Alrighty then, things return to normal as far as match threads are concerned. Stats, images, match details, the whole package, blah, blah. I promised Locke that I'll open the Chievo thread, and here it is ladies and gentlemen in all it's glory. We take on the Flying Donkeys (who are really flying high after a spirited 3-3 draw against Juventus in their last match) at their home battleground. On paper we should win, without much heartache seeing as our opponents are still in 16th place as of going to press, but I'd be very wary of those little spirited yellow-and-blue warriors if I were you. The man to look out for? Senior Sergio Pellissier with 9 goals and 1 assist in the league. Here's a view of the field of battle, who they share with their partners in crime, FC Hellas Verona:



Anyhoo, as usual, time for some stats between the two clubs, current rankings, head to head, top scorers, etc.









Date: Saturday, 11 April, 2009
Time: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm GMT
Place: Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi (Verona)
Capacity: 39,211

Oh, and a quick note for our friendly-neighborhood Locke, who has a special place in his heart for Chievo: You can be assured of two pitchers of (virtual) beer if Milan wins. One if we draw. Ha!

Forza Milan! As usual.

3-0 easy win. Chievo pose us no threat. Another week and a fitter Kaka plus players will be getting the desired chance to work this week to improve fitness.


Line up:

Dida-Zambro-Maldini-Senderos-Janku-Becks-Pirlo-Flamini-Kaka-Inzaghi-Pato


I think if carlo goes with this and Kaka gets back to his regular self, we'll destroy them. 3-0 milan.

I don't underestimate the Donkeys. They took it to the Gobbi at the Olimpico yesterday, getting a 3-3 draw. Won't be a cakewalk, and Pelissier is in very good form at the moment.

I can't see a 3-0 romp, especially since Pellissier put three past Gigi yesterday.

Chievo are surprisingly fourth in the points standings for this second half of the season.

Chievo are hardcore, too hardcore for our defence and maybe too hardcore for the Milan. I wouldnt be very optimistic, unless Senderos pulls out some of that famous magic again

2-2 Draw Pellissier, Pato, Italiano (pen), Pato

Ah, so one beer it is then, huh, Locke, after all? If it's a draw, I hope it's 0-0. A hard-fought one, while at it. Of course, a win would be preferable, but I want our defense to hold strong, once in a blue-moon.

Easy win, easy win,...

Dinho and Sheva making another step forward...

A tough game this one as mentioned above they will be bouyed by the draw with the Gobbi. I predict a narrow win by the odd goal 0-1

Forza Milan!

Heya !

Tough game i see them scoring first for some reason but a fight back 1-2 Win Pato and Kaka' to score !!

Yesterday marked our first consecutive clean sheets since way back in October (four). I wouldn't mind seeing that continued this Saturday.

Ah the flying donkeys... we've got a flying Dutchman. Only he's not flying anymore and he's not really Dutch. He sure is a donkey though.

Nice.

^^ LOL!

Not funny. It's just the 'dst' brand that makes each post of his funny. Forza Seedorf!

couldn't agree more...
Milanisti should give some respect, for what he has done for us, for his great attitude taking this pressure...
it's pityful when i saw his face & reaction when subtituted,

also for sheva, hope this good moment continue...

^^^
I was pulling dst's leg. But I do agree that when it comes to respect, besides Paolo Maldini our 'respect' is a very 'short term' thing.

He could use a push.


His attitude sure is not great. It's true, I am being disrespectful towards him but no more than he is to the team and the fans. No not me, **** me I'm just a guy watching the games from his house but there are people who go the stadium and pay to see their team put an effort and that he certainly does not do.

I do respect what he's done for us but he's not in that exclusive league of players who I would never criticize. Not even close to joining it. Am I acting like a *****? Yeah. Am I unfair? I don't think so.


You're taking about God and a bunch of humans there, of course it's different.

Standard training (warmups, exercises, practice game) today. Pippo, Il Capitano, and Seedorf trained separately. Arrigo Sacchi was present during training today.

Juventus' defence was absolute sh!te. As long as players like mellberg and Grygera are playing what do you expect? I mean I doubt even Casillas or Cesar would have been able to keep a clean sheet.

If our defence dont blunder, than chievo are as dangerous as lecce.

