[han2503]

Who: Juventus F.C. vs. A.C. Milan



(IMG:http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah232/hannvis/milan-Juve_zps62bb70fb.png)



Where: Juventus Stadium



(IMG:http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah232/hannvis/JuveStadium_zps97feb8f2.png)



When:
7th February 2015 @ 8:45pm CET


Head-to-Head Record



(IMG:http://i1381.photobucket.com/albums/ah232/hannvis/milan-Juvestats1_zps509908cf.png)

[d'Arc.LP]

I don't know why but I have hope for this match.

[X-Offender]

D. Lopez; Zaccardo, Alex, Rami, Antonelli; Bonaventura, Poli, Muntari; Honda, Menez, Cerci

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[han2503]

D. Lopez; Zaccardo, Alex, Rami, Antonelli; Bonaventura, Poli, Muntari; Honda, Menez, Cerci

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

We really do need a facepalm smilie for this forum

[Forza Milan!]

I don't know why but I have hope for this match.

Because we have done better against tougher teams? Maybe. More likely we will get slaughtered (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) .

[X-Offender]

Gazzetta's line-up: Lopez; Rami, Alex, Paletta, Antonelli; Essien, Poli, Bonaventura; Cerci, Honda, Menez.

I like it more. But still, Honda on the wing is just.. aaaah!

PS: Destro is suspended.

[Danny]

Gazzetta's line-up: Lopez; Rami, Alex, Paletta, Antonelli; Essien, Poli, Bonaventura; Cerci, Honda, Menez.

I like it more. But still, Honda on the wing is just.. aaaah!

PS: Destro is suspended.

You said they're unreliable. For lineups. What's the point posting their lineups when they're BS?

[X-Offender]

You said they're unreliable. For lineups. What's the point posting their lineups when they're BS?

Because I want to.

[Danny]

Fair enough! Fwiw, Lazio debacle aside, we've been surprisingly decent v big teams this season. And with a glut of new players who can start this match, a bit of new energy is no bad thing.

Destro is a huge miss, but I would love to see the Alex Paletta partnership happen. Antonelli should be half decent at LB, and while Essien's form is a little scrappy, he has been MUCH better than he was overall when he first joined. Poli never lets us down either. I'm just hoping Muntari does not start.

We'll still lose, but if we put in a decent shift and lose by one or two goals it's not so bad.

[Danny]

PS, ignoring Destro's suspension and all injuries, IMO the following is our best team:

Lopez, Abate, Alex, Paletta, MDS, De Jong, Bonaventura, Suso, Cerci, Destro, Menez

[Rossoneri7]

Looks like another defeat

[X-Offender]

Mediaset line-up update: D. Lopez; Rami, Paletta, Alex, Antonelli; Poli, Essien, Muntari; Cerci, Menez, Bonaventura

Good god that midfield!

[CrazyMilanFan]

Mediaset line-up update: D. Lopez; Rami, Paletta, Alex, Antonelli; Poli, Essien, Muntari; Cerci, Menez, Bonaventura

Good god that midfield!

this is already park the bus strategy..

This post has been edited by CrazyMilanFan: Feb 6 2015, 03:44 PM

[Danny]

Knew Muntari would start.

[han2503]

Pippo will go all out to park the bus tomorrow, sadly for him, the kind of bus we usually park is riddled with holes, you know we'll concede at least 1 or 2

[Danny]

I really have hope for the Alex Paletta partnership. I've given up ever seeing Alex Zapata again.

As for the lineup it's really not the worst we could have. Attack & defence is half decent, although Suso's absence is frustrating. But midfield really is agony. That said, remove Muntari and add Suso and it would look infinitely better.

However, we are looking not to lose this match so I can see why we're going PTB, if indeed we do.

[han2503]

I really have hope for the Alex Paletta partnership. I've given up ever seeing Alex Zapata again.

As for the lineup it's really not the worst we could have. Attack & defence is half decent, although Suso's absence is frustrating. But midfield really is agony. That said, remove Muntari and add Suso and it would look infinitely better.

However, we are looking not to lose this match so I can see why we're going PTB, if indeed we do.

I'm personally afraid of the Alex Paletta partnership because of the latter.

