Yeah, it would be a place with less fun.... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Whatever, they'll slip a lot guys ... two wins in two games do not make them so good as to fight for second place!!!


I know (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


well if not anything else you have to praise their fighting spirit!!!! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

And their faith. (Year after year...) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

They don't have faith... They have hope every year and after mid season that's gone too. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Hmm, you're right, I guess that means the color of hope Isn't green but black and blue (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

no black and blue is the color of 'not another Coppa Italia please'!!!??? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Serie A week 2

Ascoli 1-1 Messina
Catania 0-0 Atalanta
Empoli 1-1 Chievo
Inter 1-1 Sampdoria
Lazio 1-2 Palermo
Livorno 1-0 Fiorentina
Parma 0-2 Milan
Reggina 2-1 Cagliari
Siena 1-3 Roma

Hum... for Wednesday I don't know. What would be better? A draw? I don't know. I want to laugh a bit, so I'll probably like a Roma win. Inter will be in deep chaos if that happens.

That's what I would like. But... somehow I think Inter will win this one. It's like this... they can't afford to lose. I mean, in 3 rounds and the super-mega-ultra-Inter with all those superstars 5 points behind Roma? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I'd hate it if this came through!!!! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

I am w/ u on this .. I dont know what I want .. Roma or Inter to win, in any senario I think it will be better for us as it will cut the deficit on anyone of these two opponents.

But what I fear most is a surprise from the small teams, I mean they could cause a lot of probs for us and the compeditors, bcz of the calciopoli incidents, they would take advantage and aim higher this season.

I think that a Roma Inter draw is the best result, now is not the time to make fun of them (this is aimed at you Portugal, how dare you be disrespectful to the champions (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ). We can make fun of them when they lose the league, when it had practically been given to them before the season started, but now it's time to see what would profit us the most and that would be a draw, between them.

Another thing great in being Milan fan that you can always make fun of Inter (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I would like draw or Roma win. It will be easier to catch Rome later on.

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

100% agree.
A draw would be as perfect as making fun of Inter again (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Serie A General Preview: Wild Wednesday

Round 3 – Wednesday 20/9/06

Atalanta - Empoli
Cagliari - Livorno
Chievo - Lazio
Fiorentina - Parma
Messina - Reggina
Milan - Ascoli
Palermo - Catania
Roma - Inter
Sampdoria - Udinese
Torino - Siena

The undoubted highlights of this week’s Serie A midweek mayhem are two key clashes that bring big names face-to-face. AS Roma host Inter Milan with the Giallorossi sitting pretty on top of Serie A after taking over from the Nerazzurri, who slumped into fourth place after their insipid home draw against Sampdoria in the Saturday San Siro stalemate.

In fact it’s been exactly ten days since the last Interista scored as the binary draw was nabbed thanks to a Bonanni own goal ten minutes from time after Flachi’s 48th minute penalty put the visitors ahead. Last season’s Olímpico match also ended in deadlock with Taddei and Materazzi topping and tailing the game in the 9th and 89th minutes.

The last win between the two teams dates back to October 2005: Both Totti (pre-broken ankle) and Adriano (pre-weight gain drama) bagging braces but Montella’s opener for AS Roma made the difference and the honours went to the Romans who marched out of San Siro with three points. Both results combined to enable AS Roma’s ‘Magica’ to behead ‘Il Biscione’ on aggregate.

Given last season’s background and current form it’s arguable that the Giallorossi will leave Inter black and blue. Inter have been dependent on the work of Esteban Cambiasso and Zlatan Ibrahimovic to do their scoring so far, whereas Roma have shown they can share things out with Pizarro, Mancini, Rossi, Chuka and Taddei all getting a pizza the action.

Things haven’t been helped by Adriano’s ‘unhappiness’ and Mihajlovic jibes at the fact that the Emperor is a little too chubby to play his best game right now, and ex-Inter man Pizarro has been keen to twist the knife in Mancini’s side by telling Inter to get used to seeing Roma ahead of them as the season unfolds.

