Bleacher Report - Articles by Edward Barett

A Tale of Midas: Real Madrid Pulverizes Market In Search of Dream Team

Edward Barett — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:51:27 -0400

It was a secret to no one in Spain, that the election of former chairman and entrepreneur Florentino Pérez to the Real Madrid presidency obeyed to the widespread desire of bringing back Spain’s most emblematic and honored club to its former bright and glory.

The decomposition of the once much-admired and flamboyant 2003 Real Madrid squad, nicknamed “galácticos” (Spanish for: the ones who come from a galaxy), an operation which started on summer 2005 forced by lack of results and massive critics, was just the beginning of a dimmed age which saw the most acclaimed team in European club history falling down sharply in terms of prestige and competitiveness in front of their traditional contenders, most notably arch-rival Barça.

And given Barcelona’s latest deeds in Spain and in Europe, the need for resurging was imperious. Understandingly, they want to make it in full shape, and quite faithful, it seems, to Florentino’s style: By force of money.

Yesterday’s evening, Real announced the signing of Karim Benzema, the rising French star, for an approximate amount of thirty-five million euros, plus six million euros more for accomplished objectives.

His recruiting was added to those of Kaká ( 65 million euros) Cristiano Ronaldo (96 million euros) and Albiol (15 million euros), in what seems a frantic bet to build a team of the best players available today, something that vaguely reminds us of Chelsea’s assemblage some years ago.

And we say vaguely, because despite being criticized for heavy expenses, Abramovich’s disbursements through the years of building up Chelsea turn out to be pale when we compare them with the brutal sums paid by Real Madrid this year per player.

Abramovich is said to have spent about 440 million euros in players transfer and signings in about 5 years since the club’s takeover (2003-2008), including managers. His recruits total 31 players and three managers in that period.

However, Real Madrid’s disbursements for the first five weeks of their “extreme makeup” operation totalizes 212 million euros, for the signing of just four players, plus three more for a manager.

Enough to challenge even a sultan’s dream.

Yet from Chelsea’s experience, and most notably from that one of the “galáctico” Real Madrid, we know very well that money does not necessarily guarantee you success, or at least, all the trophies you may want.

It is true that, since major investments were done, Chelsea has rallied to win seven local trophies, including two Premier League titles. But we also know very well that Real Madrid’s main interest is not aimed to win local trophies. They have won two La Liga titles in the last three seasons.

Of course they are focused now in something else, something more prestigious, something which makes them gain the necessary exposure to return to the world elite again. The same trophy that Abramovich has been longing to see in Chelsea’s showcase since he bought the club back in 2003, and so far has been unable to.

The one which reads Coupe des clubs Champions Europeénes.

Unfortunately for those Midas kings, this trophy does not seems to yield to the millions funded by anyone. Experience teaches that it is a mix of well combined talent, wise investments and good luck, along with lot of patience, what is likely to give you access to it.

In the meantime, Real Madrid finances seem to be crisis-proof. They don’t mind the financial predictions or the stock’s markets index; they plan to build La Armada Invincible (the invincible Armada) and what you ask for, is what they give you, in terms of prices.

During the last five years, Real Madrid has spent a global amount of approximately 450 million euros in players signing and transfers, including managers. Added to the 215 millions of this summer, it makes an outrageous global account of 665 million euros in player transfers, more than any other club in the world in the same period.

And we wonder: of what sort of precious metal are Real Madrid chests filled with? Platinum?

Formula One's Future at The Verge Of a Schism

Edward Barett — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:57:06 -0400

As we land into another fast-speed weekend, this time at the mythic Silverstone, we must confess ourselves astounded at the magnitude of the latest news that emerge from the F1 world, and to what they could imply in the future of the top category of motorsport.

Has been quite a while since we've first heard of this rumor: it began as a complain. Simply just another complain filed by Ferrari, the most successful team in F1 history and much probably one of the most affected in this whole decade of rule variations, against FIA governing body, a complain that some days later transformed into a formal menace.

What we've first thought, it was: oh, here they go again, these guys. Another soap opera. Ferrari is really losing its nerve this season; their worst start ever, problems with both cars and drivers and of course all this is simply frustrating for them.

But as weeks passed, the threat began to take shape, and started running down the hill. And to our utmost surprise, it continued gaining weight, the team's voices raising louder, the ice ball getting bigger and bigger, to the point that practically the whole FOTA (Formula One Team Association) has joined together (except for a few minor teams) in this cause against the FIA.

