(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif) Good point Jack.

The thing is, Milan is a winning team and I would feel bad if we got any less, considering how many chances we squanderd (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) ... But those chances were made by Carlo's tactics in the end ... Cuz, had we played in any formation other than the x-tree, we would have been .. ehm .. *****

Exactly!!!

I really don't see what the connection is between playing with 2 strikers or 1 to the big team, small team comparison. Imo it is irrelevant. We played our best and most effective football with the xmas tree under Carlo, and we won everything there is to win with it.

We created the chances, that's what the tactics are for, it's up to the players to finish them off, and sadly they (or rather Kaka) didn't do it.

btw, was Carletto a good Penalty taker in his time I don't remeber him taking penalties

That's why we missed Oddo and Janku so much today...

Yep, but the fact that Carlo didn't try to win the match is what bothers me. Lately we've been looking like it's ok to settle for the draw as long as we don't lose.

It would have been nice to see us go for the win. Mainly put on another striker in support of Gila in time, not 10 minutes before the end of the match, because then it's too late. We're not asking Carlo to do a Rijkaard and take off all the teams stability and put on every forward you have, but just to have some balls to put on another striker when Palermo never looked like scoring and trying to go for it, especially when we're fighting for the 4th place and knowing that if we don't win we'll fall of the pace again, because that is what's happened.

Brocchi wasn't so bad but Favalli was horrible. He can't even put in a decent cross. When you play a lone forward like Gila you need to give him as much support from the wings as you can since he is much better with his head.

But in the end we did pretty well considering the crises we where having, but the match was there for us to win it and it's a shame we didn't do it.

I disagree. I'd rather lose 1 point(Not SUCH a big deal) and try to win. Then I have a 50 50 chance. In our case today, it would have been 60 40 in favor of us if Carletto took a chance... Earning 1 point is really nothing IMO when you do have the chance to earn 3.

This is what should have happened 10 minutes after the second half:

Oli in for Ambrosini

R99 for Gila

And either Grimi for Favalli or Gourcuff for Pirlo

Huge deal, trust me on this...HUUUGE DEAL!! Not to mention, the whole morale issue that's gonna happen if we lose. Sometimes, the undefeated badge helps you pull off amazing stuff sometimes. Like the 89th minute winner.

Ancelotti sticks up for Kaka

Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti has praised Kaka despite the Brazilian’s costly penalty miss in today’s stalemate with Palermo.

Injury-hit Milan were forced to settle for a point at the Renzo Barbera, but could have recorded a much-needed win in the race for Champions League football had Kaka not seen a debatable early spot-kick smartly saved by Alberto Fontana.

However, the South American star put in a superb performance and received only words of encouragement from his Coach after the 0-0 draw.

“He had a first half like I hadn’t seen at Milan,” Ancelotti said. “He read the game well and created chances for us with his quality.

“Kaka always scores penalties, but today he was unfortunate. We’ll have to see, but I think he’ll continue to take them.”

The spot-kick itself was a debatable decision, as the goalkeeper seemed to make minimal contact with Alberto Gilardino.

“Was it a penalty? It doesn’t matter now, seeing as Fontana saved it,” mused Ancelotti. “I’m happy with the way we played, especially considering how many difficulties we had going into the game.”

The Rossoneri had 10 players out injured or suspended – including eight defenders – so Cristian Brocchi played as a makeshift full-back.

While the result sees Milan lose ground on both Empoli and Lazio, Carletto spoke of his satisfaction at the way his side acquitted themselves.

“I’m not delighted with the result, but it was a good performance especially in the first half when we created the chances to win the game,” he claimed.

“The second period was tougher. We gave the ball away and struggled a lot more.”

Milan’s crucial fortnight continues with the visit of Chievo this weekend, before Celtic arrive at the San Siro for the second leg of their Champions League clash next Wednesday.

What would Grimi offer us ?! What would Gourcuff offer us ?! In the dying minutes, believe it or not, it is the experienced players that make the difference.

A point in hand is a great result .. u should know that, it was ur prediction

Now playing Palermo on their ground was always difficult; I'm not saying that, look at our past results with them. Palermo, at home, rarelly loose (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)


In the end max ... The game ended and when u think about it Milan played a good game with several chances ... We didnt have a striker with balls ( Gila ) to finish off the tie. And that is where we suffered, if we did.

Why are you blaming Gila for this? Kaka was the one with all the chances, if he had took at least one of those we wouldn't have been talking about this to begin with

This post has been edited by han2503: Feb 28 2007, 07:17 PM

Well in the end... we might qualify for the CL with that one point.

That's the Rijkaard logic you're using here. In the game against Liverpool when it was still 1-1 he subbed Motta, the only player that covered the back 4. As if the battle would end on the 90th minute... The rest is just history... The result is based on a series of games and in the end, every point counts. If we were clear and safe in 1st place or had secured a CL spot then yeah I would blame Carlo if he "sat" on the draw. Carlo would still do it in that case but blaming him now is wrong IMO...

Oh I'm not blaming Gilardino (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ... I'm far past that now (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I stated this millions of times: I support him cuz he's a Milan player, but on the individual level, he didn't cause Palermo any trouble, except for 2 times .. But that was it (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Kaka ?! He lost a penalty, but was a constant threat for the whole 90 mins (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I think Gila barely got a sniff in. He was mainly holding the ball up. Kaka was to blame for the terrible finishing in this one, no one else.

When Gila missed the penalty against Torino everyone was screaming bloody murder, but now that it’s Kaka it’s ok. I think that that is terribly biased. Gila did nothing wrong today, so I can’t see why some are pointing the finger at him. It’s clear we should stay away from the xmas tree if we want to score, but looking at our defensive crises it was definitely the best option. And it’s not like we didn’t create the chances, in the end it’s bad finishing that cost us the match, nothing else

Vexatiously obvious!! There's nothing more to say.

Why is it that u r backing Gilardino ?!

Kaka is one million times better than Gilardino, if Kaka has a bad day, he'll produce a performance that is 10x better than Gilardino's good day.

On that note, Kaka isn't a striker .. He is a midfielder. And because of his quality we have an attacking unit worthy of consideration. Imagine we play without Kaka ... Gilardino would be just a shadow my friend (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I am not criticising Gilardino ... I'm saying that is his limits. U think I was expecting something from him ?! No I was expecting it from Kaka, R99, hell even Gattuso .. But I would never play with fire and expect Gila to score. He scores good, but I know it would be a one-off, as it always has been (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)