@ han, Aquilani also can make runs forward and then give his final pass. And already mentioned Boateng will track back. So there will be position swapping during the match itself. Maybe we're discussing something that doesn't really matter much. In the end the right tactics and players completing eachother matter more than how it looks on paper.

Yes, Allegri deserves the credit. He wasn't perfect, but who really is?

But Milan had the chance to play better IMO; Barcelonas terrible defending should have give us more freedom - but our terrible midfield provided the counterbalance. Seedorf however did good. He's not speedy enough, that's sure, but at least he could hold the ball for a longer period and from time to time make a correct pass. Ambro was awful, as was the rest of our midfielder.

Yes han, Nesta gave them a lecture. Vidic my @ss (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Congrats all around guys...it's "just a draw" but it's against the best team in the world atm and at their home AND with us missing our other key attacker - Robinho (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

Fantastic defense...even though sometimes my heart was in my throat...Excellent by the oldies (Zambro, Nesta and MVB) and the young guys. I'm soooo happy with Nocerino thus far...he isn't world class by any means but he is very valuable and useful.

Pato played well and by his own admission could have done better. If his first touch becomes just a bit more refined - WATCH OUT WORLD!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif)

I think it's kinda worrisome that Pato and iBra seem not to be able to shine in the same match but I won't cry worlf as yet. We tossed up too much posession but with a team not 100% with new members, key absences I must hand a lot of credit to allegri for instilling such a compact mentality in our team.... and truth be told even if Pippo was fit and ready to play I couldn't have seen him doing much bar scoring that wonderful goal Silva did (probably with his ribs or something (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

Oh and once again......remove "you know who" from the team and Milan goes to doing well on the big stage in the CL (IMG:http://www.milanfan.com/forums/style_images/bullet/folder_post_icons/icon8.gif)

You got a point there, he was unlucky with his first touch a few times.

Imagine the danger of Pato when playing aside of the full of energy hard working mister movement speedy dribbling Robinho instead of Cassano who completely disappeared vs Barça? Pato did it kinda on his own now. Awesome, and I'm so glad with his appearance. This was what I was hoping to see now without Ibrahimovic.

(IMG:http://www.boxofficefootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/brazil-1982-goals.jpg)

Brazil '82 was arguably the best team ever, at least one of the very best of all time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Way ahead of their days, they used to play football of today three decades back. Even though they were not lucky enough to go all the way, but then again, that's not all that matters. For genuine entertainment and pure gameplay value, look no further.

I'm not a betting man, but if my life depended on it, I'd put my faith in that team. They can take on two times the Barcelona of today and still come out laughing, I kid you not. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) Heck, if they were playing today, they would surely have decimated this Barcelona team (with it's makeshift weak defense) 4-0, 6-0. I can understand where Altobelli is coming from, and I agree with him, but I just had to say this as a fan. I'm in love with Brazil 2002, but '82 was the real deal. But then again, heroes live in moments, not gold medals. And that team had plenty of moments.

The fact remains that outside of the opening and closing minute we did not even try. Cassano was no where to be seen on the television and neither was Pato most of the time. Let alone the Barcelona GK, who only came up as flashes for a couple of minutes most. Most of the game was played in our half. Sure I'm more happy than I've ever been - heck I was the fool who was rooting for Barcelona this year, whether in the group stages of knockouts, and well Pato/Silva/Nesta made my day today! But no one should mess with this team. Ever. LOL. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) Feast your eyes, and see the "Art of Football", as it is meant to be seen:

Brasil 1982 - The 11 Greatest Goals of Brasil 1982's Magic 11
Brazil 1982 - A tribute to the art of football

If my life depended on it, I'd put my faith in Milan of 88-90. Not as flashy but with the best defense ever.
-----------------------------

Stats:

(IMG:http://i51.tinypic.com/11gk9vq.png)

This post has been edited by Jack Bauer: Sep 14 2011, 12:31 AM

Pato: I saw a gap and ran at it

(IMG:http://pato7.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Alexandre-Pato-against-Barcelona51.jpg)

Alexandre Pato explains what he was thinking when he scored the fifth fastest Champions League goal ever.

The Brazilian hitman netted just 24 seconds into the 2-2 draw between Milan and Barcelona at the Camp Nou.

“As soon as the game kicked off, I saw a gap and I ran at it,” he grinned on Mediaset Premium. “Barcelona are a very strong side, so we’re perfectly happy with this result.

