Sinisa Mihajlovic is set to become the fourth AC man to take the helm of AC Milan in the past sixteen months. Since the sacking of Massimiliano Allegri, a coach who brought the club their eighteenth scudetto and achieved the double with Juventus, Milan have gone with appointing club legends to the position and then shaming them publicly before sacking them rather unceremoniously.

Unfortunately that has not worked out to anyone’s liking.

First, it was Clarence Seedorf who was thrust into the position by President Silvio Berlusconi, without any coaching experience in any level of soccer it was always going to be an uphill battle for the Dutchman. An eighth place finish and failure to qualify for Europe spelled the end for Seedorf.

Then it was Adriano Galliani’s turn to put his favorite in the position. At the behest of Galliani, Inzaghi won the job with only one year as coach of the Primavera and a Viareggio Cup victory in his resume. The feeling was he was ready to take on the massive project of bringing Milan back to the top, however with little investment in the team and a lack of tactical acumen it was no surprise to anyone when Milan finished out of Europe again, this time in the middle of the table in tenth place.

So now with two steps backwards being taken since the exoneration of Allegri, it is not a former legend of the Rossoneri that Berlusconi and Galliani are eyeing up to restore pride to Milan but a former Nerazzurro, Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The linking of Mihajlovic to the bench at Milan has caused quite a stir. The Serbian was involved in many clashes against the Rossoneri as a player at both Lazio and Internazionale. His rumored appointment has turned some heads especially since in 2010 the Serbian went on record saying “I would never coach Milan, out of respect to Inter.”

It seems Mihajlovic is willing to go back on his word, but to be fair to him, he certainly isn’t the first coach to take over at a rival of a club he once played for and he certainly won’t be the last. Giovanni Trapattoni, a Milan legend, enjoyed much success at rivals Juventus and Inter. Also it wasn’t long ago that Carlo Ancelotti took Juventus to two second place finishes in 2000 and 2001, he was welcomed back to Milan with open arms.

There are many examples of this in world football and players or coaches remaining fully loyal to their club is very rare. Even Leonardo, a beloved Milanista for many years, took a crack at the Inter bench, it didn’t end well but it was fun watching it. The era of complete loyalty to one club is over, players change clubs all the time, why should coaches be any different? Sentimentality can often cloud judgement, however the only thing that should be scrutinized is Mihajlovic’s ability as a coach and the Serbian has proven he can handle the job.

As a defender Mihajlovic earned a reputation as a hard man, and rightfully so. A European Cup winner with Red Star Belgrade in 1991, Mihajlovic was a member of the Yugoslavian golden generation along with players like Davor Sukur, Zvonomir Boban and Robert Prosinecki. He is probably most well-known for his fearless attitude, bone crunching tackles and as a free kick specialist, racking up an incredible 28 goals from the dead ball (a Serie A record) during his days with Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter.

After retiring in 2006, Sinisa Mihajlovic went to school on the Inter bench. His teacher, Roberto Mancini, claimed two Serie A titles with the Serbian as his assistant. From there he spread his wings and took on challenges at Bologna and Catania before landing his first semi-big role at Fiorentina. Mihajlovic led the Viola to a 9th place finish in his only full season in charge after taking over from Cesare Prandelli who left the city of Florence to take over the Nazionale.

Mihajlovic was sacked in November of 2011 after a loss to Chievo Verona left him with only 3 wins on the season. Mihajlovic returned to Serie A after a short stint with the Serbian national team, this time it was at Sampdoria where Sinisa would find his footing as a coach in the Italian game. Mihajlovic led the Blucherciati to a 7th place finish and Europa league place in his second season in charge, earning himself interest from Inter, Milan and several other European clubs. In fact it was his former mentor Mancini who claimed that with the results he was achieving, Mihajlovic would soon be on the Inter bench. Mancini was right about one thing, he will be coaching at the San Siro, except it will be with rivals Milan. Despite his former allegiances, there is only one true question that should be asked of Sinisa, will he be the proper fit for the Rossoneri at this particular time in their history.

Many see this as a train wreck waiting to happen and some fans are against the idea of a former Inter player on their bench but is this romantic idea of loyalty to the colors clouding their judgement? After all, even Juventus fans threatened to boycott after their hero Antonio Conte was replaced by Massimiliano Allegri in the summer of 2014, only to lead Juventus to the league and cup double and their first Champions League final since 2003. It is unfair to hold Mihajlovic up to such high standards and major question marks remain over whether the Serbian will return the Rossoneri to their former glories, however, Mihajlovic may be just the man Milan need in their current incarnation.

