November 21, 2011
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Medieval II Total War -[#3] Batalla España vs Milan (IA, Very Hard Mode, 15000G Army) (HD)
November 20, 2011
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Video Goal Charity Match: Indonesia Allstars Legend VS AC MIlan Glorie (1-5)
November 7, 2011
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Van Der Sar looking for final glory | Barcelona v Man United - Champions League Final 28/05/11
November 4, 2011
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Kristina Ti Hair & Makeup Backstage - Milan Fashion Week Spring 2012 MFW | FashionTV - FTV
October 26, 2011
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Inter vs. Chelsea - Reaching For The Glory [Full Version] HD - MilanoSnake
October 25, 2011
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UT Road To Glory EP2 Building an Eredivisie Squad & 2 Online Games' Highlights in HD
October 8, 2011
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UT Road To Glory EP3 Eredivisie Building a Bronze Squad & 3 Online Games' Highlights in HD
October 6, 2011
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UT Road To Glory EP1 Start & 2 Online Games' Highlights in HD ~ Vote for squad to build
October 5, 2011
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AC Milan Glories vs Indonesian All Star Legends - Gelora Bung Karno - September 4, 2011
October 1, 2011
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Milan Badelj - The Rising Star Born to Win!!! Waiting for the European Glory!
September 23, 2011
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:..[ War on the Dancefloor -- Milan (See you later) vs. Glory (See you later) [1/2 Final] ]..:
September 7, 2011
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Milanisti Indonesia Chanting - AC Milan Glories @ Soekarno-Hatta Airport Indonesia 3 Sept 2011
September 6, 2011
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Milanisti Indonesia - AC Milan Glories @ Soekarno-Hatta Airport Indonesia 3 Sept 2011
September 5, 2011
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AC Milan vs. Lazio: Results, Scores, Updates and More
AC Milan and Lazio are looking for a strong start to their Serie A campaigns. These two clubs will begin their campaigns against each other as the two do battle on the pitch September 10th at 2:45 p.m. ET.
These two clubs have met three times since 2010, and all three ended in a draw.
Lazio will be trying to cope with the loss of midfielder Mauro Zarate. There is some dispute as to why Zarate was loaned out. According to Goal.com , Zarate had his mind set on moving to a bigger club, and
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Deadline Day – Live Transfer Updates
Liverpool, Chelsea, Man United, Arsenal, Juventus, AC Milan . Catch all the deadline day drama, right here!
We are Experiencing some technical glitches due to which the website might not respond for a few minutes, at times during the day. Our readers are therefore requested to open this console , for an uninterrupted experience.
References^ Our readers are therefore requested to open this console (www.coveritlive.com)
Milan
August 31, 2011
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AC Milan Transfer Rumors: Kaka's Homecoming a Dream, Not a Reality
Rumors abound as the summer transfer window finally draws to a close.
AC Milan CEO and transfer window wizard Adrian Galliani has been quick to put speculation to rest as he had this to say to La Gazzetta dell Sport:
"Milan's transfer market has closed. I have already said this many times recently. I want to reiterate what I said before, all the names being linked with us by reports are without foundation. Our squad is complete."
Sound familiar? It seems most wise to take anything
August 30, 2011
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Transfer Deadline Day: What To Expect From Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus And Other Top European Clubs
What can we expect from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter, Juventus, AC Milan, and Bayern Munich on Transfer Deadline Day? TheHardTackle presents a special prequel to the craziest day of the summer – August 31, 011. Brace yourselves for 24 hours of pure madness!
Note: This article is a combined work of many resident writers, so a difference in opinion is likely as you move from one sub-section to another.
ARSENAL
The last 24 hours for Arsenal,
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THT Transfer Watch: News And Verdicts – August 29, 2011
Ibisevic Deal Falls Through
Blackburn boss Steve Kean is facing a crisis after his bosses scrapped a £6m swoop for Vedad Ibisevic . Bosnian Ibisevic could not come to England for a medical as he failed to get a visa, and Rovers pulled back despite plans to fly to Germany to test his thigh strain at his current club.
THT Verdict: Ibisevic is a quality player and has been one of the main driving forces behind Hoffenheim’s consistent performance in Bundesliga. Rovers desperately need to
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THT Transfer Watch: News And Verdicts – August 28, 2011
Scot Parker move to Tottenham in doubt, as Stoke and QPR also show interest
THT Verdict: Parker is likely to be at a Premier League in three days’ time. He would be a great buy for QPR and we reckon QPR are favourites to sign him. Parker shined in a dull West Ham outfit and at QPR, he will become a main character; his grit will allow Taraabt the license to be creative.
Stoke are close to pulling off a spectacular £20m double deal for Tottenham pair Wilson Palacios and Peter
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THT Transfer Watch: News And Verdicts – August 27, 2011
Pandev moves to Napoli on loan
THT Verdict: Good move for all parties involved. Pandev hasn’t had the best time at Inter and a fresh start at Napoli could work out well for him. For the Azzurri though, he will act as a very good back up to the likes of Lavezzi, Cavani and Hamsik and provide depth and experience in what is going to be a long season for them.
Chelsea are ready to part company with central defender Alex in a bid to secure the signing of Milos Krasic from Juventus.
THT
August 26, 2011
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david beckham 4
Some random images of AC Milan:
david beckham 4
Image by erickespinosa
an exhibition game featuring ac milan and al saad was held at al saad stadium to bid farewell to a wonderful professional career of jafal rashed. ac milan won 2-1
david beckham 3
Image by erickespinosa
an exhibition game featuring ac milan and al saad was held at al saad stadium to bid farewell to a wonderful professional career of jafal rashed. ac milan won 2-1
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THT Transfer Watch: News And Verdicts – August 26, 2011
Gunners Have Entered The Race To Sign France’s Latest 16-year Old Sensation M’Baye Niang
THT Verdict: M’Bia Yes. M’baye No. Since the deal with Rosicky is not going to happen, this becomes a no-go anyways. With Oxlade, Miyachi (the work permit), Joel Campbell, Arsenal has already done business for their share of young-stars this season. They would rather work on Joel’s work-permit than buy a ‘talent’ for the future. A teen sensation is not exactly what is required at Arsenal
August 25, 2011
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Champions League Draw Result: Group H!
The result of Champions League Group Stage Draw put Milan on Group H, along with Barcelona, BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plze?. Not to underestimate the last two, but I just think the toughest battle will be against Barca. Considering we already faced Real Madrid in last year group stage, Milan will be no stranger to Spanish club gameplay. Still, it will be interesting to see how Gatusso tame Messi's threat.
Here's the full draw for Champions League Groups Stage:
Group A
FC
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AC Milan picked a convincing victory during big match vs Napoli. On San Siro, Tuesday, March 1st, 2011, Rossoneri crushed Napoli with 3-0 victory.
Perfect Pato Crushed Napoli
Tags: Napoli, Serie A
AC Milan picked a convincing victory during big match vs Napoli. On San Siro, Tuesday, March 1st, 2011, Rossoneri crushed Napoli with 3-0 victory.
February 21, 2011
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UEFA have handed Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso a four-match ban for his actions in the Champions League encounter against Tottenham Hotspur last week at San Siro.
4-Match Ban for Gattuso
Tags: Champions League, gattuso
February 18, 2011
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Late goal from Peter Crouch has given Tottenham one goal advantage on their Champions League match versus AC Milan. Sadly, this is happened after we just had a convincing 4-0 win against Parma on the previous week
Champions League Nightmare
Tags: Champions League |
| Tottenham Hotspur 1 - AC Milan 0 |
February 12, 2011
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Antonio Cassano opens his account
AC Milan 4 Parma 0
Pummelling Parma
Tags: Serie A
Antonio Cassano opens his accountAC Milan 4 Parma 0
A four nil score-line against Parma shouldn't be flattering. It doesn't flatter me. Lucarelli and Paci holding the defense with Gobbi and Zaccardo on the flanks; four goals is nothing out of the ordinary. What clearly stood out as extraordinary was Cassano's performance. He scored his first in Milan colors and broke his duck whole also setting up Robinho twice. Parma were downed by an ingenious long range strike from Pirlo earlier this season. They had defended deep, plugging the play. Opening those spaces didn't help their cause this time.
February 11, 2011
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Eduardo - The clown's happy day
Genoa 1 AC Milan 1
Milan ended last year as league leaders. Winter champions with the lowest total in Serie A history, it seems. Is it because the league has had a miraculous turn around in quality? No, not really. It's more down to the fact that Allegri's men don't know how to close out games. Many say defense is Milan's biggest concern. We have the healthiest goal difference in the league, so it's safe to assume that it isn't the defense which is our concern. Allegri's biggest worry should be, how do we win games when we are in a winning position. This dilemma definitely intensified after the draw to Genoa.
Other than the odd half volley, Genoa failed to threaten in the first half. They sat deep and invited Milan to attack, which by the way is always a dangerous proposition against the league leaders. Pato-Robinho-Ibrahimovic jinked around the defense mesmerizing one of Italy's most appalling defenses. The front three combined very well, especially the understanding that Robinho and Pato have developed is pleasing to the sore eyes. An inevitable error by Dainelli provide Ibrahimovic with the opportunity to notch another assist, which he did. Pato was at the right place at the right time and his mercurial form continued. Floro Flores was by far Genoa's brightest attacking threat and its rather frightening to see that he wasn't man marked. Eventually, on the stroke of half time, he picked his spot and leveled the scores.
Robinho must have thought that he finally scored before Rossi put in a goal saving challenge on the 49'. Milan pressed and pressed but simply couldn't take advantage of Eduardo's gimmicks. Genoa found themselves more on the ball in the final 20 minutes. Dainelli had a horrific game and can thank his stars for not conceding a penalty for embracing Ibrahimovic in the box on the 78'. Shockingly, we couldn't score more than a goal against a defense of Dainelli-Kaladze-Criscito-Mesto. Let's not forget the clown Eduardo who appears to have taken up Dida's mantle in the Serie A. Milan need to be ruthless. If not, the wait for the Scudetto could last another year, at least.
Genoa - Floro Flores 46'
Milan - Pato 29'
Fading Lead
Tags: Serie A
Eduardo - The clown's happy dayGenoa 1 AC Milan 1
Milan ended last year as league leaders. Winter champions with the lowest total in Serie A history, it seems. Is it because the league has had a miraculous turn around in quality? No, not really. It's more down to the fact that Allegri's men don't know how to close out games. Many say defense is Milan's biggest concern. We have the healthiest goal difference in the league, so it's safe to assume that it isn't the defense which is our concern. Allegri's biggest worry should be, how do we win games when we are in a winning position. This dilemma definitely intensified after the draw to Genoa.
Other than the odd half volley, Genoa failed to threaten in the first half. They sat deep and invited Milan to attack, which by the way is always a dangerous proposition against the league leaders. Pato-Robinho-Ibrahimovic jinked around the defense mesmerizing one of Italy's most appalling defenses. The front three combined very well, especially the understanding that Robinho and Pato have developed is pleasing to the sore eyes. An inevitable error by Dainelli provide Ibrahimovic with the opportunity to notch another assist, which he did. Pato was at the right place at the right time and his mercurial form continued. Floro Flores was by far Genoa's brightest attacking threat and its rather frightening to see that he wasn't man marked. Eventually, on the stroke of half time, he picked his spot and leveled the scores.