As for this strategy, it's what we used in the first game and we lost, simply because our defence is not good enough to stay concentrated throughout the 90+ minutes, there's at least 1 mistake there in every game, and Juve will take that chance when it comes

[Danny]

I'm personally afraid of the Alex Paletta partnership because of the latter.

As for this strategy, it's what we used in the first game and we lost, simply because our defence is not good enough to stay concentrated throughout the 90+ minutes, there's at least 1 mistake there in every game, and Juve will take that chance when it comes

Our defence will have two new players in it. Add Alex and that gives me hope.

The weak spot is Rami. But there's no one else we can put there.

[Danny]

95% Confirmed XI:

Lopez, Rami, Alex, Paletta, Antonelli, Essien, Poli, Muntari, Bona, Menez, Cerci.

[William405]

That midfield. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/puke.gif)

This post has been edited by William405: Feb 7 2015, 03:00 PM

[han2503]

95% Confirmed XI:

Lopez, Rami, Alex, Paletta, Antonelli, Essien, Poli, Muntari, Bona, Menez, Cerci.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/puke.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/puke.gif)

Worst line-up we've put out this season and considering the terrible mash-ups Pippo's managed to come up with, that's saying something.

I also find it hard to believe that you can say that those 2 new players in defence give you hope... What I see are 2 very mediocre players, who are new to the team, therefore, even more confusion than usual. And you say Rami is the one that's your cause for concern... Really don't get you sometimes Danny.

Add to that the super slow and error prone midfield right in front of them an this is a recipe for disaster.

[milanbuf88]

Muntari wearing the armband!?! Good god what a disgrace.

[acid911]

So Inzaghi made Muntari the captain, eh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/puke.gif) Burn, both of you!

[acid911]

Never thought I'd live to see such disgrace. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) Gattuso and Ambrosini I could understand, but this!

[Forza Milan!]

Never thought I'd live to see such disgrace. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) Gattuso and Ambrosini I could understand, but this!

Sadly, the image of Buffon and Muntari shaking hands right before the match is representative of the difference between the two teams.

[acid911]

Sadly, the image of Buffon and Muntari shaking hands right before the match is representative of the difference between the two teams.

Yeah, well put, man. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) As much as I dislike Juventus, got to agree.

[milanbuf88]

Tevez scores on the counter. ****.

[Forza Milan!]

It starts ...

[han2503]

Muntari wearing that armband makes this even more sickening than it already has to be. Good to see the duds that are our new signings working like a charm on the goal (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[acid911]

Had a great night with the 4-0 drubbing of Real Madrid. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I think I can take whatever comes here, though I will say I still had hopes for us winning this one. But, as said, let's see what these dozers throw at us. Can't be worse than the 1-7 now, can it? Can it?

[han2503]

Every aerial challenge on a set-piece has so far been won by the Juve players

[han2503]

Lol, Antonelli scores.

We finally make good use of a corner

[milanbuf88]

Antonelli!!! Great header on the corner!

[han2503]

Cerci with a great corner there. Why hasn't he been taking every one since he came?

[William405]

Goaaaal!

[han2503]

Muntari is managing to outdo himself in terms of cr@ppy performances. Gives the ball away 3 times in a row

Corner, Juve score. Seriously cannot defend one single set-piece at this point, that's with 4 physically imposing players in that defence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[milanbuf88]

Muntari is such a moron! You clear that ball you don't take a touch! Now Juve scores on the resulting corner. Worst captain ever.

[han2503]

What's up with Alex?? Keeps pushing up and getting out of position

[han2503]

Pippo needs to pull both Muntari and Essien out of that midfield and never play them again!! FFS!

[William405]

Muntari is such a moron! You clear that ball you don't take a touch! Now Juve scores on the resulting corner. Worst captain ever.

It sickens me that such an individual may be considered a captain. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Worst Milan player ever, considering everything.

[milanbuf88]

Pazzini on for Menez. Anyone see if he got injured or something?

[han2503]

Pazzini on for Menez. Anyone see if he got injured or something?

Yeah. he is.

Juve literally toying with us. We have no midfield

[milanbuf88]

I'd like to see Bonnaventura and Van Gingel in for Muntari and Essien at half.

[han2503]

EVERY set-piece

[milanbuf88]

Omg Essien is awful. So far past it.

[han2503]

Every time Muntari get's on the ball he somehow manages to either lose it, make a bad pass or almost lose it. Just ridiculous, even I can do better

[milanbuf88]

HT 2-1. We've had some good moments but we're very clearly inferior.

