Milan 1 Chievo 0

By: Gianfranco | March 15th, 2010

So maybe I was naïve to expect some passion and intensity? I mean three points gets you one off Inter, on a day where no other team could capitalize!?
I just can’t possibly explain or even comprehend how a team can’t get amped up on a day like this, but then again this is Milan we are talking about.

Considering the “injury crisis” the lineup was as expected. Personally, I think Zambro is a mess on the left so I would have played Janks, but at this point it is more or less a pick your poision type scenario with the shameful motley crew Leo has a sub’s bench. Milan started as they always do, with boatloads of possession, and no real solid chances on goal, the difference though was that Chievo was going to buck conventional wisdom and decided to play a little. It wasn’t long before Luciano was tearing up and down the flank; yes I used the verb “tearing” to describe the play of a Brazilian. Amazing isn’t it?! He ran, and ran, and then ran some more! While I watched Chievo’s Brazilian burn lines into the pitch, I was getting customary to see our Brazilian, Ronaldinho, spending time on his ass looking for a call. It has to be said, and it has been while since I criticized him, but when he is spending more time with his arms in the air sitting on his bum, his performance suffers. Let’s just call it an issue of focus and move on.
SOCCER-ITALY/
This game was a lot like the last time these two teams met, except this time the last minute heroics were provided by Clarence Seedorf, but the goal could not have been timelier, or prettier for that fact. The out of favor Dutchmen couldn’t have chosen a better time for a stroke of brilliance, and this goal should be remembered, but quickly forgotten is someone scores one to bring this team the title, am I being a bit hasty? Maybe? But you can’t tell me this weekend couldn’t have worked out any better. Poor performances, no goals from strikers, but three points and a one point gap at the top…not bad right?

I even have no issue stating the obvious here, this match should probably have been a draw, the Chievo goal was onside, but who am I to assume that Milan wouldn’t respond and score five? As I always say this is part of the game, and I am interested to see how the pro football video replay fans, who support Milan, would explain this one? In the end this certainly won’t go down as the prettiest game of the season, and it may actually prove costly as well. Injuries to Abate and Becks may prove were difficult to swallow casualties that will put a further damper on the already dire depth chart issues. Word on Abate has yet surface before I posted this blog, but he walked off the pitch, it was Becks who could barely walk, and an achilles tendon tear is a terrible result for a man working so hard for a ticket to South Africa. Unfair really, and while many will feast on this, taking their pot shots at Beckham, I have to appluad him. His goal was to go to WC10, and instead the result is out of his hands, despite his best efforts. Unlike some, who let their mouth do the talking, Becks did what he could on the pitch.
ITALY SOCCER SERIE A
It is also alarming that our striker(s) still have not found the net in three matches, and despite missing some good chances today, OK, some really good chances, Milan still found a way to get the three points. I have to say that I am a little bit nervous as to how on Earth this team will continue to move forward with these injuries, but let’s enjoy the moment for now and worry more about that towards the end of the week. For now we sit one point off…

Thank you Catania, Thank you Mascara, Thank you Livorno, Thank you Clarence, Thank you Leo, and THANK YOU AC MILAN…you have made this season something to remember when I had written it off as something to forget.


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  • Gian, agreed regarding Becks
  • Gian, agreed regarding Becks
    http://www.world-cup-jersey.net
  • k
    "eventually the little piece of paper will pop out of the giant machinery telling us the meaning of life is 42."

    Avia, this little tidbit from the blog entry you mentioned has me on the floor. Hilarious.
  • avia
    Gian, agreed regarding Becks, thats one i dont attribute to the MilanLab but Nesta, Pato, Kaka, Ronaldo etc over the past few years has erroded my confidence in the MilanLab
  • avia, I dont buy it so much, Becks has been none stop since the 06 WC with little to no rest, his body is older and breaking down, and I can't fault Milan lab...where I can fault Milan lab is guys like Pato and Antonini...they should be back by now...but to be it plainly Becks was brittle and this type of injury boils down to over use...
  • Trinileigh
    I guessing/hoping we would see Devito again because of this lack of defense, especially with no LB or RB.
  • avia
    exactly what ive been thinking the past month

    Blog: The myth of Milan Lab

    http://www.football-italia.net/blogs/sc105.html
  • il diavoli
    Inter was ggreat last nite
    i wonder what made me fill milan were gonna beat dem
    dis season...
  • rossonero
    gianfranco, i said that that spending be made over a couple of seasons. still a bit farfetched i know, but i was operating under the assumption that gialliani and co actually have a plan of action, and that the kaka and sponsor money, coupled with the funds we'd get from player sales and any transfer fund set apart for this season, would allow us to spend big. also, i'd prefer 5 good coming on great players and two recalled youngsters to 10 cheap and probably mediocre players...
  • unclearthur
    "The work that Goran Pandev and Samuel Eto'o did held back our full-backs and they maintained the kind of pressure on our midfield that meant we could not play the game we wanted." - quote from Ancelloti
    Exactly the sort of work that we do not get from Ronahldinho, Borreilo, Huntelar, Pato ....you can imagine how much space and time Chelsea would have had had they been playing Milan. Of all the big teams, only Milan allows its attackers to stand around and watch after the team looses the ball.
  • ][P3trarch
    If they don't win the Scudetto it doesn't necessarily mean they gave it away.
  • k
    Well, chubby, since they are in first place, they have to lose for us to win. That is not the craziest statement I have heard.

    And is actually 100% true.
  • Chubby
    “well K if you won the scudetto it would be more the case of us losing it than you winning it”
    this is BS. Jose stop trolling Milan board, go celebrate.
  • k
    "well K if you won the scudetto it would be more the case of us losing it than you winning it"

    It must be a crazy day but this is twice I have agreed with you. But really, those are just semantics. Inter will have no one to blame but themselves if they lose this Scudetto.

    Milan on the other hand, with the current squad that we have, are performing miracles just being in consideration with 10 games to go.
  • if you hadnt been so complacent you would be a better team
  • I am not here to troll
    well K if you won the scudetto it would be more the case of us losing it than you winning it, oh yes seedorf is amazing, one question, why didnt leo have him start the match as opposed to flamini, and why in the hell would you put on huntelaar, the guy is useless.
  • k
    myu, guess we don't have a problem. I actually don't think I have seen anyone say after every defeat that they wished Carlo was here.
  • k
    I am not here to troll:

    "we have let you get back in the race, if we had been less complacent and had played better you wouldnt be in the title race at all"

    For once we can agree on something. And that is, YOU have let us back into the race. And HAD YOU been less complacent, there wouldn't have been a title race. This I 100% agree with.

