Transfer strategy hinders Milan

After Andriy Shevchenko's departure to Chelsea last summer, Milan wanted to sign Samuel Eto'o, of Barcelona, as a replacement to the Ukraine international.

However, coach Carlo Ancelotti had to eventually settle for the relatively unknown Ricardo Oliveira. So far, the 27-year-old Brazilian has scored only three goals in 25 official appearances for the club.

It seems, Milan wanted to try and emulate Juventus in the management of the club's coffers.

Before the soccer scandal last year, Juve had succeeded in becoming financially self-sufficient after selling some of their prized assets at big profit and replacing them by untried and untested players.

Notwithstanding the risky exercise, Juve still boasted a formidable side that won them various honours. For Milan, however, the 'Juve formula' did not work.

This season, they have reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals and the knock-out stages of the Champions League where they meet Scottish club Celtic.

However, in the Serie A, Milan are a staggering 30 points behind long-time leaders Inter and with a lot of work to do to challenge for a Champions League berth.

Milan's reluctance to spend on new players has put the club at a huge disadvantage with respect to Inter, who, in the meantime, have added players of a certain calibre (Patrick Vieira, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Hernan Crespo) to an already strong and settled base.

To make matters worse for Milan, this campaign was always going to be difficult for them since Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Alberto Gilardino and Filippo Inzaghi, along with Cafu and Dida, did not have a proper summer rest after the World Cup.

These key players had their holidays cut short to play for Milan in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

To a certain extent, the problem for these players was also psychological.

When a team is in form, the players have that feel-good factor about them despite being overburdened with extra matches.

But if the team hits a dark patch and slip out of contention, frustration and fatigue will start to leave their toil.

I think, Milan have performed well below par at home and abroad this season.

When Inter play without Crespo, Cambiasso and Samuel, they can rely on valid replacements like Adriano, Dacourt and Cordoba. However, when Milan have their key players unavailable, Ancelotti fails to inspire the team to good performances.

Inter's strength-in-depth is now such that they could field two teams of top quality. Milan's squad is not as strong perhaps due to a transfer strategy that misfired. Besides, the Rossoneri need to revamp certain sectors, particularly their defence.

Also, Milan do not have enough cover for Pirlo and Gattuso in midfield and, perhaps even worse, have let Shevchenko go without replacing him by a top-notch striker.

As things stand, it will take Milan some serious rebuilding plans for them to return to the old glory days.

Serie A statistics

0 wins for Torino in their last four outings (one draw and three defeats) as the Granata went agonisingly down to lowly Parma at the Tardini stadium. It was definitely a must-win game for Parma, who were coming from a barren run of 10 successive winless games (five draws and five defeats). This was Torino's sixth defeat in 10 Serie A visits to Parma. At the Oreste Granillo stadium, Reggina and Palermo shared the spoils to maintain their respective ambitions alive. For the record, two of three meetings between these two sides in Reggio Calabria have finished in draws.

1st ever win for Siena in four home Serie A meetings with Chievo as Mario Beretta's side came from a goal down to interrupt a 10-match winless run. The change in coach - Alberto Malesani on for Giovanni Galeone - was Udinese's trump card as the northeasterners edged Messina by a solitary Vincenzo Iaquinta second-half goal. Udinese's first success after two straight defeats coincided with Messina's 11th consecutive game without a win (four draws and seven defeats).

2 wins on the trot spearheaded Atalanta to fifth place. On Saturday, they were in devastating form as they trounced bottom side Ascoli 3-1. This was Atalanta's first win in seven Serie A visits to the Del Duca stadium. A draw between these two sides was last registered on February 25, 1990 (1-1). Following their second straight defeat, Nedo Sonetti's Ascoli have now slipped to seven points away from safety. For the second week running, David Suazo scored from the penalty spot to give Cagliari three precious points. Cagliari's latest victims were Catania, who after a brilliant start to the season, are currently experiencing a dip in form - three defeats in their last four outings. Cagliari's first win in four Serie A visits to Catania coincided with the Sicilians' first home upset in nearly two years.

3 penalties were awarded by referees last weekend. Cristiano Lucarelli put Livorno in front against Roma by converting a 21st-minute penalty. In similar fashion, Luca Saudati, too, put high-flying Empoli ahead from the spot in their 2-0 win over Sampdoria. Elsewhere, a David Suazo penalty was instrumental for Cagliari to record their second straight win. Fiorentina are the only top division side with no penalties against. Meanwhile, Roma's Francesco Totti was the only red-carded player last weekend.

9 points out of the last available 12 have catapulted minnows Empoli to the fourth place and a Champions League berth now beckons for the modest Tuscany club. Against Sampdoria, it was one-way traffic as Empoli dominated for long stretches and deservedly claimed all points at stake to hand Sampdoria their second consecutive away defeat. The only time Sampdoria left Empoli with a win was on February 28, 1999 (1-0). Lazio-Milan proved to be one of the most colourless games of the weekend as both sides failed to create any scoring chances. Three of the last five Serie A encounters between these two sides at the Olympic Stadium have finished in draws. Also, Lazio's most recent of 15 wins in 64 Serie A home encounters with Milan dates back to February 8, 1998 (2-1).

11 points separate run-away leaders Inter from nearest pursuers Roma at present. Last weekend, Inter continued with their winning march and have now made it 13 victories from 13 outings after beating Fiorentina who suffered their first upset after nine matches. The last time Fiorentina left the Giuseppe Meazza stadium with a win was on May 7, 2000 (4-0). Roma forfeited another two precious points as, for the second season running, they were halted by Livorno at the Armando Picchi stadium. Livorno's most recent of seven wins in 15 home encounters with Roma dates back to March 13, 1949 (2-1).

18 goals were scored on the 20th day: 11 coming from the hosts and the remaining seven from the visitors, who managed only two victories. Foreigners contributed with five goals. There were six first-half goals. Total number of goals scored so far is 501. Neither braces nor hat-tricks were recorded and no own goals were committed. There were two goalless draws. Empoli's Davide Matteini was the only player who came on as a substitute and scored. Roma's Francesco Totti still leads the scorers' list with 13 goals (three from penalties). Inter possess the most prolific attack with 44 goals in favour. By stark contrast, Ascoli have the worst attacking record with just 14 goals to their credit. Inter, Roma, Empoli and Milan have the best defensive record in the division, with 17 goals against. In this regard, Parma have the most porous defence in the Serie A.