we chatted about:

Thanks again toDavidfor an impromptu podcast on a moment’s notice. Be sure to check out hisacmilanfinance.comsite and absolutely follow him on Twitter@DavidLSwanor you’ll be missing out.

Recorded immediately after the disappointing and yet strangely encouraging Derby loss, this podcast was like therapy for Milan fans. Despite losing, there are still encouraging signs within the team. And yet there are bad signs financially while things look to be improving on the pitch. There have been a lot of rumors and criticism of Mihajlovic’, and yet it seems like there is a lot of solidarity and support for him, too. So above all else, it’s a good time to ask yourself: Are you on Team Mihajlovic?

Post Derby, I had to have the co-founder and former co-blogger of Milan Obsession on, the legendary Jovan. Check out fantasyseriea.com to see the amazing fantasy football game he’s created, just one of four fantasy games for four of the major leagues in Europe. In our post-Derby depression, we meandered about:

• News of the Week: Mister Nesta, new opening, Q&A for kids, wage bill worries, Curva Sud, Balotelli’s greatest crime

• Match Roundups: Mantova-Milan friendly, Inter-Milan Derby

• Mercato: updates on what has happened in the transfer market

• All About Mihajlovic: where does Mihajlovic stand?

• Coming Up: mark your calendar for the upcoming matches

Much thanks once again to Jovan for staying up late after the loss and blessing us with his genius. Go to fantasyseriea.com now to get in on the fun!

After a very encouraging summer, Milan are haunted again by ghosts of the past. Curva Sud protesting, a terrible third kit, more mediocre Genoa players and free transfers, and reverting to poor performances are just a few things haunting the club now. With the mercato closing and an International break underway, it gives us a little time to reflect on where Milan is and place more realistic expectations on the season.

For this podcast, only one guest would do, and that guest is David Swan. You can find out why by following him on Twitter @DavidLSwan and checking out his fantastic acmilanfinance.com site with all things having to do with Milan finances conveniently translated into English for us. In this epic conversation, we talked about:

• News of the Week: Milan baby, Argentinian barbecue, hideous third kit, free kick dreams, Curva Sud flexing their power 

• Mercato: updates on what has happened in the transfer market 

• Match Roundups: Coppa Italia, Fiorentina-Milan, and Milan-Empoli

• International Break: Who is travelling where

            • The Return of Balotelli: worship or else 

            • Saved by the Bee? discussing the Mr. Bee deal

• Coming Up: mark your calendar for the upcoming matches

Thanks again toDavidfor a fantastic conversation and staying up late for this podcast. Follow his fantastic Twitter account@DavidLSwanand go to hisacmilanfinance.comsite NOW.

For three years now, we as fans were promised that it was Year Zero, that Milan was rebuilding, and that success was in the near future. Only it was never true, and “Year Zero” became like a curse word. But this year, it finally feels like it really is Year Zero, the one we were originally promised. And instead of making us curse, it feels like a party.

For the Serie A season preview, I needed some serious star power, so I used my connections to secure the amazing Steve from Red Card Weekly. You can follow him on Twitter @RedCardWeekly, and since he is humble despite his fame, you may even be able to interact with him there.

• News of the Week: heartbreaking injury, the unbelievable Mr. Bee, Roma fan douchebaggery

• Mercato: updates on what has happened in the transfer market

• Serie A News: new card accumulation rule change, Serie A anthem

• Friendlies: Audi Cup and Trofeo TIM

            • Season Predictions: our picks for Milan and the best and worst in the league 

• Coming Up: mark your calendar for the upcoming matches

Thanks again to Steve for taking time out of his busy celebrity lifestyle to bless us with his wisdom. And if you are not following him on Twitter @RedCardWeekly, then you are dead to me.

For the past couple of seasons, success has seemed less plausible than someone holding onto the outside of a plane taking off. But that didn’t stop management from claiming that we were contending for the Scudetto or a Champions League spot. However, this summer, they acquired a smart coach, kicked out some players who were at least two years past their expiration date, and brought in players with quality who have a nice combination of youth and experience. And looking at how things are coming together so far, despite being premature, for the first time in a few years, reaching a top three spot finally seems like Mission Possible.