Robinho must have thought that he finally scored before Rossi put in a goal saving challenge on the 49'. Milan pressed and pressed but simply couldn't take advantage of Eduardo's gimmicks. Genoa found themselves more on the ball in the final 20 minutes. Dainelli had a horrific game and can thank his stars for not conceding a penalty for embracing Ibrahimovic in the box on the 78'. Shockingly, we couldn't score more than a goal against a defense of Dainelli-Kaladze-Criscito-Mesto. Let's not forget the clown Eduardo who appears to have taken up Dida's mantle in the Serie A. Milan need to be ruthless. If not, the wait for the Scudetto could last another year, at least.
Genoa - Floro Flores 46'
Milan - Pato 29'
February 9, 2011
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Ronaldinho - The fat man moves on
He had to go. Flamengo, Gremio or the MLS. He chose Flamengo. The choice was fairly simple, I think. The deal appeared to be very lucrative for a player well past his prime and it only made sense for him to grab it with both hands. Fortunately, we made some money in the bargain. Who would've thought that Galliani could squeeze a few dollars out of a club by selling them Ronaldinho. Well, that explains why Uncle Fester is the mercato specialist.
With Ronaldinho gone, we could concentrate on building the team to be genuine contenders in Europe and in Italy. And so began the busiest January in years. We brought in 5 players this winter, that's almost half a team! I have already addressed the arrival of Cassano, so let's move onto the other 4.
Van Bommel. The hard dog, a player who specializes in breaking bones and keeping medics on their feet. Fortunately, he does that to players on the opposition and not to himself unlike Pato. I've never been his biggest fan but he brings a lot of steel to a flimsy and fragile midfield. Milan needn't worry if Gattuso picks up a knock or is unavailable. We possibly have the only other 'Rinho' like player in Europe to replace him. The deal is sweet too, he signs for 6 months. This goes to show that he is nothing more than a contingency signing. We need to keep in mind that he is a red card waiting to happen. Referees will never condone his rash style and six months is too little time to develop a rapport with refs like Gattuso has to avoid hitting the showers earlier than the 90th minute. Also the fact that he won't be available in Europe makes his signing purely a move for the Scudetto.
Urby Emanuelson. A left winger by trade, he supposedly can play anywhere down the left. We picked him up for a miserly €1.7 million. He is technically gifted and has been amongst the highly rated properties in Europe for quite sometime now. All of 24, he is a signing for the future expected to make very little impact this season. My biggest concern is the fact he is a left winger and is employed as a left central midfielder. He brings width to this side and the much needed left foot, but will he be able to play narrow when required? Having donned the Ajax colors this season, he too is ineligible for Europe.
Didac Vila. Arguably, for the first time, I don't have much of an idea about a player Milan signed. Hailed as the heir apparent to Capdevilla for the Spain National side and already having represented Spain at the U-21 level, this boy has a future in international football. He has been a regular for Espanyol, which isn't a joke to begin with. Espanyol have received �€4 million in return for the youngster which isn't too much for a highly rated left back, a position in which quality is declining at an alarming rate. A safe bet but Tassoti firmly believes that the kid is largely an unfinished product. Don't expect to see much of him this season.
Nicola Legrottaglie. He is nothing more than an able replacement for Nesta. We have been thin at the back and any player would be a step up over Daniele Bonera. Milan have a history of settling for experience over youth at the back and that tradition continues. Legrottaglie has played at the highest level for years now and brings all that experience even if its for 6 months. Bought for chum change, this signing might be a thrifty purchase. Again, there are doubts over his availability for the Champions League. However, he might not figure much in the first team even in Nesta's absence. Yepes has deputized for the legend superbly this season being a rock in the heart of defense.
All 5 players purchased over the winter aren't available for the knockout rounds of the Champions League. This reflects a clear directive coming from the very top of the Via Turati. The priority is the Scudetto. Berlusconi hasn't necessarily splashed the cash and he doesn't need to with Galliani faithfully occupying the seat beside him. With Inter's resurgence and Napoli unwilling to give up, we are in for the tightest Scudetto race in years.
Fat Bird
Tags: Reflections
Ronaldinho - The fat man moves onHe had to go. Flamengo, Gremio or the MLS. He chose Flamengo. The choice was fairly simple, I think. The deal appeared to be very lucrative for a player well past his prime and it only made sense for him to grab it with both hands. Fortunately, we made some money in the bargain. Who would've thought that Galliani could squeeze a few dollars out of a club by selling them Ronaldinho. Well, that explains why Uncle Fester is the mercato specialist.
With Ronaldinho gone, we could concentrate on building the team to be genuine contenders in Europe and in Italy. And so began the busiest January in years. We brought in 5 players this winter, that's almost half a team! I have already addressed the arrival of Cassano, so let's move onto the other 4.
Van Bommel. The hard dog, a player who specializes in breaking bones and keeping medics on their feet. Fortunately, he does that to players on the opposition and not to himself unlike Pato. I've never been his biggest fan but he brings a lot of steel to a flimsy and fragile midfield. Milan needn't worry if Gattuso picks up a knock or is unavailable. We possibly have the only other 'Rinho' like player in Europe to replace him. The deal is sweet too, he signs for 6 months. This goes to show that he is nothing more than a contingency signing. We need to keep in mind that he is a red card waiting to happen. Referees will never condone his rash style and six months is too little time to develop a rapport with refs like Gattuso has to avoid hitting the showers earlier than the 90th minute. Also the fact that he won't be available in Europe makes his signing purely a move for the Scudetto.
Urby Emanuelson. A left winger by trade, he supposedly can play anywhere down the left. We picked him up for a miserly €1.7 million. He is technically gifted and has been amongst the highly rated properties in Europe for quite sometime now. All of 24, he is a signing for the future expected to make very little impact this season. My biggest concern is the fact he is a left winger and is employed as a left central midfielder. He brings width to this side and the much needed left foot, but will he be able to play narrow when required? Having donned the Ajax colors this season, he too is ineligible for Europe.
Didac Vila. Arguably, for the first time, I don't have much of an idea about a player Milan signed. Hailed as the heir apparent to Capdevilla for the Spain National side and already having represented Spain at the U-21 level, this boy has a future in international football. He has been a regular for Espanyol, which isn't a joke to begin with. Espanyol have received �€4 million in return for the youngster which isn't too much for a highly rated left back, a position in which quality is declining at an alarming rate. A safe bet but Tassoti firmly believes that the kid is largely an unfinished product. Don't expect to see much of him this season.
Nicola Legrottaglie. He is nothing more than an able replacement for Nesta. We have been thin at the back and any player would be a step up over Daniele Bonera. Milan have a history of settling for experience over youth at the back and that tradition continues. Legrottaglie has played at the highest level for years now and brings all that experience even if its for 6 months. Bought for chum change, this signing might be a thrifty purchase. Again, there are doubts over his availability for the Champions League. However, he might not figure much in the first team even in Nesta's absence. Yepes has deputized for the legend superbly this season being a rock in the heart of defense.
All 5 players purchased over the winter aren't available for the knockout rounds of the Champions League. This reflects a clear directive coming from the very top of the Via Turati. The priority is the Scudetto. Berlusconi hasn't necessarily splashed the cash and he doesn't need to with Galliani faithfully occupying the seat beside him. With Inter's resurgence and Napoli unwilling to give up, we are in for the tightest Scudetto race in years.
February 7, 2011
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Libor Kozak - Burly brute
Milan 0 Lazio 0
A team that has stayed second in the Serie A for most of the season wouldn't be though of as a provincial side with a small club mentality. But Lazio have forced viewers and fans alike to develop this thinking. Reja's men displayed astounding cowardice at the San Siro and 'escaped' with a point against Milan. They defended with grit and attacked halfheartedly inviting several boos from critics and journalists. My respect for the Roman club has dropped remarkably since.
Silva started in midfield, again. This would be a true test for him, Lazio being the toughest team Milan have played since Silva was re-invented. Allegri fielded a very young midfield comprising of Flamini-Silva-Emanuelson. Oddo and Bonera guarded our flanks and even though Lazio are good on the wings, they directed their play down the left, tormenting Bonera. Ibrahimovic drifted left time and again to drag the defense and create the much required space for the others to get involved in the game. In the first half, Milan's attacking play was simply scintillating. Lazio however were resorting to set pieces for potency.
Bonera was sent to the doc by Kozak resulting in Legrottaglie's unexpected debut. Ibrahimovic was getting closer and closer with his shots and by this time, Milan were relying on counter attacks to catch Lazio. Lazio put 10 players behind the ball and restricted space and movement to Milan. Cassano replaced a disappointing Pato on the 63', Allegri opting for some creativity. Robinho's shot was cleared off the line seven minutes later causing tremendous frustration in the Milan camp. Milan's pace was at times getting the better of Lazio's players. This is a new phenomenon but hardly surprising considering the players Allegri had fielded. Kozak continued his ruffian like approach as he consistently ruffled the centre backs of Milan with his physicality. Reja's orders were simply; batter the old boys at the back and sneak in the goal. Kozak was rather fortunate not to have Gattuso/Van Bommel on the pitch at the same time. He would have needed buckets of blood at the end of this game if either of those players played the game. Allegri had no choice but to field a brute called Sokratis for Legrottaglie when the veteran had his face bashed by Lozak's knee. Legrottaglie left the pitch bleeding like a soldier from Afghanistan. Cassano's influence simply didn't come to the fore, he flickered and faded quite quickly. Now the holes are appearing in this Milan side which teams are beginning to detect.
Milan -
Lazio -
Lousy Lazio
Tags: Serie A
Libor Kozak - Burly bruteMilan 0 Lazio 0
A team that has stayed second in the Serie A for most of the season wouldn't be though of as a provincial side with a small club mentality. But Lazio have forced viewers and fans alike to develop this thinking. Reja's men displayed astounding cowardice at the San Siro and 'escaped' with a point against Milan. They defended with grit and attacked halfheartedly inviting several boos from critics and journalists. My respect for the Roman club has dropped remarkably since.
Silva started in midfield, again. This would be a true test for him, Lazio being the toughest team Milan have played since Silva was re-invented. Allegri fielded a very young midfield comprising of Flamini-Silva-Emanuelson. Oddo and Bonera guarded our flanks and even though Lazio are good on the wings, they directed their play down the left, tormenting Bonera. Ibrahimovic drifted left time and again to drag the defense and create the much required space for the others to get involved in the game. In the first half, Milan's attacking play was simply scintillating. Lazio however were resorting to set pieces for potency.
Bonera was sent to the doc by Kozak resulting in Legrottaglie's unexpected debut. Ibrahimovic was getting closer and closer with his shots and by this time, Milan were relying on counter attacks to catch Lazio. Lazio put 10 players behind the ball and restricted space and movement to Milan. Cassano replaced a disappointing Pato on the 63', Allegri opting for some creativity. Robinho's shot was cleared off the line seven minutes later causing tremendous frustration in the Milan camp. Milan's pace was at times getting the better of Lazio's players. This is a new phenomenon but hardly surprising considering the players Allegri had fielded. Kozak continued his ruffian like approach as he consistently ruffled the centre backs of Milan with his physicality. Reja's orders were simply; batter the old boys at the back and sneak in the goal. Kozak was rather fortunate not to have Gattuso/Van Bommel on the pitch at the same time. He would have needed buckets of blood at the end of this game if either of those players played the game. Allegri had no choice but to field a brute called Sokratis for Legrottaglie when the veteran had his face bashed by Lozak's knee. Legrottaglie left the pitch bleeding like a soldier from Afghanistan. Cassano's influence simply didn't come to the fore, he flickered and faded quite quickly. Now the holes are appearing in this Milan side which teams are beginning to detect.
