[Milan Are Brilli...]

All Champions League talk in here...

[Rossoneri7]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

[Danny]

First season of my entire life neither Rangers or Milan have European competition. Utterly weird.

PS: I heard word that Milan and Utd might be trying to arrange friendlies with each other to compensate for lack of the above. Should get others involved, like Rangers.

[Fillipo Simone]

First season of my entire life neither Rangers or Milan have European competition. Utterly weird.

Weird indeed.

With Milan out, who's gonna be your favorite/team you support?

[TriniKing_CE]

Weird indeed.

With Milan out, who's gonna be your favorite/team you support?

I'll be backing PSG to an extent, in hope that Ibra & Thiago can bag a CL.

[Danny]

Weird indeed.

With Milan out, who's gonna be your favorite/team you support?

That's a good question. Possibly Atleti. In reality, not really anyone. You?

This post has been edited by Danny: Jul 20 2014, 09:07 PM

[X-Offender]

Roma or Napoli for me.

[Jack Sparrow]

Real Madrid for Carlo. Newcastle in England. And #TeamZlatan.

[Fillipo Simone]

For me it's maybe PSG and Napoli, but surely not the same way I'd support Milan.

[han2503]

PSG and Roma are the obvious choices, can't stand to see any of the others win it.

[Fillipo Simone]

Well, I wouldn't mind Ajax, Dortmund or some other underdog team lift the cup, but this won't happen.

[kurtsimonw]

Serie A + PSG + Madrid.

[X-Offender]

Well, I wouldn't mind Ajax, Dortmund or some other underdog team lift the cup, but this won't happen.

Oh yeah, Dortmund for me too.

[Jack Sparrow]

Yeah I like Klopp. When I was in Munich, there was this very pretty girl at work, who was a Dortmund fan. I've liked the club ever since then. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[X-Offender]

Pity about Napoli. They were a mess in the first half, but they made a U-turn in the second and missed plenty of good chances. In Spain it's gonna be tough.

[han2503]

Pity about Napoli. They were a mess in the first half, but they made a U-turn in the second and missed plenty of good chances. In Spain it's gonna be tough.

Italy might just end up with 2 teams once again. At this rate we're going to slip behind France and Portugal within the next season or 2

[Danny]

Italy might just end up with 2 teams once again. At this rate we're going to slip behind France and Portugal within the next season or 2

We already fell behind!

Both these countries are a fair distance in front of us in terms of club ranking.

http://kassiesa.home.xs4all.nl/bert/uefa/d.../trank2015.html

It's only going to get worse for Serie A.

[Fillipo Simone]

So it's happening. Most probably 2 Italian teams in the CL this year.

Napoli with some appalling defending.

[Rossoneri7]

So it's happening. Most probably 2 Italian teams in the CL this year.

Napoli with some appalling defending.

Napoli lacks a lot on the European front, but they have a coach who has done it twice before. Hope they go through, heck we need them through (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Fillipo Simone]

Naah. I such defending...really can't get you anywhere. The need a normal CB and a good keeper desperately.

[han2503]

Naah. I such defending...really can't get you anywhere. The need a normal CB and a good keeper desperately.

Yet, people on here still say they have a better defence then ours.

2 teams for Italy... It's just one big downward spiral, we'll be lucky if we have 2 CL places in a couple of years' time at this rate

[kurtsimonw]

Yet, people on here still say they have a better defence then ours.

One defence conceded 39 and qualified for the CL. One defence conceded 49 and didn't.

[KillerMax]

One defence conceded 39 and qualified for the CL. One defence conceded 49 and didn't.

But I also think attack is the best form of defense and where Napoli are ahead of us is their attack!

[kurtsimonw]

But I also think attack is the best form of defense and where Napoli are ahead of us is their attack!

That's where we're going wrong then, we should play with 10 strikers.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Aug 27 2014, 11:20 PM

[acid911]

The league is volatile right now, people. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) 20 managerial changes in Serie A last season. Goals, defenses, attacks, forms and qualifications only count after stability. Financial and administrative.

[KillerMax]

That's where we're going wrong then, we should play with 10 strikers.

I can kick your lanky @ss you know.

[X-Offender]

Napoli's defending, no words. I always said their defenders were never better than ours.

[Danny]

Napoli's defending, no words. I always said their defenders were never better than ours.

You also said Roma's sucked, but here's Benatia with a 15M+ move to Bayern.

PS Bilbao could beat any team in Serie A at home with ease. Furthermore Napoli drew the first match in Naples.

