[bigmacmtl]

Not arrogant, that is just my gut feeling.

just like every other game?

[kurtsimonw]

If Milan play anything like the way they did againt Inter, in the Arsenal game, we may as well not bother playing a 2nd leg since we'll be out. Huge improvements are needed by some players, would be nice for guys like Gattuso to actually turn up as well!

[Zed.D]

^^^

Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for the next round will be over by the end of the first leg, my friend.

[bigmacmtl]

If Milan play anything like the way they did againt Inter, in the Arsenal game, we may as well not bother playing a 2nd leg since we'll be out. Huge improvements are needed by some players, would be nice for guys like Gattuso to actually turn up as well!

i think he will

i can see us getting sumwhat outplayed but punish arsenal for a mistake or two and going through.

[misha]

Cesc’s Milan warning

Arsenal midfield ace Cesc Fabregas has started a war of words with Champions League opponents Milan. The Gunners play the holders in the last 16 of the competition and the Spanish international insists that the Londoners are more than capable of beating the Rossoneri. “We are young, impudent and in the past have knocked out Real Madrid and Juventus,” he smirked. “We like to attack and we will play without fear."

Real Madrid and Juventus? Really? We are so scared now...

[Jack Sparrow]

Well yeah...he's just saying they can...not that they will. I expect them to follow up saying, Milan is a great side with great players, and have great quality and yada yada yada...ad infinitum.

To all my Pommie pals. What's the outlook in the U.K about the chances for the EPL clubs? Has Milan's reputation gone up a notch or something, with the Man U demolition. Or are people still of the opinion it was an one-off and we're gonna get pwned by Arsenal.

[Tennie]

I lurk occasionally on the BBC 606 messageboards. I've got no clue if they're representative of general opinion, but opinion there seems to be all over the place.

There are those who say 'Milan are ancient. Arsenal will run circles around them. The creaky defense has no chance against Cesc, Hleb, Adebayor, etc, and Flamini will mark Kaka out of the match'. There are those who are cautious because of the 3-0 thrashing Milan gave Manchester United and they say 'Hey, discount Milan at your own risk'. Then there are those who say 'I just want the best players healthy and available from both teams'.

[arivanjj]

I lurk occasionally on the BBC 606 messageboards. I've got no clue if they're representative of general opinion, but opinion there seems to be all over the place.

There are those who say 'Milan are ancient. Arsenal will run circles around them. The creaky defense has no chance against Cesc, Hleb, Adebayor, etc, and Flamini will mark Kaka out of the match'. There are those who are cautious because of the 3-0 thrashing Milan gave Manchester United and they say 'Hey, discount Milan at your own risk'. Then there are those who say 'I just want the best players healthy and available from both teams'.

and really it could go either way! but i got a feeling about this match since the first moment! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

To all my Pommie pals. What's the outlook in the U.K about the chances for the EPL clubs? Has Milan's reputation gone up a notch or something, with the Man U demolition. Or are people still of the opinion it was an one-off and we're gonna get pwned by Arsenal.

Liverpool vs Inter: All Liverpool fans I know think they'll win, all none-Liverpool fans I know think they'll lose.

Arsenal vs Milan: I have a few Gooner friends, they aren't worried. They think Milans lack of pace is going to mean they'll struggle with a quick, young Arsenal team. Everybody else I know is pretty 50/50 on it.

United vs Lyon: General opinion? The second leg will be a formality, United comfortabley to win the tie.

Chelsea vs Olympiakos: Same as above.

Overall we - people I know - think there will be from 2 to 4 EPL teams in the last 8. Look out for Celtic to shock Barca as well. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

This is just people I know, and I'm not speaking for the whole country. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Jack Sparrow]

It's unbelievable how the Scousers still stick by Rafa. I mean isn't it obvious already that his strategy is damaging the team.

As for Arsenal-Milan, I don't want to predict the match or anything, but Arsenal can win...if and only if we play bad.

Flamini marking Kaka???!! Are they serious?? The Scousers used one of the world's best DMs in Mascherano, and Ricky still got in an assist.

If Milan play the Italian way...hang back and hit them on the counter...I think we will beat Arsenal for sure. I don't know if we should really bother with stamping our authority on the match. A simple smash-and-grab would do.

[kurtsimonw]

If Milan play the Italian way...

I have to disagree with some aspects of this. You're given alot of time on the ball in Serie A, you aren't closed down as quickly. If Milan don't close down Hleb and Fabregas, it can only be a bad thing. They need to get in their face and worry them.

If you rattle Arsenal, they struggle and panic a bit.