[han2503]

Terrible, terrible. Can't believe this is somehow still 2-1, Juve should have already disposed of us by now with the way we're playing

Pogba, Vidal, Pirlo and Marchisio vs. Essien, Muntari and Poli... Says it all

[han2503]

Pazzo so close

[han2503]

Lol, leaves dumb and dumber in there and takes off Poli to bring on Bona

[milanbuf88]

What a stupid sub. He takes off our only decent midfielder and leaves on those two schmucks.

[milanbuf88]

Pogba nutmegs Essien and makes him look like the joke he is. Again our defense is slow to react. This is rough.

[han2503]

Why are the idiotic fans singing the Inzaghi song??? FFS how stupid can you get? Pippo only deserved the chants as a player, certainly not as a coach

[han2503]

Pogba nutmegs Essien and makes him look like the joke he is. Again our defense is slow to react. This is rough.

They've been literally toying with us all game long, I'm shocked that the score is this low tbh

[han2503]

How ridiculous is Pogba's hair btw? His head looks like a Roman helmet

[han2503]

lol, how is this just 3-1, any time they attack with any purpose they literally waltz right through the heart of our defence. It feels like Alex is the only one in there

[han2503]

lol, he's bringing on Rami FFS!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Just beyond belief at this point

[milanbuf88]

Rami in for Zaccardo. Another gutless pathetic sub.

[han2503]

Just going to turn this sh!t off as I can't stomach anymore of this

Talk to you tomorrow peeps!

[kurtsimonw]

People's minds are mind up before the game. Muntari with over 90% pass completion = gives the ball away every time he gets it. He sucks, you don't need to make stuff up to prove it.

[han2503]

People's minds are mind up before the game. Muntari with over 90% pass completion = gives the ball away every time he gets it. He sucks, you don't need to make stuff up to prove it.

He usually doesn't lose it when he is making the pass (although that did happen today - in dangerous areas as well) he loses it because he has to take about 4 to 5 touches every time before he can decide where he wants to pass it. Just like that stupid touch he made that lead to the shot and corner which lead to the second goal. And when he does need all that time, he's usually just crowded off it. There was one action where he lost it 3 times consecutively, one after the other.

Taking a touch like that in a crowded penalty area is the definition of what stupid is

[milanbuf88]

People's minds are mind up before the game. Muntari with over 90% pass completion = gives the ball away every time he gets it. He sucks, you don't need to make stuff up to prove it.

I never claimed that he gave up the ball every time. His stupid give away did directly lead to the corner Juve scored from though. He and Essien have been completely overrun in midfield.

[milanbuf88]

FT 3-1. Flashes of good moments but not enough focus and the midfield got run over.

[drucurl]

Only 5 pages for a big game like this? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

Almost as depressing as Muntari in midfield (IMG:style_emoticons/default/96.gif)

[Danny]

I'm lost for words.

Pippo is probably the most disgusting manager we've ever had.

Those subs summed us up, and word is Poli had an altercation with Inzaghi after he got hauled off.

I'm just sick fed up of this w*nker ruining our team.

[Danny]

People's minds are mind up before the game. Muntari with over 90% pass completion = gives the ball away every time he gets it. He sucks, you don't need to make stuff up to prove it.

No offence Kurt old friend but is this really your only contribution to the thread? To defend Muntari?

[Danny]

Rant time:

Well, where do we begin? First off I commend the defence - given what we had available it was actually a decent selection and over the course of the match didn't perform too badly. Its problem was trying to bail out the fucking shocking midfield - the first goal was a prime example of Paletta and Alex being too high because Muntari and Essien were AWOL and they got caught for pace - neither defender is exactly Zapata so Tevez only had to jog to score.

Attack was just abysmal but then, three games aside, Honda has been a complete joke since he joined us and is starting to utterly frustrate me. He doesn't create anything, all he does is pass inside or backwards. He has no attacking contribution at all.

Menez was injured early on and unable to influence the match and Cerci was just well marshalled at the back.

But that midfield. Pippo, you d*ck. You had a chance to pick a team that might actually be able to do something, guys like Suso, Bonaventura, and Van Ginkel, but you elect to make captain the most disgraceful player in Serie A who's brought shame upon this club over and over again, while putting Essien in as sitting mid - that second decision was less of a gamble given we had few DMs but his form recently has been poor. Tonight it was tragic. But guess what - it was our best midfielder who got taken off while Pinky and Perky remained on the pitch.

