View Full Version : UCL Final - Milan vs. Liverpool... Athens, May 23rd
Hasan Rossonero
17-05-2007, 06:17
I think Gattuso has responded in a very dignified manner to Gerrard's cheap shots:
from soccernet:
Gattuso relishing chance for Liverpool revenge
AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is not letting the memories of the most harrowing defeat of his football career bother him days before his chance for revenge.
The former Rangers man makes no secret of the pain the penalty shoot-out defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League two years ago has caused him.
However, next Wednesday, he and his Milan team-mates have the chance for revenge in Athens.
Despite all the media attention on a game touted as a revenge mission for the Italians, Gattuso is just taking it all in his stride.
'I am sleeping fine,' he said. 'I cannot deny there is tension, but I cannot wait for the day of the game.
'This club takes defeat with a different class. The players always remain relaxed.'
The 29-year-old admits he has not summoned up 'the strength and courage' to watch the full 2005 Champions League final again.
'I refuse to watch that type of game,' he added, while admitting that 'Liverpool won it on the field, so they deserved it'.
He added: 'They are a team who make you play really hard - they press you and close the gaps and we will have to make sure those gaps remain open and keep the ball moving quickly.'
Although sleep deprivation is not yet an issue, Gattuso did divulge what has been occupying his thoughts regularly.
'(Jerzy) Dudek has been our recurring nightmare for two years,' he joked. 'What on earth can I say to him other than congratulations?'
'Actually, I think both teams ought to be congratulated on the way they have reached the final again two years on.'
He also had praise for the man he is set to come face to face with in midfield, England international Steven Gerrard, who in his own autobiography likened Gattuso to a kitten.
'I don't think I am, and if I was, I would be a really ugly one with a beard like this,' joked `Rino'.
'I don't want to respond to provocation.
'Gerrard is a great player and a champion, and he is showing it this year.
'I am one who gives it all, gets involved and never gives up.
'It is difficult to forget that evening, but it could give us the hand to give that little bit more.'
This one shows what Gattuso's take on the claim that "Milan were celebrating at half-time" is:
Gattuso slams Liverpool liars Wednesday 16 May, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gennaro Gattuso responded to Steven Gerrard’s description of him as “a kitten” and lambasted Liverpool for their “lies” and “irritating” style of play.
The midfielder was part of the side that was leading Liverpool 3-0 in 2005 before capitulating on penalties and will face the Reds again in Athens on May 23.
“I hope that those memories will give us the right boost to beat them. It’s not easy to forget that night, but it can give us all something extra to win it,” he said.
“The Final is an important match and my mind keeps drifting towards it. Do you want to know if I sleep? I sleep, but I also feel the tension. I cannot wait for the kick-off to arrive.”
One of the big stories after that comeback from 3-0 down was suggestions that the Rossoneri had been heard celebrating at half-time.
“It’s a shame that such lies were spread about us,” replied Gattuso. “That is the thing that hurt more than anything. A club and a squad like Milan does not do these things. Compliments to Liverpool for winning the trophy, which at half-time was indeed in our Via Turati headquarters, but it’s a real pity they lied about what happened in the break.
“Also, I don’t know how many other sides in the world would have come out from that night and returned to the semi-final and Final in successive seasons. We have to give credit to the club environment for allowing the players to recover and continue to work without excessive pressure.”
Ahead of their midfield duel on the pitch, Gattuso and Gerrard have been battling it out in the newspapers with the Liverpool man calling his rival “as scary as a kitten.”
“I’m certainly as furry as a kitten,” smiled the bearded Italian. “I don’t want to answer this sort of thing, as I am sure that the media blew those comments out of proportion. If Gerrard really does think that, then I don’t know what to do about it.
“I believe he is a great player who always gives 100 per cent. I can also say I don’t feel like a kitten, but rather a man who never gives in.
“Liverpool are a side that make you play badly and pack men behind the ball, so we have to do well not to get too irritated. However it ends, praise has to be given to both Milan and Liverpool for being back in the Final after two years. Back in January Rafa Benitez predicted this, but we never thought we’d be here so soon.”
Milan can be particularly proud to have reached their third Final in five years, as they were originally excluded from the Champions League due to Calciopoli and went through via the preliminary round. Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira accused the club, saying he could not understand why they were in the competition at all.
“After everything we proved in the World Cup about how good Italian football is, what more do they want, for us to fly to the Moon?
“Unfortunately scandals emerge more or less everywhere, as with so much money in the sport there is bound to be someone who wants to be sneaky. Italian football has done some great things on the field in recent years and so enough of doing us down.”
‘Rino’ was a key figure in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph and disagrees with Francesco Totti, who said before Roma’s Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United that for him this was more important than that night in Berlin.
“I don’t want to cause controversy with Francesco and perhaps he said that because his rapport with Roma is special, being their first quarter-final in a long time… but the Nazionale is another matter entirely.
“You cannot compare it to the Champions League. When I wear the Azzurri shirt and represent my country, it is an indescribable joy.”
rome1977
17-05-2007, 07:12
I would like Milan to win this one to make it one win each.
I prefer Liverpool to win this one to make it 6 European Cups each. :grinser:
rome1977
17-05-2007, 07:16
[B]I think Gattuso has responded in a very dignified manner to Gerrard's cheap shots:
Hasan, please do not believe the deliberately skewed and sensationalist newspaper headlines.
Gerrard and the entire Liverpool club have total respect for Milan.
Anything you read to the contrary is lies.
On our Liverpool forum, we had the same type of lies today, only this time it was supposedly the Milan manager and Gallattuso slagging Liverpool. It is all media driven deceit. Do not believe it.
Hasan Rossonero
17-05-2007, 07:39
Hasan, please do not believe the deliberately skewed and sensationalist newspaper headlines.
Gerrard and the entire Liverpool club have total respect for Milan.
Anything you read to the contrary is lies.
On our Liverpool forum, we had the same type of lies today, only this time it was supposedly the Milan manager and Gallattuso slagging Liverpool. It is all media driven deceit. Do not believe it.
Yeah I know there is a lot of that going on.
But that kitten comment is from Gerrard's autobiography, is it not? How can it be misconstrued if it's there in print?
Both sides are doing plenty of talking and neither are coming out looking very dignified. It would be better if they just concentrated on the final.
and especially how violent italians are.
I could of given you a killer response there but considering the thread we are in and the current situation I might just allow it.
I prefer Liverpool to win this one to make it 6 European Cups each. :grinser:
But Milan has class, quality its reached the heights your club can only dream of - plus as won a scudetto a few years back, not 18 loool :5ok:
Warro Bantan
17-05-2007, 11:50
Hasan, please do not believe the deliberately skewed and sensationalist newspaper headlines.
Gerrard and the entire Liverpool club have total respect for Milan.
Anything you read to the contrary is lies.
On our Liverpool forum, we had the same type of lies today, only this time it was supposedly the Milan manager and Gallattuso slagging Liverpool. It is all media driven deceit. Do not believe it. Well, I tend to agree with rome1977 on this point...the media are doing their best to stir up some controversy, and are looking stupid, well, at least for those fans who read carefully.
Milan, and our players always go out of our way to be polite to opponents...and conduct ourselves as true gentlemen.
Hence my disbelief at the "half-time celebrations" that some Liverpool players claimed they heard.
Regardless, this is all semantics, and media driven to generate readership...
The match is a few days hence...and that will be where all concerned will have to put up, or shut up.
The only player who made those claims was Traore. Worst player in the world with CL medal.
If the media talked about the respect between the 2 clubs they wouldn't sell as many papers, so they make stuff up, or twist the words, and take them out of context.
Besides if you read the mirror, sun & star then it's your own fault.
Christopher
17-05-2007, 12:40
I am feeling a route in the coming match . . . you get the feeling from this that Liverpool know what they are facing, but Milans best players this year also played in that 2005 game, and they seem driven for nothing more then to take the trophy home. We all know what this team can do when driven to succeed (look at this year). I think theat Milan is looking for perfection in this game, and for any oppoenent that has to be a scary thought.
Hasan Rossonero
17-05-2007, 12:54
Well, I tend to agree with rome1977 on this point...the media are doing their best to stir up some controversy, and are looking stupid, well, at least for those fans who read carefully.
Milan, and our players always go out of our way to be polite to opponents...and conduct ourselves as true gentlemen.
Hence my disbelief at the "half-time celebrations" that some Liverpool players claimed they heard.
Regardless, this is all semantics, and media driven to generate readership...
The match is a few days hence...and that will be where all concerned will have to put up, or shut up.
I partially agree. Yes, the media has done its job of twisting words, and the players are speaking in platitudes, but the stuff Gerrard said about Gattuso is in print. It is perhaps cynical of the media to remember it now, but it's there.
Hello all
looking forward to hopefully a great match
I get the impression you're underestimating us a bit
I hear a lot of 'Gerrard is your only top player' and although I think he's our best you're selling the others short
Riise, Gerrard and Alonso (in that order) can all score from 30 yards regardless of the oppostion and/or keeper. No, it doesn't happen every match but all they need is a half yard of space and a sniff of goal. Alonso can hit a fly in from 60 yards across the pitch as well.
Crouch is only an ariel threat as far as assists are concerned and I'd be a lot more worried if the ball is at his feet. try youtube for his hattrick against Arsenal for starters. Bellamy is less consistent, but when he's in the mood defenders have a horrible time with his pace - Barca and Manu didn't know what to do with him. I think Vidic had to change pants at half time.
You've got Kewell to consider as well. End of last season and at the world cup he was in fine form and has looked very good in his few games backafter a season out. He'll probably be average on the day (if he plays) but he's a dark horse that you'll have limited video of playing with the current side.
I could go on about the rest but I think these players are more cause for concern than you think.
May the best team win
Warro Bantan
17-05-2007, 13:19
Undoubtedly redconn...Liverpool does not = Gerrard...in the same way that Milan is not = to Kaka...
We both have quality players in our teams, though, I consider us, on paper, to have more talent all round.
We may have made the mistake in Istanbul, fan and players alike, to underestimate your team, but this wont be the case in Athens.
Our focus is at an all time high, and having overcome all that was thrown at us at the beginning of the season, we will be fighting to the last breath for this trophy...there are times when the team that wants it more wins...and I believe that this is one such case: Milan definately want it more, IMO.
I do agree with your last line wholeheartedly though:
May the best team win.
Undoubtedly redconn...Liverpool does not = Gerrard...in the same way that Milan is not = to Kaka...
We both have quality players in our teams, though, I consider us, on paper, to have more talent all round.
We may have made the mistake in Istanbul, fan and players alike, to underestimate your team, but this wont be the case in Athens.
Our focus is at an all time high, and having overcome all that was thrown at us at the beginning of the season, we will be fighting to the last breath for this trophy...there are times when the team that wants it more wins...and I believe that this is one such case: Milan definately want it more, IMO.
I do agree with your last line wholeheartedly though:
While it is true that Milan no = Kaka we are heavily dependant on him. Last time we had Kaka, Crespo, Sheva in attack....this time all we have is Kaka, while they have Pennant, Crouchinho, Bellamy (very fast striker) and Kuyt.
It will be down to our midfield quality, Seedorf and Pirlo pulling the strings and Ambro/ Gattuso doing the dirty work and Kaka creating hopefully enough magic to see us through..and YES Kaladze should kill....er...er..I meant mark Crouchinho :D
Hasan Rossonero
17-05-2007, 13:58
While it is true that Milan no = Kaka we are heavily dependant on him. Last time we had Kaka, Crespo, Sheva in attack....this time all we have is Kaka, while they have Pennant, Crouchinho, Bellamy (very fast striker) and Kuyt.
It will be down to our midfield quality, Seedorf and Pirlo pulling the strings and Ambro/ Gattuso doing the dirty work and Kaka creating hopefully enough magic to see us through..and YES Kaladze should kill....er...er..I meant mark Crouchinho :D
Does this have anything to do with Crouch pulling on the dreadlocks of your compatriot? :grinser:
zZ[-_-]Zz
17-05-2007, 14:14
Kuyt is a key player for Liverpool? he has a worse goal-scorin' record than Gilardino in the CL...
For the time I managed to stay awake during that semifinal match, he did look the more dangerous of the two strikers against Chelsea.
Zz']Kuyt is a key player for Liverpool? he has a worse goal-scorin' record than Gilardino in the CL...
He's useful and a good player, but I wouldn't consider him a key attacking threat.
If he get's a goal, it'll be because he's in the right place at the right time (which is a skill) and he can finish. Not because of some piece of blinding skill for the highlight films.
tactically, he's a key player because he never stops running and won't give you any time to pick out passes from defense.
Slow as a 3 legged tortoise walking on glass though.
zlatanov
17-05-2007, 14:27
c. ronaldo's CL scoring record isn't any better but stop him and ManU is done ...
Kuyt is a key player to building Pool's attacks and holding off defenders and midfielders with his strong physique, pretty good areal ability, constant running and excellent play-making skills, which help him build the attack and set up his teammates ...
that's what makes him an important player, not his goal record, which this year is not far from abysmal, I guess, but he more than makes up for it in the other areas of his game.
For instance, Drogba didn't score vs Pool either but was easily the most dangerous player for his team up front with his physical presence and ability to get to the high balls and combine with his teammates ... without him, Chelski may very well not have even scored a goal in that tie.
watch out for Kuyt in the final, he will be Rafa's key to attampt wearing down and pressing Milan's defense when they try to play around the ball with the midfielders ;)
zZ[-_-]Zz
17-05-2007, 14:44
Kuyt had an abundance of chances to score but still hasn't scored yet... many times he was in the right place at the right time... so don't tell me he can finish... when very obviously he still hasn't proved it...
zlatanov
17-05-2007, 14:52
Zz']Kuyt had an abundance of chances to score but still hasn't scored yet... many times he was in the right place at the right time... so don't tell me he can finish... when very obviously he still hasn't proved it...
I don't think anyone here said Kuyt is a killer finisher ... if someone was praising him, that was for the other elements of his game ;)
Zz']Kuyt had an abundance of chances to score but still hasn't scored yet... many times he was in the right place at the right time... so don't tell me he can finish... when very obviously he still hasn't proved it...
I was thinking about his league goals (what other kind does he have ;) ) but you're right, for some reason he's not taken chances in the CL.