    And as to Milan not deserving the Scudetto. No such thing can be decided until after the last game has been played. If you guys become complacent enough to let us back in it, and we with all our inconsistencies, manage to take advantage of your complacency, then why wouldn't we deserve the Scudetto. If your team continually shows this complacency in the latter part of the campaign and let the chasing pack catch up and over take you, what exactly would you have done to think you deserve the Scudetto. As far as I am concerned, the team that is in the first spot after the last matchday deserves the Scudetto. If with all our inconsistencies, it actually ends up being us, that only indicates that the rest of Serie A has been more inconsistent. And as a result, we would deserve the Scudetto. You are still in first place, and if you keep winning, at the end of the campaign you will win the Scudetto and deserve it. If you don't keep winning and we over take you, then we will deserve it. Not all that complicated, if you ask me.
  • chubby
    Fuck Inter! Why should I congratulate them. We are out, they still in - it ain't natural!!! Like a snow in July. Can't Galliani arrange some phones tapped???
    I want few Inter mercenaries at discount prices.

    Kaka, Carlo, Sheva etc. - last two are the case of "greener" pastures, but for different reasons. Sheva needed an English speaking country for his kids, and Carlo apparently likes English cuisine... Ummmm. Pass me that vinegar.

    While Kaka singlehandedly saved Milan from financial collapse, allowing to sell himself to Real Madrid for a pack of peanuts and a lot of futures.
    If you think Real paid Milan with hard cash, think again. For real.
  • myu
    and AJ, i'm not a Carlo's detractor. Just want to put it on a fair perspective,i'm sorry if i choose wrong words on Carlo. Nothing againts him,i just don't like the irrational fan boys of him.
  • I am not here to troll
    antonio..... why I am I not surprised?

    riccardo I wasnt being anti milanista, obviously you didnt read what I wrote carefully enough, I said Milan have been playing pretty well given their injury problems to key players in their team, but do they deserve to win this scudetto? Nope, not this year, we have shown our dominance time and again, you need younger players, you guys are in the exact opposite situation to arsenal who need older, more experienced players. You just need to get some players who are below the age of 32
  • myu
    fair enough K, i'm not againts you or all the people who share the same fondness for carlo as yours. I respect him as much as sacci,capello,zaccheroni,and even tabarez or terim.
    I just can't stand if some people here still rip leo and call for carlo everytime we lost a game.If you're not that kind of people then i guess we don't hv a problem,right?
  • Petboy
    Inter won a well deserved victory. They brought honor to Seria A. Judging from players Morinho fielded we have only a Silva-Nesta and a R-80 to match. The rest of our players are simply are not in the same class of what Morinho has. For us to be only one point behind is a cerdit to Leo.
  • k
    agreed ricardo.

    MYU, no one has ever said Carlo wouldn't have made the same mistake. The one thing I have said is that I wish we could have Carlo during the big games and Leo when we play the minnows to have a super-coach. Carlo may have lost today, but the guy was great during big games. And Leo has shown that he will rarely lose games we should win.

    I am very happy with Leo and how he has done things so far and I will be behind him until the end. I liked Carlo, but I also like Leo. There is no Leo vs. Carlo. Leo is the current coach and of course I support him. Carlo is a former coach that won a lot with this club, so of course I am fond of him too.
  • lmao@antonio.

    i have some gut feeling that inzaghi would blow lucio and samuel out of the water.
  • AJ
    for all of you Ancelloti detractors:

    http://www.football-italia.net/mar16z.html

    “Who'll win the Scudetto? I hope Milan!”
  • Riccardo
    I am not here to troll: After the result tonight, I went to the Inter forum to congratulate you on a most excellent result. You were brilliant from start to finish and thoroughly deserved to progess in CL, BUT once again you show absolutely no class in winning. What the fuck has it got to do with us that you beat Chelsea???? Enjoy yourself, drink a beer, but leave us the fuck alone. I can't believe you would be as stupid as to gloat to the fans of a club that have won that trophy 7, yes 7 times. Even if you won the thing for the next 3 years you'd still be in no better position to lick our boots than you are now. As for BS.coms article, it's outrageous. If we win the league, it will be because we deserved it. If you win likewise. That's how the league works. Anyway, I've wasted enough time on you.
  • I am not here to troll
    lol I believe apologies by my part are in order to gianfranco and the rest of you, I was a bit caught up in the moment, it tends to happen when you only reach the quarter finals as often as we do, no but this was for ITALY!!!!! Now our quality has finally shown through, cannot wait to get back to the league, despite the FIGC breathing down our necks Id say you guys have done well for an aging team who have had multiple injury problems with many of their important players, nevertheless for once I agree with something BS.com said, Milan shouldnt win the scudetto (this year) because we have let you get back in the race, if we had been less complacent and had played better you wouldnt be in the title race at all, same thing went for roma two years ago, leonardo is a young coach and I think he needs to be given more time to develop Milan and perhaps buy some younger players in the transfer market. Perhaps in a few years when Milan are worthy champions, but as it stands I mean come on we beat you 0-4 and then 2-0, you guys arent really in a position to win a scudetto when you are inferior to us.
  • well so much for some class and respect...to bad we dont get the same treatment...with that said WE ARE COMING FOR YOUR ASS!!!!
  • I am not here to troll
    SUCK ON THAT BILANISTI FOR THE FIRST FUCKING TIME IN A VERY VERY LONG TIME I GET TO SAY THIS, WE MADE IT FURTHER THAN YOU DID IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, CHI NON SALTA E ROSSONERO E E!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • today Mourinho showed his master class, his players were prepared for everything, even the way they handled themselves late in the match...Motta could have easily gotten red instead of Drogba, but the call was correct either way. But how about Wesley Sneijder, dare I say it the guy is playing golden ball good, now lets hope they forget about the Serie A and focus on the CL to the max...
  • myu
    Paul,you explain it better than me about ripping Leo. Although i have nothing againts "leaving for a better future".
    I never blame Kaka and Carlo for leaving,not even Sheva.
  • Pera
    I cannot believe what i see here...
    Anyway congrats to inter they outplayed chelsea in both games.I guess mou had the advantage because he practically made that chelsea team.I hate inter but i can only congrat them...
  • paul
    Excuse me for taking a stab at 2 historical Milan contributors but he and Kaka did leave for "greener" pastures. I'm more grateful for those who stuck it out and are here. Gattuso, Pirlo, etc. The Team today is the most important thing not dwelling on the past. Many were quick and some still today to rip he rookie coach and call for this guy...and yet the guy left, for a team with a way better pool of talent. Great.
  • myu
    and Juan, plz don't jump and judge to fast on someone's morals before u know exactly what he/she made of :-)
    no offense here my friend
  • myu
    ok guys, i don't hate Carlo, not at all!
    and i'm also very gratefull of him giving us 2 CL thropies.
    But what i hate is whenever Leo made mistake with his gameplan,somebody or someone here suddenly calling for Carlo again,always said Carlo would have this better etc.
    i'm a milan fans,like most of you, never be somebody's fans.
    :-)
  • AJ
    K, Nicely put, the last 2 years of his reign were marred with no trophies, but it does not take away from his ability and what he has done for Milan, as a player, and later on as a coach. I will always be grateful
  • Juan
    k, you are the honourable example of a true fan.. HONOR & GRATITUDE.. 2 morales which MYU never knew or learned..
  • k
    Most of us Carlo fans have given Leo his due. Paul and MYU.

