Emerson was Capello's fetish. I doubt he'd have made it to Turin and Madrid if it wasn't for Don Fabio. I don't hate him, I don't rank him as our worst player, I even think he's performing much better than some of our star players. It's just that I don't trust him and his transfer was rather pointless. Ambro has always been a better player in my book although Emerson shined under the spotlight /for some reason/. When Flamini gets used to italian football, it will be between him and Ambro. And here comes the question - why is Galliani renewing Emerson's contract? Another future scout? He looks kinda dumb for that job. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Agree on Cardacio. He's also a good passer and would be a better Pirlo replacement than Flamini/Rino.

See that was my humble $0.02. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Emerson is a good player, and I have nothing against him in person, it's just that I feel his skills could be better put to use in a smaller team. Or another league altogether. Roberto Carlo and Rivaldo are playing in less popular leagues, and are doing quite good. He'll just block valuable space on our squad, and then leave in a couple years time.

My opinion on French people in general is very well know, I don't terribly like them. But I see something in Flamini that's missing in Emerson. If nothing he's young and got years of time ahead of him. Even if the Frenchman gives us 3-4 years, it'd be time well spent. I like Milan. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) And this means I like all the players that have played for us. Some more, some less. But they'll have a place in my heart as long as they've donned the red and black. This goes for both Emerson and Borcchi - their good, bad and ugly performances withstanding.

This post has been edited by acid911: Nov 19 2008, 05:11 PM

Maybe you're right. But just look at another perspective:

Maybe there are a few persons who like Emerson, Dida or let's say...Abbiati. Naturally they visit Milanfan. And here, after all these words and mentionings like "crap", "idiot", etc. they simply loose affection. You know, I'm not talking of a silent majority, I just wanted to say that somehow we got used to say Emerson and Kaladze is sh@t. Even if the do something good, it's mostly neglected or a fluke, a lucky day. What should does people say now? Should they turn au-contraire to Emerson-fanatics and start every of their post with ... In fact, Emerson should be played?

For example, I liked Ibrahim Ba. For no logic reason. I just like that player since I was a child. I was happy to see we re-signed him, but I didn't want to say anything about it..why? You know why...

wtf i go off for a few hours and all this happens?!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

interresting points were made but jack you said :"coz like it or not this team has to last the next 5 years. We can't go shopping just coz one formation is not sharp anymore."

i belive han or zd said this is essential the same core from 7 years ago, it still hasnt changed. how is it going to last another 5 years?

The only ones i could see still being with us:

pato,flamini,bonera, viduez, cardacio, darmian (thats assuming ever gets to play), antonini ( i dont think he has the quality to become a starter for years to come)

and big maybe for:
kaka(injury problems are already starting to show), pirlo (i dont see him playing on until he's 34-35, he certainly wont be as effective), ronaldinho (already looks like a player in his 30s, isnt aging well)

i see plenty of holes that will need to be filled, and we should start the transition NOW!

+1. So, Habitant, how do we pry Chiellini outta Turin? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif)

Well, the defense is completely new. Nesta and Maldini almost not playing, new fullbacks in Zambro and Anto, Favster newly positioned and Abbiat on goal. Then there is Dinho and Flamini. Well,...it has no sense to name you all transfers you allready know. But guys - you're neglecting a very important, italian, thing - the defensive part. And that part changed.

hehe we'll leave that to the fish doll (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

if mr. B and Mr. G really liked him i could see us pushing hard and for no explicable reason juve havent expressed any real attachement to him despite his great form, it's as if their fans had pressure their management to keep him. then again secco is an idiot.

This post has been edited by Habitant: Nov 19 2008, 09:00 PM

WOW!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
where do i start I'll just say things as i think of them and understand at no point is any comment aimed at a particular individual (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
first point is about the youth players...it's not Carlo's job to develop youth players that's Franco's if they're good enough then yes they should be given a chance but like most managers in the world his job is on the line so it's natural to go with the senior players whom he knows what to expect of them.

Next style of play.of course it would be great to play fast,fluid passing football every week but that ain't gonna happen now whether it's 1-0 or 6-0 its still a win and its still 3 points but either way i just wanna win!!! attractive football is a bonus and lets not forget (older members especially will back me up on this) we haven't always played great football even when we were winning scudetto's and European Cups.....but we won and we were very successful.I'm also interested in this easy game theory...is there such a thing?? Lecce away is considered a easy game...in theory yes but lets not forget these are professionals and on paper inferior but still 11 players against 11 players and I'm experienced enough both as a fan,player and part time coach to know there is no such thing.Yes games we believe we should win but not a forgone conclusion.

Tactics..now most people have with justification condemned the Xmas tree formation I'd like to see 2 strikers but if your going to do that either Dinho or Kaka would have to be dropped to have any sense of team balance now most coaches i the world would love these 2 in their side so 1 striker is the solution to play them both together. Under Carlo we have played some awesome football both with 2 strikers and 1 i remember Sheva playing wide right at one point in a 1 striker system with Pippo up front and Rui Costa on the left it worked to a point but flexible players will make any system work.

So in conclusion 1 point behind the ***** without being able to play are strongest team...players still fitting in..maybe the best formation to be played yet things aren't all bad considering the season we had last year. Scudetto winners..possible, Scudetto challengers....definatley!!
I will support Carlo as he is are coach and i don't believe there is a better alternative available and considering what we've done and how we've done it i don't he's a bad coach to have;) this is also his 3rd generation team and there first season together so to be so critical so early in this teams history to me is a exercise in futility

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I was thinking the same thing just as I read through the first few lines.

Are you referring to the quality of the defense or the Italian identity in defense ?

Neither of those. I think we're praising far too much strikers (Kaka, Pato, etc.) while Bonera, Janku, Fav and even Maldini or Abbiati don't get the praise, even if they deserve it. Our defensive line is far from bad, at least if you see the stats. But yes, without Maldini and Nesta we lack of that characteristic defender we had ever since Collovati, Baresi,...

Oh ... yeah, though I do think Bonera has really impressed this season, when looking back to when he first came in from Parma.

But there is not much emphasis on the defense because apart from Nesta - Maldini, Milan's defensive line sucks. Even if Milan's defense has only conceded 8 goals without them.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Can't help it if we're spoilt. Its the management fault over the years!

There's so many good points here that it's impossible for me to reply to them all. I don't have Fishdoll's stamina. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


I think the problem is that people automatically assume a fan of a twelfth man (NBA term for the last guy on the bench) like Ba is fooling around and don't take it seriously. Heck, someone jokingly said on another thread that they didn't know why I even bothered supporting Dida. It's as if you have to be a fan of only the superstars or...pfft. (Then again, in my opinion many people in LeBron or Kobe jerseys are bandwagoners. But I digress.)


I agree with the striker part, even though we don't score nearly as much as we used to before Sheva left. Guys like Favalli have been the whipping boys for quite some time (granted, not all of it is undeserved) that it's almost like some people don't want them to have a good game, because there's nothing to complain about. I've been guilty of dissing Abi simply because it sucks for me not having Dida in goal. I guess I'm just self-centered that way.

I don't think Maldini belongs in this company, though, because he's so revered than just about the entire roster combined that any criticism of him doesn't linger for very long.

This post has been edited by MizNelson: Nov 19 2008, 11:22 PM

FACT. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)