Milan -
Lazio -
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Van Bommel - Seeing red
Catania 0 Milan 2
There were calls of disagreement when Van Bommel signed for Milan. Several people likened this signing to that of Emerson's. Both deemed unnecessary and the wrong type of player that Milan needed at the point of time. Milan need a technical, attack minded midfielder. They signed a goon. That was coming to bite them in their backsides against Catania.
Allegri continues to demonstrate tremendous trust in Merkel by starting him as often as he does. Under Allegri, Milan have developed a counter attacking style which has added to their already established and more distinctive possession play. Cassano, after being tried out at as a trequartista has been assigned the second striker role at the club. He has swapped places with Robinho; the Brazilian definitely being the more hardworking of the two. Catania are always a tough nut to crack at home. They were proving to be just that. Their front three combined fantastically, leaving our back four baffled. Bonera's at left back has been nothing short of a poor decision, but the Italian refuses to change his stance on the team's selection. Milan got into a few scoring chances but were consistently scuffing them through the game. Catania's movement was top notch, but they rarely troubled the keeper.
Merkel was rather rash in this game. His finesse had taken a hike. After having picked up a card in the first half, Allegri resorted the bench treatment for the youngster by bringing on new recruit Emanuelson. Bommel received his marching orders on the 54' and hardly 4 minutes later, Ibrahimovic's free kick was blocked by the keeper whilst falling kindly to the onrushing Robinho. 1-0. This doesn't rebuke the fact that we are sorely missing a dead ball specialist. With Ronaldinho and Beckham gone and Pirlo shooting into the stars, we are most certainly in need of someone who can be a threat from set pieces. Allegri's substitutions at times can defy logic, one such was that of Cassano coming off for Oddo! Ibrahimovic's form has dived in recent weeks, stats however won't give you that picture. He gets his goal/assist in every game but is a ghost for the rest of it. Catania were hit on the break by Robinho as he slid in a ball for Ibrahimovic to finish the game with the second. A win was notched but the performance in the second half was dismal. However, Allegri can be proud of leaving Sicily with the 3 points.
Catania -
Milan - Robinho 58', Ibrahimovic 85'.
Bommel At His Best
Tags: Serie A
Van Bommel - Seeing redCatania 0 Milan 2
There were calls of disagreement when Van Bommel signed for Milan. Several people likened this signing to that of Emerson's. Both deemed unnecessary and the wrong type of player that Milan needed at the point of time. Milan need a technical, attack minded midfielder. They signed a goon. That was coming to bite them in their backsides against Catania.
Allegri continues to demonstrate tremendous trust in Merkel by starting him as often as he does. Under Allegri, Milan have developed a counter attacking style which has added to their already established and more distinctive possession play. Cassano, after being tried out at as a trequartista has been assigned the second striker role at the club. He has swapped places with Robinho; the Brazilian definitely being the more hardworking of the two. Catania are always a tough nut to crack at home. They were proving to be just that. Their front three combined fantastically, leaving our back four baffled. Bonera's at left back has been nothing short of a poor decision, but the Italian refuses to change his stance on the team's selection. Milan got into a few scoring chances but were consistently scuffing them through the game. Catania's movement was top notch, but they rarely troubled the keeper.
Merkel was rather rash in this game. His finesse had taken a hike. After having picked up a card in the first half, Allegri resorted the bench treatment for the youngster by bringing on new recruit Emanuelson. Bommel received his marching orders on the 54' and hardly 4 minutes later, Ibrahimovic's free kick was blocked by the keeper whilst falling kindly to the onrushing Robinho. 1-0. This doesn't rebuke the fact that we are sorely missing a dead ball specialist. With Ronaldinho and Beckham gone and Pirlo shooting into the stars, we are most certainly in need of someone who can be a threat from set pieces. Allegri's substitutions at times can defy logic, one such was that of Cassano coming off for Oddo! Ibrahimovic's form has dived in recent weeks, stats however won't give you that picture. He gets his goal/assist in every game but is a ghost for the rest of it. Catania were hit on the break by Robinho as he slid in a ball for Ibrahimovic to finish the game with the second. A win was notched but the performance in the second half was dismal. However, Allegri can be proud of leaving Sicily with the 3 points.
Catania -
Milan - Robinho 58', Ibrahimovic 85'.
January 31, 2011
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Andrea Poli - moving on.
Sampdoria 1 AC Milan 2
A team that finished fourth last season would be expected to be one of the strongest teams in Italy. Garrone has made sure that Sampdoria aren't held in such repute. His petty disagreements with Cassano caused the talented talisman to depart from Genoa and move to Milan. Sampdoria received a sucker-blow and an overrated Macheda in return. Cassano was returning to the Ferraris for the first time since his move. Allegri thought best to start him from the bench.
Pato has been consistent in one aspect of his game this season; scoring. He doesn't work hard, he doesn't track back, but he scores. He put the sword to the defense in a span of five minutes in the first half. Di Carlo's men were instantly on the back foot. Beating Milan was a monumental task and now they faced the impossible feat of beating Milan by 3 goals. Possession clearly was in Milan's favor which reduced Sampdoria's probability of banging in the 3 required goals. Also, without possession, they risked conceding too. Milan's latest midfield signings Emanuelson and Van Bommel were started in midfield. Surprisingly, there wasn't much confusion or havoc between them and Silva. For a midfield that contained 2 new players, the combination was unpredictably pleasant.
Sampdoria pressed but were not decisive nor did they permeate enough to trouble Flavio Roma. Other than the unusual bullet shots from distance, Roma enjoyed a rather comfortable evening. Papastathapolous got turned in by Maccarone before the forward floated in the cross on the 50' for Guberti to pop a free header into the back of the net. Game on. Cassano entered the fray on the 78' and the drama in the game sprung back to life. Poli and Palombo shined in the Dorian midfield. Poli has managed to impress his fans, even those in managerial positions. I suppose this suggests that the club will lose another gem and sign a glossy freak as a replacement, again. Silva is thriving in the defensive midfield position putting together a string of fantastic performances. Sadly, our need for him is greater in defense. The two signings in midfield showed that they can play for Milan. We progress to meet Palermo in the semi-finals.
Sampdoria - Guberti 50'
Milan - Pato 17', 22'
Sampdoria's Fall
Tags: Coppa Italia
Andrea Poli - moving on.Sampdoria 1 AC Milan 2
A team that finished fourth last season would be expected to be one of the strongest teams in Italy. Garrone has made sure that Sampdoria aren't held in such repute. His petty disagreements with Cassano caused the talented talisman to depart from Genoa and move to Milan. Sampdoria received a sucker-blow and an overrated Macheda in return. Cassano was returning to the Ferraris for the first time since his move. Allegri thought best to start him from the bench.
Pato has been consistent in one aspect of his game this season; scoring. He doesn't work hard, he doesn't track back, but he scores. He put the sword to the defense in a span of five minutes in the first half. Di Carlo's men were instantly on the back foot. Beating Milan was a monumental task and now they faced the impossible feat of beating Milan by 3 goals. Possession clearly was in Milan's favor which reduced Sampdoria's probability of banging in the 3 required goals. Also, without possession, they risked conceding too. Milan's latest midfield signings Emanuelson and Van Bommel were started in midfield. Surprisingly, there wasn't much confusion or havoc between them and Silva. For a midfield that contained 2 new players, the combination was unpredictably pleasant.
Sampdoria pressed but were not decisive nor did they permeate enough to trouble Flavio Roma. Other than the unusual bullet shots from distance, Roma enjoyed a rather comfortable evening. Papastathapolous got turned in by Maccarone before the forward floated in the cross on the 50' for Guberti to pop a free header into the back of the net. Game on. Cassano entered the fray on the 78' and the drama in the game sprung back to life. Poli and Palombo shined in the Dorian midfield. Poli has managed to impress his fans, even those in managerial positions. I suppose this suggests that the club will lose another gem and sign a glossy freak as a replacement, again. Silva is thriving in the defensive midfield position putting together a string of fantastic performances. Sadly, our need for him is greater in defense. The two signings in midfield showed that they can play for Milan. We progress to meet Palermo in the semi-finals.
Sampdoria - Guberti 50'
Milan - Pato 17', 22'
January 29, 2011
0
comments
Thiago Silva - reinvented
A.C.Milan 2 Cesena 0
The days haven't been forgotten. Cesena started the season with tremendous promise, their first big scalp being AC Milan. Ibrahimovic's debut became a nightmare. For the first time, he didn't score in his first game at a new club. Milan went onto be outclassed by the newly-promoted side and eventually lose 2-0. Alarm bells did ring because just a few days before the game, Allegri had used Leonardo's side to hammer Lecce 4-0 at home. With his glossy acquisitions, Allegri was expected to break records. He ended up breaking the wrong ones.
The defeat to Cesena would have come as a wake up call; no games can be taken for granted. I am not in doubt that the defeat shaped the club's mentality for weeks to come. This time round, at home, the players were fired up to send Cesena back into the hole. It was achieved, but perhaps not with the intensity that was initially hoped for.
For the first 15 minutes, both clubs were merely kicking the ball around. There wasn't a hint of intent in their game. I remember closing my eyes in partial slumber but waking up to the occasional roars from the San Siro faithful. On the 18' minute, Antonini demonstrated ample reason for being a nincompoop with a laughable clearance. Fortunately, Abbiati's heroics saved the day once again. Cesena got the belief that they can take Milan down again and began to attack relentlessly. Cassano and Robinho stepped up and joined the party. Silva was re-invented in the Desaily-role, shielding the back four after injuries to Gattuso and Flamini. Papastathapolous replaced Nesta after the veteran experienced a shoulder injury. Merkel played in midfield and his movement reminded me of Lampard. Yes, the 18 year old doesn't track back like the superstar does, but his attacking forays are almost identical. He gets into scoring positions and always hugs the shadows of the striker to pounce on the loose ball. With a little more composure in the final third and less naivety under pressure, he could blossom into a fantastic footballer. Milan finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime as Cassano set up Ibrahimovic but the pass was unfortunately directed into the back of the net by Pellegrino.
Cesena had two of their front three missing for this game, therefore their task of scoring was that much harder. Milan began to relax in the second half until Bogdani almost leveled the scored before Papastathapolous cleared the ball off the line on the 76'. Robinho continued to annoyingly scuff chances and Allegri introduced Pato on the 84' to wrap up the game. Cassano made way for the oncoming Brazilian. Ibrahimovic put the game to bed in injury time with a beautiful finish to seal the points. The players who shone in this game were few but they did show quality nonetheless. Yepes has proven himself over the course of the season that he is a reliable back up to Nesta. He will do the job, if not spectacularly. Ambrosini has been moved out of the Anchor Man role to a box-box position and his enthusiasm dictates that he can still cover ground. He isn't as reckless and appears to be happier in his preferred position.
Milan - Pellegrino 45' o.g, Ibrahimovic 90'
Cesena - /
Returning The Favor
Tags: Serie A
Thiago Silva - reinventedA.C.Milan 2 Cesena 0
The days haven't been forgotten. Cesena started the season with tremendous promise, their first big scalp being AC Milan. Ibrahimovic's debut became a nightmare. For the first time, he didn't score in his first game at a new club. Milan went onto be outclassed by the newly-promoted side and eventually lose 2-0. Alarm bells did ring because just a few days before the game, Allegri had used Leonardo's side to hammer Lecce 4-0 at home. With his glossy acquisitions, Allegri was expected to break records. He ended up breaking the wrong ones.