And if we are to credit the latest news about this subject, F1 is at the very brink of falling into a unprecedented and difficult situation. Schismatic voices sound loud enough among the meeting rooms and corridors in Paris and London, and we now start to believe in a possibility that hardly we have thought before it could ever happen.

But what is all this mess about?

The apple of discord of all this row, is FIA's head authority determination to cap the team's budget for next season in 40 million pounds, per team.

Whatever reasons has Mosley to stand obstinately firm in his viewpoint against 85% of the teams in F1, we've frankly failed to understand them. He says that this will help low budget teams to compete in the same conditions with the most powerful ones, and that in the crisis times we actually live in, it will aid to preserve the financial health of current F1 teams, and keep F1 competitive while enabling potential candidates to enter the category.

Come’on man, an overwhelming majority of the teams is against the measure. Where is the common sense? Is really so hard to search for another way to achieve your aim without unilaterally imposing your position, maybe a cross-subsidy or kind of? We are tempted to believe that there's something more involved in such an attitude.

Mosley's moral authority and leadership as the head of the FIA suffered a fatal blow when he appeared at the centre of a sex scandal involving prostitutes dressed as concentration camp prisoners a year ago, and some of the teams and chiefs in F1 clearly asked for his head at that time.

Henceforth, internal relations with some teams and personnel have resented, and he probably thinks that yielding to their demands now will push him a bit closer to the scaffold. And he is tautening the rope.

But i'm afraid that the rope is about to break, as dissident teams have recently announced their intention to create another tournament. And such is not a good thing neither for Mosley, nor for the fans, nor for the drivers, nor for the sport. Not even for the image rights holders.

He's now been clearly playing the Fabian strategy, gaining time. "it will all stop some time between the beginning of 2010 and March 2010 with the first race, it will all settle down, and everybody will go racing" he declared to BBC sports on Friday. In the meantime, either the king or the horse dies, like in the old Persian tale. Either the FOTA defiant union loose ground, or whatever happens that plays in Mosley's favor.

To add more misery to the situation, the commercial rights owner (Ecclestone) has stated that they will sue some teams (most notably Ferrari and the Red Bull ones) for breach of contract, a decision that does not particularly seems to contribute solving the puzzle.

And at the bottom line of this all us, F1 fans, lay unconsolable and still incredulous on what to think or say about a crisis that has suddenly grasped a sport we've seen and enjoyed since we were kids playing with toy cars in grandma’s backyard, and threats to strangle it. We grow skeptical on what the outcome of all this will be.

As we grow more and more bored of a season that as far as it goes seems condemned to be one-sided, we also run out of patience of all this non-sport-related arguing, dispute and menace throwing.

FIA and F1 teams are unaware, i'm afraid, of how hazardous could all this be to the image of Formula One, and I wonder if they keep in mind that, at the end, we fans, the very ones who pay to get entrance or watch a race, are the ones who are left nervous and enraged with all this situation.

Better for them to search for a solution, or at the end of this there will be no budget to cap.

Vibrant AC Milan Search For End-Of-Season Stamina Reserves

Edward Barett — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:04:52 -0400

As one of the best and most physically demanding football seasons in the world enters its final stage, many teams have started to release signs which invite us to think they are at their limit in terms of exhaustion.

It happened to Serie A leaders Inter in their Napolitan journey at Stadium San Paolo, last Sunday.

To their usual lack of creativity, they added, to our utmost surprise, a heaviness of legs in the second half of the game. This was something quite unusual in a team habituated to rely almost entirely on their portentous physical condition to beat their rivals.

As can be inferred, they lost to Napoli, granting the San Paolo side their first victory in 14 matches, and a very prestigious one at that.

The same syndrome has also taken hold of title-contenders Juventus, who have claimed only three points out of 12 available in their last four matches. They snatched barely a unit in their visit to last-placed Reggina, and even this was only thanks to a referee's special grace, given by virtue of an non-existent penalty at the beginning of the second half.

The Bianconeri haven't won a game since their brilliant victory 4-1 over Roma a month ago. While there are some unmistakable signs of fatigue in the team, we shall add that injuries and some ill-disposed rumors which place Lippi in charge of the team next season instead of current coach Rainieri, have probably played some role in this sudden slump.

