Not only that, they gave Casillas a 7 despite his conceding SIX goals yesterday. Fill in your own joke.

Post match from Channel 4 news

Link:

Ancelotti hails new Milan Sunday 3 May, 2009

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Carlo Ancelotti hopes Milan can continue this level of performance next season, but warns Scudetto dreams are a utopia for now.

The Rossoneri notched up their seventh win in eight games with a 2-0 away to Catania and maintained the gap from leaders Inter at seven points.

“We are not thinking of the top spot, but rather keeping ourselves clear of fourth position. We need four points to make that secure in four games,” said the Coach.

Thanks to Juventus' 2-2 draw with Lecce, they have extended their advantage in second to four points.

“I am very realistic. We are playing well, get to train all week and that shows on the field at the weekend.

“We will have to remember how we work now and take that on through next season.

“Inevitably there are regrets about what we could have achieved this year, but everyone knows the injury problems we had.”

The rumours that Ancelotti is set to join Chelsea continue apace with reports Roman Abramovich's yacht was spotted off the coast of Sicily ahead of today's game.

“That's all we need!” laughed the tactician. “Watch out in case Abramovich's helicopter swoops down to take me away

Had it not been for Casillas, Barca would have ended the game with a two-digit number in front of their name on the scoresheet. there was not much he could have done on any of the goals (maybe only on the 1st goal but then again he saved another 4-5). the defensive line in front of him was brutally bad.



How come the team is winning now with all the injuries?! I want to smash my head against the wall when I read about this childish excuse the management, Carlo and even the players use every day.

Eh, yeah. Right.

yes but this is true, imagine barca which is now the best team in the world in my opinion without Puyol for the whole season (Nesta), Eto'o (Boriello) for the season, Xavi (rino) for half of the season, Messi (kaka) 3 or 4 months and so on....

they will be behind Real now and out of the champions league for sure!

Not as a player, he surely used to be a great one but I could never stand his mug or his attitude!

Here are datasport's ratings.

Dida 6.5 Impegnato pochissimo, quando è chiamato in causa non soffre particolarmente ed interviene con efficacia. [Rarely called on, but when he is, he doesn't suffer particularly and intervenes with efficiency.]

Bonera s.v. Non giudicabile. [not judgable]

Jankulovski 6.5 Molto reattivo sia in fase di copertura sia in avanti dove si propone con buona continuità sfruttando la fascia sinistra. [Very reactive in coverage as well as going forward where he shows good continuity on the left.]

Maldini 6.5 Pulito ed efficace in difesa. Nel primo tempo colpisce bene di testa indirizzando verso la porta siciliana, sulla linea Izco gli nega la gioia del gol. [Efficient in defense. In the first time a good header that was saved off the line by Izco.]

Favalli 6.5 Ottimo in fase di copertura, non sbaglia praticamente nulla. Solo nel primo tempo una sua deviazione di testa manda il pallone sul palo facendo tremare i tifosi rossoneri. Emozionante. [Optimal in coverage, hardly mistakes a thing. only in the first half was the hand to ball that worried the rossoneri fans.]

Zambrotta 7 Vivacissimo sulla fascia destra dove agisce in tandem con Beckham arrivando spesso al cross. Battagliero in difesa non concede nulla agli attaccanti di casa. [Very lively on the right where he works in tandem with Beckham providing a lot of crosses.]

Felipe s.v. Non giudicabile. [Not judgable.]

Pirlo 6 Gara ordinata per il metronomo rossonero. Detta con calma e tranquillità i tempi della squadra. [Good game by the rossoneri metronome. Provides calm and tranquility to the team's timing.]

Seedorf 6 Giostra a metà campo ora interdicendo ora impostando e sempre facendo valere la sua enorme esperienza. [ Merry go round at midfield now interceding now imposing and always showing his enormous experience.]

Beckham 7 Propulsivo e dinamico sulla fascia destra dove sventaglia una serie di precisi cross in mezzo con parabole che sembrano disegnate. Artista puro. [Propulsive and dynamic on the right where he puts in a series of precise crosses with angles that seem designed. Pure artist.]

Ambrosini 6.5 Ottima gara in fase d'interdizione. Un mastino insuperabile che non molla mai la presa. [Optimal game in the interdiction phase. An impassible mastiff who never gives up pressing.]