What I will say is whether it's defending, midfield or attack - Serie A as a whole is just f*ckin' rotten now. It's been surpassed by the likes of France and Portugal completely, and Juve & Roma will get trashed in the CL this season.

[X-Offender]

You also said Roma's sucked, but here's Benatia with a 15M+ move to Bayern.

I never said it sucked, just that it wasn't much better than ours. And I did say that Benatia is/was their only good defender.

[kurtsimonw]

You also said Roma's sucked, but here's Benatia with a 15M+ move to Bayern.

I remembering to dare say I wanted us to sign him. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I wanted us to get Benatia, he's far from mediocre. We get stuck with Mexes and Zapata FFS.

Benatia is Zapata level IMO.

Benetia? Really? Mexes is a better defender than him and also a better footballer.

I wonder why Bayern weren't interested in the chuckle brothers instead?

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Aug 28 2014, 07:50 AM

[Fillipo Simone]

So now Bayern is the measure of things? A team with the Boateng-Dante duo and a Milan-age van Buyten? Really?

[han2503]

One defence conceded 39 and qualified for the CL. One defence conceded 49 and didn't.

Napoli are a better unit, not defence, the names they have in that area are laughable.

On the other hand we've been a mess for a while, we only started to do something in terms of team organization to help out the defence under Seedorf last season when we were far more compact and produced far better numbers.

Napoli's defence yesterday just made fools of themselves, that third goal was just idiotic

RE: Benatia, I still think he's good to ok, but he's certainly not a great or top class defender, don't kid yourselves, Roma's system made him look far better than he truly is and to show what a major and total pr!ck he is, he forced his way out to Bayern after Roma put him on the map. The key to having a great defence is having an even better midfield and Roma absolutely have that, same goes with Juve, look at the trio kurt used to hail so loudly of Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli for Italy, they look like bumbling idiots most of the time

[kurtsimonw]

So now Bayern is the measure of things? A team with the Boateng-Dante duo and a Milan-age van Buyten? Really?

Certainly says more than a CB not wanted by Villarreal and a CB not wanted by Valencia.

look at the trio kurt used to hail so loudly of Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli for Italy, they look like bumbling idiots most of the time

Do they? At the World Cup defence was the last of Italy's problems, they couldn't score. At the Euros, it mostly fell apart when they played a back 4 and Chiellini went off.

[han2503]

Certainly says more than a CB not wanted by Villarreal and a CB not wanted by Valencia.


Do they? At the World Cup defence was the last of Italy's problems, they couldn't score. At the Euros, it mostly fell apart when they played a back 4 and Chiellini went off.

Chiellini is the only decent one out of the lot of them imo. Just look through the Juve forum, they absolutely despise Bonucci and aren't too happy about Barzagli either, and these guys probably watch them more than we do

And I beg to defer about the World Cup. The defending was an absolute joke, Chiellini kept making mistakes, Barzagli was so slow it was painful to watch and Bonucci is just Bonucci. I get that it was mostly down to Prandelli's constant messing about with the midfield/formation/tactics in every one of the games played, but all 3 contributed to the downfall as well, scoring goals was an issue, but so was keeping a clean sheet

And I disagree about the Euros, Italy looked their best in that competition when Prandelli utilised the diamond midfield vs England and Germany

[X-Offender]

I remembering to dare say I wanted us to sign him. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I wonder why Bayern weren't interested in the chuckle brothers instead?

How nice of you to quote something I said nearly a year ago, when only a few weeks ago I considered Benatia as Roma's best defender and the only one who's good compared to the rest.

[kurtsimonw]

Chiellini is the only decent one out of the lot of them imo. Just look through the Juve forum, they absolutely despise Bonucci and aren't too happy about Barzagli either, and these guys probably watch them more than we do

Juve fans rate Barzagli for the most part, I agree they aren't sold on Bonucci though.

How nice of you to quote something I said nearly a year ago, when only a few weeks ago I considered Benatia as Roma's best defender and the only one who's good compared to the rest.

Yeah, because that's the point I wanted to sign him and was told by a few people that he's not exactly that good. If you changed your mind on him recently, good.

[Milan Are Brilli...]

So now Bayern is the measure of things? A team with the Boateng-Dante duo and a Milan-age van Buyten? Really?

Boateng isn't too bad imo, just inconsistent.

Dante is an absolute liability.

[han2503]

Juve always with an easy group, let's see how they f@ck it up this time

[milanbuf88]

So now Bayern is the measure of things? A team with the Boateng-Dante duo and a Milan-age van Buyten? Really?