Add to this list AS Roma, a team that have so far lost all the decisive games they needed to win in order to keep the faith in themselves. This is part of a campaign that has turned into a bitter disappointment, after the great expectations they had when it started.

Roma’s problem is not only with the lack of decisive figures in the first team, but also the poor form of many of them. Now that the race for fourth place is practically over, they should focus on at least securing a ticket for the UEFA Cup.

But even such a task looks imposing if they don’t find a way to boost their wounded moral.

Who are the greatest beneficiaries, for now, of this end-of-season situation?

Despite not being up to the task of disputing Inter’s supremacy this year, and trailing in the shadow of Juventus during most part of it, AC Milan have recently emerged to grab Juve’s second place with a 3-0 victory over Palermo, extending their run of games without defeat to seven.

It is something which unveils them as a dark horse to deliver some suspense to Serie A, perhaps turning the season finale into something less monotonous.

Many factors have contributed, in my opinion, to this renaissance:

Apparition of Key Figures

Inzaghi, Beckham, and Ambrosini must take a lot of the credit for Milan’s surge in the second half of the season.

Inzaghi has added the goals which the doomed Schevchenko-Borriello duo once promised, Beckham has provided the assists which Kaka’s poor form until the last two matches didn’t provide, and Ambrosini has delivered the big heart that has been lacking since Gattuso’s injury.

Further good news is that Kaka himself seems to be gradually recovering his former shape.

A Quiet Agenda

One of Milan’s problems in previous seasons was the number of matches that a gradually over-aged squad was forced to play.

Having exited early this season—to my bitter disappointment, I must say—in the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia, they have focused exclusively on Serie A, and mainly on grabbing that fourth place which grants them access to the Champions League.

Setting a Moderate Objective

The objective fixed after their shock UEFA exit, to this day, remains the same; secure at least fourth place in Serie A, in order to return to Europe’s elite club competition. It is something which they have under control now, and helps to ease a lot of the pressure on the team.

Reinvented Defence

Milan’s endemic problems at the back have been palliated for now (I think it has something to do with Kaladze’s absence really) and Flamini’s selection at right-back has been an unexpected success.

Now, does all this mean it is time for Milan to sit back and enjoy?

It would be reckless to do so, considering the fixtures they have to face before the end of the season; Catania, Juventus, Udinese, Roma, and Fiorentina.

I swear this isn’t a joke. As you can imagine, their main rivals got a much easier schedule. That’s why I really hope they have kept some sort of hyper-stamina package for this turbulent end of season, and that the points mercilessly wasted against Napoli and Reggina don’t come back to haunt them.

Manchester U. Vs. FC Porto: Can the Dragon Overcome the Devil This Time?

Edward Barett — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:05:56 -0400

Back in 2004, the ninth day of March, 22.29 local hour, a full crowded Old Trafford stadium was seething with enthusiasm and excitement.

The MU was through, after a hard-earned victory against a defiant FC Porto side, which no one expected to be so tough. A minute later, the theater of dreams became the one of the shattered dreams, as Costinha scored a late equalizer which means that it was end of the road for red devils.

The clock displayed 90, a blank point range death. Nothing to do.

That season, the FC Porto emblem shone brightly in the European firmament. Such emblem, which is Porto’s city coat of arms, shows a dragon in the crest of a quartered Samnitic shield (the motif why they are called “the dragons”) holding a badge which reads, “cidade invicta” (the invincible city).

Just within a month, they were lifting up their second European cup, to the astonishment of almost every football follower.

Now, five-years later from that point in football history, fate gifted us with another challenge between these two teams. While the colors are the same, the protagonists and circumstances are totally different.

First, we must admit that despite the numbers of stars it held , 2004 MU squad was not too far away from Porto's representatives at the time.

The Portuguese’s lineup, featuring Deco, Carvalho, Costinha, Maniche, P. Ferreira, Nuno Valente, Jorge Costa, V. Baia and Carlos Alberto was not really that below in terms of performance, that the one formed by Howard, Neville, Brown, O'Shea, Fletcher, Butt, Giggs, and Scholes.

The exception was, of course, Van Nistelrooy, a piece which the Portuguese were fairly unable to reproduce or even emulate in their scheme, but that they successfully managed to cancel in their contender's plan of action.

And of course, Porto’s manager at the time was the all acclaimed, worldwide hated, self-made strategist, visionary and more recently philosopher, José Mourinho. An important remark to point out.

Up to now, the situation is outrageously different.

