[Rossoneri7]

So its Palermo next ... This is a tricky fixture .. w/o Kaka' Milan might go for two strikers. I have a feeling Shevchenko - Pato.

btw, when does Borriello return ?

[kurtsimonw]

Inter and Juve both play at home, so you'd expect them both to pick up 3 points so it is very important that we win. We can't allow Inter to get more than 3 points away, otherwise catching up takes too much time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Rossoneri7]

Inter and Juve both play at home, so you'd expect them both to pick up 3 points so it is very important that we win. We can't allow Inter to get more than 3 points away, otherwise catching up takes too much time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I think max 5 points difference, otherwise it would be too blurry chasing the merda (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[acid911]

I think max 5 points difference, otherwise it would be too blurry chasing the merda

You think right, my friend. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Jack Sparrow]

As long as we keep it under 5, I'm not worried. Eventually, the team's gonna get into must-win mode, and Inter have to play CL. With all due respect in the UEFA cup, playing Zenit or Fiorentina(assuming they don't qualify) will not require the same level of preparation as playing Barca or Chelsea.

[acid911]

As long as we keep it under 5, I'm not worried. Eventually, the team's gonna get into must-win mode, and Inter have to play CL. With all due respect in the UEFA cup, playing Zenit or Fiorentina(assuming they don't qualify) will not require the same level of preparation as playing Barca or Chelsea.

Provided they don't come crashing out in the knockout stage? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Then it could get ugly. The one thing I don't want any members here doing is underestimating inter. That'll be our own undoing. Don't underestimate any team, but least of all inter. FACT.

[Jack Sparrow]

This underestimating thing doesn't work. Since we're not up against Inter alone. It's more like a marathon where you rack up the miles at a steady pace.

I know Inter will drop points. So far, Milan are doing well considering we're playing badly, and still in second. I take that as a good thing. I'm also sure, about the winter renaissance, since it's been that way for the past 3 years.

This post has been edited by Jack Sparrow: Nov 28 2008, 12:12 PM

[acid911]

I know Inter will drop points. So far, Milan are doing well considering we're playing badly, and still in second. I take that as a good thing. I'm also sure, about the winter renaissance, since it's been that way for the past 3 years.

It's been that way, because we've been playing real bad these 3 seasons. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And it just had to pick up sometime, so the winter break was now or never. I don't particularly think this will be the case this season, or at least not as impacting as last time, since we've already raked up (lucky, or otherwise) points. At best, we might keep doing what we're doing now.

But who knows? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Maybe Dubai will charm the team like it's been doing so for the past 3 years.

[CrazyMilanFan]

somebody plz create the new match thread

[amancik]

Milan usually kick-off in January, so I expect a completely different Milan after the break.

This post has been edited by amancik: Nov 28 2008, 06:50 PM

[CrazyMilanFan]

So its Palermo next ... This is a tricky fixture .. w/o Kaka' Milan might go for two strikers. I have a feeling Shevchenko - Pato.

btw, when does Borriello return ?

we will play 4-3-2-1 emerson/flamini-pirlo-rino and seedorf-rino behind pato

[Tennie]

Hiho all.

Back from Florence and a little groggy, but I'll make a couple of comments here, where they seem most appropriate.

The Franchi in Florence is a great old stadium. The ticket I got for Fiorentina-Udinese cost TWELVE EUROS. I was 9 rows up directly behind Fiorentina's technical area, so I got to watch Prandelli a lot. I was also right smack in the middle of a bunch of season ticket holders who found me amusing. They bought me a hot chocolate (VERY good and a little surprising to see that for sale in a staidum). They also caught me giggling at the 'Udine Vaffanculo' comments and got me to teach them the translation in English. It was sort of funny having a bunch of 60 year olds chanting 'f*** you' to Udinese. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Udinese were easily the better team in the first half of the game and then Fiorentina turned it on in the second half. Montolivo's 2 goals were really impressive. It was a very enjoyable evening! I also discovered that Gattuso is extremely popular, at least in Florence.

