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vnata001
Posted on: Nov 27 2012, 02:00 AM


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QUOTE (KillerMax @ Nov 26 2012, 05:19 PM) *
You and han are always right. That's what people don't understand. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


i'm going to come out of the woodwork and say: agreed!

  Forum: Players · Post Preview: #350089 · Replies: 87 · Views: 50,264

vnata001
Posted on: Jul 18 2012, 08:03 AM


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if we sold taiwo, his sale wouldn't free up another non-EU spot, would it? does it work that way?
  Forum: Transfers · Post Preview: #336939 · Replies: 4681 · Views: 369,518

vnata001
Posted on: Jul 17 2012, 04:01 AM


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respect, blue. great post!

edit: oh god i just saw my signature for the first time in a long time, and it made me instantly depressed.
  Forum: Transfers · Post Preview: #336777 · Replies: 4681 · Views: 369,518

vnata001
Posted on: Mar 9 2012, 01:48 PM


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i've gone back and forth in my mind so much about this match in the last two days. The fact of the matter is, without aquilani's passing range and understanding (knowing when to either step on the ball or release someone into space, thus maintaining the team's shape), and boateng's ability to pressurize opposing holding midfielders and make space for Robi and Ibra to exploit with his explosive runs down channels...we simply aren't capable of beating teams that pressure high up the pitch.

Urby kicks the ball ahead and runs after it - his lack passing range or sense of timing prevents him from being anything more than a set of legs in attack with sub par shooting ability. Noce's willingness is valuable, but is not to be confused with playmaking ability. Those two together in midfield, partnered with van bommel? doesn't matter who we have up front, they'll look average — when Zlatan and Robi wanted ball to feet, the pass was wasted into empty space..or when they made the run, the pass was late and they were caught offside (happened painfully often).

I've been one to come down on Max quite a bit this season, but he's not at fault for this match. Given the fitness of the players that he had available to him, I thought he fielded a decent line up at the time - figured that even if we conceded a few goals, we'd put one in somewhere within the first 60 minutes, kill the match off, and then close up shop. Given that aqui had not played for a long stretch, i can't fault Max for not playing him from the start. He also gave Urby the benefit of the doubt after his first leg/palermo form over playing Ambro from the start - another decision I suppose can't fault him for..

Hindsight is obviously 20/20. A 4-5-1 and/or a christmas tree lineup with VB at the base, Noce and Aqui at LCM and RCM, and robi and urby as LAM and RAM would've been ideal and we would've avoided the discomfort of this match.

@ Jack and X-Off:

The way this tie played out highlighted one truth above all else: with Boa and Aqui, we'll give anyone a run for their money in a one off match doesn't matter who lines up against us - semifinal worthy/could even win the damn thing with a little luck. Given Bayern's backline/struggles against Basel and the rest of Bundesliga, i honestly believe we could potentially destroy them. However without one of them, we're somewhere between the quarters and semis (depending on luck of the draw - i'd be worried about Napoli, Benfica). Without both, as it showed..we're lucky to survive the round of 16.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #323611 · Replies: 325 · Views: 27,985

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 16 2012, 09:17 AM


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Antonini and Max earned points in my book today.

I will gladly give it up for Max. The team was so prepared to face Arsenal, and we forced them to play at our pace. He sent them out with the perfect mentality, got his lineup right from the beginning (I'd have preferred Mesbah, but Antonini coped..so hey) and the Seedorf injury apparently didn't affect our play at all — I thought it would to be honest.

I was amazed at the ease with which we escaped our half and launched counter attacks.

Anyone wonder if we were in fact better off without seedorf? With Ibra taking on a creative role from the front line, Emanuelson, Nocerino going box to box, boateng prowling and robinho moving accordingly..we looked damn effective, and frankly Urby provided some pace and trickery that I don't think Seedorf has in him at the stage. I wonder..
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #320887 · Replies: 353 · Views: 32,683

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 15 2012, 08:23 PM


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almost ideal XI. antonini (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) . mesbah not even on the bench..i wonder why
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #320706 · Replies: 353 · Views: 32,683

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 15 2012, 06:00 PM


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QUOTE (X-Offender @ Feb 15 2012, 08:02 AM) *
Mesbah is very careful defensively, and he pushes up forward frequently. I see no reason why someone like Zambrotta should get the nod ahead.

Anyway, according to latest rumors, Boateng is likely to play from the very start, with Seedorf and Nocerino on the sides and Van Bommel as DM.


good god almighty if that is our lineup...Allegri wins points back!