A stonewall disciplinarian, Mihajlovic leads with an iron fist. Exactly what a team like Milan need at this particular time. While in charge at Serbia, he drafted up a code of conduct contract and made every player sign and obey. One of the clauses forced his players to sing the national anthem, and when one of the players Adem Ljajic was in breach of the contract he was dropped. When Sampdoria took a chance on former Barcelona and Inter star Samuel Eto’o, Sinisa showed no favoritism to the Cameroonian. A training bust up between coach and player just a couple days after the striker’s arrival threatened to end Samuel’s stay in Genoa before it even started. The Cameroonian protested after Mihajlovic forced a double training session on the team after an embarrassing 5-1 defeat at Torino. The coach in this instance also showed he could reason, forgive and forget. When Eto’o apologized for his conduct, Mihajlovic welcomed him back into the squad. Most of the complaints with this current crop of Milan players is a lack of commitment and fire, what the Italians like to call “grinta.” Gattuso is probably the best example of grinta, Inzaghi had it too he just lacked the ability to bring it out in the players. Players who don’t pull their own weight under Mihajlovic will come under intense scrutiny from the Serbian who accepts no excuses and pulls no punches.

President Berlusconi is on the verge of reaching an agreement with Thai businessman Mr. Bee for a 48% stake in the club. What this means in the short term for Milan may be unclear. Will Mr. Bee splash out the cash as a minority partner? Will Berlusconi be willing to spend the money invested by Mr. Bee? Will it be another transfer market of freebies and aging players masquerading as their former selves? Whoever takes over at Milan from Inzaghi will once again be dropped into the deep end with no water wings, more questions than answers will most likely be available.

Mihajlovic has almost ten years of coaching experience both as an assistant and head coach and has shown with all of his appointments that he can handle a shoe-string budget and get the best out of young talent and older stars as well. Also in the event of investment he will hopefully get a say in which players are acquired even though that has not been the case with Milan managers in the past.

With Mihajlovic at the helm Milan will have something it hasn’t had in a long time, an identity. Regardless of the crop of players, the fiery Serb will try and get the best from each and every member of a group of players who need a strong leader. Someone to show them how to act professionally and give everything for the colors. No doubt there are massive gaps in the make-up of the squad, but a good foundation is there. Players like Stefan el Shaarawy, Mattia De Sciglio, Andrea Poli, Diego Lopez and Suso are in need of motivation and will be dedicated if pushed to the limit.

A man of Mihajlovic’s intensity can get them going. Toughen them up, make them fight and battle for every point as his Sampdoria side did. Could the Serbian be the one to bring about the stability to rebuild Riccardo Montolivo’s struggling career? Remember him? Mihajlovic managed Montolivo while at Fiorentina and the two shared a good working relationship. Will this reunion bring out the best in the Milan captain?

It remains to be seen if Mihajlovic is the man to lead the Rossoneri to the success they so crave. It’s not easy living up the great legacy and history the club have. One thing is for certain, the road to the top will be long and hard, wrought with sacrifice and will most likely take longer than the two years reportedly being offered to the Serbian coach. One thing that Mihajlovic can offer is a strong foundation for the future.

His final words as Sampdoria manager spoke of his successor finding a squad who knows the meaning of commitment, professionalism and hard work, one that gives there best in training and in matches. This is the exact foundation that Milan need at this particular time in their history. Mihajlovic has the experience and character to get the best out of his charges and will likely relish the challenge of returning Milan to their former glory.

If it is not to be Sinisa in the long term, then his Milan successor will find the squad much better than the one he has inherited from Inzaghi and Seedorf. “I felt ready for a big club two years ago, I have always felt ready,” said Mihajlovic. That readiness will be put to the test at Milan, a place where anything goes and only the brave survive.

Follow Joe on Twitter: @mangiacasale13

Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final will undoubtedly use up a lot of the same old soccer clichés. It will likely be billed as “The battle between two polar opposites,” comparing the free scoring and adventurous Barcelona against the stubborn but defensive Juventus. To fall into this easy trap may be folly especially if history has anything to say about it. Just as the four-time Italian champions were celebrating their 3-2 aggregate semi-final victory over the title holders Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, pundits and other members of the media were already preparing their eulogy.

