[Tennie]

zd, that assumes that more goals = better quality play. I don't think that's necessarily the case.

[kurtsimonw]

I didn't see the game and also am not supporting Milan in the UEFA Cup this season, but I don't think there's any need to worry about performances just yet if the results are going the right way. Milan are also competing in the league so can't afford to lose players due to injury or fatigue while playing in UEFA Cup games that they can win with their reserves, I'm sure once the knockout stages are released that there will be more of a balance between the quality of the lineups that're fielded in Serie A and the UEFA Cup.

[TriniKing_CE]

I hope so.

Dammit, I have a nose whistle that I can't get rid of to save my life. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) ...
....You mean sighing right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[acid911]

@ acid, totally right with that analysis, I can't see us managing to ride this type of luck for much longer. I don't think the goal was lucky, because it was a master stroke from Dinho, who hadn't really gotten into the game since he's come on. But it was lucky from the defencive aspect. Braga had countless clearcut chances. It's a miracle we didn't conceed

The goal wasn't lucky. We were! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Ronaldinho is after all one of the top 100 players of the world at any given time. So is Kaka. And the thing with these kinds of superstars is that they can change the game any given moment, be it the first minute or the 93rd.

Problem is we have only two of these players in the attack. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) And golly, it'd be really something but we can't with the UEFA Cup like this. And I don want us to win it, since it's the last of it's kind (in this format). It'll be called the Europa League from next season. So yeah, anything less than a Scudetto + UEFA Cup means a failed season for me. Some people may not agree with me, but if we don't win both trophies, I'll not be anything near happy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) You heard it here first. The team better know it. So should Carlo.

[Zed.D]

zd, that assumes that more goals = better quality play. I don't think that's necessarily the case.

I do assume 4-0's as better quality wins than 1-0's.

In other words, how can a team that has so much quality player always struggle to score a single goal in so many games in a row?? no, Tennie. Milan, and Serie A as a whole, is not defensible in this case. people are too [not sure if this is the right word] pragmatic in Italy and Carlo is the king of them. it doesn't hurt to play a more attracting football sometimes...

[Zed.D]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif)


(IMG:http://d.yimg.com/a/p/sp/getty/3a/fullj.57295718affd49626a467e545226ce7f/57295718affd49626a467e545226ce7f-getty-fbl-eur-c3-ac_milan-braga.jpg)

[acid911]

The world's full of Brazilians. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) With a couple of Frenchmen sprinkled in for taste! Awesome snap.

[Habitant]

looks like he's about to take a bigte out of his shoulder (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

This post has been edited by Habitant: Nov 7 2008, 12:07 AM

[Portman]

Dissapointed by the team performance.

But I must say I creamed myself with THAT Ronaldinho moment. OUT STA DIN G!.

[acid911]

But I must say I creamed myself with THAT Ronaldinho moment. OUT STA DIN G!.

That moment alone deserves some quality pics, both from you and Warchant, I must say! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) It's worth it. A goal like this looks good anytime, but in the 90+3, it's even more outstanding.

[acid911]

Dissapointed by the team performance.

So, what's new!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) We've been playing like this right after the inter match.

looks like he's about to take a big out of his shoulde

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Pato sometimes cracks me up. But, looks like he gets along great with the team, and in particular the Brazilians. But the way things are going, I don't think he'll cross the 10 mark this season. Pity. Unless he gets his scoring boots on (those orange ones, hehe!)

[Tennie]

I do assume 4-0's as better quality wins than 1-0's.

In other words, how can a team that has so much quality player always struggle to score a single goal in so many games in a row?? no, Tennie. Milan, and Serie A as a whole, is not defensible in this case. people are too [not sure if this is the right word] pragmatic in Italy and Carlo is the king of them. it doesn't hurt to play a more attracting football sometimes...

I disagree, zd. Fine defending is, to me, just as important as fancy tricks and scoring. And to me it is just as fascinating to watch, if not more so. To use a recent example, watching how Chiellini and Legrottaglie shut down Raul and Van Nistlerooy was just as fun - if not more - than watching Del Piero's goals (though I really did like that free kick). This, however, is a matter of personal preference, I think. To me, the superstars are more often defenders than strikers. Others prefer the strikers. That's fine - it just means we look at things differently.

Now if you're talking about Milan's recent performances? Yeah. I agree with you there. The team SHOULD be scoring more goals, at least in theory. But the team is also missing Andrea Pirlo who is very important to the flow of the game and in makng sure that the ball actually gets forward to the strikers/ams. Seedorf is good and is very important but there's a big hole in the midfield without Pirlo there. There just hasn't been really consistent distribution to the front and when there has been, the strikers haven't always capitalized - eg Pippo's missed a few, Pato's missed a few, etc. And - I realize I may be strung up for saying this - with the exception of the very fine goals scored, the rest of the game play of both Kaka and Ronaldinho could have been a LOT better (not counting the derby in this; I think everyone did well there).

[Zed.D]

But after all they give 3 points to a team that scores more, not defends more. I'm not saying defending is not important. it'd be stupid of me to say that. I'm just saying it's weird to see a team like Milan defend a 0-0 result. you first attack, score, then defend your goals and hit your opponent on the counter attacks and score more. that's how a team with so many big players should play. unfortunately Carlo thinks about not conceding more than he think about scoring. that's not enjoying defensive brilliance, that I do too (I love to see Chiellini make world class strikers like Nistelrooy look desperate too). that's getting bored!
I can't find any other explanation for our embarrassing 15 goals in 10 games other than Carlo's defensive tactics. not even the missed chances.

As for Pirlo, I agree. I actually am missing him a lot recently.

I think Kaka has been great and consistent this season (unlike last season). much better than Ronaldinho (though Ronaldinho's been as much decisive thanks to his class). I'm sure many agree on that too.

[Il Diavolo]

Ronaldinho saved us with a masterpiece. What a boring game! No ideas from either side. Carlo hates UEFA Cup obviously. No mood, no imagination. The only good performances came from players who either 1) need to improve /like Sheva and Dida/ or from defensive players /Antonini, Gattuso/. That's fine by me as long as we keep winning in the Serie A. I'm having a bad feeling about the upcoming Lecce game. We need to play more attacking!

And yes, I want the trophy. The final is in Istanbul. At least, there will be something poistive from this city, left in our history. And the most important fact - we will play for the Supercup. So... I agree. Serie A and UEFA or failed season.

By the way, Senderos did a fine debut. Looked a bit nervous in the first half, but was solid in the second. World class tackling in one of Braga's dangerous counterattacks.

[Tennie]

Actually...not so much on the Kaka general performance, really. At least going by player ratings, which I'm tracking for the whole season. I'm using datasport's ratings for all league games. Kaka's average rating right now is 6.2 - highest rating a 7 for the game v. Samp and the lowest a 5 for the game v. Reggina. I don't think he's been consistently great in the way he can be. Ditto Ronaldinho but I think he's improving. They both are, just they're not there yet.

For what it's worth, the players with the highest average ratings are:
Emerson 6.5
Abbiati 6.4
Borriello 6.3
Ronaldinho 6.25
Inzaghi 6.25
Kaka 6.22
Gattuso 6.21