Kaka' 7.5 Quando è in giornata non lo fermano nemmeno se gli sparano. Serve un'assist delizioso ad Inzaghi al 27' per la rete del vantaggio rossonbero e poi al 52' in area è rapace a picchiare in gol sulla corta respinta del portiere. Se fosse anche entrato il suo destro a giro che al 67' si stampa invece sul palo sarebbe stata una gara davvero perfetta. Incantevole. [When he's having a good day you can't stop him even if you try. Provides a delicious assist to Inzaghi for the first goal and then has a tap in in the second. If his attempt at the 67th had gone in it would have been a perfect game for him. Enchanting.]

Pato s.v. Non giudicabile. [Not judgable]

Inzaghi 7 Sbaglia, le cose facili soprattutto, vero. Ma altrettanto vero è che come è opportunista, lottatore e bomber lui, non lo è nessun altro. Al 27' non esita a raccogliere un magico assist di Kakà, liberrasi della marcatura e battere in rete per il vantaggio del Milan. Goleador. [Yes, he misses the easiest things. But it's also true that as opportunist, gambler and bomber, there's nobody like him. In the first half he latches onto a magical assist from Kaka and scores the goal that puts Milan ahead.]

Don't understand how you can actually compare Boriello with Eto'o, Boriello has never been an integral part of the team, so we can't say whether we've missed him or not this season since he's never actually got a consistant run in the squad. Sure he scored 2 goals in his 3 games, but who's to say those weren't a fluke and he would be another Gila for us and would have basically done nothing?

So to say that we missed having Boriallo to me is a ridiculous excuse and assumption, he's definately not our Eto'o that's for sure. His total season wipe out through injury confirms to me that we actually made a mistake in spending all that money on a player that we had been shopping around Serie A for years.


How come Pirlo gets the low rating yet Becks gets a 7??

Beckham was really bad today, bad passing, bad crossing, which basically means he did nothing right when it comes to him, yet Pirlo was on top of his game today, he controled the midfield with ease and basically was the architect of everyone of our plays. Cr@p ratings imo.

I agree Han, I thought Becks was poor today(judging from his usual high standards).

Anyway great performance today, it seems we're starting to really click now - just a shame it's too late! Still, if we can continue this form until the end of the season it will be a nice platform to start next season.

I've got to give respect to Catania as well, it would have been easy for them to sit with ten behind the ball(like chelsea and the majority of 'smaller' Serie A sides), but they did try to attack. Their assistant manager was full of praise for Milan as well. I wish them all the luck for the rest of the season and hope they retain Serie A status for next season.

And one more thing...Pippo Inzaghi! What a player!!!!!

Very good gam by the ragazzi !!

Bring on Juveee


Something to take note of, Ceseare Maldini was asked about some tactical issues post match on Jazeera sport about Ronaldinho & Gourcuff's lack of play at Milan ... His response was that Milan plays in a certain way that serves the best for certain players - more balanced. When both players were fielded they either take a left side position in midfield or partner Kaka' behind the striker. Both failed to hold that position and that is why Carlo prefers Seedorf who has a better understanding with the midfield and attack than the previous two. Carlo played them in Seedorf's position(s), because he wanted them to replace him in the near future in that formation, hence the choices that the coach had taken.

But he does feel that Ronaldinho has a better chance come next season than the French.

Ronaldinho while playing in that position was probably the single reason we didn't go down to mid table...

Of course Cesera Maldini will always defend Carlo's choices, because him and his son are 'those' kind of guys, they're too gracious and noble for their own good. You think Seedorf actually gives us balance by playing the attacking mid role?? All he does is unbalance our plays with his bad passing and slow movement. Sure Kaka and Dinho tend to both drift to the left at times, but lets not forget the countles times they assisted each other...

Let's not make excuses for Carlo's fascination with Seedorf. There is no reason what-so-ever why he should be on the pitch ahead of Pato and Dinho, simple as that.

The competition should be between him and Becks, Becks has been having up and down performances and Seedorf needs some competition to get his blood flowing again. It's simple really, Seedorf has no business being considered for a role he cannot play in. But this is Carlo's Milan so un-just things like this will continue to occur until he is no longer with us

He's still a flop. They've moved him to mid-field now. I think like Janku, it's making a difference in his play.

So he was not a flop. he just was being played out of position!

100% agreed. with all respect to Cesare Maldini, I think he is no critic, there's no constructive criticism in his opinions whatsoever.



@ the underlined part...

For anyone up to doing a little research, what games were those?

It's a shame that we're so dependent on him! But it's more annoying that we're doing nothing to fix this...

Bologna (lost)
Palermo (lost)
Juventus (lost)
Inter (lost)
Cagliari (won)
Sampdoria (lost)
Atalanta (won)

Despite all the Kaka has sucked this season (which is true to an extent), this clearly shows we were still dependent on him.

