[X-Offender]

He was not included in the list for the group stages. Allegri's decision relates to Inzaghi's precarious physical condition. El Shaarawy was excluded as well. Below is the list of the 25 players.

Abate, Abbiati, Ambrosini, Amelia, Antonini, Aquilani, Boateng, Bonera, Cassano, Thiago Silva, De Sciglio, Robinho, Emanuelson, Gattuso, Ibrahimovic, Mexes, Nesta, Nocerino, Pato, Roma, Seedorf, Taiwo, Van Bommel, Yepes, Zambrotta.

Why the hell not El Shaarawy???

[CHU-LIP]

That Inzaghi isn't valuable at the moment is a conclusion we seem to follow. Gattuso on the other hand is match fit, and was starter last season, and so it makes sense Allegri seems him as valuable. That people like you, han, don't think so as obvious as snow being white. Even though it's for me questionable whether he still should be a starter or not, he's still valuable in my opinion and belongs to our main eight midfield options. Of course the ban makes him only valuable for two matches, but one from them is vs Barça. And vs Barça is a team you want enough defensive midfielders available so let's I follow Allegri on this. Of course I also follow when han doesn't, since he prolly wouildn't include Gattuso in the CL squad even when he could have played all six games. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Fillipo Simone]

That Inzaghi isn't valuable at the moment is a conclusion we seem to follow. Gattuso on the other hand is match fit, and was starter last season, and so it makes sense Allegri seems him as valuable. That people like you, han, don't think so as obvious as snow being white. Even though it's for me questionable whether he still should be a starter or not, he's still valuable in my opinion and belongs to our main eight midfield options. Of course the ban makes him only valuable for two matches, but one from them is vs Barça. And vs Barça is a team you want enough defensive midfielders available so let's I follow Allegri on this. Of course I also follow when han doesn't, since he prolly wouildn't include Gattuso in the CL squad even when he could have played all six games. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

What are you talking about? He's match fit, a regular team player and suspended as well. Where's there the benefit for the team? I think Allegri is only playing him because of a peculiar fixation on him, he prefers him to a much better Ambrosini, he obviously gave that spot to him as a gift, while at the same time he played hard-ball with Pippo.

[acid911]

I think Allegri is only playing him because of a peculiar fixation on him

Or maybe he's afraid of the character that is Gattuso. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Leonardo benched him and paid the price. Allegri is just running with the water, I reckon, because there is no way the coach has enough authority on the squad that has been here ten times longer than Allegri. Maybe even the management is in all this - as a background entity.

Leaving Inzaghi out when the whole world knew that he is here only for the CL goals, means the coach is either very clever or very stupid. I personally think he isn't alone in all this. Things rarely are as black and white as they seem. Having said that, I also believe that no one individual should hold a club hostage - be it a player or a coach. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) The institution is always - and I mean ALWAYS - bigger than any individual.

And by holding hostage I mean either throwing tantrums behind the doors, or making stupid gestures while being substituted, giving deadly statements to the media, or chanting lethal chants with fans at the end of the season. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Anything and everything these players are (including Paolo Maldini, who I think is a titan) is because of the club. And the club is everything because of us fans. Still, nothing - and no one - is bigger than the club.

[X-Offender]

Or maybe he's afraid of the character that is Gattuso. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Leonardo benched him and paid the price. Allegri is just running with the water, I reckon, because there is no way the coach has enough authority on the squad that has been here ten times longer than Allegri. Maybe even the management is in all this - as a background entity.

You said it, acid. Allegri plays Gattuso in order to keep an important ally inside the locker room. Gattuso is one of the senators, his word weights a lot. I very much doubt that Allegri plays him for his footballing skills, which are close to none nowadays.