Gee Miz, Jack Bauer just posted quite the same article on October 3. We had a pretty good discussion on it on the last few pages. And yeah, Kurt, a team in Greece apparently did want him!

Oh, well, I didn't see it. Usually player news goes into their respective threads.

Oh definitely. Anyway, Gattuso is a fairly outspoken individual, it was good to hear his thoughts.

Are you surprised with that? If so: why you are?


It actually has been posted in this thread, like acid said. One page back.

Long story. But he generally hates people who remind him of himself.

Rino is a pretty terrible player, that's why I'm surprised anyone else would want him.

Yeah well...like I said...

Thank you Gattuso for a great match and an awesome season so far. You are our spark in midfield, everyone who thinks about benching you are wrong.

Flamini?

He's nothing compared to our very own beast Gennaro Ivan Gattuso!

CHU, I have to ask you. In all of the strongest teams in the world at this very moment, how many defensive midfielders are strictly ball winners? All of today's strongest teams field defensive midfielders who are capable not only of winning the ball, but ALSO performing some technical services. Granted, while Rino's work rate is inspirational, and I appreciate how he DIES on the field for our colors, but...

how many more times can you stand to see one of our short spells of possession ruined by Rino's complete attacking incompetence. How many of his lofted through balls actually come off? (and don't say yesterday's to Inzaghi, cuz it was offside) How many times have you seen a ball come to his feet outside the eighteen, only for him to play the ball right at the feet of a defender, while an easier passing option was available? Or when he finds himself in good shooting positions, his shots rarely even test the keeper.

Then ask yourself how many times a player like, say Mascherano (who has defensive characteristics similar to those of Gattuso, and slightly BETTER technical qualities) tried such things. Mascherano would simply defer to Gerrard and Alonso at all costs. Yaya Toure, Khedira, Obi Mikel, Alex Song, Michael Essien, Busquets are no such liabilities when their team is attacking, in fact their useful! All of them pop up with goals and assists, IN ADDITION to willing the ball and breaking up opposition play..

The players like Rino, the kind of players that Mascherano/Poulsen (to name a few) no longer see playing time. Poulsen was a bench warmer on a BAD Juve, and now he is at a BAD Liverpool. And Mascherano, while admittedly excellent at Liverpool, has gone to Barcelona and NEVER plays.

You must realize that not only have Rino's abilities (NOT talking about his heart/fire) diminished, but football has changed from a few years ago. Defensive midfielders in Rino's mold are a disappearing breed. They must be more versatile!

Bah, I've heard that story about football changing and so on...but still, I rate Rino. Maybe you think he's a disappearing breed, but - Gattuso still is class and I'm more happy with him around with a "modern" DM who in the end turns up useless for any occasion.

well as long as we have a 3-man midfield, then you and Allegri can watch our midfield with Gattuso flounder.

So you don't rate the way Yaya Toure, Khedira, Obi Mikel, Alex Song, Michael Essien, Busquets, or the old Patrick Vieria plays? I'd take defensive midfielders like them over Poulsen/Mascherano/Gattuso any day, regardless of how good the latter were during their primes.

Granted, the Rino/Poulsen/Masch are good at being bodyguards of deep-lying play makers. So when next to a Alonso or Pirlo type, they can work when in a four-man midfield. Just because they can work there, does not mean that one of the other, more versatile DMs still wouldn't be better bodyguards. (Khedira>Diarra to protect Alonso, Busquets>Mascherano to protect Xavi - no coincidence.) And when in a 3-man midfield (Obi Mikel @ chelsea), there's no debate as to which kind is more useful.

Imo it has nothing to do with football changing, but more to do with Rino just not being good as a player anymore. Age has taken it's toll on Rino not to mention all the injuries he's had in recent years. Rino burnt himself out giving his all for this team and I'll forever love that Rino, and imo he's still useful as a behind the scenes player, but on the pitch we have better options these days, simply because Rino is not cutting it anymore.

Would I love to see Rino really perform like Rino can? The Rino of 5 years ago? I would absolutely love that, imo that Rino would blow any other DM out of the water, and is first pick for us without hesitation, but that Rino simply does not exist anymore.