Visibly, there is indeed a big gap between the squads. While MU has succeeded through the years in gathering one of the most, if not the most, powerful squad in Europe and probably in the whole world, FC Porto have done just the contrary, being forced themselves to sell (for a good price, must say) valuable players in the rise of their careers that they know they are unable to retain when facing the call of a bigger club.

The former 2004 European Champions come up now with a fresh, vibrant and sometimes clever lineup taken out mostly from the South American vintage, which is perfectly suitable for challenging in the domestic competition (having claimed three of the last four Portuguese Superliga titles) but far too light-weighted when giving the task of overcoming reigning champions Manchester United.

Porto’s dynamite—notably formed by the López/Hulk/González trident—seems to damp when we speak of the likes of Ronaldo/Rooney/Berbatov/Tévez, not to mention the rest of areas of both teams, a lot better, well-balanced and cemented in MU than in Porto.

Second, the circumstances are definitively not the same. Back in time, FC Porto was facing a team which was a pretty good English team, but not the best team in the world as it is now frequently stared like, after winning five trophies in a bit more than a year, and being in course for three more until the end of the season.

The accumulated experience of the current MU squad is overwhelming, compared to that of the FC Porto.

Moreover, when Porto entered the Old Trafford stadium at 2004, they carried the European-tiny-country “poor victim” label, something which clearly played in their favor.

Actually they will carry the “convict facing execution” one, for I bet that what happened barely five years ago, haven’t been forgotten at all by MU fans and some of the players at the time, who actually still play in the team.

As seen, Manchester United has almost all –except for the decisive leg venue—in their favor. The best squad available, the experience, the momentum...What do FC Porto have in their favor?

The chance of playing the second leg match in their own stadium, O Dragao (the dragon); a fervent mass of supporters which firmly believes in them and never ever stop to cheer their team, and the glimpse of two European Champion Cups in their display cabinet, what somehow should encourage them to try their hardest.

Their winning chances, which for insignificant that they could be still they held some, are in summary to grit their teeth in Old Trafford and hold MU impetus the best they can, trying maybe to snatch a goal—what would be a piece of paradise in terms of value—and set up trenches while mining the camp in O Dragao, preparing themselves for a very tough combat in the last and decisive leg.

Frankly speaking, as a FC Porto sympathizer I am (I’m also and first of all an AC Milan fan)in my opinion their aim shall be:

First and more idyllic, winning the row.

Second and more realistic, to at least achieve a decent and respectable exit to the tournament, with their heads up, something that will somehow fix a bit the disgraceful image of the Portuguese football in recent times, considering the pathetic example given by the Sporting Lisbon in the previous stage of the current tournament, and Porto’s own failure to reach quarter finals during the last five years.

Can Os Dragoes make the improbable? Quite difficult, but not impossible. Anyway, I would really wish they could keep in mind that if they are to lose, at least make their opponents sweat like in hell, and grant us a memorable match for the sake of football.

Is David Beckham AC Milan's Missing Piece?

Edward Barett — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:01:52 -0500

Three months ago, when I first read the news about Beckham joining Milan in January for a 90-day free loan from LA Galaxy, I must confess that I grew sceptical, like many others, on the benefits that such a move could bring to our age-struggling squad.

It could perhaps generate some media impact for a few weeks, I said; a few more coins in the piggy bank, but for being honest, I wasn't really amused of thinking in my Milan as a vacuum for the elder who comes to pick up on every bargain or devaluated item offered by the market.

Three months later, I shall admit I had to swallow my words at such respect.

Not only has the man fitted in so far superbly, but in fact, has became the perfect patch to reinforce an area in Milan's tactical scheme and strategy that has been frequently left to languish, following Gattuso's frequent injury problems, and Pirlo's gradual decline.

Last Sunday's performance against Lazio at the Olimpico has been the latest of a series of brilliant executions which have directly produced two goals and were crucial to cause five more, helping Milan grab the second place in the race for the scudetto and fuelling Rossoneri's hopes of getting something big this season, after the bitter taste in their mouths left by the previous one.

Beckham's well-known ability to produce clinical assists to goal have seemingly not lost a bit of their usual effectiveness, despite the years. In fact, it seems to me they are now sharper and more cleverly-thrown than ever.

And Milan's forefront is quickly starting to learn on the benefits of taking advantage of such a weapon, as the likes of Pato, Kaká, Seedorf, and even Ambrosini are progressively feeling more and more comfortable at the expectancy of grabbing one of such gifts and sending them right to the bottom of the opponent's net.

