[Jack Sparrow]

Watched the whole match. So it would seem that Muntari isn't actually our Pirlo replacement.

[I_Rossoneri]

Now, if we were to win against other big club, say Bayern, Manchester United, City, or the Spanish bigwigs, then all credit to the guy. That's how a legend is built, winning and winning good against other heavyweights. The coaches before him did this, and I'll be the first to give credit (and raise my rating in his favor) when he does that.

Also, one can never discount the chaps on the pitch, they have to take a major part of the blame, anyway, every time we put in a less-than-stellar performance. And I mean less-than-stellar performance. Because, win or lose, the display on the pitch should be worthy of a team like Milan. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Results can happen, but a spirited performance has to be always there, 100%. If it isn't, either the guys or the coach is at fault.

I personally can't wait for the Juventus match, as well as finding out who our QF opponents are in Europe!

But to win against teams like Bayern, Real and Man U you need the necessary players which is what we don't have. We have a squad built to fight for the title but not for the CL but we cannot compete financially with the heavyweight teams so you can't really blame him for that.

Now regarding Allegri, I'm not his greatest admirer and realise that he has his faults, but he won the league last season in his first attempt and is currently top of the Serie A(for now) and we are still in the CL. He also seems to be learning and that is why I'm willing to give him more time. He's also not afraid to let the younger players play and doesn't seem to have his favourites yet like Carlo did. Another thing I like is that not once have I heard him moan about our injury situation, instead he just quietly gets on with it.

[X-Offender]

But to win against teams like Bayern, Real and Man U you need the necessary players which is what we don't have. We have a squad built to fight for the title but not for the CL but we cannot compete financially with the heavyweight teams so you can't really blame him for that.

Are you sure about that? I think, Real and Barça apart, we are as strong, if not stronger than the rest of the European powerhouses. Bayern, City, United, Chelsea etc. Yep, we're right in there. If we have our most important players at disposal, we can go head-to-head and toe-to-toe with anyone, Spaniards aside.

[acid911]

But to win against teams like Bayern, Real and Man U you need the necessary players which is what we don't have. We have a squad built to fight for the title but not for the CL but we cannot compete financially with the heavyweight teams so you can't really blame him for that.

Well we do have some pretty AWESOME players, but yeah. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Underrated ones, apart from Ibrahimović, and if our first XI played to their maximum potential, we could beat any given team (save for NT ones), anywhere. The only thing lacking here is the coach, which while pretty good, still has a long way to go, a lot to learn.

Now regarding Allegri, I'm not his greatest admirer and realise that he has his faults, but he won the league last season in his first attempt and is currently top of the Serie A(for now) and we are still in the CL. He also seems to be learning and that is why I'm willing to give him more time. He's also not afraid to let the younger players play and doesn't seem to have his favourites yet like Carlo did. Another thing I like is that not once have I heard him moan about our injury situation, instead he just quietly gets on with it.

All valid points, and these are exactly my views too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) I don't care much for CL this year, but not winning another league title would be pretty bad. More so, if Juventus win it instead of us. Fingers crossed, we see more good days from now on, less tactical mistakes from the coach, less off days from the players.

And more importantly, get our core group of players back from injury and in form for the final stretch!

[acid911]

Are you sure about that? I think, Real and Barça apart, we are as strong, if not stronger than the rest of the European powerhouses. Bayern, City, United, Chelsea etc. Yep, we're right in there. If we have our most important players at disposal, we can go head-to-head and toe-to-toe with anyone, Spaniards aside.

Or this. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I say, Spaniards included, but anyway, if we were to lose against Barcelona and Real Madrid, I can understand. Still deep down inside me I feel they do have enough defensive weakness, and we enough defensive stability that we can match these two budgers head-on. The rest of the bunch? We're right up there!