Pippo has gone beyond pissing me off and is now clearly trying to ruin Milan. Where I saw logic and reason in most things Allegri did, even if the occasional decision was questionable, almost all of Pippo's management is as if he's playing a bugged version of FM2015.

Fucking ratings:

Lopez: 6 One stunning save and a lot of good work but made a hash of the second goal.

Zaccardo: 6 I'll be fair, he was ok and stopped more down the left than he let through.

Alex: 6 Decent enough but left totally exposed by midfield.

Paletta: 6 Same as Alex.

Antonelli: 7 Had a good match, fairly tight at the back and fine goal. He should retain his place but will he f*ck - Pippo will ditch him for Bonera the minute he's fit.

Essien: 2 Diabolical. Broke up nothing, lost the ball repeatedly, looked completely bewildered.

Muntari: 5 Yes. 5. He made some mental errors as always but the high pressing especially in the first half (Seedorf's model) was mostly down to him. He worked hard and while he'd have been better off on the bench, he worked like a dog. But faded really badly as the HT approached and needed removed. Like Essien.

Poli: 6 Tidy display, outmuscled at times particularly by Chiellini but can feel appalled at being removed.

Honda: 2 Hopeless. Just offers nothing and hasn't for 99% of his Milan career.

Menez: N/A

Cerci: 4 Weak. Didn't get any joy till later on - seems to improve as defenders tire.

Subs:

Pazzo: 2 Didn't do much of note.

Bona: 4 Quiet.

Rami: N/A

Pippo: 0 I just have no idea what he's doing, and neither does he. I love Pippo the player, the legend, but the manager is a leg-end and so painfully out of his depth it's embarrassing.

[Fillipo Simone]

Expected.

[Rossoneri7]

People's minds are mind up before the game. Muntari with over 90% pass completion = gives the ball away every time he gets it. He sucks, you don't need to make stuff up to prove it.

If only Muntari was on the bench, we would have won this gqme easily. But as you stated, those give-aways of his. Wonder why every coach we had started him (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

[William405]

If only Muntari was on the bench, we would have won this gqme easily. But as you stated, those give-aways of his. Wonder why every coach we had started him (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)

Cause we have had terrible coaches? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[han2503]

Cause we have had terrible coaches? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Don't bother William, this is R7's shtick nowadays...

No one said we'd win had Muntari not played, but had he and Essien not been in midfield, maybe we would not have gotten overrun in the manner that we did, simple as that.

Muntari and Essien constantly getting caught out on the ball and fumbling it is the reason why Pogba, Vidal and Pirlo ran riot, simple as that. And then Pippo has the audacity to take off Poli, the only player in that midfield doing anything right and decent and leaving those 2 on summed up his managerial expertise.

My earlier post in this thread said it all

Essien, Muntari and Poli vs Marchisio, Pogba, Pirlo and Vidal. Says it all and shows the glaring gulf in quality between the 2 sides

[Rossoneri7]

Cause we have had terrible coaches? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

To his defense Allegri did win the league with us. And of-course Juventus are buffoons (lesser buffoons than B&G, yet still buffoons) for hiring him.

The other two are rookies, nobody expected much from either. Except if Inzaghi subbed himself in (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Danny]

http://www.football-italia.net/62392/conte...is-meeting-figc

Conte on the brink of resigning. And looking like he'll take up our reins in June. Or earlier.

[Danny]

Don't bother William, this is R7's shtick nowadays...

No one said we'd win had Muntari not played, but had he and Essien not been in midfield, maybe we would not have gotten overrun in the manner that we did, simple as that.

Muntari and Essien constantly getting caught out on the ball and fumbling it is the reason why Pogba, Vidal and Pirlo ran riot, simple as that. And then Pippo has the audacity to take off Poli, the only player in that midfield doing anything right and decent and leaving those 2 on summed up his managerial expertise.

My earlier post in this thread said it all

Essien, Muntari and Poli vs Marchisio, Pogba, Pirlo and Vidal. Says it all and shows the glaring gulf in quality between the 2 sides

As much as I can't stand Muntari, the reason we got overrun was sheer numbers, and the fact Essien looked absolutely lost. Muntari, poor though he was on the ball, was decent off it, and worked hard pressing high up. It's why we spent an actual decent amount of time in their half first half.

