The big game we've been talking about for more than a month now. If we win this I'll fly to Milan and kiss Allegri's feet.

That being said, we do have a lot of injuries and potentially no Ibra. My only fear is that we'll see the same midfield we saw against Cesena. And that won't be pretty against Juve

I'm holding you to this

I am so anxious for this game.

If we get anything but 3 points with an incomplete side I will can't help but think what if.

Boateng's absence is massive. He's been our most inspirational player this season, alongside Ibra. If both aren't available we'll really really struggle.

It's like Kaka' and Sheva were both missing in the old days, that big of a blow.

Fair comparison. Yes, Boateng might not quite yet be viewed in the allure that Kaka was at his peak for us, but us supporters know just how good he is.

If I am totally honest, I'd say he's one of the top 3 players in Italy now - Sneijder, Ibra, and Boateng.

I'd gladly do it



Yeah, but sadly back then, the midfield made up for it, as well as having guys like Pippo/Crespo/JDT/Rui

Hmm, some might argue with the 2 midfielders. Boateng has been far too inconsistant with the injuries, while Sneijder hasn't really been anywhere near his best since the season under Mou, plus all the injuries he's had as well.

I think players like Marchisio, Pirlo and Thiago hae been better value for money imo.

Any talk about the best players in the Italian league is futile without including Thiago Silva in the top 3. FACT.

What the man said. Exactly what he said.

Well Ibra himself said that Silva is better than Puyol, Thuram Cannavaro and a bunch of players combined. And he's been saying this for quite a while. I don't always agree with him, but got to hand it to the Swede for the respect. It's not that Silva is just good at defending, it's how he makes it look effortless and unnoticeable.

I am aware anyone reading this text knows this, but next time pay attention to Silva and his off-the-ball movements instead of the play and see what I'm trying to get at. He's anticipating the game, making clearances, covering for his teammates, marshaling the defense. We'd be lost without him, I am sure.

I still think he can improve further in the next couple of years, as he gains more experience and composure. He'll be scary good then, I reckon. Maybe, just maybe, in the league of Nesta in his very prime. And that's good enough it gets for most mortals. Sometimes I wonder how lucky do we get!? Clubs like City, Chelsea, Barcelona, Madrid, even United would pay bucket-loads for this guy.

One thing, one team mate describing another as truly great is meaningless. You'd always big up players on your own team.

Yeah, I am aware of that, but this is something special. If he was saying the same for Abate, or Gattuso, Seedorf, anybody else then it would have bee another thing. New players usually say this when they join a club, just to score a few points with the teammates. But it's not just Zlatan who has been saying this, word is on everyone's mouth.

Everyone except fans of most other clubs, they've got their heads in the wrong places, or don't watch enough Milan.

Exactly. Just consider the match against Arsenal and how he completely owned van Persie on every playable ball. Monster.

I gotta say though, Mexes looks really good too. He finally has consistent composure, something he seemed to lack at Roma. Very excited about the future of Mexes-Silva partnership. Could very well form the strongest defensive due in Europe.

+1

Agree with both you guys, X-Off and Max. This is defensive stability the likes we have not seen since the days of Maldini, Nesta, Cafu and Stam. As long as Nesta can give an year or two more, I'd love it, love it, love it. Hopefully Mexes and Silva develop a good understanding too, and we can be set for another half a decade.

He's very good...though he has some moments where he completley drifts out of position and attacks anyone with the ball.One of the few flaws I've noticed about him.

When did this exactly became the defenders thread?

I blame Danny.

fwiw I do thoroughly rate Silva too, best defender around imo.

But when you describe the best players in a league, most eyes form on creative skillful forward-thinking players, rarely defenders or DM's.

For example, if you were talking about the best 5 players on earth, many would give the astounding Michael Essien a shout because as far as DM's go, he's untouchable. But he'd never be awarded anything because it's all about strikers and creative midfielders/wingers.

Agreed, but times are a changing. The way the game has gone now in the last 5-10 years, defenders are starting to get much deserved attention. Maybe not at the turds-at-FIFA-and-UEFA level, but general fans do think a good, solid defense is very much needed. Part of it has to do with the lack of quality defenders too.

Back in the good old days, a lot of players had good techniques. Now? The standards have fallen. Hence, a good defender like Silva catches the eyes of not just casual fans, but opponent clubs too. I do get what you're saying though, and most of the times it's just the attacking bunch that get all the plaudits.

Michael Essien is a different case. A few years back he was an absolute beast. The best by far. Now not so.

Great discussion guys. Yeah I agree that for a long long time Essien was the best cm/cdm in the world. Also agree that it's an under appreciated role. Thinking about past greats like Roberto Carlos, Maldini and Davids who simply because of the nature of their role never truly got the credit they deserved. I guess as kids they always put the more skillful ones to attack and it pretty much stays that was FOREVAAAAR

Agreed. The thing with great defenders (like great poets and writers) is their true worth becomes plain evident when they've retired (or dead, in case of poets and writers, even painters, artists). That's when they are missed. I can recall a lot of defenders who have grown in stature after they've retired.

Franz Beckenbauer, I am sure was appreciated when he played, but when he said goodbye, the world stopped and noticed. I guess Maldini was right when he said defending is a thankless job. Even a good DM does not get deserved attention. Thing is, people usually watch football games to be entertained, just a little bit of magic. Attackers and creative players can much more easily provide that magic by scoring goal or curving a free kick.

But hey, I'll always love the players back in the engine room, as much (or more than) as strikers.

Depends on perspective I guess.

Sheva: "If Pato should play vs. Juventus, then I'm sure that he will make the difference."