[han2503]

It seems no matter what Allegri does it's still wrong. And why is it that when we win convincingly it's because the other team is poor? Perhaps they are poor because we have dominated them? I can imagine us beating Juve next week and it still not being good enough for some! I suppose haters gotta hate (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

It's not about hating Allegri or not hating him. Are you telling me Cesena are brilliant and we simply made them look bad?

What worries me is not that he fielded that atrocious line-up against the Cesena's of the league, but there could be a possibility of them being fielded against Juve.

Pardon me but I want to win the game, and a midfield of Muntari, Ambro, Nocerino and Urby simply won't take us anywhere

What would you suggest then, supposing we don't recover any of the injured players in midfield? Play with three strikers. That's out of the question against Juve.

Urby, VB, Nocerino and Robhino in midfield. It's still a very defensive midfield, and have you seen Robinho playing lately, he works so hard and most of the times he's more in the midfield than in attack, even against Arsenal the majority of the time Prince was ahead of him on the field.

The most important thing is the right balance, and playing a midfield like today's against Juve is certainly not the right balance. I admit that I made a big deal about the chosen line-up today and in the end it did not matter, but that is simply because I did not expect Cesena to lie down and take it like that. Don't expect the same out of Juve

As I've said a couple of time, my main worry is that we're coming off 2 games where we barely even had to exert any effort to win both games with such scorelines. But it won't be the same against Juve, and my worry is that Allegri could easily play the same sh!tty midfield because it "worked" against bottom of the league Cesena

Allegri says that they will know whether Prince can play against Juve on tuesday, fingers crossed.

I really do hope so because than he might play Muntari of all people behind the strikers...

[I_Rossoneri]

Just read an interesting interview with Ibra at goal.com and one of the questions was about Allegri:

With these injuries and the results that have come on the back of the injuries, some people have asked questions about Massimiliano Allegri. How would you rate him in the list of coaches you’ve played for?

If you think of him like a book, he is at the beginning because he has a lot of pages in front of him to fill up. He has won the league, he has won the Supercoppa, but I think he’s at the beginning of his career as a coach with a big team. You have coaches that have been with many big teams and have been there many years, but this is just the second year for him with a big team. So he is still in a learning phase and is still to develop, but still I rank him very high because you have to be a very good coach to win the league. It is not easy to be at a top club, especially in Italy. I heard Jose Mourinho say it’s better to be a coach in England than in Italy because in England you can be a coach for 20 years without winning anything, but in Italy you can be a coach for three months without winning and you are out. So, I think he is questioned every day depending on the result on a Sunday or Wednesday.

If Ibra ranks him highly then so do I (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

You can read the article here

[Fillipo Simone]

As I've said a couple of time, my main worry is that we're coming off 2 games where we barely even had to exert any effort to win both games with such scorelines. But it won't be the same against Juve, and my worry is that Allegri could easily play the same sh!tty midfield because it "worked" against bottom of the league Cesena

Naah, han, always the pessimist talking with you ha? Firstly, I don't think our team is that stupid to underestimate Juventus, even after two wins. Secondly, admit it, you'd be skeptical no matter how things developed - either it's this situation or it's you're worried because we're in a streak of lost matches (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I for one think the recent victories will give us needed confidence. If any of the recovering player will be fit, Milan should have a real chance to defeat Juventus at San Siro. I think we should maintain our more offensive and aggressive approach of the last two matches. IMO we should aim high and fight for a win against the Zebras.

[Fillipo Simone]

...Allegri on Muntari

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
The hard part isknowing that he is not kidding!

Ok so he can pass the ball well; this doesn't qualify a player of Sully's characteristics to become a playmaker Damn it!
*sigh* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

Well, I seriously hope he's just boosting his confidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[TriniKing_CE]

Well, I seriously hope he's just boosting his confidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Ha, if only...

[Fillipo Simone]

As for the extra time substitution, well what's so weird about it, I fail to understand?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) It's not like Allegri did anything better for other players (Ronaldinho, anyone?) with his 85, 88, even 90th minute appearances. That's his way of telling someone that he is not welcome here. Cheap? You bet. But weird? Now? No.