You said it yourself - we put 3 guys up v 4. Tactically that was way off. Especially when Essien was physically capable of doing a single thing right.

[Danny]

But another match threads ends up about Sulley f*ckin' Muntari.

I don't like him but our problems are not him. They're the guy picking him and others in the wrong position.

[han2503]

As much as I can't stand Muntari, the reason we got overrun was sheer numbers, and the fact Essien looked absolutely lost. Muntari, poor though he was on the ball, was decent off it, and worked hard pressing high up. It's why we spent an actual decent amount of time in their half first half.

You said it yourself - we put 3 guys up v 4. Tactically that was way off. Especially when Essien was physically capable of doing a single thing right.

I think Muntari was worse than Essien, and sure the man advantage they had on us in midfield counted for a lot, but look at the sheer discrepancy in quality between our players and theirs in that midfield area.

We got overrun there not because of the man advantage imo, they have Pirlo there, he doesn't run miles and work all that much, we got overrun in midfield simply because Essien and Muntari are clueless players. Essien seems like he's lost everything that made him once great, even the great technique he had on the ball seems lost, Muntari was never great to begin with but he's just a major liability.

I don't know what off the ball work you're talking about personally, any time Juve put any initiative behind their attacks they literally just waltzed through the centre of the pitch and through the heart of our defence.

Don't you think the reason that each thread devolves into a Muntari discussion is because it's so OBVIOUS how utterly terrible he is yet still gets to play a lot of minutes for us, especially in these big games. Before it used to be just me, x-off and maybe a couple of others, now it's everyone with basically every other post being about something stupid Muntari did.

[Danny]

High pressing. That's what I said.

Oh I am not disagreeing his selection was a disgrace, as was his captaincy, but he wasn't the only thing wrong, nor was he the worst component.

That fell to the idiot selecting him and others.

[Ry4n]

Don't bother William, this is R7's shtick nowadays...

I like it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

everyone agreeing on things would be a boring forum we need the Kurts and R7's around here.

I did not watch the game my self mainly because Juve away and at 11:45pm work early the next day worth it or not...don't think so , not with the way this season is..

So anyone with highlights to this train wreck would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advanced.

This post has been edited by Ry4n: Feb 8 2015, 05:42 PM

[han2503]

I like it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

everyone agreeing on things would be a boring forum we need the Kurts and R7's around here.

I did not watch the game my self mainly because Juve away and at 11:45pm work early the next day worth it or not...don't think so , not with the way this season is..

So anyone with highlights to this train wreck would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advanced.

It's not about disagreeing about Muntari, I meant the patronizing and bating.

I say that opposing opinions are welcomed all the time, otherwise what are going to do all day? Say "agreed" to every one of each other's posts?

[han2503]

High pressing. That's what I said.

Oh I am not disagreeing his selection was a disgrace, as was his captaincy, but he wasn't the only thing wrong, nor was he the worst component.

That fell to the idiot selecting him and others.

The point is Pippo supposedly used both Muntari and Essien to "contain" those Juve players I mentioned, and "protect" the defence, and they BOTH failed miserably at it. Muntari is a tactical liability and Essien simply isn't up to it any more.

The midfield got overrun both because of the 3 v 4 issue you mentioned and because our mediocre midfielder players failed at executing the "plan" Pippo laid out. Now you can accuse him of this all you want but Allegri deployed this very same strategy multiple times in big games and we saw the same failure results.

I understand the thinking behing it, but not when you have players that are incapable of actually covering the defence or managing to string more than 3 passes together before conceding possession back to the opposition

[Danny]

In a rare defence of Pippo he expected Juve to have the ball mostly, therefore our players pressing high most of the time would bear more fruit than us trying to dominate the ball.

[acid911]

In a rare defence of Pippo he expected Juve to have the ball mostly, therefore our players pressing high most of the time would bear more fruit than us trying to dominate the ball.

So basically he tried to DeAllegri, Allegri? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Danny]

So basically he tried to DeAllegri, Allegri? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

I won't lie, I have no idea what he was doing. I'm a desperate fan clutching at straws here.

[acid911]

I won't lie, I have no idea what he was doing. I'm a desperate fan clutching at straws here.