The defeat to Cesena would have come as a wake up call; no games can be taken for granted. I am not in doubt that the defeat shaped the club's mentality for weeks to come. This time round, at home, the players were fired up to send Cesena back into the hole. It was achieved, but perhaps not with the intensity that was initially hoped for.
For the first 15 minutes, both clubs were merely kicking the ball around. There wasn't a hint of intent in their game. I remember closing my eyes in partial slumber but waking up to the occasional roars from the San Siro faithful. On the 18' minute, Antonini demonstrated ample reason for being a nincompoop with a laughable clearance. Fortunately, Abbiati's heroics saved the day once again. Cesena got the belief that they can take Milan down again and began to attack relentlessly. Cassano and Robinho stepped up and joined the party. Silva was re-invented in the Desaily-role, shielding the back four after injuries to Gattuso and Flamini. Papastathapolous replaced Nesta after the veteran experienced a shoulder injury. Merkel played in midfield and his movement reminded me of Lampard. Yes, the 18 year old doesn't track back like the superstar does, but his attacking forays are almost identical. He gets into scoring positions and always hugs the shadows of the striker to pounce on the loose ball. With a little more composure in the final third and less naivety under pressure, he could blossom into a fantastic footballer. Milan finally broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime as Cassano set up Ibrahimovic but the pass was unfortunately directed into the back of the net by Pellegrino.
Cesena had two of their front three missing for this game, therefore their task of scoring was that much harder. Milan began to relax in the second half until Bogdani almost leveled the scored before Papastathapolous cleared the ball off the line on the 76'. Robinho continued to annoyingly scuff chances and Allegri introduced Pato on the 84' to wrap up the game. Cassano made way for the oncoming Brazilian. Ibrahimovic put the game to bed in injury time with a beautiful finish to seal the points. The players who shone in this game were few but they did show quality nonetheless. Yepes has proven himself over the course of the season that he is a reliable back up to Nesta. He will do the job, if not spectacularly. Ambrosini has been moved out of the Anchor Man role to a box-box position and his enthusiasm dictates that he can still cover ground. He isn't as reckless and appears to be happier in his preferred position.
Milan - Pellegrino 45' o.g, Ibrahimovic 90'
Cesena - /
January 27, 2011
0
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Aleksader Merkel
A.C.Milan 3 A.S.Bari 0
Scoring goals against Bari has become routine behaviour for most clubs in Italy. Last season, two young boys marshaled the i Galleti defense with remarkable maturity. These boys have moved on and now represent two titans of Italian football. Their departure has had a telling impact on A.S. Bari though. In such short time, this heroic story has become a tale of legends. Bari topple like a pack of cards when exposed to any pressure, one would have to think what benefit did the club have in selling their crown jewels.
Allegri identified the threat that Bari posed and reacted respectably by fielding the most hilarious defense seen in Milan colors in recent times. Roma started in goal, with the back-line comprising of Antonini, Yepes, Nesta and Oddo. Merkel also found himself on the team sheet in his favored position, i.e. in the heart of midfield. As the game progressed, the forwards smacked their lips in delight. Their combination mesmerised everyone including the Bari defense. Cassano's game reflects his sheer joy of being able to play, even if he is played out of his position. Merkel adds a whiff of charisma in midfield which is seldom missing in Allegri's workman like set up. This change is largely refreshing. Merkel also brings about a great deal of fluidity into the middle of the park. Gattuso was in a hurry to see color and picked up a yellow on the 11'. Ibrahimovic opened the scoring on the 20' after a Bari player's loose pass was picked up by Robinho and sent through to the big Swede. Milan took short corners in the first half, a tactic that didn't make a lot of sense to me. Perhaps, the fear of a counter-attack could have bothered Max. Oddo's chances in the first team have been few and far in between this season, but when given a chance, he has pleasantly surprised. He continued to shine in this game too with his endearing work ethic and attacking runs. Merkel scored the second for Milan with a close range finish, his first for the senior team. Performances like these should displace Seedorf of the starting 11 rather comfortably.
Allegri baffled the audience with his half time switch. He brought on Abate for Gattuso. Interesting change one might think, perhaps an experiment of width in the narrow midfield area? Not much later did the team start playing very wide. One must wonder whatever is wrong with Robinho's shooting. He had blown two glorious chances already and was in line for some more eye-popping misses. Merkel wrapped up a fine night with an assist to Robinho on the 65'. Pirlo was thrown into the game with 20 minutes to go and Cassano made way. With the game in the bag, Milan's forwards tried playing fancy football which undoubtedly taunted Ventura's men. Pato replaced Merkel on the 72'. On the 79', Nesta was biting dust as he was shown a fresh pair of heels by a pacy forward. If not for rueful finishing, Nesta's status in the first team would have become a lot closer to the bench. In the final minutes, Milan played at a pedestrian pace, killing the clock and burying Bari in a pile of disgust and failure.
Milan - Ibrahimovic 20', Merkel 46', Robinho 65'
Bari - /
Burying Bari
Tags: Coppa Italia
Aleksader MerkelA.C.Milan 3 A.S.Bari 0
Scoring goals against Bari has become routine behaviour for most clubs in Italy. Last season, two young boys marshaled the i Galleti defense with remarkable maturity. These boys have moved on and now represent two titans of Italian football. Their departure has had a telling impact on A.S. Bari though. In such short time, this heroic story has become a tale of legends. Bari topple like a pack of cards when exposed to any pressure, one would have to think what benefit did the club have in selling their crown jewels.
Allegri identified the threat that Bari posed and reacted respectably by fielding the most hilarious defense seen in Milan colors in recent times. Roma started in goal, with the back-line comprising of Antonini, Yepes, Nesta and Oddo. Merkel also found himself on the team sheet in his favored position, i.e. in the heart of midfield. As the game progressed, the forwards smacked their lips in delight. Their combination mesmerised everyone including the Bari defense. Cassano's game reflects his sheer joy of being able to play, even if he is played out of his position. Merkel adds a whiff of charisma in midfield which is seldom missing in Allegri's workman like set up. This change is largely refreshing. Merkel also brings about a great deal of fluidity into the middle of the park. Gattuso was in a hurry to see color and picked up a yellow on the 11'. Ibrahimovic opened the scoring on the 20' after a Bari player's loose pass was picked up by Robinho and sent through to the big Swede. Milan took short corners in the first half, a tactic that didn't make a lot of sense to me. Perhaps, the fear of a counter-attack could have bothered Max. Oddo's chances in the first team have been few and far in between this season, but when given a chance, he has pleasantly surprised. He continued to shine in this game too with his endearing work ethic and attacking runs. Merkel scored the second for Milan with a close range finish, his first for the senior team. Performances like these should displace Seedorf of the starting 11 rather comfortably.
Allegri baffled the audience with his half time switch. He brought on Abate for Gattuso. Interesting change one might think, perhaps an experiment of width in the narrow midfield area? Not much later did the team start playing very wide. One must wonder whatever is wrong with Robinho's shooting. He had blown two glorious chances already and was in line for some more eye-popping misses. Merkel wrapped up a fine night with an assist to Robinho on the 65'. Pirlo was thrown into the game with 20 minutes to go and Cassano made way. With the game in the bag, Milan's forwards tried playing fancy football which undoubtedly taunted Ventura's men. Pato replaced Merkel on the 72'. On the 79', Nesta was biting dust as he was shown a fresh pair of heels by a pacy forward. If not for rueful finishing, Nesta's status in the first team would have become a lot closer to the bench. In the final minutes, Milan played at a pedestrian pace, killing the clock and burying Bari in a pile of disgust and failure.
Milan - Ibrahimovic 20', Merkel 46', Robinho 65'
Bari - /
January 24, 2011
0
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Massimo Ambrosini
Lecce 1 Milan 1
When we think about Lecce, do we conjure the image of a side that are gritty and a toughie? Do they appear a team that can't be beaten at home by an European giant? I suppose not. However, that is precisely the image that Lecce have given the Rossoneri. 5 years and counting; we still struggle to overpower the Salentini.
Flamini was handed a start with Seedorf being pushed into a trequartista role after previously flopping in a central midfield role. Allegri tried Bonera at left back, an experiment that would have interested every viewer. This selection resulted in Bonera cutting into his favored foot and not running the channels as a proper left back would. In the first half, Lecce defended deep, allowing Milan free space in the midfield. It took Bonera 23 minutes to float in his first cross. Ambrosini's rusty form continued in this game. His tackles weren't clean nor did he appear sharp in the holding role. Nesta's performances have come under much criticism lately and with this outing, his critics would have grinned with glee. The veteran was constantly caught out of position and Lecce's shoddy forwards were running riot. Milan full-backs tried to cross, but only in vain. Both full-backs failed their targets in the box and instead lost possession in promising positions. However, the team continued to play wide. The first cross connected on the 40' after 39 minutes of sending in poor balls with a shocking lack of precision. Milan's forwards only charged at goal when provided with space. However space was hard to find with Lecce defending very deep.
Often in such situations, we rely on some Ibracadabra magic. And it did arrive on the 49'. Zlatan shot from an almost impossible angle to score one of the goals of the season. Being jostled by a defender on one side and running right into another, Zlatan shot from 35-40 yards out with his weaker foot, looping the ball over the keeper. A visual spectacle. Pato enjoyed a snooze fest for 70 minutes and was rightly replaced in the 71' for Cassano. This was the first game in which Cassano would be employed as a second striker for his new club. The away side failed to score the decisive second and Lecce made them pay. Oliveira punished some sloppy defending by Nesta to draw the home side level with 8 minutes to go. Cassano's arrival on the pitch had injected more spirit in the side. A sense of urgency was found in the players. A special mention must go to Abate who with his consistent performances has emerged as a reliable right back. Cassano's partnership with Ibrahimovic threatened Lecce's defense a lot more than Pato's partnership with Ibrahimovic did. Gattuso and Flamini ran their hearts out characteristically. Ambrosini's sub-par performances have definitely questioned his inclusion in the team. Would there have been a greater impetus in midfield had an attacking midfielder been played over the captain?
Milan - Ibrahimovic 49'
Lecce - Oliveira 82'
Indomitable Minnows
Tags: Serie AMassimo AmbrosiniLecce 1 Milan 1
When we think about Lecce, do we conjure the image of a side that are gritty and a toughie? Do they appear a team that can't be beaten at home by an European giant? I suppose not. However, that is precisely the image that Lecce have given the Rossoneri. 5 years and counting; we still struggle to overpower the Salentini.
Flamini was handed a start with Seedorf being pushed into a trequartista role after previously flopping in a central midfield role. Allegri tried Bonera at left back, an experiment that would have interested every viewer. This selection resulted in Bonera cutting into his favored foot and not running the channels as a proper left back would. In the first half, Lecce defended deep, allowing Milan free space in the midfield. It took Bonera 23 minutes to float in his first cross. Ambrosini's rusty form continued in this game. His tackles weren't clean nor did he appear sharp in the holding role. Nesta's performances have come under much criticism lately and with this outing, his critics would have grinned with glee. The veteran was constantly caught out of position and Lecce's shoddy forwards were running riot. Milan full-backs tried to cross, but only in vain. Both full-backs failed their targets in the box and instead lost possession in promising positions. However, the team continued to play wide. The first cross connected on the 40' after 39 minutes of sending in poor balls with a shocking lack of precision. Milan's forwards only charged at goal when provided with space. However space was hard to find with Lecce defending very deep.