@ vnata, if Mascherano was in the group of DMs that are a dying breed, then why did Barca spend all that cash on him?

Ditto. I'd gladly keep him as a sub, playing against smaller opponents or when someone's injured. But every three days (and out of position) like he's being utilized right now? No, thank you.

you want ME to rationalize the moves that Barca makes on the transfer market?! they threw away eto'o for Ibra, threw away Ibra for Villa, and lost hundreds of mil in the process.

and in any case, Mascherano has stronger technical abilities than Rino ever had. He can pass well over short distances, and pretty damn well over long distances -already two things Rino never had. He can shoot from distance, something Rino has never had.

Due to the questionable career choice he made to leave a team in which he was fundamental, to a team where he's a bench player, says nothing about his qualities as a player. Barca spent on a good player, he made a stupid choice. But the point is as good as he is, why is he third in the pecking order behind Keita and Busqets? Because the latter two's greater tactical flexibility.

Mascherano at his peak was a more well-rounded player than Rino ever was. Equally the biting terrier, while simultaneously a better 'footballer'.

And if you honestly don't think it has anything to do with the time's changing, then please list out for me which of today's top teams employ one-dimensional, terrier-like DMs in the starting eleven, and who those players are.

And honestly, take a close look at the truly top teams: the premier league powers, Bayern, the two spanish powers, and inter. I would genuinely like you provide a list. In the modern game, there are a lot of players nowdays that possess BOTH imposing physicality AND technical ability, and it is these types of players you find employing the holding roles at top teams...

also, to the people insisting that even today he is still class:
did it occur to anyone that considering who Rino is, the kind of lovable guy he is, the fact that he's Italian, the important role he's had for us in the past, makes it hard for some people in milan fan circles to see that nowdays he's a little past it. I'd be interested to poll fans from across Europe's big teams and see how many of them would replace their current DM with Gattuso these days. I think we'd find the answer to be, not many. When he was rumored to be leaving, he was heading to Greece...

And we all have to thank Allegri for not making that happen.

Oh, c'mmon, this is really rediculous! I mean, I watch Milan games too, and I understand Gattuso is not young and he lost much of his qualities. But don't push it to that point - it's not like we'd earn much from the transfer, and Rino all in all plays a good season. I get your points, but we don't need to push it beyond a line. Or are we really that desperate and want our team captain out that much?

Im not saying we SHOULD have sold him. The fact that he was headed to Greece, and not another top European team, was simply an illustration of what most around Europe perceive his level to be...Greece is where players go to retire (Rivaldo, Gilberto Silva, Govou, Cisse, etc.) Let's make no mistake, Rino was not headed to another elite European team. The example was only to illustrate that while a lot of Milan fans consider him "class" still, it could be more to do with what he's meant over time, rather than what he is today.

Rino may be playing better than he has for the last few seasons. Still, that does not excuse him taking time away from a player like Flamini, who has a lot more to contribute at this point in their respective careers! Much less does it excuse him being deployed as a box-to-box midfielder for 90 minutes, a position he's never had the technical abilities to play. It's exasperating. The honest question is, do you want to win in the present? or rather sacrifice the prime of other player's careers/maximizing our squad's potential just to give Rino his "due respect". We all respect Rino, but cycles come to and end, so has his.

Look 5 years ago, watching Rino filled me with pride. My gripes are not with Rino the man. They are with Milan management and our coaching staff. Rino will always live on as a club idol in the hearts of all Milanisti. However, there comes a time when yes, it is time to move on! He is past his best, Milan are a club of the highest ambitions, or so we are made to believe...

Real respectfully broke ways with their long-time captain Raul. They respect him no end, all the Madrid fans love him, but Raul and Madrid both came to a mutual understanding that their time of mutual dependence was gone. Raul still gets to enjoy the game he loves playing regularly in Germany. The fans will always love the man for the way he played for them, and won't have their image tainted of him because he did not stay past his peak and become a burden on the team's present success.

Anyways, it'd be interesting if anyone is willing to provide that list..

Once again, you make your point very clear, which I agree with 100%.

Tantissimi Auguri Rino !

33!

Captain of Milan, lol.

I don't blame him for his actions with Joe Jordan - any coaching staff member that gets involved like that is clearly a **** - but he spent far too much time worrying about what he was going to say to Crouch next time he was near him, rather than actually playing football.

