[han2503]

On it

[Rossoneri7]

Yes he always did it, that's why I don't get how we're talking about his age. And I personally don't believe that he's told implicitly by Allegri to move the ball in such a manner. It's something tedious that is a trademark of Seedorf's play, especially in these last few years.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I never criticised Seedorf here due to his age, and neither was I the person who accused you of not seeing Seedorf's failures, I think you got the posts mixed up. In fact never, in my initial post did I mention Seedorf's age, and I don't think mentioning it justifies the problem that I mentioned. It's not simply about job description, he does it when playing the AM role as well. It's a habit of Seedorf's. Sometimes it's useful when you want to make sure that possession is kept in crucial areas but sometimes it's just down right frustrating. Also, I think you'll find that I have been 100% behind Seedorf. even though I agree that he cannot be usilised as he was 5 years ago, he's still an important player in the team, and his age shouldn't effect Allegri's choice when picking between him and Aquilani. As I mentioned earlier, I'd trust Seedorf 10 times more than Aquilani in high pressure situations

Once again, I never said he was the weakest link. I just mentioned the pros and cons he and Aqui bring to the table. I don't get how that turned into me slamming Seedorf as being the weakest point in our midfield, as I don't even believe that myself. The fact that his playing about on the ball can ruin plays is a fact that I see a lot from Seedorf, and not just this season. That does not mean I see him as the weakest link. In fact when we're playing a possession game, he's undoubtedly our strongest link, because he does keep a cool head under pressure and knows how to keep things moving without too much fuss.

But again, I don't get how you got "Seedorf is the weakest link" from what I posted, as I only mentioned both the negative and positive aspects that he and Aqui bring to the team, since they'll most likely be inter-changable as the season wears on

Point I have been trying to make since Ancelotti was coach to-date, is that Seedorf plays in a certain way when fielded as a CM. To you (and I suspect many others) he is being portrayed as slowing down our game (in certain situations) by applying side-way passes and the likes ... To me, he is spreading the pitch from a congested 18 yard box in the opponents half. Maybe that frustrates you, or maybe he could be having a bad day just like any sports player.

No he wasn't told implicitly to move the ball in such a manner by Allegri, but he was given instructions to lead the midfield in such a way. The way he has been doing since first established by Ancelotti.


I don't mean to drag on and say you don't praise him or the age matter ... All of that is irrelevant to what I wanted to get across; in that Seedorf has provided more positive impact on the team than negative. If anything, our team sheet has changed significantly from two years ago, while Seedorf is the only constant that remains to command a first team place. Surely there must be a reason and that technical staff that evaluate the team see more to his game than just side-way and back-ward passes.

[han2503]

Point I have been trying to make since Ancelotti was coach to-date, is that Seedorf plays in a certain way when fielded as a CM. To you (and I suspect many others) he is being portrayed as slowing down our game (in certain situations) by applying side-way passes and the likes ... To me, he is spreading the pitch from a congested 18 yard box in the opponents half. Maybe that frustrates you, or maybe he could be having a bad day just like any sports player.

No he wasn't told implicitly to move the ball in such a manner by Allegri, but he was given instructions to lead the midfield in such a way. The way he has been doing since first established by Ancelotti.


I don't mean to drag on and say you don't praise him or the age matter ... All of that is irrelevant to what I wanted to get across; in that Seedorf has provided more positive impact on the team than negative. If anything, our team sheet has changed significantly from two years ago, while Seedorf is the only constant that remains to command a first team place. Surely there must be a reason and that technical staff that evaluate the team see more to his game than just side-way and back-ward passes.

But he doesn't really spread play does he? He passes the ball either back to the defence or VB or the LB. That is not spreading play, spreading play would mean getting the FB on the opposite side into the game because he has more space, and Seedorf does not do that enough. Seedorf under Carlo was a different Seedorf. He played a different type of game for us imo

I can't agree that Seedorf commands a first team place, because he just doesn't anymore. We can easily do without him in most games, in fact in games where things tend to get congested because Aqui, Boateng, Nocerino move the ball quicker, thus do not allow the opposing team to close down the spaces. That's why I prefer Seedorf in the bigger games, but for regular Serie A games he just tends to make things worse

[Rossoneri7]

But he doesn't really spread play does he? He passes the ball either back to the defence or VB or the LB. That is not spreading play, spreading play would mean getting the FB on the opposite side into the game because he has more space, and Seedorf does not do that enough. Seedorf under Carlo was a different Seedorf. He played a different type of game for us imo

I can't agree that Seedorf commands a first team place, because he just doesn't anymore. We can easily do without him in most games, in fact in games where things tend to get congested because Aqui, Boateng, Nocerino move the ball quicker, thus do not allow the opposing team to close down the spaces. That's why I prefer Seedorf in the bigger games, but for regular Serie A games he just tends to make things worse

The Seedorf under Carlo is the same one you see today, the tactical formation is different to that of Carlo, but his role as CM has not changed.

By spreading the play, I meant diverting the ball away from congested areas and opening up opportunities for his teammates. Further, not sending the ball forward where a bus is parked and give away a free counter. When an FB is open on one side, he does send those floating balls in to be intercepted by the FB.

He is not stupid to waste chances for us just like that by passing backwards and such ... He does it for a reason, a reason that is tactically appropriate given the conditions of a game; for ex. when the team is on the attack and Seedorf halts the play, on the other side of the pitch you would find 3 or 4 Milan players paired against 7 or 8 opposition players; he does the backward and sideways passing to find other opportunities, decrease the pressure and congestion upfront.


I see what you mean when you bring up Nocerino/KPB/Aquilani ... But they are all different from Seedorf and what he offers us. Bigger or smaller games, Seedorf has the experience to lead by example. Whether you consider him a first team regular or not does not change the position of the technical staff in that light. Such Nocerino/KPB/Aquilani are fresher and have a lot to prove, but technically speaking all three of them combined do not bring to the table what Seedorf can.