[han2503]

Which is why I don't understand your arguement of bias. Why would we put a player down for no reason? People rate who they rate. I'd happily swap Abate for Santon, simple because he is a better player currently and will be a far superior player in the future. I don't know either of them personally, I don't see either of them talk in the media or otherwise, my opinion is based 100% on the field. Not sure where you get this idea that I dislike Abate for no reason.

Hmm, I didn't tell YOU that you were biased but dst because I got the impression that he hadn't watched Abate regularly in these last few seasons, specifically the ones under Allegri's time and from his words I get the impression that he still has the Abate of the Leo/Carlo days when he was unwatchable, and I'd be the first one to tell you that. I think I once called him a hair brained idiot at one point because he was just THAT bad. And seeing the amount of improvement he's made from that time, I still think he has even more potential for improvement

I don't think YOU are biased. Why would I think that? You stated your oppinion on Santon and Abate, I do think you underrate Abate a lot for your own reasons, but that does not mean that I think your underrating of him is because of bias.

Does that make sense? Don't know if I'm being clear here...

I'm not biased, I just don't think Abate is a very good player and better than Santon at Inter. No, I have not watched Milan regularly in 2012 but I still watched about a dozen games between last's season second half and this season's first half and have not seen much improvement by Abate. He is better than he used to be but he's still not as good as I think Santon was back at Inter.

Did you watch Abate in the last 2-3 seasons regularly? This season he hasn't been at his best because he's had a couple of injury problems but his last 2 seasons? Specifically our Scudetto winning season? Abate was the best in the league that season in his position, and this is not just me saying it. He was included in the majority of best XIs, and voted as best RB in countless polls that I saw during that time.

And to say that Abate now is not even better then the Santon at Inter is just a slap in the face which is why I feel that you're biased because you're basing a lot of your opinion of him on his first few seasons at Milan where, yes, he was a very average player. But to say you haven't seen improvements in him just completely blows my mind.

Like I said, just watch the last friendly Italy played. You could easily compare the 2 players as they were playing on oppsite wings. The difference between the 2 is not even questionable. Abate was great, saved a sure goal, was a constant threat in attack and was always in control of his area. Santon was completely quiet and had very little influence on the game. He's more explosive at Newcastle yes, but I think the nature of the EPL helps him out in that regard

In my head, Abate will always be the better defender. In that scudetto winning season, he was just great defensively. While, Santon I don't rate as much defensively. But, then the amount of games I've watched Santon..maybe he's been bad at the ones I've solely watched so it depends.

Agreed

[dst]

Did you watch Abate in the last 2-3 seasons regularly? This season he hasn't been at his best because he's had a couple of injury problems but his last 2 seasons? Specifically our Scudetto winning season? Abate was the best in the league that season in his position, and this is not just me saying it. He was included in the majority of best XIs, and voted as best RB in countless polls that I saw during that time.

And to say that Abate now is not even better then the Santon at Inter is just a slap in the face which is why I feel that you're biased because you're basing a lot of your opinion of him on his first few seasons at Milan where, yes, he was a very average player. But to say you haven't seen improvements in him just completely blows my mind.

Like I said, just watch the last friendly Italy played. You could easily compare the 2 players as they were playing on oppsite wings. The difference between the 2 is not even questionable. Abate was great, saved a sure goal, was a constant threat in attack and was always in control of his area. Santon was completely quiet and had very little influence on the game. He's more explosive at Newcastle yes, but I think the nature of the EPL helps him out in that regard

I only missed the vast majority of Milan games in 2012, I watched most of Milan's games in our scudetto winning season. I remember being surprised by Abate's improvement but that does not mean he became great. He was still pretty average in many things in mt view and obviously, I still think he is. Yes, he probably was the best in the league that season but Milan won the title and he was consistent but seriously, name ONE decent RB that has played in Serie A the past 5 years apart from Maicon.

[kurtsimonw]

Does that make sense? Don't know if I'm being clear here...

Yeah that makes sense. And you're right, you never said I was biased, you said I underrated him. Completely different things.

[han2503]

I only missed the vast majority of Milan games in 2012, I watched most of Milan's games in our scudetto winning season. I remember being surprised by Abate's improvement but that does not mean he became great. He was still pretty average in many things in mt view and obviously, I still think he is. Yes, he probably was the best in the league that season but Milan won the title and he was consistent but seriously, name ONE decent RB that has played in Serie A the past 5 years apart from Maicon.

Well if you want to go down that road, name me one World Class RB in the top leagues during the last 5 years aside from Maicon...

Dani Alves? Sh!tty defensively and has all those faults masked because he's playing for Barca. Ramos? Had to be moved to the center before finally showing consistant quality for Real.

Yeah that makes sense. And you're right, you never said I was biased, you said I underrated him. Completely different things.

Yeah, exactly. Glad we have that cleared up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/budhug.gif)


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[dst]

OK so Abate is comparable to Alves now?

[kurtsimonw]

OK so Abate is comparable to Alves now?

You haven't watched much football lately have you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I think Abate has been better than Alves the past 18 months. Alves hasn't been good at all, especially defensively.

[han2503]

OK so Abate is comparable to Alves now?