To think this man takes the armband when Ambro doesn't play.

(I'll post this one in here as well)


Captain order from now on:

Ambrosini
Pirlo
Abbiati
Inzaghi (just for the hell of it)

Nesta wearing the armband could be a sign. But Rino can't be demoted. It would break his heart.

He's made a mockery out of the team tonight.

Do that in a street you get arrested, he headbutted him!

Sorry, but there's no excuse. I wouldn't even defend Kaka if he behaved like that.

Does anyone really care at the moment? I mean... what??? "Ok, you may behave like a complete moron, but because you might get upset if we reprimand you properly, we're not going to"...

Agreed.

I know. But it happened before. Just remember the Inter game. We decided to go for it and look the other way, now we should stick to it and pay the consequences.

Disgraceful! I've never seen that in Milan before. What a shame... I loved this team exactly because of its attitude... it's a really bad night for me.


how can you not blame him for that? I don't care who that guy was, you just can't do what Gattuso did.


Nesta wore the armband? I did not see that. But how? Gattuso was not substituted.


At first I thought you were right but on a second thought I think we've had enough. He's not a kid and he's not just any player. He's also done it before. He should accept the consequences.

No, I meant Nesta had the armband against Parma.

And yes, I've seen the highlights once more...you're right. He should be demoted.

It depends. As far as I'm concerned nobody on the sidelines has any business getting involved with things ont he pitch. I could understand if it was the manager.. but Joe Jordan!? What's he doing saying **** to Rino? I don't like Rino but Jordan is a self serving **** just like his boss.

After the game I agree, there's no need for Rino to get involved. But during the game I find what he did acceptable. The fact Harry didn't get involved and just pushed Jordan away speaks volumes, he obviously heard Jordan say something to spark it.

No I agree with that but it does not justify Gattuso's reaction. Anyway... he did more than that. I'm glad Cesare Maldini talked about it. I hope more people do and something is done because it's a big shame.

Link: http://football-italia.net/feb15cc.html

They were speaking in Scottish? I wasn't aware they had their own language.

WOW!!! There was a brawl after the final whistle!?!?! I said all that without knowing this, just with what I saw happen during the match!!! This is even worse than I thought...

**** THIS!


Don't they have words not used in English?

by the way I had no idea who this guy was or that he played for Milan... or that he played... at all.

he played for milan!?

Voila:

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/d...he-was-shoving/

I don't really know why I am posting this - I just kinda feel to.

Shame..just a bleeding shame. Even worse, it's a disgrace. And for some time I thought it was because we lost, but it isn't. It's even worse. He was wearing the Captain's arm band for f_ck's sake!!

Did you see the way he behaved even when he got booked, constantly punching the floor? I've seen refs that would book you again for something like that for dissent. This guy doesn't deserve the Captaincy he doesn't even deserve to be in Milan, even after all these years.

To do something like that is pathetic.

OMG!!!! THAT GUY IS A FORMER MILANISTA????????!!!!!!!!

Hee hee yeah.

Funny thing is that it took all you lot all this while to see/understand this. I would not go as far to say that he should not be in the team, he should be, but not as captain. He is noway near captaincy material. Ambrosini, even though he a very big step down from our previous armband wearers, still is a million or two mile ahead of Gattuso. I dread to imagine what the team players would be thinking (subconsciously, or otherwise) of when their captain is punching the floor like a mad man. Not good. Not good, at all.

It practically throws all rationality and game plan out of the head seeing your captain behaving like that. This, and the street fights he had with Joe Jordan twice. It would been far less painful if he was not wearing the captain's armband at that time. A captain's behavior reflects on the team, after all.

And then some people say he was treated unfairly be Leo. Do we even know what went on in the locker room after that inter 0-4 match where Gattuso got worked up and carded? What Gattuo said or how he behaved with Leo (and vice versa). Not to mention his performances were really nosediving last season, this year at least he is trying to get back to his destroyer self. But during Leo's time he deserved the bench, and Ambrosini starting ahead of him all year long. Leonardo was far from a saint or a scientists, he had his flaws too, but I won't hold him up on Gattuso's case last year. Rino lost the cool in the derby defeat. And brought it upon himself.


