AC Milan general spiel

[San Paolo]

nice new Coreo by Juve

[red]

Milan 1-2 Bologna

[San Paolo]

[RobHood]

[San Paolo]

[p_maldini_3]

i think the direct style we played in the second half was absolutely wonderful. i am sure that when kaka' comes back, and with pato and maybe even borriello up top, those tactics will tear most teams apart.

despite the scoreline, it was pleasing to see how easy it was for ronaldinho to penetrate the left hand side of the field. and he kept crossing it to the far post which always was left open. seedorf and shevchenko both squandered great opportunities.

another positive today was zambrotta, he did well in the first half on the right; but he just exploded in the second half when moved to the left. i am not sure what happened to jankulovski today, but he was extremely lethargic and looked disinterested in giving the attacking midfielders any runs to look out for. i would've loved to see antonini out there, but it is also imperative that carlo manages to convey the importance of forward runs to jankulovski. if ronaldinho was managing to tear up the left side today with zambrotta, just imagine what we couldve done with kaka' [or seedorf] and another attack-minded fullback on the right. penetration on both sides of the field is vital, especially when the opposing teams shifts tactics to close one side down (as they did today when mundiyagi was brought on to help on their right).

it was also interesting to see us bust out with the 4-2-3-1 formation. it was the first time i have seen us do this, with ronaldinho on the left, seedorf in the middle and shevchenko on the right. obviously our right hand side was a non-factor with the traitor there; but it is good to see that carlo has finally tried different formations especially one which utilizes the flanks so much.

the direct style of our play in the second half should become our standard, we were awfully slow in the first half, but the second half, besides the lack of goals, was a joy to behold. watching ronaldinho run 3 times into the box within the space of 5 minutes, it was highly entertaining. i honestly cant wait to see what happens when kaka' comes back, and even borriello. this 2 week break should definitely help us; unfortunately though that ronaldinho has been called up for the brazil squad.

from what we've seen today, we can only look forward. lady luck had her pms today and she was a bitch and half; but we definitely deserved a win with the plays we formed. and lets not forget this was the FIRST time this starting lineup has ever played together. if this is how good we were in our FIRST time....

we can only get better.

forza milan

[The MAN]

I agree with parts there, now that I have my immediate post-match rants out of the way too...

Firstly, we did not look dead like most of our games last season which is good. In fact even in 1st half we were pretty decent and looked alive, second half (until the fucking goal) we were creating chances easily

The 4-2-3-1 is a formation I like alot, but you would need to be 10 times as careful with that formation because balance is crucial. The 4-3-3 is more balanced by design (which explains why it is vastly used nowadays). It is nice to see Carlo have a plan B and the squad we have now allows for more flexibility.

Carlo's big mistake, and this is something I knew as soon as I saw the formation change at the break, is that he failed to find the right blanace. The "2" in that formation have to be solid DMs, either that or your 2 forwards that play on the flanks are actually natural wingers (Dinho and the traitor are not) who can track back and help out the midfield. You cannot fuck around with that, Pirlo did not look himself in the second half at all, and he's not a DM. That added to the instability at the central defence (thanks to the fucker Kaladze) meant we were fucking exposed at every single Bologna chance. So I saw it coming. If we are to use that formation, either move Pirlo up as a trequartista, or take him out and have 2 of Rino/Ambro/Flamini play there. We need protection because this formation is very attacking.

Having said that, and despite actually losing with this formation, I wouldnt mind at all to use it consistently as our plan B. I think it can yield results against the minnows who play with 10 fucking players in their final third. Using Flamini as a fullback, and this is a role he covered for quite a while with Arsenal, is also a nice option to have. His versatility can only serve him and us, it will reduce some of the midfield congestion as well and allow for more even load distribution for other midfielder. I also now think that we loaned Oddo out because of the Flamini option. In fact, I'd use Flamini there as our fullback # 3 and keep Bonera and Antonini as last resorts

Having this formation will also help us manage our attackers better. I think we resisted selling Boriello for this very reason as he might be suited for that lone striker role. Whether he's up to it remains to be seen. But one thing is clear in attack, and one thing only, the traitor is rubbish and this piece of crap should be our dead last option upfront. I'd put Boriello ahead of him easily. Seedorf's inconsistency should see him benched for a while. Kaka and Dinho behind a striker should be a beauty and I cannot wait for that. Pato has to be our first option there. Inzaghi will spend 5 out of the next 6 months injured anyways so I expect Boriello the backup option there for us.

And finally on the defence, Kaladze should be banished, he has been shit for a long while now. Now that he's on international duty with Georgia, I'd strongly appreciate it if he stays there for the rest of the season . The central defence desperately needs Nesta back, but I'd throw in Senderos there or possibly Bonera in the next round until Sandro is back.

Our new signing (and Im not counting Shitchenko as one) all shined today. Zambro and Dinho combined beautifully in the second half and I think Carlo should always play them on the same side from now on as their Barca understanding saves alot of time. But it is clear that this team needs gelling and more understanding before reaching their potential

[San Paolo]

two good articles there im not going to type an essay out just a few points

1) why wasnt Senderos there at all?
2)Sheva should have gone upfront for Pippo
3)Abbiati should he start the next game bearing in mind hes saved fuck all, hes had 3 shots one dragged wide and two goals he couldnt have stopped
4)how long is sandro out?
5)How good was maldini at 40!? much better than the "saviour of italia" as the juventini call him tender Alex "too good for this peno shootout" The Waterboy
6) whos getting the new Fifa and/or PES?

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[oily]

[San Paolo]

[Amedio]

Din dong

Andrea Pirlo out, Ronaldinho in? Antonio Labbate asks if that is the answer to Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan sideshow.



[quote]At least Silvio Berlusconi enjoyed himself. “Yesterday afternoon at San Siro, as everyone expected, we saw a splendid Ronaldinho,â€

[San Paolo]

it raises some good points but nothing to worry about as im sure Seedorf will be a pine rider for a while until Kaka is injured again with his knee

[San Paolo]

[p_maldini_3]

[San Paolo]

[The MAN]

Wow....I actually do not care if our top players even set a foot on the pitch for this compeition until the quarters or whatever, but not seeing Nesta there is quite a bad sign as far as his injury goes, this is pretty fucked up then, we're really putting all our chips on 1-2 of Senderos/Kaladze/Bonera actually stepping up, that is a massive gamble. I say if they dont step up after 3-4 weeks, stick Ambro as a CB and hope he does the job.

SP, he's there probably to fulfill the UEFA homegrown players requirement.

[p_maldini_3]

this doesnt necessarily mean nesta is out for the season; uefa lists are turned in at the end of each transfer season; so we could see nesta making a comeback in the second half of the season.

but still, half a season is too much, the club needs to come out and really say what is wrong with him....

[San Paolo]

[quote]AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has dismissed any suggestions that coach, Carlo Ancelotti’s position may be in danger by making a witty declaration about his immediate future.

AC Milan were given a rude start to the new Serie A campaign after going down 1-2 at home to Bologna on the opening day.

Despite being just the first game of the season, the Italian press are already predicting a rocky road ahead for coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

In light of the team’s losing start, Rossoneri president Silvio Berlusconi was asked by journalists, during a summit for European policitical leaders, if Ancelotti will still be on the Milan bench come December.

And Berlusconi showed that he was by no means in a bad mood after the loss when he made this witty reply: “Ancelotti is chubby enough already. He has eaten so many panettones before. In any case, he can still have it this year.â€

[oily]

kaka to chelsea or madrid (what do you guys think) ?