Milan 1 Braga 0
By: Gianfranco | November 6th, 2008I am not going to sit here and recap this entire the game, because quite frankly there is not all that much to talk about. Both teams were extremely wasteful, both teams were sloppy, but Milan, and more importantly Rinodinho and Ronaldinho were up to the task and did not quit until the final whistle. Rino’s little touch and Ronaldinhos cracking goal made me jump out of my seat, and notched another win.
Not a single Rossonero was mistake free, but on the flipside every player stepped up when needed. Even the lowly Dida contributed to this victory with some good positioning and doing just enough to keep the ball out of the back of the net. The star of the show is and has been Rino Gattuso who no matter the match has the tenacity for the tackle and the touch of genius to keep plays alive and keep the squad in the match.
Another win, and with a place atop the UEFA Cup group this team is beginning to look more and more formidable with every passing game. They may not be playing the best calcio, or playing the other team off the pitch, but for the first time in a long time I see a team with determination and grit that has been missing since the World Club Cup Victory in 2007. The more I watch this team the more I see a team akin to the Chelsea squad that won the EPL two years in row. Sure they were not the most dazzling team, and sure they won some close games, but when the clock was ticking that team found a way to win, and the Rossoneri vintage 2008 seem to have that same never quit attitude.
Do I wish the team was blowing the socks off their opponent? Of course, but stockpiling wins is just as good and right now we are on a role. Ray Hudson said it best today, when referring to Milan, he stated their talent and said this team should win the UEFA Cup and if not it’s a shame. I think Ray is spot on, but he forgot to mention that they will certainly compete on all fronts, which is something we have not been able to say in a very long time. I will not be convinced until the trophies are in grasp, but I am feeling quite good for the state of the Devil of Milan.
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Category: UEFA Cup
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Comments
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So Pato can play on Sunday!
Just imagine for a moment when in fact Pirlo returns how dangerous this team can become. He will not be forced to play every match, and he will add a whole new dimension in deep playmaking and link up to Dinho, Kaka, and the striker. I am salivating…
Posted from
United States
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On the front page Chris called this a “Bullshit finish”
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I strongly disagree. I said that “Both teams battled well to the end. Both teams had faults and mistakes as well as spots of brightness. It was the very end of the match and Braga switched off, Milan switched on. One piece of magic was all it took and ‘Dinho put it away.”
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Do you guys agree?Posted from
United States -
Such is Ronaldinho. Like all the absolutely great players, can win matches even in their sleep.
Posted from
United States -
Mele, I dont agree at all. Good teams, Scudetto caliber teams, find ways to win even in the last second of the match. Milan is doing that time and time again, what he calls bullshit finish is a gritty win the kind of wins that build confidence and determination. I dont like Inter, but they always found a way to win last year to keep their title hopes on pace, Milan need to do the same thing. Maybe Chris is jealous his team lacks the ability for the “bullshit” finish.
Posted from
United States -
The truth is R80 has won us games that we probably had nooooooo business winning. This game is no exception.
Our team collectively doesn’t look that good. We don’t play a flowing type a football. (Our record is deceiving)
It normally takes a moment of brilliance instead of the run of playing, and pressure placed on the opposition indicating that were close to scoring.
Without R80, were not on top of the Serie “A” and definately not 2 – 0 thus far in the UEFA Cup.
BTW – Gattuso is playing great. He’s all over the place very, involved and is doing little things (like the pass to R80) to help us win games.
Senderos – Nice sliding tackle as was mentioned…but got owned by that Braga player who missed a sure goal when he put Senderos on his back. He needs to drink Maldini’s kool-aid while the legend is still around.
Posted from
Canada -
Chris was just doing Chris-speak, like, “sick goal”, I’m pretty sure.
With Pirlo coming back, if he can get back to his best form, we’ll have so many options. Yesterday we were lacking a bit of spark, but Kaka needed a rest. With Pirlo back we’ll be able to use them together or individually, I’m really looking forward to it.
Posted from
Canada -
How do you interpret this?
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=952287
A new era has just begun? 2 strikers?!
Posted from
Canada -
I got 2 say Gian, i thought Braga played well, i missed the fireworks of the 1st 10-15mins but i felt we could have learned lessons from Braga with regards to how to defend as a team.
The more the match wore on the more we seemed to get entangled in their defensive plays, im not saying they were amazin but im almost suprrpised to see a team we have hardly heard of work well togehter as a unit and press the opposition the way that Braga did.
Still glad we won tho!
Posted from
United Kingdom -
BigDawg4Milan – im leaning towards your analysis of “Our
team collectively doesn’t look that good. We don’t play
a flowing type a football. (Our record is deceiving”.Posted from
United Kingdom -
mele you completely misunderstood chris’ implication. he was commenting on what a great shot that was from dinho.
and its unnecessary to bring roma into the argument, just because he supports them it means nothing. you should get off your high-horse a little bit and stop acting so defensive on everything he writes…
Posted from
United States -
Only Chris knows what he meant, and like all things in life we all see it differently.
I dont think Braga or Milan played poorly, but to steal a phrase, no one really grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck.