Hopefully he's overdue and will make up for it next week :)
I didn't put him in the players I listed above because I couldn't really think of a specific skill that makes him a goal threat. He's a bit of an all rounder who holds the ball up well and brings others into play rather than doing it himself. He's a forward, but not a striker.
zZ[-_-]Zz
17-05-2007, 15:26
I don't think anyone here said Kuyt is a killer finisher ... if someone was praising him, that was for the other elements of his game ;)
please read the quotes below... try not to get lost in the discussion... we were clearly discussin' about his finishin' (or lack of)...
If he get's a goal, it'll be because he's in the right place at the right time (which is a skill) and he can finish.
I was thinking about his league goals (what other kind does he have ;) ) but you're right, for some reason he's not taken chances in the CL.
zlatanov
17-05-2007, 15:48
Zz']please read the quotes below... try not to get lost in the discussion... we were clearly discussin' about his finishin' (or lack of)...
I read his comments but if he gave Kuyt any special praise for something it was not his finishing ... saying that someone, who has scored tons of goals in Holland and 12 goals in a new team in a new league, can finish, is hardly a overstatement ... just about any decent striker is a good finisher ... it's not like he said Kuyt is a monster of goal poacher like Trez, Pippo, Crespo.
And should the Milan defense give Kuyt too much space, he may very well not need a second invitation.
Also, Rooney's CL record up until the Milan games was pathertic at best but he did score 2 good ones against us and if he didn't score more it was because his teammates were not up to the task.
My point is that just because a player has missed opportunities in the past, that doesn't mean he cannot finish or that he is not a good finisher altogether ... and that's even more applicable to Kuyt's situation given that he is not used as a targetman by Benitez and that means he gets far fewer chances at goal than most other typical forwards ... so, him not scoring 20+ goals/season isn't necessarily an indication of him being a bad striker or not being able to finish ... Eto'o for isntance scores a lot but the guy needs 4-5 excellent chances to score 1 of them, Kyut gets these 4-5 chances in 2-3 games.
Still, I think Kuyt's main contribution to the teams he's played in has always been his work ethic and participation in the build up ... that's quite something for someone who's scored as many goals as he has.
zZ[-_-]Zz
17-05-2007, 16:16
i've seen... read & heard all about his other elements in the game... work rate blah blah blah...
that's why i couldn't be bothered discussin' them... seen it... read about it... heard too much about it...
i was only interested about why he still couldn't score a single goal in the CL...
not about Rooney... Eto'o... or because he has missed chances but that doesn't mean he cannot finish... and all the other talk about bein' a targetman etc...
please don't go into one of your geography or logic lectures...
ZZ im just curious on what your thoughts are about the match?
zlatanov
17-05-2007, 16:56
for the same reason why Rooney and other good forwards have had poor CL seasons too - it happens ... plus this is Kuyt's first CL season and in a new club at that.
Also, if you cannot fathom an explanation or don't agree with it, don't call it blah, blah, or whatever you favourite argument is when something doesn't suit you.
And don't turn this into one of those childish arguments when your best defense against someone else's arguments is "balh, blah ... it's not true ... 'cause I don't like it"
No one is asking of you to agree with others but discussions are worthwhile when one side's argument is refuted by a reasonable counter-argument with some thought put into it and not your favourite blah, blah reasoning
-------------------------------------------------------
At ZZZZZZZ:
Also, ragarding that post you edited earlier in this thread and your constant jibes at mods about how they could edit posts or whatever ... this type of attitude may be fine for the R&B forum but let me put it short and simple enough for you - it will NOT fly here at MM.
Hopefully, everything is clear now so that there arent any susprises in the future.
there is a scattered T-Storms for the weather forecast for Athens next wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forza Milan!!!!!
yes, that will be because of the presence of "Il Diavolo"!!!!! :diablo:
there is a scattered T-Storms for the weather forecast for Athens next wednesday!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forza Milan!!!!!
Well , it's been raining all day here in Skopje (not too close to Athens though , but not too far also ) and the weather forecast says there will be rainings in Skopje in the next 10 days. I wouldn't be suprised if this wave catches Athens also and we see rain on Wednesday (if there's anything i hate it's football on rain or snow :mad: )
Edit : Ok, i checked :)
Athens weather forecast for the next week
Friday - T-storms
Saturday - T-storms
Sunday - Cloudy
Monday - Delightful with clouds and sun.
Tuesday- Mostly cloudy
Wednesday- T-Storms ( temperature at night 15° C / 59° F)
Oh ,and the latest from Mr.Mancini. This time he didn't attack Milan :
Dopo aver fatto i complimenti alla Roma per la conquista della Coppa Italia, il tecnico dell'Inter, Roberto Mancini, ha parlato della finale di Champions League: ''Sara' una finale difficilissima. Ma per me... vincera' il Milan''.
------------------
After complimenting Roma for Coppa Italia win, Inter's manager talked about Champions league : " It will be a difficult final. But for me/according to me...... Milan will win".
I have a feeling there'll be a LOT of long balls being played into/over our penalty box in this match...hope Dida is at his best. Hope we can break down their 9 man defense early too.
I have a feeling there'll be a LOT of long balls being played into/over our penalty box in this match...hope Dida is at his best. Hope we can break down their 9 man defense early too.
Admittedly our matches with Chelsea tend to be dour, but the defensiveness of our play is greatly exagerrated
If you watched us on a regular basis, or even just our matches vs the top sides in England, you'd be surprised who's doing the defending in numbers.
Manu came to Anfield and parked the bus infront of goal - all the attacking and chances were Liverpool's
Our last league match with Chelsea was a 2-0 win and could've been more. We went at them from the start.
we beat Arsenal 4-1 - no shortage of attacking there
we lost to them earlier in the year 3-0 but it was end to end and their goals were counter attacks.
Vs. Barca we outshot them something like 10-1 in the first half hitting the woodwork twice and having one cleared off the line
Even the dull 2nd leg vs. Chelsea - who was the side doing all the defending and long balls? It wasn't liverpool.
No we're not like Barca or Arsenal, but we're nothing like the tired cliche that gets thrown about by rivals.
Unfortunately we've played Chelsea 15 times (not kidding) in 3 years and Jose vs Rafa is often a packed midfield affair - it doesn't help the case 'm trying to make as a lot of people see those matches.
I'm also curious on your opinion of your first goal in the 3-0 win vs United. Looked an awful lot like Manu had XI behind the ball and you hoofed a long ball that was knocked down to Kaka. Reality and sterotypes are often surprisingly different.
i have to agree that people stereotype Liverpool as a defensively boring side to watch
but I beg to differ b'coz as much as i hate em for that night in Istanbul '05 Finals,
They have proven to be suprisingly an attacking team when they PLAY Home games..
But it is also not wrong to say that you are more or less expected to be the better/more attack minded team @ home games.. right?? no??
fair comment Re: home games
We've had some painfully boring games but it's not because of us defending. Kewell + Garcia are our only two players genuinely capable of breaking through a packed defense and they've been out the entire season.
A lot of sides put everyone behind the ball and we have no answer other than to pass around for 90 minutes never really creating anything interesting. Watching those games is worse than watching Chelsea play.
The player that we need to look out for most is Pennant, he's more deadly than Gerrard lol
I'm also curious on your opinion of your first goal in the 3-0 win vs United. Looked an awful lot like Manu had XI behind the ball and you hoofed a long ball that was knocked down to Kaka. Reality and sterotypes are often surprisingly different.
World of difference between a long ball, and a long pass which is what that was. Difference could be that if you give it long it goes to crouch, and looks like a pass. :grinser:
zZ[-_-]Zz
18-05-2007, 05:48
At ZZZZZZZ:
Also, ragarding that post you edited earlier in this thread and your constant jibes at mods about how they could edit posts or whatever ... this type of attitude may be fine for the R&B forum but let me put it short and simple enough for you - it will NOT fly here at MM.
Hopefully, everything is clear now so that there arent any susprises in the future.
what post are you talkin' about? which post was editted? the time limit to edit here is about 10 minutes... so you can be sure i didn't edit anythin'... it's over 12 hours since i last log in here...
and please... don't even bother with another of your stupid mod talk and bein' right all the time...
lastly... there was no "childish argument"... i was askin' the Liverpool fan about Kuyt's inability to score... and he responded with his opinions... but you wanted some attention & had to butt in with your typical garbage...
so is this another baseless accusation on my part?
zlatanov
18-05-2007, 06:56
Zz']what post are you talkin' about? which post was editted? the time limit to edit here is about 10 minutes... so you can be sure i didn't edit anythin'... it's over 12 hours since i last log in here...
and please... don't even bother with another of your stupid mod talk and bein' right all the time...
lastly... there was no "childish argument"... i was askin' the Liverpool fan about Kuyt's inability to score... and he responded with his opinions... but you wanted some attention & had to butt in with your typical garbage...
so is this another baseless accusation on my part?
you edited the post where you said "keep up with the conversation" ... and you were constantly online at that time so don't play the innocent games with me ... I read the original content.
no one is claiming to be right all the time but you have to at least come up with an argument to prove a point wrong, not simply one of your blah blahs
also, this is forum and all members are free and expected to post whatever they want whenever they want, as long as it abides to forum rules ... you have no right and you are not in the position to tell anyone whether they can be part of a discussion, especially when this is taking place in a public thread, opened to anyone.
regarding the bold part above - This is your last warning about interfering with moderators' duties on this forum ... and this is referring to your past endevours here too when you have tried to provoke mods with baseless accusations by accusing them of ... baseless accusations and personal vendetta towards you ... and those cases did NOT concern me but other members of the admin team, so people here should not be worried that this is a case of a mod getting personal with a forum member and exploiting his position.
Rest assured that mods here do have better things to do than bother with attention seeker's like yourself and if someone is on your back then there is a good reason for that ... change the attitude and you will see how everything else will change too.
I am sying it again - this is private forum, with its own rules and policies, and that anarchic stuff that is taking place at other forums where people are doing everything but killing one another is not gonna happen here ... and for that moderation is required as well as cooperation by all members ... your attitude, however, is only making this more difficult rather than facilitate things ...
other members, good members at that, have been barred for less than what you have already done, now and in the recent past before you started bugging admins with ridiculous requests and stopped posting for a while.
so, again, consider this an official and public warning and most importantly, the last one.
This has got nothing to do with me what so ever but I think we all need to just chill out and relax.
Its a forum for Milan supporters not to log on and make war, Its not hard to change believe me its not.
rome1977
18-05-2007, 07:03
As redconn said above, we played Man Utd off the park this season at Anfield. We totally bossed the game. BUT we failed to score.
It's sad to see some people say that we are a long-ball/physical team. You don't get to a CL Final (heck 2 in 3 seasons) if you can't play football.
I would not be at all surprised to see Liverpool dominate parts of the CL final.
Milan will not enjoy the harrying/hassling that we do. Milan won't get time on the ball - something that they enjoy and base their game around. Think back to the Milan v Bayern game, in the quarters. Bayern gave you a hint of what we will do. Only we do that much much better.
On a sidenote - I'm not sure how I feel about all these reports of heavy rain being predicted across next week in Athens.
I never said you'll couldn't play football. But you must admit your side is more of a physical side than a technical side. I'm not doubting the class of players like Alonso and Gerrard but most of your matches are won through grit/detrermination and not necessarily "outclassing" the opposing team. You can correct me if I'm wrong cuz I must say I haven't watched MANY liverpool matches this year. But from the few I saw(especially the Chelsea match) that was what I saw.
zZ[-_-]Zz
18-05-2007, 07:59
you edited the post where you said "keep up with the conversation" ... and you were constantly online at that time so don't play the innocent games with me ... I read the original content.
no one is claiming to be right all the time but you have to at least come up with an argument to prove a point wrong, not simply one of your blah blahs
also, this is forum and all members are free and expected to post whatever they want whenever they want, as long as it abides to forum rules ... you have no right and you are not in the position to tell anyone whether they can be part of a discussion, especially when this is taking place in a public thread, opened to anyone.
regarding the bold part above - This is your last warning about interfering with moderators' duties on this forum ... and this is referring to your past endevours here too when you have tried to provoke mods with baseless accusations by accusing them of ... baseless accusations and personal vendetta towards you ... and those cases did NOT concern me but other members of the admin team, so people here should not be worried that this is a case of a mod getting personal with a forum member and exploiting his position.
Rest assured that mods here do have better things to do than bother with attention seeker's like yourself and if someone is on your back then there is a good reason for that ... change the attitude and you will see how everything else will change too.
I am sying it again - this is private forum, with its own rules and policies, and that anarchic stuff that is taking place at the R&B forum where people are doing everything but killing one another is not gonna happen here ... and for that moderation is required as well as cooperation by all members ... your attitude, however, is only making this more difficult rather than facilitate things ...
other members, good members at that, have been barred for less than what you have already done, now and in the recent past before you started bugging admins with ridiculous requests and stopped posting for a while.
so, again, consider this an official and public warning and most importantly, the last one.
you said it yourself... all highlighted in bold...
i am free to post whatever i want whenever i want... and the content are definitely not against the rules at all...
and you yourself have no right & definitely not in the position to tell anyone whether they can be part of a discussion...
so now i am an attention seeker?
what happened to all the members bein' free to post whatever they want whenever they want as long as they don't break any rules?
or is it that you are tryin' to tell me that i am an exception because you cannot handle me bein' hostile?
as for R&B forum... ask yourself why you couldn't survive there... you were a newbie... not a mod... not a senior member... and all your opinions were thrown back into your face... you couldn't handle it... and decided to stay in the comfort zone here... where you are a moderator... a senior member... etc... lolz... need i say more? lolz...
zlatanov
18-05-2007, 08:01
I never said you'll couldn't play football. But you must admit your side is more of a physical side than a technical side. I'm not doubting the class of players like Alonso and Gerrard but most of your matches are won through grit/detrermination and not necessarily "outclassing" the opposing team. You can correct me if I'm wrong cuz I must say I haven't watched MANY liverpool matches this year. But from the few I saw(especially the Chelsea match) that was what I saw.
I agree with what Mystik, and maybe carlo too, said about Pool's style ... that, however, should not be seen as undermining their value as a team as many teams have achieved success namely with a moretactical, closed and physical approach to the game, especially Italian teams.
Of course there is always that odd example - the 2-0 win vs CHelski at Anfield - to show that Pool can play some "open" football too and not rely solely of tactically wearing down the opponent.
hallo i'm from greece and i have a ticket for the final.....my e-mail is
[email protected] if anyone is interest just send an e-mail
ACMILAN1983
18-05-2007, 10:01
zZZz, you've broken rule 4 by first being rude to Zlat (I saw the post Zlat has referred to before it was edited) and then ignoring his warning.