A new season, a new coach, and new players calls for a new guest. So in searching the globe for a world class guest, I ended up in Norway and found Kristian. He has contributed to the comments section of the blog and is a great fan with a very strong knowledge of both football and Milan. This time we talked about:

• News of the Week: Primavera tournament, new sponsor, Muntari making it rain, Galliani speaks, Serie A anthem, Milan’s season fixtures, FIFA presidency, Zaccardo news, mercato update

• Friendly: Real Madrid 0 (10), Milan 0 (9)

            • On the pitch: discussing strengths & weakness, our starting lineups 

• Coming Up: mark your calendar for upcoming friendlies

Thanks again to Kristian for some fantastic conversation and for being a bleeding in red and black Milan fan. Check out his comments on the blog under the screenname Kriskor.

With so many mercato changes in place and four friendlies under our belts, the bizarre concept of optimism is beginning settle in amongst Milan fans. How long has it been since we could truly be optimistic about an upcoming season? And have some foundation for said optimism? While trying not to drown ourselves in the Kool-Aid, there certainly are a lot of signs that things are starting to look up. It’s hard not to have great expectations for the upcoming season.

For this conversation, I invited Milan Obsession’s favorite longstanding guest, Francesco. You can follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8 or check out the comments section on the blog, where he is our no. 10 and captain. We talked about:

• News of the Week: Serie A schedule, team dinner, Pazzini bitches, Darmian facepalm, players left behind, Coppa Italia

• International News: Tavecchio and Conte love affair, big changes at FIFA, World Cup draw, soulless Suarez

• Friendlies: Milan 5, Alcione 1; Milan 5, Legnano 1; Lyon 2, Milan 1; and Milan 1, Inter 0

• Mercato: players in and out

             • Mercato Gossip: tossing transfer rumors around

• Coming Up: mark your calendar for upcoming friendlies

Thanks again to Francescofor repping Mauri for us and being on the podcast. Follow him on Twitter@FrancescoPetra8and check out the comments section on the blog to see why he’s our captain and no. 10.

 There is always some level of hope as a fan, but for Milan fans, all hope was nearly beaten out of us this past three years. However what has transpired so far this summer took everyone by surprise. In fact events of the last ten days make it seem like some kind of Bizarro World, and I haven’t heard any fans complaining about the change of location. With Milan doing basically the opposite of what they have done the past several years, it is refreshing to see the changes on paper, even if we haven’t seen anything to speak of on the pitch just yet. And I know I for one am loving the change of scenery.

On my tour of Bizarro World, I invited a favorite recurring guest, Pete. If you follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva, you can catch great comments, wit, and news of his podcasts. And possibly even news of some future blogposts from his fantastic pdacquaviva.com. We talked about:

• News of the Week: Ritiro, What happened here?, Lotito’s excuse, Tassotti renews, Stadium news, #RetireBonera25

• Press Conference with Mihajlovic: recapping the entertainment

• Mercato: new players, renewals, players out, Signing of the Season, Galliani accountability

• Coming Up: mark your calendar for upcoming friendlies

*This podcast was recorded B.M. (Before Mexes) And no, it’s not a coincidence that those initials also stand for Bowel Movement.

Thanks again to Pete for a fantastic conversation. Follow him on Twitter@PDAcquavivafor wit, wisdom, and his fantastic“Podcast without a Plan.”Also check out his blogpdacquaviva.comfor upcoming posts this season.

1986 was an important year for Milan’s history. It was the year that Silvio Berlusconi bought the club, beginning the years of big spending and no accountability. It was also the beginning of Sinisa Mihajlovic’ senior playing career. And it’s the year that seems to keep on giving, as Galliani seems stuck in the year 1986 as far as his transfer dealings, and now we have Mihajlovic, former Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio, and Inter player as the coach who is supposed to pull us out of a slump that is actually worse than where we were in 1986. So there’s nothing to celebrate, but for this podcast, we’re going to party like it’s 1986.