Barcelona, like in many of their European encounters, are undeniably the favorites heading into the final in Berlin on Saturday. The Blaugrana have hit their stride at the right time and with 113 goals between them this season, the Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar triumvirate are clicking and have the world wondering if they are the best forward line in the history of the sport. Lionel Messi, the world’s number one player, is continuing to defy all logic and is at his best. Surely it would take an equally massive squad to stop them.

However, their opponents in the final, Juventus, are not your typical underdogs. One of the oldest teams in the competition at 29.1 years of age (second only to Manchester City 29.6), the Bianconeri are playing some of their best football in the club’s recent history. It all harkens back to another final involving Barcelona and an underdog Italian squad.

Twenty one years ago, Barcelona headed to the Champions League final in Athens as the favorites against Fabio Capello’s Milan. The favoritism shown to Barcelona went beyond seeing them as the superior team, many saw the final as merely a formality. Cruyff’s 1994 “Dream Team” also sported arguably the world’s number one player at the time in Romario along with an amazing supporting cast with Stoichkov, Guardiola, Koeman and Zubizaretta just to name a few. Surely they would easily dispose of their defensive counterparts from Italy.

AC Milan, however, were undoubtedly one the best Italian teams ever assembled. Despite being Italian champions three years running and Champions League finalists from the previous season, they were not given much respect heading into the match. The denigration hit a crescendo when Johan Cruyff was pictured holding the Champions League trophy aloft before the encounter, adding fuel to the Rossoneri fire. Milan at the time were one of the best defensive teams in Europe allowing only fifteen goals in the entire Serie A season and 4 goals in 18 European matches. They represented the perfect foil for Cruyff’s Blaugrana. Without much surprise the final was billed as attack vs. defense, creativity vs. negativity. However the surprise came in the 4-0 final score where Milan dismantled Barcelona to claim their fifth Champions League (European Cup) victory.

This time it’s Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus that have the opportunity to play the spoiler to Barcelona in this final. Of the final four teams remaining in the Champions League Juventus were the most unlikely to make it this far especially after they were drawn with defending champions, Real Madrid. They have defied all expectations this year in Europe and currently, Juventus probably represent the best opportunity to de-rail Lionel Messi and Barcelona from their quest of adding another trophy to the ever expanding cabinet at the Camp Nou. Juventus are the best defensive team, in what is traditionally the best defensive league in Europe, but to label the Bianconeri as a typical Italian defensive squad would be foolish. Catenaccio they are not.

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Dynamic, explosive and discipline would be three adjectives that would best describe this edition of the Bianconeri. This season the squad from Torino lead Serie A in goals against (20) and goals for (tied with Lazio on 65) and are still on pace for the treble. They boast one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Despite his age, Gianluigi Buffon’s performance against Real Madrid in the semi-finals should leave no doubts he is still one of the best at his trade. Carlitos Tevez is currently the Serie A leading goal scorer with 20 goals and the new-comer Alvaro Morata are becoming quite the tandem. Add to the mix Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and the ever brilliant Andrea Pirlo, Juventus will be no push over and have the creativity and talent to ask many questions of a Barcelona defense that has been shaky at times.

Like the Milan of Capello twenty-one years ago, Allegri’s Juventus probably represent the biggest threat to Barcelona today. Defensively there is no other team who can tame Messi, Suarez and Neymar while still posing a threat of their own on the Barca goal. Juventus held Real Madrid to only two goals in two matches (Los Blancos registered 8 shots on target from 24 attempts) all the while soaking up an amazing amount of pressure like a proverbial sponge.

SEE MORE — Read Soccerlens’ UEFA Champions League Final Preview.

Often times finals fail to live up to the hype. Barcelona may be the favorites but history shows that favorites don’t always come through, after all the ball is round as they say. Anything can happen on June 6th and Juventus will not be cowed nor should they, the Bianconeri have been through a lot since 2006. From Serie B to a Champions League final in less than ten years is nothing short of miraculous and Juventus will relish their opportunity to return the Old Lady to the pinnacle of European football. It is of no coincidence that the last time Buffon, Pirlo and Barzagli were in the Olympiastadion together they raised the World Cup trophy into the Berlin sky, now they have the chance to do the same with the second most important trophy in world football and it is one they will not want to pass up.