Inter do have the fact that they won the Italian Super Cup with a close 4-3 aggregate on their side - but looking back in history AS Roma hold the overall edge over the visitors with 31 wins compared to 24 Nerazzurri victories The remaining 20 ended up with both sides nabbing a point apiece: a final scoreline that many have predicted already.

Possible First Elevens (Unconfirmed)

ROMA (4-4-2): Doni; Panucci, Mexes, Ferrari, Chivu; Pizarro, Perrotta, De Rossi, Mancini, Taddei; Totti

INTER (4-4-2): Toldo; J.Zanetti, Samuel, Materazzi, Grosso; Vieira, Dacourt, Stankovic, Figo; Ibrahimovic, Crespo

Fiorentina and Parma come together for another mouth-watering clash of titans despite the Viola still being hamstrung by the Calciopoli punishment and their own execrable play so far this season. Two defeats have left the Florentines with egg on their faces; only Luca Toni saving himself with the brace against Inter in a home opener that ended in defeat.

The late double-tap wasn’t enough to overcome the damage done by an inspired Cambiasso and an Ibrahimovic making an impact on his debut with the Nerazzurri. To add insult to injury Livorno’s Lucarelli rubbed salt in the Tuscan wounds with a lone goal that leaves the Viola without a single point – and with a lot to prove tomorrow.

Looking back at last season ACF Fiorentina can take heart by remembering an aggregate 8-3 hammering of FC Parma. The home opener at the Stadio Artemio Franchi saw Toni wallop in a hat-trick punctuated by a Fiore goal that made Grella’s goal for the ‘Gialloblu’ a mere consolation present as the visitors were air-dried and eaten whole by the hosts.

The return seemed set for Parma to get their revenge as Fabio Simplicio slotted home an early penalty and Mark Bresciano put the hosts two up, but Fiorentina turned the tables through a Bojinov brace (35 & 39 mins), Jørgensen (48 min ) and a final Jimenez (68 min) strike to leave the Ennio Tardini stadium between silent tears and apoplectic rage.

Parma could theoretically be considered to have the edge this season as they’ve actually salvaged a point thanks to a Budan goal against Torino at the Delle Alpi in the opening match, but slipping from 9th to 14th after AC Milan came, saw and conquered last Sunday isn’t exactly the best calling card for the visitors to look back on.

Perhaps an angry Morfeo will provide a metamorphosis; the playmaker having been discarded by Fiorentina and eager to show just why his ex-club made a mistake. Although Parma were smoked by AC Milan, Domenico showed class that could be just the tonic if he receives decent support from the rest of the team.

Possible First Elevens (Unconfirmed)

FIORENTINA (4-2-3-1): Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Potenza; Blasi, Donadel; Jorgensen, Montolivo, Mutu; Toni

PARMA (4-2-3-1): De Lucia; Coly, Paci, Contini, Castellini; Grella, Ciaramitaro; Gasbarroni, Morfeo, Pisanu; Budan

AC Milan welcome minnows Ascoli to San Siro with an unbeatable start to the season under their belt – if one takes away the Calciopoli punishment handed down after last year’s revelations hit the Calcio and slapped wrists by giving certain clubs a handicap to start with.

This explains why the Rossoneri are lounging in the lower depths in a hellish 17th place despite two straight wins. ‘Il Diavolo’ may not have lived up to their nickname with entirely devilish behaviour, but it’ll take more angelic play from Ancelotti’s boys to dig their way out of purgatory.

Kaká is still showing just why he’s one of the most coveted midfielders alive and can now count on yet another fellow Brazilian as Ricardo Oliveira has bounced around from Real Betis to São Paulo and back before being bagged in yet another smart deal by Berlusconi’s execs.

Both have already scored this season, together with veterans Seedorf and Inzaghi, showing that AC Milan offer danger from all angles. The foursome should be present tomorrow, although doubts do surround whether or nor Ambrosini will get the nod before the Dutchman.

What is certain that is that Ascoli may not present a threat on paper, but the ‘Picchio’ (woodpecker) gave a headache to the big boys from Milan last season. The first match ended in a 1-1 draw at the Cino e Lillo del Duca stadium and the San Siro return game in January ended with a chillingly slim 1-0 win as Milan couldn’t improve on Inzaghi’s 4th minute goal.