I invited Jovan to this party, my former Milan Obsession co-blogger and the genius behind fantasyseriea.com and his other fantasy football sites. We talked about:

• News of the Week: Serie A promotions, Mastour’s choice, Menez’ surgery, Abate’s wedding, Lyon friendly, Milan’s ticket campaign

• Mercato: deals that are done 

• Galliani: living in 1986 

• New Coach: looking at Mihajlovic 

Thanks again to Jovan for a great discussion and for sharing his valuable time with us. Check out fantasyseriea.com for the upcoming season for fun and a chance to choose your own players instead of just settling for Galliani’s free transfers.

It was difficult to find much to laugh about this past season, but there were plenty of tears. Tears and pain and frustration and drinking… lots of drinking. But if you’re listening to this podcast, you probably survived, one way or the other. So trying to add a little laughter, but unwittingly causing tears, we got together to try to make some sense of what just happened this year.

For this conversation, I needed a couple of people who have bled red and black with me throughout Milan’s demise. From Argentina, we were joined by Francesco, aka the President of the Curva Sud America. He can be followed on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. Joining us from Florida was Derwuin, of @ToePokePod fame. You can follow him @D_Mendez3, if you dare. We discussed:

• News of the Week: NT callups, Ancelotti declines, Essien out, Zapata speaks out, Cerci robbed of his manhood and more, Abate to tie the knot, Blatter steps down

• Champions League Final: looking from the outside in

• Bee Taechaubol: update on the agreement to purchase a minority share 

• The Golden Matri Awards™: 2015 winners (see also 2014 winners) 

• Squad Assessment: talking about players who might leave, and some that should

• Farewell: Saying goodbye to legends

Thanks again to Francescoand Derwuin for celebrating the tragedy that is Milan this season. FollowFrancescoon Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. Also follow Derwuin @D_Mendez3and check out his podcast by following @ToePokePod on Twitter.

Finally the torture is over. I’ve never been so relieved for Serie A to end. Between the poor performances, worse results, Curva’s lame boycotts, and Galliani being in denial and bringing in players by the dozens, this season couldn’t end soon enough. But what’s next? Based on the things we know and the things we’ve heard and the great unknown, we talked about the state of Milan, with the focus being on management.

For an epic discussion, I needed epic guests. So joining me this time was Pete of pdacquaviva.com. You can follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva. Also joining me was David of acmilanfinance.com. You can follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan. We discussed:

• News of the Week: Audi Cup, cryogenic chambers, Rami meltdown, FIFA meltdown, Paletta, @Milanello returns

• Season to Date: our final results from Serie A

• The State of Milan: Berlusconi, Galliani, Inzaghi, Ancelotti, the Squad, Barbara Berlusconi

Thanks again to David and Petefor some epic Milan conversation Be sure to follow them on Twitter@DavidLSwanand@PDAcquaviva. And checkoutacmilanfinance.comand listen to the “Podcast without a Plan” atpdacquaviva.comand checkout.

After three losses in a row, Milan won one match. And it wasn’t just any match, it was against second place Roma. And they also launched the sleek new kits, perhaps the best thing they’ve done all year. Not to lose our heads, but a lot of us were happy for this one win and the great new kits, putting us in a better mood to evaluate Milan present and speculate on Milan’s future. And to vent some frustration.

For this podcast, I asked Montreal native and lifelong Milanista Vinny to join me. He is one half of the notorious Red Card Weekly, the amazing show that was another casualty of this season. But you can still follow him on Twitter @RedCardWeekly. We had a lot of great conversation about all things Milan, including:

• News of the Week: New kit launch, ICC tournament, Galliani’s seventh place, Milan are #10, Bonera’s 200th, management restructuring 

• Season to Date: our results from Serie A

• The Mister: who should coach Milan going forward

• The Cost of Rebuilding: a discussion of FFP and Milan’s moves going forward

• Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for

Thanks again to Vinnyfor some fantastic Milan conversation Be sure to follow the seriously entertaining and underfollowed@RedCardWeeklyon Twitter.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse at Milan, we lost to Udinese with a performance that would make Mary Poppins depressed. With rumors of a full-blown meltdown and Inzaghi ordering the team into ritiro until our Genoa match, there hasn’t been much to smile about this week. But maybe that is something we need to start to wrap our heads around. Even if the rumors of Berlusconi selling a majority share of the club come true, it will take more than money tor rebuild this Milan. We need to start being realistic about the future of Milan.