Weird...it's weird because it isn't necessary any more. With Dinho Allegri proved his point soon enough; but Pippo obviously stayed. And I think his 200th Milan appearance could have been handled differently. In my eyes, Pippo is bigger the Ronaldinho when it comes to Milan, and what he at least deserves is a graceful end.

Pippo stopped making trouble, if he ever did. He seems to be accepting with his faith, not voicing his objections or displeasure like earlier on. At this point, Allegri should drop his attitude towards him and prove he's big enough to move on.

[acid911]

Weird...it's weird because it isn't necessary any more. With Dinho Allegri proved his point soon enough; but Pippo obviously stayed. And I think his 200th Milan appearance could have been handled differently. In my eyes, Pippo is bigger the Ronaldinho when it comes to Milan, and what he at least deserves is a graceful end.

That was exactly my point, we know Allegri likes to pull off these cheap stunts. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Little new in it. And agreed Inzaghi may not be as big a player/name Ronaldinho was, but no one can question his position as a Milan legend. Uncalled for, yes. Weird, no. Many a coaches do have this thing where they want to tell someone they don't like, who's boss.

Pippo stopped making trouble, if he ever did. He seems to be accepting with his faith, not voicing his objections or displeasure like earlier on. At this point, Allegri should drop his attitude towards him and prove he's big enough to move on.

Agreed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) While we don't know what Inzaghi did (maybe he said something to Allegri early on), or what the coach's motive behind this cold war is, it's time to end it. The CL record thing probably is done and dusted, and well Messi in all probability take over everybody, let's bury the hatchet and move on.

[Fillipo Simone]

Messi (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Well, I think it goes like this: B&G still have immense respect for Pippo, so Allegri was ordered to give Pippo his 200th cap if Milan has a nice score he couldn't scr@w up. Then Allegri want's to say who's the boss and gives Pippo 3 straight minutes. A funny little story which sadly IMO could be true. But it has to stop.

[X-Offender]

Urby, VB, Nocerino and Robhino in midfield. It's still a very defensive midfield, and have you seen Robinho playing lately, he works so hard and most of the times he's more in the midfield than in attack, even against Arsenal the majority of the time Prince was ahead of him on the field.

The most important thing is the right balance, and playing a midfield like today's against Juve is certainly not the right balance. I admit that I made a big deal about the chosen line-up today and in the end it did not matter, but that is simply because I did not expect Cesena to lie down and take it like that. Don't expect the same out of Juve

As I've said a couple of time, my main worry is that we're coming off 2 games where we barely even had to exert any effort to win both games with such scorelines. But it won't be the same against Juve, and my worry is that Allegri could easily play the same sh!tty midfield because it "worked" against bottom of the league Cesena.

That would still mean playing with three strikers, something which we've rarely done this season. And besides, I honestly don't see what changes Robinho could bring to the table by playing as AM. In your eyes, we'd be playing a very defensive midfield with Van Bommel, Nocerino, Muntari and Emanuelson, but I digress. Muntari is not a DM. He's a typical box-to-box mid that really impressed yesterday. Nocerino, we're all aware of his capabilities, and Emanuelson has been doing great as of lately. His speed and passing have improved a lot. So you see, it's not your typical 3 DMs midfield Allegri-style, like Gattuso-Ambro-Flamini of last season, comprised of people who couldn't even pass the ball to each-other. Personally, I think, in case of forfeiture from Boateng and Aquilani, that we should play the same line-up of Cesena. It's not the maximum we can offer, but it's a solid line-up nevertheless to face a team like Juventus.

This post has been edited by X-Offender: Feb 20 2012, 04:37 AM

[acid911]

Messi

Yeah, what about him?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I don't like the guy, and how he is raking up goals playing in a powerful engine behind him, but at 24 years of age, what more is there to be said. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with 100 CL goals by the time he is done. Another six, eight years of top flight football should do it for him.