AC Milan general spiel

[The MAN]

It looks Kalac is called up and Im hopeful we can get him set for this game. Dida is such a fucking clown, what a moronic injury at a stupid time. Fiori, in the few time I saw him, is actually quite decent for a no.3 GK, and experienced, however having him as our no.1 vs Arsenal is a nightmare, at this point, I dont mind at all sacrificing Pato if it means Kalac is there

At the moment, it looks like Gila would start and Pippo coming on in the second half. I doubt Pato will start as he's still a doubt, so he will come off the bench at most. I'd like Maldini to play as CB for this one, with Janku and Oddo on the fullback roles. They may be attacking, but when Carlo demands them to not got forward at all (or 90% of the time) they tend to do just that, and they're both fit and strong enough to keep with Arsenal's fast game. Starting Bonera as a fullback would be a disaster, he's slow and will be beaten easily.

[vtec]

agreed. oddo was amazing in defense against ronaldo and then against the Liverfekkin'wankscum left winger, whom i forget. was it zenden?

[RobHood]

[vtec]

[SuperPippo9]

[RomaShield27]

[The MAN]

Cant say for sure, but IMO its probable Gila will start. Pato's still a doubt, while Pippo will likely come off the bench and i think we're better off (in the first half at least) to have Gila on the field than Pippo

Agreed that Arsenal do not use wingers like Manure, but still do to a certain extent, Rosicky is out so their main dangers in midfield are Fabregas and Hleb and I suppose Rino and Ambro will mark them respectively. I suspect Rino will get a yellow and get suspended for the return game but I believe he should play his normal game without thinking about it. Whinger will likely play 4-5-1 judging from his past tactics in these type of games, so it will be a tight midfield battle

[p_maldini_3]

[vtec]

[The MAN]

[p_maldini_3]

[p_maldini_3]

[RomaShield27]

Better late than never for Fiori
Tuesday 19 February 2008 – Uefa.com

Valerio Fiori could make his UEFA Champions League debut at the age of 38 on Wednesday night with AC Milan's first-choice goalkeepers both injured.

Finger injury
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted Zeljko Kalac was unlikely to be available for Wednesday's game against Arsenal FC with the 35-year-old Australian having dislocated a finger on his right hand in training on Sunday. "For a goalkeeper a finger is very important," Ancelotti said. "Honestly, I don't think he will be able to play. We will see in the last training ahead of the game tonight. If he doesn't manage to train, Fiori will play." With Dida already ruled out of the trip because of a back injury, Fiori, who has not played a competitive game since December 2003, is in line to make his first UEFA Champions League appearance.

Law degree
Born in Rome, Fiori spent the most active part of his professional career at S.S. Lazio, playing 117 league games between 1986 and 1993. He then moved to Cagliari Calcio, AC Cesena, ACF Fiorentina and Piacenza FC, eventually signing for Milan in the summer of 1999. During his spell with the club, he has played just two competitive games, but has used his time wisely, graduating with an honours degree in law from Rome's Sapienza University in the summer of 2007.

[vtec]

Write Milan off at your peril
Kevin Palmer
Archive

AC Milan's visit to Arsenal's Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening could mark the end of an era, yet World Player of the Year Kaka is refusing to accept the sands of time have caught up with the reigning European champions.


The Rossonieri's Champions League triumph last May was a surprise success for a side who have long been viewed as more than a little past their sell-buy date, though there now seems to be tangible evidence that Athens 2007 was the final hurrah for a team who has struggled to recapture any semblance of their best form this season.

Veteran performers such as Paolo Maldini and Cafu have stumbled their way through a difficult few months for Milan, with the critics quick to claim their veteran status is the chief factor in their decline.

Out of the Serie A title race many months ago, coach Carlo Ancelotti is tipped by most pundits to be replaced for the start of next season and his exit would doubtless lead to a restructuring of a club whose consistency has been their most impressive quality over the course of the last decade.

Despite the weight of evidence suggesting Milan are a team in terminal decline, Kaka believes they have one final surge within them to see off an Arsenal side whose vibrant exuberance has led many to suggest they will step into the void left by Milan should they drop out of Europe's elite in the near future.

However, Kaka insists experience counts for more than promise and ahead of a last-16 tie that could see a Barak Obama-style wind of change sweeping through the Europe's established elite clubs.

'Even though a lot of critics seem to be keen to write Milan off, the time to do that has not yet arrived,' begins Kaka. 'They say we are an old team and that we have lost our desire, but only last May we beat Liverfekkin'wankscum to become European champions. Have we become so poor overnight? I don't think so.

'We had a slow start to the season and couldn't find any home wins, though football is all about cycles. You can hit a winning streak just as easily as a depressing run. Anyway, we've put our problems behind us.