“It was difficult to play and we wanted to have more time on the ball. At the end, when Antonio Cassano went off, I was too isolated in attack.

“Fortunately Thiago Silva scored that goal and got us a deserved equaliser. Now we can look ahead to Serie A and Napoli.

“Everyone was tired, but I only played 10 minutes against Lazio on Friday, so I wasn’t terribly match fit.”

source: pato7.net

So would I, but club football is a totally different animal. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) These guys have years and years to gel together. Look at how Silva made direct passes to Pato when no one else did. That's rapport, friendship, and understanding that comes with club football. National teams are different, you have players (good players) from all over the world.

There could have been better teams in the years gone by, and well Brazil 2002 could score goals at will, Milan of the late 80s and early 90s was in a word epic. This Barcelona clicks, and I am sure a German team from the past decimated everything that came their way. And let's not forget about the Dutch artists that played Total Football.

But still, Brazil of 1982 will always have a special place in my heart. I've been lucky enough to see a lot of their matches, recorded, but full matches, and I know when I say this that they were way ahead of their time. I mean Zico is still, to this day, Brazil's favorite son! And that's saying something. Pele won them more, Ronaldo scored more goals, but Zico is the guy that the general public just loves. Same goes for Leonardo, though he's not nearly as loved as much as Zico, but still, he has an aura about him back in his home country, that when he speaks, people listen.

But yeah, Milan 88-90. Best defense ever. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) And I'm fairly certain, it will never be matched again.

Awesome Stats man.

Where'd you get this from? It's so very well detailed.

Does it have one for Barca's complete stats as well?

This post has been edited by TriniKing_CE: Sep 14 2011, 01:34 AM

Saw it on some other Milan fan site, don't know where it's from.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Damn!

I always wish to see a complete list of stats after games, but never know where they can be viewed.

Thanks anyway for posting. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

My ratings:

Abbiati: 7 Amazing goal keeping when called upon. Could not do anything on either of those goals.


Abate: 6 solid for the most part, but shouldn't have let messi get by him so easily.

Nesta: 9 I've watched Barcelona play against alot of teams, and I've never seen Messi marked so well by a center back before. Nesta did the world a favor today, he showed everyone how to stop messi. A world class display today from the Commanding center back.

Silva: 8 Had a very good game, its good to see he is regaining some of his form. Quality header for the equalizer.

Zambrotta: 6.5 Did a good job defensively, much better than most expected but his age is catching up to him.


Nocerino: 6.5 Quality display from someone whose never played champions league before. Clean, smart and tactically aware. Could have pressed their midfield a little more.

Van bommel: 7 Did his job and more when asked upon. Left messi a little too open at times, but other than that covered xavi and iniesta very effieciently.

Seedorf: 6 He played football for about 30 minutes today but in those 30 minutes he was quality. He's just too slow to keep up at this pace and level. Shame but age is catching up to him.

Boateng: 6 Didn't really see much from him, but showed energy and determination. Its a shame he came off so early.

Pato: 7 Scored a goal, could have had 2 more. He was isolated for most of the game with absoloutly no delivery but did good on what he had. Its clear we need a quality AM to help link up play.

Cassano: 5 Wasn't supposed to start as these types of games don't suit his "lazy" style. Invisible for most of the game.

Ambrosini: 4 Wow, I take back what I said. This man is clearly finished. Him and Gattuso should retire at the end of this season.

Emanuelson: n/a didn't really do anything.

Aquilani: n/a didn't really do anything.


Allegri: 9 Tactics were spot on and he got everything right. Had we ibra or robinho, we might have been able to produce a few more chances. He is a quality coach and its clearly evident that our team is much stronger than it was last season.

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Sep 14 2011, 05:12 AM

I think in the absence of Ibra and Robinho Milan did well and dont forget your playing Barca world class team and getting draw ! i see they played well.

i hoped Allegri would play aquellani in the start we need a player who could transfer the ball from the mid field to the front with a blink of an eye.

Over all Milan played well for almost 30 yrs age average.

Nocerino’s persistence resulted in the corner for the goal. He was quite good actually and in my opinion way better than Van Bommel dived in too much and made tackles he didn’t need to. Picking up a booking after 18 minutes for dissent was sheer stupidity when he was up against Messi, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta for the rest of the game.

I've got Zonal Marking on my side (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)