AC Milan: 6 Things That Have to Change Next Season at the San Siro

With six Serie A games left in the season, AC Milan find themselves close to finishing the year without a trophy. 

That's not exactly true, to be honest. The club did win the Supercoppa Italiana to kick off the season. It was the sixth time in nine attempts that the club secured the trophy contested by the previous season's league winner and Coppa Italia winner.

Milan won that trophy nine months ago, and since then the club has been eliminated from the Champions League and Coppa Italia. Currently, the Rossoneri sit second in Serie A, one point behind Juventus. The likelihood of the club not finishing the season like it started it, with a trophy, is high. 

Add in the difference in form both clubs are currently having, and Juventus looks the more likely to win their 28th Scudetto. 

With Milan's quarterfinal finish in the Champions League, the argument can be made that the club is one of the eight best clubs in Europe. However, the club has a long way to go before it is on the same level it was the last time it lifted the European Cup in 2007. 

Here are six things that must change—maybe even stay the same in some instances—for the club to compete at the highest levels in 2012-13.

6. Know When to Hold 'em, Know When to Fold 'em

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani pulled several master strokes this season by bringing in loan signings Alberto Aquilani, Maxi Lopez and Sulley Muntari. 

His shrewdest deal involved the permanent deal for Antonio Nocerino, who was signed for just over $600,000. Nocerino has gone on to register nine league goals and be an indispensable part of the club. 

However, just as the time was right to bring these players in, it might also be the time to let one or two go. Obviously, Nocerino is a keeper due to his performances this season. Milan has definitely gotten the better value for money than France's Paris Saint-Germain, who signed Nocerino's former Palermo teammate Javier Pastore for $51.7 million. 

Aquilani joined the club on loan at the start of the season from Liverpool. Recently, a clause was triggered in the Italian's contract, turning Milan's option to buy the midfielder into mandatory due to him playing in over 25 matches. This should make Aquilani the club's first purchase for next season. It will also relieve some of the pressure the club will have in bringing in fresh blood to replace the older midfielders. 

Since Jose Mourinho left Inter, Muntari wasted away on Inter's bench. His January loan signing was a stroke of genius by Milan, but allowing the Ghanaian to move this summer may be a good idea.

He has scored some important goals and filled in admirably in the midfield. He is a fantastic athlete, but Muntari doesn't seem to offer more than what he has already shown. His passing is below average, and his tackling is somewhat clumsy.

If the club is to let Mark Van Bommel or Massimo Ambrosini go, then keeping the Ghanaian makes sense. Yet, if they are to stay, it would make the midfield even more crowded. 

Lopez has tallied two goals in 10 matches, which isn't a bad statistic. He has shown good movement and an energy that seems to be lacking in Robinho. Signing the Argentine on a permanent deal isn't a terrible idea, but playing time may be hard to come by.

ESPNsoccernet reported this week that Lopez' agent, Andrea D'Amico, stated the club will sign the striker on a permanent basis. If this is true, he should be the direct replacement for Filippo Inzaghi. Unfortunately, his signing could lead to Stephan El Shaarawy and Alberto Paloschi being marginalized. 

Regardless of what happens to the three loan signings, they have all contributed in positive ways this season.  

5. Stop Relying on Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Score All the Goals

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has tallied 23-goals thus far in Serie A. He not only leads the team, but he also leads the league.

Milan's second leading scorer is last summer's transfer bargain, midfielder Nocerino, who has notched nine goals. Nocerino wasn't known for his goal scoring exploits when he signed from Palermo, yet the Italian has scored some important goals this term. 

What should worry Milan supporters is that Ibrahimovic's strike partners—Robinho, Alexander Pato, Antonio Cassano, El Shaarawy, Lopez—have only tallied 11 goals in the league combined. Obviously, Cassano has been out since November due to heart surgery, but the excuses of the remaining cast are hard to swallow. 

Yes, El Shaarawy and Lopez have gotten limited playing time, but against Fiorentina, Lopez spurned at least two excellent chances to get on the score sheet.

Pato has been injured time and again this year, but his one goal from 11 matches is quite pathetic. Robinho's five league goals is equally pathetic, and the Brazilian's finishing seems to get worse every season.

Milan must find a striker to compliment the big Swede. Robinho does play well with him, but Ibrahimovic needs a sidekick that can finish the chances that are created. 

Ibrahimovic's time at Inter was much the same. The club relied on the striker too much, and in big games he couldn't deliver on his own. Once Ibrahimovic left the club, Inter's tactics changed and the partnership of Samuel Eto'o and Diego Milito flourished. 