Oh Sheva

The current Sheva has more chances of making the difference against Juve than the current Pato.

What? How so?

Because Pato is that bad.

I'm all for giving him a fair chance. Think he deserves it.

As long as he can play two straight matches without getting injured.

If Pato can't get a run of at least 5 straight matches, than he'll never pick his form back up this season. And to think he started so brightly with that stunner against Barca

Yeah, I'm beginning to lose hope on this guy. He's one of my favourite players but if he can't stay on the pitch, eventually we have to move on ... to ... Stephan El Shaarawy!

Or Carlitos Tevez.

I think it's incredible how fickle football fans are. Just when you think they don't get any worse they sink deeper. There are so many issues that come into play for Pato's bad season this year yet these supposed "fans" act like he's some 2 bit 30 wear old second division player. For this reason I genuinely respect Barcelona and Arsenal for the patience and effort they put behind Messi and RVP respectively. Both were chronically injury prone and both waited nearly a decade for their talent to bloom. (Messi has been at Barca since he was 13). ONE difficult season at Milan and we're ready to toss the kid . Another reason for this impatience is that Ibra is doing so well atm that most can't see past this and possibly next reason where he'll be on the wrong side of 30 and declining. Ditto for the funny lookin Argentine

Ridiculing Pato for having a bad season which is mostly due to injuries. how pathetic is that?

I agree, it is rather annoying.

Yet, I see where people are coming from: frustration leads to such conclusions. We expected so much out of him, yet this season it seems like a well organized time-schedule - Pato injured - Pato back - Pato injured.

I'm almost 100% that on this board there isn't even a single poster who dislikes Pato or wants to insult him because he's convinced Pato is a bad player; yet his constant injuries make them feel frustrated.

If we're 100% honest, best players around right now would be Silva, Essien (imo) Messi, C Ron, Iniesta, and Ibra. Or am I being biased?



You know he's been out injured the past 7 or 8 months? He's only 29, do not write him off

On form he's just the best there is at what he does.

Losing faith in an immensely talented 22 year old because he's injured
Do you know that $heva at his peak once scored 5 goals in 24 matches one season? He was INJURED a lot and even when he did play he was CRAP. Also Del Piero had about 3 SEASONS FULL of utter and complete rubbish. But guess what? Their clubs STUCK with them ans was rewarded

People are so desperate to get a player that's on Messi/CR7's level that they seem to have no qualms about discarding other very good players en route.

Stephan has played only a handful of games and I'd be the most vocal about getting him playing time, but he's even more of a wild card simply because none of us has crystal balls (no homo). Still too early to tell whether he's an Eto'o or a Mido....BOTH supremely talented only one went on to make the transition from promising to world class. Imagine a couple of years ago Mido was the one keeping Zlatan on the bench at Ajax

Players don't always progress linearly. Many grow in fits and starts. One minute they're crap and the next season they finally become world class.

I wonder how you can go from one completely immature post in one thread to a very insightful post in another thread in the space of a couple of hours dru. Tell me, is someone else using your account, or is this simply a Jackle and Hyde sort of thing?

It's a thing humans do han

How can you not get frustrated with him pulling this crap week in and week out? It's not like he's doing it on purpose, but that's beyond the point. I'd be happy with him being just a regular goal scorer à la Higuain at this point of his career (although my expectations for him were much more higher), but the guy gets injured way too often. Who knows when this'll stop, if it will ever stop.

My anger towards Pirlo is partly in response to the sheer number of groupies he has which give him a free pass when he messes up and magnifies even the infinitesimal good things he does. With all the wild accusations of this player being lazy and that player being unmotivated and player X needing to work harder why was always immune to such criticism? Isn't it obvious that he's now playing his heart out for juve while his last 2~3 years he gave us the bare minimum? The languid back passes that put the defence under pressure the persistently careless free kicks, the long passes to no one in particular. The list goes on and on really. The Pirlo that I actually liked up to '07 was a far cry from the one that left Milan. But I'd be less aggressive about all this if these same fans that sing his praises in harmony didn't then turn around and knock the crap out of Seedorf and other favourite whipping boys. Worst of all a team that had such illustrious players could NEVER claim such a limited player as a "legend". But don't tell his fans that. You'll be accused of being a fake fan and gloryhunter etc

Yes,...but I really don't get you, your post is contradictory. How can you say someone getting injured all the time is pulling crap week in and week out? I mean, what do you want him to do?

I must say this place is infinitely more reasonable than other places. For instance across at r&b ppl are convinced he's doing coke and the time out for injury is actually rehab

Err, it's an expresion, Fillipo. I'm not saying he's doing it on purpose, jeez. Still, a change of attitude would be nice. I think his problem resides mostly in his mind. The guy can't even accelerate anymore because he's too afraid of getting injured. As soon as he feels an annoyance or disturbance, he asks to be subbed. And then god knows how long it takes for him to get back, only to be injured again shortly after. There was a great article some time ago from Luca Serafini (a noted and excellent Mediaset journalist and Milan fan) about how Pato's problem was mostly psychological than anything else. If he manages to overcome his fears like Ambrosini did a few years back, then everything will become easier for him. But does he have the right mentality and attitude for that? Because at times he looks like a scaredy-cat to me.

Oh no, not at all. There may be an odd extra or two that you might have missed, but that's this.


I know, I still like the guy, and have been liking his game for a few years now. Hopefully he comes back!

Ibra is definitely in the top five right now, alongside Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi and Iniesta.

If only you could realize how absurd that bold part is.

In the eyes of a fanboy, I certainly believe so. It's sad how you can't be critical of a player that's been disappointing everyone simply because he's your favorite toy.