    What's funny is that most of you have not given Carlo his due. I could care less what happens but he won 2 CL trophies at Milan and will always be a legend here for that. Most of your hatred toward him is actually irrational. I could never hate anyone from Milan who had ever contributed to a trophy winning season for us. Even Roque Junior. Or Dida. Or Seedorf.
  • paul
    Can you imagine AC this year with either Eto or Milito? What a class finish by Samuel.
  • paul
    http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2010/03/16/1836140/napoli-must-neutralise-ronaldinho-to-beat-ac-milan-walter

    Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri has underlined the importance of stopping Ronaldinho if his side hope to beat AC Milan this weekend at San Siro.

    “Ronaldinho is a class above the rest,” he told Napolimagazine.

    NO way. Really?
  • Rossoneri4Life
    Good to see Inter knock Chelsea out
  • paul
    Shehan, on Kaka it was HIS choice to go to Real Madrid and take it seems a backseat to CR. Rightfully so given you can't even compare the quality of those 2 players. So he goes to a team where CR is the man and seemingly disappears. He's having a terrible year for Real, period. Vs Lyon he did nothing. Let's not make excuses for a player who is playing like shite. Who cares if he's "shining" for Brasil vs Peru, Paraguay, Ireland etc. Wait for the WC then we can judge him. Did nothing 4 years ago.
  • myu
    ahhahahaha..poor Carleto.
    so what now,go coaching ivory coast?
    back to his beloved Roma?
    Sorry Gian, can't help it :-)
    As much as i hate Inter win it, glad to see the Carleto fans disappointed.
    To all of you Carlo's fans,plz give credit to Leo (not you Gian,because i know that you already gives him yours)
  • rob
    from the angle they showed over here it wasnt that clear that drogba really did much wrong intentionally to get a red like that. would need to see clearer replay to judge.
  • paul
    BTW, did every Chelsea player snort something before the match? Seemed today was the 1st time they ever saw or handled a soccer ball. Lol.
  • paul
    1. Is the genius going to complain about the referee today? Not a chance. Appeared to me Inter got the bulk of the calls and many arguable. Also the play acting was at a fever pitch, another disgraceful part of the world of soccer. I love how players are immediately ready to come back on. I wonder what an automatic 5 min reprieve on the sidelines would do to these bitches, you know when they're "hurt".

    2. Lampard, Drogba great game fellas. Drogba another disgraceful exit. Lampard, once actually called by the genius the best player in the world really showed it today. Great match in a big game. Be proud.

    3. Carlo you got your ass handed to you by an apparently smarter coach...apparently.

    4. Enough on the game today, anyone notice what has gone on with Kaka this year? From the best in the world to nowhere near the top 10. WTF! Guess it must be hard to stay at the top, eh Ronnie bashers?

    Later.
  • rob
    eto' had another miss from 6 yards out in the 1st leg as well remember. but inter wouldn't have won through without defending well. a lesson leonardo needs to learn asap.
  • k
    sorry, I meant anelka!
  • Juan
    k, it was not Henry, he plays in Barcelona FC. It was ANELKA. & by the way Drogba needs to stay more humble as he stupidly & selfishly threw any chances of his team scoring a goal or progressing by his last foul. He is one of the greatest forwards, but he needs some humbleness..
  • Juan
    just finished watching the Chelsea-Inter match & imho Inter deserved to go through.. Chelsea did not test the goalkeeper with a single clear cut chance.. Inter defended really well.. & they've got a really hard punisher in Eto'o upfront, you cannot afford to let this guy a chance.. he had 2, wasted one in 1st half then scored the second in 2nd half.. congratulations for Inter on this day.. & to Italian football as they progress on points.. Ancelotti is clearly having issues in the dressing room, & now outside it too.. I hope that he at least wins the Premiership, this man deserves all the best.. good luck Inter, & good luck Ancelotti..
  • k
    Mourinho has always been hyped. Today he earned it. It was a master class from Inter at the bridge. Dirty at times, very, very, very sneaky from some of their players. But he knew exactly what to do to stop Chelsea players from imposing their game. Finally an Inter performance in Europe that makes them worthy of being called Italian champions.

    Still hate Lucio and Samuel, tbh, they both are complete turds. But man they really put a muzzle on Drogba and Henry. And were not afraid to get their hands dirty.
  • rob
    inters strikers missed a load of easy chances, difference was their defence held up firmly until they eventually got one in. chelsea are no united but leonardo could learn sopmething from that. you wont win nada in europe if you can't keep clean sheets.
  • AJ
    drogba red carded.
  • AJ
    GF, do you think that over a period of time, thats possible? as opposed to a straight buyout of all those players that Rossenoro is suggesting?
  • Samuel.
    looks like Ancelotti is going to face the sack!
  • AJ
    so it looks like Italy is handed a lifeline with Inters progression, barring they concede two goals back to back at this point.
  • rossonero, I mean this in the most sincere and respectful way but this is not Football Manager 10, when has Milan, let alone any team done what you are asking!? That is close to 75M in transfer dollars and to make matters worse it doesn't address the issue of depth, if Milan spent that much, HIGHLY UNLIKELY, it better be on ten players not five.
  • rossonero
    astori 5m
    hernanes 15m
    rafinha? i think the price being quoted was either 8 or 15m, can't remember
    pastore? palermo will put up a big fight for him, can'tt see him coming at a decent price
    dzeko- 20-40m :S if he comes at a decent price fine, but with limited funds spending 40m on a single player is foolhardy to say the least, esp when our defence is a black hole.