To Milan's rise has helped a lot, besides Beckham's contribution, the excellent shape showed by Pato, and the gradually rebuilding of the milanist defence, with Senderos finally looking like a more reliable option, and Abbiatti displaying a firm determination between the posts.

The other side of the coin is Ronaldinho: He has become, in this Rossoneri's coin throw, the side against the sun, the one facing the ground. Years-light from the shape he showed in his best years at Barcelona, he's apparently been awarded with a non-refundable ticket pass to watch Milan from the substitute's bench; and to add more misery to his situation, neither the rampant display by Beckham, nor the apparent incompatibility with Kaka at the pitch, help to improve his rank before Ancelotti's eyes.

For how much longer a star like Ronaldinho could bear this without starting to create some uneasiness? I don't know, but maybe he's expecting to reach an acceptable form by the time the UEFA cup resumes and then knock harder at the door for a place at the first team, to show he still counts.

That will also depend, I'm afraid, of Milan's decision to register or not Beckham in the UEFA tournament; as long as I know they will register the Englishman, and if so, then some problems may arouse, as pressure and frustration can grow more intense in Ronaldinho.

Returning to Beckham, it seems that the 90-day free loan has become in fact, a 90-day free trial. Beckham seems to feel the Milan nerve and Milan apparently wants to remove the caducity date of the original deal.

Beckham has seen there is little life in USA in terms of football, and Milan wants to take advantage of the situation.

Will they come to an agreement? Will LA Galaxy allow this? Let's see how this ends. For now, both sides are happy, Milan's play is improving, and La Maddonina, the final assault to the tournament's head, is two weeks from now. Any bets?

Champions' League Draw: Poisoned Gifts

Edward Barett — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:27:14 -0500

To finish at the top of your group in the UEFA Champion's League group stage would mean, traditionally, more accessible rivals and the benefit of playing the decisive match at your own stadium, crowded with thousands of feverish supporters. Two advantages granted as "prizes" for being the best throughout the six matches of that first stage.

They are supposed to make life easier to their beneficiaries, while the teams that finished second have to fit up with harder rivals; therefore, with less possibilities of going on.

Now, given the teams that finished first and second in this Champions' league edition, and the higher value of the goals scored at the opponent’s ground, can we possibly speak of any advantage at all?

A privilege or a penalty?

Well OK, let’s say there is still some advantage at being first of your group.

But we all shall agree that, on December 19 in Nyon, France, when everyone gets ready to draw lots, many of the representatives of these “happy” teams that finished first, will be crossing fingers not to get one of the terror-inspiring foes who lay in unusual numbers in the second pot.

In other words: Manchester United, Liverpool, Roma, Barça, Porto, Juventus, Bayern, and Panathinakos finished first, while Chelsea, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Inter, Villareal, Lyon, Sporting, and Atlético finished second.

That means, considering the fact that teams from the same country cannot be paired at this stage, that a club like AS Roma could be facing the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, or Real Madrid sooner than expected, as a “prize” for finishing first of their group. And that a team like Chelsea could face Barça, but also could face Panathinakos.

The Greek team is the candy that every second placed team wants. For the first placed ones, Porto is the one set to “fish” the toughest test, as it can be paired with any of the second placed teams with the exception of Sporting, allegedly the weakest one.

In light of the above, we shall not be surprised if we witness some main courses early in the competition, such as a Manchester United—Real Madrid, a Liverpool—Inter (again in the same stage), or a Barça—Arsenal (2005 final).

Audiences and media rights holders will be pleased with the matching possibilities, but I’m afraid some supporters won’t be at all.

Second leg at home, a double-edged sword

And then we conclude that having your opponent playing the decisive match at your own headquarters, with your public set to play the 12th player role, should be a point in your favor.

In "normal" conditions, indeed it is.

However, with such illustrious rivals available as visitors, the factor i believe is set to play a major role is the double value of the goals scored as visitors, with some powerful offensive-prone squads—such as Arsenal or Real Madrid—standing out as a real problem at this respect.

Trying to get a good result in the first leg, and playing cautiously in the second (where playing cautiously means defensively) in order to speculate with the result, could be the key for many of these first placed teams to survive in this tournament.

