Napoli 3 - Milan 1
By: Gianfranco | May 12th, 2008“Gyorgy Garics got it in stoppages, totally unmarked to volley in a Mannini cross from the left, as Milan had stopped playing some time ago.”
That sentence alone truly sums up the way I feel about the game on Sunday. What is there to say when your team goes out and chokes it up in a game it has to win? To make matters worse they took fourth place out of their own hands and now have to rely on help from other teams to make fourth place a possibility.
I understand that Pirlo was suspended but this no longer an excuse. One of the comments said that this team is not AC Pirlo, and there are ten other players in the starting eleven and more on the bench that need to really pick this up and push in these situations. If the team was young like Arsenal then it would be easy for me to say that they were unable to get themselves up for the a pressure, but with all these veterans it is an impossible place to put blame. All of these players, save Pato, no exactly what it’s like to have your back to the wall and instead of fighting out of it they rolled over. Take nothing away from Napoli, this is a team that is a bear to beat at home, and after getting embarrassed at the San Siro in the second half of the last game one would expect them to play their hearts out, and they did. For a team to play that strongly with nothing to play for really leaves admiring and wishing for the same results.
Carletto just seems incapable at this point and time to get this team in gear for a big game. He opened cautiously and seemed to pay the price, and what made matters worse was his inclusion of Pato into a Seedorf role alongside Kaka. He needed offense but instead chose to hold back and counter. There is no shame in playing two or even three strikers when your team needs a win, at least when you lose there is no question about what could have been. When you lose you lose with everything on the pitch…
Next week is really going to be a photo finish. Milan welcomes Udinese, while Torini plays the Viola. Torino can role over here and still be safe, and quite frankly that scares me. Udinese is talented team who will play and strong despite their lack of form lately. It is hard for me to remain optimistic with this forecast, but as a fan you hope and hope some more. Their season was in the palm of their hands and they let it slip away.
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I am disgusted with the team at the moment.They couldnt win even in such an important game,and they do not deserve CL football.I am so irritated wih Galliani(for not strengthening the team last year),and with Ancelotti for using all kinds of stupid tactics.FREAKIN’ IDIOTS.
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United States
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Many people will think its badthat milan finish 5th … but is it?????? If milan were to finish 4th, would they have the balls to get rid of players liek cafu, serginho, brochi, dida … they have about 10 players that they need to kcik out …. if they finish 5th, i can see this happening … but if they finish 4th, it wont.
It could be the start of a new era for milan, one that could see them dominate europe again for 20 yrs (just liek ehen berlusconi took over)
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Australia -
“…as Milan had stopped playing some time ago.”
You can’t stop what never started. Sigh.
In all honesty, even though we can’t help but hope for a miracle, good on the Viola in the likely chance they qualify for the CL next year. They deserve it. Ranjeet, we’re all feeling the same frustration as you buddy. To be honest, I was remarkably calm about the result of the match until a friend of mine told me “Have fun in the UEFA cup” today.
I’ve already said my piece regarding Andrea. I love him, we all love him, he’s the center, the core of this team. He has performed brilliantly in his deep-seated playmaker role. There no one quite like him. Which makes him irreplaceable. Which has been a major problem second half of this season because of his understandable exhaustion. It really has hurt my heart watching the 15,000 wayward free kicks he’s had in the last few matches.
If Carlo was so “revolutionary” by creating Pirlo’s role, which he was, why hasn’t he exhibited this during the last two seasons? His apparent inability to try new tactics, especially given the overall exhaustion of our players, has been frustrating. Of course it’s not all his fault. We need new players, we know that. But really, No Pirlo = No Wins is what it’s become. God forbid he gets injured or suspended and Sunday’s result is what happens. No man should be bigger than the team itself and I wish Carlo would understand that. (You hear that Materazzi? Idiots like him on the other side of this city boggle me…that penalty was the only bright spot of Sunday. Hilarious.)
/end rant for now.
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And because we all need a pick-me-up: Ronaldo’s (former? I sure hope so for her sake.) girlfriend is having a baby, according to channel 4. What an incredibly awkward sequence of events, considering recent happenings. Seriously, only in footy. You can’t make this stuff up.
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United States -
Yea, she dumped him.. LOL poor Ronaldo.. It’s becoming a habit with these Brazilians.. World-class players, and then fitness problems –> social issues.. Adriano, Dinho, Ronaldo..
Ronaldo’s contract runs out next month.. I honestly don’t see him in a Milan jersey again.. He wants to go to Flamengo, and that’s where I see him in 5 months..
So.. 2 strikers anyone??
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HAHA, oh man, dying laughing at both the Simic/Maldini “issue” and the Ronaldo scandal. This is why football will always be the best sport ever, the drama is lovely.