And for today, disturbing behaviors yes, and needless fodder for the media, but if the club/UEFA takes action, Gattuso can serve his sentence and get back to business. Just keep the armband away from him. And to think it says "Respect" under it in the image Jack Bauer posted above.

Sometimes having a loose cannon works. I liked it when Rino told off a few Spurs players. It gets the crowd worked up, the players stoked..and all that is cool.

But it has to be within limits. He just lost it..and made AC Milan look bad.

My point exactly. I am actually grateful for dirty players like Gattuso, Amrbo and Van Bommel, we need at least one of them on the pitch at all time to have the necessary firepower for our opponents. But like you said, it has to be within limit, and I'd love it if there were not wearing the armband (in case they planned on going over the top like this). A little fight and show of emotions is necessary. As long as it is within limits.

Like Cesare Maldini said last night, it brought a bad name to the club. And I am sad for this fact alone.

Like you said, when Maldini was on the field He never let him do more than that. I miss you God!!!!!


That's the most astonishing thing for me. I mean, if it was just a new player I would say kick him out and it'd be normal, like OK who cares? But to be able to say that for a player that has offered a lot to Milan and I used to like... that just shows how unacceptable what he did is.

The worst thing, nothing will be done about it.

Okay, I get it, his behaviour was unacceptable and a disgrace. But hey, let's not push it too far. AC Milan has history and tradition, I don't think this incident can permanently alter the image Milan has. It would be too easy.

Yeah, and of course we all knew what Gattuso was like, no-one has suddenly realised it now. Unless they've only been following Milan for like a year. It's just that even for Gattuso what happened last night tops anything else that he has ever done.

Remember the outcry on here when CR7 lightly pushed Pep Guardiola? Gattuso pushed Jordan and actually headbutted him as well. Let alone the ridiculous antics at Crouch. Sorry Gattuso put you're a typical bloke with small man syndrome, get out of the club. He was practically trying to fight our coaching staff and Flamini at the end to try to get to him. In all honesty I'd pick Jordan above Gattuso in a fight, I don't know what he was trying to prove.

Just because we are AC Milan isn't an excuse to forgive this kind of behaviour.

Like Michael Mcintyre says, the Scottish make everything their own. Even the language

I think all of you are going overboard with this! Not trying to defend Gattuso or anything, I'm a fan, but if you've been reading my posts lately you'd know that I've been one of his biggest critics this season. But come on people!!!!

Everyone here knew what he was like. Did we all forget the shows against Shalke, Juve and especially Inter last season, which was even worse then this, he actually threw the amband to the floor. He's a loose canon and it's not something new. And the fact that everyone is getting on his back for it now to me is ridiculous. Especially after seeing the match last night.

Crouch and Jordan had been riling him up all game. Crouch practically jumping all over him hand knees and everything else on every occasion that he got and then exchanging barbs with him at every opportunity. Jordan obviously said some very colourful things to him as well. Sure we can all say that he should have kept his cool and all that, but I doubt any of us here would stand for some of the things going down on that pitch last night.

I agree 100% with kurt here. Jordan should have never got in his face like that, he's part of the coaching staff and last time I checked he shouldn't be coming out of his area and mouthing off to players, simple. Gattuso has done some really drastic things over the years, and that's just the way he is. But I think everyone is over reacting here. It was not just his faul, Spurs played a dirty game imo, especially in the 2nd half when they lost control of the game, they saw Rino as the mental weak link and poked him until he blew up.

No one here is a saint so let's not condemn someone for doing something when we probably wouldn't stand for the BS Spurs threw at Rino last night. Punching the floor? He's done it before getting bent out of shape for it? Why let it bother us now. Kicking Rino out of the team? Why? When he's done things of this nature before and no one gave a flying sh!t about it.

I think we should all chill and instead of point fingers look at the big picture and imo I'l give 50% of the blame to Jordan himself, the picture posted above shows a clear picture of this, he's not some innocent senior citizen getting attacked by the thug

UEFA Open Disciplinary Probe Against Gennaro Gattuso; Italian Media Claims Joe Jordan Racially Abused Milan Midfielder



source: goal.com