    can be doable i guess, esp if we get more money than expected for the deadweight, reduced wages and there is already a transfer fund in place.

    although i'd prefer balotelli, paloschi, astori, ranocchia/bonucci/kjaer?, a decent rb and midflder, and maybe a keeper? all over a couple of seasons is manageable imo, and could go a long way to setting up the future of the squad
  • il diavoli
    SHEHAN AM 4RM CAMEROUN WE SPEAK BLOODY FRENCH
    d goal article is kinda funny and i tink d person who wrote was tinkin of d manure match d 4-0 wen he wrote it its kinda funny cos milan is lik depreciated no one expected us to fight for the scudetto dis season cos we had better seasons wit better players wen we could ave fought for it but now we are lik an average team and its totally unexpected..
    but dat doesnt mean d author is stil not a dimwit...
  • Samuel.
    plus the Ronaldinho money or the Sheva money if you want to go that far back, we've generated a fair amount of transfer money over the last 5 yrs and we haven't purchased alot. The transfer kitty should be full unless Berlu is using the money on hookers or his campaign.
  • Samuel, the Kaka money wasn't that much, and it went a long way in solifiying Milan's books which despite the lack of real tangiable value will go a long way in the end. You should be more pissed that the Gourcuff money was pissed away on KJH...also your list of players will cost more than the Kaka money if you want my honest opinion!
  • Shehan, Real Madrid is a Club that regarless of how you "feel" about it deserves respect, even begrudgingly. While I can't condone their current fiscal policy, they did business the right way in the 90's and if you want to talk history they are right there with AC Milan and Barca, but alas it is your opinion...and you are entitled to it, the language was more colorful than I anticipated from you...
  • Samuel.
    Gianfranco |  March 16th, 2010 at 9:15 am


    Samuel, do you have a money tree that you are hiding to make all these purchases!? If so can you cut me in on the deal?
    Posted from United States

    Yes i can, it's the mass amount of money Real Madrid gave us for Kaka and Galliani has it. We have to splash some of the cash man!
  • it wasn't a technical argument per say, gian, but it has lots of truth to it.

    real wouldn't know how to use a classy player like kaka' even if their lives depended on it.

    its not that the player is in decline, you just have to watch his sublime performances for brazil to realize that.

    real madrid really is a shit club and it always has been. kaka' is being wasted there.

    it has nothing to do with throwing shit if we're living in a glass house. you call a spade a spade.

    real madrid is shit. it is the absolute truth.
  • trinimilanfan
    well it is evident that milans policy for the last couple years has been to not spend alot. Hence the Adiyiah and KJH buys and the Mancini loan. One can only hope that the heads that run Milan have an plan ultimately. Because i find it hard to believe that they are just not seeing these players. I hope there is a Method to the Madness, and pretty soon there's going to be a revolution that brings us back to a contender on all fronts.
  • Mariga was prime example of Inter beating Milan to the punch. Mariga was a guy Milan could desprately need and use, and was cheap, but he went to Inter instead...
  • trini, Dzeko is priced for only two clubs, he can enjoy Madrid and ManShitty...
  • trinimilanfan
    Samuel I dont think i could ever say Forza Inter ever....
    unless my life depended on it.
    Also i always read people requesting paloshi...I mean he has talent, but his only game changing moment was when he came on and scored on his debut. He is best a sub.
    Im not saying buy the most expenisve of players, but we need to find the right mix of strength and skill. instead of skillfull weak players that always get pushed off the ball or out ran. Inter seem to always be able to find these players.

    I do think we should splash some cash for dzeko tho.. lol... not 40 Mill, but maybe 25Mill and arrange a friendly against wolfsburg in their stadium. lol
  • Amen Chubby!! I too cringe in the face of social websites...

    Any reputable source like fourfourtwo or even soccernet is good, and it may not muckrake as much as goal.com, but at least you are not sent off into a frenzy
  • chubby
    the best thing everyone can do is stop reading goal.com!

    We can’t. it’s as addictive as Facebook for me, no matter what i do i cannot stay away from it.

    I don't use facebook, or any other social websites... call me Foster-like antisoc, but once upon a time I was reading Goal and tribalfootball, and guess what... Goal.com was the first to go for their constant bullshit, followed by sensationalist tribal. Easy. delete it from your bookmarks, clean your history and cache... Put Football Italia and Offside instead and woalla.
  • rossonero
  • rossonero
    i wouuld play antonini instead of zambrotta though samuel. and nesta will not be a started all season for sure, is astori up to the task of being a good partner to silva? i think defense should be the main concern this season, and we should also remove all the baggage in the gk department too, dida and roma should go imo, with sampdoria signing storari, we should look to snap up a good young gk. is perucchini any good btw? for an 18 year old that is
  • Samuel, do you have a money tree that you are hiding to make all these purchases!? If so can you cut me in on the deal?
  • Samuel.
    also our bench should be Borriello, Inzaghi, Adiyiah, Seedorf, Hernanes, Astori, Onyewu, Ambrosini.
  • Samuel.
    lamagica, do us and yourself a favor by dissapearing. Ok, thanks.
  • lamagica
    yes, no surprise that goal.com = "the rest of the calcio loving world" in your vacuous skull.

    it might be beyond you to recall that inter were actually in second place at the half on the final day of fixtures...something that this "first real post calciopoli (which the rest of serie a thanks your corrupt team for participating in) title race" has yet to achieve. what was that you posted about 'glass houses' again?
  • Samuel.
    so next year the team should look and lineup like this....

    Rafinha- Nesta- Silva- Zambrotta
    Flamini- Pirlo- Pastore
    Pato- Dzeko- Ronaldinho
  • Samuel.
    and for the rightback we should try to scoop up Shalke's Rafinha or Boswinga from Chelsea.
  • Samuel.
    let me pose this question, do you think with signing back up defenders, and mids, our problems will be solved?

    yes, our attack is not bad. if we get Dzeko and somehow offload Huntelaar that should be set with Pato, Adiyiah and Ronaldinho already on board. Hernanes or Pastore are needed addictions, so is a new right-back. as long as the players we spend on come cheap, can play together and are all adaptable to the 4-3-3. then i don't see any problem in doing that.

