So, how was Balotelli ?

Didn't watch the game, but he scored, provided the assist to Poli and won the penalty.

#BaloIsBack (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Mihajlovic: "Bonaventura was one of our best players today as well as in the match against Empoli.

Mihajlovic: "Luiz Adriano is on our list of penalty takers. He took the penalty today because Balotelli decided to let him take it."

Mihajlovic: "Balotelli needs to improve his physical condition. He's 3 kilos overweight, but he has already gone on a diet."

Mihajlovic: "Today's match wasn't positive. I saw which players I can count on, and those I can't count on. I expect much more from them."

Mihajlovic: "When someone doesn’t play, then they can’t complain, because this performance is exactly why they don't play."

Mihajlovic: "Luiz Adriano, Bonaventura and Balotelli did well today. Montolivo was alright. But I expected more from the other players."

Mihajlovic: "You could see that Balotelli isn't in shape, and he has to improve, just like everyone else - otherwise they won't play."

Mihajlovic: "If we think that we are going to win because we are called Milan, then we won't achieve anything."

Mihajlovic: "The reserves played today, and you could see why they are the reserves. If they continue like this, then they will never play."

Sounds like we were mediocre, with three half decent performances, one okish and 7 shitty ones.
Feel I didn't miss much.

I caught a good chunk of the game, Balo was the best out there but the defense was terrible. Alex wasn't able to make a tackle, but I believe there were young players playing at the back. Balo was the only standout, I believe he would be a better partner for Bacca, he is much more of a creator than Adriano.

I've never seen an assist by Balo half as good as Adriano's pass for Bacca's goal v Empoli.

Both Bacca & Adriano are quite capable of being creative.

PS being a standout against actual amateur opposition is up there with impressing in training!

So refreshing to read Miha's real talk after all the bs Inzaghi used to spout last season.

+1

It is a difference, surely. If it's positive, well, I'm yet not sold on it.

Aye, words before action, so far! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I'm liking the words, but would love seeing some action now.

The actions will take time. There is no magic wand here.

Signs in our next match will do. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) The last thing our new coach needs is to leave it too late, which in our case might mean never. The team needs some positive belief to build upon, to carry them forward. And if he has to instill (or should it be said install) it, then the sooner we see some results the better.

Countless times, in our past few seasons, with different coaches, we've played well in patches, and bad in stretches.

I agree. Some positive signs would be nice. I don't expect it to happen over night though. It's more likely to happen in fits and starts than a smooth trajectory. Fingers crossed for sooner rather than later. I don't think the fan base has much patience at this point and we all know how fickle Berlusconi can be.

I won't lie, this international break is happening at a good time for me. My enthusiasm for Milan has been really hurt by that window - and there's literally nothing to be excited about. Our manager is constantly furious, our players don't perform for club or country, we lose out on all the useful targets and we have zero to look forward to. Plus the complete lack of balance in the squad means each match is a lottery as to what 'team' (because we don't really have one) Miha will pick.

I had more enthusiasm last season for Pippo.

It's that bad.

Milan need to give us something to get thrilled by, because right now it's totally hopeless. And I won't lie that about 70%/30% of my attention has been on Rangers - things, by contrast, at Ibrox, couldn't be better right now.

I'd actually put money on Rangers giving Milan a hell of a match right now.

Anyone know where I can find a replay of the game?

Also, the comparisons with Pippo's team last season are a bit pre-mature, I'd rather start a bit slow and finish strong than start with 2 wins and everything goes dramatically downhill from there

Finish strong...yeah that'll happen.

Your either/or scenario forces the choice, but I'm afraid we're not starting slow and finishing strongly - we're just plain terrible. I see no evidence in management or players that we have a glimpse of the ability to turn this around. We just plain don't have the players and Miha blatantly knows it.

We'll be absolutely pummeled in the derby.

As for saying it's a comparison, far from it. I'm just saying I had more enthusiasm this time last season. And that was after the absolutely diabolical ICC. That team was mismanaged but it had balance - it had potential. Pippo ruined it, sure, but there was a quite feasible possibility, on paper, that the team was actually quite good. I particularly liked the defence.