[Zed.D]

Many people think the CL's where we belong... but I'm going for a surprise win for Shakhtar. unless we have Ronaldo up front, which is not likely to happen.

[Tennie]

Maldini can play LB, sure. I'd rather see him in the center and Kaladze on the left though if we must play that back line (I'd bench Kaladze and play Sergio).

I think we've got on this board a real difference in philosophy and outlook. There are the oldtimers (like me and R7) who have followed Milan for as long as (if not longer than) a good percentage of other posters have been alive. We see things differently than the very enthusiastic young fans do. I think R7 and I would agree that Milan is more than just football. There's a certain class about Milan - even when the team is doing poorly like now - that just is not present at any other team. Milan is also not a team that's going to go for the instant gratification 'we want a title now and we're going to spend a zillion euros to do it' sort of team like Chelsea is. If that's the team you want to follow, then I suggest Milan may not be right for you. Milan takes the long view (ie, PATO). And Milan so far hasn't been proved long in the long view.

That's why it bothers us oldtimers (and makes me want to reach for my fish woobie to hit people with) when there's a constant barrage of team-bashing and general wailing and gnashing of teeth. There's a difference between constructive criticism and 'zomg, they all suck'. The former, I'm all in favor of. The latter - which is all too common right now - I don't bother reading.