The build up to the final may be typical but Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus will do their best to ensure the final itself will be anything but.

Philippe Mexes is known as much for his short temper than for any defensive prowess he may have. The hot tempered Frenchman was recently sent off for the 16th time in his career, meaning that he has amassed a whopping 47 games missed due to suspensions. This time the 32-year-old defender may have gone too far as rumors are swirling that the outburst against Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico may be his last act as a Rossoneri. If the rumors of his transfer or that he will be frozen out of Inzaghi’s squad are true, Mexes would not be the first player in Milan history to lose it on the pitch and be suddenly sacked. Fans of Milan need to look back only as far as the 2002-2003 season for one of the craziest bust-ups in Calcio history.

It was supposed to be a friendly. Milan and Juventus were set to square off in the second edition of the Trofeo Tim, a pre-season mini tournament hosted in Trieste between perennial Scudetto rivals AC Milan, Juventus and Internazionale. The fans in the Stadio Nereo Rocco were ready for the three squads to focus on fitness and for the coaches to do some tinkering to get a look at certain players. What they would actually witness is a battle between Dutch pit bull Edgar Davids and Romanian hardman Cosmin Contra.

The match was the last of the tournament, a win for Juventus and they would take the trophy home. The stakes were high and Edgar Davids was playing for his job. Rumor was, the Dutchman was in talks to join Francesco Totti and Fabio Capello at Roma. A good showing could expedite his move or show Juventus how much he meant to their set up. Whether this had a role in what was to come only Davids knows. Four minutes after referee Saccani blew the opening whistle he was sending both Davids and Contra for an early shower.

Trouble began when Milan’s future enforcer Gennaro Gattuso was brutally fouled by Davids with what was by all accounts a brutal, ruthless tackle. With Gattuso holding the ball, Davids flew at him like a missile. Unleashing a devastating two-footed tackle which almost broke the Calabrian midfielder in two. This was not going to fly with Contra, himself no stranger to a brash, reckless challenge. He immediately sought retribution, charging and kicking the Dutchman in the back and proceeding to walk away. Anyone who knows anything about Davids knows you don’t kick him when he’s down and get away with it. The Suriname-born midfielder is well known for flying off the handle and Davids got up and threw himself at Contra trying to strangle the Romanian, while the fans in Trieste whistled their collective disproval of the scene before them. It took many members of both teams to separate these two powerhouses. Saccani had no choice but to show both men a red card and send them packing. If only this was the end of the story.

However, as the two men entered the tunnel the fisticuffs continued. According to witnesses inside the tunnel it was Davids who waited around a corner to ambush an unsuspecting Contra. He unleashed a hailstorm of punches and kicks on the Romanian. Security guards tried to separate the two but to no avail, Davids was on a rampage. Ciro Ferrara and Lilian Thuram were alerted by the scuffle and got involved. Milan back-up keepers Christian Abbiati and Valerio Fiori came to the aid of Contra. According to witnesses Ferrara kicked at Contra causing Abbiati to growl, “Ciro, I never expected this from you!” Finally the two were pried apart and went their separate ways. In case it mattered, Milan went on to win the match thanks to an Andriy Shevchenko goal in the 17th minute most. Shevchenko’s goal handed the Tim Trophy to Internazionale.

It was not the first time Davids found himself at the center of controversy and certainly wouldn’t be the last. Under investigation just a few months earlier for using performance enhancing drugs, the Dutchman had been sent off nine times in his career in Italy racking up 69 yellow cards in the process. However, this time, Juventus director Luciano Moggi came to the rescue of his midfielder, he was quoted as saying Davids this time was ‘justified’ in his actions. The Lega Calcio didn’t see it that way and Davids was suspended for two matches, forcing him to miss the Super Cup match against Coppa Italia winners Parma in Tripoli, and his chances of leaving for Roma evaporated before his eyes.

