Milan Obsession

The worldwide pandemic has brought everything to a halt, especially sports. With Milan players staying inside like everyone else, it gave me a chance to chat with Milan goalkeeper, Asmir Begović. Unlike the stereotype of a goalkeeper, he is not just standing around waiting for something to happen. We talked about keeping sports alive at this time with his own podcast, Season of Sports, his career, playing for Milan, and more. Compassion During the Pandemic Career for Club and Country Heroes and Opponents Playing for Milan VAR The Professional as a Sports Fan Thank you so much to Asmir for being so kind and generous with his time. Follow him on social media, subscribe to his podcast, check out his online store, and support his foundation: Twitter @asmir1 Instagram asmir1   Season of Sports is on iTunes, Spotify, and Audioboom Twitter @SeasonofSports   AB1GK Gloves and accessories ab1gk.com Twitter @ab1gk   Asmir Begovic Foundation asmirbegovicfoundation.com Twitter @AB_Fdn Instagram asmirbegovicfoundation  

Milan are enjoying an increase and both mentality and results just in time for midseason player ratings, I guess they wanted higher numbers. So I called my favorite Milan female fan to have a girl’s night and rate the entire team and talk about everything else at Milan. The perfect girl’s night involves getting together with the best, so I obviously invited Angie of Milan Club Philly. Follow her on Twitter @angiefante and Instagram angiefante and be sure to support Milan Club Philly by following @MilanClubPhilly on Twitter, MilanClubPhilly on Instagram and @MilanClubPhilly on Facebook. For our midseason ratings, we discussed: Becoming a Fan: Personal story Gender Differences: Discussing the gender differences in football Transfer Market: updates on moves that are complete Match Reviews: talking the recent matches Midseason Player Ratings: rating all of the players Coming Up: upcoming matches Thanks again to Angie for the perfect girl’s night convo. Follow her on Twitter @angiefante and Instagram angiefant

After ending the calendar year on a 20 year low, Milan fans were given a great gift in the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Perhaps the gift is not brand new or shiny, but it is a gift of healing for fans who remember the summer of 2012. Ibrahimovic may not be able to fix Milan, but for quality-deprived Milan fans, he gives Milan a big fix. To start of the new year, we invited Federico back to the podcast from Milan Club Buenos Aires. You can follow him on Twitter @Fefinho83 and follow the club @MilanClubBAires. This time around, we discussed: Lightning Round: Quick favorites News of the Week: Milan against racism, Italian Golden Boy, Kaka at Harvard, when fans attack, January mercato The Return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic: bringing closure Match Reviews: talking the recent matches Coming Up: upcoming matches Thanks again to Federico for the great Milan conversation. Follow him on Twitter @Fefinho83 and be sure to support the Milan Club Buenos Aires by following @MilanClubBAires on Twitter

Milan’s fortunes are taking an upturn, no matter how briefly, just in time to celebrate the 120th birthday of the club. We talked about all of the things going on at Milan, including recent matches as well as our favorite memories. Happy 120th Milan! For such an epic podcast, and with Jonathan on vacation, I had to find epic guests, so of course I invited Dave and Angie from @MilanClubPhilly. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram @MilanClubPhilly, and follow Angie on Twitter @AngieFante. Lightning Round: Quick favorites News of the Week: Lega Serie A leadership, epic smacktalk, injury, racism, Bennacer, sports bar, Sport for All Match Reviews: talking the recent match Happy 120 th Birthday Milan: celebrations and looking back Coming Up: upcoming matches Thanks again to Dave and Angie for the great convo, please give them a follow: @MilanClubPhilly on Twitter and also on Instagram, and Ange is on Twitter @AngieFante.

