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Calcio Debate: Braziliant Milan Back In Business?


Following Milan’s ‘Braziliant’ win over Napoli last night, Carlo Garganese believes that the Rossoneri forward line of Kaka, Pato and Ronaldo could devastate defences in Italy and Europe during the second half of the season…



Anyone who tuned in for Milan’s 5-2 destruction of Napoli at San Siro last night will no doubt have been left in awe by the sensational debut of 18-year-old wonderkid Alexandre Pato.


However what stood out even more was the explosive Ka-Pa-Ro trident of Kaka, Pato and Ronaldo.


During the 1980s Napoli were famous for the Ma-Gi-Ca triumvirate of Maradona, Giordano and Careca – how fitting then that it should be against the Partneopei some 20 years later that Milan should launch their very own magical threesome.


I predicted in an article last week that Pato could spark some form of revival for Milan this season, and I am in no doubt now that defences all around Italy and Europe will be quaking in their boots at the prospect of having to face Ka-Pa-Ro.


Before yesterday’s match Milan had scored just three goals, two of them penalties, in seven winless matches at home in Serie A. The reason for this dreadful lack of goals had been due to the lack of firepower offered by Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi. (any doubt? NO)


This is no longer the case and Milan potentially now have the best forward trio in the whole of Europe. There is also flexibility in the system as Kaka can alternate between playing as a trequartista behind Pato and Ronaldo, or he can transform into the left-sided attacker, with Pato on the right, and Ronaldo in the middle. It was this flexibility that Napoli so struggled to cope with last night.


You must then remember that behind the trio there is arguably the best midfield in European club football, in the form of three from Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso Clarence Seedorf and Massimo Ambrosini.


When you add up all these components, as well as the sound Alessandro Nesta – Kakha Kaladze centre-defence partnership, you start to realise just how potentially strong this Milan team could prove to be if everything clicks.


Undoubtedly the key to this hypothesis is whether Kaka, Pato, and Ronaldo can stay fit. In the case of El Fenomeno this is a very debatable question indeed.


At the age of 31, and having played just one match in nine months, Ronaldo still managed to demonstrate last night just what a natural phenomenon he really is. If he can improve his fitness and get a few more games under his belt, there are still few better strikers in world football.


Some may argue that Napoli fell right into Milan’s hands last night by playing a suicidally open and attacking game.


In some ways this is true and the Rossoneri have been shown to struggle this season when teams have defended with a deep defensive line and have closed up the spaces.


However the reason they have laboured to make the breakthrough during these games has simply been due to a lack of firepower up-front from the aforementioned Gilardino and Inzaghi.


With Kaka, Pato and Ronaldo it will make no difference whether teams defend deep or high up the field – the trio will be able to adapt to both.


Kaka certainly thrives in more open games, however Ronaldo is far more effective in tight spaces. As for Pato, he appears to be just as comfortable in either situation.


Of course it may be a little too soon to suddenly suggest, after just one game, that Milan are back – this can be said with a little more certainty if they can go on and continue to reproduce this form on a regular basis. With away trips to Udinese and Fiorentina coming up in the next three games, there is certainly the perfect acid test.


Most intriguing of all perhaps is the Champions League tie against Arsenal next month. Many wrote off Milan’s chances against the Premiership high-fliers when the draw was made. Indeed the English media almost think it’s inevitable that Arsenal will win – just as they thought it was inevitable that Manchester United would overturn the Rossoneri in last year’s semi-final. ((IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) )


With the potentially awesome Ka-Pa-Ro set to travel to the Emirates Stadium on February 20, it won’t be a surprise to see some Brazilian fireworks. It also won’t be a surprise for Milan to then go on and retain the Champions League in Moscow in May.


What are your views on this topic? Will Ka-Pa-Ro wreak havoc on defences between now and the end of the season? Could they lead Milan to victory over Arsenal and help them retain the Champions League? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think.



Carlo Garganese [I love this man! he's always saying nice words about Milan (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) ]

This post has been edited by zdrossoneri: Jan 14 2008, 07:16 PM