AC Milan Denied By Last Gasp Lazio

Edward Barett — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:02:28 -0500

Ac Milan was left out last night of the tournament for the Coppa Italia in the cruelest possible manner, after a brilliant last-gasp comeback from Lazio saw them turning the fate of a match which the Romans were losing 1-0 three minutes before the end of the official time.

Playing with 10 men after the 65' dismissal of Emerson (twice booked), Milan fought their way to capitalize on one of the several occasions they had through the means of Shevchenko (77'), who scored from outside the penalty area with a masterful left-foot strike and showed he still has gunpowder in his boots, if we dare to doubt him.

And that was the end of good news for the Rossoneri.

In the 87th minute, Favalli brought down Pandev within the penalty area, granting an inopportune penalty—which allowed Zárate to score to level the match (1-1).

Five minutes later, in the first of the two supplementary extra-periods (92') and with the thwarted Rossoneri struggling to react, Pandev took profit of this and of the incapacity of Milan's defense to carry out an effective clearance, scoring the second of the night for Lazio after a sequence of rebounds within Milan's penalty area.

Milan tried it out in the supplementary time—notably with a free kick from Ronaldinho which hit the post—but they were visibly affected by the late blow and the numerical handicap, and showed a lack of ideas.

In fact, Lazio went very close to a third goal by the time the final whistle was blown.

The victory sent Lazio to quarterfinals, where they will face in January the winner of the match between Fiorentina and Torino.

What can we say about Milan? Again they lost a match that seemed as already won. Again, in the final instants. Again, in their own stadium, before the eyes of their own supporters, and being one of those matches that leave you morally wounded.

Again, old vices seemed to have aroused within the squad, as they failed to show more grip and determination toward the end of the game, didn’t work enough to secure the advantage, and then left the rival took away a victory that would have choked recent criticism for their latest results.

Instead of that, they are now one step closer to the edge of the abyss, and it seems that the time has come for Milan players to grit their teeth and learn to suffer well, if they are to contend for the two other options they still have available to fight for in the season: Scudetto and UEFA Cup.

The good: Pandev (9) Great performance from the Macedonian. Generated the penalty which leaded to the first goal, and scored himself the second with a great volley after being first denied by Dida.

The bad: Emerson (3) Ingenuously provoked his dismissal after being booked twice in less than seven minutes, the last booking resulting from an unnecessary challenge over Ledesma.

The ugly: Favalli (4) Overall was not a bad match for Milan’s veteran defender, but his late imprudence inevitably rendered him the villain of the night.

AC Milan Dilemma: The Veterans' Legion

Edward Barett — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:28:58 -0500

With an average age close to 31, AC Milan’s first-option squad is undoubtedly one of the oldest actually standing in the professional football panorama.

And, while others have been eagerly and steadily seeking for youth and freshness, rossoneri's executives have all these years clearly made a bet to keep maturity and experience.

Given the results in the last five years (two Champion's league titles, runners up in 04-05, semifinalists in 05-06, one Serie A scudetto, sub-champions in 04-05, one European Supercup, first Europpean team to win the World Club's Cup), one is tempted to say they haven't missed the gamble

However, each time we see the likes of Maldini, Seedorf, Jankulovski, Gatusso, Ambrosini, Inzaghi, Favalli, etc. lined up in the pitch for another game, we devoted rossoneri supporters are recurrently prompted to ask ourselves the same question: for how long?

For how much longer could they stand? Their names and presence for sure impress. But can we say the same for their play?

Back in the 06-07 Champion's league first knockout round, no one could have ever guessed that ran-out-of-fuel rossoneris could be the team that on May 23, 2007 in Athens, would be lifting the Champion's league trophy for a historic seventh win.

This team had been beaten by Lille in the knockout group stage, almost thwarted by a defiant celtic side who saw them pass with an anemic 1-0 on aggregate, and nosedived in their own domestic competition where they paid the heavy price of being point-penalized for their involvement in Calciopolis.

But they were the team to lift that trophy.

Right when imperiously needed, people like Seedorf or Pirlo gave their best performances of the whole year.

They helped AC Milan defeat clubs like Bayern Munich, a superb Manchester United side who no one predicted to lose, and an always hard-to-die Liverpool, who at the time was a better and more mature team than the one who had won over AC Milan just two years before.

Of course they counted with the invaluable help of an extraordinary Kaká and his 10 goals baggage; but few doubt that the team’s game relied largely in the boots of the "elderly". This subsequently fuelled the dilemma: To which point can experience prevail over youth; expertise over muscle? Are they really that old, after all?