4. Injection of Youth to an Old Squad

There is no doubt Clarence Seedorf, at 36 years old, can still cut it on the pitch. The only problem is that he can't do it every match day.

Seedorf isn't the only one, either. Ambrosini, Gennaro Gattuso, Van Bommel, Mario Yepes, Alessandro Nesta, Gianluca Zambrotta and Inzaghi are not only on the wrong side of 30, but they're all over 34. As a mater of fact, Inzaghi is 38 years old; though he has the heart and desire of a 20-something.

Rumours are the club will allow certain elder statesmen to leave at the end of the season, while hanging on to those Milan feel it can get at least another year out of. Allegedly, Ambrosini, Gattuso and Van Bommel are the three the club will extend a deal to, but it is obviously too early to know what is true and what is not.  

Perhaps the most worrying aspect of their ages is that, with exception to Yepes and Inzaghi, the remaining six players have played a large part in the club's season. 

On one hand, it is great to see the club stick with these great servants. On the other hand, Milan has stuck by these players for so long it may take quite a lot to wean the side of them.

Milan has already begun the weaning process by signing Alexander Merkel, Rodney Strasser and El Shaarawy. However, there is a long way to go in overhauling the club's age. 

3. Give the Youngsters a Chance

Despite having numerous players over 30 years old, Milan still has an excellent assortment of talent still in their 20s. Three of their youngest players are also three of their brightest stars of the future.

El Shaarawy, Merkel and Strasser are three players that are still raw but can step in and play important roles for the club. Each has had numerous opportunities already, this year and last, and have shown they can contribute to the club.

El Shaarawy is the one most people are excited about. He has played in 26 matches, tallying four goals and two assists. Manager Massimiliano Allegri has been reluctant to throw the 19-year-old in the fire. Injury and El Shaarawy's form have forced his managers hand, however.

If Milan can integrate these three youngsters into the squad, it will lighten the need to spend money and bring in new players. It can also prevent the club from hanging on to too many senior players that should be allowed to leave.

2. Keep Massimiliano Allegri

There has been much speculation over the past few weeks that Milan manager Allegri must win the Scudetto to save his job. Some have even speculated he will be sacked regardless.

Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi is a hard man to please, but Milan is not the club it was when it was winning silverware every season. The club is still in a building phase, and to sack the manager now may be suicide. 

Allegri overachieved last season by winning the Serie A title. Even hardcore supporters would acknowledge that. But to sack the manager due to his unattractive style of play in favour of an all-out attacking team would undo two years of progress.

Prior to Allegri's appointment, the club was managed by Leonardo, who insisted on the team attacking and being creative. Attack Milan did, but the team gave up quite a few goals as well. The club's poor defense was highlighted when Inter dismantled the Rossoneri 4-0. 

Allegri has done a lot to solidify the club's defense since taking over in 2010. Ignazio Abate and Luca Antonini are two examples of players that have excelled as fullbacks since the manager's arrival. Abate wasn't even a defender, but he has been moulded into a highly capable right-back.

Antonini is having the best year of his Milan career and was outstanding against Barcelona in the clubs' Champions League quarterfinal first leg. Meanwhile, Allegri has also turned Kevin-Prince Boateng into the midfielder many expected him to become years ago at Tottenham Hotspur. 

The work he has done as manager can't be downplayed, and giving up on him now would be disastrous to the club.

1. Keep Thiago Silva

Sticking with the theme of keeping someone: Milan must do everything to keep Thiago Silva. The Brazilian has been a major part of everything the Rossoneri has done since he arrived in 2009.

Silva is arguably the best centre-back in world football. His skills and ability on the pitch are unmatched, and due to this Barcelona and Real Madrid have been rumoured as interested buyers.

Selling Silva wouldn't be such a drastic measure if the club had capable replacements. A ready replacement is exactly what the club does not have, however.

Philippe Mexes has proved in the last few games he isn't capable of playing for a big club. Daniele Bonera is a backup. and Nesta may retire at the end of the season. If he doesn't, Milan has the option of re-signing a 36-year-old defender—something the club must pass on.

Selling Silva may not be a bad idea in the summer of 2013 after Milan replace Nesta and Mexes this offseason. But doing it this summer could devastate the team. 

Drew Farmer is a writer and Genoa club correspondent forForzaItalianFootball.com, and has been featured on MajorLeagueSoccerTalk.com and EPLTalk.com. Follow him on Twitter @calciofarmer