4. Members who insist on continually and repeatedly being rude and disrespectful should expect consequences. If a warning from a forum moderator or Administrator is ignored, further action will include a temporary barring from the site, or a ban.
Now, back to the game, it's a tough one, but one I do expect us to dominate. Physically, Liverpool are strong and will use this factor to impose themselves and stop us from playing. Technically, they aren't particularly brilliant, but have some talented players, Alonso being one I respect.
Essentially, wide areas will be important as both on the left and right they have some good players. Riise has an excellent left foot, whilst Gerrard (who I suspect will play on the right) is an obvious threat. In the middle, I think we'll have to expect players on our heels everytime we get the ball.
Up front, Crouch, Bellamy and Kuyt all pose different threats. Kuyt for me is the most talented of the 3, with intelligent running and team play. Crouch is an obvious threat in the air and Bellamy has pace. However, none should pose a great threat if we cut off supply.
In defence, Liverpool are a kind of mixed bag. Carragher is a tough and solid player, and has a fair amount of experience, so he'll be vital to them. Agger is young and has never played this kind of game, so in that regard we might be able to take advantage. Full backs are solid and like to push forward, so we have to be careful, but at the same time they aren't actually better than our fullbacks, so we should be able to handle that.
Benitez will probably aim to keep things tight with a tough pressing game. I suspect the aim will be to try and stop our midfield from functioning, so we have to be well prepared. I don't think Liverpool have any greater quality going forward than other teams we've faced this year, but they will try to use the physical qualities and pace to try and power through us, probably trying to get crosses into the box.
I don't think there's much in our game that has to be different to the Man U game. Ambro will be vital for us in midfield due to his physique, ability in the air and solidity. He is a massive bonus for us this year. Pressing Liverpool back will benefit us greatly, as I doubt they'll be able to handle the pressure.
Gila or Pippo will have to perform the same duty they had against United and cause the defence trouble by dragging them around the pitch. Movement is key as Liverpool are well disciplined, and so we need to drag players out of position as much as we can.
This year Liverpool are quite a lot stronger than they were a couple of years ago. However, I feel confident we can beat them, as technically in every area of the pitch we are at least equal to them.
Benitez is the biggest threat Liverpool have, he is a top quality manager. But I think Carlo is smart enough to tactically cause him trouble (Carlo this half of the season has been undoubtably the best manager in football, never seen him do what he has). Benitez plays the traditional Italian game of solid defence and stop opponents playing while taking something for yourself. In this respect, I feel more at ease as we should know their game as well as anyone.
I have more to say, but for now I'll only post my tactical view ahead of the match ;)
FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!
The closer we get to the match the more nervous i get.
rome1977
18-05-2007, 10:13
Zz']you said it yourself... all highlighted in bold...
as for R&B forum... ask yourself why you couldn't survive there... you were a newbie... not a mod... not a senior member... and all your opinions were thrown back into your face... you couldn't handle it... and decided to stay in the comfort zone here... where you are a moderator... a senior member... etc... lolz... need i say more? lolz...
zlat and the other MODs spend far too much time trying to rationalise with you, and make you see sense. imho
Grow up or get chucked out.
And NO, you don't have any God given right to post what you want. Some kind soul/s actually constructed this website and are paying for the server/host. You are merely a guest. Now show some respect or go sling your hook elsewhere.
rome1977
18-05-2007, 10:16
The closer we get to the match the more nervous i get.
this is quite understandable, mate.
Barcelona supporters told us the very same thing.....as did Chelsea.
:grinser:
rome1977
18-05-2007, 10:19
I never said you'll couldn't play football. But you must admit your side is more of a physical side than a technical side. I'm not doubting the class of players like Alonso and Gerrard but most of your matches are won through grit/detrermination and not necessarily "outclassing" the opposing team. You can correct me if I'm wrong cuz I must say I haven't watched MANY liverpool matches this year. But from the few I saw(especially the Chelsea match) that was what I saw.
sorry Mystik, I wasn't having ago at you. Indeed I don't think I read your previous post. I was commenting in general terms.
You're right, we don't have the Kaka's of this world to call upon. but if you want to see total football - check out our 2-0 hammering of Chelsea this season...or the game at Anfield, where we played United off the pitch. They were cowering and trapped in their own half for large parts of the match.
zlatanov
18-05-2007, 10:21
sorry for straying away from the topic but have to make some things clear:
Zz']....
what happened to all the members bein' free to post whatever they want whenever they want as long as they don't break any rules?
....
this is exactly the part which your posts didn't live up to.
Look at Dev's post for the exact rule that you broke ... and again, what is happening now is closely related to what happened a month or two ago, so we are not talking about an isolated incident.
Anyways, by the looks of it, it will be up to you from now on.
as for forum... ask yourself why you couldn't survive there... you were a newbie... not a mod... not a senior member... and all your opinions were thrown back into your face... you couldn't handle it... and decided to stay in the comfort zone here... where you are a moderator... a senior member... etc... lolz... need i say more? lolz...
on that forum I use the same nick so everyone willing to see if the above is true, can do so easily.
still not sure why you have to come to such lows and say something like that when anyone intereseted is just a click away from finding out the truth for themselves ... don't wonder if people don't take you seriously after something like that.
zlatanov
18-05-2007, 10:29
this is quite understandable, mate.
Barcelona supporters told us the very same thing.....as did Chelsea.
:grinser:
while we were nerveous, ManU fans were making jokes right up to the 22nd min of the first game :D
zlatanov
18-05-2007, 10:46
Now, back to the game, it's a tough one, but one I do expect us to dominate. Physically, Liverpool are strong and will use this factor to impose themselves and stop us from playing. Technically, they aren't particularly brilliant, but have some talented players, Alonso being one I respect.
Essentially, wide areas will be important as both on the left and right they have some good players. Riise has an excellent left foot, whilst Gerrard (who I suspect will play on the right) is an obvious threat. In the middle, I think we'll have to expect players on our heels everytime we get the ball.
...................................
Benitez is the biggest threat Liverpool have, he is a top quality manager. But I think Carlo is smart enough to tactically cause him trouble (Carlo this half of the season has been undoubtably the best manager in football, never seen him do what he has). Benitez plays the traditional Italian game of solid defence and stop opponents playing while taking something for yourself. In this respect, I feel more at ease as we should know their game as well as anyone.
I have more to say, but for now I'll only post my tactical view ahead of the match ;)
FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!
agree with virtually everything you said Dev.
The best way to deal with the areal threat Pool forwards represent is reducing the good balls they get to a minimum.
As always the game will be decided in midfield and it will be very important to not leave such large gaps of space between defense and midfield we gifted ManU in the first 15 something min of the 2nd half at SS (Pirlo was really struggling then, I think) because Pool's midfield will surely capitalize on that with players like gerrard and Riise being able to get themselves in good positions and taking hard shots at goal ... and a strong forwards like Kuyt and Crouch are likely to create not one or two of those situations by holding off the ball for an onrushing Gerrard, for instance.
Benitez is a very shrude tactician - reminds me of Capello - but I think Carlo is the more flexible of the two in his tactical approach and is more likely to come up with a way of dealing with Pools likely attempts to stifle Kaka and Seedorf, while Pools strong midfielders will have to deal with a more compact and physically stronger midfield Milan has been using this year ... with players like gattuso and Ambro in the middle, I think Pool would no longer have physical advantage in the middle of the park.
Ambrozini would make a real difference in a game like this one, I think, and I believe that he is what we needed most in that Istanbul game ... hopefully, he will not have any problems now.
this is quite understandable, mate.
Barcelona supporters told us the very same thing.....as did Chelsea.
:grinser:
Did most the teams in the Premiership tell u the same thing?
Thought so :rolleyes:
The only thing that worries me is that it takes us time to get in to games and we always leave it harder for us. For example first leg at Celtic it was a draw and we left it hard for us with Kaka scoring well into extra time in the second leg. Against Bayern Munich we messed up at home when the game should of been beyond Munich, we had to go to Bayern to win and we did. Same goes for Man United we didn't do as good as we should of at Manchester but we bounced back at home. Now this is the FINAL, there aren't 2 legs and we need to show what we do in the second leg first time.
One thing I love and hate about Rafa is I haven't the slightest clue how we'll play and who will start
Even against the better sides we don't have a first XI
The only 'definites' are
GK: Reina
RB: Finnan
CB: Carra
CB: Agger
that's it
After that Riise and Gerrard will play but whether Riise is in defense or midfield is a mystery and Gerrard can be either right or middle.
4-5-1 or 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1? who knows
either 1 or 2 of Alonso, Sissoko and Mascherano
Strikers could be any one of Bellamy, Kuyt or Crouch or all 3
it drives me nuts but it's always for a well planned reason - we just have to have faith Rafa get's it right and he has done most of the time
I dont think Zenden is going to make it.
zZ[-_-]Zz
18-05-2007, 11:09
zlat and the other MODs spend far too much time trying to rationalise with you, and make you see sense. imho
Grow up or get chucked out.
And NO, you don't have any God given right to post what you want. Some kind soul/s actually constructed this website and are paying for the server/host. You are merely a guest. Now show some respect or go sling your hook elsewhere.
LOLZ... thank you Liverpool fan... LOLZ...
me grow up? try to practise what you preach please... LOLZ...
anyway... when will i get my ban? waited almost 4 months for it to happen... Rezag & Debs... has either of you made up your mind?
and don't bother with a temporary ban... because when i get back... it will start all over again...
zlatanov
18-05-2007, 11:12
I think rafa will play one of the foolowing formations, depending on what players he will have available and what he will come up with in the last day or two before the game:
1) 4-4-2
Reina
Finnan, Carraghar, Agger, Riise
Gerrard, Alonso, Msacherano, Zenden/Pennant/Kewell
Kuyt Crouch
or 2) 4-5-1
Reina
Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Riise
---------Alonso------------
Pennat----------Mascherano---Zenden/Kewell
---------Gerrard-----------
----------------Kuyt/Crouch
Personally, if everything is going well and the players are in top shape, I would expect to see the 4-4-2 but if there are some problems, a 4-5-1 would be a natural choice also because he would probably try to match Milan's midfield of 5 players in it, so that Pool don't get outpossessed in the middle of the park, which is quite often the key to Milan imposing their game on the opponent and winning the game.
That's whatI think Benitez will try to - knock off Milan from their "possession thing" and then wear us down physically taking the chances that come along the way ... the good old italian phylosophy of winning important games
If I had to guess the left side Arbeloa will start at left back and Riise at left mid. Arbeloa will go off in the 2nd half for Kewell with Riise dropping to defense.
3 reasons:
it's more conservative until the game settles
Riise can have a crack at Dida
Kewell's not match fit but can give 30 mins against tired legs
as I said before though, I haven't a clue
sorry 4 reasons - Zenden's injured now
zlatanov
18-05-2007, 11:31
If I had to guess the left side Arbeloa will start at left back and Riise at left mid. Arbeloa will go off in the 2nd half for Kewell with Riise dropping to defense.
3 reasons:
it's more conservative until the game settles
Riise can have a crack at Dida
Kewell's not match fit but can give 30 mins against tired legs
as I said before though, I haven't a clue
sorry 4 reasons - Zenden's injured now
I am not sure whether Rafa will be willing to start with Arbeloa at the back when he will have to deal with someone like Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo ... not sure how high Arbeloa is on the "trust" meter at Pool right now but I would expect to see Riise start, provided that one of Zenden or Kewell or even Gonzalez is fit enought to start, namely beacuse until the team settles, solid defense is your #1 priority and usually younger or less experienced defenders are usually dropped in such cases.
Of course, If both Zenden and Kewell aren't starting options, Rafa may well not have a choice and start Arbeloa at LB with Riise at LM ... although, maybe Pennat could play on the left and Gerrard on the right.
rome1977
18-05-2007, 11:38
Zz']LOLZ... thank you Liverpool fan... LOLZ...
and don't bother with a temporary ban... because when i get back... it will start all over again...
were you a bullfighter in a previous life?
you keep waving a red flag.
If it were me, you'd have been long gone.
>>not sure how high Arbeloa is on the "trust" meter
Rafa put him (out if position) on Messi for both barca legs - that's trust as far as I'm concerned
but then he didn't for Chelsea
this is the point I was trying to make about our lineups
zlatanov
18-05-2007, 11:47
were you a bullfighter in a previous life?
you keep waving a red flag.
If it were me, you'd have been long gone.
thanks for trying, rome, but there is really no need to pay anymore attention on this ... it simply won't make a difference.
anyway, I guess the case will be closed soon enough so let's go back to the final and try to read rafa's mind :D
rome1977
18-05-2007, 11:52
I am not sure whether Rafa will be willing to start with Arbeloa at the back when he will have to deal with someone like Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo ... not sure how high Arbeloa is on the "trust" meter at Pool right now but I would expect to see Riise start, provided that one of Zenden or Kewell or even Gonzalez is fit enought to start, namely beacuse until the team settles, solid defense is your #1 priority and usually younger or less experienced defenders are usually dropped in such cases.
Of course, If both Zenden and Kewell aren't starting options, Rafa may well not have a choice and start Arbeloa at LB with Riise at LM ... although, maybe Pennat could play on the left and Gerrard on the right.
interesting line-ups redconn and zlat.
i don't like risse in defence at all......never have.
and i;d be inclined to go with redconn's line-up.
But as zlat has said, arbeloa has looked terribly weak in recent weeks.
We don't know the zenden situation. But kewell may well play some part in proceedings late-on. He's not fit enough to start and last 90 mins.
the alternative line-up that i do like - and I have been saying this in another forum for a few weeks - is gerrard on the right, pennant on the left. Gerrard woudl be given scope to roam and back up the attack.
rome1977
18-05-2007, 11:54
thanks for trying, rome, but there is really no need to pay anymore attention on this ... it simply won't make a difference.
anyway, I guess the case will be closed soon enough so let's go back to the final and try to read rafa's mind :D
true, mate....it is usually pointless with such peeps.
Yes, back to trying to read Sir Rafa's mind :grinser:
ACMILAN1983
18-05-2007, 12:08
Zz']LOLZ... thank you Liverpool fan... LOLZ...
me grow up? try to practise what you preach please... LOLZ...
anyway... when will i get my ban? waited almost 4 months for it to happen... Rezag & Debs... has either of you made up your mind?
and don't bother with a temporary ban... because when i get back... it will start all over again...