If Badstuber can get healthy and get a good run of games I think their best pairing might be Badstuber and Benatia.

[Fillipo Simone]

Juve lucky, Roma pretty unlucky. As usual. One Italian club in the last 16. As bad as it gets.

[Ry4n]

(IMG:https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t31.0-8/10549283_818629834850147_8851997627707876855_o.jpg)

[han2503]

(IMG:https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/t31.0-8/10549283_818629834850147_8851997627707876855_o.jpg)

How come Pippo is there but no other Serie A coaches aside from Benitez?

[X-Offender]

How come Pippo is there but no other Serie A coaches aside from Benitez?

I was asking myself the same.

[kurtsimonw]

Not many from EPL either. Good.

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Is AVB lost? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Rossoneri7]

Where's the special one?

[kurtsimonw]

There's a UEFA logo in the bakcground, I imagine he's avoiding it like the plague.

[KillerMax]

Too much Platini, not enough Mourinho.

[Ry4n]

As long as theres Carlo , Pippo , Klopp and Collina !! I'm good ,could not care for the rest tho !


Fergie and that tikki takka guy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/puke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/puke.gif)

This post has been edited by Ry4n: Sep 6 2014, 01:12 AM

[kurtsimonw]

I miss Collina.

[X-Offender]

Poor Madrid. They undid everything good they built last season with that disastrous signing campaign. Another loss, another poor display. Di Maria should have never been sold, James should have never been bought.

[X-Offender]

Oops, wrong thread. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

Arsenal got lucky Mkhitaryan forgot how to play football. Could have easily been 5/6-0.

[X-Offender]

Yeah. I saw the first half and part of the second, Arsenal were very bad. Happy for Immobile.

[Jack Bauer]

If you wanna see a live r@pe, watch Roma - CSKA.

[han2503]

If you wanna see a live r@pe, watch Roma - CSKA.

Great to at least see a Serie A side swashbuckling it in the CL

[X-Offender]

I certainly wasn't expecting Roma to win so easily, and with so many goals.

[Jack Sparrow]

Go Italian teams. I dislike both Roma and Juve, but when they're in the CL, they have my support. We need some co-efficients ASAP.

[han2503]

Go Italian teams. I dislike both Roma and Juve, but when they're in the CL, they have my support. We need some co-efficients ASAP.

That being said we're not going to win back big co-efficiants through the CL. That's certainly not how the Germans did it.

Tonight's games in the EL are what matters we have 4 teams in that competition, 3 of which should go far in it, no excuses there. If Italian sides start to make some decent effort in the EL then we can see that co-efficient climbing back up and who knows, maybe the Germans might get complacent in that competition now that they have 4 spots so they're more occupied with fighting for that spot in the league.

That being said, the fact that you get into the CL by winning the EL is a pretty great incentive.

[Jack Sparrow]

But Italians being Italians will blame the UEFA for not keeping enough money in the UEFA tournament therefore not providing any benefits.

[Fillipo Simone]

Well, that kind of logic has to perish. This is why I'm always against the likes of Udinese.

[X-Offender]

That being said, the fact that you get into the CL by winning the EL is a pretty great incentive.

Wait, what? Did they apply that rule? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[han2503]

Wait, what? Did they apply that rule? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

As far as I know, yes, it starts from this season

[X-Offender]

Interesting. So, what if, say, Inter win the thing but we end up 3rd in the league. Does that mean they take our place? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[han2503]

Interesting. So, what if, say, Inter win the thing but we end up 3rd in the league. Does that mean they take our place? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

No I don't think that's how it works.

I honestly do not know, I just read that whoever wins the EL from this season onwards gets into the CL the following season. I don't really know how they'll figure out the logistics of it all.

[han2503]

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/22640095

I think this one explains it better

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11...place-from-2015

So no, according to that, if the scenario you mentioned would happen, Italy would have 4 teams in the CL, 3 in the EL

[X-Offender]

Nice!

[han2503]

Great week 1 for Italy, all wins aside from 1 draw from Torino who had the most difficult opposition out of all the other Italian sides in the EL not to mention they were away.

[X-Offender]

Great week 1 for Italy, all wins aside from 1 draw from Torino who had the most difficult opposition out of all the other Italian sides in the EL not to mention they were away.

Not to mention they're not good enough.

[han2503]

Not to mention they're not good enough.