This time I was joined by my Milan Obsession co-founder Jovan. After his brief foray into blogging, he went on to have lots more fun by creating and developing fantasyseriea.com and three other Fantasy Football sites. But he still has time for his lifelong club Milan, as evidenced in our conversation:

• News of the Week: Meet the Mayor, Primavera success, Slumber Party at Milanello, massive losses for 2014

• Season to Date: our results from Serie A

 • The Current State of Milan: how we got here, where we are

• The Future of Milan: trying to be realistic about the speculation and rumors, especially for fans who are waiting for a miracle. 

• Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for

Thanks once again to Jovan for sharing his passion and wisdom about Milan. Please check out his suite of Fantasy Football games:Fantasy Serie A, Fantasy Premier League, Fantasy Liga, and Fantasy Bundesliga. You can jump in at any time and get some good practice for next season, just like Milan should.

A Derby win, or even a great performance, would have been such a gift to the fans who have suffered so much this season. But it was not to be. Instead, we got more of the same timid and inconsistent play we’ve seen all season. So disappointing. But if I’ve learned one thing this season, it’s to grasp onto any tiny amount of good, because there’s not going to be a lot more of it any time soon. With back to back wins, and a decent draw going into the derby, it was a letdown on so many levels.

Somehow having the emotional strength to record right after the Derby was our President of the Curva Sud America, Francesco, also known as p3trarch on the blog. Born in Milano and a lifelong Milanista, he truly knows what the Derby means. You can follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. Our post-Derby conversation included:

• News of the Week: the Berlucopter returns, van Ginkel unveiled, Primavera win a trophy in Dubai, guess who’s back? 

• Season to Date: our results from Serie A 

• The Derby: commiserating the draw

• To Sell or Not to Sell: what is known and what is not

• Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for

 Thanks once again toFrancesco, especially for recording under extreme emotional distress post-Derby. Please follow him on Twitter@FrancescoPetra8 and check out his comments on the blog.

Usually it seems like there isn’t as much going on during international breaks for Milan fans. But despite having fewer players called up than we have in a long time, there is actually a lot to talk about. And it’s not just Milan’s performances or even the players who were called up by their national teams. The Curva Sud are still demanding answers and there are changes being made in Serie A, too. And yet it still kind of feels like instead of a just an International break, things everywhere in Italy are just simply broken. 

I was lucky enough to be joined once again by David, a rare Milan fan in England who actually has Milan season tickets and catches as many games as he can. You can follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan (the L is for Legend) and also check out his site, acmilanfinance.com which is a fantastic reference for the business side of Milan all translated for you into English. For this episode, we chatted about:

• News of the Week: Menexes, Cesare Maldini speaks, 7th place, epic Twitter announce

• Season to Date: our results from Serie A

• Curva Sud Boycott: talking with a Curva Sud season ticket holder

• International Break: #ConteOut 

• FIGC Rule Changes: financial changes for stability

• Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for 

My sincerest thanks again toDavidfor blessing us with his presence. You can follow him on Twitter@DavidLSwanand definitely check out his amazing resource of a site atacmilanfinance.com Cheers! 

