AC Milan general spiel 2.0

[The MAN]

FT, huge win!

[RomaShield27]

Milan were lucky enough to hang on in the end. Napoli started very poor and looked nervous and clueless and only started playing when they were up against it and a goal and a man down. Why couldn't they have played like that from the off? Still, with 10 men, they looked the better team for long periods in that second-half and Milan couldn't settle down and control the game to their advantage. A draw would of been a fair result, I think. Overall a very entertaining game. Not technically brilliant but it was never going to be in those conditions, and it was good to see a bit of a row at the end – all good heat of the moment stuff.

[maro]

It reminded me of a good second division game in England.

[The MAN]

[p_maldini_3]

i can't remember the last time oddo put in a decent cross into the box. let alone a cross that was met by a milan striker. he had a great game yesterday.

krasic got a 2 match ban for diving today, so he won't be available for juve in their match against us. woo hoo.

it was a bipolar performance for us yesterday, we started the game brilliantly and played really well until the first goal. after that, napoli finally found their balls and started pressing us high up the pitch and the game took off after that.

it seems that pato has lost all ability to beat his man 1v1, or atleast make something happen once he does. he plays like he couldn't give 2 shits, he missed so many decent chances yesterday, although i will credit him for creating those chances for himself.

it was also good to see the front trio pressing napoli's defenders, forcing them into booting the ball up and conceding possession to us, unlike what happened against real merda.

all in all it was a scrappy win, but considering we havent won in the san paolo for 18 years, i'll take it. and we're clear in second place!

[The MAN]

Oddo played the best game of his career probably

I hate Robinho but he also did reasonably well...as such, both these fucks have earned starting spots for the Juve game IMO

Pato sometimes plays like a clueless fuck too, I agree, he reminds me of Shevchenko from 1999-2003, he was also like that, relatively prolific but never consistent enough to bring his A game all the time, it was only in 03-04 that he brought his game another level and became a terror...Pato needs to work on his tactical movement the same way Sheva did, because right now, he has all pace and explosiveness but can be taken out of games by opposing defenders easily

[San Paolo]

Bad news for you guys here

"Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has solved his strikeforce conundrum, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, preferring Robinho to Ronaldinho.

Robinho has settled in at Milanello and gave his coach reason to reconsider his status as a first team prospect following his stellar show against Napoli. The Brazilian was outstanding at San Paolo as Ronaldinho watched on.

And it's just the start of the journey for Robinho, who looks set to establish himself firmly as Allegri keeps him ingrained in plans.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Alexandre Pato are certainties, but the question has surrounded the two Brazilian playmakers.

Robinho though seems more likely to keep Ronaldinho banished to the bench.

Allegri is impressed and could choose him to start Saturday's clash against Juventus. He wants Robinho to be the source of firepower up front."

[San Paolo]

HD/HQ Photos of Milan v Napoli

[p_maldini_3]

robinho played much better yesterday than ronaldinho has for most of the season, he has earned his starting spot.

and pato needs to wake the fuck up.

[The MAN]

I believe in starting players who earn the starts and not based on names, Robinho has earned a spot, however, don't get excited, he's like that has a good game or 2 followed by a bunch of horrible ones, so dont get your hopes up

Same with Oddo, he should start, let's take advantage of him while he's in the form of his career and dishing out assists like a playmaker LMAO

[The MAN]

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news?slu ... anttoendmy
Alessandro Nesta: I Want To End My Career At Milan

Milan defender Alessandro Nesta will close his career at San Siro.

Nesta has recently been linked with a return to Lazio, but he made clear his vision is at Milanello.

"My future? I will close my career at Milan," he told Tuttosport.

Nesta has fully recovered from a back injury which plagued him for the most part of two seasons.

"I don't think I am a miracle man. In terms of the problems, I worked double hard to get back on the pitch," he said.

Milan's wealth and order at the top end of Serie A will come under scrutiny from Juventus, who have Milos Krasic suspended following his dive against Bologna.

"Juventus? I like them now. These new directors are good. It will be a pleasure to play against Alessandro The Waterboy again," he added.

"Krasic? Rules are rules."

---------------------------

This is fucking awesome, didn't have major doubts but with the lack of communication from both sides, there was always a chance maybe things aren't going well....please extend him for life (he should get Milan captaincy too if u ask me)

[p_maldini_3]

rules are rules.

haha what a classic line.