So you're requesting a ban? If so I'll fulfill the request immediately. You want a permanent one right, seeing as you've said not to bother with a temp one ;)
Warro Bantan
18-05-2007, 12:31
Dev, I cant believe you didnt just ignore that post :rollani:
curry chicken
18-05-2007, 14:48
I thought I'd have a go at our starting XI for Wednesday. It's pretty predictable. The X-mas tree will go to Athens...I hope we can put something shiny and big eared at the top...no not Capitano (although his ears are big and shiny enough :zany: )
Dida
Oddo-Nesta-Maldini/Kaladze-Jankulovski
Gattuso-Pirlo-Ambrosini
Kaka-Seedorf
Inzaghi
I predict Pippo to start over Gila and will fall of my chair if Carlito picks the Buzz-cut Wonder.
Why do the Liverpool fans have no trust in Zenden? they are always moaning about him saying why does he have to be in the starting line up, he had a good game against chelsea if you ask me.
Why do the Liverpool fans have no trust in Zenden? they are always moaning about him saying why does he have to be in the starting line up, he had a good game against chelsea if you ask me.
he had an OK match in the second leg but nothing great
the first leg vs Chelsea he wasn't very good
he's 5th choice at best for centre mid and/or left mid and I just think some are frustrated we've had to drop that low in the pecking order to field a left side.
he's better than he gets credit for but isn't who we'd hope to play especially in the CL
he had an OK match in the second leg but nothing great
the first leg vs Chelsea he wasn't very good
he's 5th choice at best for centre mid and/or left mid and I just think some are frustrated we've had to drop that low in the pecking order to field a left side.
he's better than he gets credit for but isn't who we'd hope to play especially in the CL
I think he was one of the main reasons you came out on top in the second game. I know you have players of higher quality but hes the only player you had available at the time and I think if he was fit he would of played some part in the final.
celtic/milan
18-05-2007, 16:59
good luck in the final next wednesday,
if you get a good lead this time,try and hold onto it.
(ha ha)
prediction: milan 3 scousers 1
:5ok: :pp20:
rome1977
18-05-2007, 17:39
It's unlikely that Zenden will be with us next season. Rafa has said as much a week ago.
As redconn says, the lad was very poor in the first Chelsea game, and no major shakes in the second game.
But I had hoped if called upon, that he could have been our Smicer type player in the final. I still think he may be ok for the game.
It's wierd how the picture/lineup from 2003 here (http://www.acmilan.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=46900) isn't much different from the team we'll probably field on Wednesday, though we have'll have Gila for Sheva/Pippo (worse atm), Kaka for Rui (better) and Oddo for Billy (aahhhh?) and maybe Janku.
Forza Milan! We simply have to win, though I have a bad feeling about this - and keep having flashbacks of Istanbul! I'll be in the pub on Wednesday, with a couple LUFC mates from uni wearing my 'Inzaghi' Milan shirt, and with no thers Milan fans in sight. Hhhmmm ...
:rone: :3band:
hitmannq8
18-05-2007, 18:07
i am also havin flashbacks of istanbul..givin me a bad feeling coming into this game
OCmilano
18-05-2007, 19:29
Does anyone know what the odds were for the istanbul final and this athens final? Were we favored in 2005?
I have a great feeling about this final, and anyone can make fun of me if they like but i feel the score will be 4-1 Milan erasing the memories of istanbul.
4-1
4-1
4-1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OCmilano
18-05-2007, 19:44
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6phEjKCeZNg&NR=1
No Fear!!!!!!!!!!!! Kaka is Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rome1977
18-05-2007, 20:25
just give it your best shot, that's all you can do.
We need Pippo for the final.Please Ancelotti!!!!!!!!!!
it's the final countdown....less than 5 days..
Forza Milan
hitmannq8
19-05-2007, 04:53
damn first time i see highlights of the liverpool-milan game.. i always refuse to see any clips because after i saw it in front of my own eyes i just didnt wanna remember anything again.. but kaka did really really play good in that final.. much better than the Kaka we have seen this year!! (i think)
lets hope the Kaka we know shows up and same goes to Rino/Seedorf/Pirlo/Nesta/Pippo.. EVERYONE.. oh yeah and especially DIDA!!
FORZA MILAN, I CANT WAIT. Im so afraid of liverpool only because that they are probably the luckiest team in history of football. No wait scratch that, the luckiest team in all sports. Just take a look at their last 5 games of their 2005 CL winning campaign and know that they have never lost on penalties and i think 3 out of their 5 CL wins' were in penalties (or was it 4?)
We were tens of classes higher than them in 2005 but God wanted them to win that night. When Sheva misses from 2 shots from 2 yards, when the keeper is Dudek and he is not even looking.. it means that you have no more hope left. I saw Chelsea miss a couple of really dangerous chances at Anfield and Liverpool were very lucky at Nou Camp. Not to mention they are in the final by winning on penalties. That is what gives me the creeps, they've had luck all along and I just pray that God gives luck to us this time round.
rome1977
19-05-2007, 05:19
Im so afraid of liverpool because that they are probably the luckiest team in all sports.the more we practice, and the harder we work, the luckier we seem to get.
We were tens of classes higher than them in 2005 but God wanted them to win that night.nothing was going to stop us.
Not to mention they are in the final by winning on penalties. That is what gives me the creeps.....they have never lost on penaltiesyou will have to try and win it in normal time, because Liverpool are like Germany when it comes to winning penalty shoot-outs.
But have no fears my friend. You can but give it your best shot.
[/QUOTE]I saw Chelsea miss a couple of really dangerous chances at Anfield and Liverpool were very lucky at Nou Camp. Not to mention they are in the final by winning on penalties. That is what gives me the creeps, they've had luck all along and I just pray that God gives luck to us this time round.[/QUOTE]
comments like this wind me up to no end
the final in 05 fair enough you had control of most of the game and could've easily won it - as for us getting there that year and this isn't luck
I don't know what Chelsea match you're talking about saying they missed dangerous chances. So did we and had a good goal ruled out as well. If anyone should've won it before penalties, it was us. Every match report I've read seems to agree with me as well. As for penalties, when you buy a keeper who saved 7 out of 9 penalties at his last club and practise them daily, I tend to dismiss comments about luck and lottery.
Since Rafa has arrived we've beaten every top team we've played at least once. Chelsea numerous times especially in cups. knocked Manu out on our way to winning the FA Cup. Demolished Arsenal recently and won in other seasons. Winning at the Nou Camp was a surprise but when they came to ours they were the ones lucky not to be down 3-0 at half time.
People's perceptions of Liverpool don't seem to extend beyond our League position. If you're wondering, for the past two years it's been to slow starts after replacing a lot of players. the last 30 or so games we've been on a par with the other clubs and were actually the best over the last 30 last season. unfortunately for us thats not how they decide the title.
sorry to be long winded I've just had enough about our 3 year long 'luck' streak since Rafa arrived with a team that basically every player (incl most subs) plays for their national side.
No! There is absolutly NO LUCK factor included in the things Benitez and Liverpool did in the past few years in CL. Luck has nothing to do with this... Please stop saying that. Liverpool is a super strong team with brilliant coach and everything they did is a result of hard work and tactical brilliance of Benitez. Some people say Milan is the luckiest team in the worldbecouseof the late goals by Pippo and so on...but I always say that those things happen if you provoce them!
We will need to be on our full strenght to beat this Liverpool, and this filans has nothing to do with the last one. Midfield will be the key and I saw that Pirlo-Gattuso-Ambro are working on special program to prepare for the match! Same goas to Seedorf and Maldini I think. We can do it, but only if we play wisely and untill the last second...
Manuel Rui Costa has urged his former Milan teammates to beat Liverpool in the Champions League Final. “Do it for me too!”
The Portuguese midfielder was on the field when the Rossoneri lost on penalties after a 3-3 draw in 2005 in Istanbul and even though he has moved on, he has not forgotten that bond.
“Who, like me, has had the fortune to live in the Milan family does not forget and never stops feeling a part of it,” he told the official club website.
“I understood that when I returned to Benfica, a very sentimental choice that took me back to my roots and was a dream I had since I was a child and first left Lisbon.
“Milan enters your veins and never goes away, so I want to tell everyone at the club that my heart will be with all of you in Athens.”
Just two years after that fateful day when a 3-0 lead was frittered away in the space of six minutes, the Diavolo have the opportunity to take revenge by facing Liverpool again on May 23.
“I am proud of what you have been able to achieve in this incredibly difficult season and I know you’ll close it with the class and the courage that only Milan can express in these ‘special moments!” continued Rui Costa.
“So beat Liverpool, and it will be a small revenge for me as well. Good luck!”
---------------------------------------------------------------
If this is not motivation then I dont know what is, honestly if I was a Milan player and read this id be burning to get on to that field.
humanTORCH
19-05-2007, 07:37
while the highlight have been with gatusso- gerrard tussle for midfield supremacy, most of us here forgot that ambrosini was not playing in the last final. To me, he will be one of the important players to check the influence of gerard runs to our box.
it's more of ambro-gerrarrd than gatusso-gerrard.
Hope ancelotti came with a trump card. :devil:
I was just about to poast this! Grazie Rui !! We cant loose this one now...
ACMILAN1983
19-05-2007, 09:02
I think we're preparing for the match much more thoroughly this time rather than 2005.Thankfully most of the players don't have to worry about being kicked around in the weekend match ahead of the final this time.
Dev, I cant believe you didnt just ignore that post :rollani:
I can't ignore a request like that now can I ;)
OCmilano
19-05-2007, 10:55
I just pray that God gives luck to us this time round.[/QUOTE]
Nothing to do with luck its Destiny... Milan want it more they will go get it for the full time of the match... Not like the first half...
4-1 its our destiny........
Forza Milan!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And if you are true Milan fans please stop saying your nervous, scared and etc..... Liverpool should be the only ones with fear....
Come on Guys...
rome1977
19-05-2007, 12:14
No! There is absolutly NO LUCK factor included in the things Benitez and Liverpool did in the past few years in CL. Luck has nothing to do with this... Please stop saying that. Liverpool is a super strong team with brilliant coach and everything they did is a result of hard work and tactical brilliance of Benitez. Some people say Milan is the luckiest team in the worldbecouseof the late goals by Pippo and so on...but I always say that those things happen if you provoce them!
We will need to be on our full strenght to beat this Liverpool, and this filans has nothing to do with the last one. Midfield will be the key and I saw that Pirlo-Gattuso-Ambro are working on special program to prepare for the match! Same goas to Seedorf and Maldini I think. We can do it, but only if we play wisely and untill the last second...
good post, and thank you for the respect you have for Liverpool.
It will be a fascinating game between two very good teams.
curry chicken
19-05-2007, 17:24
Mrki and rome1977, thank you for staying cool.
As we draw nearer to Wednesday, I would like to take this time to share some special quotes made by my drunken friend Natalie (from Calgary) this long weekend:
"That whole Inter team is filled with women. Who tackles in a fight? You use your fists, like a man. If that was Milan vs Valencia, we would choke a b*tch and then crip walk to the halfway line to fix our hair."
"Massimo Oddo probably smells like...I don't know, POT." :grinser:
"I have only two thoughts about the Big Cup....One, Milan should win it. And two, if they do....they should fill it with BEER!"
Good times.
Some of the banners the Liverpool supporters have created and are going to show during the match:
'do you want a 3 goal headstart this year too?'
'Do you want a 4-0 start this time??'
I just dont know what to say.
Blacktop
19-05-2007, 19:32
Some of the banners the Liverpool supporters have created and are going to show during the match:
'do you want a 3 goal headstart this year too?'
'Do you want a 4-0 start this time??'
Doesn't that seem rather pointless, since most of the Milan players don't know English?
Some of the banners the Liverpool supporters have created and are going to show during the match:
'do you want a 3 goal headstart this year too?'
'Do you want a 4-0 start this time??'
I just dont know what to say.
We're going to have our traditional big coreo.:bri:
Everything suggests that Pippo will be favoured over Gila. My guess is that Milan will try to really pressure Liverpool from minute 1.
We shall see.
Forza Milan
rome1977
19-05-2007, 20:22
Mrki and rome1977, thank you for staying cool.
As we draw nearer to Wednesday, I would like to take this time to share some special quotes made by my drunken friend Natalie (from Calgary) this long weekend:
"That whole Inter team is filled with women. Who tackles in a fight? You use your fists, like a man. If that was Milan vs Valencia, we would choke a b*tch and then crip walk to the halfway line to fix our hair."
"Massimo Oddo probably smells like...I don't know, POT." :grinser:
"I have only two thoughts about the Big Cup....One, Milan should win it. And two, if they do....they should fill it with BEER!"
Good times.
your friend Natalie has the right idea. :grinser: She has said some funny things.
I am also drinking here (guinness and red wine).
The game is so close now.......3 days away. I must be honest and say that I am not as nervous/scared as I was in May 2005. Milan are a very good team, but I don't think we have anything to fear. It should be a game with very little space (unless one team scores early). The longer the game goes on, the better I feel for our (Liverpool) chances.
Good luck curry chicken. I hope we get a great game, my friend.
Best,
rome
Doesn't that seem rather pointless, since most of the Milan players don't know English?
Kaka does lol maybe he can translate it to the rest of the team.
Check this out guys. Seems a bit dodgy. I don't know. It's in Italian.
http://www.calciomercato.it/dettaglioNewsCategoria.asp?hdnIdCategoria=1&hdnId=2293
humanTORCH
20-05-2007, 06:14
Doesn't that seem rather pointless, since most of the Milan players don't know English?
we will have sheva who will be at the stand translation for the boys :grinser:
i guess his english is pretty good by now.
kastriot
20-05-2007, 08:47
we will have sheva who will be at the stand translation for the boys :grinser:
i guess his english is pretty good by now.
Don`t be so sure....I listened to an interview once..And he sounded awful,really bad,and the Ukrainian accent did not help at all......... :devf:
The most important game of the season is finally here.
Liverpool is my second favourite club in the world, all because of my uncle, he was the one that introduced me to football, and he's a huge Liverpool supporters. But Milan stole my heart right away, and did not let go. It will be a bittersweet game for me, Milan might want to do it for Il Capitano. Liverpool might want to do it for Robbie Fowler. And I like Robbie! My fav Liverpurdian, he scores like it's nobody's business, and he seems to be having a lot fun doing it!
Sport section in local newspapers had started to concentrate on the final, and they seemed to favour Liverpool a little bit, most agreed Gerard will be an influence. And unlike CRonaldo, this guy did prove his worth before the hype. Of course, they also concetranting on Milan's aging defence, and the so-called useless attacks. But you will put a minus points for Milan if you compare Gila to Peter Crouch. *sigh*
Trump card will be Max and to some extent, Pippo. Both are clutch players, both were missing two years ago, and they both seem to want to win this so much. And Rafa is also aware of this.