Since nothing is really happening on the pitch, there isn’t a lot of football to talk about. Especially without midweek games in Europe. And there isn’t much to talk about off the pitch, either. Milan is barely treading water, and as fans, it can be hard to find anything worth talking about that hasn’t already been said. But that didn’t stop us from trying. So anyway…

Joining me once again from sunny South Florida was our very own Derwuin. You can follow him on Twitter @D_Mendez3 for his take on football and more. Also follow @ToePokePOD for updates on his podcast on Serie A that he and his Juventus frenemy will be starting up again soon. This time around, we talked about:

• News of the Week: Destro, Maldini, Europa League, #SaveParmaTakeInterInstead, Berlusconi, Cerci, @Milanello

• Season to Date: our results from Serie A

• Injury Crisis: can we fix it?

• How do you solve a problem like Menez?: how he really stacks up 

• Help Inzaghi: a little advice on formations, starters, subs, and more

 • Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for

My thanks again toDerwuin for joining me on such short notice. Follow him on Twitter@D_Mendez3and also follow@ToePokePODfor news on their upcoming Serie A podcasts.

After waking up at an ungodly hour to watch the Empoli game, my spirits were nearly at an all time low having watched such a terrible performance. The weight of years of douchebaggery just came crashing down on me with the injuries, suspensions and poor play from that match just the punctuation mark. The only plausible comparison I could conjure for where Milan is headed was a train wreck. But I’m not jumping off of this train anytime soon. It may hurt, and we may see the inevitable doom, but it’s still my Milan and I’m going to see it through.

My fellow sleep deprived Milanista this time was Pete. You will remember him from other great podcasts as well as his DAI DAI DAI blog. Or you may know him from his wise and witty comments on Twitter. Despite both being tired and despondent about Milan, we had some excellent and enlightening conversation:

• News of the Week: Galliani douchebaggery, Berlusconi xenophobia, Mastour’s surgery, Paletta’s hair

• Season to Date: results from Serie A

• Squad Analysis: how bad is it?

• The Berlusconi Conundrum: Will he sell? What’s in it for him? And more…

• Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for 

• Happy Birthday: milestones of the Milan Obsession blog, podcast, and more

My thanks again toPete for excellent conversation despite his sleep deprived state. Check out his fantastic blog at pdacquaviva.com and definitely follow him on Twitter, too.

Three points and a pre-Galliani Day™ shopping spree have Milan fans feeling some optimism again. But should we be optimistic? If hindsight is 20/20, then definitely not. But if you look carefully, there are some strands of hope we can perhaps cling to. But then again, we face Juventus this week, so if that doesn’t beat the optimism out of you then you may want to see a medical professional about that.

Keeping him up late after the Parma game with a cold, I had the privilege of chatting with my Milan Obsession co-founder, Jovan. Of course he moved on to create the best fantasy football sites for the four major leagues, including fantasyseriea.com. We explored the current state of Milan, including:

• News of the Week: Mexes meltdown, injuries, Honda at the Asian Cup, Ariedo Braida, the outline for the new stadium plans, and the Curva Sud speak.

• Season to Date: results from the league and the Coppa Italia

• Mercato Update: the latest news on Milan transfers ahead of Galliani Day™ 

• Inzaghi’s Report Card: how he has done so far, what to expect and whether or not he should stay 

• Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for

My thanks again toJovan for his especially while being under the weather. Please check out his amazing fantasy football games like the Serie A one atfantasyseriea.com

Milan are in crisis mode again, or at least that’s what I’ve read. But between unrealistic expectations, poor results, a poor squad, and fans behaving badly, perhaps the trouble is not exactly what some think it is. But then again, if everyone thinks it, then Milan really are in trouble. Perspective is a very powerful thing. But perhaps the lack thereof is actually the trouble with Milan after all.

This time I chatted with Milano native and second generation Milanista Francesco, the original Milan Obsessed fan and President of the Curva Sud America (according to me, anyway.) When he’s not posting comments on the blog, he sometimes tweets @FrancescoPetra8, so do follow him. For this crisis Milan podcast, we talked about:

• News of the Week: Goal line technology, Taarabt still talking, injury woes

• Season to Date: results from the league and the Coppa Italia 

• Mercato Update: the latest news on Milan transfers

• Milan Fan Rants: Anger, expectations, and class 

• Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for

Many thanks again toFrancescofor his time and willingness to share his views. Please follow him  @FrancescoPetra8on Twitter to make sure he’s still alive in that God forsaken country.