Milan, on the other hand, did not excuse Contra for his actions, especially after the full-back was suspended for three matches drawing the ire of Adriano Galliani who, by this point, had become fed up with the Romanians antics. Contra was shown 16 yellow cards the previous season and was having difficulty adjusting his game to the Italian standard. After joining Milan from Deportivo Alaves in 2001, the highlight of his time with the Rossoneri up to that point was a wonder goal in the derby a year earlier under previous coach Fatih Terim, a goal that is counted as one of the best in the history of the Madonnina to this day. Contra continued to struggle to find a starting place in Carlo Ancelotti’s set up and now his actions cast Milan in a bad light, something the brass could not accept. Galliani worked his magic and sold the Romanian to Atletico Madrid for €8 million. Contra became just the latest player to join The Colchoneros from Milan after Federico Coloccini, Javi Moreno, Jose Mari and Demetrio Albertini traded one of the fashion capitals of the world for the bright lights of Madrid. The move would turn out to be devastating for Contra as his departure would free up some capital for Galliani to make a swoop for Alessandro Nesta. Nine months later Milan would lift the Champions League trophy after beating none other than Juventus at Old Trafford.

This was not the end of the Davids-Contra affair as years later, when Tottenham Hotspur were contemplating a move for Davids in 2005, Contra (then a member of Getafe, a side he would go on to manage) spoke out against the Dutchman to The News of the World branding him a “psychopath” and a “violent man”. Contra would go on to deny ever making the comments and threatened legal action against the newspaper. Despite his claims the damage had been done and the rivalry between the two men continued unresolved. Contra retired in 2011 earning 73 caps for Romania. He is currently a manager with Chinese side Guangzhou R&F where he replaced Sven-Göran Eriksson.

In Italy, there is a saying that there are as many Italian national team managers as there are people. Everyone wants to have their say on who should be wearing Azzurri at a major competition.  Every two years everyone becomes an expert, a fantasy manager if you will.  Coffee shops, restaurants, even laundromats, become a place for fans to discuss who they think should be representing Italy.

This year is no different, with a few players just on the fringe of getting a call to represent the Azzurri in Brazil this summer.  One name that continues to be mentioned is Luca Toni. 

The Hellas Verona striker has found a new life since joining the Gialloblu this summer, signing a one year contract with the newly promoted side.  It seemed that Toni had been put out to pasture when he left Juventus in 2012 to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.  Toni’s Arabian adventure was a short one – seven months later he was back on the peninsula, once again wearing the purple of Fiorentina (where he won the Capocannoniere title scoring 31 goals in 2005/06).  This time around, Toni scored 8 times in 27 matches for the Viola and showed that he is still capable of contributing to a top Serie A side even at his advanced age.

If the 2012/13 season was a reminder of what the big striker from Pavullo nel Frignano can do, than his current exploits with Hellas has been a revelation.  Toni has netted 16 goals in 28 matches helping  Hellas Verona come within touching distance of a Europa League place, a result which would have been beyond the wildest dreams of the newly promoted side.  

Two goals against Genoa and his latest goal in the Derby della Scalla against Chievo Verona have pushed the striker within two goals of the league leader Carlos Tevez.  His performances this season have left many questioning whether the 36 year old should be given one last shot at World Cup glory.

They say that 40 is the new 30, and Luca Toni is closer to the former than the latter.  If Toni is chosen by Cesare Prandelli to travel to Brazil, he certainly won’t be the first player of advanced age to represent his country at a World Cup.

There are many examples of Italian players who were in their mid thirties and had important roles for the Azzurri.  More recently, Fabio Cannavaro was 36 years old when he captained Italy in South Africa and although the campaign was disastrous he was still able to lead the side.  Angelo Di Livio was 35 when he came on as a substitute against Korea in the 2002 World Cup.  Giuseppe Bergomi was 34 when the Azzurri took on France in 1998, and way back in 1974 Tarchisio Burgnich was a member of the Azzurri defence at the age of 35.

Not to forget Andrea Pirlo, who will turn 35 a few weeks before the World Cup in Brazil. Cameroonian striker Roger Milla is possibly the best comparison to Luca Toni, as Roger Milla was 38 when he led his country in 1990. 

No one is under the illusion that Toni will have a starring role at the spearhead of the Azzurri lineup, but a place on the bench should not be beyond the scope of anyone’s imagination.  Despite playing 90 minutes in 89.3% of his matches for Hellas thus far (according to Squawka), Toni could be very effective coming off the bench to snag a late equalizer or even a winner.

Toni’s size in the box and determination would be an asset this summer. He is also a very experienced player. Toni was a part of Italy’s team that won the World Cup in 2006. He can share what he knows about the sacrifice needed to gain immortal glory with the younger players in the side. 

