<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/swedish-player-ibrahimovic/image/9626746?term=ac+milan" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9626746/swedish-player-ibrahimovic/swedish-player-ibrahimovic.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9626746" border="0" alt="Swedish soccer player Zlatan Ibrahimovic smiles during a presentation during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Lecce at the San Siro stadium in Milan August 29, 2010. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo (ITALY - Tags: SPORT SOCCER)" width="500" height="277"></figure></div></a></div>
In July, <a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/the-quiet-offseason-of-a-c-milan/2740" target="_blank">I wrote a post</a> for this site asking AC Milan fans for calm.&nbsp; The club had been quiet on the transfer market and Silvio Berlusconi had gone public in saying he intended to build his youth academy to help the team.&nbsp; I said at the time that if the club did not acquire any big names, they would be title contenders but would not be favorites.
Flash forward forty plus days.&nbsp; Ibrahimovic.&nbsp; Robinho.&nbsp; Boateng.&nbsp; The club worked the transfer market hard in the waning hours and secured some of the biggest names available on the market.&nbsp; They also grabbed Sokratis from Genoa, a smaller profile signing that helps their defense.&nbsp; In exchange, they dumped the aging Marco Borriello, overrated Huntelaar, and backup striker Dominic Adiyah.&nbsp; As the dust settles on the summer transfer dash and the ownership begins to show off the new <a href="http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/08/31/2097278/adriano-galliani-zlatan-ibrahimovic-and-robinho-are-gifts" target="_blank">presents to the fans</a>, the question is:
Is Milan now the favorite to win the Serie A title?
If Allegri decided to stick to a 4-3-3, here is the lineup the club could field in coming weeks:
Keeper: Amelia
Defenders: Antonini, Thiago Silva, Nesta, Bonera
Midfield: Seedorf, Pirlo, Ambrosini
Forwards: Ibrahimovic, Ronaldinho, Pato
Bench: Robinho, Boateng, Inzaghi, Antonini
The biggest impact the additions have on this club is to make the forward position younger and more deadly.&nbsp; Ibrahimovic has the ability to dominate on the offensive end and provides a consistent scoring threat this club lacked from the forward position last season.&nbsp; Ronaldinho, while at times dominant, came into camp out of shape and was disinterested at times last year.&nbsp; If he is physically unfit to play or the club needs a spark, a younger Robinho can sub in or start in his place.&nbsp; On the bench is the all-time leading scorer in European competition in Inzaghi.&nbsp; So your front line has youth, experience, height, quickness, and speed.
<a href="http://www.serieatalk.com/serie-a-preview-ac-milan-will-need-to-fight/3006" target="_blank">A concern expressed by Niccolo</a> in the preseason was Milan’s aging in the midfield.&nbsp; Kevin-Prince Boateng, who showed great potential in the World Cup (as well as a need for his game to mature), provides that young depth and long-term starter the club was seeking in the offseason.&nbsp; The unheralded signing of Sokratis also provides some talented depth for the backline, which at times struggled last year and had a penchant for allowing careless goals.&nbsp; If he’s healthy, American national Oguchi Onyewu also gives the club a talented defender off the bench.
Another aspect is the emergence of Alexandre Pato.&nbsp; Scoring twice on Sunday and looking very good in the preseason, this could be his breakout season and at age 20 a precursor to many successful seasons for AC Milan.&nbsp; The moves this summer allow him to mature within a system where he is not the biggest name or has all the offensive pressure on him.
On the other hand, the expensive acquisition of Robinho can arguably be throwing money at an underachiever.&nbsp; After excelling at a young age in Spain, the Brazilian clashed with management and the EPL culture in Manchester City, leading to his sale this transfer season.&nbsp; Management likely hopes pairing him with Ronaldinho will lead to a resurgence and comfort on and off the pitch.&nbsp; Also, the club’s defense is still solid but not spectacular and was a weakness last season, especially against Inter Milan.
So, does AC Milan now have the talent to be the favorites in Serie A?&nbsp; Going into the season Inter was the consensus favorites and the club has kept its key players, especially Maicon.&nbsp; I also give them the edge in managers with Bentiez’s experience.&nbsp; I still consider Inter Milan the favorites for Serie A but the gap has closed considerably and the Milan derbies this year will be epic.
Agree or disagree?&nbsp; Share your comments below or on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/roberthayjr" target="_blank">@roberthayjr</a>.

Is Milan Now the Favorite in Serie A?

Is Milan Now the Favorite in Serie A? - World Soccer Talk

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/britain-london-emirates/image/9480094?term=AC+Milan" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9480094/britain-london-emirates/britain-london-emirates.jpg?size=380&amp;imageId=9480094" border="0" alt="LONDON, August 2, 2010 AC Milan&apos;s goalkeeper Marco Amelia (L) grabs the shot by Jimmy Briand (R) of Lyon during the second day match between AC Milan and Lyon at the Emirates Cup soccer tournament at the Emirates Stadium, London, Britain, August 1, 2010. The match ended in 1-1 draw.. (Xinhua/Zeng Yi." width="380" height="284"></figure></div></a></div>
AC Milan fans saw the best and worst of their squad this weekend in London as the club competed in what has become a big-name tournament.&nbsp; The Emirates Cup is a two-day preseason event where host Arsenal and three clubs (many of&nbsp;whom are sponsored by Emirates Airlines) compete to win the Emirates trophy but more importantly have the chance to play their entire squads against good competition.
The 2010 edition was won by Arsenal with eight total points, while the Rossoneri finished last with four.&nbsp; Milan faced the hosts on Saturday and Ligue 1’s Lyon on Sunday, with Celtic as the fourth club.&nbsp; A win was worth three points and a tie worth one, with a point awarded for each goal scored.
The first match against Arsenal could have gone spectacularly wrong for Milan on Saturday.&nbsp; They fell behind early on a goal by new Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh in the 36th minute, and if it were not by some quality keeping by Christian Abbiati they could have been down by more.&nbsp; Arsenal dominated possession early in the second half as substitutes like Theo Wolcott constantly threatened in the Milan half.&nbsp; However, Arsenal lived up to their reputation and despite some nice passing, failed to score the decisive second goal.&nbsp; Alexandre Pato made them pay in the seventy-seventh minute.&nbsp; He headed in a free kick from Clarence Seedorf from just outside the box.
The second match saw new keeper Marco Amelia start in goal, as well as starters Clarence Seedorf and Marco Borriello.&nbsp; It was the latter who scored the first goal of the game in the fifty-fifth minute and it was the former who again set up the scoring chance with a nice pass through to Borriello.&nbsp; While both sides had excellent scoring chances and the Rossoneri played well overall, they still gave up the tying goal in the eightieth minute to deny themselves three points.
While the Emirates Cup is only two preseason matches, AC Milan fans could should feel confident about their club.&nbsp; Both keepers looked quality although it helped that some serious chances hit the crossbars.&nbsp; Clarence Seedorf played very well and looks to be ready for the next season.&nbsp; The new defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos also contributed in the Arsenal match and looks like a good signing so far.&nbsp; So although the club finished last in the standings, the experience looks to have allowed them to tune up effectively for the new season.

AC Milan Finishes Last in Emirates Cup

AC Milan Finishes Last in Emirates Cup - World Soccer Talk

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AC Milan Finishes Last in Emirates Cup