Often in such situations, we rely on some Ibracadabra magic. And it did arrive on the 49'. Zlatan shot from an almost impossible angle to score one of the goals of the season. Being jostled by a defender on one side and running right into another, Zlatan shot from 35-40 yards out with his weaker foot, looping the ball over the keeper. A visual spectacle. Pato enjoyed a snooze fest for 70 minutes and was rightly replaced in the 71' for Cassano. This was the first game in which Cassano would be employed as a second striker for his new club. The away side failed to score the decisive second and Lecce made them pay. Oliveira punished some sloppy defending by Nesta to draw the home side level with 8 minutes to go. Cassano's arrival on the pitch had injected more spirit in the side. A sense of urgency was found in the players. A special mention must go to Abate who with his consistent performances has emerged as a reliable right back. Cassano's partnership with Ibrahimovic threatened Lecce's defense a lot more than Pato's partnership with Ibrahimovic did. Gattuso and Flamini ran their hearts out characteristically. Ambrosini's sub-par performances have definitely questioned his inclusion in the team. Would there have been a greater impetus in midfield had an attacking midfielder been played over the captain?
Milan - Ibrahimovic 49'
Lecce - Oliveira 82'
January 12, 2011
0
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Daniele Bonera
After his stellar show against Real Madrid, people wondered why Amelia was relegated to the bench. This performance should put those concerns to rest. Abbiati's injury had forced Allegri to reluctantly hand the gloves to Amelia.
The second-choice keeper showed why he is second choice right from the word go. Flapping like an injured crane, he appeared shaky and nervous. His collection was poor and his distribution wasn't any better. Antonini demonstrated his attacking capabilities with his marauding runs whilst combining with the forwards. In the first period, both teams spent chunks of time in the opposition half. The defenses were proving hard to crack open, rugged and gutsy against some fine flair of attacking talent. Udinese, like any other team that travels to the San Siro, defended deep while not in possession. As the half progressed, Udinese lost the battle of possession and chose to resort to counter attacks instead. With the pace of their forwards, Alexis Sanchez and Di Natale, Udinese were aware that they could catch the vulnerable Rossoneri backline on the break. Inler gladly shot from outside the box whenever he got the chance and wasn't too far from goal. The thought of closing him down never occurred to Milan's middle men. Just as expected, in the 34', Inler's shot rebounds of the post and is turned in by Di Natale. Seedorf was late to arrive on the challenge and this was the first of his long list of mistakes that night. Ibrahimovic and Pato didn't track back, viz rather interesting because both these players in recent games have worked hard without the ball. Milan pressed for the equalizer and it finally arrived on the 46'. Zlatan drew defenders with him before setting up the Brazilian. Score was even, perhaps against the odds.
A highlight of Zlatan's play for Milan has been his renewed ability to set up assists. He would have added another to his impressive count of assists, but Handanovic denied Robinho on the 50'. Strasser having impressed against Cagliari was handed a rare start being played on the right of the midfield three. The team played wide causing him to become a winger at times. Sanchez joined the party on the 53'. He lost Bonera for a header that Amelia should have saved. This was the first of Bonera's hatrick of gaffes. Ibrahimovic being isolated in the first half, dropped deeper to get further involved in the game, in the second half. Di Natale scored his second on the 68', A classic counter, Di Natale turned Bonera like a 9 year old on roller skates before slotting past Amelia. Rudimentary error from Daniel Bonera. Needless to say that it wasn't his first and will not be his last. Cassano was brought on in the 69' for Seedorf. The departing Dutchman was wildly abused by the tifosi when he jogged back to the bench. He was involved in two of Udinese's three goals, therefore the anger was fairly justified. Handanovic denied Strasser on the 78' but a fortunate deflection of Benetia gave Milan their second and along with that a ray of hope. Milan dramatically found the equalizer on the 82'. A characteristic run from Silva resulted with the ball at Cassano's feet who in turn pushed it too Pato. The Brazilian coolly finished with a deft first touch. If we thought we had enough for the night, substitute German Denis scores Udinese's fourth. Bonera nowhere near the man yet again! And with the last kick of the game, Zlatan scored Milan's fourh on the 94'. Cassano's third assist for the club in the 37 minutes he has played for AC Milan!
Bonera undoes any good created by our mesmerising forwards. He is a remarkable liability and a major downgrade in the absence of Nesta. Always overrated, Bonera has the unique ability to convince his bosses that he deserves to play even if he lacks the basic knowledge of defending. Pair him up with Amelia and you have a devastating pair. Amelia's lethargic, defeatist attitude doesn't infuse any confidence in the team and therefore I wish Abbiati a speedy recovery. There were a few positives about this game. One in particular was the fact that all our attackers were on the pitch at the same time and they wrecked havoc!
Milan - Pao 46', 82', Benetia (O.G 78'), Ibrahimovic 94',
Udinese - Di Natale 34', 68', Sanchez 53', Denis 89'
Boneheadera
Tags: Serie A
Daniele BoneraAC Milan 4 Udinese 4
After his stellar show against Real Madrid, people wondered why Amelia was relegated to the bench. This performance should put those concerns to rest. Abbiati's injury had forced Allegri to reluctantly hand the gloves to Amelia.
The second-choice keeper showed why he is second choice right from the word go. Flapping like an injured crane, he appeared shaky and nervous. His collection was poor and his distribution wasn't any better. Antonini demonstrated his attacking capabilities with his marauding runs whilst combining with the forwards. In the first period, both teams spent chunks of time in the opposition half. The defenses were proving hard to crack open, rugged and gutsy against some fine flair of attacking talent. Udinese, like any other team that travels to the San Siro, defended deep while not in possession. As the half progressed, Udinese lost the battle of possession and chose to resort to counter attacks instead. With the pace of their forwards, Alexis Sanchez and Di Natale, Udinese were aware that they could catch the vulnerable Rossoneri backline on the break. Inler gladly shot from outside the box whenever he got the chance and wasn't too far from goal. The thought of closing him down never occurred to Milan's middle men. Just as expected, in the 34', Inler's shot rebounds of the post and is turned in by Di Natale. Seedorf was late to arrive on the challenge and this was the first of his long list of mistakes that night. Ibrahimovic and Pato didn't track back, viz rather interesting because both these players in recent games have worked hard without the ball. Milan pressed for the equalizer and it finally arrived on the 46'. Zlatan drew defenders with him before setting up the Brazilian. Score was even, perhaps against the odds.
A highlight of Zlatan's play for Milan has been his renewed ability to set up assists. He would have added another to his impressive count of assists, but Handanovic denied Robinho on the 50'. Strasser having impressed against Cagliari was handed a rare start being played on the right of the midfield three. The team played wide causing him to become a winger at times. Sanchez joined the party on the 53'. He lost Bonera for a header that Amelia should have saved. This was the first of Bonera's hatrick of gaffes. Ibrahimovic being isolated in the first half, dropped deeper to get further involved in the game, in the second half. Di Natale scored his second on the 68', A classic counter, Di Natale turned Bonera like a 9 year old on roller skates before slotting past Amelia. Rudimentary error from Daniel Bonera. Needless to say that it wasn't his first and will not be his last. Cassano was brought on in the 69' for Seedorf. The departing Dutchman was wildly abused by the tifosi when he jogged back to the bench. He was involved in two of Udinese's three goals, therefore the anger was fairly justified. Handanovic denied Strasser on the 78' but a fortunate deflection of Benetia gave Milan their second and along with that a ray of hope. Milan dramatically found the equalizer on the 82'. A characteristic run from Silva resulted with the ball at Cassano's feet who in turn pushed it too Pato. The Brazilian coolly finished with a deft first touch. If we thought we had enough for the night, substitute German Denis scores Udinese's fourth. Bonera nowhere near the man yet again! And with the last kick of the game, Zlatan scored Milan's fourh on the 94'. Cassano's third assist for the club in the 37 minutes he has played for AC Milan!
Bonera undoes any good created by our mesmerising forwards. He is a remarkable liability and a major downgrade in the absence of Nesta. Always overrated, Bonera has the unique ability to convince his bosses that he deserves to play even if he lacks the basic knowledge of defending. Pair him up with Amelia and you have a devastating pair. Amelia's lethargic, defeatist attitude doesn't infuse any confidence in the team and therefore I wish Abbiati a speedy recovery. There were a few positives about this game. One in particular was the fact that all our attackers were on the pitch at the same time and they wrecked havoc!
Milan - Pao 46', 82', Benetia (O.G 78'), Ibrahimovic 94',
Udinese - Di Natale 34', 68', Sanchez 53', Denis 89'
January 8, 2011
0
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Rodney Strasser
Cagliari 0 AC Milan 1
Bright starts don't often end brightly. It did though, midweek. Cagliari welcomed a decimated AC Milan to the St' Elia. Donadoni was facing his former side and so was Allegri. Vintage stuff. Pato and Robinho shaped up the attack with Merkel positioned behind them. Silva had the double duty of defending for Bonera for the Italian was included in the line-up. Cassano made it to the bench.
After having started brightly, Milan found it very hard to break the Sardinian defense. Canini, Astori and Pisano stood strong against our pacy forwards while our midfield were scratching their heads in bewilderment. Ibrahimovic's strength was sorely missed in this game. Robinho resembled hollow man for much of the half with the rest of the team being sluggish in attack. Milan lacked creativity or cohesion in the midfield. Cagliari's midfield was running ragged and the home side clearly dominated the first half. Seedorf was woeful as usual and in current form, shouldn't even make the bench. Ambrosini wasn't the anchor man for this game. Perhaps we should have had one. Cossu enjoyed the space in the midfield but had a bad game nonetheless. The lack of legs in Milan didn't help the likes of Lazzari too, who appeared to be trying to hard to impress. Donadoni's full backs were thriving and constantly got the better of their counterparts. Crosses were floating in but Matri and Nene were found wanting for more.
Pato had the best chance that was gifted to Milan that evening but he shot right at the keeper. I choose not to compliment Agazzi on the save because the shot was directed at him! He didn't have much to do but take the beating. Abbiati, on the other end went cuckoo momentarily and nearly provided Nene with an assist but made amends. Strasser came on for a withering Gattuso on the 58th minute. Almost instantly, the midfield awoke from deep slumber. Robinho was sent through by Pato on the 66' but the Brazilian's first touch was nothing short of horrible. Cassano arrived on the 74' minute with Merkel making way. To be honest, at that point in time, I was wondering why Merkel was being taken off. The youngster was involved in all of Milan's attack and had showed admirable work ethic. But later, I saw that it was a good decision. Cassano combined with Robinho and set up Strasser for the winner. The 20 year old's first goal at Serie A level. Tears of joy streamed down his face as the Milan camp rushed to bombard him with their congratulations. It took 88 minutes to break the deadlock. It would have been broken a lot earlier if not for Thiago Silva who is on course to prove that he is the best centre back in the world. Cagliari played fearlessly and with heart. This attitude very nearly earned them a point. Against Milan these days, that is a lot more than one could imagine.
Cagliari - /
Milan - Strasser 88'
And on comes Cassano!