During the International Break, there is less Milan to talk about, but that doesn’t stop the media from spewing rumors and “news.” Amongst their finest work, there were plenty of tell-all interviews with ex-Milan people who have nothing better to do than talk because they are unemployed. So instead, this time around, we gave more fans a chance to shape the conversation. Filtering the hysteria, Jonathan and I talked about: News of the Week: Subs, partnerships, third generation Milan, agent swap, coach choices, fighting racism sitting down, jail time, retirement tears, virtual coach Match Reviews: talking the recent match Questions from Obsessed Fans: answering listener questions Coming Up: upcoming matches

If you read what the media are writing about Milan, you’ll know that Milan as a club has died 29 times in the past two weeks, and the world has also ended multiple times, too. Social media has created a level of hysteria around Milan that makes the Y2K conspiracy theorists look sane and stable. Amongst the turmoil, there are actually some positives and signs of progress, but you have to look past the distraught voices in order to see the calm in the storm. Filtering the hysteria, Jonathan and I talked about: News of the Week: New channel, stadium update, expecting, end of the world agent, Cutrone #NeverForget, new book, injury update Match Reviews: talking recent matches and Pioli Management, Money, and More: latest info on the business side Coming Up: upcoming matches

After the Giampaolo experiment ended in tragedy and 15 dropped points, we were more than happy to usher in the Pioli Era. With immediate improvement in play, it was a lot easier to swallow dropping two points against Lecce. Off the pitch, however, there was shocking financial news, so the harrowing experience of being a Milan fan still continues, despite improvements on the pitch. To talk about the issues on and off the pitch, we needed a lifelong Milan fan. So of course we asked Francesco, the president of the Curva Sud America. You can follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetra8. We talked about: Lightning Round: quick faves News of the Week: Ciao Giampaolo, welcome Pioli, Caldara is back, new babies, UEFA ban, Golden Boy, deep lagoon, fighting racism Match Reviews: talking recent match Finances: Shocking deficit, increased costs, decreased revenue Pioli: discussing the new mister Coming Up: upcoming matches Thanks again to Francesco for helping us welcome in the Pioli era. Follow him on Twitter @FrancescoPetr

With the shockingly poor results, the horrific discipline issues, and the indescribable lineups, Giampaolo’s future at Milan is the center of much discussion. We talked about everything at Milan, but especially the theory that we have all been subjected to intentional pain. Things have just gone from bad to worse, so we wanted some fresh perspective. We invited Adam to join us, of amazing graphic design fame. Follow him on Twitter @AdamFrassinoro and scroll through his timeline to check out his work. In spite of our suffering, we discussed: Lightning Round: quick faves News of the Week: Police ban, Tapiro d’Oro, U21 Team of the Week, Sassuolo loss, racism, Quote of the Week Match Reviews: talking recent performances Stadium: The Cathedral vs. The Rings of Milano         check out both projects at nuovostadiomilano.com Giampaolo: discussing his future at Milan Coming Up: International break Thanks again to Adam for some fantastic conversation in spite of our circumstances. Follow him on Twitter @AdamFras

The only thing worse than losing the Derby is having to record a podcast after losing the Derby. But in hindsight, it helped to look at what is going on at the club and how the team are playing. It also helped to put things into perspective, looking at the big picture. Or maybe to make things less clear, I’m not sure. All I know is that Milan seem dazed and confused.   With our season starting out so poorly, we needed an expert to help us look at what is going on, so we asked the best: David. You can follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan, the L is for Legend. This time around, we discussed:  Lightning Round: quick faves News of the Week Month: Shirt sponsors, youth, stadium, congrats, record scoring, ban, racism, Quote of the Week Match Reviews: talking recent performances Giampaolo: madness Milan’s Wage Bill: good news Coming Up: upcoming fixtures Thanks again to David for a lowering himself to our level. Follow him on Twitter @DavidLSwan. Now. You won’t regret it.