After scoring his latest goal, the game winner in the Verona Derby, Toni was asked about his chances of making the trip to Brazil this summer, he told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “They talk about players who have scored less than me, therefore why not?” Why not indeed?

Chivu made a name for himself at A.F.C. Ajax where he was a favorite of then manager Ronald Koeman. The Dutchman made Chivu the captain of a side bursting with young talent, with the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovich, Rafael Van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder.

Chivu’s success at Ajax came in 2001-2002 with the club winning the Eredivisie and KNVP, “the Dutch” cup. The following season Ajax posted a stunning display in the Champions League that ended with a quarterfinal loss to A.C. Milan.

Chivu, like many others at Ajax at this time had outgrown the Dutch Eredivisie and a big money move to Serie A was to take place. A.S. Roma secured the signature of the defender in the summer of 2003 for €18 million. Although Roma did not win any titles in his first season with the club, Chivu helped the side finish second in Serie A.  In his second season with Roma, he saw limited appearances due to breaking a bone in his foot while playing beach soccer during the summer break.

Chivu would go on to play two more seasons with the Giallorossi and his only piece of silverware with Roma came with the Coppa Italia crown won against Inter Milan in 2007.

In the summer of 2007, the big names would come calling for Chivu. The likes of  Real Madrid, Barcelona and Inter Milan were all in the mix to land the defender. In the end, Chivu decided on a stay in Italy and signed with defending Serie A champions Inter.

It was at Inter where he would enjoy the most successful period of his career winning 3 Serie A titles, 2 Coppa Italia crowns, 2 Italian Super cups, a Champions League and a FIFA Club World Cup.

Known for the odd rash challenge and occasional loss of cool, Chivu is one of the players immortalized for his part in the treble winning season under Jose Mourinho in 2010.

His career at Inter could have taken a cruel twist when he was severely injured in a match against Chievo Verona. Chivu collided heads with Chievo striker Sergio Pellissier; the impact fractured his skull and after a two hour surgery, his return to the side that season was put under serious doubt. Against all the odds, Chivu made it back into the team just in time to have a starring role at the Stadio Santiago Bernabeu where Inter won their first Champions League crown in almost half a century over Bayern Munich. However, he would wear a rugby helmet for the rest of his career, a constant reminder of his brutal injury.

Chivu played three more seasons with Inter Milan making a total of 169 appearances for the club, until a recurring foot injury put his future in doubt.  Limited starts last season and an inability to shake the injury led to Inter and Chivu mutually agreeing to terminate his stay with the Nerazzurri.

If the rumors circulating in the blood-thirsty Italian press are to be believed, Clarence Seedorf is in a fight for his future in his already short tenure at the helm of the Rossoneri. Reports in the La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport claimed the Dutchman was given an ultimatum — win against Lazio and Fiorentina or be sacked.

Further rumors of rifts and divisions in the dressing room exacerbated issues along with claims that Seedorf wanted to do away with three quarters of the squad he inherited from AC Milan’s former manager Massimiliano Allegri. Scathing words from former captain and club icon Paolo Maldini made matters worse in what turned out to be a week from hell for the Rossoneri.

The only positive in a week of negatives was the fact that the opponent they would face that Sunday were coming into the match in just as much turmoil.  Both Lazio and AC Milan came into the encounter in poor form and under pressure to turn their seasons around for the better. A glimpse of hope from Kaká’s Twitter post reminded everyone that “in the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”

Seedorf used this opportunity to give Giampaolo Pazzini the start at the expense of Mario Balotelli, who himself has felt the ire of impatient fans looking for someone to blame for what has become a season to forget. Adel Taarabt, who was replaced by Keisuke Honda, joined Balotelli on the bench.  AC Milan would also play without the suspended Christian Abbiati and injured Ignazio Abate.

Lazio had a better start, with Novaretti missing out on a chance to put the Aquile ahead from a free kick. However, it was Kaká’s fortuitous cross that gave Milan the lead. To everyone’s surprise, Kaká’s cross deflected off the face of Lazio’s goalkeeper Konko and past Berisha at the near post before hitting the ball was in the back of the net.  The Rossoneri nearly doubled their lead before the halftime when Honda got on the end of a free kick, but his header went sailing over the bar.