Milan have managed a treble this season… well if friendly trophies count for a treble, anyway. Which has got Milan fans everywhere dreaming big… maybe a little too big. After seeing our players drive Audis on a racetrack, sit in a Fly Emirates flight simulator, win awards that no one has heard of before and otherwise life the good life in Dubai and then beat Real Madrid in a friendly, it’s easy to get carried away. But it’s also important to remember where the club has been recently and consider what could be happening in the upcoming mercato. Things seem to be looking up, but Milan fans know all too well that things are not always what they seem to be at Milan anymore. That’s life.

I was joined once again by Vinny, whom you may remember from that awesome YouTube sensation Red Card Weekly. He reportedly talks about Milan around the clock, even in his sleep, but you can catch his occasional tweets by following @RedCardWeekly. For this holiday podcast, we talked about:

• News of the Week: Globe Soccer Awards, Zeman fired again

• Adventures in Dubai: Real Madrid friendly and trophy count

• Squad Turnover: based on The Transition, how many players have come in and out of the club since Summer of 2012

• Mercato Forecast: Update and predictions

• Coming Up: Upcoming matches and what to look for

Many thanks again toVinnyfor the great Milan conversation. You definitely need to follow the seriously underfollowed@RedCardWeeklyon Twitter for his occasional but brilliant wit and wisdom.

Milan surprised at the beginning of the season, and again in the last two fixtures, with a win vs. Napoli and a draw with second place Roma. So we go into the holidays in seventh place, but only two points behind third place. These results have people dreaming of more than just sugarplums, but will Santa deliver the goods this Christmas for Milan fans? And if so, what exactly is it that he is supposed to deliver? What part of this season is fantasy and what part of it is reality? With pleas to Santa and coming off of a surprise result, Milanisti everywhere have plenty to talk about this Christmas break.

My guest this time was Dave, the Milanista, comedian, teacher, new father, and former Bodega clerk of the fabulous @DaveLambComedy Twitter account. In his spare time, he writes the amazing game previews on pdacquaviva.com. For this holiday podcast, we talked about: 

• News of the Week: Goal line technology, territorial discrimination, budget deficit, Happy 115th Milan 

• Season to Date: Update on the season

• Marketing vs. Football: also known as Barbara vs. Galliani

• Dear Santa: The most depressing fan wish list ever

• Coming Up: What’s up next

Thanks again toDavefor taking time out of his busy holiday schedule to chat. He is definitely underfollowed on Twitter, so help us change that by following him @DaveLambComedy. Also read his match previews onpdacquaviva.comfor a fantastic read every time.

Since the last podcast, Milan produced a draw, a win, and then a loss, and have two big games looming before the end of the calendar year. We are still in search of consistency, and waiting for this team to make the San Siro a fortress again. The fans seem to be coming back, but will the team be able to soldier up and make other teams fear Milan at home? We discuss where the team is at now and some promising news for the future.

Joining me this time to chat was the world traveler Derwuin. Having just come back from a trip to Milano for the Derby, we had lots to talk about. Follow him on Twitter @D_Mendez3 and be sure to check out his pics from his trip in his timeline, in this post or in this comment section. This time we chatted about:

• News of the Week: Shirt sponsor extended, new stadium news, the quest for goal line technology

• Season to Date: Update on the season

• Derby della Madnonnina: A first person report from the San Siro

• In Search of Defense: We discuss the defensive problems and individual players that leave us scratching our heads after each match

• Coming Up: What’s up next

Thanks again to Derwuin for the podcast and for sharing his Milan adventures. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @D_Mendez3. Be sure to check out his pics from his trip in his timeline, in this post or in this comment section.