----


In all honesty I hope chievo come attacking us because with a (hopefully) fit kaka and pato, they will pay dearly when we go on the counter.


Mid should be becks,pirlo,flamini and we should use kaka and pato as AM, with pippo pushing the defence further up. That will enable us to hit them on the counter with blistering pace.

Why does he no longer coach? I mean if Rijkaard is a candidate, shouldn't he be a choice as well?

Chievo are probably the most in-form team in the league. I don't underestimate them; it won't be an easy game. The Gobbi game at the weekend wasn't a one-off.

Arrigo Sacchi is no longer coaching because he has a heart condition.

What happened? So hes retired permanently then?

Great attitude? You mean the same Seedorf who plays most of the time like he's sitting in a chaise lounge sipping a lemonade, and then pouts like a little kid when he's substituted prematurely? Please don't talk about respect when guys like Dida have more work ethic in their pinky finger than Seedorf has in his whole body, and yet are constantly razzed for whatever reason.

This I agree with!

Yeah

So, double training session today. The morning session was all individual work. Il Capitano trained in the gym.

Saccani will be the ref for this game.

Here's Gazzetta's probable lineup:
Dida
Zambrotta Favalli Senderos Jankulovski
Beckham Pirlo Seedorf
Kakà
Pato Inzaghi

It has to be either Becks or Seedorf, atm I think Beckham would be the better choice. And personally I would like to see Dinho starting, but in who's place I'm not sure

What if we tried something like this



---------------Pirlo--------Flamini------------


-------------Kaka-----------------R10--------


---------------Pato----------Pippo------------


I think Carlo will start 4-3-1-2

but i think he should consider this formation if first half ends with draw

Hmm flamini benched? Quite possible. But if we are to have any chance to win, seedorf must not play.

MILANELLO - Questi i 20 convocati dal tecnico Carlo Ancelotti per la sfida di domani contro il Chievo:
Dida, Kalac, Perucchini, Antonini, Darmian, Favalli, Jankulovski, Mattioni, Senderos, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Beckham, Flamini, Pirlo, Inzaghi, Kakà, Pato, Seedorf, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho.


Paolo out, this means Favster-Senderos in centre (


Good to see Mattioni there

Call ups:
Dida, Kalac, Perucchini
Antonini, Darmian, Favalli, Jankulovski, Mattioni, Senderos, Zambrotta
Ambrosini, Beckham, Flamini, Pirlo
Inzaghi, Kakà, Pato, Seedorf, Shevchenko, Ronaldinho

Maybe without Bonera, Kaladze, Maldini and Nesta at last we can see Darmian on the field.

Oh sorry, you were serious? That's never gonna happen

Unless you're nearing 40 and/or playing like sh!t, you don't get a chance to play in Carlo's Milan

I'm sure Iross will be crushed that Emerson wasn't called up for this one.

He won't have the strength to get out of bed until next weekend when again he will hope to see a glimpse of Emerson, his guiding light

with his goal for ukraine, the assist to inzaghi, and the sign from the curva stating "Ancelotti, respect Shevchenko", could we maybe see Shev work his way back into good graces? i'm for it.

i want to see clarence start on the bench, with dinho starting. if dinho plays great, reward him. If not, bring clarence on and see what kind of stuff he's made of, and if he is actually going to step up and play well. Also, if pippo is impotent up front, bring on shev. i've just had this feeling all season long that if he was actually given a 3 game grace period he would have been back and scoring. but sadly he's played about as much as cardaccio this year.

Its interesting that we only have four fit midfielders, yet Carlo didnt call up any Primavera players to fill the holes like in GK and DF

Well, the call up list also counts Seedorf, Ronaldinho and Kaka as 'strikers'.

Rumor has it that Seedorf may not play.

I love rumors like that. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside

But... why?


...

i don't know either...

Just a note, if Janku gets a yellow in this game he will be suspended.

Hey guys & girls got my new sig , hope you like !! my bro made it for me !

Milan: Dida; Zambrotta, Senderos, Favalli, Jankulovski; Pato, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Kakà; Inzaghi.

What is this? is this a new formation, a 4-4-2? Pato a midfielder?

turtle and carlo made love last night

Don't know why, but I can't see it!