Ascoli – actually founded a year before the Milanese club – are in 13th place after improving on the 3-1 debut defeat at Atalanta with Sunday’s home draw against Messina. Perrulli and Bjelanovic are the marksmen so far, although Ascoli stand out more for their defensive solidity than any offensive flair. ‘Il Picchio’ may well play a 4-5-1 with Bjelanovic as the lone danger man.

Possible First Elevens (Unconfirmed)

MILAN (4-3-1-2): Dida; Cafú, Bonera, Nesta, Jankulovski; Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf (Ambrosini); Kaká; Oliveira and Inzaghi

ASCOLI (4-5-1): Pagliuca; Foglio, Nastase, Cudini, Lukovic; Giampà, Pecchia, Zanetti, Fini, Perrulli; Bjelanovic

Chievo host Lazio up in Verona with the visiting Biancocelesti in dire need of a victory after two losses have seen the Romans sunk to 18th place whilst cross-town arch-rivals AS Roma are off to a ‘Magica’ start with the polar opposite haul of two wins in a row.

The hosts have been slapped sideways by an unexpected 2-0 bashing by Portuguese outfit Sporting Braga in the UEFA Cup first leg – to add insult to the CL elimination – that has cast doubts on their ability to contain a wounded Lazio.

Last weekend’s draw with Empoli ameliorated the initial home defeat to Siena, and looking back at last season Chievo can take heart from two draws against the Biancocelesti. Both matches ended in a 2-2 stalemate: Tiribocchi’s late brace in the first half being spoilt by an Oddo penalty that added to Mauri’s first half strike to nail a draw for the Romans.

This season's starter saw the team from the capital handed a defeat they couldn’t refuse by Palermo at the Olímpico thanks to a first half brace from Michele that Rocchi’s 73rd minute goal couldn’t overturn. Last Sunday it was Makinwa’s turn to grab cold consolation in Milan.

Mudingayi and Manfredini are slated to make it into the first eleven as Valon Behrami and Mutarelli are in dry dock. It’ll also be a case of déjà vu for Oddo and Siviglia as they return to the stage where they made their debuts.

With Amauri now at Palermo there’s a certain lack of bite with Pellissier out injured. The Brazilian has been sorely missed in the first two matches as Centre-back Mandelli is, so far, the only other scorer for Chievo.

Possible First Elevens (Unconfirmed)

CHIEVO (4-4-2): Squizzi; Moro, Mandelli, Scurto, Lanna; Semioli, Giunti, Brighi, Marcolini; Tiribocchi, Bruno

LAZIO (4-4-2): Peruzzi; Oddo, Siviglia, Stendardo, Zauri; Manfredini, Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mauri; Rocchi, Makinwa

The Sampdoria and Udinese match brings together two teams hovering around mid-table, although the team from Udine is in far better emotional shape as the Blucerchiati have gone a jaw-droppingly poor 15 games without a win and Bonanni’s own goal against Inter was enough to get Samp fans tearing their hair out with frustration as the curse continued.

The stripy Zebrette have gone from cold to hot after the opening defeat to Messina was contrasted by Sunday’s welcome win over Torino at the Friuli stadium. New boy from Brazil Felipe impressed with the sort of volley that’s worth replaying in slow-mo. Casting our minds back to last year’s confrontations also saw Udinese come out on top.

The first game was almost at Xmas and Zapata put the Zebrette hosts ahead in the 61st minute; Blucerchiati boy Castellini handing Udinese an early present with an own goal ten minutes from time. The April return game was evenly matched with F. Flachi and A.D. Natale scoring within four minutes of each other to share the spoils at Samp’s Luigi Ferraris home.

Possible First Elevens (Unconfirmed)

SAMPDORIA (4-4-2): L Castellazzi; Maggio, Sala, Palombo, C Zenoni; Olivera, Volpi, Delvecchio, Bonanni; Flachi, Bonazzoli

UDINESE (4-3-3): De Sanctis; Zenoni, Natali, Zapata, Felipe; Obodo, Muntari, Pinzi; Asamoah, Iaquinta, Di Natale

This post has been edited by han2503: Sep 19 2006, 10:58 PM