Say what now? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I didn't compare him to Alves, I just told you to give me some names for top class RBs that you have to remove before even considering Abate. Because that's what you were doing with Maicon, i.e. remove Maicon and Abate really doesn't have anyone to compete with in Serie A so being the best in his position that season doesn't mean anything.

You haven't watched much football lately have you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I think Abate has been better than Alves the past 18 months. Alves hasn't been good at all, especially defensively.

Alves is a great attacking player, far better than Abate in that respect, but put him in a team other then Barca where he actually has to do some defensive work and then yeah, Abate would most likely be better.

I'd really like to see who you guys consider better. It's not like there's an endless pick of RBs out there. I think we're lucky to have someone like Abate, who not only has turned out into a great player, he's a home grown product, loyal to the shirt, works his @ss off, has a pretty minimal wage and there are very few players better than him at RB right now

[dst]

You haven't watched much football lately have you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

No! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I didn't compare him to Alves, I just told you to give me some names for top class RBs that you have to remove before even considering Abate. Because that's what you were doing with Maicon, i.e. remove Maicon and Abate really doesn't have anyone to compete with in Serie A so being the best in his position that season doesn't mean anything.

Alves is a great attacking player, far better than Abate in that respect, but put him in a team other then Barca where he actually has to do some defensive work and then yeah, Abate would most likely be better.

I'd really like to see who you guys consider better. It's not like there's an endless pick of RBs out there. I think we're lucky to have someone like Abate, who not only has turned out into a great player, he's a home grown product, loyal to the shirt, works his @ss off, has a pretty minimal wage and there are very few players better than him at RB right now

In a winning season when he was solid, in a league with no great RB's being the best RB does not make him a special player is all I'm saying.

He's nowhere near great, no way!!

Anyway, there's no point continuing this thing any longer I think.

[Jack Bauer]

Official: Ligament damage, season over for Milito.

Terrible injury.

[han2503]

No! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


In a winning season when he was solid, in a league with no great RB's being the best RB does not make him a special player is all I'm saying.

He's nowhere near great, no way!!

Anyway, there's no point continuing this thing any longer I think.

Actually the season that we won the league as well as last Maicon was still at Inter, so your initial argument really does not hold much weight. Add to that there is Lichtsteiner as well and also your no great RBs theory does not hold much weight.

Criticising the quality of the league is one thing, but Serie A still has some great quality players to pick from in certain areas of the pitch. FB/WB is one of those areas

[X-Offender]

Official: Ligament damage, season over for Milito.

Terrible injury.

Good for us.

[dst]

Actually the season that we won the league as well as last Maicon was still at Inter, so your initial argument really does not hold much weight. Add to that there is Lichtsteiner as well and also your no great RBs theory does not hold much weight.

Criticising the quality of the league is one thing, but Serie A still has some great quality players to pick from in certain areas of the pitch. FB/WB is one of those areas

I did not say Maicon was not at Inter, I said besides him there has been no other great RB in Italy the past few seasons. Great, not Lichtsteiner quality... I'm not saying Abate is bad or that every RB in Serie A is bad... all I'm saying is that the quality in that position in Serie A is pretty average and so a pretty average (in my opinion) player such as Abate can definitely win that award. That does not make him great. He's not great. Lichtsteiner is not great either. And Maicon for whatever reason has not been the same since their treble. He was even benched for part of last season. He has not had a good season since 2009-10.

For me, Abate is not bad but he's not worth more than 10m and is expandable so if such an offer came I would not think twice.

[Jack Bauer]

Good for us.

Maybe, but it's more than just us vs them this season. This injury can end his career.

This post has been edited by Jack Bauer: Feb 15 2013, 10:51 AM

[Zed.D]

http://youtu.be/b6iiCKzn2AQ

That's a freak injury, you can tell his knee was destroyed. I'm sorry for him. he's one of those players I always liked regardless of the teams he played for.

Good for us.

Because he won't be able to humiliate Abate anymore? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[han2503]

I did not say Maicon was not at Inter, I said besides him there has been no other great RB in Italy the past few seasons. Great, not Lichtsteiner quality... I'm not saying Abate is bad or that every RB in Serie A is bad... all I'm saying is that the quality in that position in Serie A is pretty average and so a pretty average (in my opinion) player such as Abate can definitely win that award. That does not make him great. He's not great. Lichtsteiner is not great either. And Maicon for whatever reason has not been the same since their treble. He was even benched for part of last season. He has not had a good season since 2009-10.

For me, Abate is not bad but he's not worth more than 10m and is expandable so if such an offer came I would not think twice.

I got your point, but let's just agree to disagree on all of it, and not just the part about Abate.

http://youtu.be/b6iiCKzn2AQ

That's a freak injury, you can tell his knee was destroyed. I'm sorry for him. he's one of those players I always liked regardless of the teams he played for.


Because he won't be able to humiliate Abate anymore? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

He's Abate's cryptonite (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It's strange, Abate has played against the likes of C.Ron, Villa, Eto'o and has come out the winning party in all those battles; a game against Milito and boom, he f@cks up.

Sad to hear it about him though, but great for us as Inter struggle without him