Big big game obviously.. a 6-pointer for 4th place. Hopefully Ronaldo and the other injured players are fit for this one.

Scary game! even a draw would not be enough. we NEED Ronaldo.

Indeed we do !!

If we win this, the 4rth is ours.

I'm not saying this just because of "6 pts" won, but also of the moral boost.

And, YES I agree with all of you that we DESPERATELY need el Fenomeno!

^^^

Willy Aubameyang...remember the name!!

1-1 draw Mutu Seedorf

biggest game, so far, of 2008!

let's go milan!!!

Man i'm so scared for this one, we need some kaka one man show ****. What i'm really wondering is who carlo is gonna put in net? Kalac good form hasn't made any mistakes but not very experienced. Dida can be godlike and has plenty of experience but he is in terrible condition. can't decide.

Poor boy doesn't even get called up!

Gila played very well against Fio last season, he rescued our @sses with his two goals. hope he repeats himself, though two good games in a row from him is somehow an impossibility...

No need to be scared, it's just a test for us. We have the better side, and IF everything starts right we should be the winners. We just have to break them down as soon as possible; score a early goal..

PLUS Milan almost, always deliver under pressure !!

yeah we need that early goal, then try to push for second. I hope Gila starts again hes scoring away more often now

FIORENTINA-MILAN: THE DISCIPLINARY SITUATION
1/31/2008
MILAN - Just one suspended player ahead of Sunday night's important game: Donadel (Fiorentina). The cautioned players are instead four players for the Viola (Ujfalusi, Danielli, Liverani and Vieri), and two for the Rossoneri: Favalli and Gilardino.

No Donadel yepe !!

Today's training note: Maldini, Sergio, and Janku followed full training with the group today. Ronie worked in the gym with those who played against Reggina, and Pippo worked on a series of sprints.

our LBs are back?! hopefully

AC Milan medical chiefs in dark over Ronaldo injury

tribalfooball.com - February 01, 2008

AC Milan medical chiefs cannot detect the latest muscular injury Ronaldo is suffering from.

Corriere dello Sport says tests have been unable to uncover the root cause of Ronaldo's latest injury, with the striker claiming last week it was a minor calf strain.

Milan chiefs are eager to get Ronaldo fighting fit as they fear he may lapse into depression if he cannot get back on the training track.


I don't think he can make it for Fiorentina game...

although the source is tribalfootball, it still raises suspicion that all we've heard since his injury is "it's just a minor injury"

6 points?? how? isnt it 3 point each win?

Worse than that, ari. It's Tribal quoting Corriere - which is one bad source quoting another bad source. What happens in today's training will probably be a good indication of how people are REALLY doing.

That said, Gazzetta is projecting a return to the Christmas Tree Formation for this game:

Kalac
Bonera Nesta Kaladze Maldini
Gattuso Pirlo Ambrosini
Seedorf Kakà
Gilardino

However, the Gazzetta probable formation also still lists Inzaghi, Ronie, Janku and Sergio as injured so there may well be changes.

Fiorentina will miss Liverani through injury and Donadel through suspension.

If we go back to that it will either be a draw or a loss, when will Carlo ever learn??

In today's training, Il Capitano, Janku and Sergio all trained with the group. Pippo is starting to work with the ball. Rino and Ronie had 'individual training', and Dida & Kalac had a 'particularly intense' workout.

It's not that you get 6 points, it's just known as a 6-pointer.

-They're currently 7 points above us.
-If they win, they're 10 points above us.
-If we win, they're only 4 points above us.

The difference between 10 points and 4 points is 6, if you get what I'm saying?

Exactly, it's what they call crucial clashes in football

Sh!t no Rino, either.

I guess we'll Puma or Brocchi will take his place if we play the xmas tree

pato is not in the starting line up beacuase of rest right?...atleats he will be on bench

There's a nice interview today on acmilan.com's italian page with Emerson. My guess is that he'll take Rino's starting position for this one.

Rino out for 50 days?! Meaning he misses both legs of the Arsenal tie? I'm hoping that's a typo!

Controcampo is saying 30 days on the Gattuso absence and that he might be back for the return leg of the Arsenal tie. It's probably too early to really tell (he apparently did something to his knee during the Reggina game and only felt it the following day). That said, Rino has generally been the sort to recover more quickly than expected.