As a result of this, amidst celebrations for the victory, the unavoidable retirement to be assumed by a few was put on record for another year.

Several months later, aging rossoneris were outclassed by a magnificent and stylish Arsenal side seething with youth, who deservedly doomed the titleholder’s hopes of defending the crown.

Many of us saw in that Arsenal a replica of the AC Milan 10 years younger, and the debate was once again opened: Haven't we risked too much in betting for maturity, rather than freshness? Haven’t we committed a mistake, by delaying the retirement of some players?

That season saw rossoneris plunging into a misery beyond any possible calculation, as they failed to secure even a required fourth place in the domestic tournament to enter the Champions' league qualifying rounds, on behalf of a more in shape Fiorentina.

At the end of it, with no titles to show and an overall poor display throughout the year, everyone expected a massive burning at the stake. Many voices inside and outside the club expressed concerns about what was seen as an indolent and conformist attitude from some players, among the usual problems related to age.

A total rebuild was at sight.

Instead of that, what they gave us was a “facelift”: Abbiati, Zambrotta, Boriello, Flamini, Senderos and Ronaldinho were in, while Gourcuff, Simic, Digao, and Gilardino were out, the first three in loans to Bordeaux, Monaco and Liége.

Cafú, Serginho and Ronaldo were freed, and Schevchenko was last-gasp secured with a free cession from Chelsea. Beckham is to come for three months in January. As many of us felt that this was simply not enough for our expectations, the average age of the full squad, with all the acquisitions, was lowered from 31 to 28.

But the first team squad average age, considering the usual “first options” Ancelotti has at hand, remains at 30.5, still high.

As for the quality of the new players, the names of Ronaldinho, Shevchenko and Zambrotta were remarked. Ronaldinho is definitely a world-class player, formerly a world's best; but he had spent the previous one and a half years eating paella and drinking caipirinhas at parties around Barcelona and Sao Paulo. By the time he arrived at Milan, he was light-years away from that extraordinary shape he once displayed at Barça.

Regarding Shevchenko, some kind of black cat must have accompanied him since he abruptly left the rossoneri two years ago on grounds of a “better formation” for his kids in England. After such a move, he had been merely a shadow of what he once was, voted the worst acquisition ever in the EPL.

In the case of Zambrotta, he’s visibly far away from that fantastic winger he was a few years before, though still has some dynamite in his boots.

We needed to reinforce overall that disastrous defense which was the achilles’ heel of the iniquitous last season, and we predicted a rush of fresh blood at such respect. But what was evident is that in Milanello, not everyone shared the same idea.

There were concerns about this being the product of the bulletproof conviction of AC Milan’s executives in a project that has seen its service life extended, or their stinginess in acquiring new players (Galliani was quoted many times complaining on how expensive prices were in the market; somehow a peculiar comment coming from the richest Italian club according to Forbes).

The “all-new” AC Milan 2008 started the season with two consecutive defeats, something which rapidly triggered rossoneri’s alarms and fears, among accusations for insufficient reinforcement.

However, after 13 Serie A journeys, we discover AC Milan clinched into second place in the table, three points behind leaders Inter and three points ahead of third placed Juventus.

We’ve witnessed great, flashy performances from this team, as well as poor ones. But most importantly of all, the “oldsters” seem to have so far resisted Inter’s pace, especially if we take into consideration that at the same level in the previous season, they were 11 points behind them.

Again, AC Milan’s executives seem to have won the deal; but again, sudden fears prompt the same question among us:

For how long?

We cannot say it’s still “early” in the season; and neither can we state that this team has dissipated all doubts surrounding their play.

Can we rest assured that, in a place that maybe should be renamed from San Siro to San Lazarus —given the ability of this club to raise the dead and moribund (with the notably recent exceptions of Rivaldo and probably Emerson)— the ideal balance between youth and maturity is likely to be reached soon? I cross my fingers for that.

Pirlo, Seedorf and Inzaghi were considered discards when AC Milan picked up them, and look how the castoffs have done since that. Pressure keeps raising, as we reach the midpoint of the 2008-2009 Calcio tournament.

With archrivals Inter at the top of the table, being only one scudetto behind AC Milan count of 17, there’s no room for mistakes. Milan’s veterans know this is probably their last chance in stairway to glory, and I have the feeling that they don’t want to retire empty-handed.