Playing a LB at LB is not out of position. That he wasn't good enough to play there since he couldn't do both duties effectively is the point. So they moved him into a position where he could be of some use. But the fact is when you spend so much money for a LB you need a LB, not a LM. Sure, Vargas might turn out to be great at playing LM, but then the hole the Viola have at the LB spot still remains to be filled.

I know he didn't exactly turn out what they expected... I was just pulling your leg (how dare I!)

zeddie you should open the Juve match thread... Let's keep the ball rolling please

I know!! You would pull my leg....my leg??!! My frickin wooden leg??!!! Sorry I acted like an @$$hole and got all defensive. I can't help the first part, and I'll try not to do the second.

Big match against Juve. But with the merda win against Lazio, we can say goodbye to the scudetto. I hope we cut their lead to under 5 points though. So I think it's important we win. Juve are going through the same phase we were when they met us. The tables have turned completely, and I hope we use it to our advantage. We've got huge games coming up, but all our opponents are at their weakest so that's a silver lining. Would be great to win all of our remaining games, and hopefully take that momentum with us.

If we look like genuine title challengers, we might even be more attractive when shopping for players. Especially from within Serie A.

That is your opinion, great

I was just stating that while watching the post match debate Ceseare stated his own opinion. Which you can take either way, but bear in mind you are talking about a former coach who knows a thing or two about tactics and who deals with the club first hand. He was not in anyway praising Seedorf.

He was actually answering a question of: 'Why Carlo doesn't field Ronaldinho and didn't field Gourcuff ?'

If anything, I think what he is saying is Milan doesn't need Ronaldinho or Gourcuff, Milan needs a modern player who can fit into that position; e.g. Gerrard.

I wouldn't call Fiorentina and Udine at their weakest right now. I think considering Roma's and Juve's form, those 2 are going to be our toughest opponents.

And agreed, Scudetto was lost a long time ago but coming within a few points of Inter in second will look a hell of a lot better then barely making 4th.


Aside from being a coach Maldini Sr. is a Milan legen and fan, so ofcourse he will always look at things positively from Carlo's perspective. There's just no other direction I could see him going in. He would never say a negative thing about a present Milan coach especially on national television, he's too classy for that and I think you would agree with me on this.

I'm not saying that he was praising Seedorf but that he is defending Carlo's tactics and motives, and he will always do that simply because he is the person that he is. Regarding getting a box-to-box man for that position next to Kaka, (if that is the position we are talking about here?) I would have to disagree completely, someone like Gerrard who drives the team from the midfield would simply be wasted in that posotion. That position is dedicated to an attacking midfielder, something Ronaldinho is. and the system was working fine until Dinho got injured, he is the man for that position not Seedorf or a Gerrard type player. Now if you're talking about the midfield 3 next to Pirlo and the defensive midfielder, then I would agree completely with you.

Seedorf is not good enough anymore. And I don't even know what to pin it on, whether it's the motivation or the fact that he is getting old and can't keep playing at a high level anymore. He is not a Maldini that can transform himself into a center back in order to prolong himself, and neither is he a Pippo Inzaghi, someone that relies on istinct rather then physical power. Seedorf is all about his movement, strength and skill and lately he has shown that he has declined a significant amount in all of these areas

Simple answer - play two forwards with Ricky behind them!

Not that simple to Carlo apparently...

We'll see what he does against Juve and then we can judge.

X-mas tree against Juve no doubt.

I think if Pato is fit, he might play both Pato and Pippo. They are working really well together, and are both in decent touch.

However I won't be too surprised if we play 2 DMs to counter the threats of Camoranesi and Nedved. It's the defence that worries me. Especially with Amauri back.

That is what I'm saying, if he doesn't play Pato against Juve and plays Seedorf instead we'll know for sure that it has nothing to do with Ronaldinho and Kaka not working well together and all to do with Seedorf.

As for the 2 DM, I hope not, we need Flamini on at RB and Zambro at LB, Ambro seems to have regained his touch back in midfield and is doing great work. I don't want to see us disrupt that. Imo best formation to go out with against Juve would be



But as you said Carlo will probably go for something along these lines

Will anyone else do that please? I've already been too lucky with the threads I started. I don't want to spoil the whole thing all of a sudden

Oh come on!!

You have the best track record with this and you need to open the Juve thread.

Don't be a wuss

Fishdoll asks Essie to please prod his person to open the match thread.

In news, both Nedved and Mellberg will be suspended for the game.

OK, OK!!