QUOTE (amancik @ Dec 30 2014, 06:51 PM)
Don't know where to post this one but apparently Milan won against Real Madrid 4 - 2 in Dubai. Good confidence booster. El Sharaawy bagged a brace.
I watched it. Was surprised no match thread was started for it.
We were really, really good. Yeah, sure, Madrid weren't brilliant but damn it we were. If we're going to slag the team off for the pre-season shambles in USA then we can praise them for tonight's workout.
We looked good, well-organised, and it's possible, just possible Pippo has finally started to find something that works.
This was a Real with all their stars - the only major player who wasn't there was Modric, and we were completely deserving of the win.
As you say, a huge confidence booster, and we're the first team to beat them in 21 matches.
Ratings:
Lopez: 8 This guy really is justifying his signing. Showing the keeper he was for Real. Really good with plenty of good stops.
Bonera: 6 Reasonable, did what he needed to do.
Mexes: 6 A little careless at times and lucky to get away with one or two things but overall good.
Zapata: 7 Hitting form at a good time. Never been the best with the ball, his game is about pace and making vital blocks. He did that well tonight.
Albertazzi: 6 Quiet, didn't get hugely involved.
De Jong: 7 Very good, definitely seems out his little slump now.
Monto: 8 Growing in form. Just been getting better every match and now looking like his old self. At last.
Muntari: 7 Actually played quite well - some good balls and interceptions.
Bona: 7 Decent, gave his usual all.
SES: 8 Two excellent goals will give him massive confidence that he can be a striker for us. Looked the best he has since 2012 tonight. Unfortunately also taken off with an injury.
Menez: 10 Yes really. He was fucking sensational. The guy is on fire and his goal summed him up. If he had applied this kind of talent earlier in his career he'd be up there as one of the world's best players.
Subs:
Lost count, pointless.
Pippo: 7 Ok it was only a friendly but he seems to finally be getting some harmony and system in there. 3 fine results in a row and maybe, just maybe he's finally onto something. If he can keep this up, if we start to win more regularly in the league against the weaker teams, then it's clicking and we might just nab third.
With the squad we now have, especially the XI, we're on paper now one of the best teams in the league. Just need one more quality striker to complete the job and 2015 might actually be a decent year at Milanello.