It is only true that football is not math.
Both finalists have even strength and weakness and at least proven that they are the last 2 best teams to face each other in the finals of CL.
The only thing that may differ one to the other would be the spirit, passion and obsession to win the final and lift the "Big Ears".
Which team have it more?
The answer could only be seen on the pitch during the game and after the ref blow his final whistle...am I wrong??
Blacktop
21-05-2007, 00:59
Here's one from the "When Chickens Grow Lips" department.
"Meanwhile, Zeljko Kalac will fill his usual role as reserve goalkeeper for Milan in the [Champions League final], and could be used if the match goes to penalties. Renowned as a spot kick stopper, Kalac has started in just three Italian Cup matches this year, with Brazilian Dida maintaining his vice-like grip on the number one jersey."
(sportal.com.au)
ginoformaggino
21-05-2007, 05:02
Check this out guys. Seems a bit dodgy. I don't know. It's in Italian.
http://www.calciomercato.it/dettaglioNewsCategoria.asp?hdnIdCategoria=1&hdnId=2293
Fabio Caressa, a Sky journalist, would know why Liverpool is in Spain:
"because of the weather conditions? or because of ... Operation Puerto? "
In Spain, you know, there is NO anti-doping law.
... Fabio keep on thinking that it is very strange that some people go to Spain often before of an important match...
"Sure, it will be an open result match, and Liverpool players will show an exaggerated physical service" he concludes :)
rosoneri_11
21-05-2007, 05:33
Fabio Caressa, a Sky journalist, would know why Liverpool is in Spain:
"because of the weather conditions? or because of ... Operation Puerto? "
In Spain, you know, there is NO anti-doping law.
... Fabio keep on thinking that it is very strange that some people go to Spain often before of an important match...
"Sure, it will be an open result match, and Liverpool players will show an exaggerated physical service" he concludes :)
Mmmm!I don't want this to be the same case with Marselle!
Don't believe that Benitez is that sort of coach. It's not inert, juve or madrid we are talking about here, although he did spend some time with madrid.
I dreamed we won 1-0, goal by Shevchenko, hahaha!!
We'll win it this time, im sure of it. Dont ask me why but a team like Milan cant loose to a same team twice in a CL final!
ozMilanista
21-05-2007, 06:23
i'm biting my fingernails until the match ends...I won't care if we are 10 nil up with 1 minute to go I will still be holding my breath. I'm freaking out in a major way.
:nervous: :nervous: :nervous: :fright: :scream: :1avs: :1avs: :p286:
Egoistka
21-05-2007, 06:32
I think we will win 2:1 or 3:1. I doubt that we are going to repeat the mistake we made 2 years ago.
This year nobody expected us to get to the final of CL, but we did - and this shows that we deserve to win this match, coz we are the best!
hitmannq8
21-05-2007, 06:51
beginning of this season ppl asked me who was gonna win the CL, i said milan.. everyone laughed at me and actually i didnt even believe it myself..they ask me why do i think so? i told them nothing is stronger than a milan team when no one expects them to do anything :) and look where we are with such a weak team compared to the last 4 years.. forza milan :)
we won convincingly in the 2nd legs against bayern and man utd mainly because i believe we were the underdogs and were on the back foot but against liverpool it will not be the case..we are favourites.. odds sites give milan a 2.00 and liverpool a 3.25! thats a big difference for a neutral venue!! thats what worries me the most :(
Rayno_acm
21-05-2007, 07:11
Don't worry, the ref will be the German Herbert Fandell.
With him we have 5 victories from 5 games, and lpool never wins with him, they lost all the games with him the exception of one draw... :hah2: :w262: :bri:
ACMILAN1983
21-05-2007, 07:31
I dreamed we won 1-0, goal by Shevchenko, hahaha!!
We'll win it this time, im sure of it. Dont ask me why but a team like Milan cant loose to a same team twice in a CL final!
A lot of Milan fans have dreamt about this match strangely. I also dreamt about it last night and we won 6-0 :eek: . I don't anything else except one part of Kaka gliding along the way he does.
zlatanov
21-05-2007, 07:35
beginning of this season ppl asked me who was gonna win the CL, i said milan.. everyone laughed at me and actually i didnt even believe it myself..they ask me why do i think so? i told them nothing is stronger than a milan team when no one expects them to do anything :) and look where we are with such a weak team compared to the last 4 years.. forza milan :)
we won convincingly in the 2nd legs against bayern and man utd mainly because i believe we were the underdogs and were on the back foot but against liverpool it will not be the case..we are favourites.. odds sites give milan a 2.00 and liverpool a 3.25! thats a big difference for a neutral venue!! thats what worries me the most :(
don't worry, what sometimes works against Milan when we are favorites is that we slack off and don't give our best ... but not this year, not with calciopoli and so many things to prove ... not when the only game left is a must win one with no chance to "fix" things in the next leg ... very much like the games in Munchen and the one at the SS va ManU.
It's exactly in these games that Milan playes at its best and that's what keeps me pretty cool and calm about this final :)
zlatanov
21-05-2007, 07:37
A lot of Milan fans have dreamt about this match strangely. I also dreamt about it last night and we won 6-0 :eek: . I don't anything else except one part of Kaka gliding along the way he does.
was that something like an Atletico-Barca after-effect or ... ? :D
As the game comes closer it seems all the tactical talk just wanishes and all that is left in me is some kind of strange anticipation... Its like going into a fight, all you need to do is - FIGHT!! We can do it Im sure, but we'll need a bit of luck as well. I wouldnt be happy in the ref has ANY influence on the game, I want a clean win!
FORZA RAGAZZI and lets win it for the 7th time!
It is only true that football is not math.
Both finalists have even strength and weakness and at least proven that they are the last 2 best teams to face each other in the finals of CL.
The only thing that may differ one to the other would be the spirit, passion and obsession to win the final and lift the "Big Ears".
Which team have it more?
The answer could only be seen on the pitch during the game and after the ref blow his final whistle...am I wrong??
I agree with it, in football there´s even a surprise, people who like math shall watch basketball
Based in the bold part I say that the UCL final is between Milan's strongest team x Rafael Benitez
I doubt that we are going to repeat the mistake we made 2 years ago.
This year nobody expected us to get to the final of CL, but we did - and this shows that we deserve to win this match, coz we are the best!
This comment can apply to both Liverpool and Milan word for word ;)
We are destined to win and we will win. Milan 3 Liverpool 1. Have a great summer my fellow Rossoneri, I bleed, laugh and cry with you.
Talk to you all in August.
Forza Milan
rosoneri_11
21-05-2007, 10:16
Athens is the best place for Milan!Remember the 1994 final with barcelona!
Forza rossoneri!Give us the 7th!
Hasan Rossonero
21-05-2007, 10:23
Some more motivation for our team:
http://football.guardian.co.uk/championsleague200607/story/0,,2084139,00.html
The loophole that allowed Milan to take Athens road
Calciopoli scandal should have resulted in the Rossoneri being barred from Europe this season
Richard Williams
Monday May 21, 2007
The Guardian
Pat Crerand believes the players of Milan should not be travelling to Athens this week in their attempt to gain revenge for their defeat by Liverpool in the Champions League final two years ago. To the former Manchester United and Scotland wing-half, the punishment inflicted on the Italian club for their part in last summer's referee-influencing scandal ought to have included their automatic disqualification from the competition, and he believes he has history on his side.
Article continues
His mind goes back to a May night in 1969, when Milan arrived at Old Trafford for the second leg of the European Cup semi-final needing only to protect a 2-0 lead from the first leg at San Siro in order to dismiss the holders.
United had pulled one goal back after 70 minutes, through Bobby Charlton, when Crerand hit a cross from the byline that his colleagues believed had been prodded over the line by Denis Law before Mario Anquilletti, Milan's right- back, scooped it back into play.
"We knew it had crossed the line," Crerand said yesterday. "And even if it hadn't been a goal, it would have been a penalty because Anquilletti used his hand to pull it back. But the French referee saw nothing. We thought there was something going on."
Indeed, Roger Machin, the official in question, waved away United's furious protests and allowed play to continue. He had already had to cope with a five-minute delay while Fabio Cudicini, Milan's goalkeeper, regained consciousness after being hit on the head by a missile thrown from the Stretford End.
In Crerand's view, however, the official's refusal to allow a United equaliser was part of a dark and disturbing pattern that resulted, only last summer, in Milan being punished for an attempt to influence the selection of referees for their matches in the Italian league.
"I don't think they should be in the final," said Crerand, who now works for Manchester United's TV station. "It's the top club competition in Europe and one of the teams shouldn't be there. I think it's unfair. Milan shouldn't be there the same way that West Ham shouldn't be in the Premier League. It doesn't send out a very good message to the rest of football, does it? And this wasn't a one-off in Italy. It's been going on for years. I think they were getting at the referees when I was playing, too. In the first leg in 1969 we had some funny decisions. And we certainly thought the same in the second leg."
Crerand also mentioned the scandal of 1973, when Brian Clough's Derby County were denied a place in the European Cup final by a Juventus team whose general manager was later exposed, thanks to investigations by Brian Glanville of the Sunday Times, as having attempted to influence referees. The Golden Fix, as it became known, led to no serious investigation but its echoes were to be detected in scandals of later years.
Milan's involvement in match-fixing goes back to 1980 and the Totonero investigation into a betting ring found them guilty of bribing players and officials. After finishing third the previous season, Milan were punished by being relegated to Serie B, along with Lazio. Their president, Felice Colombo, was given a life ban, while three players received disqualifications of between four years and six months.
Last summer, Milan were implicated in the Calciopoli scandal, which began when phone-taps revealed the general manager of Juventus, Luciano Moggi, had been attempting to control the selection of officials for Serie A matches. Moggi's club suffered the harshest punishment, being stripped of their league title and relegated to Serie B, but Milan - along with Lazio and Fiorentina - were also found guilty of lesser charges.
In Milan's case, their refeering liaison officer, a restaurateur from Lodi called Leonardo Meani, was said to have made incriminating phone calls, one of which was to Gennaro Mazzei, the Italian Football Association's [FIGC] head of linesmen, after Milan had lost 2-1 to Siena. Meani criticised the appointment of one linesman in forthright terms: "I don't want him. I never asked for him nor wanted him." And he added a request for their next match: "On Wednesday, try to send two intelligent ones."
Although the charges were on a much smaller scale than those levelled against Moggi and Juventus, they were nevertheless enough to incur a retrospective deduction of 44 points from the total with which Milan had earned second place in Serie A in the 2005-06 season, plus an advance deduction of 15 points from the present season. On appeal, however, these were lowered to 30 points and eight respectively, the former being just enough to put them in third position, ensuring them a place in last August's qualifying round of the Champions League, while the latter made inclusion in next year's tournament a realistic ambition.
For Juventus, being erased from the final table of the 2005-06 season meant they would automatically be excluded from the Champions League and many felt the same punishment should be inflicted on the other clubs involved in the scandal. At the headquarters of Uefa, however, it was discovered that the governing body's rules did not allow it to override the decisions of a national association. If the FIGC deemed Milan fit to represent them, there was nothing that could be done.
"It was very simple," William Gaillard, Uefa's head of communications, told me. "Our executive committee could only take up the matter after the Italian sentences were confirmed, because there were many appeals. The Italian association sent us their list of clubs, which included Milan. Some of the committee had misgivings about the situation, but when we examined our statutes and regulations we saw that we could not do anything about it because, in matters such as this, the national association was sovereign.
"The only possibility was to change our statutes, and that was done at our congress in Düsseldorf in January. Now we have the power to intervene. If a team has been game-fixing or affecting results, and if the case is sufficiently grave, Uefa will be able to exclude them."
Welcome as the change may be, it came several months too late to exclude Milan from this year's competition, which they are now the bookmakers' favourites to win for a seventh time on Wednesday. And there are those, such as Crerand, who will find it difficult to take comfort from the knowledge that, at least on paper, things will be different in the future.
"They're a smashing team, Milan, and maybe they didn't know what was going on," Crerand concluded. "Or would some of them have known? You'd have to ask them. Obviously the players want to win the top trophy, but if you do it unfairly, is it worth it?"
milanista03
21-05-2007, 10:27
People keep saying that there's no 2nd leg to fix the result since this is final. Why dont we look it this way, 2005 is the first leg. And surely we have something to fix to. But, relax... This is our 2nd leg to fix it.... :)
Referring to the article Hassan posted...
HELLO!!! Marselles 93' anyone? You never hear anyone from Milan camp demanding blood from UEFA due to doping. And this is doping, which kinda directly influence the result on the field... ergh, me blood is pumping now. That article is so bias, it's not even funny anymore.
milanista03
21-05-2007, 10:50
Hasan, i dont think our players should be rminded about calciopoli. They bear it like a birthmark. The uefa comment about keep an eye on us is disgusting... We looks like a thief stealing bread. Now, where are all the uefa officials? All they did is praising milan as a good team. Blah... It really kills me when people are talking about milan this n that while they have no clue at all. Papers are swarmed by disrespectful and arrogant coment from milan players which we know are not true... They dig where they can, but i believe milan more...
ACMILAN1983
21-05-2007, 11:02
was that something like an Atletico-Barca after-effect or ... ? :D
lol, i can't claim I even knew of the Barca result this weekend ;)
Hasan, that article you posted was shocking, and to see it on Guardian is especially disappointing. Can't believe the bias in it and the way it portrays us as a club that's been cheating for around half a century. Crerand to me sounds like someone who can't handle what happened. Instead of whining about how they scored a debatable goal, how about the fact our keeper was knocked unconcious for 5 minutes?
In the end though, we have nothing to prove now.
Warro Bantan
21-05-2007, 11:47
Was just about to post a link to that same article.
We have to win now, we just have to...I hope Rino reads this article to the team.
FORZA MIIIIIIIIILAN!!!
Kaka1899
21-05-2007, 12:00
Im proud of the boys to have got us this far im ready to accept come what may we are Milan not Inter if we lose we keep our chins up we dont make excuses that is what makes us Milanista no Internista if you cant handel that well get outta the kitchen! Im not gonna cry this time round i just really hoipe we can humiliate them in front of all of europe in a year designed for Inters Dominance we can finaly bring them down yes we lost the derbys but this will be far sweeter beating Liverpool!
Forza Milan!! May God Be With Us!
