That said, I have found one positive thing to say about Van Bommel. There was a bit on tuttomercatoweb about his jersey number -- apparently he specifically asked if the #4 was available because he wanted to wear it in honor of Demetrio Albertini. That alone gets him a cookie.

It was a little bit of a shame as whilst I'm nowhere near his biggest fan he wasn't doing too badly at all in the role he was playing at, far more influential than Ambrosini.

Hopefully he comes on in the 90th minute of a game we're winning easily, gets sent off and banned from Italian football.

I take this back!

Awesome signing and he's conducted himself very well on the pitch. Even his red card was harsh.

Thursday 7 April, 2011


Blog: From MVB to MVP


Scott Fleming marvels at the reformed character at the heart of Milan’s midfield and Scudetto charge – Mark Van Bommel

What’s the most incomprehensible aspect of Mark Van Bommel’s career? Is it the fact that he somehow managed to avoid a red card at the World Cup last summer despite repeated and blatant fouls? Or is it the fact that he was once deemed fit to play for Barcelona?

His cynical, no holds barred style seemed completely at odds with the beauty and the idealism of Barca’s tiki-taka philosophy. His move from the Philips Stadion to the Camp Nou in 2005 appeared to be the equivalent of the Royal Ballet recruiting a UFC fighter. It just didn’t make sense. Not until he signed for Milan in January.

The Rossoneri seemed almost embarrassed to announce the transfer. Little wonder, given the fact that Adriano Galliani had publicly pish poshed the idea of signing the Dutchman. “He is an important player, but his age is such that we aren't thinking about it, no.”

Lo and behold, less than two weeks later Van Bommel became a Milan player. Fans and journalists alike let out a collective groan. He was considered too old, too similar to Milan’s other midfielders and above all, too uncompromising.

For Van Bommel it was nothing new. Despite winning countless trophies, playing with some of the world’s prestigious clubs and captaining his country, MVB has always been known, first and foremost, as a hatchet man. It’s no exaggeration to say that the 33-year-old is one of the world’s most unpopular footballers, vying for supremacy of that select club with Marco Materazzi and El Hadji Diouf.

The former PSV man was a quick fix – that was the consensus. With Gennaro Gattuso and Clarence Seedorf injured at the time Milan were expected to make use of Van Bommel in the short term then discard him in the summer when his six month deal expired. Those low expectations sunk even further when he was sent off on his Serie A debut in Catania, even though it was a harsh red card and a case of his reputation preceding him.

He was immediately drafted back into the first XI on his return from suspension however, and that’s where he’s stayed ever since, defying expectations and gradually chipping away at negative perceptions.

“The club were right to buy him,” said Massimiliano Allegri after the 1-0 win at Juventus in March. “He is a very intelligent player who already understands Italian football well and gives good protection to the defence.”

Van Bommel has been selected by Allegri in every game he’s been available for, and during that time he’s collected just three yellow cards and the aforementioned solitary red. It’s not just his reduced card count that’s endeared him to the Diavolo support, it’s his work rate, his range of passing, and the little artistic flourishes that suggest him and Barcelona weren’t so incompatible after all.

His bad reputation will live on, and you have to admit he’s earned it, but Van Bommel’s spell in Lombardy has served to remind us of the considerable talent that has been obscured by all those crunching tackles over the years.

If we should keep him, one between Ambrosini and Gattuso must leave. I don't want our midfield's average age to be 33.

both can leave

This guy was one of my favorite before he came here. Always held Van Bommel in high regard for the way he got the ball without earning a yellow, the smoothest of criminals. Was 100% sure he'd do well here. And nice to see he did. Totally earned the 1-year extension. Fans of Bayern Munich weren't crying when he left for nothing. The guy still has it in him, and I hope he performs the same way next season the way he did this past six months.

For a moment there I thought that he may have a hard time earning playing time at the start, but he did.

Sorry to be Debbie downer. How much of his performance was coz he was playing for a contract?? I mean we must measure MvBml with the same stick as we measure Zee no?

Well VB always played great, while Seedorf never bothered until it came to the do or die moment for his stay at Milan. We can't really judge, but from what I've always seen from VB over the years at different teams is that he always gives his all, that is what makes him one of the most hated out there. Because he does his best and he does not apologize fot it, no matter how he gets it done.

Please don't leave us yet!

I also remember his 1st yellow card - It was hardly even a foul, much-less a yellow.

Farewell MvB, the memories were short, but they were worth it!

Ah, yes can't forget that. It was more a welcoming yellow because of his reputation, not the foul.

True, man. I would have totally loved it if he played with us in his peak, spent 10-12 years at the club. MvB was one of the guys that had that extra cut of grace and class, technique and temperament, and when he signed for us, the experience to be worthy of our shirt he was wore. In 18 months he had collected so much love from the fans, imagine how much he would have if he played (and won) a decade for us.

For me, he was more of a vintage signing, a la Baggio, Ronaldo, Beckham and more. Totally worth the time!

Well I've got two things for you, Han: 1) If we had our own version of Bommel, we wouldn't have any need to bring him here. 2) And like I said, the club is free to make certain exceptions. And 3) I thought you just skimmed through my posts. Reasons enough for you, LOL?!

But really, a major reason he is here is because Bayern did not renew with him due to their new policy of keeping and promoting youngsters. Also the reason of the recent renewal with Schweinsteiger with the whole of the fan base jumping up and down with joy, because this would tie him up with the club till he's what, 32? Six years extension, if I am recall correctly.

I think we as fans and some players get attached to the club quite emotionally. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but this does not hide the fact that there is life outside of Milan as well. Ask Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Sheva, Brocchi and even Pirlo in a few months time. For my money we should cherish the moments that a certain player played and gave to the club - those are way more powerful than the feelings on the day they move on!

And more then that, we are lucky enough to witness them play - live in stadium, or via mobile phone videos, Youtube and HD feeds, archive matches, photos and what not. Back up till the 90s the media was no where near as strong and a lot of great players did not get their careers captured as they deserved to be.

Haha of course agreed.