@ Taiwo: That is a pretty eye opening quote. However, given how shockingly bad he was and how below average antonini is..i suppose i can't be too mad about it. Though now that we have Mesbah, play him.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #320683 · Replies: 353 · Views: 32,683

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 15 2012, 05:54 PM


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one of my dream transfers would be yaya toure. but knowing allergi he'd play him behind the strikers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

edit: i meant to write allegri, however he is a bit of an allergy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif)
  Forum: Transfers · Post Preview: #320682 · Replies: 4681 · Views: 369,518

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 9 2012, 12:24 AM


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QUOTE (acid911 @ Feb 8 2012, 02:08 PM) *
A lot of people are Yins to you, bub. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I'm the Yin to your spelling Yang, for instance!


u aren't.....jealous now are you acid? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif) haha
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319951 · Replies: 114 · Views: 20,416

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 8 2012, 10:35 PM


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QUOTE (han2503 @ Feb 8 2012, 01:33 PM) *
LOOOL

He takes of VB...




And leaves Ambro on...


Oh my word


it's not allegri! it's the injuries!
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319940 · Replies: 114 · Views: 20,416

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 8 2012, 10:31 PM


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Two away goals conceded! It's not Allegri, it's the injuries! Nice clearance Ambro!
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319933 · Replies: 114 · Views: 20,416

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 8 2012, 10:22 PM


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nice passage of play there from ambrosini!

first his awful touch sets thiago silva up for a nice painful knock! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif)

and then seconds later he does it again, and juve almost instantly score.

fillipo, just similar to allegri takes one step forward, and 2 steps back..ambro does the same thing.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319925 · Replies: 114 · Views: 20,416

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 8 2012, 10:16 PM


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QUOTE (han2503 @ Feb 8 2012, 01:11 PM) *
Seedorf finally does something right. And no surprise it's once he's moved on the left side of midfield


precisely this.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319920 · Replies: 114 · Views: 20,416

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 8 2012, 10:06 PM


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QUOTE (han2503 @ Feb 8 2012, 01:01 PM) *
Juve score.

How predictable there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)


yep. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319908 · Replies: 114 · Views: 20,416

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 8 2012, 09:18 PM


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the team has been set up to play for the draw.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319899 · Replies: 114 · Views: 20,416

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 8 2012, 08:53 PM


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lineup: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

barring some individual brilliance from El Shaa or Ibra, this is going to be a frustrating one to watch.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319893 · Replies: 114 · Views: 20,416

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 4 2012, 04:41 AM


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QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Feb 3 2012, 03:28 PM) *
The failures have to be blamed on someone, but why is it always Max? I wouldn't mind if he got praise for success, but he does not. That's why it's silly. It's difficult to take those seriously that blamed the Inter loss on him though.


you make it out to seem given our injuries we were destined to lose to lazio regardless of who we fielded. as far as this lazio match is concerned, are you willing to blame and chastise ambrosini for being the complete hindrance to our fluidity in the final third that he was? or do you think, well, ambrosini shouldn't be asked to play in that position, and perhaps the coach misplaced him in his team sheet. im certainly not willing to blame ambrosini. Is it his fault he's not a great box to box mid at this point? I grit my teeth with frustration when I see him played in the box to box role, but not because i dislike him as a player. in fact, when MvB is rested and ambro is played in his position, im generally satisfied with what he does there. ALLEGRI shouldn't have played him there to begin with. Invoke the injury situation all you want as a defense. Perhaps you're right, and we were bound to lose to lazio regardless. But some of us would have liked to see some shred of tactical knowhow and field seedorf there regardless, that midfield CLEARLY did NOT need another defensive midfielder!

and yes, the inter loss is allegri's fault, because urby should NEVER be played as a trequartista. that is just simply not what hes good at..and I can even cut allegri a break and allow him to do that against say, lecce or siena (like milanbuff88 said - in small matches/injury crisis it's fine once in a while if that's what he chooses to do). but not F'ing inter milan. An inter milan team that is clinical in the defensive phase, and not much else. And those who say the 'creativity' problem isn't a viable criticism of Allegri. PLEASE - point out the creativity in a van bommel, nocerino, boateng, urby midfield?! Yes, you're right in saying that we had all the possession in that match - cuz that's bound to happen against Inter. The only way to find a way to goal is with some attacking ingenuity in the side! Yet Allegri started with both El Sha and Seedorf on the bench. Tactics wrong.

