Well, it's arrived! Round 38 of the Serie A season. If we somehow end up in 4th, will it still be a season to forget?

A small glimmer of hope - Torino are the draw specialists in Serie A, and that's all we need them to do as long as we beat Udinese.

I think 4-3-1-2 is almost a certainty (with Pato starting). Has Gila played his last game for Milan already? Or will he score the winning goal like he did when we played Udinese earlier in the season?

I'll be making the trip to Milan for this one

Cool .. Hope you enjoy the trip .. And bring back the 3 points with you

Last game of the season .. Torino have nothing to fight for .. But who knows

Aha, that's an interesting comment. Napoli had nothing to fight for, and see how that turned out.

^^ It's true - nobody likes to lose. If Siena (who also had nothing to play for) can hold Inter at the San Siro, Torino can hold Fio at the Olimpico.

It's unlikely, but we might as well keep believing until the end. I guess some people call that delusion. I call it hope

The fixture Napoli - Milan ... Is worth more than 3 points, for them ... If you go back in the history of the matches between the two clubs, you would see that this game would be weighed in to that of a Milan-Juve or a Milan-inter.

Maybe they didn't have anything to play for on the table .. But they are a proud Southern club, who most of the time did well against Milan. I said this in the Napoli - Milan thread, that this wasn't an easy match! And it turned out to be a nightmare.


Torino and Fiorentina however, there is no history .. There is nothing there, other than the 3 points. And in which case, Torino are not fighting to be in Europe, nor are they threatened by relegation, what motivation do they have ?

Dude im going to !!!!!!!! i might be in the Curva or Primo anello rosso.. msg me ure number !! im leaving to gatwick on the 16th , we gotta meet up

You guys going have got to take pictures!!!!

And definitely meet up for beer/coffee/whatever!

Actually, Napoli have to fight for europe through intertoto, but wath said rossoneri7 is true and a good reason for them to want to spoil our season

Cafe's by the Duomo

For those of you going to the game, ticket prices are being cut because it's the last game of the season.

Here is the list of ticket prices. There are some pretty good deals. (note: you can get tickets in Milan at the New Milan Point shops, Banco Intesa San Paolo banks, and at the stadium ticket office).

cheers man my parents are in Como for holidays so there buying mine from the Good old Milan Point next to the Doumo

Here's Gazzetta's early projected lineup:

Kalac
Bonera Simic Kaladze Janku
Brocchi Pirlo Ambro
Kaka Seedorf
Inzaghi

(Both Nesta and Gattuso are suspended for this game).

A part of me so wishes that Gazzetta is wrong this time around. I would have played with a different formation, something more attacking. It's our home game, for crying out loud.

I don't think they're wrong its going to be a tree formation, maybe Carlo will play Favalli or Oddo in the flanks though ...

Eh this would make more sense to me:

Kalac
Oddo Bonera Kaladze Favalli
Ambrosini Pirlo Seedorf
Kaka
Pato Inzaghi

tell that to the tactical genius it's it's up to the players on the field to perform but as a coach, carlo has been a complete failure this season. he rarely gets the formations right, never makes good subs, cant motivate the players, cant even Fing admit were not playing well.

There is no reason for us to play the Xmas tree. A draw isn't good enough, even if Fio lose. Maybe he wants to keep it close until HT then switch, but... if we're going down we might as well go down all guns blazing

+1

+1

Absolutely!

Hopefully we will be guns blazing

I hope for once we start with Pippo AND Pato up front... I badly want him to score another goal so his 0.5 goal a game ratio remains unchanged!

and put his orange boots on!

I'd love to see a 4-3-1-2.

The fish doll misses being able to say 'QUACK QUACK' when Pato scores goals too!

In today's training, more of the same general stuff but with more concentrated practice games.

Kalac, Jankulovski, Maldini & Favalli trained in the gym.

Tomorrow will be double training.

It really can't be anything less than 2 up front. I think we played 4-3-1-2 against Udinese earlier in the season when we were away (!), and still won.

Yeah, Gila was the hero that day, i remember it fondly. We only played that formation because Seedorf was injured/suspended, but we now have nothing to loose so must go in guns blazing from the start

I don't think Carlo agrees with us... it's gonna be 4-3-2-1, with Pippo starting...

+4321. Carlo is one of the most rigid and stubborn coach I've seen. Which means that if something is working for him, he won't change it. Often times it means good for the club, as in last year's Champions League. The problem arises when it doesn't, and this is when the club and fans have to pay. He won't change his tactics, when everyone including fans, media, maybe even the club management wants him to. Elite? Maybe.

He's a top coach, no doubt about that. But maybe he took the phrase "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" too personally?

Exactly. Predictability and stupidity.

Ditto. He's been outclassed so many times this season. I can't recall any match in which we've seen any tactical genius or masterstroke by Carlo this season - at least not in the league or the knockout stages of the CL. Sure, one has a slump after winning so much personal accolades last year (him and Kaka too), and you're entitled to having an average season now and then.

But when you include predictability and stupidity into the mix, it's disaster. For a coach at least. Remember what happened in the Arsenal game. Wegner completely outclassed Carlo, and he didn't even know what hit him. Compare that to Manchester last season in San Siro - that was when Carlo was at hist best and most tactically astute. Sure the players haven't stepped it up as much this season, plus the management. Can't blame it all on the coach.

But irrespective of that and what happened through the season, I never thought that we'd be fighting for the fourth place in the last match of the season, with our destiny in Torino's hand. Even the best script writer couldn't have written such a script. One can still hope, though, for a Fiorentina draw and a Milan win.