We need him at the Emirates!

Yes, this is a big blow. Why does Rino have to get injured just as he was starting to play well

^^^

I think he tried too much in Reggina game, running and tackling all the time. was it necessary? yes. was it worth this injury? not at all!

Anyway, I hope he makes the second leg of Arsenal game at least.

Yeah cause he never does that! What are you talking about buddy, it is Gattuso that got injured...

He didn't play like this for most of the season, and all of a sudden he got charged in Reggina game and injured himself...

Again, it's Gattuso. That's not the reason why he got injured. And it's not that he was not giving 100% before the Reggina game it's that he had been running for no reason before that. Gattuso is always charged... that's his game...

Besides, it's supposed to be a problem with his knee. You don't get that by suddenly changing the pace of your game, he got a knock that's all and it could have happened any day...

But trust in our Cavaliere to be back before you notice!

I dont know who'll stop Fabregas if Gattuso won't be there

Yes, you're right. I'm talking nonsense... hope he recovers asap.

Also posted in the 'Gattuso injured' thread, but Gazzetta is estimating 20-30 days out in its article (compared to Controcampo's 30).

Serie A Preview: Fiorentina - Milan

Previous Encounter

When Milan hosted Fiorentina in September, the visitors nearly came away with the full three points, but Milan held on for a 1-1 draw.

Fiorentina surprised Milan at how they attacked vigorously from the start of the match, but it was Milan who struck first blood. Near the half-hour mark, Dario Dainelli took down Massimo Ambrosini inside the penalty box, and Kakà scored the resultant penalty.

After having been lucky to keep Fiorentina off the scoresheet in the first half, Milan were not so fortunate in the second stanza. In the 56th minute, Mario Santana’s cross was met by Adrian Mutu, who headed past Dida. Milan’s defense had been exposed for the umpteenth time in this fixture, and it had finally cost them.

The Viola pushed for the match-winner after this, and had the better of the chances for the remaining minutes, but neither side could seize the moment, and it finished as a very entertaining draw.

Fair Firenze

One of the world’s most popular vacation destinations, Florence, has also been kind to Serie A sides on their travels this term. Fiorentina, the favorite club of the area, have also enjoyed their travels―but away from Florence, of course.

Fiorentina have had no problem scoring at home this season, but neither have the visiting sides. In fact, judging by their home record, you would not expect the Viola to be a top-four side, but that is precisely where they find themselves. Going into Sunday’s match, only nine sides in the Serie A have allowed more goals at home than Fiorentina, with the worst having only allowed four more (that being Livorno).

On the road, however, Fiorentina have thrived, with five wins, four draws and only one loss from ten away fixtures. The first point most people would make for this success is that their offensive unit, featuring a three-man line upfront, has done quite well this season. Adrian Mutu has been the main culprit with thirteen goals to his credit, which makes him the second-leading scorer in Serie A.

Rather than give all of the credit to the strikers, though, you also have to pat the defense on the back. They have only allowed six goals in their travels, which is tied for tops in the league. The most impressive statistic of all has to be that they have kept a clean sheet on five occasions playing on the home turf of another side this season.

Bearing that in mind, it is no wonder that Milan have been heavily rumored to be interested in signing their goalkeeper, Sebastian Frey. He is prone to mistakes every now and then, but is more than capable of pulling off the most impressive of saves time and time again.

Travel Expenses

Milan have played well on the road this season; but recently, with the backlog of fixtures, they have not shown the type of form (in particular the way they played in October) that saw them come away from Rome’s Stadio Olimpico with a 5-1 victory over Lazio and then a 5-0 result for the good against Sampdoria.

The amount of matches they have played in the last month has drained the squad, and the expense of energy has caused further injury victims on top of those they already had. The worst of all these recent injuries has been the horrifying news this week that Gennaro Gattuso, Milan’s midfield workhorse, has been lost to a muscular problem, one that will keep him away from the field for around three weeks.

Back to the playing sides of things, Milan will be hoping to have similar luck to that of visiting sides to Florence this term, but history does not bode well for the Rossoneri. They have not won their since April of 2005, and historically have struggled in the Tuscan capital. In sixty-seven all-time away encounters against Fiorentina, Milan have only been victorious in nineteen of those matches, with an equal number of draws but a staggering twenty-nine losses.