    Fester must bring in Pastore, Astori & Dzeko. Kaladhze and Favalli need to go!
  • AJ
    let me pose this question, do you think with signing back up defenders, and mids, our problems will be solved? its been three games since our strikers have put anything in the net!we need a major overhaul, and we wont spend the money all in one summer, but i see it hapening over a few years time...either way I still think we should go for Hernanes or at the very least Pastore.
  • Samuel.
    Trust me, we WANT Astori back! Him and Onyewu behind Silva and Nesta is not a bad group of CB by any means!

    It's excellent if anything, Fester should offer them Bonera and Kaladhze in a direct swap!
  • Samuel.
    http://www.football-italia.net/mar16h.html come to us Balo, you'll love it here... your buddy Pato will enjoy your company; Ronaldinho & Pirlo will spoil you with constant assist and who wouldn't love to have Seedorf as a personal attourney... he always defends you when those Juve fans provoke you with rascist chants!
  • Trust me, we WANT Astori back! Him and Onyewu behind Silva and Nesta is not a bad group of CB by any means!
  • AJ
    shehan, I was not taking sides in the argument, on the contrary, if you read my post just above it, you will read that after 7 years under one coach, and then to change coaches, will definitely cause some issues....
  • rossonero
    haven't seen too much of astori, but apparently cagliari fans think the world of him. bringing him back could be cheap and effective, assuming he wants to come back ofc?
  • Samuel.
    fuck Cagliari. give them 10 million and keep the player permanently! this is why i hate co-ownership deals, get Paloschi back also so we can dump Huntelaar... i don't really want to see Dzeko in red & black anymore especially if his team will not lower that 40mil price tag.
  • Samuel.
    Real Madrid are classless spoiled brats who will always look to blame others when they lose. Mourinho would suit them perfectly, if Inter get thier ass whooped today by Chelsea he should be in Madrid coaching them in the next campaign. However i want those bastards to win so for the first and last time in my life hopefully i will say FORZA INTER! make Serie A proud...
  • Shehan, I am going to be frank, your last comment BRINGS NOTHING TO THE TABLE. You are better than that, Madrid is by no means a shit vacuum, and with the right peronnel and instruction could be a joy to watch, but rignt now they have lost their way...much like our own Club, so don't throw stones from a glass house...we did sell him afterall...
  • nice wallpapers and anthems with ROSSONERRI here: www.rowallpapers.com
  • Samuel.
    Samuel, HAVE WILLPOWER, I have sworn off FACEBOOK, you can swear off Goal.com!! Be strong!

    I'm trying...Lol it takes time.
  • a classy player like kaka' cannot be comfortable in a shit-vacuum like real madrid.

    those faggots will never appreciate the beauty and grace that he brings to the game.
  • Samuel, what is even funnier about that article is that they are calling this the first real post-calciopoli title race, I could have swore there is a legion of Roma fans who thought they were contenders a few years back...at least this reinforces that it was only them and not the rest of the Calcio loving World! Be it goal.com and all!!!!
  • Samuel, HAVE WILLPOWER, I have sworn off FACEBOOK, you can swear off Goal.com!! Be strong!
  • Samuel.
    the best thing everyone can do is stop reading goal.com!

    We can't. it's as addictive as Facebook for me, no matter what i do i cannot stay away from it.
  • Samuel.
    this article is bullshit and the author is thrash, can't expect anything better on Goal.com though, enjoy this idiotic gem! http://goal.com/en-us/news/86/italy/2010/03/16/1835367/calcio-debate-inter-must-win-serie-a-a-milan-scudetto-would-make-
  • the best thing everyone can do is stop reading goal.com!

    As for the Kaka question, he doesnt get the same raking balls into space that he can run onto as he got from Pirlo. His role has changed and on the flipside, Pato is not close enough to Pirlo to exploit space so even Pirlo is missing his mate so to speak...there is more going on than just a players skillsets, its a balance of formation, talent around them, and other factors as well...so you can write off a player like KJH because he seems to suck no matter what, unless of course the ball is dropped on his foot so he can swing his leg, or you can appreciate what Pirlo can do and in what positions he can succeed or has succeeded. He is not the future of this Club, by any means, but he still has value when used and employed properly...
  • avia
    omg!

    i dont think i would honestly miss pirlo if we got someone younger and faster in his place, quite the opposite in fact!

    "Question for the Pirlo detractors:
    Why is Kaka playing poorly at Madrid?"

    erm....the same reason he was pretty poor in his last two seasons at milan really!

    Gian, dont let the supposed arguments of how he's in a new league or in a different formation etc etc cloud the visible fact Kaka was also on the wane before he left Milan, i wish him all the best in Spain, love the guy, but we have clearly seen the best out of him in the same way we have Pirlo

    Why not blame the rest of the Madrid squad for Kaka’s poor performances as that’s the same excuses some are ready to offer Pirlo??

    He’s only got CRon, Benz, Alonso, Higuain playing wiv him so it must be their fault!

    You must have amnesia if you think Pirlo would be amazing in the EPL - the match in manchester should have been an eye opener to some – he would look even more hopeless out there! Pure fan boy talk

    Im sorry, yes he's amazing, he's given so much to the club but the fan boys need to get real

    Simple fact is the longer we cling to this guy the longer its gona take to rebuild a squad that is gona get us the results we deserve

    We had this exact same argument/debate about 2 or 3 season back regarding Pirlo and he's only gotten worse since then so now find this abit silly
  • il diavoli, can you please write english? i don't know what the hell you're saying or trying to say.

    AJ, sometimes you guys say goal.com is shit, now you're making them your bible. you can't pick and choose what you'd "like" to hear.

    i still think it was a bold move by leo to pull pirlo off for seedorf. props to him. i missed the middle hour of the game, so i can't comment on it too much, but it won us the game and that's that.
  • AJ
    on the other hand, he was listed in Goal's worst team of the week.

    Andrea Pirlo (Milan): The playmaker’s poor spell of form continued with a dismal display against Chievo. The Italian international looked slow and too many of his passes were off the mark. He must pick up his game before the World Cup and also for Milan’s renewed Scudetto hopes.
  • AJ
    GF,

    I think people will say that he is playing a new league, a new system blah blah blah...but they also forget that Pirlo and the rest of the milan players are playing in a new system as well...Kaka, pirlo..and the majority of our squad are playing under new systems and new training methods after having 7 years of one mans system...
  • moka
    I'm spot on with shehan on this.