Despite early encouraging results, more recently the squad have shown that getting the Milan back that we know and love is not going to happen overnight. We fans have been tested already this season with a roller coaster first part of the season including wins, draws, losses, goals scored and conceded, and all of the hype that goes along with those things. Many of our players also want to play for their national teams, but how many of them will? We try to answer that and discuss the newer players and the season so far for you in this episode of Milan Impossible 

My guest this time is the legendary David Swan, one of the rare and endangered English fans of Milan, Serie A, and the Italian National Team. You can follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan and also check out his fantastic acmilanfinance.com site for the most accurate information about Milan’s finances in English, all in one place. For this podcast, we discussed:

• News of the Week: When Amelia attacks, Milan lead at something, Berlusconi’s dream

• Season to Date: Update on the season

• New Player Focus: We rate and/or discuss all ten new players 

• International Duty: Which Milan players are likely to represent their countries, which players should or should not represent 

• Coming Up: What’s up next after the break

Thanks again to David for staying up late after the Sampdoria match to bless all of you with his wisdom. You can get more wisdom directly from the source by following him on Twitter@DavidLSwan. Also, for any questions about player salaries, transfer fees, or other Milan finances, be sure to bookmarkacmilanfinance.com, his brilliant site covering Milan finances in English.

 After a brief and very reluctant hiatus, the Milan Obsession Podcast is back… maybe. At least on an “as Elaine can find time to record” basis. So with seven weeks to catch up on, we tried to summarize the Milan team that is also back… maybe. With surprise wins, new players, an injury list that would make Allegri blush, and some experimental tactics, there was plenty to talk about during this international break. Served up with plenty of skepticism and a dash of that scarce thing called hope, now we’ll have to wait and see which comeback is more successful… Milan’s or the podcast’s. 

Bringing back the podcast in style, Pete Acquaviva of the legendary DAI DAI DAI joined me. Pete is a longtime Milan fan who gives amazing analysis on his blog, contributes to other blogs and shows, and is also a great follow on Twitter. This time we chatted about:

• News of the Week: Maldini recognized, Gandini begs, Galliani out of touch, and Inter suck

• Season to Date: Where we are after the first 6 games

• New Player Focus: We rate and discuss all ten new players 

• Injury Roundup: Who’s out and who’s coming back 

• International Duty: Which Milan players are representing their countries

• Tactics: We discuss the 4-2-3-1 vs. the 4-3-3 and Inzaghi’s tactics so far

• Coming Up: Milan’s upcoming matches

Grazie mille again to Petefor sacrificing his time and his NFL games for this podcast. Check out his blog pdacquaviva.com for fantastic writing and analysis, and follow him on Twitter @pdacquaviva to keep up with other news and opinions (his Mesbah profile pic demonstrates his discerning taste.)

A week that saw us lose our most talented player and then win the Trofeo TIM left Milan fans in a bit of shock and awe. With a mere seven days left in the mercato we are now at the mercy of Galliani and his ability to shake down other clubs for their players on loans and free transfers. But with another epic fail from management, the livers of Milan fans worldwide are suffering as if the season was well underway. And yet there is still a strange kind of anticipation as the season kicks off next week which makes our stomachs alternate between the nervous butterflies of the possibilities and the nausea of having been reamed once again by management. One thing is for sure, Balotelli has left Milanello, along with a lot of hopes and dreams.

I was joined this week by the guys from my favorite weekly Serie A review show, Red Card Weekly. Both Steve and Vinny are passionate Milan fans who love calcio and both took the time to share their opinions and humor about Milan with us in this episode. We discussed:

• News of the Week: Ice Bucket Challenge, FIGC rule change

• Match Reviews: Trofeo Naranja:Valencia 2, Milan 1, and Trofeo TIM tournament 2014: Milan are Champions! 

• Match Preview: Serie A Week 1: Milan vs. Lazio Sun. Aug. 31st 

• Mercato News: Updates and rumors 

• Season Preview & Predictions: The schedule, Milan and Serie A

• Douchebaggery Alert System™: Where Milan are this week 

• Special Message from Elaine

Thanks again to bothSteve and VinnyofRed Card Weeklyfor their insights and humor and especially their time. The season is starting back up, and so will their shows, so be sure to subscribe to theirYouTube Channeltoday so you don’t miss a single awesome episode. Please also follow them on Twitter@RedCardWeeklyfor a more frequent fix of their take on Serie A.

