AC Milan's underachieving geniuses getting back on track

European Leagues / Dan Fitch / 24 February 2008 / Leave a Comment

Dan "The Betting Man" Fitch on where it's all gone wrong for AC Milan recently and how Kaka and co have made amends ahead of their Betfair Live Video clash with Palermo tonight

Didn't it annoy you at school when you had to work like a dog to achieve success in exams, only to find yourself lower in the class than some genius, who didn't even open the text book until the night before the test?

It would have annoyed me too, if I had actually worked hard myself. Instead I was incredibly lazy, though fatally without the parachute that is the genius required to breeze through the exams. Still, I figured that as I was going to fail anyway, it was best to do it on my own terms with the least amount of effort extended.

But through my haze of nihilism, I can bring myself to pity the bookish swots at Fiorentina, who despite having grafted all term, look like they're about to be edged out of the top set.

The naturally gifted wasters of the class are represented by AC Milan. The past months have seen many a report marked 'Could do better' and their form at the San Siro, has shown much cause for concern at the quality of their homework. Yet despite all this, they just have too much talent to be able to throw it all away. They may have left things late, but now they're cramming and it's bound to pay off.

All of this laboured analogy is intended to point you to the fact that this weekend, AC Milan could overtake Fiorentina to move into the fourth Champions League spot. On Sunday they take on Palermo at the San Siro, in a 7.30 kick off. As ever, all the action can be caught via Betfair Live Video.

Milan go into this match on the back of two successive goalless draws. They will certainly be happier with the latter against Arsenal, than the former against Parma. Against Parma, not only did Milan look toothless with just the ageing Inzaghi in attack, but their injury problems went from bad to worse, as reserve goalkeeper Dida was somehow injured whilst sitting on the bench.

Much of the pre-match analysis of the Arsenal game focused on Milan's likely absences between the posts and in attack. To my mind it didn't matter which of Milan's keepers played, such is their general lack of quality. I will admit though, that Kalac did well to keep a clean sheet against an Arsenal side that had more shots than Chris Coleman at a student disco.

In attack, Milan surprised everyone by throwing Pato back into the team. He didn't look that sharp, but his presence will boost a side still coming to terms with the injury to Ronaldo.

Ronaldo's injury was very upsetting, which is strange considering that he has been more or less injured for the past two seasons and has spent much of his career on the treatment table. I suppose that this time it really does seem like the end. Niggling injuries always provide hope of a recovery, even when they're so frequent as to merge into one. But this one looked so painful that it seems likely that we'll never see this brilliant player again. With his contract to expire this summer, Ronaldo's short lived Milan career is certainly over.

Palermo should provide spirited enough opposition on Sunday. They are currently placed eighth, having finished fifth last season. Two players who will be looking to do well, will be the Brazilains Amauri and Simplicio. Both have reputedly attracted the interest of Milan and the striker Amauri has expressed his desire to move to the San Siro. The disloyal frontman has notched nine goals this season and can be back at a generous [80] to be Serie A top scorer, probably on the basis that most people haven't heard of him.

The price of [1.6] for a Milan win, is another generous price, with the draw [3.85] and Palermo [7.8]. Though Palermo are no pushovers and Milan's home record is still poor, I'd expect the return of Kaka and Pato to inspire a win.

The next couple of weeks will be very important for head boy Carlo Ancelotti. Progress in the Champions League and Serie A could lead to another term. Failure will surely mean expulsion.

To see this match on Live Video go to:

http://livevideo.betfair.com/