I still can’t accept us not in the CL next year. After our derby win, the hope was just too real. This weekend is probably one of the most tense league moments I can remember since I’ve started watching football.
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LOL @ Simic/Maldini! If what Simic is meant to have said is true then its like someone holding you up at gun point but with the gun facing the wrong way round lol!
Hana dear, you’ve read my mind regarding Pirlo! Your comments about Carletto also match word for word what ive been feeling for a while now.
Pirlo reminds me of the old fav Albertini and Rino is the new Desailly but the difference is when either of the two old school players where out OUR TEAM DIDNT BECOME IMPOTENT!
Capello would simply switch formation and tactics slightly. We spanked Barca 4-0 without Baresi & Billy damn it!
And if Carlo was as good as everyone says, how come HE cant adapt the shape and squad in a good enough way to handle missing players?
Sorry but you cant put Brocchi in for Rino and expect the same end result!
If Cuffy isnt as good as Seedorf then account for it by your formation when you DO have to plan the wee frenchman!
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United Kingdom -
To be fair Avia, Capello had at his disposal the greatest squad ever assembled. If he was allowed to actually pick his best first eleven from that squad, it would have been the best team to ever walk onto the pitch.
This is not to excuse Carletto wholly. He’s made some crappy team selection decisions as well as showing complete tactical inflexibility.
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Ya, trust me, i know we cant make a like for like comparison between those two diff squads.
and your right, Carlo (not that i dont think he has done alot for this club) has time and time again this season totally mistified me with his subs and formations and tactics.
As boring as some peeps complained Capello was, his work from the touchline was genius.
And god knows, right now i would rather this team be boring and in 3/4th place than exciting and in next years UEFA Cup (snarf!).
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goal.com first page; Gattuso to Bayern!
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and : AC Milan are set to make a €48m offer for Cheslea goalkeeper Petr Cech, according to reports in Italy.
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carletto is way too rigid with his tactics! all he uses id 4-3-2-1. if we’re lucky he uses 4-3-1-2, but since we won the CL with the former formation, he’s been sticking to that formation. we’ve been using these SAME TACTICS since 03-04!!! we’ve become so predictable! carlo hasn’t changed a thing in 5 seasons. even when we add new players to the starting xi, they are direct replacements for the same role, but just no where as effective as the first choice. even with or subs… we are so restricted in terms of tactical changes. or subs NEVER EVER change a game because they add no element of change or unpredictability to our style of play. it pains me when we dominate a game up to the 60 min and then we start to run out of steam… so then i look to our bench and see the likes of serginho, emerson, gilardino, brocchi, etc. and then me hopes immediately become deflated because we dont have depth, we dont have players of the bench which can change a game or restore dominance. crap, even when our 1st choice players are injured we dont have quality replacements! honestly, this is ridiculous, a club of the stature of Milan should have a better overall squad (not just 1 thru 11). as disappointed as i am about this what hurts me the most is the absolute LACK OF HEART being shown. i’m sorry but even if u are not that good of player, at least show some heart because wearing the red and black shirt should serve as extreme motivation.
whatever happens this weekend (CL or not), i believe it’ll be for the best. i just pray that no matter what we get the players (… and possibly the coach) to effectively push start the rebuilding process on the road to recapturing dominance SOONPosted from
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and : Wolfsburg are closing in on the signing of Palermo captain Andrea Barzagli, according to fresh reports in Italy.
.. in all honesty, sounds like bullll to me.. wtf Barzagli to Wolfsburg?!
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J, i think i might just nominate you to be my spokesman coz u have just summed up every little point that is currently vexing me!
However, you will receive no pay, time off or even a xmas card. Just gratitude from my weary wrists (due to typing!)
(I mean sub Rino for Brocchi?!?!?! I wouldnt even let that toad lace up Rinos boots!)
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THANK YOU GOD! *dances around like a maniac*
Maldini in retirement U-turn
Milan veteran Paolo Maldini looks increasingly likely to put off his retirement by another year. “I am moving towards carrying on.”
The 39-year-old has indicated after last December’s Club World Cup triumph that he would be hanging up his boots at the end of this campaign.
However, in recent times Maldini has seemed less certain that he wants to quit the game and now seems ready to commit to a 25th year with the Rossoneri.
“I am moving towards the decision to carry on playing and in the week I will go to the offices for discussions,” the Diavolo legend revealed.
“There’s nothing official because there doesn’t need to be while I am still under contract, but I am in agreement with Vice-President Adriano Galliani.
“I’m thinking about carrying on as my physical condition has improved and the club have asked me, more or less explicitly, to play for another season.”
