He's South African anyway, like half of our cricket team.

Gattuso > Xavi/Iniesta/Messi. Time to slice Spurs apart like that.

I read an article, where they described Rino as the world's smallest ton of bricks.

You? Taking offense? Get out of here! You're one of the coolest (read: level-headed) guy I know here.

One note on the game other than a general fins up-- not sure if anyone else noticed but I do think that was the first time Nesta wore the captain's armband for Milan.

Also: several pages ago in this thread I was rather harsh in some statements directed toward Chu-Lip. I regret not having expressed myself more diplomatically and apologize if any feelings were hurt.

Yep, I've noticed it. And it looked good on him.

Yep, noticed Nesta wearing the arm band. He should wear it more often imo

Tottenham thread ,come on 2 more days for the match.






Bale won't be back for the match...and I'm just waiting for kurt to comment on what Harry Redknapp said .

Well, Abate will be available for Tottenham, and I think Allegri will play him. I'd still take him over Oddo any day.

I would also play Abate vs Spurs if possible. I am pleased with Oddo this season, but unlike others I am more than pleased with Abate as right-back.


Apologies accepted.

Interesting Nesta wearing the captain's armbad. Never expected him to do so considering his promise to the Lazio fans. And of course it looks good on him. He would be my choice for captaincy, if anything.

Never. Oddo is by far better for our defensive line. Almost nothing gets past him.

But...Abate is a midfielder (even if a RM)...why couldn't we play him finally in his natural position, since we don't have many midfielders anyway?

Abate is gradually being adapted to his new role. In a couple of years, he'll be a full-fledged fullback.

Yeah,it isn't like Abate's amazingly good as a midfielder
Even for a fullback,his attacking qualities aren't so great,what do you think about playing him as a midfielder.

Also,Abate's is becoming better at defense too.

this tells you the whole story - a natural midfielder is better playing a fullback

He's mediocre now, and he has all the potential in the world to stay mediocre for ever.

Mediocre? I wouldn't go that far. Milan quality? Absolutely not. Better than Oddo? Absolutely yes!

In what way is he exactly better then Oddo?

Everything. First of all, Abate is younger and faster, and that is very important for a fullback. Oddo is clumsy and slow. Moreover, I also think Abate is better defensively, though you might interpret that differently. They both suck at crossing, but Oddo's crosses are of a whole other level of mediocrity.

I must say, your 'everything' seems to cover a lot less then mine.

Abate is younger, but that usual does not mean someone is better or worse. He's faster, much faster. In terms of skill and technique both have problems, Oddo is superior in handling the ball (limitations put aside). Abates crossing is sharper, while Oddo overall is the better crosser.

Oddo is a much better defender - his tackle and his marking cannot be compared to Abates. Abate is always posing as a defender, while Oddo acts and does it naturally. He could be positioned as a CB in a dire situation, while Abate would never survive a halftime on that position.

I remember him being used as a CB actually. He SUCKED a lot.

Don't see how you could see it that way

Especially against a team who loves to run in space, Abate is terrible defensively, while Oddo has let practically nothing pass his side of the pitch since he's been playing. Abate running like a headless chicken and leaving Lennon or whoever plays on the left for Spurs to run in acres of space is just what Spurs will be hoping for.

Atleast with Oddo I'm sure that he'll hold his position, make a good tackle when needed and won't let them put in cross after cross after cross like both Abate and Antonini tend to do. Attacking wise, sure Abate has an edge over Oddo, but what the FBs need to do against Spurs is hold their position and mark their men tight. Not go gallavanting down the wing and we're left with a wide open spaces in our defence, because that's just asking for trouble.

For me Abate is just someone who can run really fast, he doesn't even know how to dribble or make decent overlapping runs, he's not good in midfield or in defense, and in defense he becomes an even bigger liability because he makes serious mistakes that cost us

Younger and faster? What does it really matter if he makes a huge howler in defense or doesn't mark his man properly? Sorry but Oddo is by far the better defender of the 2 and imo should be starting this match based on that, not on how old he is.


First time he'd ever played in the position when the team was under huge pressure and he'd had to move their midway through the game. Hardly a fair assesment. But if it came down to choosing between Abate and Oddo in such a situation the obvious choice would be Oddo. Abate is a disaster in defense, can't begin to imagine trying to pull off playing at CB

Sorry han, but I think Abate is much better defensively than Oddo. Oddo is useless against fast wingers, they will eat him alive, whilst Abate is more than capable of keeping track.

Haha. It's funny how your everything turned into a simple fact - Abate is faster. I really don't think Abate is a good defender, never would call him that.

But okay, let's say we disagree.

I only said against fast wingers, you need fast fullbacks.

Not true and you know it. If the positioning is right then you don't need to be fast, Abate always has to run around panting like a dog because he's never in the right position so he has to work his @ss off to recover. Oddo on the other hand is 99% of the time in position, so he doesn't look like he's doing half the work Abate does.

All your arguments are based on speed and age, which imo is shallow and not a fair assesment. If that were the case Nesta should not be playing.

Speed and age... huh... Exciting things... But man can you remember the legend that was Costacurta... His positioning was mind blowing. Better than both Maldini and Nesta in that respect.

Abate has better positioning.

Compared to Oddo he really doesn't. He is not as defensively capable as Oddo either whether it's tackling, marking or knowing how to act in a defensive line. Oddo to me really is a terrible choice for Milan overall. but if I wanted to play with a more solid defense, between the options we currently have, I would go for Oddo.

I don't think we can convince him.

But you remembered me on Costacurtas match against Fiorentina. Playing at an advanced age a RB and pulling of one of his best performances. He was brilliant.

Nope, you can't convince me. You can say whatever you want, but there's no way in hell Oddo is better than Abate.

At least not in your version of hell

Can't take this seriously asnymore after you've said this. Not in a million years would that ever happen. Oddo moving around in an electric wheel chair would position himself better then Abate

Blah blah blah...

Nice counter argument .

Abate's positioning is perfect... just ask anyone that's facing him!

Abate>Maicon+Dani Alves

I'm as good a defender as Abate.

When is that? When you're defending your pizza from your pet dog trying take a bite?

When I'm sleeping.

Poor Ignazio.

Favalli > Abate.

Hey, I'm not praising Abate or anything. He's bench material at best, definitely not Milan quality. But when I compare him to Oddo, well, let's just say he suddenly becomes a world class fullback.

I prefer Oddo defensively, but I agree that neither are good enough for the club.

Best argument of the day, that means he's utter cr@p


Thanks again