Early second-half substitution came for AC Milan as Honda made way for Balotelli. But it was Lazio who pressured Marco Amelia’s goal and finally found the equalizer in the 60th minute through Alvaro Gonzalez who beat Amelia with a header from six yards out.

Frankly, neither team played well enough to win and both were lucky to escape with a point at all.  The point is a step in the right direction for AC Milan but whether it is enough to save Clarence Seedorf is another matter.

If the game against Lazio was an attempt by the players to rally around their embattled manager and save him from the axe, it was extremely unconvincing.  The Rossoneri looked disjointed with very little confidence going forward.  The four players used in the advanced positions were often unable to link up with their teammates and the side showed very little cohesiveness.  The two holding midfielders De Jong and Essien struggled under pressure and were not able to maintain  possession. On the attacking end, despite his best efforts, Balotelli could not make an impact coming off the bench.

AC Milan were able to avoid fourth straight defeat and gained their first point in a month, but the draw was not enough to keep them from dropping to 12th place in Serie A. With the players seemingly unable to reach the levels expected of them by their manager and supporters, the key to saving Seedorf’s job may lie with the manager himself.

The Dutchman seems to be fixed on certain ideals – despite claiming the contrary on Domenica Sportiva – sticking with a 4-2-3-1 formation, which clearly hasn’t had the desired impact since his arrival in January. His refusal to use two strikers has left Balotelli and Pazzini hung out to dry on many occasions. Balotelli especially has not looked comfortable playing alone up top. Kaká and Honda, both players more accustomed to playing in the middle, are regularly played on the right and left wing where they remain ineffective for most of the game.

One can hardly blame Seedorf for players’ inabilities to adequately adapt to his desired formation. The squad lacks competent wingers, but has a plethora of central attacking midfielders. Then why use a formation that doesn’t suit the players at your disposal?

Seedorf is trying to play champagne soccer on a beer budget. The tactics and philosophy being applied are clearly not bringing the required results and one can hardly blame Seedorf for the situation he inherited, but what can be blamed on Seedorf is an inability to compromise and find the right balance for the players he has at his disposal. Instead of forcing the current formation on his players, Seedorf must show willingness to adapt a new philosophy that would better suit his players’ abilities.

They say never go back, but American Clint Dempsey has just done that. The move comes at a time when both Dempsey and Fulham could use a much needed reunion. The Cottagers are currently languishing in 19th place in the Premier League, and although it is far too early to write Fulham off, recent results have not been too uplifting. With René Meulensteen taking over from the sacked Martin Jol, the hopes were the club would be invigorated and begin to claw back some of the ground lost, but no such resurgence has been forthcoming yet. Fulham have greatly underachieved so far this season winning on only four occasions and the return of Dempsey could be the catalyst for a change in fortunes at the Cottage.

Dempsey spent five successful seasons at Craven Cottage from 2007 to 2012, scoring 50 goals in 184 appearances and helped guide the club out of the relegation zone in 2008 and also to the Europa League final where they lost to Atletico Madrid in 2010. Dempsey became the first American to score 50 goals in the Premier League in his time at Fulham. Dempsey joined Tottenham for £6million on virtually the last day of the summer transfer window in 2012 after scoring 17 goals in his last season with the Whites. After 43 appearances and 12 goals for Spurs, the American decided to move home to the United States and secured a transfer to Seattle Sounders of the MLS. With the World Cup coming this summer, the Texan is looking for regular playing time in order to keep match fit during the two month MLS off season.

They do say never go back but this deal has very little down side. Although some fans want to see a splash of cash in the January transfer window, the move for Dempsey is only a two month deal and you would be hard pressed to find a Fulham fan who would not want Dempsey and everything he has to offer coming in from the left or playing as a striker. The Cottagers have scored only 15 times in 16 games, and with players like Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Bent, Adel Taarabt and Bryan Ruiz, fans are looking for more production. Enter Dempsey who is a constant goal scoring threat from all over the pitch, and is also a fan favorite whose leadership could be what Fulham need to start playing like they want to remain in the top flight.

Dempsey also offers the Cottagers Premier League experience and creativity, which will be a huge boost to Meulensteen’s side and Fulham’s current position in the table. It also offers the player a chance to keep match fit for the World Cup where the United States will face a very stiff test against the likes of Germany, Portugal and Ghana. They will need one of their top players to be match fit for the difficult task ahead of them.