Tags: Serie A
Rodney StrasserCagliari 0 AC Milan 1
Bright starts don't often end brightly. It did though, midweek. Cagliari welcomed a decimated AC Milan to the St' Elia. Donadoni was facing his former side and so was Allegri. Vintage stuff. Pato and Robinho shaped up the attack with Merkel positioned behind them. Silva had the double duty of defending for Bonera for the Italian was included in the line-up. Cassano made it to the bench.
After having started brightly, Milan found it very hard to break the Sardinian defense. Canini, Astori and Pisano stood strong against our pacy forwards while our midfield were scratching their heads in bewilderment. Ibrahimovic's strength was sorely missed in this game. Robinho resembled hollow man for much of the half with the rest of the team being sluggish in attack. Milan lacked creativity or cohesion in the midfield. Cagliari's midfield was running ragged and the home side clearly dominated the first half. Seedorf was woeful as usual and in current form, shouldn't even make the bench. Ambrosini wasn't the anchor man for this game. Perhaps we should have had one. Cossu enjoyed the space in the midfield but had a bad game nonetheless. The lack of legs in Milan didn't help the likes of Lazzari too, who appeared to be trying to hard to impress. Donadoni's full backs were thriving and constantly got the better of their counterparts. Crosses were floating in but Matri and Nene were found wanting for more.
Pato had the best chance that was gifted to Milan that evening but he shot right at the keeper. I choose not to compliment Agazzi on the save because the shot was directed at him! He didn't have much to do but take the beating. Abbiati, on the other end went cuckoo momentarily and nearly provided Nene with an assist but made amends. Strasser came on for a withering Gattuso on the 58th minute. Almost instantly, the midfield awoke from deep slumber. Robinho was sent through by Pato on the 66' but the Brazilian's first touch was nothing short of horrible. Cassano arrived on the 74' minute with Merkel making way. To be honest, at that point in time, I was wondering why Merkel was being taken off. The youngster was involved in all of Milan's attack and had showed admirable work ethic. But later, I saw that it was a good decision. Cassano combined with Robinho and set up Strasser for the winner. The 20 year old's first goal at Serie A level. Tears of joy streamed down his face as the Milan camp rushed to bombard him with their congratulations. It took 88 minutes to break the deadlock. It would have been broken a lot earlier if not for Thiago Silva who is on course to prove that he is the best centre back in the world. Cagliari played fearlessly and with heart. This attitude very nearly earned them a point. Against Milan these days, that is a lot more than one could imagine.
Cagliari - /
Milan - Strasser 88'
January 7, 2011
0
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Antonio Cassano
Berlusconi is in the mood of gifting his fans. It appears that he has decided to put on the Santa costume this season. His latest gift to the Milanistas goes by the name of Antonio Cassano. He is after all the most talented Italian footballer in the peninsula. Why would we complain? Especially when he arrives as a replacement for Ronaldinho, of whom we are expected to make a profit! Whoever said that ideal worlds are only in novels?
True, we have the craziest line of loons in our attack. Some journalists call the Milanello a mad house, perhaps with good reason. Robinho, Ibrahimovic and Cassano have explosive pasts and now they are under one roof. Fireworks will be expected. But I choose to look at the fireworks on the pitch instead. Cassano's combination with Ibrahimovic seems like a lip smacking delight that would have defenders wetting their pants. Milan's attack has not looked this strong in the last 5-6 years. Arguably, with Cassano in our ranks, we possess the strongest attack in club football. We will win in Italy, no doubt about that. How this shapes our destiny in Europe, only time will tell.
Casano's versatility will be key for us. He can play behind the two strikers or as a second striker. He brings creativity to the team and also could replace Robinho when the Brazilian begins his misfiring bouts. He is also decent with the dead ball and has an imaginative vision at long range passing. He will add a lot to the team than the threat of lunacy which most conservative purists are fearing. He comes at a meager fee, somewhere around 2 million euros. A steal if one can put it that way. An honorable mention must go to Galliani for picking up scraps like no other director in Europe. He has mastered the act. First Ibrahimovic and now Cassano; true genius.
On a wayward note, Milan did travel to Dubai and played Al Ahli in a friendly beating the Arab side 2-1. Seedorf was splendid and so was Beretta. The young forward showed glimpses of being the missing piece in the forward puzzle and could be called up to replace Ibrahimovic when the Swede tires. Is he the one to don the No. 9 that Inzaghi has left hanging at the locker? Now that Toni is gone to Juventus, what other options do we have?
FantAntanio
Tags: Reflections
Antonio CassanoTrue, we have the craziest line of loons in our attack. Some journalists call the Milanello a mad house, perhaps with good reason. Robinho, Ibrahimovic and Cassano have explosive pasts and now they are under one roof. Fireworks will be expected. But I choose to look at the fireworks on the pitch instead. Cassano's combination with Ibrahimovic seems like a lip smacking delight that would have defenders wetting their pants. Milan's attack has not looked this strong in the last 5-6 years. Arguably, with Cassano in our ranks, we possess the strongest attack in club football. We will win in Italy, no doubt about that. How this shapes our destiny in Europe, only time will tell.
Casano's versatility will be key for us. He can play behind the two strikers or as a second striker. He brings creativity to the team and also could replace Robinho when the Brazilian begins his misfiring bouts. He is also decent with the dead ball and has an imaginative vision at long range passing. He will add a lot to the team than the threat of lunacy which most conservative purists are fearing. He comes at a meager fee, somewhere around 2 million euros. A steal if one can put it that way. An honorable mention must go to Galliani for picking up scraps like no other director in Europe. He has mastered the act. First Ibrahimovic and now Cassano; true genius.
On a wayward note, Milan did travel to Dubai and played Al Ahli in a friendly beating the Arab side 2-1. Seedorf was splendid and so was Beretta. The young forward showed glimpses of being the missing piece in the forward puzzle and could be called up to replace Ibrahimovic when the Swede tires. Is he the one to don the No. 9 that Inzaghi has left hanging at the locker? Now that Toni is gone to Juventus, what other options do we have?
December 21, 2010
0
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Marco Borriello
AC Milan 0 AS Roma 1
Stopping the league leaders might not be the easiest of tasks, especially not when you are on their playground. Ranieri was aware of that and would do his homework before arriving in Milan. Cassetti was injured and Burdisso was given a start in the right back slot. I think this has to do with more than just mere co-incidence. Zlatan loves to drift wide and Casseti, even if he was fit would have been licking the Swede's heels. The Tinkerman did surprise with his selection up front. He dropped Totti to the bench and Adriano was given a rare start. This would be one of those days where Ranieri got it all right.
Milan looked every bit of their winter champions tag. They drove ahead in the game with immense drive and determination, their forwards dancing around the defenders from Rome. It took 13' for Roma to take their first shot at goal. Even this was blatantly down to frustration. Pirlo was relishing his role as a left midfielder and was also dribbling past midfielders with relative ease. Unfortunately for Milan, he limped off with injury on the 21'. This would be the turning point in the game. He was replaced by the slowest man in the Serie A, Clarence Seedorf. No, that is not backed by fact. Menez continued to play handball as the referee turned a blind eye to all of Menez's infringements. How the Frenchman played 90' without being sent off for numerous handballs is baffling to say the least. Roma's functional midfield was having trouble settling down in the first half. Pizzaro did not feature in this game. Roma were missing his expertise and his passes resulting in Borriello's increased work rate. He didn't receive sufficient service and had to drop deep. Adriano was simply out-muscling the opposition and he did a terrific job of that. Of the three centre backs of Roma, Mexes got skinned and taunted the most by the Milan front line. Identifying him as the weak link, the forwards constantly targeted him. Robinho beat him for pace, Zlatan beat him for strength. Chances were coming thick and fast for Milan. Zlatan was gifted a one-on-one chance and his decision making was horrible on that occasion. He consistently failed to beat the offside trap and his performances in the big games leads me to question the inevitable. Is he a big game choker?
The break arrived at the right time for the visitors. Milan's momentum got distorted and Roma were beginning to feel more comfortable on the ball. They defended very deep and sometimes the defense pushed up to catch the forwards offside. This was done with immaculate accuracy. Nesta had a splendid game. With a liability beside him in Bonera, Nesta stood tall and read the game superbly. Roma eventually broke the deadlock. Menez smoked Antonini on the left to send in a cross that was somewhat fortunately turned in by Borriello in the 69'. The left back position is one of great need in the Milan camp. Antonini lacks the skill, speed or defensive knowledge to own that spot for the club and is not a threat going forward either. Another player who got run down by De Rossi and Co. was Ambrosini. He arrived late in every challenge and got bullied in the middle of the park. The midfield trio of Roma were relishing their dominance in the second half. Gattuso worked overtime to mark Menez and succeeded to a fair extent. However he lacked the legs to keep up with the trequartista. Seedorf's atrocious form continued. He moves in slow motion when he gets the ball and is hopeless when not in possession. His name appearing on the team sheet is a mystery for Scotland Yard. At the end of the day, Roma's performance was utterly professional if not mind blowing and they did what they had to to win the game. Well, at least that is how things work in Italy.
Milan - /
Roma - Borriello 69'
The Roman wall
Tags: Serie A
Marco Borriello AC Milan 0 AS Roma 1
Stopping the league leaders might not be the easiest of tasks, especially not when you are on their playground. Ranieri was aware of that and would do his homework before arriving in Milan. Cassetti was injured and Burdisso was given a start in the right back slot. I think this has to do with more than just mere co-incidence. Zlatan loves to drift wide and Casseti, even if he was fit would have been licking the Swede's heels. The Tinkerman did surprise with his selection up front. He dropped Totti to the bench and Adriano was given a rare start. This would be one of those days where Ranieri got it all right.
Milan looked every bit of their winter champions tag. They drove ahead in the game with immense drive and determination, their forwards dancing around the defenders from Rome. It took 13' for Roma to take their first shot at goal. Even this was blatantly down to frustration. Pirlo was relishing his role as a left midfielder and was also dribbling past midfielders with relative ease. Unfortunately for Milan, he limped off with injury on the 21'. This would be the turning point in the game. He was replaced by the slowest man in the Serie A, Clarence Seedorf. No, that is not backed by fact. Menez continued to play handball as the referee turned a blind eye to all of Menez's infringements. How the Frenchman played 90' without being sent off for numerous handballs is baffling to say the least. Roma's functional midfield was having trouble settling down in the first half. Pizzaro did not feature in this game. Roma were missing his expertise and his passes resulting in Borriello's increased work rate. He didn't receive sufficient service and had to drop deep. Adriano was simply out-muscling the opposition and he did a terrific job of that. Of the three centre backs of Roma, Mexes got skinned and taunted the most by the Milan front line. Identifying him as the weak link, the forwards constantly targeted him. Robinho beat him for pace, Zlatan beat him for strength. Chances were coming thick and fast for Milan. Zlatan was gifted a one-on-one chance and his decision making was horrible on that occasion. He consistently failed to beat the offside trap and his performances in the big games leads me to question the inevitable. Is he a big game choker?
