[acid911]

I, for one, am always for good defending. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) As they say, good defense wins you the league, while a good attack wins you tournaments. As for Milan, it really is a mess at this point in a time. A very good mess, a working mess, but a mess nonetheless. I don't know how much of it is down to Pirlo (and Nesta's) absence.

We're all very happy for the great goal scored. But what if it was the other way round? What if they had scored at the last kick of the match? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) No, I don't want that. The only reason we won this match was because luck was on our side. We should have won this match 2-1 in regular time. 3-0 in regular time. What if the assistant counted 2 minutes of stoppage time? Think about that. As some members have put it, disappointing performance. I'd say, very disappointing performance. Not the way I've known us to play.

Eve in the Napoli match, Kaka-Pato-Ronaldinho were exact polar opposites of Kaka-Pato-Ronaldo. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Some of our recent matches have been so bad, it made me want to sleep by the first half of proceedings. And maybe I'd take these sorts of result for another few weeks, but do you know who we have to face towards the end of the year? Juventus, Udinese, Roma, and Fiorentina in that order in the matter of four weeks. All clubs in the top tier of the league any given time. This is when the Serie A will be decided! Quote me on this.

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.

Top post. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) Agree on all counts, particularly the bolded ones!

[acid911]

Emerson 6.5
Abbiati 6.4
Borriello 6.3

Can we say, massively overrated? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) Gattuso should be tops. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) So does Janks and Seedorf while we're talking about averages. Janku is the one who gives the most every game, running all the way from the back, time and time again. So does Zambrotta. Along with Kaka and Ronaldinho. They're our only star players on the world level, along with Nesta. Any average of under 7 is suicidal for them, meaning they're treading in mediocrity.

Borriello won't make it past double figure goals for the season. He keeps running around the pitch as opposed to scoring goals. Abbiati while okay should be in the top five, not three. Emerson shouldn't be allowed on the pitch, he'll give away more fouls than passes, and almost gave a penalty today. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) And unless they do anything out of the complete ordinary, they shouldn't be rated above 6. Abbiati while very good is nowhere close to Caesar (best) or Buffon's class. Had he saved us vital points in the first two matches, I'd be more inclined giving him an average above 6. What this actually proves is two things: 1) Kaka and Ronaldinho aren't there yet, and 2) those who are don't have to be.

And Tennie good thing on Datasports ratings. +1. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) They're usually the most reliable of the lot.

[m1ke]

Average game for me. We started brightly, but Braga had some great chances and probably deserved at least a point. Still, winning when we're playing badly is great news. My ratings:

Dida: 6.5
Antonini: 5.5
Kaladze: 6.5
Senderos: 6.5
Jankulovski: 6
Flamini: 6
Gattuso: 7.5 (he keeps getting better!)
Emerson: 6.5
Pato: 6
Shevchenko: 6.5
Inzaghi: 6

Seedorf: 6.5
Ronaldinho: 7

I think Pompey will be a tough game - they've got some decent players. Really want to get tickets for this one (does anyone know how I can get away tickets shipped over to England?)

[Zed.D]

The final is in Istanbul.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) You don't say!

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

Ratings are much different in every website. everyone sees different aspects of a player's game. the one here looks to be more tempted by flashes of brilliance [Dinho] than playing consistently good [Kaka]. otherwise Kaka would've gotten a better average rating, as it might be the case with other websites that give ratings. I think it's fair to say Kaka, while not 100% yet, has improved A LOT compared to last season [which he played most of it through injury] and has been one of better players this season.

But of course, both Ronaldinho and Kaka can still improve a lot. they're still not playing like a Ballon d'Or winner would!

[Tennie]

Er. Mike, re the Pompey tickets - why not just call Pompey? That's where the game is being played.

[m1ke]

Well, the home seats are sold out (and for obvious reasons I don't want to sit there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ). I'm trying to get hold of tickets in the away end, and I was under the impression these are distributed by Milan.

[Tennie]

I just looked at acmilan.com, mike. It seems you need to go to Banca Intesa to get a ticket in the Milan end. Have you tried mpestero?

[m1ke]

I had a quick look on there, but they want me to collect from Milan. Ideally I need them shipped to England - anyone going to be in Milan and fancy sending a few tickets my way? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tennie]

Well, if you could get them sent to Florence, I could pick 'em up and send 'em on. I'll be in Florence the week of the game.

[TriniKing_CE]

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

Now that U mentioned it it does resemble a Dracula scene! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[acid911]

Now that U mentioned it it does resemble a Dracula scene!

Now you got me scared. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif)

[PatitoFeo]

I have faith that Sheva will start/sub and get at least one goal. he does really well in Europe

[TriniKing_CE]

I have faith that Sheva will start/sub and get at least one goal. he does really well in Europe

I removed my post as I answered thinking I was in the Lecce thread..(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

This post has been edited by TriniKing_CE: Nov 7 2008, 01:43 AM

[acid911]

I removed my post as I answered thinking I was in the Lecce thread..

Boy, you really have some sort of an attachment with the Leece thread, Trini! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) You really do! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[acid911]

Anyway, before I go to bed, some random musings. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Good, if unconvincing win today:

- Gattuso is immense; his third assist in four games,
- Ronaldinho with an unstoppable shot,
- Though he could have been brought way earlier,
- Sanderos can be a future Milan defender,
- I've already added his name in in my Microsoft Word and Firefox spell check dictionaries,
- Not Maldini or Nesta, but still pretty decent on one-on-ones,
- Still needs to work on some areas,
- The 4-3-3 formation obviously went in drain,
- No connection between the attackers and midfielders,
- We need either Pirlo or Ronaldinho to start every game,
- Both in crucial encounters,
- The referee had both his cards and whistle stolen,
- So many fouls and he played them all on,
- Dida with an absolute gem save of the match,
- And then he nearly did a Dida,
- Needs to cover up on these lapses, and stock up on confidence,
- Forza Milan!