Some people don’t have any idea why I hate Inter so much. It goes well beyond sport, it’s not just a cross-town rivalry for me. Most people don’t seem to know or remember the events of 2006 and the scandal known as Calciopoli. Fewer people know Inter’s role in this scandal, let alone how they benefited from it. So with the Derby on the horizon, this podcast is all about why I hate Inter. Jonathan was the mastermind behind this special podcast, and he was patient enough to listen to my ranting. We talked about: Calciopoli: who was involved, who was punished and why, the legal shortcomings, the people behind the scandal, the “Paper Scudetto,” why the injustices haven’t been corrected, and the impact on Serie A Inter and Racism: the latest douchebaggery  Coming up: upcoming matches

After all of the excitement of summer and the optimism surrounding an apparently solid mercato, Milan fell flat on their face in their opening match of the season. There are plenty of questions about the mercato, the coach, the system, the players, and more. So we had plenty to discuss, even if the news wasn’t good. Questioning everything this time around, Jonathan did our best to cover all things Milan, including: News of the Week: New app, player presentation, Special Team Legends, Cutrone’s words Match Reviews: talking the last two matches Mercato: rumors, players in and players out Coming up: upcoming friendlies

We’ve welcomed new players. We’ve seen the friendlies. And with the season set to kick off in less than two weeks, there are just a few loose ends to tie up. This is the time of the year to assess not only how far we’ve come, but to look ahead at where we are going. Time to talk about those summer dreams. For some fresh perspective, Jonathan and I reached out to a new guest, Martino. You can follow Martino on Twitter @MartinoPuccio. You can also listen to his takes on the world of football on Soccer Showdown on both iTunes and Soundcloud.  This time around, we discussed: Lightning Round: quick faves News of the Week: Important partnerships, the shaking San Siro, pricey kits, Polish icon, Dida is back Match Reviews: talking friendlies and performances Mercato: players in and out and dream signings Thanks again to Martino for a fun podcast. Follow him on Twitter @MartinoPuccio. You can also listen to his takes on the world of football on Soccer Showdown on both iTunes and Soundcloud.

Watching all of the fun that Milan supporters had in the United States this past week with the club forced me to record this bonus podcast. We talked about all of the important topics for fans: spirit animals, shoelaces, stadium bids, socks, and of course, Cutrone. This episode was all about how it is to be a fan, learning from two of the best.   Of course, if you want some of the best fans in the world, you go to a Milan Club. And not just any club, but Milan Club Philly. I went straight to the top, with the always gracious President, David, and his clever First Lady, Angie. You can follow them on Twitter @MilanClubPhilly, on Facebook MilanClubPhilly, and Instagram MilanClubPhilly. You can also follow Angie on Instagram AngieFante. Together, we discussed: Lightning Round: quick faves News of the Week: Piatek’s hair; stadium talk, Serie A fixtures, Pictionary Match Review/Experiences: talking Milan-Benfica and meeting people New Kits: we all weigh in on the new away kit Mercato: players in and out, losing Cu

Milan are in the United States for the ICC tour, which gives fans in here the opportunity to see the play live and to possibly interact with our beloved players. However in the midst of the summer fun and some great videos from Milan’s social media team, we are still in the midst of the mercato. Players come and go, and sometimes our hearts get broken, too. We asked a new guest to help us out this time, someone who not only got to see Milan play, but also got to meet the team. His name is Jesús, and you can follow him on Twitter @z969899 We talked about: Lightning Round: quick faves News of the Week: FIFA on racism, ciao, Coppa Italia and Serie A fixtures, Mihajlovic, friendly, new kits Injuries: update on players out and injured Match Review/Experiences: talking Bayern-Milan and meeting players Mercato: players in and out Thanks again to Jesús for sharing his amazing Milan experiences with us. Give him a follow @z969899 on Twitter.

With the start of a new season this time around, there is so much news to discuss. New directors, a new coach, new players and the potential of a new stadium are just a few of the things that made Raduno, or rally, more exciting this year. This season proves to be an exciting ride, and if you blink, you might miss it. So hold onto your new jerseys and press start. There was so much news and things to talk about this time around, so Jonathan did our best to talk about all things Milan, including: News of the Week: Season ticket prices, Carbone returns, new U21 coach, minority shareholders, Galliani’s mistakes, new style partner, new third kit, Milan Lab traitor, Gigio stays, Atalanta at the San Siro, Gila coaching, meet Jack, Legendary Bonera Mercato: players in and out Injuries, Vacations, and Return Dates: player updates Raduno: Giampaolo’s presentation and new season at Milanello New Stadium: the big announce Coming up: upcoming friendlies Forza Sinisa    