The break arrived at the right time for the visitors. Milan's momentum got distorted and Roma were beginning to feel more comfortable on the ball. They defended very deep and sometimes the defense pushed up to catch the forwards offside. This was done with immaculate accuracy. Nesta had a splendid game. With a liability beside him in Bonera, Nesta stood tall and read the game superbly. Roma eventually broke the deadlock. Menez smoked Antonini on the left to send in a cross that was somewhat fortunately turned in by Borriello in the 69'. The left back position is one of great need in the Milan camp. Antonini lacks the skill, speed or defensive knowledge to own that spot for the club and is not a threat going forward either. Another player who got run down by De Rossi and Co. was Ambrosini. He arrived late in every challenge and got bullied in the middle of the park. The midfield trio of Roma were relishing their dominance in the second half. Gattuso worked overtime to mark Menez and succeeded to a fair extent. However he lacked the legs to keep up with the trequartista. Seedorf's atrocious form continued. He moves in slow motion when he gets the ball and is hopeless when not in possession. His name appearing on the team sheet is a mystery for Scotland Yard. At the end of the day, Roma's performance was utterly professional if not mind blowing and they did what they had to to win the game. Well, at least that is how things work in Italy.
Milan - /
Roma - Borriello 69'
December 16, 2010
0
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Andrea Pirlo
Bologna 0 Milan 3
Their players might not have been paid but the Rossoblu know how to put up a fight at home. Their is a distinct sense of pride in the players even if their wages are five months too late. Bologna last lost at home in April this year to current high-fliers Lazio. Since then, they have held fort admirably.
The confidence was also visible in this game. They were solid at the back and looked exciting going forwards, i.e. in the early stages. Zlatan is known to be a party pooper and he did poop Bologna's party. A delightful cross from the giant Swede was met with the boot of Boatang to open the scoring. A standard highlight throughout this game was the performance of Andrea Pirlo. Allegri has asked him to play on the left of the midfield three. This leaves Ambrosini to shield the defense and Pirlo to concentrate on his creativity. However, the elegant bloke from Brescia was also working hard, rushing into tackles and winning the loose balls. He ripped Bologna apart with his creativity peaking in this game. There was a restrain in the form of Gabi Mudingayi. The bullish midfield bossed around in the first half and was making life difficult for the middle men of Milan. The Diavoli were at the destructive best up front and grabbed the second. Robinho applied the finish while Boatang bagged the assist. A hallmark of this game was Milan's passing. Though rudimentary at times, there were sparks of absolute genius which was utterly delightful to watch.
Pirlo took more shots in this game than I have watched him take in the last 6 years. His passing was superb and accurate, almost lethal at times. Gattuso limped off with an injury and Rodney Strasser replaced him in the second half. As expected Bologna saw more of the ball in the second half. Abbiati had a comfortable evening except for one particular situation where he almost made a mess of a simple clearance. The situation goes to prove that he is a clown of enormous proportions. His shot stopping might be close to world-class but his decision making is hilarious at times. 56', Antonini replaced Zambrotta on the right. Three minutes later, Pirlo picks Zlatan with a quick, fantastic pass and Ibrahimovic scores the third goal of the afternoon. Just when everything was going well, a recently introduced Seedorf pulls a horrendous challenge in the box to concede a penalty. Di Vaio stepped up before being adamantly denied by Abbiati with a diving save. The players on the park knew that there was some serious repair that needed attending to after the shambolic night against Ajax. Therefore, the players worked very hard even after the third goal, also creating the rare openings.
Milan successfully ended Bologna's run at home. They also infused some much needed confidence ahead of the big evening this Saturday against the Romans. I have dished Pirlo in my previous article and I might be praising him here. But I still hold onto my reservations about the Italian cutting it against the bigger, tougher teams. His positioning on the left seems like a expert move. Much will be expected of him against Roma.
Milan - Boatang 9', Robinho 36', Ibrahimovic 59'
Bologna - /
Pirlo to the left
Tags: Serie A
Andrea PirloBologna 0 Milan 3
Their players might not have been paid but the Rossoblu know how to put up a fight at home. Their is a distinct sense of pride in the players even if their wages are five months too late. Bologna last lost at home in April this year to current high-fliers Lazio. Since then, they have held fort admirably.
The confidence was also visible in this game. They were solid at the back and looked exciting going forwards, i.e. in the early stages. Zlatan is known to be a party pooper and he did poop Bologna's party. A delightful cross from the giant Swede was met with the boot of Boatang to open the scoring. A standard highlight throughout this game was the performance of Andrea Pirlo. Allegri has asked him to play on the left of the midfield three. This leaves Ambrosini to shield the defense and Pirlo to concentrate on his creativity. However, the elegant bloke from Brescia was also working hard, rushing into tackles and winning the loose balls. He ripped Bologna apart with his creativity peaking in this game. There was a restrain in the form of Gabi Mudingayi. The bullish midfield bossed around in the first half and was making life difficult for the middle men of Milan. The Diavoli were at the destructive best up front and grabbed the second. Robinho applied the finish while Boatang bagged the assist. A hallmark of this game was Milan's passing. Though rudimentary at times, there were sparks of absolute genius which was utterly delightful to watch.
Pirlo took more shots in this game than I have watched him take in the last 6 years. His passing was superb and accurate, almost lethal at times. Gattuso limped off with an injury and Rodney Strasser replaced him in the second half. As expected Bologna saw more of the ball in the second half. Abbiati had a comfortable evening except for one particular situation where he almost made a mess of a simple clearance. The situation goes to prove that he is a clown of enormous proportions. His shot stopping might be close to world-class but his decision making is hilarious at times. 56', Antonini replaced Zambrotta on the right. Three minutes later, Pirlo picks Zlatan with a quick, fantastic pass and Ibrahimovic scores the third goal of the afternoon. Just when everything was going well, a recently introduced Seedorf pulls a horrendous challenge in the box to concede a penalty. Di Vaio stepped up before being adamantly denied by Abbiati with a diving save. The players on the park knew that there was some serious repair that needed attending to after the shambolic night against Ajax. Therefore, the players worked very hard even after the third goal, also creating the rare openings.
Milan successfully ended Bologna's run at home. They also infused some much needed confidence ahead of the big evening this Saturday against the Romans. I have dished Pirlo in my previous article and I might be praising him here. But I still hold onto my reservations about the Italian cutting it against the bigger, tougher teams. His positioning on the left seems like a expert move. Much will be expected of him against Roma.
Milan - Boatang 9', Robinho 36', Ibrahimovic 59'
Bologna - /
December 13, 2010
0
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Siem De Jong
Milan 0 Ajax 2
Being a dead rubber, this game promised no enthusiasm or will from Milan's perspective. A formality it would be and the attitude didn't change even after going down by two goals. An important feeling called shame has not been taught at the Milanello, it seems.
It has been characteristic of Milan's style of play to dominate possession and dictate the early stages of the game through energetic bursts into the opposition's third. This has bottled up several teams resulting in them becoming very intimidated by the Milan juggernaut. Ajax however, thought of giving Milan a taste of their own medicine. Using pace to run at Milan's aging legs and adopting a physical approach against the creative midfielders put the home side on the back foot from the word go. Not only were the men in red and black struggling to hold up the fort at the back, they failed to conjure anything in attack. To make matters worse, Flamini injured his ligaments in the first half and with his substitution we lost bundles of energy in the middle of the park. Ajax were playing with immense passion and pride allowing Milan to take their first shot on the thirty eight minute. The Dutch giants had taken five shots by then. Seedorf is known to be a highly decisive player but against quick oppositions, his brain works at pace much slower than the legs of the opponents. He gets caught in possession and doesn't care a dime to track back to defend because he is already bending over, giving his thirty four year old lungs some rest. We had two second strikers in attack and we don't seem to have the understanding of passing the ball on the ground after being accustomed to years of direct football. Direct football was never going to adhere to the strengths of Ronaldinho or Robinho which rendered both of them ineffective. Ronaldinho was working extra hard on the pitch by flinging himself into tackles. All this, presumably, to impress the gaffer.
Going into the break, we were very fortunate to be on level terms. The players took it for granted and were justly embarrassed in the second half. Pirlo was reintroduced into the starting line up in this game. He was quite content in loosing possession and cooling his heels when he did so. He was making no effort to create because De Jong had him shackled nor was he defensively solid. He made the midfield less combative and more cumbersome. Ajax continued to knock the ball around before De Zeeuw scored the opener. Allegri quickly brought on his 'go-to-guy', Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Milan shifted to a 4-3-3 with Robinho moving on to the right and Ronaldinho to the left. The change in formation didn't change the attitude of the midfield, who collectively were miserable. The three midfielders were busy chasing shadows for ninety odd minutes. And soon enough, the second goal arrived. Game. Set. Match. When Merkel was brought on for Robinho in the seventy sixth minute, it was a sign of acceptance of defeat from Allegri. To make matters worse, Silva was played in this game and ended up being substituted with injury. Reports are now suggesting that he could be out till January. Legs won over craft on this night, which has become the story of modern day football.
Milan might be running away with the league at home but are utterly rubbish in Europe. The change in 'DNA' has been radical and sudden. The two wins that Milan picked up in the group were against Auxerre, the weakest team in the group. Even those wins were not convincing and required Ibrahimovic's genius to settle them. A host of top clubs are awaiting the draws. I am strongly insulted that many teams would be hoping to be drawn against us.
Milan -
Ajax - De Zeeuw 60', Alderweireld 67'
Pathetic Powerhouse
Tags: UEFA Champions League
Siem De JongMilan 0 Ajax 2
Being a dead rubber, this game promised no enthusiasm or will from Milan's perspective. A formality it would be and the attitude didn't change even after going down by two goals. An important feeling called shame has not been taught at the Milanello, it seems.
It has been characteristic of Milan's style of play to dominate possession and dictate the early stages of the game through energetic bursts into the opposition's third. This has bottled up several teams resulting in them becoming very intimidated by the Milan juggernaut. Ajax however, thought of giving Milan a taste of their own medicine. Using pace to run at Milan's aging legs and adopting a physical approach against the creative midfielders put the home side on the back foot from the word go. Not only were the men in red and black struggling to hold up the fort at the back, they failed to conjure anything in attack. To make matters worse, Flamini injured his ligaments in the first half and with his substitution we lost bundles of energy in the middle of the park. Ajax were playing with immense passion and pride allowing Milan to take their first shot on the thirty eight minute. The Dutch giants had taken five shots by then. Seedorf is known to be a highly decisive player but against quick oppositions, his brain works at pace much slower than the legs of the opponents. He gets caught in possession and doesn't care a dime to track back to defend because he is already bending over, giving his thirty four year old lungs some rest. We had two second strikers in attack and we don't seem to have the understanding of passing the ball on the ground after being accustomed to years of direct football. Direct football was never going to adhere to the strengths of Ronaldinho or Robinho which rendered both of them ineffective. Ronaldinho was working extra hard on the pitch by flinging himself into tackles. All this, presumably, to impress the gaffer.
Going into the break, we were very fortunate to be on level terms. The players took it for granted and were justly embarrassed in the second half. Pirlo was reintroduced into the starting line up in this game. He was quite content in loosing possession and cooling his heels when he did so. He was making no effort to create because De Jong had him shackled nor was he defensively solid. He made the midfield less combative and more cumbersome. Ajax continued to knock the ball around before De Zeeuw scored the opener. Allegri quickly brought on his 'go-to-guy', Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Milan shifted to a 4-3-3 with Robinho moving on to the right and Ronaldinho to the left. The change in formation didn't change the attitude of the midfield, who collectively were miserable. The three midfielders were busy chasing shadows for ninety odd minutes. And soon enough, the second goal arrived. Game. Set. Match. When Merkel was brought on for Robinho in the seventy sixth minute, it was a sign of acceptance of defeat from Allegri. To make matters worse, Silva was played in this game and ended up being substituted with injury. Reports are now suggesting that he could be out till January. Legs won over craft on this night, which has become the story of modern day football.