From the outside this looks like a match made in heaven but only time will tell whether this move will make all the difference for both parties involved. Fulham fans are certainly hoping it will be.

He was one of the most talented footballers Serie A had seen for years. One could have easily mistaken him for a young pony-tailed playmaker who made his name in the same purple shirt of Fiorentina back in the late Eighties.

His name was Stevan Jovetić and he took the league by storm after his move from F.K. Partizan to La Viola in 2008. His amazing ball control, technical ability and creativity was what set him apart from other players his age, leading many to compare him to The Divine One, Roberto Baggio. “Jo-Jo,” as he came to be known by the Fiorentina faithful, went on to play over 130 matches for La Viola, scoring 40 goals in all competitions.  After recovering from cruciate ligament damage that saw him miss out almost the entire 2010-2011 season, Jovetić returned the following year to score 14 goals in 27 matches in the league and played an integral role in the squad’s qualification for the Europa League this term after just missing out on the Champions League on the last day to Milan.

Teams around the world took notice of the young 23-year-old’s amazing potential, and offers came in to Fiorentina headquarters for their Montenegro wunderkind.  A substantial offer was finally made by one of the richest clubs in the world, Manchester City. The £22million offer was enough to pry Stevan away from Fiorentina and the youngster was unveiled at City this summer.  A sky blue shirt with the number 35 was held aloft by the player on his signing day, a number both he and the City fans hoped would make it on the score sheet many times over the next few years. However things have not exactly gone to plan for Stevan or the City team that spent so much to bring him to England.

The Montenegro footballer has failed thus far to settle in at City. He has made only five appearances for the team (three in the league and two in cup tournaments) and seems more likely to play second fiddle to the Alvaro Negredo and Sergio Aguero tandem that has been so lethal for Manchester City so far this season.  Jovetić has missed the last eight matches with a calf problem, and the hopes are that once he shakes off this latest setback, he will once again become an integral part of the team. Despite the poor run of form suffered by Jovetić and the limited playing time so far this term, Manuel Pellegrini insists that the youngster is a part of his plans for the club this season, but will being a super sub be enough to please the same player who was once a 90-minute player in Florence and such an integral piece of the Viola’s success? Regular appearances in the first team is what the player needs and he is too good to become a player only used during cup ties to give rest to regulars like Aguero, Negredo and Edin Džeko.  How long will Jovetić wait around to become an integral player for the Manchester City side?

Rumor has it he has already given up on his English adventure and is longing for a return to the peninsula where he made his name known and where things seemed to come so easy to him.  Both Internazionale and Roma have been sniffing around to see if a possible loan move could be in the cards.  If so, Jovetić will be another in a long list of players from Serie A to fail in distant lands.  The names of Andriy Shevchenko and Alberto Aquilani are often bandied around as players who were stars in Serie A but never quite made the cut in the Premier League.  Will Stevan’s name be another in that list?  It is still a long way from being that critical and hopes are that it all can be avoided.

City insist that once Jovetić is healthy and playing regularly, he will settle down and play the football we all remember him for. But at what cost? When will the Montenegrin be back to his best?  At 24 years of age, the player is now at a point in his life where the next four years should be the best of his career.  The hopes are that he is playing regularly but what if he isn’t?  What if his burgeoning talent is left to wither away on a Manchester bench watching the action instead of taking part? What a travesty it would be if we were denied seeing him reach his full potential, the same potential that once had him compared to one of the greatest players to ever play the game. The latest injury to Argentine Sergio Aguero, a calf injury that will have him out for up to eight weeks, could be just what the Montenegrin needs to get enough playing time to make a name for himself and show his worth to his manager and his new team. That is, if he can recover from his own injury in time.

The talent of Stevan Jovetić is explosive. He needs to be on the pitch for 90 minutes. He is one of those players who can change a match in an instant with a moment of magic that leaves fans on their feet.  If Pellegrini is not willing to take advantage of his amazing talent, then I only hope they can allow him to play elsewhere. And if Italy is the place he chooses, then all the better. With players like Mario Balotelli, Kaká and Giuseppe Rossi returning to their former heights, the peninsula may be just what the Montenegrin needs to once again become the player we all expected him to be. One thing is for sure, to have his talent hidden away from those who yearn to see his magic again would be a real shame.

Editor’s note: For the latest Citizens news, analysis and opinion, visit the Manchester City team page.