As for the other game that night, I watched it on replay. The cugini deserved the win on the whole, I think. Juve's offense just didn't show up. Perhaps a bit surprisingly, Gazzetta named Giorgio Chiellini man of the match for the game.

[acid911]

Welcome back, Tennie. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Sounds like a fun little trip.

[Zed.D]

Zanetti ready for 'deadly' Lavezzi

Saturday 29 November, 2008

Javier Zanetti is worried at having to face Napoli’s Ezequiel ‘Pocho’ Lavezzi on Sunday. “He’s deadly.”

Inter welcome the San Paolo side tomorrow afternoon and there are no doubts over who the main threat is considered to be.

“When Lavezzi gets into space, he is deadly,” noted the Nerazzurri captain and fellow Argentina international.

“I had already noticed him at San Lorenzo and you could see he was far too good to remain in Argentina.

“Napoli got themselves a great bargain, because there are few around with his pace and dribbling skills.”

Lavezzi has scored three Serie A goals this season, but his main job is to provide assists, earn free kicks and generally terrorise the opposition defence.

“We cannot leave him any space, because he is a phenomenon,” continued Zanetti in the Corriere dello Sport.

“He already proved it last season when Napoli ended our unbeaten record after such a long time.”

Inter had not lost for 31 consecutive Serie A games when they fell 1-0 at the San Paolo to Marcelo Zalayeta’s strike on March 2.

This term Napoli have been doing even better, as they currently share third place with Juventus.

“They have had a great start to the season and are the undoubted surprise of the tournament. We must not underestimate him.”

Zanetti is now Lavezzi’s teammate at international level, as both play a part in Diego Armando Maradona’s Argentine squad.

“Maradona is a great motivator and nobody is better at helping us understand what it means to remain in the history of your country.”

The Inter star was the captain of Argentina, but the armband has been handed to Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano.

“I took his decision in a very relaxed manner, because you don’t need to have a piece of cloth round your arm to feel important to the team.”

Cambiasso shrugs off trophy talk

Friday 28 November, 2008

Esteban Cambiasso gives Zlatan Ibrahimovic his opinion, but also insists “the Ballon d’Or is worthless” because Paolo Maldini never won.

His Inter teammate Ibra is determined to win the trophy presented by France Football next season, although the favourites are Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi.

“Is Ibrahimovic the best I’ve ever played with? No, Zinedine Zidane could not be matched in my opinion, as he had everything required in the football manual,” said the former Real Madrid midfielder.

“I also had the opportunity to play alongside Messi for Argentina. It is difficult to say where Ibra belongs in the list of greatest strikers in the world.”

Cambiasso has again shown himself to be perhaps every bit as decisive for the Nerazzurri as Ibrahimovic, but would never be considered for European Player of the Year.

“For someone who doesn’t play in the final third, the Ballon d’Or is a miracle or a bizarre coincidence. When you see that heroes like Raul and Maldini did not win in their careers, then I think the Ballon d’Or is worthless.”

Ibrahimovic did his candidacy no favours when Inter lost 1-0 at home to Panathinaikos in a result that nonetheless qualified them for the second round.

“Our first objective was to qualify and we achieved that, but if you only look at the last game, then clearly we didn’t do everything we wanted to,” he told Sky Italia television.

“Every now and then a team can get it wrong. Of this week’s encounters, the appropriate one to get wrong was against Panathinaikos, not Juventus or Napoli.”

That 1-0 victory over Juve sent the Scudetto holders three points clear at the top of the table.

“Juventus have a great squad based on the side that got them out of Serie B. It is not true to say that last season they were not real title contenders, as they are this year as well.

“Milan made investments and will want to fight to the end, which they did not manage in recent years. The surprise was Roma, who had a bad start due to a series of setbacks.”

Forza Cambiasso (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

This post has been edited by zdrossoneri: Nov 29 2008, 01:52 PM

[kurtsimonw]

Hmm. I disagree, to be the best ever you don't necessarily even have to be the best player in any season. And I think that's the case with maldini, at least since I've seen him play. Has he been consistantly great? Yes. Has he ever been the best player over a year? Probably not.