Posted from
United States -
why would you have expected Milan to pounce on that game when they used a rather makeshift lineup which lacked so many of their better players? in my view one of the problems on the offensive side of the ball is that there have been so many lineup changes and experiments that the players themselves are a little confused as to how they should work with one another. i kinda see that every time that Kaka and Ronnie are on the field together…
Posted from
United States -
agree with big dawg and avia – our position in the serieA and uefa cup do not tell the true story of how we are playing…even if we go by the makeshift team arguement, we were playing with the likes of pato, inzaghi, sheva – who need to step up and deliver…
the only good thing to take out of yday’s game is that the first time pairing of kaladzhe and senderos did not result in a goal despite some lapses – that would have helped their confidence for future gamesPosted from
Switzerland -
Im still gettn peeved at Carlo for playn Pippo from the start.
I love Pippo as much as any1 here (maybe more!) but we are just wasting him having him play from the start.
U bring him on at the 70th min wen the oppostions defnders are startn to tire.
Carlo just keeps goin on to prove that he doesnt yet know how to make the best of the squad he’s got.
Look at whats happening wiv Ducky!
Posted from
United Kingdom -
i dont know gian, there only seemed one obvious interpretation to me. especially the last line ‘thats why we watch the game ladies and gents’.
i was disappointed by our showing after the first 20 mins. in the first 20 mins we played some great direct football, with some excellent diagonal long balls over to pato and shevchenko, with which they both did pretty well at running at the defense. but after awhile, our play became monotone and ineffective.
while most people are happy with ugly wins, our only real convincing win this season has been the 4-1 drubbing of lazio. ugly wins are fine, but in moderation. we really need to start dominating some games before we can call ourselves true title contenders.
Posted from
United States -
shehan- to add to what u said i think our display in the derby was convincing too
Posted from
United States -
I am of the belief that a team does not need to play lights out football every game for the entire season. In fact I think that is extremely difficult and sets unusually lofty goals. In fact if I look back at Inter in here in Italy, Chelsea in the EPL, and Real Madrid in La Liga, they all shared a common thread. Close hard fought victories, only the Milan of the nineties, and to a lesser extent the undefeated Arsenal of a few years back, has ever wiped the floor with their opponents for an entire season, and those expectations will in my mind never again be met. What stands out most for me is everyone is playing with determination and if not Carletto is subbing them plain and simple. He no longer seems to be looking at names but only at form and it is paying dividends. If this title gets delivered with these types of wins for the rest of the season, you will not hear a single complaint from me, because we will be league champs and it will all be forgotten.
Posted from
United States -
when pirlo is back milan will step up a gear what his, kakas and seedorfs problems were last year was they play to much and were tired. when pirlo starts linking up play with kaka, dinho, pato and borriello with gatusso attacking everyone milan will be amazing. and ivanovic to complete the puzzle in january and you have a super team
Posted from
United States -
Against Braga, the team was clearly lacking creativity. Maybe Pato and Sheva have a bit of that, but there has to be one of Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaka, Dinho. None of them were present, and that explains the lack of real flowing play. There has to be that one player, who can do more than just a pass to an open player, someone with vision.
Posted from
Canada -
Yes, I did misinterpret what Chris said, seeing now what he meant, I agree with him, but I still think I had a pretty valid point anyways, since both teams battled it out, and at the end of the match we pulled out our little piece of “bullshit” and put the ball in the net!
Posted from
United States -
I only saw the second half but I have to agree with Moka here, the 4-3-3 just didn’t work: the defensive midfielders are not creative enough plus Pato has not matured into anything like a playmaker, just give him the ball and let him take players on.
Carletto obviously recognised that and put in Dinho and Seedorf. I don’t think taking Pato was good though. What exactly did Inzaghi the whole game? At least Sheva was instrumental in that last play.
Posted from
Australia -
gian, i completely agree with you.
i think i understated my point. what i was trying to say is we have had many games that were ‘close’. soon we’ll have games that will become ‘too close’. then we’ll have games that will become ‘we were close’.
i want to see some domination for once. i want a rout of lecce to gloat about. give me some goals in my right hand, and a pretty girl in my left; and i’ll be a happy man
!Posted from
United States -
Inzaghi had the closest chance in first few minutes. Inzaghi isn’t the type of player that does much; he’s the striker that will sit inside the box, and is responsible for getting goals whenever he gets the ball inside the box. Sheva isn’t that type; he has the ability to create plays, take on players, and take shots from outside the box.
Sheva is clearly under-performing. I don’t know if he still has it.
Posted from
United States -
Inzaghi – Sheva – Pato in front was not a good idea. I don’t see why he couldn’t have started with Seedorf – Inzaghi – Sheva or Seedorf – Pato – Sheva. Seedorf being the one responsible for creativity and creating that vital pass that will lead to a goal.
Well, anyway, game is over, we got 3 points. I just hope Carlo learns something from this match.
Posted from
United States -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rewvOu7ztBM&NR=1
You guys have to see this!!! ‘Dinho was on a show in Italy called Paperissima and this is a clip of it…it’s hilarious (well if you understand italian…but still you have to see it…I can give you a translation if you want let me know)
Posted from
United States
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