The end of this crowded run of matches is in sight, with only one more match to make up for those they missed due to their involvement in the FIFA Club World Cup. The Rossoneri cannot rest on their laurels yet, however. Fiorentina will be their toughest test of the year, and they are a direct competitor for the fourth-place finish which brings with it a chance at top-level European football next season. All in all, the prospect of moving within four points of fourth place should be enough to give Milan a boost in this match.

FORM GUIDE (last five fixtures)

Fiorentina

1/16 Fiorentina 2-0 Ascoli Coppa Italia

1/19 Fiorentia 2-1 Torino Serie A

1/24 Lazio 2-1 Fiorentina Coppa Italia

1/27 Empoli 0-2 Fiorentina Serie A

1/30 Fiorentina 1-2 Lazio Coppa Italia

Milan

1/16 Catania 1-1 Milan Coppa Italia

1/20 Udinese 0-1 Milan Serie A

1/23 Atalanta 2-1 Milan Serie A

1/27 Milan 2-0 Genoa Serie A

1/30 Reggina 0-1 Milan Serie A

TEAM NEWS

Fiorentina’s Marco Donadel is suspended, but the rest of the squad should be ready to go for manager Cesare Prandelli. Christian Vieri, formerly of Milan, will probably start on the bench.

For Milan, Marek Jankulovski and Serginho are missing from the squad, while Filippo Inzaghi is not yet fit enough to play either. Ronaldo is once again suffering from a mystery injury, and will not be able to play for an undetermined amount of time.

Shocking news has come this week for Milan supporters far and wide, as Gennaro Gattuso has been ruled out of action for approximately three weeks with a severe muscle strain. Baring a miraculous recovery, this will keep him out of the first leg of the Champions League first knockout phase encounter against Arsenal.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina) – This is the obvious choice, but a wise one nonetheless. He simply terrorizes Milan’s defense (as well as many others in the peninsula) whenever they cross paths.



Kakà (Milan) – He has been very disappointing lately, with the 1-0 win over Reggina on Wednesday seeing the world player of the year have a fairly absent performance. Still, he is capable of taking apart any defense on any day.



POSSIBLE STARTING XI’s

Fiorentina (4-3-3): Frey; Ujfalusi, Dainelli, Gamberini, Pasqual; Kuzmanovic, Liverani, Montolivo; Santana, Pazzini, Mutu

Milan (4-3-2-1): Kalac; Bonera, Nesta, Kaladze, Maldini; Brocchi, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kakà, Seedorf; Pato

PREDICTION

Fiorentina always play Milan tough, and the attack is usually the most prevalent part of the game for both sides whenever they meet. They shared the spoils at one goal apiece when they met in Milan back in September, and should produce an equally exciting match here.

Fiorentina 2-2 Milan


goal.com

ANCELOTTI'S CALLED-UP PLAYERS
2/2/2008
MILANELLO - These are the called-up players of Carlo Ancelotti for the game in Florence:

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac, Fiori
DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo
MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Emerson, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo, Seedorf
ATTACKERS: Gilardino, Pato

Link http://www.acmilan.com/index.aspx

I'm curious,..why isn't Simic included? He'll loose his spot in the NT soon,..and I don't get it, it's like he's on a blacklist. They should have sold him in January..

nice to see Paolo and Janku back


no Roni

Can't you see how much better Bonera and especially Kaladze are!??

If he loses his place in the Croatia NT it's going to be all Milan's fault. And a disgraceful act since we're supposed to be so respectful to our players...

Oh it seems that today, Kaka is not a forward...

Exactly,..

Press Conference? This is it. Official Site? That's where it's from.

So, it seems that Pato will be benched tommorow!

come one we all know the reason...

So it's the xmas tree with Gila, I'm counting down until he doesn;t do anything and the bashing starts again

(Where is the roll eyes smily????????? Porty will die without that one)

Our defence vs. Mutu and co... worries me.

i think we'll be seeing this formation

----------------------Kalac-------------------------

Oddo------Nesta-------Kaldaze -------Paolo

-------Emerson------Pirlo-------------Ambro------

-------------Seedorf----------Kaka----------------

----------------------Gila----------------------------


Janku will be given a piece of the second half i'd imagine coming on for Paolo