Rest of the article here: http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may13a.html
One of my dreams has been to see Il Capitano play live, so I can’t describe how elated I am, for me, for us, the club, and for football as a whole. It would have been simply tragic if this was the last season Paolo ever played for us. That’s it, we absolutely have to win the scudetto next year. Or dear lord, have a campaign that totally erases this years. PAOLO PER SEMPRE!
Oh vey, this has sure been a busy morning for Milan players. Another headline: “Milan star Clarence Seedorf has shocked Holland Coach Marco Van Basten by pulling out of Euro 2008.” Whoa, whoa whoa. WHOA. He definitely hasn’t given any reasons for this either. I’m in complete shock. I was really looking forward to seeing him play.
Very strange morning, but I’m totally still beaming with happiness at Maldini’s thoughts.
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And to get back to you lovely peeps…Bonnie, isn’t the drama just brilliant? They present a very welcome break when your team isn’t doing well (ahem), or when you’re just plain bored.
And Avia, major word, I was just simply echoing what I’m sure almost all of us have been feeling. Sigh. But console yourself like I am, in our captain’s (hope to soon be confirmed) decision. It’s a beautiful thing.
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J great points, as for the transfer rumors today I am still holding my breath on Rino. Goal.com is rubbish anyway, and Cech would make a fantastic addition to the team but the money is high!
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“we freaking devote every monday to the guy, he is the greatest defender to walk the earth, and even at 40 he is better than most defenders, a tad long!? I say not long enough…”
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Word Big G
lol
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I haven’t been around nearly as much as I would like…but I’m trying.
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I just don’t even have anything to say anymore…you guys have said it all…every word written here is echoing my very thoughts….well most of time…lol
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All I hope is that milan buck it up and win this last game. and if all else fails I have my viola voo doo doll raring to go lolPosted from
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i think cech to milan is EXTREMELY unlikely to occur. i still have my hope of us getting boruc from celtic to be our goalie next season. hey, after all this season boruc was at the centre of some controversy for showing an undershirt that had a picture of the pope on it(since he and the pope are both polish)… why would he not come to the country were the pope now lives? and after all, boruc is an insanely good goalie; 06-07 round of 16 milan v celtic boruc was fantastic in taking us to extra time. i prefer have him on our side than have to play against him
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did anyone read this!! if its true, i have lost all respect for Wenger, its just sad that anyone would say something like this about any club.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1146873.ece
In an astonishing blast at the Italian giants’ history, manager Wenger claimed Arsenal are a bigger club because they are . . . HONEST.
Milan were relegated for match-fixing in the 1980s and were docked points for their involvement in a similar scandal two years ago.
Wenger said: “What is a big club? Is it only down to trophies? This club here has a history of being built by people of values.
“I’m not sure that in the history of Milan you’ll find the same values this club has.
“And, for me, that is a big club, a club that comes out of people’s desire to respect values. Look at our whole history, it’s clean.”
Allegations of corruption have dogged Milan owner and Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi throughout his time in office.
And the Arsenal boss says Berlusconi’s successor will inherit a stained history.
He added: “It is vital a club maintains those values we have.
“That is why at the head of the club you have a responsibility to keep these values and to make sure people who come after you can be proud.
“They may say this manager didn’t win enough trophies but the club has kept its reputation for the whole history. That is vital.”
Wenger believes Flamini joined Milan only for the money and not because they were a bigger club.
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yeah i read about this. i think he was just pissed that flamini left. i was shocked he said that cuz i have always respected wenger as a coach. anyway what’s even more shocking is that milan haven’t fired back… i guess it jus proves milan are classier
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I agree with J, though I definately was annoyed with the nerve Wenger had to make such a statement, especially because I’ve always respected him before. I’m doubly annoyed because I like the Gunners. “I’m not sure that in the history of Milan you’ll find the same values this club has.” So Arsenal doesn’t have the values of loyalty, respect, and family that we do? Honestly, I can understand being disappointed that Flamini left, but to channel it into this…speaks a lot more about him than it does about us.
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United States -
‘maldini to carry on’ : hana, i could kiss you for breaking that news. (well, if you were a chick, hot and here in person).
i’m over the moon now! let us send off il capitano in the proper way he deserves, by winning the scudetto!agree with j regarding carlos’ tactics and would like to see WINGERS in our side.
as i also support spurs i know wenger is emotionally retarded. he speaks a lot of rubbish and he is very easy to wind up.
ps seedorf out of dutch squad, wtf?
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United States -
Ancelotti screwed it big time. He should be packing his bag by the end of the season. Lippi may be.
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Australia -
ancelotti i think he has done the best he could with that pathetic bench he has had to work with spare paloschi and gourcuff most of the regular starters have been tired, and lets not forget he has won us three trophies in these two last years.
Posted from
United States
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