We all are, Danny, we all are. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Most are actually dumbfounded with what they're seeing. Because really, we started falling from grace after 2007, but these last two years are just a black mark on the history of the club in terms of how we have managed things, the coaches and players that we signed, and the on field performances.

Still hopeful that the good days will return, but there is an ever growing chance that the might not. As you said, Liverpool status or below. Maybe that's our destiny, maybe it is in the short term. You will not see me supporting any other club, like ever, but I, you and most other fans know that this is not the right way to improve things.

We're not walking, we're running in the wrong direction. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) And have been for many moons now. When you have a guy like Han tuning out of a Juventus match, you know things could barely be worse. In closing I will say that I just hope you are right with your Conte guess. Would really like to see someone of his caliber as a coach.

At the very least, an experienced hands will ensure that we don't make these idiotic coaching mistakes that we've been making ever since the Ancelotti era, really. Been ages since we've had a real top visionary coach at the helm. Maybe not since the early 90s. Carlo made many a blunders, though he had to team to back him up.

Still the 2004 bow out and the 2005 loss was on him, squarely, in my opinion. CL. And don't even get me started on the league during his time here. Plus he had a chance to win the final UEFA Cup, before he squandered that too. After him, it was the start of utterly shambolic displays in terms of coaching, Leonardo, Seedorf and Allegri.

This Inzaghi thing is just a continuation of what started with Ancelotti, or at least his final few years. A true tactician like Conte, Klopp or Pablo (Simone) given full hand on building a team, we'd be in much better shape overall. So again, it primarily falls to Galliani, he should have been shown the door eons ago.

Oh well, now you've turned me into a desperate fan, albeit one that is not clutching at straws. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Ciao!

[Danny]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I support Rangers too. I don't think either of my sides could be going through a worse time in their entire histories tbh.

Then there's Kurt with his Villa.

[Danny]

PS the Conte story just refuses to go away. That link says the emergency meeting will be tomorrow, and word is Conte is outright bored at the Azzurri. He's too hands-on for a part-time job, which is what all NT coaching is. He's also feeling hamstrung by the limitations and change in the climate of Italian football.

http://www.thelocal.it/20141119/italys-fea...dying-out-conte

I would hope if we get him the purse strings will be opened - not that the existing squad is bad, far from it. Under a coach like Conte it's easily top 3 material. But if we get him I would hope he'll get a bit of a budget to work with in June. If we want to return to Milan of old that's how to start.

Conte in charge would attract far better players, even if I personally wasn't appalled at what we got in January.

PS Antonelli and Paletta both looked pretty good. Antonelli had an especially good match v Juve.

[acid911]

I support Rangers too. I don't think either of my sides could be going through a worse time in their entire histories tbh.

You're a strong lad, Dan. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) You can take it if you supported three clubs during their worst of times. I'm taking it pretty well, though, sentimental guy that I am. Have plenty of memories of the good old days, enough to last me a couple of lifetimes. Five of my favorite players ever played in our shirt, Maldini, Ronaldo, Rui Costa, Baggio and Dida.

But despite all this, there is a sense of disappointment, not at our results, or our fortunes, but how this management is running things. More so when you see Atletico, Roma, even Inter chin up and make progress. But we're not just going in circles, we're trapped in a spiral, a pretty lethal one at that. Our soul has gone missing. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Pity.

Then there's Kurt with his Villa.

Yeah, he's had it pretty bad too. Pretty bad these few years. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Sadly, don't see Villa being back to fine form anytime soon. Rangers and Milan, maybe there's a solid chance because they are big clubs, and it's easier for them to fall down and easier for them to climb back up, comparatively speaking, of course.

PS the Conte story just refuses to go away. That link says the emergency meeting will be tomorrow, and word is Conte is outright bored at the Azzurri. He's too hands-on for a part-time job, which is what all NT coaching is. He's also feeling hamstrung by the limitations and change in the climate of Italian football.

http://www.thelocal.it/20141119/italys-fea...dying-out-conte

I would hope if we get him the purse strings will be opened - not that the existing squad is bad, far from it. Under a coach like Conte it's easily top 3 material. But if we get him I would hope he'll get a bit of a budget to work with in June. If we want to return to Milan of old that's how to start.