Milan might be running away with the league at home but are utterly rubbish in Europe. The change in 'DNA' has been radical and sudden. The two wins that Milan picked up in the group were against Auxerre, the weakest team in the group. Even those wins were not convincing and required Ibrahimovic's genius to settle them. A host of top clubs are awaiting the draws. I am strongly insulted that many teams would be hoping to be drawn against us.
Milan -
Ajax - De Zeeuw 60', Alderweireld 67'
December 9, 2010
0
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Kevin Prince Boatang
Milan 3 Brescia 0
Allegri would probably have preferred Pirlo to continue his love affair with the Milan Labs. But Pirlo had returned to devastate Milan's midfield and Allegri had to field him. Fortunately, it was Brescia and not Barcelona. Boatang was promoted up the pitch and was started in the hole. The Ghanaian responded with his first goal for the club, courtesy Ibrahimovic.
Milan played at a high tempo from the start. As it has always achieved, it put the opposition under pressure from the word go and shelved them into a defensive mode. On the rare occasions they found themselves in attack, but they lost Caracciolo. The big man was isolated by the monumental centre backs of Milan who have been at their scintillating best of late. But gradually, the away side got into the game and started to test Abbiati, albeit from distance. Gattuso was struggling with the pace of the game and constantly lost his marker. Rash challenges were therefore expected and were duly delivered. There was a sudden shift in momentum with Brescia dictating the game and Milan's defense becoming increasingly clumsy. It was a slice of luck that brought the balance of power back in Milan's hands. A poorly placed pass from Brescia's defense was capitalised by Robinho who slotted home his 5th goal of the campaign. A couple of minutes later, Ibrahimovic's masterclass sealed the game. He fooled 4 defenders and unleashed a lethal drive that would clearly be termed 'unstoppable.' With 30 minutes gone, the game and the points were in the bag. The misery was almost compounded but Boatang missed a simple one on one chance with the keeper. Kevin Prince's movement has been stellar irrespective of his position. If he improves his finishing and final ball, he could be world class. Brescia were rattled by the quickfire double and seemed distorted. Allegri's men were demonstrating a physical side to their game that hasn't been seen previously this season and that is much in demand in the big games. However, just the sight of the physicality was pleasing to the sore eyes. Milan continued to press for the 4th goal. The players seemed like they were enjoying themselves. Nesta struggled in his duel with Caracciolo. The big man's pace and strength had the veteran picking up scraps with Silva cleaning up the mess.
Yepes replaced Nesta in the second half. Milan persisted with their phenomenal work ethic. Poor finishing made the 4th goal elusive. However, the home side were firmly in control of the game and didn't seem like they were loosening their grip. Allegri used his final two substitutions to introduce Ronaldinho and Flamini to give them some playing time along with providing them the opportunity to impress him. Silva had been simply superb all game long. He resembled an impermeable wall. When the team realized that they couldn't find the 4th goal, they began to knock the ball around to retain possession as Brescia chased shadows. It was a professional performance from Milan, who are beginning to look untouchable in Italy.
Milan - Boatang 4', Robinho 28', Ibrahimovic 30'
Brescia - /
Banging Brescia
Tags: Serie A
Kevin Prince BoatangMilan 3 Brescia 0
Allegri would probably have preferred Pirlo to continue his love affair with the Milan Labs. But Pirlo had returned to devastate Milan's midfield and Allegri had to field him. Fortunately, it was Brescia and not Barcelona. Boatang was promoted up the pitch and was started in the hole. The Ghanaian responded with his first goal for the club, courtesy Ibrahimovic.
Milan played at a high tempo from the start. As it has always achieved, it put the opposition under pressure from the word go and shelved them into a defensive mode. On the rare occasions they found themselves in attack, but they lost Caracciolo. The big man was isolated by the monumental centre backs of Milan who have been at their scintillating best of late. But gradually, the away side got into the game and started to test Abbiati, albeit from distance. Gattuso was struggling with the pace of the game and constantly lost his marker. Rash challenges were therefore expected and were duly delivered. There was a sudden shift in momentum with Brescia dictating the game and Milan's defense becoming increasingly clumsy. It was a slice of luck that brought the balance of power back in Milan's hands. A poorly placed pass from Brescia's defense was capitalised by Robinho who slotted home his 5th goal of the campaign. A couple of minutes later, Ibrahimovic's masterclass sealed the game. He fooled 4 defenders and unleashed a lethal drive that would clearly be termed 'unstoppable.' With 30 minutes gone, the game and the points were in the bag. The misery was almost compounded but Boatang missed a simple one on one chance with the keeper. Kevin Prince's movement has been stellar irrespective of his position. If he improves his finishing and final ball, he could be world class. Brescia were rattled by the quickfire double and seemed distorted. Allegri's men were demonstrating a physical side to their game that hasn't been seen previously this season and that is much in demand in the big games. However, just the sight of the physicality was pleasing to the sore eyes. Milan continued to press for the 4th goal. The players seemed like they were enjoying themselves. Nesta struggled in his duel with Caracciolo. The big man's pace and strength had the veteran picking up scraps with Silva cleaning up the mess.
Yepes replaced Nesta in the second half. Milan persisted with their phenomenal work ethic. Poor finishing made the 4th goal elusive. However, the home side were firmly in control of the game and didn't seem like they were loosening their grip. Allegri used his final two substitutions to introduce Ronaldinho and Flamini to give them some playing time along with providing them the opportunity to impress him. Silva had been simply superb all game long. He resembled an impermeable wall. When the team realized that they couldn't find the 4th goal, they began to knock the ball around to retain possession as Brescia chased shadows. It was a professional performance from Milan, who are beginning to look untouchable in Italy.
Milan - Boatang 4', Robinho 28', Ibrahimovic 30'
Brescia - /
December 3, 2010
0
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Prince of Poaching
Tags: ReflectionsFilippo InzaghiInzaghi is 37 and is on the table, nursing his wounds and reminiscing the days of the old as the Milan management are preparing a prince to accept the crown from the aging king. Names are rattled on a daily basis and the chaos is nothing short of a media racket. From Balotelli to Grameiro, it wouldn't be a long shot to suggest that the papers have covered the globe in search of the next number 9.
But who is the right forward to don the role of the poacher? Do we need a poacher? Inzaghi's choice remains Alberto Paloschi. The king has spoken but the subjects disagree and so do I. Paloschi is a promising talent, but he is nothing quite like the player he can become. Not yet. Our need is immediate. Let us consider the options.
Santa Cruz might be the ideal fit given the similarities and the price constraints but he would be a short term option given his age. Also would he like to warm the bench and play second fiddle at another club? Fabiano is simply on another level and a player of such calibre wouldn't find room in the first team. Balotelli is a hot head and a risky investment. He is yet to mature as a footballer and until then, his capture might unleash a sense of madness in the club. Pazzini would be a fantastic signing but the striker is at his peak at the moment and would not welcome a role on the bench which is but certain with an irreplaceable Ibrahimovic in the team. Rossi is a childhood fan but he is a second striker and not a central striker. This leaves us with my personal favorite, Alexander Matri.
This young forward has climbed the ladder of success taking his baby steps at our very own youth academy. He always showed promise whilst we always showed our youngsters the door. Matri has matured into a cultured goalscorer for the Sardinians and has been a boon for Cagliari. He is a near-perfect replacement for Inzaghi as a central striker and is sneaky in the box too. He would be familiar with the surroundings and wouldn't take too long to settle down. Matri is an immensely underrated striker, plainly because he is unconventional. His goals are usually straightforward but not spectacular. He became the striker he is under Allegri, the same man who holds the reigns of Milan today. This appears to be a match made in heaven. Matri also provides the option of being the player who can be the front man as Ibrahimovic could play off him. The Italian is great in the air and has an admirable scoring rate. For a young striker, i.e. all of 26, he shows immense composure in front of goal. He has a fairly impressive record in the Serie A and has already scored 8 goals this season for a struggling Cagliari side. Matri would give us an additional touch of quality that would take us to another level. Stopping this line of attack would be a task that most defenses in Europe would sweat over.
A major drawback would be the price tag. Cellino won't let him go for cheap, however that is where Mr. Galliani's expertise comes in handy. Inzaghi is one of a kind and if the scouts are out there searching for an exact replacement, they might find it easier to discover the remains of Isaac Newton in Cambodia. But Inzaghi's injury and Pato's love for the meds has caused the club to flip the notes once again. Ring the cashier and bring the Italian back home. I think we have found our prince.
December 1, 2010
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The rumor about Milan's move to Sevilla's Luiz Fabiano once again resurfaced as Milan desperately need a new striker to replace currently injured Inzaghi. Rumor said that Fabiano, who will be available to play for Milan on the final 16 of Champion League, will come on loan basis as Milan would not spent €15 million for Fabiano ownership.
Fabiano himself, already stated his desire to play with Milan, before he got tired of all transfer rumour without any move from Milan. Well, Fabiano, please keep that desire, because I really wanted to see you in red and black..
Fabiano transfer finally realized?
Tags: Luiz Fabiano, rumourFabiano himself, already stated his desire to play with Milan, before he got tired of all transfer rumour without any move from Milan. Well, Fabiano, please keep that desire, because I really wanted to see you in red and black..
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Pazzini Pinches
Tags: Serie AGiampaolo PazziniSampdoria 1 Milan 1Many Italian pundits are of the belief that Giampaolo Pazzini is currently the best Italian striker in the world. And not many look beyond the fact that he needs Cassano to maintain that tag. Cassano's spat with Garrone has seen him sit out of first team football, leaving the responsibility to score and even create at the feet of Pazzini. The hitman took his time to take up this responsibility but now is duly performing. After scoring a hatrick recently, he was up to the task of proving to his boss that he can sting the net against the big boys. Unfortunately for us, he did.
Robinho has been getting better and better with time. Some whispers have begun to suggest that he has won over Pato's place in the first team and also Allegri's conviction. His movement was fantastic but now he is even finding the back of the net. The Ibrahimovic-R70 partnership is getting harder for the defenses in Italy to handle. The neutral might have had a difficulty deciding which was the home team with Milan dominating the possession and the chances. Sampdoria saw little of the ball, 37% to be precise and defended deep allowing Milan to pass the ball around to their convenience. Sampdoria recklessly tackled on the edge of the box a few times giving Milan several gilt edged opportunities. But the absence of Pirlo rendered these situations ineffective. To add to their misery, Sampdoria's best midfielder, Angelo Palombo was having a horrid night in the middle of the park. Milan's now dynamic midfield of three were running all over Sampdoria's middle men but the wide-men of the home-side relished the space they found. Zambrotta's aging legs couldn't keep up with the pace on the flanks but Abate settled in admirably. Seedorf had an off night but given his splendid outings in recent weeks, this show of incompetency can be gladly pardoned. Allegri left it late with his substitutions, again. This is an area of his management that I absolutely dislike. He constantly seems to forget that game is a 90 minute affair and not a 180 minute two-legged tie.
This blip can be overlooked purely due to the fact that we have been winning games that should have been draws given Pato and Inzaghi's absences. However, we need to get back on the winning road. Brescia next and we must quite simply make our moments count. Against Sampdoria, we had sufficient chances to win 3 games, yet we scored only once. This result should urge Milan to thrash Brescia and continue this run of form. That being said, against the smaller teams in Italy, it's easier said than done.
Sampdoria - Pazzini 59'
Milan - Robinho 43'
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