  New directors, a new coach, and the mercato ready to open, yet the biggest news is that Milan gave up the Europa League to clear our FFP violations. Yet even more important than all of that is that Montolivo, the parasitical, inaccurate passing, tattle-tell, wall-ducking player who usurped the captaincy and got coaches fired is finally leaving the club. To prepare to celebrate the best thing that has happened at Milan in seven years, I give you Montolivo Out.   Only one person could fully represent on such an important podcast, so we asked Pete to join us. Follow him on Twitter @PDAcquaviva to see why he was our man. We talked about: Lightning Round: the most important one to date News of the Week: Get out Fassone, welcome Massara, Italy U21, more stadium woes Mercato: in, out, sell, not, medicals Finally FFP: CAS Consent Award, No Europa League, UEFA losers Thanks again to Pete for a great season review You can follow him and show your support for his causes @PDAcquaviva on Twitter.

The transfer window hasn’t even officially opened yet, but with no Milan football, it’s like a petri dish of infectious rumors right now. Mixed in for good measure is a little truth. Some truths are more desirable than others, too. But whether you prefer to know the truth or love to cling to the rumors, this podcast will have something for everyone. Because it’s that time of the year. With a few big announcements and some things fans hope to be announced, Jonathan and I chatted about: News of the Week: Serie A ups and downs, coaching changes, Piatek, Golden Boy nominations, Platini questioned New Management: new appointments announced New coach: Giampaolo announced Mercato: do you believe? UEFA Is a Four Letter Word: truth and rumors

After the heartbreak of finishing only one point shy of Champions League qualification hit like a punch to the stomach on the final matchday, Milan face even more big changes. With the resignation of our Sporting Director, Leonardo, and coach Gattuso rescinding his contract, and UEFA still delaying their FFP rulings yet again, it feels like just another poor Milan season. But we found plenty to talk about while rating the players and more to make this season not just another Year Zero. An epic season review podcast requires the most passionate of fans, so we invited Federico to help us. You can follow him on Twitter @Fefinho83. He is also the founder of the Milan Club Buenos Aires. You can follow the club @MilanClubBAires. We discussed: News of the Week: Primavera heartbreak, Inter as usual Match Review: review of last Serie A match  Leonardo: rating his season after his exit Gattuso: rating his season after his exit Player Ratings: rating all of the players on their season  Milan’s Future: discussing th

Milan have left everything to the last matchday, and have given control of our European fate to rival clubs. Not that Milan fans needed any more anxiety in our lives, but it’s not particularly surprising, either. So while we are waiting for the final match, we talked about everything Milan, looking back and trying not to think too hard about the future, keeping our fingers crossed. With so much on the line as the season comes to a close, it was time to bring in the big guns. So we chatted with David of Milan Club Philly. You can follow him and the club on Twitter @MilanClubPhilly, on Facebook @MilanClubPhilly, and on Instagram @milanclubphilly. We talked about: News of the Week: Sheva, monetzing VAR, Raiola ban, “modern symbol,” Lecce are back, baby girl, wagebill decrease, Brazil callup, TIM Cup top scorer, new home kit Match Reviews: review of latest Serie A matches FFP: unfair play (see “Inter vs. Milan: The FFP Derby”) Coming up: upcoming matches  Thanks again to David of Milan Club Philly for such fab

  Milan can’t even celebrate a win anymore because we are unravelling so badly it doesn’t feel like a win. Of course we’ve still been mostly losing, but adding on a ridiculous amount of poor discipline on and off the pitch. With the same tired tactics leading to worse performances and results, it’s actually not that much of a surprise that Gattuso and the team just seem lost. Despite recording after a win, this one was not that hopeful. Jonathan and I talked about: News of the Week: Shaky San Siro, new kits, budget, Welcome back Brescia, amazing Alesi goal Match Reviews: review of latest Coppa Italia and Serie A matches, discussion of related issues Ritiro: discussing discipline problems Another season without Champions League: discussing the season and our future, Gattuso, and more Coming up: upcoming matches