But it is admirable that they held their own, the fact that they're not good enough for the competition is not really their fault, they had a good season while we were complete sh!t so rightfully so, we did not deserve that place

[X-Offender]

Well, they didn't deserve it either, Parma did. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[han2503]

Well, they didn't deserve it either, Parma did. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

True but if they didn't have their admin stuff in order then it's also their fault not Toro's

[Jack Sparrow]

Read that Italy's performances now place us back above Portugal in the coefficients.

[han2503]

Read that Italy's performances now place us back above Portugal in the coefficients.

I think that was going to happen anyway because the earliest year taken into account will be wiped out this year (I read it was a very good one co-efficient wise for Portugal). So for now Italy's 4th place ranking is safe, no matter what really happens this season

[arivanjj]

Anyone know where best place would be to get tix for psg barcelona game?

[X-Offender]

Maicon surely knows how to f*ck his team. First causes an idiotic penalty, then shoots instead of passing to a completely free Cole that would have just tapped it in. Moron.

[X-Offender]

Goddamn, Roma play some impressive football! It's not just the quality of the players, but they know exactly what to do. They constantly press the opponent, they cover their areas, defenders rarely lose their men, they're always moving and switching positions instead of being static. So much good stuff. And to think they're missing De Rossi, Strootman and Iturbe. Garcia has truly done a remarkable job. Fantastic coach. That coupled with an ambitious and clever management and you've got success on a golden plate.

How do we even compare? Rookie coach that keeps making mistakes, clueless players that don't know the f*ck they're doing on the pitch, a worn-out and senile management. *sigh*

[kurtsimonw]

Maicon surely knows how to f*ck his team. First causes an idiotic penalty, then shoots instead of passing to a completely free Cole that would have just tapped it in. Moron.

Aside from that penalty, he's been fantastic.

Kompany is so overrated it's hilarious.

[kurtsimonw]

Wins for Jose and PSG, Roma get a point in Manchester. Good CL day.

[acid911]

Well, Roma's stock is currently trading at €0.68. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Up 0.01 today.

What do you say, we make some tactical investment, eh, R7, my man?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[X-Offender]

Aside from that penalty, he's been fantastic.

A bit shaky defensively, especially in the second half, but yeah, he was good overall.

Good draw for Roma. They can make the KO round if they give it all in the group stage.

[acid911]

Well Maicon is a quality player, hard to deny. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) There's a reason why he's playing in Roma, after all.

[X-Offender]

He seemed finished in his last year at Inter and at City, but he's managed to come back. I also thought Ashley Cole was superb.

[acid911]

Yeah, always thought of him as a class player. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Guys like this are rarely finished, as in totally, until they retire. And then we have some of our defenders who never even started, and they don't even know it. Earning free money, as far as I am concerned, putting in nothing during matches.

Plus, we have that guy that costs us €166,666 a week, and then sits out, because, well, coaches don't think of him too highly. For me, he is the first name on the sheet, as long as he's with us. Can't be worse than others.

[Fillipo Simone]

Incomparable.

I know the term "champion" and "winnger" may have a Gallianesque ring, but it does mean something. Seedorf, Costacurta, more recently Ibrahimović, etc etc. were winners and champions. Players who proved themselves over and over again and you never could deny the won their share of silverware and made their share of big wins. They faded in time or are starting to fade, but they still show us what they're worth and how they can play big.

What has Mexes ever won to be up there? For some goddam reason almost every French manager from Domenech to Deschamps avoided him, and every Milan manager seems to have a similar problem. Now this cannot be a coincidence nor a "petulant" move like Han likes to call it.

But comparing Maicon to Mexes is completely wrong. Maicon won with Inter, with Monaco. He proved himself over and over again. Mexes? Yes, he's good on his good day, but he's not up there with them...

[Fillipo Simone]

Oh and yes, Roma were good to watch (although Pjanić and Gervinho destroyed an incredible amount of chances with simple errors) - but Citys defense was horrific, especially in the first 45 minutes. Got caught wide in numerous occasions, the fullbacks moved inappropriate and never managed to cover Roma's sides,...just very, very bad. Kompany is definitively overrated.

[acid911]

Who was doing a comparison, Fillipo? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I was merely stating that we have a player rotting on the bench, earning bucket loads of money, when he could be better used to build a defense around. Can't be much worse than what we are treated to with any given Sunday during matches, can he?

I think there's a bit of a sinister motive from the management, nothing else. Freezing him out for some reason. But as for comparison with any of the greats you mentioned, or even Maicon, I know better than that, man.