    We're gonna miss Pirlo dearly when he retires.
  • il diavoli
    you dont need a rocket scientist to see that pirlo is getting old..
    06-07 he was working hard beating players doing things using his strength now he seems lazy always takes d easy way out dats obviously old age comin...
    but in dis his old age his a joy to watch d reason y u guys are crticizin is cos his lost his prime just lik dinho even if he does somtin spectacular its not enuff cos you have seen much better..
    Truth is even though his not at his best his still one of d best how many people can play in his position and be as effective??? not much even when he is not at his best or let me put it lik dis his worst is some other ppls best and u really no wat he is wen he isnt on dat field dere was a time when he was suspended and flamini replaced him dere where moves he couldnt do passes he couldnt dare 2 try he lacked some creative ideas it was as if he didnt hav d brain 4 dat role...
    just know dat pirlo is a jewel mayb a faded jewel but a jewel none the less..
  • Question for the Pirlo detractors:

    Why is Kaka playing poorly at Madrid?
  • yeah gian, i did put perotta. but its not in comparison to the other players in terms of technical ability, because they are without a doubt miles ahead of perotta.

    the level that i made the point for was that these are players that very few people learn how to appreciate. perotta is one of the most intelligent players of the game, the way he exploits and creates profundita (space) for other players is extremely underrated. obviously he's not having the best of seasons with roma and most likely age is taking his best form, but we shouldn't forget the contribution he made for italy in the world cup and for roma in the subsequent seasons. it takes a keen eye to notice his contribution, and that is what i was trying to emphasize.

    here is another fact with respect to pirlo, if pirlo was on chelsea he would be lighting up the premiershit. with teams always playing deep to counter drogba, he would have so much space to play in whilst being flanked by ballack and lampard. then he would have some damn good fullbacks in ashley cole and boswinga (ideally at least, if they were fit).

    i have seen very few games where pirlo the player has a bad game. but i have seen many games where players don't move enough for pirlo to put the ball at their feet.

    i don't need to defend pirlo anymore. he's won everything there is to win. he has proven himself more than enough, and he doesnt need to prove himself to anybody.

    for me, it is an honor to watch a player like pirlo. my grandkids will definitely hear about pirlo from me.

    his past 2 games might have been bad, but his game vs. roma tells me that he still has it.

    he is a once in a lifetime player, he is in a class by himself.
  • rossonero
    he would be fine if he didn't have to play every week, although obv not to the level of 2006, still at a level only a select few can surpass. but the greater amount of work he has to do now, coupled with the fact that he's virtually irreplaceable in our squad, means he's bound to suffer. the sampdoria game should serve as a reminder as to what he is capable of when 100% fit, the seedorf for pirlo sub was a success on sunday, it should be done more often. neither have the legs for two matches a week, they could help each other out. seedorf would bring more urgency to the team, while pirlo would be more fresh each match
  • moka
    I still stand by my opinion that Pirlo is very essential to this team, while knowing very well that he has declined.

    However, I don't question his starting place week in and week out because quite honestly, I don't see Milan doing much without him, even though on many occasions, he hasn't done much.

    He has been inconsistent this season, yes, but when he shows up, he really shows up. I don't recall the last time he made a good free-kick, but his passes and vision are still world-class. And like GF mentioned, as a playmaker, he also needs support from the full-backs, strikers, and defensive midfielders.

    Yes, he is declining, but he is by no means past it. He is still one of the best at what he does, no doubt.
  • Joey, the role differences of a CM in the 4-3-3 vs 4-3-2-1 is immense. Just think in terms of spacing and the compactness of the formation. In the 4-3-2-1 he has immediate targets within 10-15 yards, while in the 4-3-3 he is responsbile to "cover" more space and his passes, by nature alone need to be longer and in turn lower percentage. I am not defending Pirlo by any means, he is in decline, however he is still very good considering. Remember this is not FIFA10, you can't plug Pirlo and expect magic, there is transition time, and a comfort level that he may or may not fully have in the 4-3-3. The CM in that formation is the single most demanding job on the field, with the CF a close second, that is A LOT to ask of anyone, let alone a guy on the wrong side of thirty...
  • joey
    GF,

    don't ambrosini and flamini serve as support for pirlo? both are clearly defensive midfielders, a la gattuso.

    imo, the whole "pirlo needs gattuso to play well" theory is rather weak. especially since every week pirlo has the support of at least one CDM - in some games two.

    the decline is with pirlo, and pirlo alone. and there's nothing wrong with that. it is what it is.

    avia and bigdawg gave me some sense of sanity. much appreciated.

    and i have never once written to sell or get rid of pirlo. i just question his automatic starting spot week in, week out. but with all of the injuries/lack of depth this season, are there really any other options?
  • avia
    "See his last two games. He is mentally slower than in past years, doesn’t take good free kicks anymore and get caught with the ball.

    A seven yard pass to R80 on the left, or a ball over the top (that normally fails) to try and pick out our strikers is what i’ve seen him do recently.

    Xavi, Iniesta, Gourcuff all can get by at least one guy and go on a bit of a (5 – 10 yard) run in the midfield before picking out an open man and hitting that person with a nice pass."

    Here, here!

    Nicely summed up BigD

    ...and yes Gian the new 4-3-3 doesnt further Pirlos cause, thats quite evident but even more reason in my eyes to acknowledge we've had the best out of him
  • you guys are missing one issue on Pirlo, he is used to having a lot of support at his side in the form of DM's in the 4-3-3 he is being asked to do A LOT MORE. Which isn't the smartest thing for a player in the decline...he is still valuable, but it all goes back down to balance...
  • BigDawg4Milan
    Pirlo is playing like GARBAGE or at least far below his normal level of play!

    See his last two games. He is mentally slower than in past years, doesn't take good free kicks anymore and get caught with the ball.

    A seven yard pass to R80 on the left, or a ball over the top (that normally fails) to try and pick out our strikers is what i've seen him do recently.

    Xavi, Iniesta, Gourcuff all can get by at least one guy and go on a bit of a (5 - 10 yard) run in the midfield before picking out an open man and hitting that person with a nice pass.

    Pirlo has been losing the ball way too much, his passes are predicatble and his free kick rarely hit the target.

