[Rossoneri7]

Yeah !! U guys r blowing things out of proportions .. Nothing is decided yet.

p.s. there is no power on Earth that would take me within 10 feet from your piranha tank !! unless if i was tipsy and u used ur charisma, then I'm screwed (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[MizNelson]

Yawn. channel 4 is rarely 100% right. Neither is Neither is Goal. Nor is Gazzetta; they predict the following lineup:

All Channel 4 does is pick articles from the Italian dailies and translate them into English. It's not like they have their own crack reporting team or anything, which explains that you'd have to be on, well, crack to believe some of the mishigosh that appears on their site sometimes.

*feels the piranha love* (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Jack Sparrow]

...mishigosh

Is this something you use to paint? What was the last word you used like this? Cheese Omelette? No..it was milquetoast.

Gotta say you're an absolute inspiration.

[arivanjj]

Serie A Preview: Milan - Empoli -- goal.com preview

Milan are attempting to pick up right where they left off before the international break. The club had been struggling both in Italy and in the Champions League. However, their last match was a return to form, and a good indication of what Milan can be when they play at their best.

The 5-1 demolition of Lazio (in Rome, amazingly) two weeks ago was the highlight of their season so far, and it came so unexpectedly. Pretty much the entire side played well, but the man of the match was surely Kakà. He ran at the Lazio defense time and time again, with nary a challenger who could stop him.

This was punctuated by his brace, and especially by his second goal. As a Lazio defender attempted to mob him in the box, he simply shrugged off the challenge, and then spun to shoot the ball just inside of the near post.

Milan will probably have to play without Kakà for this match, however, as he is more than likely going to be rested, keeping in mind the effort he put out in the midweek World Cup qualifying victory for Brazil, not to mention the Champions League match on Tuesday against Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine.

Empoli must have felt good about themselves after the 3-1 home win over Palermo at the end of September, but those feelings were quickly lost when they put up consecutive 3-0 losses to FC Zurich in the UEFA Cup (eliminating them from the competition) and Siena, a fellow relegation battler.

All in all, the elimination from European play may be a blessing in disguise, as the side were clearly not able to cope with performing in two major competitions. They will now be able to try and climb back up the Serie A table, something they surprisingly did in the past two seasons following promotion from Serie B in 2005.

FORM GUIDE (last five domestic fixtures)

Milan

9/15 Siena 1-1 Milan Serie A

9/23 Milan 1-1 Parma Serie A

9/26 Palermo 2-1 Milan Serie A

9/30 Milan 1-1 Catania Serie A

10/7 Lazio 1-5 Milan Serie A



Empoli

9/15 Lazio 0-0 Empoli Serie A

9/23 Empoli 0-0 Napoli Serie A

9/26 Catania 1-0 Empoli Serie A

9/30 Empoli 3-1 Palermo Serie A

10/7 Siena 3-0 Empoli Serie A



TEAM NEWS

Milan will wait for Ronaldo to finally make his return to the field, as his fitness concerns have yet again delayed his debut this season. Captain Paolo Maldini is on the way back to fitness, as is Serginho, but neither will be ready for this match. With Kakà probably being rested, young French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff may get the playing time he is so desperately (and publicly, as evidenced by his comments to the press) craving. Empoli have a nearly fit squad, except for the injury to Vittorio Tosto. Also, Daniele Adani misses this match due to suspension.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Alberto Gilardino (Milan) – Finally opened his goal scoring account for the season in the win against Lazio, getting two well deserved goals. He can either use that as motivation, or allow the booing of the Milan tifosi to weigh on him.

Nicola Pozzi (Empoli) – He was thought to be on the verge of becoming a great striker while on the books at Milan, but he did not progress quickly enough, and was off-loaded. He has a chance here to prove what he can do to his former employers.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s

Milan (4-3-2-1): Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Bonera, Favalli; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Gourcuff, Seedorf; Gilardino

Empoli (4-4-2): Balli; Raggi, Vanigli, Marzoratti, Antonini; Buscè, Giacomazzi, Marchisio, Moro; Pozzi, Saudati

PREDICTION

This match presents a great opportunity to both sides. For Milan, they have the chance to really get their season back on track; and for Empoli, they can use the defeats suffered at the hands of their previous opponents as motivation to start playing better and attain the positions in the table they enjoyed the past two seasons.

Milan 2-0 Empoli

[Rossoneri7]

Alright I can't wait for this game !!!

I missed Milan and am convinced the team will put on a show for us tomorrow (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)


Forza Milan (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devilsmiley.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/devilsmiley.gif)

[MizNelson]

What was the last word you used like this? Cheese Omelette? No..it was milquetoast.

Gotta say you're an absolute inspiration.

LOL! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) If you stayed with me for a week, you'd be surprised at the rigamarole I come up with.

Is this something you use to paint?

No, but I have a new ritual now whenever I work on a drawing: I watch the Athens final at least once. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tennie]

Which Athens final?(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) 1994 or 2007? The 94 one is quite a good match, not least because of the despairing expression on Cruyff's face after Desailly's goal (the fourth of the game for Milan). (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Minami]

Do you know if Kaka plays tomorrow?

I hope he'll get a rest so that Gourcuff can finally play!! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

[Fillipo Simone]

I also hope Gourcuff will get his time so that we eventually figure out if he really can do it or,..

One other thing, that Antonini guy, he was a Milan player too, right? Lino, Pozzi, Saudati, many of them,.. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

This post has been edited by Fillipo Simone: Oct 20 2007, 05:22 PM

[Tennie]

The current gossip (nothing reliable yet) is that Kaka will be rested or only play part of the game so he's fresh for the CL game at midweek against Shakhtar. Gossip also indicates that Milan may just play a 4-3-1-2 and that God will play a bit of the game, coming on as a sub.

[Jack Sparrow]

4-3-1-2 with who?

[dst]

So if Kaka don't play, we're going to field only two forwards in Gila and Seedorf! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Tennie]

Again, this is from the less reliable sector of the Italian press, but they're suggesting Gila-Pippo. Then again as dst points out, Seedorf is now considered a forward so.....

[Jack Sparrow]

F@ck Gourcuff...give Willy more playing time. No no wait...I wanna see Ba!!!

[milanista1899]

Seedorf played 90 mins for Holland, so I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't play the whole game either.