Come on, make it happen you numb bastards! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) A proper coach with a bit of a philosophy in ages, who wouldn't want to see that. There are only a few like him around, proper coaches I mean. I'd vacate in the depths of hell for a month to see Pablo (Simone) here, but he's pretty much the next best choice.

Conte in charge would attract far better players, even if I personally wasn't appalled at what we got in January.

Yeah, that's the biggest uplift we'll get. Apart from a system in place at Milan. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It would also mean we may get rid of a lot of the schmucks, including our new captain who Allegri wanted because he had legs. No brains apparently. But I think if I'd love one takeaway from this season, it would be the Conte signing.

Unless, of course, we can get someone better. Which we just can't.

PS Antonelli and Paletta both looked pretty good. Antonelli had an especially good match v Juve.

Agreed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Experienced heads, both. Particularly in the case of Paletta .(IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) But far better than the no name random signings that Galliani usually makes in the winter. Oh, how I would love a little crystal ball that would tell me who is going to be our coach come August, and what signings we shall be making.

[Fillipo Simone]

I gotta say, something strange goes on with this Conte. It's like we're missing out on an important or crucial detail.

I mean the whole Juventus story is strange enough. Resigning from a winning team apparently because he wasn't up for selling the best players - but then nothing happens and Juventus remains intact, if not stronger even. Now he's gonna resign again? And come to Milan, a place that's the exact opposite of a stable environment?

[Danny]

I gotta say, something strange goes on with this Conte. It's like we're missing out on an important or crucial detail.

I mean the whole Juventus story is strange enough. Resigning from a winning team apparently because he wasn't up for selling the best players - but then nothing happens and Juventus remains intact, if not stronger even. Now he's gonna resign again? And come to Milan, a place that's the exact opposite of a stable environment?

No, he quit Juve because they disagreed on the kinds of players they were bringing in, and the general philosophy. When a manager collides with senior bosses over transfer policy, it's usually a general clash of philosophy, rather than one specific behaviour.

If you look at who they brought in, do you really think Conte would have sanctioned 87 year old Evra? And a lot of the other signings last summer aren't the kind of players he likes.

Milan is more stable than people realise, it's just not forward-thinking enough because we haven't had the right manager to spearhead such a vision. As such we haven't trusted the Seedorfs and Inzaghis with a big budget or full control over players in because we didn't trust their judgement. Rightly, IMO.

But Conte is another matter.

[acid911]

What Danny said above. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Or it could be the case of something else entirely at Juventus, which both Conte and the management are hiding, some personal altercation or you know. It happens. Not with the players, I mean, but between the management and Conte. It's probably what we heard in the media, though.

But with thing stable and looking up (they did come a long way from the Fulham trashing), could happen.

[han2503]

No, he quit Juve because they disagreed on the kinds of players they were bringing in, and the general philosophy. When a manager collides with senior bosses over transfer policy, it's usually a general clash of philosophy, rather than one specific behaviour.

If you look at who they brought in, do you really think Conte would have sanctioned 87 year old Evra? And a lot of the other signings last summer aren't the kind of players he likes.

Milan is more stable than people realise, it's just not forward-thinking enough because we haven't had the right manager to spearhead such a vision. As such we haven't trusted the Seedorfs and Inzaghis with a big budget or full control over players in because we didn't trust their judgement. Rightly, IMO.

But Conte is another matter.

Galliani never trusted anyone with full control, Carlo didn't even have that or Allegri, and Galliani loved both of them.

The way our club works is like any other Italian team, a coach requests a specific mid, they go out and buy him someone similar. Very little occasions can be pointed out where our coach wanted someone specific and they got him that specific someone, Allegri with Matri is the only occasion in the recent past which I can remember where a player was signed solely on the coach's recommendation. And personally, I believe that it's the same way at Juve and any other Italian club.

If Conte's issues were solely that, I don't think he'd be seeking employment at another Italian club with even bigger pompous management than the one at Juventus.

[Fillipo Simone]

Guys, this is pretty much peripheral.

I agree with both sides, to an extent. Muntari is the obvious culprit in almost every game, and few of us here who don't rate him at all resist the urge to grab an easy dunk as soon as Sulley makes a mistake, while at the same time we're prone to let the mistakes of various De Sciglios, Montolivos, etc. sly. It's unjust and unfair, no doubt. It's also human and natural, no need to get rough.

A good read from FI here.

Link