AND THEN...in the one match we ought to employ a destructive midfield - against Barca..Allegri fields a seedorf, aquilani, mvb midfield! who is supposed to cover ground against Barca's pacy/tricky players?! arsene wenger was as naive against barca with his midfield selection, and he got ripped to shreds because his defense sucks and they couldn't cope. the ONLY reason Allegri didn't was because of Thiago Silva and Nesta. again, tactics - incorrect.

And generally speaking, Kevin Prince-Boateng is not a trequartista! He is a box to box midfielder and ought to be fielded in the midfield. I've been begging for a Boateng-MvB-Aqua mid + Robi-Pato-Ibra attack. Boateng has worked behind the strikers in serie a in the past..yes. However we have European ambitions. And every opponent that we've faced with any chance of competing in Europe within Serie A, we've lost to this season. That should be our measuring stick. sorry, Juve and Inter were awful last year, and we were better than Napoli this season. We won a weak Serie A last year.

Our Scudetto last season has not instilled blind faith in Allegri. I guess that's all i can say for myself - and a few others here.

PS - be easy dru, he's not an inter fan for f*cks sake. lol geez.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319346 · Replies: 142 · Views: 19,408

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 3 2012, 12:08 AM


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QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Feb 2 2012, 03:27 AM) *
And who's going to be able to do better than Max on a small budget?


i understand that the budget is an issue for galliani. however, despite the occasional unsavory signing (of the mancini/muntari/emerson variety) I think galliani has done a damn decent job of putting a team together for allegri that I believe does have enough quality to beat everyone that we've lost to this season, despite our budget constraints. On paper, we are very good. That said, it's on Max to use what he's got to get us those important results.

As i said in my previous rant about the 3DMs, and as Fillipo pointed out (about how rarely does it seem like we've fielded our best possible side/tactical set up), Allegri doesn't maximize the potential of the quality he has at his disposal.

I supposed I too agree with those that like Spaletti. The guy created a well balanced Roma side with even tighter budgetary constraints. A Roma side that toppled a far more talented Real Madrid side. His side overachieved. Allegri's underachieves given the amount of quality we have currently. I'll give him credit, he returned some form of defensive balance to a team that was COMPLETELY imbalanced under Leonardo (though Leo had WAY less talent to work with, and frankly did well to finish third I thought). Despite our current injuries, we shouldve beaten Lazio. And when we had a full strength side, we shouldn't have lost to Napoli 3-0, Juve 2-0, and Inter 1-0. That's core of my gripe against him.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319274 · Replies: 142 · Views: 19,408

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 2 2012, 11:16 AM


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QUOTE
Be interesting to see the opinions on here when we get rid of Max and we are barely qualifying for the CL, forget winning the title.


umm. i could just as easily say: imagine the opinions on here when we fire max, hire someone more competent, and don't drop points like we did today.

despite our injury crisis, we had enough talent on our available roster to beat lazio. we have more talent than them, in every department. the fact that we instead got beaten 2-0 says something.

fillipo is right. ive never once felt that allegri has fielded our strongest possible side.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319226 · Replies: 142 · Views: 19,408

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 2 2012, 10:41 AM


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doesn't matter. a 3 DM - 3 FW lineup doesn't work. didn't work when we had kaka. especially wont work now without a proper attacking mid. if seedorf doesn't play well, then that's beyond allegri. but he should know that ambrosini is not the kind of player that is capable of providing the supply line that is required when fielding 3 strikers. yet time and again ambro was right outside the area, incapable of creating space for himself, playing a telling ball into the strikers, a quick technical one-two..anything. that's not even ambro's fault tho. that's allegris. i would never ask him to be in that position. Ambro should be the alternative for the VB anchor position at this stage of his career, and nothing more. so, max fails to see that. id rather an off form seedorf at the top of the area trying to create than ambro in that situation any day. and then, well if seedorf has a stinker and we end up losing anyways..THEN the loss can be rightly blamed on the injury crisis and seedorf will be duly benched when there is a healthy viable replacement for the creative role in the midfield that is required.

I'd have even accepted Urby and Nocerino on the sides of midfield, with VB holding. Not ideal and still lacking in a true creative spark, but given the injury crisis - acceptable..and certainly less cynical than that stupid 3 DM lineup we saw today.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319219 · Replies: 142 · Views: 19,408

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 2 2012, 10:27 AM


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we had seedorf.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319217 · Replies: 142 · Views: 19,408

vnata001
Posted on: Feb 2 2012, 09:56 AM


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QUOTE (Zed.D @ Feb 2 2012, 12:25 AM) *
So you can't wait to see the back of him before you can't wait to see us playing with a proper midfield and see what Max does with that? why do you assume that every bad result is because of Max and every good result is despite of Max...