Hasan Rossonero
21-05-2007, 12:02
This article is another sordid contribution to the ponderous, borderline paranoid diatribes that have been emanating from the media (especially British). One needs to read imbeciles like Keir Radnege or this fellow for a taste. Guardian football prides itself, it seems, on a more cerebral approach to football, but this is perhaps the most inane piece they could churn out.
I am sure the Milan organization is aware of these types of articles and will use it to the team's advantage.
Remember the point is not only that the article displays only a superficial knowledge of Calciopoli; rather, that it feels it can take the moral high ground when Italian football is concerned. Though it mentions the West Ham thing in passing, it purports to have a higher moral standard. That, to me, is the most galling thing.
Blacktop
21-05-2007, 12:12
A lot of Milan fans have dreamt about this match strangely. I also dreamt about it last night and we won 6-0 :eek: . I don't anything else except one part of Kaka gliding along the way he does.
Two nights ago, I dreamt we lost 1-0 after Pool had scored in the first ten minutes. Man, this stuff really messes with your mind.
An hour and 45 minutes and then it'll be exactly 48 hours before kickoff. Tomorrow night is going to be like Christmas Eve and knowing you have to undergo surgery the next day. Argh!
wookiee06
21-05-2007, 12:19
remeber this on Wenesday night
Now I'll read a passage from the Gospel according to me.
It was the forth wenesday of the final round, year 2007 A.D.
The sky over Olympic Stadium, as if by magic, became suddenly cloudy.
All the clouds started to frolic and to clash. Thunderbolts and
flashes everywhere...incredible mess in the sky! Suddenly, clouds
were ripped from two gigantic hands and the face of God appeared.
Nice man, 40 years old. He pointed his terrible finger to the Olympic Stadium
field and he said: Rino Gattuso, take that ball (Adidas Tango) and go
all over the pitch mowning down everything that can move
Ross Oneri
21-05-2007, 13:12
:firedev: Forza Milan !
I just dont know what to say, I just cant take it any more.
wookiee06
21-05-2007, 13:45
I just dont know what to say, I just cant take it any more.
listern to inno milan, it will help you my friend :5chore:
listern to inno milan, it will help you my friend :5chore:
lol thanks.
Alan Hansen does P$%S me off sometimes:
"Liverpool are going to win the Champions League final - I am absolutely 100% confident of that."
ACMILAN1983
21-05-2007, 15:39
Two nights ago, I dreamt we lost 1-0 after Pool had scored in the first ten minutes. Man, this stuff really messes with your mind.
An hour and 45 minutes and then it'll be exactly 48 hours before kickoff. Tomorrow night is going to be like Christmas Eve and knowing you have to undergo surgery the next day. Argh!
Let's hope the reality is closer to my dream ;)
Kaka1899
21-05-2007, 15:51
listern to inno milan, it will help you my friend :5chore:
it makes me emotional :'(
Christopher
21-05-2007, 16:18
so is the crowd going to be even this time or is on group going to out number the other? and are we wearing white or the red/black?
So even after we make it all the way to the finals people STILL doubt whether or not we deserve to be here? Talk about sore losers. If we didn't make it past the group stage I might have understood, but we made it all the way to the finals and people still bring up calciopoli? Haven't we proved our class yet?
Inno Milan is playing in my car for the last month or so-24/7
curry chicken
21-05-2007, 17:11
Have just seen pictures of the ragazzi arriving in Athens...Ronaldo is with them (great to see him there), Carlito has pulled an awkward face, Seedorf is the most relaxed and Maldini is working the cameras like he's done for years. Mrki, the hair is a little wind blown, but other than that we're a-okay in the follicle department. No pictures of the Milan tifosi yet...but all in due time.
Once again this has been another wonderful CL season with Milan, and this one has lead us to a surreal meeting with Liverpool in the finals. From that first game against Red Star Belgrade to the 120 minutes of pure pain against Celtic, to the thwarting of Man.Utd, we have experienced much and weaved another memorable tale in Europe. That's why I chose to quote the infamous Greek poem 'Ithaka' in my signature, because while we all want Milan to WIN, we mustn't forget the value journey that brought us here.
But ghosts still hang, doubts still linger, jealous old men of UEFA still hate our hair and fierce good looks and not to mention the hunger of those younglings in the team for their fist CL cup (well, with Milan young = under 35 :grinser: ) and the still burning passion of the veterans. With so much riding on this one piece of silverware, the most important request I can make to the team is…win or lose, don’t leave that stadium without making your mark. If you’re going to go down, you go down fighting damnit. Penalties? Not this time baby, but bring them on! I want to see them step into that stadium and give a performance that they can be proud of. No stupid giallos, no blatant dives, no confidence crumbling, no walking back to the tunnel with your head hung low…give us and everyone watching a master-class in Milanese football. I believe you more than deserve to be in Athens and here’s your chance to pick the fruits of your labour. Experts and pundits will pick out one man over the other, but I put my faith in the team as a whole, the Rossonero spirit. Do justice to the journey. Or as my friend Natalie would say “just bringa that fakhing coppa home”. I have faith.
It might sound like a lot of sentimental bull am about to spew, and some members might think am directing this at them but…just hear me out. We mustn’t get caught up in what the media says, or what adjective Monsieur Platini and the world has chosen to describe us this time. The more we feed on the media's words and build-up of this game, the more we focus on the negatives...the harder the fall, the more painful the defeat. A great example of this is, well, Istanbul. We fell harder than ever. I remember reading some of the less than decent things said in that Istanbul thread in 2005. All kinds of verbal vomit about Shevchenko and Carlito that made the situation far worse than it appeared. For those who think Istanbul is the lowest of the lowest I say no, it could have been worse. We could have been thrashed 4-0. We could have had our best players sent off for ridiculous reasons. But we didn't; we had a beautiful first half, we had 3 memorable goals...and whether or not we were on the wrong side of the story, we helped make history. Leonardo said it best when he pointed out that while it hurt the team horribly to lose like that, it also made them a stronger unit. They learned a lesson and they'll keep learning it. Maybe next time, the fall won't be so hard.
Thus, IF and I say this with some difficulty, if Milan does not fly back to Malpensa Airport victorious, we must cope. I am humbly asking in advance that fans don’t start threads to point fingers and sling insults, but gracefully accept the outcome. Let’s respect our opponents, let’s leave all this talk about ‘luck’ and give credit where it’s due. In other words, when the final whistles blows on Wednesday, let’s show class. That’s why we’re Milan isn’t it? That’s why our ragazzi were made to stay on the field and pick up those runner-up medals, because even in the face of the hardest defeat, you mustn’t lose your dignity. It’s what I’ve always admired most about this team, it’s what helps keep me keep my head high and say, So what if you hate us and think we’re too old, too greasy, too corrupted and too rich? I am a Milanista, my team has class, and we go the distance baby, not start huge, embarrassing brawls with Spanish teams or have a habit of losing 6-0. :D
…And back to your regularly scheduled programming. Forza Milan! :diablo:
+ Rep CC :5ok:
You are now on my exclusive list of favorite posters
OCmilano
21-05-2007, 21:04
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IV_TNYjQ
Im sooooooooooooooo pumped Kaka, Seedorf, Gattuso, Maldini, and the rest of the team wont let us down...........
Bosniaco
21-05-2007, 21:06
Allright, can someone explain to me this:
Stadiums capacity in Athens is 74 443, how come we get only 17 000 tickets? WHats up with other tickets?
zlatanov
21-05-2007, 21:37
the stadium capacity after the renovation went down to 69,000, I think, and maybe just for this game due to security resons and all, it's been reduced to 63,000, I believe.
More on the ticket distribution here:
http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/finals/newsid=503059.html
remote2book
22-05-2007, 01:21
"My little paolo gets to do a big final once more" ------Cesare Maldini :proud:
"It is the team of my heart and colors of my soul"---Cesare Maldini :proud:
these are quotes from maldinis father today from uefa.com makes me wanna cry ..forza milan forza milan
wookiee06
22-05-2007, 02:35
LIVERPOOL have never scored in three matches handled by Champions League final referee Herbert Fandel - while Milan have won all five!
The 43-year-old German was yesterday awarded European football's showpiece event after officiating in last season's UEFA Cup Final.
He handled Milan's 2-0 UEFA Cup win over Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2002, then 1-0 Champions League victories against Club Bruges, Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester United.
Advertisement
Fandel refereed Milan's 4-1 win over Anderlecht at the San Siro this term.
But he's never even seen Liverpool hit the target thanks to a 2-0 defeat in Valencia in 2002; the 0-0 draw at Chelsea in 2005 and the Reds' 1-0 Anfield defeat by Barcelona in March.
:firedev: :firedev: :firedev: :firedev: :firedev: :firedev: :firedev:
Vengeance... no. 7... A.C. Milan...
counting minutes :evil: :de3:
Blacktop
22-05-2007, 03:22
Both teams' fans are being allotted tickets in the neighborhood of 17,000, which probably means that most of the rest will go to corporate schmoozers. But here's an interesting angle regarding the Pool fans: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_method=full%26objectid=19153976%26siteid=89520-name_page.html
"My little paolo gets to do a big final once more" ------Cesare Maldini :proud:
"My little Paolo"? Nice.
Here's another "interview" Dida gave to the English press yesterday. :rolleyes: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/tm_headline=dida--i-m-spot-on--&method=full&objectid=19153921&siteid=89520-name_page.html
Kaka1899
22-05-2007, 03:51
Original Source http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=309185
Silvio Berlusconi told television station Telelombardia that he is certain that the final outcome on Wednesday will be in favour of Milan due to a superior class than Liverpool.
"Milan will win in Athens, we will succeed because we have a superior class than our opponents," commented confidently the Rossoneri's President.
Berlusconi is not afraid of a possible penalty shoot-out like the one occurred two years ago as he was informed by Coach Carlo Ancelotti about a special training for those eventual penalty shooters.
"The penalty takers trained specifically against moving 'dancing' goalkeepers, to avoid any surprises which occurred during the final in which Milan were protagonists.
"Since Milan have already beaten Manchester during the season and Manchester having beaten Liverpool, the football rule wants that now Milan beats the same Liverpool," theorized Berlusconi.
I hope Berlu isnt gettin too carried away with all this
Moratti is coming to Athens to watch us, maybe he and Berlu can sit together lol.
ginoformaggino
22-05-2007, 05:20
"My little paolo gets to do a big final once more" ------Cesare Maldini :proud:
"It is the team of my heart and colors of my soul"---Cesare Maldini :proud:
these are quotes from maldinis father today from uefa.com makes me wanna cry ..forza milan forza milan
Finals...Player................................ Club
8.........Francisco Gento................... Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966)
7.........Paolo Maldini.....................AC Milan (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005)
7........... Alfredo di Stéfano Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964)
5............ José Zárraga Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)
5............ José Santamaria Real Madrid (1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964)
5.............Fernando Cruz Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5.............José Augusto Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5............ Mário Coluna Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5............ Phil Neal Liverpool (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985)
5............ Alessandro Costacurta AC Milan (1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2003)
4............ Clarence Seedorf Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998), AC Milan (2003, 2005)
http://www.lequipe.fr/Football//C1_FINALE_MALDINI_2007.html
:diablo:
kastriot
22-05-2007, 06:44
Finals...Player................................ Club
8.........Francisco Gento................... Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966)
8[/B]Paolo Maldini.....................AC Milan [/B] (1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2003, 2005, 2007) I think it should be smth like this now
7........... Alfredo di Stéfano Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964)
5............ José Zárraga Real Madrid (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)
5............ José Santamaria Real Madrid (1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964)
5.............Fernando Cruz Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5.............José Augusto Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5............ Mário Coluna Benfica (1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1968)
5............ Phil Neal Liverpool (1977, 1978, 1981, 1984, 1985)
5............ Alessandro Costacurta AC Milan (1989, 1990, 1993, 1995, 2003)
4............ Clarence Seedorf Ajax (1995), Real Madrid (1998), AC Milan (2003, 2005)
http://www.lequipe.fr/Football//C1_FINALE_MALDINI_2007.html
:diablo:
Maldini has 8 finals with this last one!!!!!!!! :5ok:
Egoistka
22-05-2007, 07:34
"They're a smashing team, Milan, and maybe they didn't know what was going on," Crerand concluded. "Or would some of them have known? You'd have to ask them. Obviously the players want to win the top trophy, but if you do it unfairly, is it worth it?"
What does he mean??? Unfairly??? If we win this trophy - it will be very fair, as Milan used twice more energy than anyone else this year to win it...Noone in the CL this year had as many problems as Milan...we had injuries of goalkeepers several times throughout the year, we had to adapt to playing without our main attacker - Sheva, we could not even simply buy new players, coz almost noone wanted to go to Milan b'coz of calciopoly...we had to start with -8 points and shame, and work much harder than anyone to get to this final and 4th position in Serie A.
We deserve to win the CL - and we will win it.
Hasan Rossonero
22-05-2007, 10:32
What does he mean??? Unfairly??? If we win this trophy - it will be very fair, as Milan used twice more energy than anyone else this year to win it...Noone in the CL this year had as many problems as Milan...we had injuries of goalkeepers several times throughout the year, we had to adapt to playing without our main attacker - Sheva, we could not even simply buy new players, coz almost noone wanted to go to Milan b'coz of calciopoly...we had to start with -8 points and shame, and work much harder than anyone to get to this final and 4th position in Serie A.
We deserve to win the CL - and we will win it.
I wouldn't let it get to you Egoistka. Other previews have also flaunted this sort of nonsense.
------------------
From Sunday Times:
Time will tell in Athens on aged Milan
An ageing AC Milan will start as favourites on Wednesday but Liverpool have youth and determination on their side, qualities that give them a definite edge
Joe Lovejoy
“Five times, we won it five times. In Istanbul we won it five times.”
The Kop choir will have to change the words of their favourite hymn of praise on Wednesday if Liverpool overcome Milan in a reprise of the 2005 European Cup final. “In Athens we won it six times” doesn’t scan quite as nicely. “By the Acropolis”, perhaps? Such trivial concerns presuppose that Liverpool are going to win again, which is some presumption, given the style with which Kaka and company saw off Manchester United in their semi-final, but there is a decent case to be made for such an outcome. Milan are favourites with the bookmakers, with Ladbrokes offering 6-4 on, but although they do parade an impressive Who’s Who of European football, Maldini, Nesta and Seedorf are well into the autumn of their careers in a young man’s game. Youth is a significant weapon in the underdogs’ armoury - all the more so in the temperatures expected in Athens.