And don’t forget to join what is undoubtedly going to be the best league inFantasy Serie A, league Name: Red Card Weekly, league code: d9shQfaWZcIo

It has been a tough couple of years as a Milan fan, most recently trying to stomach the friendly performances here in the USA. But suddenly, we are feeling like we are in a fantasy with two big exits and a couple of even bigger new signings. Still shell shocked and not sure what to trust or who to believe, our discussion is candid, but shows some hope and optimism again with these new “fantasy” signings as well as the exit of Robinho and Constant. Even if Milan’s mercato ends here, there is a glimmer of hope that the club is doing something, even if we aren’t sure it is necessarily the right thing for the future.

This time I welcomed back my original Milan Obsession co-founder, Jovan, who is also the creator of four fantasy football games: Fantasy Serie A, Fantasy Bundesliga, Fantasy Liga, and the all new Fantasy Premier League. We discussed:

• News of the Week: Season ticket fail, referees under attack, and FIGC election

• Match Reviews and Previews: ICC Friendly: Liverpool 2, Milan and Chivas Guadalajara 0, Milan 3. Previews: Valencia vs. Milan Sun. Aug 17th, and Trofeo TIM tournament Sat. Aug. 23rd

• Mercato News: Updates and rumors 

• Season Predictions: Milan and Serie A

• Douchebaggery Alert System™: Where Milan are this week

Thanks once again toJovan, my Milan Obsession co-founder and original co-blogger. Check out his Fantasy Football games today, they are a great way to distract you through the upcoming season. Serie A: fantasyseriea.com, Bundesliga: fantasybundes.com, La Liga: fantasy-liga.com, and the all new Premier League game: fantasy-premier.com

After reasonable success in their friendlies against Lega Pro sides, Milan put in two very poor performances against real teams in the ICC Tournament friendlies thus far. The mercato shows no promise, and to make things worse, the Serie A schedule was released and we face a very difficult start. So if you still have any hopes for this season, your worst fears seem to be being realized. We tried to find the small positives in what is shaping up to be another very painful season for Milan fans.

For this podcast, I was joined once again by the original Milan Obsession member, Francesco. We discussed: 

• News of the Week: Away kit release, small victories, Balotelli’s PSA, Juventus Allegrified

• Match Reviews and Previews: ICC Friendlies: Milan 0, Olympiacos 3; Milan 1, Manchester City 5. Coming up: Liverpool vs. Milan on Sat. Aug. 2nd, and Chivas Guadalajara vs. Milan on Wed. Aug. 6th 

• Mercato News: Updates and rumors 

• Where is the Youth? Will we see a lot of youth get time this year?

• Douchebaggery Alert System™: Where Milan are this week 

Thanks once again toFrancesco, who showed exceptional patience and flexibility trying to record this podcast. Follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8 and look for his omnipresent and fun comments on the blog.

It’s that time of year. The squad returned to Milanello and were also presented at Casa Milan amongst a day of festivities and over 2,000 fans. The Curva Sud started the season off right with an open letter to the club, too. The mercato is now in full swing, with a number of Milan players already out on loan or sold, and a few new faces, too. So much change, but most heartening for fans were the words of Mister Inzaghi, who talked about the importance of “finding the right Milan DNA.” And that is exactly what I think fans want the club to achieve this summer in training, in the mercato, and especially as a team. 

Returning again is the newly relocated podcast favorite Derek, now representing Milan in Colorado. We discussed:

• News of the Week: Squad presentation, Curva Sud letter, Balotelli in the doghouse again

• World Cup Update: final update from Brazil 

• Mercato News: Who’s out, who’s in, and rumors 

• New Boss: Mister Inzaghi

• Douchebaggery Alert System™: Where Milan are this week

Thanks once again to Derek for sharing his passion for Milan and his views with us. Please follow him on Twitter @Deekmonn or check out the comments section of the blog, you’ll undoubtedly see him sharing his opinions there.