And please don't give me the non-argument that is "Max just loves hard workers, he can't handle creative players".


with han on this. also, how can that be a non-argument? please point to the creative players in today's midfield lineup. who did max think would supply the strikers?! Seedorf should have started this match. Ambro shouldve been brought on as his sub at the 60th, if max was so keen on fielding him.

today's lineup was no different from the 3 DM formation that carlo fielded during the frustrating end of his tenure - the ambro-emerson-rino type nonsense. I distinctly remember one ghastly instance of that happening, and we were whipped by palermo. so seeing that line up today, it came as no surprise that we lost. and with a lineup like that, frankly we deserved to. it's matches like today's that make me feel bad for thiago silva and ibrahimovic. they deserved a more competent manager. max is losing me.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #319214 · Replies: 142 · Views: 19,408

vnata001
Posted on: Jan 27 2012, 01:04 AM


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I dont know how many saw today's coppa match, but Maxi Lopez was hanging out in street clothes on the pitch standing around with a bunch of trench coat-fitted dudes. It really seems like we're gonna get this guy, which i dont particularly agree with. But if we don't (which I kind of hope we don't) and snap up tevez and rip up the deal we had with him, ill feel bad for the guy. That would be plain shady of our management. He was watching our match from the sideline today for ffs.

And about Sahin, the guy has WONDERFUL passing range. I do rate him. It's stupid to throw comparisons around to already established world class players, but the way he plucked the midfield strings in germany was Fabregas-like. Let's get this guy and fuggetaabbout Monto please!
  Forum: Transfers · Post Preview: #318432 · Replies: 1886 · Views: 170,847

vnata001
Posted on: Jan 27 2012, 12:58 AM


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QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 26 2012, 01:36 PM) *
Yeah, this is what I've been saying for a while now, he might not be spactacular or world class, but he gets the job done, no fuss, no mistakes. Simple movements and attacks when he sees an opening. Typical Serie A defender

Oh and he has a decent cross on him as well


Yeah. I can't begin to express how nice it is to have a left footed left back, it truly makes a huge difference! Enough with square pegs in round holes! Seems like he'll be perfectly serviceable in Serie A. To be fair, Lazio did not play with wingers, so it could be a different thing all together when he goes up against someone like lavezzi, or say walcott in a few weeks. But regardless, he's an immediate improvement on anyone who has played the position this year.

Kurt: for a couple seasons there, i thought Janku was one of the best left backs on the continent. Im pretty sure he even notched best left back of Euro 2004 award. Mesbah is more conservative than Janku, and dont really see the swashbuckling runs and left foot cannon that Janku had. But his game is tidy, uncomplicated, and frankly completely refreshing to see after watching the guys we've had there for a recent while.

Also, while he's not as good a shot stopper as Abiatti, Amelia was SUPERB when playing the ball at his feet. Abiatti usually just kicks the ball haphazardly into the field of play, and at least once a match is good for a good old fashioned shank out of bounds. The number of times Amelia collected the ball at his feet today, and played a neat, tidy ball across the field to one of our full backs was nice. The sort of ability to play the ball out of defense (including the keeper) does SO MUCH for the fluidity of the team's build up play.

Also, Merkel definitely has a future at this club. He may not have developed a fluid understanding with Abate yet, and you cant blame him for it having arrived just last week, but I feel from watching him, the guy has a good feel for time and place on the pitch - I like his positioning for make himself available to teammates, and his willingness to step on the ball and maintain possession. That understanding of the flow of the game is something that can't be taught. I dont think his future is at the right midfield position where he's being played currently, but hes only 19. When he develops his man strength, maybe hell turn out to be a midfielder in the mold of Lampard? Toni Kroos? a kind of guy who keeps things moving in midfield, with the occasion eye to come forward.

El Shaa, Robinho, and Ibra together are a handful. Dont want to make too much of it, but very satisfying performance to watch from everyone who took the pitch today with the exception of Merkel's injury. Lazio can't make any excuses like they fielded a weak team..and aside from the early lack of communication in the back line, we whipped them.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #318431 · Replies: 51 · Views: 11,165

vnata001
Posted on: Jan 26 2012, 09:06 PM


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holy sh*t WELCOME BACK TO THE LINEUP SEEDORF.

EL SHA..are you serious with these touches!?!? fantastic.
  Forum: Matches · Post Preview: #318411 · Replies: 51 · Views: 11,165

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