    He hasn't been that good this year. Read any football critics write up about his performances this year and you will see that most if not all state that he's not that had a good year.
  • avia
    got to say if it was up to me i would take Balo to london with me (regardless of how much of whinger he is)

    i think the pirlo fan boys need to chill out abit, yes he is a good player he gets exposed way to many times now for being a player that is past it

    rewatch the manyoo match for further details
  • sam
    let's just get balo, man and thump the merda!
  • pirlos role is hardly thankless... when he was regularly the decisive factor in wins he got praised

    now that he is the regularly the decisive factor in losses he gets criticised
  • shehan,I just read, and then reread, rubbed my eyes, put on my glasses and read it again...just to be sure...did you put Perotta in the same sentence as Xavi and Pirlo...Simone Perotta!? The same guy that struggles to get games for Roma, and would most likely be a role player on any team with serious aspirations...just needed to ask!? Your definition of Pirlo is VERY GOOD, his role is thankless...
  • avia
    joeyisamoron = "lastly pirlo needs to retire with milan."

    AGREED!

    but i want to see him retire this week please! :-)
  • avia
    ‘But we all know why things changed and Milan are only a point behind – I don’t want to talk about it,” he noted.

    “If I talk about it then I will be suspended for another three weeks.”

    AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    nice one sam!
  • il diavoli
    Beckams case is a let down
    apart from d fact dat milan will lose him
    everyone knows why he came to milano
    for d world cup and now he wont play in d world cup
    painfull very painfull...
    Pippo's move was great if he had passed d defender
    and scoredeverybody would hav been askin leo why he hadnt played him since
    i really think milan wil sell borri is good but dere are people better, check it out Victor Obinna he plays for inter but his on loan
    d guy works hard and knows where the net is borri works hard but forgets his dere to score and since milan cant buy big players what are our scouts doing.. they should search 4 future starts everywhere who says somone must be a start b4 he is a good player...
  • Alishki
    Yeah muthafuckers. Milan for Life. Leo for President. Bitches. Keep on keeping on, son. Keep on keeping on.
  • sam
    'But we all know why things changed and Milan are only a point behind - I don't want to talk about it,” he noted.

    “If I talk about it then I will be suspended for another three weeks.”

    wow - he just doesnt know how to shut up, does he? wonder if he's masquerading as MAD or i'mnotheretotroll
  • sam
    hear hear K! i think pirlo's actually playing much better this season than the last...he knows he has to do a lot more and he's incorporated running back and trying to defend as well in his game now (fine, he's horrible at tackles but at least he's trying)...factor in the fact that he's 30+ and has played almost every game in the season...
  • k
    joey,

    No one is saying that Pirlo is having his best ever campaign. No one can deny that he is not the player he used to be. Part of the reason behind that is that his supporting cast is not exactly what they used to be either. Pirlo's best form of his life was (imo) in the 2004 campaign and during the WC 2006. Both times what he did best was put the ball on the feet of wing backs that were flying forward penetrating the oppositions defense and getting to the by line. 2004 had Cafu and Serginho on the wings (how beautiful that sight was!) and 2006 had an inform Zambrotta and even more so in form Grosso. Honestly, its his trademark. When I think of Pirlo I think of a ball from close to the edge of the center circle on our side of the pitch, to the feet of an advanced wing-back receiving the ball close to the byline.

    When was the last time you saw a full back make that run on this team. Abate for all his pace has no idea how to use it. None. Nada. Zilch. Antonini makes overlapping runs for Dinho when he needs it but lets not pretend he is as brutal on those wings as Serginho. Pirlo has other attributes too, and even now if you looked at his pass completion percentage, very few players in Europe have higher stats than him. Except now he is left to pass the ball impotently back and forth amongst Ambro, and who ever the placed on the right midfield spot and abate who will 90% of the time go 10 feet forward and pass it back.

    Pirlo is a player that can make good players amazing but he cannot make half decent average players look like champions. He has declined, no doubt, but I would lay 50% of that on his supporting cast and the other 50% on him actually declining as a player.
  • Juan
    shehan, you're right in Pirlo's role definition, but I was also calling for Pirlo's sub in second hald against Chievo as he obviously looked tired, he was most of the time caught out of position.. Gattuso, Becks & Ambro were playing better than him.. You also got it wrong on our dear Super Pippo.. He wasn't trying to dribble, you should re-watch carefully. It was a brilliant piece of defending that stopped Inzaghi from scoring..
  • joey
    and special thanks to GF, this a great forum to vent, debate and even learn about the beautiful game.

    GF - i think r80 excels with faster forwards (eto'o, pato and even messi). pato is hurt, borri, hunt and super pippo are not pacy players.

    either way, dzeko will be here this summer. and r80 will need to adjust his game to fit dzeko...or hit the road.

    yesterday's victory left me more worried than hopeful about the remainder of this season. hate to be pessimistic, just being honest.
  • joey
    so many rossoneri supporters on this blog complain & mock berlusconi and galliani for hanging onto the glory days & boasting of feats achieved ten plus years ago.

    yet those same people hang on to outdated players like pirlo and boast of talent he doesn't possess anymore.

    my arch rival (isamoron) points out that kaka's game has faltered more than pirlo's. well kaka changed leagues and is learning a new system. and if you ask any knowledgeable football fan in the world who would they prefer: kaka or pirlo? not even a contest. shoot kaka freakin single handedly won us the champions league in 2007.

    to each their own, i have nothing personal against pirlo. i hope his play improves for ac milan.

    i just think he is past his prime. his once deadly deep passes made up for his lack of size, lack of defense and lack of pace. and in my opinion - it is simply not the case any longer.

    put it this way, great players do not let the likes of j.s. park snuff them out over two consecutive legs.

    moka - if pirlo needs the likes of a gattuso to be really effective, what does that say? ambrosini and flamini both play the gattuso roles right now...yet pirlo is not the same player.

    anyhow, i enjoy reading your comments & thank you for the respect given. in the end, we're all on the same team - even if we disagree on some issues.

    forza milan!
  • AJ
    after watching pastore for palermo..well see for your selves
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2P8zkSy9GvE
  • AJ
    gian, i just finished reading that article..but it made me think of how emotional fester always portrays this club to be...so my hope is that its not true, and instead we spend the money this summer.
  • AJ
    also, another off the wall comment, I really hope inter progress in the champions league, the more concerned with the champions league they are, the more they let their foot off the gas in the in the league...also not bad for italy's chances in keeping the 4th spot..
  • http://www.football-italia.net/blogs/al129.html

    petboy, clearly you drop in and out at your leisure, because I have given r80 his due, but it sure as shit doesnt exclude him for spending time on his ass...
  • AJ
    I'm surprised i have not had a heart attack with the way this team performed this season, but hey, this our crack and we keep coming back for more....

    on another note, although this is from a source that cant be trusted, but if its true, it just reminds me of politicians here in the states, they hold a press confrence saying they are not going to run for office then, some time later they are running for office...

    read for your self..

    http://www.tribalfootball.com/agent-inter-outcast-balotelli-spotted-ac-milan-704441
  • Petboy
    It seems Mr. blogger is back at anti-R80 crap. He walked, but single handedly created more chances than the rest of the team for those no good forwards we have. R-80 single handedly responsible for Milan being at this level, eventhough he walks most of the time.
  • moka
    The team must be built around Silva, Flamini, Pirlo and Pato! Those players are the key to Milan's success. It's not rocket-science.