It will be a highly entertaining clash in any case. Two of, if not, the best footballing sides in the World!

[Jack Sparrow]

@kurt...Italian way I mean catenaccio. As in you don't tire yourself out with possession..let Cesc and Hleb, break their heads on a brick wall and so on.

But Milan don't really play like that...we don't have the players. I still think counter attack is an excellent strategy against Arsenal...and we've got just the players for it.

[dst]

I have to disagree with some aspects of this. You're given alot of time on the ball in Serie A, you aren't closed down as quickly. If Milan don't close down Hleb and Fabregas, it can only be a bad thing. They need to get in their face and worry them.

Yes you are given a lot of time on it... in the midfield area! How many times in a game do you see Kaka strolling around in the midfield area? Lots. How many times do you see him with the ball and space near the penalty area? None or maybe once. It is true that there is not constant pressure on playmakers (as there is on the EPL) but that does not mean that they can do much as they have no choices in players to give the ball to and they have no space to shoot if they come near the box.

I'm not saying this is a better tactic but it's certainly working for Italian teams. In any case, it's not Cesc or Hleb I think can create trouble for Milan. It's Eduardo, Flamini and Toure for me... and of course RvP if he plays.

@kurt...Italian way I mean catenaccio. As in you don't tire yourself out with possession..let Cesc and Hleb, break their  heads on a brick wall and so on.

But Milan don't really play like that...we don't have the players. I still think counter attack is an excellent strategy against Arsenal...and we've got just the players for it.

But Milan almost always maintain possession over their opponents.

And we never play the counter... how could we when only Kaka can do it? We did an excellent job in Tuscany against the Viola in scoring from a counter and we did it in great effect against Sampdoria too but it's not really our thing.

[dst]

Blog: Number Ron
Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he is now the world’s best player ahead of Milan ace Kaka – and Richard Godden agrees with him

“I don’t need to demonstrate that I am the No 1 in the world. You really see who is best from the work you do over the nine months of the season and if I am named the best in the world, it won’t be a surprise to me.” Big words from Cristiano Ronaldo, the man who lost out to Kaka when it came to the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2007. But I feel that they are perfectly justified.

For me, the Portuguese winger has been the best player in the world since the 2006 World Cup. Slowly but surely, he is following Thierry Henry’s path of transforming from a flying wide-man to one of the best centre-forwards on the planet. Make no mistake about it, the former Sporting Lisbon ace can no longer be described as a winger – anyone who regularly watches Manchester United can testify to that, while the stats show over 20 goals next to his name with the assists column well below 10.

Kaka, meanwhile, remains a wonderful talent. He has the unique ability of being quicker with the ball than without it, while the way in which he caresses the ball to teammates or, as we became accustomed last term, into the back of the net is a joy to watch. But luck was certainly on his side in 2007.

When he and Ronaldo faced off in the semi-finals of the Champions League, it was billed as a battle to see who was the best player in the world. But it was not a fair tussle. Carlo Ancelotti ensured that his man was as fresh as a daisy, while Sir Alex Ferguson had no option but to play his star man each week as the Old Trafford outfit were fighting to repeat their treble success of 1999.

To put it into context, it would be like two boxers tussling for a world title with one of them granted six months off after their last fight, while the other is forced into action just a month before the big fight. Inevitably, Kaka came out on top. When Milan completed the job by winning the Champions League, there was only ever going to be one winner when the end of year award ceremonies took place.

Now Ronaldo is in pole position to snatch the big prizes in 2008, providing he stays fit as it doesn’t look likely that his form will drop off. Few people can argue that he is on top of the world at present, with only Zlatan Ibrahimovic really offering any resistance. Then again, if Inter go all the way in the Champions League, perhaps it will be another year of disappointment for the Portuguese No 7. But that debate will have to wait for another blog…

He has a point in saying that Kaka was fresher but I don't think it was freshness that decided the outcome of this internal battle between the two. Football is not quite as simple as this. For the same reason, comparing them with boxers is silly to say the least seeing as football is a team sport and every individual is (almost) totally dependent on his teammates... simply nothing to do with boxing...

To me, Kaka was the greatest player last season, heavily more influential than CR or anyone else and certainly deserved to win the Golden Ball. This season, CR has taken Kaka's place. The Golden Ball? I think he will probably come out of the Euro winning team.

And I think it's also true that CR cannot be considered a winger any more... not just because of his goals, but his game in United is simply not one of a winger.

[misha]

If he wants to be No 1 in the world, he should prove it when it matters. He failed last year against Milan, and he has nothing to complain about. This year EC and CL will be another test for him. Just cut the bullshit.