The players tonight have once again made me proud of being a fan of this great club. Forget the BS we've been through, the performances of some of the players seriously made me feel that emotion that I haven't felt in a while for this team.

Abate, Mexes, Ambro, Monto, Prince, SES, Pazzini. These guys especially worked their @sses of all game long. It was just amazing to watch them give everything for the shirt and I seriously hope that they carry this onto the rest of the season

(IMG:https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/560198_469650616422789_352568868_n.jpg)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif)

Hey, I wonder who was the most optimistic before the game?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) I'd almost bet money on Milan at 5.33, had a strong, strong hunch we will win. Or at worst draw 1-1. And to think folks here were talking about a thrashing. There is a distinct and visible difference in age between both teams, and that played in our favor.

Even Messi is an old geyser compared to some of the players we have wearing our shirt. FACT.

Love the result. Incredibly disappointed that a couple of fans who kept slagging my opinion off before this match on here can't even just say they were wrong for once!

I didn't know it was about ego.

I claim second place (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)



I hate Messi (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

SOMEONE PINCH ME I MUST BE DREAMINGGG WSBHFEAIWHWDNBSS

Let's not get carried away, there's still another leg to play and I'm not sure we can quite survive that one. remember how we almost threw away a 4-0 lead against Arsenal? we had a better team overall and Arsenal were nowhere near this Barca.

This post has been edited by Zed.D: Feb 20 2013, 11:12 PM

Was that me?

Because I always agreed with you in terms of how we should play (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

A different team with a bigger ego, a team which I am HOPING learnt their lesson.

If we play like we did today then we can go through.

and how we did throw a 4-1 lead away against deportivo losing 4-0 to them in the away leg (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I back down slightly because you did agree on that one part, but you didn't agree on the lineup (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Told you it wasn't about that - it was about the tactics.

Even when players were subbed, their replacements did exactly what they'd done - followed the system and tactics.

Still can't get over how good Monto was. Total behemoth. His tackling, vision, work rate - better than anything I have ever seen from Pirlo.

Monto V Barca was what Pirlo couldn't be V Spain.

Staggering display and maybe the match of his life?

hard to compare the 2 players i think just mainly because they are so different in style of play

True and just. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I've been pretty optimistic in most matches (even thought we'd get through United when Ronaldinho was here, scored early, and Huntelaar missed a shot by as whisker), but tonight I was extra confident. Maybe it was because I know the shine has come off of this Barcelona or something else.

Surely, mad props to Allegri for the right tactics and selection, plus the players for putting in a masterclass in defense. I will not talk about the goals, because good as they were, we'd be nowhere without the watertight defense. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) In fact, Abbiati did not even have to make a semblance of a save the whole 90 minutes. Top drawer, stuff.


Welcome to the club, man. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) Any good player would have been troubled by the show we put up, save for past legends. But there's a reason they are legends, and there's a reason they are past. What Messi did (or did not do) tonight, any of the top player could have put in, I've seen CRON so helpless in the year gone by, Ibra, and more.

But to think he did not even get a decent shot on target. Still, it's going to be tough in Spain, tougher in Spain.

(IMG:http://www.calciomercatonews.com/wp-content/uploads/Ambrosini-21.jpg)

And he did it again. That's why we keep him, that's why we should next year as well. Captained this match through like in the old days, when Rino, Andy and him were a unit.

Praise for all our guys out tonight, and especially Allegri. When he concentrates, he can make a good tactical gameplan.

Now once again the big question pops up - has he learned something from last year? Milan under Allegri have a nasty habit of preemptively starting to feel cosy and drop guard. Just remember Arsenal. This is Barcelona and we'll be more concentrated, sure. But we need a new tactical gameplan and strategy for Camp Nou. Hopefully Allegri makes the second step forward. Hopefully.