'Since winning the World Club Championship, which was one of our main aims of the season, we've found our feet in Serie A and suddenly we're firing on all cylinders again. After falling down the table, we're very much on the up now. Qualification for the Champions League is the goal, galvanising us, and I see no reason why we shouldn't achieve it.

'Personally, I have certainly not lost my determination to win trophies. Last season's Champions League title makes no difference as I want more. Playing in a winning team is the supreme motivation and we cannot live on past glories. It's impossible. Look at Ronaldinho. His many achievements have not prevented him being criticised at Barcelona.

'Naturally, we are not thrilled to see our rivals Inter running away with the scudetto, but we can take great heart from the fact that Milan tend to be in peak condition when the spring comes along, when the winners of competitions are decided. No one should ever minimise our chances on any field of play.

'Our whole team has rediscovered its equilibrium lately and we are a side on a mission. We've got our confidence and our momentum back, qualities that are essential in football.'

His words represent a stout defence of a team whose have struggled to find many admirers this season and while AC Milan would have favourites to beat Arsenal at most points in recent years, the shifting balance of power suggests Arsene Wenger's Premiershit leaders have an outstanding chance to claim a prize scalp this time around.


In Kaka's mind, this is the nightmare draw for his team and his respect for Arsenal seems to be complete. 'I'd say Arsenal is the toughest possible draw for us,' admits the Brazilian.

'They are one of the form teams in Europe at the moment, are very well placed to win the Premiershit, full of confidence and crucially, they play great football. For a Brazilian like me, they represent the right way to approach the game.

'They play with so much style and adventure. They like to take the initiative and play free flowing football. They are on the whole a young team, but it's obvious there's a lot of maturity and mental toughness in the side too. We've noticed they often score late in a game. That's proof enough of their spirit.'

Kaka's tribute to Arsenal boss Wenger is equally gushing, with his suggestion that the world's finest young talent now have an ambition to play for Arsenal a sign that the Gunners' influence is growing at a pace around Europe.

'Many, many young players from all over the world want to play for Arsenal now,' he believes. 'It's a good reputation to have and that's down to Arsene Wenger. He has impeccable judgement as far as talent spotting goes and doesn't fear putting his faith in youth.

'He knows they may initially make rookie mistakes but as long as they learn quickly, he is happy. You just have to look at the progress their young players have made this season to realise he has something very special going at Arsenal.

'They are competing with two of the most powerful clubs in Europe in the Premiershit and no one would have given them too much chance of winning just a few weeks ago. Now they have a real chance and deserve to be respected by everyone.'

In a game that will be littered with high quality personal duels, the contest between Kaka and Arsenal talisman Cesc Fabregas is likely to be a key tussle and the AC Milan man is relishing the prospect.

'I like their central defenders William Gallas and Kolo Toure, while Emmanuel Adebayor seems to be able to do everything up front, but it's clear that the one who really makes it all happen for them is Fabregas,' he adds.

'He already has extraordinary football experience and technical ability. He is a fiery competitor too. It goes without saying we will have to ensure he is not a big influence on this tie. I look forward to trying to match him in this game.'

Kaka's status as the world's greatest player may not be on the line this Wednesday night in North London, but AC Milan's reputation as an enduring major player in the European game might just be.

[p_maldini_3]

[The MAN]

[The MAN]

Basically carletto said Kalac is a last-minute decision, only in the last hour or so will find out whether he's playing or not

[vtec]

my money is on kalac playing.

[RomaShield27]

Well, after your city cousins once again made a mockery of themselves and of Italian football against the english – not to mention proving beyond any reasonable doubt that they are eternal chokers – its up to Milan now to fly the flag for Serie A v the Premiershit, and here's hoping they do it. They sure better.

[RomaShield27]

CL: Kalac set to start
Football Italia – Wednesday 20 February, 2008

Zeljko Kalac is likely to be passed fit to start between the posts for Milan at the Emirates Stadium tonight, but his finger is still raising concerns.

The Australian international has impressed while filling in for Nelson Dida in recent weeks, but he is a doubt for this evening’s Champions League last 16 battle after he dislocated the phalanx of one of his fingers.

With Dida not in the squad after his latest injury, which he sustained while sitting on the bench at the Stadio Tardini, Carlo Ancelotti feared he might have to turn to third-choice custodian Valerio Fiori.

Fiori has been at Milan since 1999, but he has been a perennial understudy and made just two appearances in eight years.

Kalac trained at the Emirates Stadium this morning under the watchful eye of goalkeeper Coach Villiam Vecchi and club doctor Pierre Meeserman.

After a tense low-intensity session, the man nicknamed ‘Spider’ returned to the dressing room with a smile on his face and will now probably start tonight’s crunch match.

Arsenal (probable): Lehmann; Sagna, Senderos, Gallas, Clichy; Ebouè, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb; Adebayor, Eduardo

Milan (probable): Kalac; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Kaka, Seedorf; Gilardino