[X-Offender]

I think there's a bit of a sinister motive from the management, nothing else. Freezing him out for some reason. But as for comparison with any of the greats you mentioned, or even Maicon, I know better than that, man.

He's simply being frozen due to his wage. Allegri ignored him initially after the huge shake-up we had in 2012, relying on Bonera, but then realized Mexes is the best we could afford and played him regularly for the majority of the games. Same with Seedorf. This time though we have Alex, along with Rami, so Mexes eventually becomes a 5th choice and rots on the bench.

[Fillipo Simone]

I don't think it's that simple. Look, it happened again and again, not just with Milan managers but with the French NT managers as well. There's something wrong with this guy I suppose.

[acid911]

Let's end this, then. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Hopefully he gets to leave in January.

[X-Offender]

I don't think it's that simple. Look, it happened again and again, not just with Milan managers but with the French NT managers as well. There's something wrong with this guy I suppose.

Something wrong? Yeah, he's probably a werewolf.

Come on now, Fillipo. He wasn't called by Domenech who's a total douche, and he wasn't called by Deschamps who also left out Nasri. NT call-ups mean nothing. They're all about coach favorites and in-form players. Mexes isn't exactly a world beater either, so him either being called up or left out doesn't stir any controversy and such. He was always a starter at Roma if that means something to you.

Nah, anyone who can put two and two together can see that Mexes is a good defender. He just happened to join us in a very chaotic period. We've changed CB pairings over the last 2-3 years for god knows how many times, and really, Mexes has been the most constant in terms of number and quality of performances. Everyone else has been hit and miss.

I tell you, the guy just isn't deemed necessary anymore because of his high wage. He's our highest earner if you forgot that. And he rots on the bench. We tried offloading him this summer but it didn't work, so we'll try to offload him once again during winter. It's typical Galliani treatment.

Same thing happened with Dida in his final years with us. Be it Abbiati or Kalac, we still ended up relying on good ol' Dida because, howlers aside, he was the best we had.

[Danny]

Mexes is this forum's new Muntari.

In the red corner weighing in at a combined 250 lbs we have Acid, Han and X-Off who see Mexes as essentially the most wasted player at the club.

In the blue corner weighing in at a combined 100000000000 lbs we have the rest of us who would be happy to drive the hothead to the airport ourselves.

[kurtsimonw]

and he wasn't called by Deschamps who also left out Nasri.

Deschamps did leave Nasri out because of his attitude/personality, maybe he felt similar about Mexes.

I don't know where to sit with Mexes. He's certainly better than Bonera and Zapata and I've always thought Alex was somewhat overrated defensively. So I think at the end, I probably agree with this from what X-Off said.

Same thing happened with Dida in his final years with us. Be it Abbiati or Kalac, we still ended up relying on good ol' Dida because, howlers aside, he was the best we had.

[Fillipo Simone]

For some reason, the guy made around 20 caps for France in 10 years. Santini, Domenech and Deschamps avoided him almost completely, while only Blanc found a way to play him more regularly. For some reason, he was being dropped tournament after tournament.

Now, considering France do not have exactly stellar defenders apart from a few (Abidal, Gallas in-form, etc.), one could imagine to find Mexes being called up and playing more regularly then some other guys.

So no, this is not the same a Dida. Dida only fell out of position because he started to deteriorate and collected a fair amount of howlers. And you know how it's with keepers: you don't change them like they're fullbacks or attackers.

The thing with Mexes is that for some reason coaches eliminate or sideline him time after time. Yes, agreed, he is a good defender on his day, but that's exactly why I think there must be more into this.

But Acid is right, enough said, at least from my part.

[X-Offender]

For some reason, the guy made around 20 caps for France in 10 years. Santini, Domenech and Deschamps avoided him almost completely, while only Blanc found a way to play him more regularly. For some reason, he was being dropped tournament after tournament.

Now, considering France do not have exactly stellar defenders apart from a few (Abidal, Gallas in-form, etc.), one could imagine to find Mexes being called up and playing more regularly then some other guys.

Cassano was continuously avoided by Lippi even when he was in stellar form. Nainggolan was also excluded this year by Wilmots even though he's by far the best DM Belgium has. Like I said, when judging a player's quality, NT call-ups should be your last source.

He was always a starter at Roma. Now that tells you something.

So no, this is not the same a Dida. Dida only fell out of position because he started to deteriorate and collected a fair amount of howlers. And you know how it's with keepers: you don't change them like they're fullbacks or attackers.