    Invest money in a full-back and center-back while getting rid of the likes of Kaladze, Favalli, Zambrotta, Jankulovski. I'd say those players are EXPIRED.

    Flamini has the right mentality to do well for this team, coupled with the fitness. While Gattuso has more heart, he can't cope physically. Flamini is ideal and he's young. Pirlo does not need to be physical; in fact, his type of game improves as time goes on.

    Pato, obviously, is the future up in front. But he can't do it alone. This year, Dinho is on fire, but who knows how Dinho will do next year? And a striker alongside Pato such as Borriello or Huntelaar isn't gonna make Milan win cups.
  • k
    I have to agree with Shehan. I won't say say that Pirlo is having his best ever campaign. Actually to those of you referring to the 2006/07 campaign, are actually blinded by the second half and more importantly the second half of the CL campaign. Pirlo was actually in the worst form I have seen him in, in that first half of 2006/07 campaign.

    Right now, Pirlo is in average form. But Pirlo in average is still better than most players in the best form of their life. I am not against a player like Hernanes joining our squad. He would actually fit much better in this formation than Pirlo.

    I have to agree with Shehan on the double about players like Pirlo "transcending" stats. Stats do not do justice to Pirlo. His job is to get the ball to players on the wings, like Dinho, Antonini, Abate, and whatever half able body is playing on the RW at the time in positions where they can provide assists.

    The only player Pirlo can provide assists to is Pato. Because from his deep lying position, Pato is the only player that can exploit over the top through balls. I don't know for sure, but I bet if you look at his assists, most of them, (if not all of them) were for goals scored by Pato. Other players like Borriello, Huntelaar need balls from the wings, where Pirlo only rarely ventures out to.

    Undoubtedly, however, the quality of his free kicks have definitely fallen.
  • joeyisamoron
    joey must have something personal against Pirlo. i've seen every milan game this season and think that the coppa italia match vs udinese is the only game where Pirlo played as bad as some idiot named joey says. he came in late in that game anyways. if his passing is so bad, do you know how many times Milan scored due to one of pirlo's crosses from corners or set pieces this season. i will say his aiming on free kicks have gone down, but everything else in his game is still great. thanks to pirlo milan are able to switch the ball from one side to other fast and easily. if you're frustrated by recent results Pirlo is the last to blame. i would blame leo for his PES10 tactics, the strikers for not being more clinical esp Hunter vs manure, and then the defending. stop whining about kaka and gourcuff. kaka wanted to leave and look how good it turned out for him lol. if anyone's game has seriously dropped it's kaka's. as for gourcuff, he was awful when ancelotti gave him his chance. Now he looks like a better player since the french league allows more space to the attacking players, thus easier. lastly don't be an idiot by comparing CMF's as Xavi and MF/winger iniesta to a DMF Pirlo. so many whiners. i didn't realize there are such ignorant Milan supporters.i didn't hear anyone talking crap about ronnie in his first few games. he was abosolute crap. now it seems he's finding his groove again. lastly pirlo needs to retire with milan.
  • lol joey.

    refer to roma v milan. then tell me what you think of pirlo.
  • moka
    joey I agree on some points and disagree on others.

    I don't think he has had a poor campaign, but for sure he is not the Pirlo of 2006/07. His passing skills have NOT eroded. His passing is still sublime and his influence on the team is still large. The only real way to judge his influence is to see how Milan play without him; there is no real replacement for him in the middle as the deep-lying playmaker. His role is crucial to the team.

    Part of the reason why he has declined is attributed to the decline of Gattuso. For Pirlo to play his best, he needs some defensive support who will take pressure off of him. That was exactly Gattuso's role during their peak.
  • joey
    pirlo is having a poor campaign. you pirlo apologists are stuck in 2006/07.

    his deep lying passing skills have eroded. the one thing he is "known for" - his passing - has failed him this season. i regularly see his long passes sail too far for goal kicks. and since he is always lying so deep - he is also a liability on defense. so what really does he provide RIGHT NOW?

    as for putting pirlo in the same category as a xavi or iniesta...that just shows your outdated and jaded knowledge.

    xavi and iniesta both start for the best club and country in the world right now.

    i respect and admire what andrea pirlo has done for the rossoneri. he was once a great playmaker & dead ball specialist. however, it has become a thing of the past.

    pirlo and gattuso should have been sold already - instead kaka and gourcuff were.

    and equivalent midfield talent has yet to be brought in.
  • moka
    shehan spot on with your description of Pirlo. Thank you!
  • moka
    'It is also alarming that our striker(s) still have not found the net in three matches, and despite missing some good chances today, OK, some really good chances, Milan still found a way to get the three points.'

    Yup. If Borriello wasn't on the pitch, Seedorf wouldn't have scored! Credit to Borriello for working hard during Seedorf's goal.

    Sorry GF I just had to! :P
  • it is a damn shame about beckham, he did not deserve this.

    and how about pippo? dribbling like it was 1999, he needed one goal to be the MoM.

    instead it was the pimp himself who bitchslapped chievo back to verona.

    and for the idiots who are labeling pirlo a bust for only 4 assists; he is a deep lying playmaker. he is not expected to assist. he is expected to put the ball at the feet of people further up field. from 7 yards. or from 70. he'll do it. and he's the best at what he does.

    he's not a player that ever relied on speed for anything, so age shouldn't affect him that much. he is a player a redefined an entire new role, the regista, in football.

    few people would know how to appreciate players like pirlo, xavi, iniesta, scholes, pizarro and even perotta. its never about stats for them. they transcend stats. they are the fucking ninjas coach's warn you about before a game because they slowly push you into submission. (although perotta is a different kind of intellectual player than the others).
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