Reasons for Liverpool supporters - and for the rest of us wishing England’s representatives well – to be cheerful do not end there. Apart from younger, more energetic legs, Steven Gerrard and his team take into the fray that terrific, indefatigable spirit that served them so well against the same opponents two years ago. In the most dramatic final of modern times, they clambered out of the grave at 3-0 down to emerge triumphant. Milan remember it bitterly. Seven of the players who had their hearts broken on that never-to-be-forgotten night in the Ataturk stadium will be on duty this time, and midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has articulated their desire to avenge the worst experience of some long and very distinguished careers.
The bookies rarely get it wrong, but careful analysis of Milan’s season provides more grounds for Scouse optimism than may be superficially apparent. The Rossoneri are fortunate even to be in the competition after last year’s match-fixing scandal in Italy that initially had them deducted so many points that they failed to finish high enough to qualify. Only on appeal, when the punishment was reduced to eight points, did they get in, and then it was at the preliminary stage.
They decided almost from day one that their handicap in Serie A precluded a realistic chance of winning the scudetto, so they concentrated on Europe. That explains a league table going into the weekend that has them an embarrassing 32 points behind the champions, Internazionale, who clinched the title on April 22 with five games to spare.
Focusing on the Champions League did not ensure smooth progress, however. Milan were beaten by AEK Athens (1-0) and Lille (2-0) in their group before making hard work of eliminating Celtic at the first knockout stage, when Liverpool, in contrast, were accounting for Barcelona. The problems Milan encountered with the obdurate Scottish champions, who held them 0-0 in Glasgow and conceded only once in the San Siro, augur well for Liverpool. Celtic, ruggedly competitive, threatened to cause an upset with a destructive game, and Rafael Benitez’s team is better equipped to disrupt the slick passing of Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf and to strike powerfully on the break.
Milan were scarcely irresistible in the quarter-finals. They drew 2-2 at home to Bayern Munich before finally playing up to their stellar reputations and winning 2-0 in Bavaria. Liverpool, meanwhile, were steamrollering PSV Eindhoven. The Italians’ status as favourites is largely down to the quality of their performance against United in the semis, but mitigating factors need to be borne in mind when assessing its true merit. Foremost among these must be the injuries that fatally weakened the United defence. In the first leg at Old Trafford, Kaka scored two fine goals, but the Reds’ rearguard, shorn of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic, parted more like the Red Sea. The formidable partnership of Jamie Carragher and Daniel Agger are unlikely to be so obliging. In the return, Vidic was back but nowhere near match-fit and he was the only one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first-choice back four to play.
Similarly, it was key that when they were beaten 3-0 in the San Siro, not only were United missing important individuals, but those who did play were fatigued by playing their fifth match in 16 days. Critically, on the Saturday before the decisive return in Italy, they needed to come from behind and win at Everton to secure their lead in the Premiership. Milan, in dressing-room parlance, were different class, but they were not playing the United that thrashed Roma 7-1. Liverpool can take heart from that fact, as well as from their own notable success in the semis against Chelsea when Pepe Reina emulated Jerzy Dudek’s shootout heroics in Istanbul two years ago.
Benitez, a Spaniard whose brain is more attuned to Europe than to the Premiership, believes Milan have their weaknesses, especially at the back, where the Brazilian goalkeeper, Dida, is fallible under crosses, as demonstrated by Cristiano Ronaldo’s headed goal at Old Trafford. Massimo Oddo and Marek Jankulovski are vulnerable at full-back and the veteran centre-halves, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, are showing their age. The Milanese strength lies in midfield, with Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini ferreting relentlessly for possession in the knowledge that Pirlo, Seedorf and Kaka can use it to devastating effect.
It will be interesting to see if Benitez chooses to mirror Carlo Ancelotti’s 4-4-1-1 formation or plumps for good old-fashioned 4-4-2. The temptation must be to use Gerrard “in the hole” behind Dirk Kuyt – the position in which he transformed the game in Istanbul – but sources close to the Liverpool manager suggest that he is more likely to deploy his inspirational captain on the right side of midfield.
Those same sources have it that Liverpool will not man-mark Kaka but will leave it to Javier Mascherano, Xabi Alonso or Gerrard to pick him up on an as-and-when basis. Second-guessing Benitez is a fraught business, but if it is to be 4-4-2, the only areas of selectorial doubt would appear to be left midfield and second striker. On the left, Bolo Zenden (fitness permitting) will probably get the nod, ahead of the ephemeral Harry Kewell, and up front the choice is between Peter Crouch and Craig Bellamy to partner Kuyt. The Welshman’s pace would worry those suspect full-backs and ageing central defenders, as will Kuyt’s waspish persistence, but the grapevine indicates a preference for Crouch.
Good enough? Maybe. Milan’s one orthodox striker, Alberto Gilardino, has the look of meat and drink for Carragher, and if the lines of supply to Kaka from the pass-master, Pirlo, can be disconnected by Mascherano and Alonso, a second tour de force in three seasons is not beyond Liverpool. You can get 9-1 against them winning 2-1. For what it’s worth - a measly tenner - I’m on.
I just watch 'Football Focus' on ESPN ( http://www.espnstar.com )
The English host called John Dykes with 4 other peple who were suppose to be football pundits. 3 of them were English & One Malaysian. Their names are:-
Shebby Singh (ex-Malysian soccer player)
Paul Masefield (ex-soccer player at some lower league)
Jamie Reeves (ex-EPL player of 70's)
and an ex-EPL refree of the recent times
These were their predictions for the match b/w AC Milan and Liverpool
Paul Masefield - Liverpool to win on penelties
Jamie Reeves - Liverpool to win in extra time ( 2-1 ) :mad:
The stupid ex-EPL refree - Liverpool to win in normal time ( 2-1 ) :uhm:
Shebby Singh - Liverpool to win easily ( 2-0 ) because AC Milan is an aged side and Liverpool will go at them from the beginning and blow them apart :wallbang:
I think I will have a nerveous break down unless some one tells me here the speciality of this Liverpool side. Are they that special ???? Is this Liverpool side that great to beat AC Milan that comfortably ???? Are we talking abt the Ral AMdrid side of 1998-2002 ?????
That is exactly the reason why I m sick of EPL English pundits. Fair enough :bri: , u r English so naturally ur heart will be with Liverpool but what they said abt AC Milan is too much to take in for a Milan fan.
According to them, Macherano will stop Kaka' from playing, Gerrard would be too quick for Gattuso to match plus gattuso's mind is more in the revenge than the match itself, Maldini can't handle Bellamy, the surpirize inclusion of Harry Kewel could take AC Milan by surpize & they think Gila are not good enough against the Liverpool defence. Alonso will run the show from the deeper positions. Milan player are afraid of the Big-Crouch......................... :wallbang: They talked abt Kyut, Zenden, Sissoko, Riise's possible effect on the Final but not abt Nesta, Seedorf, Pippo, Kaladze and Serginho :mad:
Not for a single second they said that AC Milan could also have some sort of strategy. Plus they thought Istanbul night would effect ACM players. Now the general impression in Asia would be that the MIGHTY Liverpool would eaisly win th final :uhm:
They have made me sick by saying these sort of mind blowing things. I can't simply wait to see the final. I am not saying that Liverpool can't win but the way they were putting Liverpool ahead of AC Milan in every department of the pitch has just screwed me up. Plus that Malaysian pundit & ex-refree deserve a slap in their faces. I can't believe he said that considering that he said same sort of things ab Man Utd. He was sure that ACM would not b able to handle the pace of Ronaldo and Rooney :grinser:
Jim_UK and Stezagud :respect: sorry I am not against English teams, but u tell me is this fair what they said in the programe which is being watched by 1000's of AC Milan fans in Asia??????
MissMilanista
22-05-2007, 11:21
I don't know about 1958.
we won in 1963 (white)
we won in 1969 (red and black)
we won in 1989 (white)
we won in 1990 (white)
we lost in 1993 (red and black)
we won in 1994 (white)
we lost in 1995 (white)
we won in 2003 (white)
we lost in 2005 (white)
??? 2007 ???
however, Liverpool's all final appearance in red, they won;
if they wore white, they lost.
we decided to challenge that in 2005, unfortunately we lost, so 1995 and 2005 were two years that we lost in white.
i think it makes some sense from Liverpool's perspective in 2005, as they are a young team, and young teams are usually more subject to outer environment. for example, milan might not care so much, but had we played Man United at SS first then OT, it might not be as smooth. when their morale is up, it is hard to cope with. that's my opinion. Gerrard mentioned the same thing in 2005, he said 'red' helped their team a lot when they were in difficulty.
so i hope and I am sure that we will wear red and black this time, as we are the "home" team.
No hun it will be all white again!
http://www.acmilan.com/NewsDetail.aspx?idNews=45875
Paddy De Nagan
22-05-2007, 11:29
We deserve to win the CL - and we will win it.
I don't think any of the teams have a right to say they deserve to win the final. We've both got to the final deservedly. It's a bit premature to say it.
But we will win.
Paddy De Nagan
22-05-2007, 11:31
I just watch 'Football Focus' on ESPN ( http://www.espnstar.com )
The English host called John Dykes with 4 other peple who were suppose to be football pundits. 3 of them were English & One Malaysian. Their names are:-
Shebby Singh (ex-Malysian soccer player)
Paul Masefield (ex-soccer player at some lower league)
Jamie Reeves (ex-EPL player of 70's)
and an ex-EPL refree of the recent times
These were their predictions for the match b/w AC Milan and Liverpool
Paul Masefield - Liverpool to win on penelties
Jamie Reeves - Liverpool to win in extra time ( 2-1 ) :mad:
The stupid ex-EPL refree - Liverpool to win in normal time ( 2-1 ) :uhm:
Shebby Singh - Liverpool to win easily ( 2-0 ) because AC Milan is an aged side and Liverpool will go at them from the beginning and blow them apart :wallbang:
I think I will have a nerveous break down unless some one tells me here the speciality of this Liverpool side. Are they that special ???? Is this Liverpool side that great to beat AC Milan that comfortably ???? Are we talking abt the Ral AMdrid side of 1998-2002 ?????
That is exactly the reason why I m sick of EPL English pundits. Fair enough :bri: , u r English so naturally ur heart will be with Liverpool but what they said abt AC Milan is too much to take in for a Milan fan.
According to them, Macherano will stop Kaka' from playing, Gerrard would be too quick for Gattuso to match plus gattuso's mind is more in the revenge than the match itself, Maldini can't handle Bellamy, the surpirize inclusion of Harry Kewel could take AC Milan by surpize & they think Gila are not good enough against the Liverpool defence. Alonso will run the show from the deeper positions. Milan player are afraid of the Big-Crouch......................... :wallbang: They talked abt Kyut, Zenden, Sissoko, Riise's possible effect on the Final but not abt Nesta, Seedorf, Pippo, Kaladze and Serginho :mad:
Not for a single second they said that AC Milan could also have some sort of strategy. Plus they thought Istanbul night would effect ACM players. Now the general impression in Asia would be that the MIGHTY Liverpool would eaisly win th final :uhm:
They have made me sick by saying these sort of mind blowing things. I can't simply wait to see the final. I am not saying that Liverpool can't win but the way they were putting Liverpool ahead of AC Milan in every department of the pitch has just screwed me up. Plus that Malaysian pundit & ex-refree deserve a slap in their faces. I can't believe he said that considering that he said same sort of things ab Man Utd. He was sure that ACM would not b able to handle the pace of Ronaldo and Rooney :grinser:
Jim_UK and Stezagud :respect: sorry I am not against English teams, but u tell me is this fair what they said in the programe which is being watched by 1000's of AC Milan fans in Asia??????
All those things those pundits said, sound more like prayers than statements.
>>I think I will have a nerveous break down unless some one tells me here the speciality of this Liverpool side. Are they that special ????
As individuals, a few are special
As a team, for the most part, our attackers each do one thing very well and we're very hard to prepare against. This makes us flexible if things aren't working. One sub can mean players moving to different parts of the pitch and it's rarely like for like.
Add that to a very solid defense (normally/hopefully) and strong central midfield and it makes us very hard to beat.
I'm as surprised as you on those pundits though - I would have expected Milan slightly favoured 3/2.
It's going to be whoever scores first as we can really struggle to break down defending sides but we're very good at shutting up shop when we are happy with the score.
ACMILAN1983
22-05-2007, 12:30
24 May 1995. The only time tears have escaped me, as we lost 1-0 to a late Kluivert goal, in a play where one of my heroes, Rijkaard, caused our downfall.
Fast forward to 2006, June and we hear the verdict of calciopoli after the great victory of Italy in the world cup. Milan fans throughout the world left in shock as the verdict is nothing short of scandalous in itself.
July is a month rushed through, the players are rushed back to prepare for a CL qualifier no one expected, the management struggling to cope with what’s laid on our laps. Sheva’s decision to leave still smarts, among those within the club, and those who follow the club.
Signings were less than impressive, considered negative even, as the most high profile name is Giuseppe Favalli, an experienced veteran, but someone who adds little extra to our squad. Gourcuff, the other name on our cards is relatively unknown, with little confidence amongst the fans in his ability to replace Rui Costa in our ranks. Bonera’s name was later announced, bringing a little more joy, but still a far from the world class talent expected to greatly improve the squad.
August came around; punishments were lightened by now, yet remain scandalous in the eye of all stakeholders in the club. Signings looked non-existent; desperation was rife at the thought of having to qualify for CL to make that one big signing to replace our former icon. Rumours were wild, the fans expectant, and the club hopeful. In the end, a signing was made, a talent brought in, Oliveira. Shock was the feeling, sadness at the thought that though a talented player has been signed, it’s not someone who will ever really be able to fill Sheva’s boots.
Rumours continued to fly around, top stars of the club repeatedly linked with moves away, other clubs openly unsettling our star player, the mood was one of uncertainty and fear. By the time the season started the players fitness was already wavering, after a strong few opening weeks, the team slumped heavily as the play looked more lethargic, we clearly weren’t popular with referees and lady luck had deserted us. Things were grim, so much so that our dismal record at home was the worst patch for 20 years.
CL was hardly much better. Inconsistency was the word that would best describe Milan. With the emphatic wins where Kaka racked up some vital goals, came the lows where we struggled to open up the opposition. Eventually, though we had already qualified for the next round, the loss against Lille came, which resulted in some of the harshest criticism the side had faced all season. Making things worse, we struggled in a group considered arguably the weakest in the round.