The thing with Mexes is that for some reason coaches eliminate or sideline him time after time. Yes, agreed, he is a good defender on his day, but that's exactly why I think there must be more into this.

The reason I compared it to Dida is because even after a coach decides to sideline him, he still ends up relying on him when he realizes that he's better than everyone else who've got. It happened with Allegri, and it happened with Seedorf. Perhaps the guy doesn't have a good character, which coupled with what he earns makes him an easy target to bench.

But we can judge by ourselves. We've seen him play many times, and even though he's not exactly Thiago Silva, compared to the likes of Bonera and Zapata who Pippo prefers instead, he's miles better.

[X-Offender]

F*ck Atletico! They're a bunch of dirty whiners that play some of the most unattractive football in Europe.

[Danny]

Delighted with the result. Well-deserved. Juve just aren't up to CL level, and Atletico know how to win.

[X-Offender]

Yeah, Juve were very poor. Allegri needs to drop the 3-man defense ASAP, but the problem is that they have no wingers or a proper AM. Coman is too green and Pereyra is average. Unless he plays Vidal or Marchisio there, which really would be typical Allegri like he did with Boateng and Emanuelson. Not to mention their only LB is 33-year-old Evra...

[Danny]

Who tonight was played as a left winger...

Roma seem far more suited to CL football than Juve, who just don't know what it takes to succeed at that level. Roma themselves are no astounding team but they have a LOT of incredibly good players with lots of experience at CL level and higher.

Juve will struggle to get to the last 16, while Roma may actually manage it.

But it shows the decline of Serie A when its supposed best team struggles at that level.

But then, isn't it ironic that England's supposed best team, Man City, does too? In the battle of 'new European forces' between City and PSG it's PSG who are streets ahead of City.

[kurtsimonw]

This club is becoming more of a joke.

AC Milan want European places for past glories - League form should be ignored for "prestige" teams

16 October ~ In the 1990s AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi complained that it did not make economic sense that the European season of top clubs such as his Milan could be over by the beginning of November, or even earlier. Those were still the days of European competitions with straight knockout rounds and no seedings. So, in 1988-89, Napoli found themselves up against Real Madrid in the first round and promptly went out, a fate which also befell Inter two years later against the much more modest Malmo.

Berlusconi's wish was soon granted as the European Champions Cup became the Champions League. But some people are never satisfied, and so now, again from Milan, has come another suggestion. The author is Umberto Gandini, a director of the club who is little-known outside Rossoneri circles.

No doubt influenced by the fact that Milan are not in Europe this season, he has come up with the idea that in order to improve the prestige of the Champions League certain clubs who have had the misfortune not to qualify due to poor league campaigns should be granted wild card entry to the competition. He named seven Italian and six English clubs who fight for, respectively, three and four places, and his argument seems to be that they should all be in the Champions League ex officio.

He says: "Every year two or three miss out and either go into the Europa League or 'have to' go without European football." And of course he could not fail to mention the importance to the clubs of revenue from European football, though it seems to have escaped his notice that for most clubs "going without" European football is the norm.

That this suggestion should come from Italy, a country where the national cup competition is programmed to ensure that two of the top clubs reach the final, should not come as a surprise. If its wider implications, the idea is clearly outlandish. Imagine that a medium-sized club, say Verona or Sampdoria, finish above Milan but out of the European placings. Gandini seems to be saying that Milan should leapfrog over them simply because of their past glories. So some Serie A clubs would be in Europe whatever their final league position, while others knew that no matter how well they performed they would never be allowed in. Yet most small- to medium-sized top division clubs manage to survive without any of the European money that Gandini seems to think is indispensable.
According to Gandini's logic clubs such as Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, Derby and Nottingham Forest should be in the Premier League at the expense of five of the current members with less "sporting merit" or support. That is without mentioning all the former League clubs in the Conference and the often smaller clubs that have replaced them.

Gianni Infantino, UEFA general secretary, has said that there is no chance of Gandini's proposals being adopted, but the power that the top clubs now wield suggests caution. It is not inconceivable that it could happen. And if it does it will be another nail in the coffin of the idea of football as an exercise in meritocracy and a sport which, more than almost any other, sometimes sees little triumph over large and be rewarded for doing so.

I hope it's true that it won't happen. But the fact it's even being suggested is a bit sad.

I imagine if it was to happen, smaller winners like Forest, Villa and Red Star/Crvena Zvezda won't be given entry. Just the big names

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Oct 16 2014, 03:12 PM