Carletto has always been predictable. The thing is, even if you know that something is coming you will not be able to stop it if it's too strong... and Milan was very powerful a couple of years ago. Probably Carletto has not realized his team is not as strong as it used to be thus he's not doing anything to change it... that or he is just incapable of doing it.

Both. The thing is that a Milan era is coming to an end and a new one is beginning. Carletto will take time to get over this. But it's maybe due to his inexperience, he is comparatively not as older or experienced as other coaches, say Sir Alex?

We'll know more about Ancelotti and his skills if he ever manages any other team, a mid table one perhaps.

I don't think I'd place Carlo in the 'stupid' bracket, but I get your point. Stubborn and predictable yes, but stupid - I'm not so sure.

Any team can reach the CL final if luck is on their side, but 3 times in 5 seasons is no fluke. Carlo has a very clear idea of how he wants his team to play, and believes 100% in his choices (he probably couldn't survive at a club like Milan if he didn't). And you're right - he very rarely changes a winning formula, even when things aren't going to plan. Maybe he's putting too much faith in the players? He can't be called stupid for that though - the players have earnt the faith placed in them with their performances over the last 5 years.

I don't know if he'll stay this summer, but I know that if he goes to another top European club, I wouldn't look forward to facing them.

This morning's training has taken place.

After warmups (in which everyone took part), there was a lot of work in small groups -- agility exercises, speed sprints, the sand pit, work in the gym, etc.

There will be another training session this afternoon.

I've always thought Carlo can succeed in Milan if he's provided with a great team. that said, it doesn't really make a difference to me if he stays or goes. we firstly need to rebuild the team not replace the coach.

But if we were ever to replace Carlo, [considering that Mourinho seems to be an impossible dream] I'd like to see Rijkaard in Milan; much more than Donadoni or Lippi. it's time for Milan to kick-goodbye the boring Christmas tree and play some beautiful attacking football.

The afternoon training has taken place.

After warmups and drills, there were defensive exercises and practice games.

No player was mentioned by name.

Agree plus that i think Galliani were very lazy about market in last 2 years , this is the only mistake that hurts so much , with a little work in market we could avoid our troubles for this season !

a lot man not a little.

Brocchi, gattuso, gila dida emerson, ronaldo are leaving this summer most likely.

Got my tickets today im taking alot of pictures!!! can't wait !!

Hey guys,

To those planning on going to the match, I hope there is no problem with regard to buying tickets. I'm near Milan now and went to a Banca Intesa branch to buy some tix. They wouldn't sell them to me (I am an Aussie here on holiday), as apparently only locals can buy them now (as a result of the new laws). Luckily I was with my cousin who lives here and he was able to get me a ticket, although there is no guarantee I'll be able to enter the stadium.

Just want to let you know of my experience. As I said, I hope that there is no problem for you to get tickets (if you dont have them already).

@rhy_AK

Hahaha looks like you beat me to it. Glad you had no probs getting them!

my only problem with carlo is that he's a great European manager and a decent Serie A manage. i think that's where his stubbornness comes into play.

he needs to realize the Euro style and Italian style are 2 completely different things. Christmas Tree works in Europe, but not in Seria A. when we are healthy and play with two forwards in seria a we usually come out on top.

That's gonna do wonders for our attendance if they'll only let in people from Milan!

Hey mate i think its probably because of the demand in tickets as its the last match of the season my parents which are on holiday now in Como got them from the Banca intesa , as the Milan point next to the Doumo wasnt selling any because there ticket machine printer was broken they are selling fast !!! as the news and media hypes the match as they should !
This will be my 4th match including seeing them in Dubai in the winter training camp i havent ever had problems getting tickets they only stopped me at the gates for my water bottle because i needed to throw away the cap
I hope we all get in and have a great match FORZA MILAN !! FORZA TUTTI TIFOSI ROSSONERI !!!!

P.S everyone thats going id be there 2 hours or more before the match i like to go to the MC Donalds down the road from the Stadio for some beverages and read the Gazzeta Dello sport most fans tend to start heading down and hour before kick off , thats when it gets tricky and you have to que alot lol

Cheers m8

So, our CL participation for next year, doesn't depend on us. What could I say ? I heard the news when Cairo said he'll be playing Viola for victory and I really hope his words will come to be reality and prove it on the pitch.

I want Milan to play this game for fans, no matter who the other match result will be. I want them to win for them, to cheer a bit their sad faces, to make them happy at least with something little.
They were always beside them, even in dark times (Just what we're in right now), they deserve it.
If we would depend on ourself, I would start celebrating from now on, because I know that they would crash them hard. But this is what scares me, we depend on a team which has secured their place in Serie A for the next season, and will play like it was a friendly match.
To be honest, we really don't deserve that place, but I don't care about that since I want my team to play in CL, and be the team of fear for others, like we always were. CL would suck without Milan there, not only for us, but for everyone who really loves football and has at least 10% of football knowledge.

Nothing would make this year for me perfect, If I see Roma lifting the Scudetto and Milan in 4'th place.

Anyway, hope dies last.

Forza !

San Siro isnt usually like this i assume. I know tickets are very limited in the Napoli Lazio game, only season ticket holders are allowed.

Surely there must be proper justification of only allowing quotas of fans in, and i assume things will be back to normal for the majority of next season

Great post m1ke

He is most definitely one of the top three coaches who have coached Milan. He is in fact the reason this team is #1 in Europe and the world.

And yes, if he was ever to move ... I wouldn't look forward to facing his team, a brilliant manager indeed

+1

Dst your inbox is full mate i cant send any message to u ?

Um, yeah, dst has been very busy with some, literary stuff, so to speak. He hasn't had time to clear his messages inbox.