[The MAN]

It's pathetic how the zerbas are appealing the ban when the player himself admitted it was a dive....like what the fuck is their basis for the appeal?

Nedved II he is, I tell you that

[red]

The basis, I presume, is that there was some contact however minimal and that Krasic claims the dive was not intentional.

I think the ban is justified, provided the Italian FA is going to do this consistently and not only punish players when the ref gives a penalty.

[The MAN]

I completely agree with you on both points, that the rule is not enforced consistently and that this ban is within the rules. That of course, being used as a basis of argument won't fly with Lega Calcio, I don think they would even reduce it to 1 game

[red]

My understanding is that a two match ban is the minimum possible ban in the circumstances, so I don't think reducing it to one game is an option.

It's about time Juve started standing up for themselves again, since they haven't been doing it for a while, but I think they've picked the wrong battle.

[p_maldini_3]

Blog: Excellence in efficiency
Milan’s squad may be aging, but the improvement the old guard has shown this season suggests it is one statistic that shouldn’t be criticised, writes Rob Paton
Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan is five points, six League positions and seven goals better off when comparing the opening eight games of this season to the first eight of 2009-10. Il Diavolo has also conceded two goals fewer and earned two clean sheets more in this opening stage than under Leonardo a year ago.

Statistically whilst there is nothing between the side this year and last when it comes to possession, this year the side have doubled their chance conversion rate. In 2009-10, the first eight games saw one in every 20 attempts at goal result in a goal, whilst this season it is one in every 10 opportunities ending with a goal for the Rossoneri.

Whilst the likes Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho arriving has given the side a creative edge in games that otherwise were set to end in draws, there are other factors to consider when charting the improvement under Allegri.

Carlo Ancelotti recently said the biggest transfer coup of the summer was Milan keeping hold of Gennaro Gattuso. Last summer the 32-year-old was set to exit the club, everything was agreed with Greek side Olympiacos for the veteran’s departure until a meeting with Allegri convinced the No 8 to stay on.

The new Coach promised a more involved role again this term after the midfielder’s struggles to break into the side under Leonardo. Tactically, although the side still line up in a 4-3-1-2 with the front three at liberty to change from game to game, Allegri has altered the midfield three, enabling Gattuso’s increased involvement.

Andrea Pirlo has moved directly to the centre of midfield as opposed last term’s off-centre position, and is given protection from just one holding midfielder, generally Gattuso, placed a lot closer to the No 21 than under Leonardo. The third midfielder is given a more advanced position under Allegri, expected to provide a physical link and an extra line on the pitch between midfield and attack.

This season both Kevin Prince Boateng and another ‘oldie’ in Clarence Seedorf have excelled in this role, whilst Seedorf’s opportunities as trequartista – notably against Ajax – have yielded deadly results for opponents. The Dutchman is already halfway to matching last term’s stats for Serie A assists too.

Allegri is also benefiting from new leases of life given to Gianluca Zambrotta and Alessandro Nesta, both enjoying strong starts to the season off the back of relatively fewer problems with regards injury.

It is interesting to note whilst many have benefited, Ronaldinho’s statistics have dropped under Allegri, with the percentage of the Brazilian’s shots on target falling from 62 per cent in the first eight games of last season to 38 per cent this term. He has also not scored in the League this season when last he had notched two already.

The Brazilian’s potential absence from the weekend’s game against Juventus – Allegri’s biggest test to date – could be a blessing in disguise as Milan’s new Coach looks to its old guard to continue 2010-11’s strong start.

[The MAN]

We have to ensure we don't end up focusing on Real too much, scudetto is more realistic for us than CL this year, let's face it, so we need to make sure we don't take off our eyes on this one....as much as I'd like to rest players I think we'll need a full strength side for this one

[The MAN]

19-MAN MILAN SQUAD AGAINST JUVENTUS

MILAN – Rossoneri coach Massimiliano Allegri has named his squad for the match against Juventus Tomorrow evening:
Abbiati, Amelia, Antonini, Bonera, Montelongo, Nesta, Papastathopoulos, Yepes, Abate, Boateng, Flamini, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Strasser, Ibrahimovic, Inzaghi, Pato, Robinho.

Unavailable: Oddo, Thiago Silva, Onyewu, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Ronaldinho.
Not called up: Oduamadi, Jankulovski.

What the hell, Oddo makes an MVP appearance against Napoli and now he's out with injury...this sucks, we'd have used his pinpoint crossing tomorrow

[p_maldini_3]

what a fucking screw that is.