From Pippo to Pazzo | Football Italia

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Sunday September 2 2012

From Pippo to Pazzo

With a hat-trick on his full debut, it seems as if Milan have found the new Pippo Inzaghi in the form of Giampaolo Pazzini, argues Susy Campanale.

Many wondered what Milan were getting out of the deal when they handed Antonio Cassano plus €7.5m cash to Inter in exchange for Giampaolo Pazzini. He had scored only five times throughout all of last season, beaten only by Diego Forlan in the number of open goals missed, and only ever really shone at Sampdoria. The 3-1 win at Bologna showed precisely what the Rossoneri were getting – a Pippo Inzaghi style poacher.

SuperPippo was beloved by Milan fans and mocked by everyone else for his lack of technique, style, ability to stay on his feet, grace or understanding of the offside trap. The reason the supporters adored him was that if they needed a scrappy goal to turn the tide of a difficult game, then he was your man.

Pazzini’s hat-trick at the Dall’Ara was pure Inzaghi from start to finish. He earned and converted a ludicrous penalty in which he was clearly the one pulling Niccolò Cherubin’s jersey, falling only when he let go. Pazzo was then at the right place at the right time, firing in when goalkeeper Federico Agliardi fumbled a simple cross. Finally, he did the classic Pippo trick of turning someone else’s shot into his moment of glory, redirecting Antonio Nocerino’s effort with his heel. It wasn’t pretty, but my word it was effective.

Perhaps this is what Milan needed after a year of Zlatan Ibrahimovic attempting to score from every inconceivable angle and Robinho running into some sort of anti-goal forcefield in the six-yard box. Like Inzaghi, Pazzini will at times be frustrating and even annoying, but if he can stay in love with the goal, then it'll pay off. Nigel De Jong also reinforces the midfield, but let us not get ahead of ourselves and think this team is worthy of a Scudetto challenge. The weaknesses in defence remain and by the looks of it the injury crisis has not been solved either. I agree with Massimiliano Allegri that the best he can do with the side at his disposal is aim for the top three in Serie A and progress to the Champions League knockouts.

My only worry is that one day a teammate will go to hug Pazzini during his trademark goal celebration and he’ll accidentally poke his eyes out.

Have your say...

Daniel Giambrone

It is all about the service with Pazzini. If he gets it he will score goals, potentially many of them.

With Sneijder missing most of last season, Inter's midfield really lacked creativity. On the rare occasions that he played, Pazzini was given poor service.

Milito scored/scores many goals because he is capable of creating chances for himself, he has more depth to his game than Pazzini.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 2:47pm

Tomce

pls dont compare pazzini to pippo ,he scored a pippo esque hattrick but he would never be ,he is no new pippo,pls just stop with the premature comparasion

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 2:26pm

Voice of Logic

1 dive to get the penalty
1 easy tap in caused by a really bad keeper
1 back heel that the keeper should have saved.
If I was an AC Milan, I wouldn't be excited just yet.
And it's worrying even more do for Milan that their 3 goals came in ways that are not sustainable, will not happen every week and are based on luck.
Even more so, bologna's defense was really bad, they're gonna make the drop this season, no doubt about it.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 2:01pm

Leo

I don't want to jump to conclusions but this could just be some great news for the Azzurri. We have lots of good, young forwards coming through but I feel that Pazzini could just be, at least for the time being, the solid striker we need.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 1:54pm

Anonymous

Definitely a positive result although on the performance Milan were lucky. We have to behind Pazzini and give him game time. Allegri also has decide and stick with his defensive partnership. Acerbi had a decent game but there are still doubts about Bonera. If we signed Zapata we may as well use him. The team needs consistency and I'm starting to get worded about the injuries. If we suffer more injuries then it's not luck or over age players but the medical team. There's something not working.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 1:42pm

Donato13

I agree with Matt, about Pazzini had the wrong strike partner in Milito and Pazzini is inconsistent.
I think AC should of invested in another centre back because Bonera is terrible, Im looking forward to watching more of Mattia De Sciglio.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 1:31pm

frzamln

haha "robinho running into some sort of anti-goal forcefield" - hilarious!

but more seriously, i think this milan side is going to be very underrated. the likes of de sciglio, acerbi, boateng, and pazzini played really very well yesterday. once montolivo hits his stride and de jong and zapata start to play more - our team will be even stronger! then put in a fit pato and emanuelson at left back (if allegri just plays him there) - and you have quite a decent team.

too early to judge this team.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 1:18pm

Juventus10

Congrtas Milan fans...great win last night and good to see an Italian player as the protagonist.....remember last season nobody expected Juve to do what hey did so don't be so quick to say Milan won't do well in the campionato or Champions....forza Serie A!!!!!

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 12:37pm

Milan Fan

Hooray for Milan and hooray for Pazzo! Never really knew of him at Inter, but I like him already. I also think someone needs to slap some sense into Galliani's fat head for thinking we 'ought' to be winning the Scudetto now, but with these latest signings in the last week I do feel more optimistic.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 12:17pm

Emjay

firstly, I must say most times when we buy a players from Inter, they perform a lot better for Milan. Hence it wont be a surprise if Pazzaghi went on and achieve great things with Milan. However, haviing seen his performance and hat trick last night I had to pinch myself to make sure it was nt super pippo inzaghi playing. The season is long way are head but. this Milan team will only get better.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 11:49am

FERBAN

Pazzini might do ok. But Milan really need a fully fit Pato all season to have any hope(a miricle I can't see happening). The defence is also weak and would probably be torn apart by a top CL team. Top 3 and last 16 in CL(depending on draw) is definitely the best they can hope for. But at least it's a fairly young squad which might show some hunger.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 11:49am

Calcio

not a hat-trick thats for sure. And yes we didn the tirck on you again inter. Galliani effect.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 11:42am

Mr.RaZa

@Nerazzuribhoy

Well, he's not at Inter anymore is he? If he stays fit through out most of the season, I think he'll easily get over 15 goals this season.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 11:34am

G30FF

Finally someone else who is starting to believe in a rebuilt milan squad. Yes, there is a lo g way to go, but in modern football you have to have forward who get involved in the defensive phase. Not only did pazz score a hatrick he ran more in one match than Ibra did in 10.
It was a scruffy performance, butas Nocerino says these arethe games we drew last year. Acerbi looks very good, and just needs some consistency. But how the hell is Bonera even wearing red and black still? He's terrible!

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 10:56am

Matt

Pazzini had a very similar debut with Inter one and a half years back.

The problem with him is that he very often loses interest in the game. He can be there one week, and gone for the next six. He's just too inconsistent.

There again, at Inter, Milito was not an ideal striking partner for him either.

As an Interista, I nonetheless wish Pazzini all the best in his future endeavours with Milan - as long as he doesn't score against my beloved team!

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 10:49am

Nerazzurribhoy

Whatever susy, i seem to recall his Inter debut being very similar.

on the 2nd September, 2012 at 10:40am

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