At this point, there was no way but up. Most clubs would struggle in that situation; few would be able to avoid a relegation battle, which was the same for us for a number of weeks. Furthermore, injuries had decimated our squad, with us struggling to field a competitive first team. However, as the year end neared, we began to claw our way back. First came a couple of results, hard fought, but they were points, and finally, some of our important players were starting to see the light. Finally, the winter break came, one spent in the warmth of Malta, a haven for the squad this season.
Along with that trip came back fitness. Finally the players could pick themselves up without worrying about injury, in came some new signings, adding greater depth. However, most importantly, Ronaldo came. Questionable weight and motivation stirred many rumours and jokes, but soon after joining he had his impact. Finally, the replacement for Sheva was found.
As form and results picked up in the league, gaining pace, in CL we were now in the knockout stages. Next up, Scottish giants Celtic. At this point in the league we began fighting strongly for European places. We had continued to claw our way up the table, no matter how much pressure there was to keep us down.
Celtic was renowned for an impressive home record in the CL, taking some big scalps along the way. We were considered the weakest side left in the tournament, the team everyone hoped to meet. It’s no coincidence the bhoys from Glasgow felt confident ahead of the first leg.
However, that match was the beginning of a new found hope. Just as our form picked up in Serie A, the CL form was solid, though still lacking that killer edge. After a dominant performance in Celtic park, the team looked confident about the return leg. The match came, and again Milan dominated, but once again Kaka had to step up to provide the result during extra time.
League form had improved drastically now and Bayern were drawn in the CL. Again, we were considered the underdogs, the team all wanted to face at this stage. The first leg was a very dominant performance, taking the lead, only to have it thrown away due to two unfortunate moments, putting Bayern as overwhelming favourites.
But this was the moment the players and coaches started to have a glint in their eyes. Realising what they could do, belief grew, support grew and hunger was creeping into the club. We had already done more than expected of us to reach the ¼ finals, but now the desire to get into another semi-final to face either Man U or Roma was growing.
The second leg approached as we closed in on the CL positions in the league. Bayern were confident, few could believe of our chances. The night came, and on that night the first miracle came. We didn’t just dominate, but we steamrolled Bayern, with Seedorf being the mastermind. The man who had come under as much scrutiny as anyone this season put in a devastating display.
The CL spot in the league was finally reached. Another miracle in the season, considering the position we were languishing in at the winter break. Ronaldo provided the extra impetus in the League, but in the CL, Kaka became the guiding light. We drew Man U in the semis, and again, were the underdogs.
However, unlike Celtic, who are good but not great, and Bayern, a huge club but little success in Europe for years, Man U was a team few could doubt the quality of. Dominating what was at this point considered the strongest league in Europe, with 3 English sides in the semis, an all English final seemed inevitable.
The first leg was approached in a positive mood, as we looked strong in the league, close to achieving our aim of securing the CL spot. Old Trafford was considered an impossible task, a place few could win. We went, let past an early goal against a side who destroyed Roma 7-1 just a couple of weeks before.
Great character was shown, the match controlled and Kaka showed why he is considered the best player in the world, scoring 2 to help us take the lead. However, misfortune struck not once but twice, as at half time Maldini went off injured, and the soon after the kickoff for the second half, Gattuso went off, with our stability lost as well as the result as Rooney capitalised.
Again, like Bayern, we were down and out in most people’s minds, Man U were buoyed by their second half performance and were clear favourites to progress. However, a person’s character is shown in the hardest times, and the build up to the second leg was monumental. Milan fans came together from all over the globe to show support to the side. The players began believing that another miracle could be pulled off and rallied all Milanisti. Even fans of other teams began supporting Milan, for reasons of their own.
Matchday came, nerves were high, but the third miracle of the season came as the heavens brought hell to Milan! The performance was legendary, EVERY single player becoming a lion, a monster. EVERY single fan bringing the fury that had built up over the nightmare year to push their team forward. Milan brought a storm and Man U couldn’t cope. The team considered the best in the world this season were given a football lesson.
Now, we’ve secured our CL spot for next season and have Liverpool left to beat. This year after all that’s happened is very special, and especially emotional. Very few teams can achieve anything like what we have and we can take pride.
We have shown the same spirit and determination Italy showed last summer. We are representing Italian football on an International level. It’s not Milan alone now, but it’s about regaining the respect that Italian football lost last summer.
This spirit I talk about is the reason why we support Milan! After relegation in the 80’s, no one could ever imagine we’d come back to produce one of the greatest sides in history!! In 88/89, We beat Steaua 4-0 after overcoming the odds against the great Madrid side 5-0!! In 89/90, we had to struggle through to first get past Bayern and then beat Benfica in the final!!
1994, a season when Barca were considered the kings of football, we produced another miracle and humbled them 4-0 in Athens!!! That season, like this, Milan struggled in CL, inconsistency and poor goalscoring records epitomising most of that campaign, until the semis where we produced a top quality performance against Monaco, much like Man U this year.
Again, in 2003, we were far from being considered amongst the football elite. We came from no where on one of our most memorable runs to victory, producing the miracle last minute goal against Ajax, the victory of the first Euro Derby with Inter and finally beating Juve in the final, again as the underdogs.
Milan are a club rich in history, has a passion like no other. WE ARE DETERMINED, especially when the odds are against us. That is our character! This season we’ve had the hardest of seasons, but that Milan spirit has shone through once again. This match isn’t about revenge for 2005, it’s bigger than that! It’s not about sticking it to Inter in their season of triumph! This match isn’t even much about the pride of Italian football anymore!
This match is about us showing the world precisely who we are! This match is to show that we aren’t the so called cheaters we’ve been portrayed as, but a quality side who DEMANDS the respect we deserve!
This match is to show that no matter how hard anyone ever tries to kick us down, we will always claw our way back and drag ourselves out of the dirt with ALL the strength we have! Our march to Athens has been long and hard, and our every step of the way we’ve suffered. Now this is our final battle to make our history greater!!!
The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant. That few stood against many. And before this battle was over, that even a god-king can bleed.
MILANISTI, PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR SOON WE SEE THE CONCLUSION OF OUR GREAT STORY!
23 May 2007, I hope to see tears escape me once more, this time for the right reasons.
FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
King tiger
22-05-2007, 12:44
+ rep points
Hasan Rossonero
22-05-2007, 12:53
Nice post Dev; very inspirational. :D
From channel 4:
Ancelotti: Forget Istanbul
Tuesday 22 May, 2007
Carlo Ancelotti insists there is no desire to avenge Istanbul when Milan face Liverpool again. “This is a whole other game.”
The Rossoneri had one of their most heartbreaking nights in 2005 when they lost a 3-0 lead in the Champions League Final, eventually defeated on penalties.
“It will not be easy, but I have no doubts we will give everything. All my decisions have been made,” stated the Coach.
“The Istanbul story is finished and has nothing to do with this match. This is a whole other game.
“On a purely technical level perhaps Milan were stronger two years ago and for that side it was almost ‘normal’ to reach the Final. For today’s team it is extraordinary and we want to end this year on a high.”
Both Milan and Liverpool had to go through the preliminary round to reach the Champions League this season, although for the Italians it was only after the Calciopoli trial had initially ruled them out of the competition altogether.
“We deserved this Final more than any other side because we suffered like nobody else. We had points penalties and had to rush our pre-season training to prepare for the preliminary round. If we have the fortune to lift the trophy, then it will be absolutely and totally deserved.”
Milan had just two weeks to prepare for the opener in August and rushed many of their World Cup stars back early from their summer holidays.
“This has been the most difficult season in my time at Milan,” added Ancelotti. “We ran into problems we had never encountered before, but the great unity between myself, the team and club proved decisive.
“We never sought alibis or scapegoats, we just tried to resolve our problems together, so what we have been through makes us stronger for this Final. We feel very strong in these days leading up to the match.”
The tactician and former midfielder has been criticised by some sections of the Italian Press for being too close to his players, but he maintains that is more of a strength than a weakness.
“I don’t see myself as the leader of the group, but rather a part of the group. We all come together to answer questions and solve problems. We have worked well and I hope it will be considered even better tomorrow.”
Considering the lessons of 2005, will Ancelotti change his system to avoid another Reds pitfall?
“In a Final the important thing is to imprint your quality on the game through good football. For us possession is as crucial as defending and counter-attacks are for Liverpool.
“Steven Gerrard is charismatic, but you cannot base your match on one player. Liverpool, like Milan, have many other qualities. Our opponents are Liverpool, not Gerrard.”
There were three English semi-finalists, but the trophy could go to the only remaining Italian representative.
“Milan’s presence in this Final shows the strength of Italian football and we do feel ourselves a very Italian side,” concluded Ancelotti.
24 hours to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Warro Bantan
22-05-2007, 13:47
Bravo Dev!! Super post!! and I mean S U P E R!! :D
Christopher
22-05-2007, 14:13
dude with the length of these posts you would think that Kui was dominating this thread . . . :)
Christopher
22-05-2007, 14:15
with that being said I give you this . . A Man U supporter from my Philadelphia Flyers forum posted this, it is from his Man U forum . . .
Going to the Greece
with smile on there face
Everybody is around Gilllet
singing "Amazing Grace"...
Thinking you can win
Reina tells a joke
Kewell is still handicapped
And Fowler snorts some coke...
Right before the game
Carra tells them things
That God was not good to him
Never game him wings...
Refeere is there
now game is finally on
a little scouser chick is screaming
who weight more then a ton...
Pirlo makes it one
Kaka makes it more
Liverpool are getting f*cked
And have a sore ashole...
The song goes now around
Liverpool are sad
Maldini hit the woodwork
Milan are so bad...
Meawhile in the Liverpool
Thiefs are happy to
Steling hubcaps and robbing houses
Throwing also poo...
Little Steve diver
Crying like a ****
One man in the stand
s*ck his misses t*t...
Back at airport now
with suitcases in their hand
Flying back to Liverpool
to f*cking England...
Now you been in the final
got outscored by 2 goals
Wondering if you got
any more balls...
So your season was impressive
you kicked lots of ball
With Benitez at the charge
you won f*ck all...
LOL - (fellow Manc!)
:respect:
A little off topic but how do we give rep points?
Jim_UK and Stezagud :respect: sorry I am not against English teams, but u tell me is this fair what they said in the programe which is being watched by 1000's of AC Milan fans in Asia??????
It's just their side of things, that's all mzk. I'm sure if you had some Italian associated pundits talking about things they could just as easily highlight only the Milan side of things.
If it makes you feel any better i watched 'Inside Sport' on English tv last night and it had 2 sports editors on there from English newspapers and they both said that Milan would win. One said Liverpool have no chance this time round and the other said his heart says Liverpool but his head says Milan will win. So i guess it just depends what papers you read and what programmes you watch.
Fans always like to see the team they support as invincible and with hardly any weaknesses, so when it comes to seeing the team they follow picked apart by some writers it's hard to take. Some of what these people write will be true, other parts will be complete BS. You just have to take it on the chin and try not to think about it too much. I wouldn't let it get to you mzk. :p017:
A little off topic but how do we give rep points?
Click on the little white set of scales under the person's user name (next to that green light indicating if someone is online or not).
Bosniaco
22-05-2007, 15:45
I'm watching the game from 2005 CL final, man this hurts....
22 hours to go
Solo con te, sempre per te
Forza MIlan
Ina grande scuadra rosonera!!!
Rossoneri8
22-05-2007, 15:56
Steve's never been tagged as"diver" so it's all on you,the man who will be marking Steve. Rino, will it be you?
Click on the little white set of scales under the person's user name (next to that green light indicating if someone is online or not).
Thanks Jim
Warro Bantan
22-05-2007, 16:42
A copy-paste of an email I just sent to a few friends:
Indeed my fellow Milanista...I am looking forward to tomorrows game, and actually cant wait for it to start, and to be over, so I can see Maldini, and also Kaka lift the "big cup".
Much has been said about this final, and after Istanbul, for the neutral, it is one of the most anticipated finals in recent memory...almost every one though, ultimately, will pick a side, for various reasons.
Some will carry Liverpool because of John Barnes, some will support Milan because of Kaka...
I picked my side way back in the 1980s, when I saw a rastaman playing for them, and have never looked back.
This game tomorrow means so much more for Milan, I cant see our players losing this game, but football, and fate, are both cruel masters, so, anything can happen.
What I will hope for tomorrow, is that Milan plays like Milan, win lose or draw, because when Milan play like Milan, few teams in the universe can stop us...and in the unlikely event that we play like Milan, and still lose, we can leave the stadium, heads high.
But if Istanbul was Liverpools "destiny", then surely, Athens is ours!
FORZA MIIIIIILAN!
From the Words of HIS Imperial Majesty, King Selassi I:
Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another, inferior, is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, there will be war.
ACMILAN1983
22-05-2007, 16:49
Thanks kingtiger (I think you were referring to me), Hasan and Warro :)
Chris, sorry for the long post, As you can see, I had very few things on my mind at work today, and spent my breaks typing a bit at a time ;)
I am so excited about the final, I think I will not be able to sleep tonight. After everything what happened to us this season, I really want to see Milan winning this CL. Also with the 2005 final in mind it would be great.
If Milan wins tomorrow they will show that they are the most special team of the world. How they fought back this season was just marvelous.
forza Milan!!
Atleast Andy Gray has changes his attitude towards Milan, I think he was embarassed at what he said before the second leg against Manchester United.
On the preview on Sky Sports 1 he said that Kaka and Seedorf will run the show, do you remember what he said about these two before?
Atleast Andy Gray has changes his attitude towards Milan, I think he was embarassed at what he said before the second leg against Manchester United.
On the preview on Sky Sports 1 he said that Kaka and Seedorf will run the show, do you remember what he said about these two before?
What did he say?
He really winds me up aswel as Townsend
Dr Milano
22-05-2007, 17:36
just watching this maldini video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3WeVch62t4
is bringing tears to my eye ... :sweeteye: I LOVE MILAN !!
Christopher
22-05-2007, 17:52
aparently there are airline strikes in italy espn.com is reporting that our fans are having trouble getting to Athens . . ..
curry chicken
22-05-2007, 19:41
Dev, my brother....thank you for that. I knew you'd put something together before the big one. :proud:
All right, this is way too early to cry. I've already said my piece, now I can only watch and wait. Good luck to Liverpool and their supporters. May we have an injury and controversy free game and one that we'll remember for years.
Go out there and show the world what you've got. Forza Milan!
Baggio10
22-05-2007, 19:50
anyone know if there will be a banner from the tifosis!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Forza milan all the way From MExico Good luck tomorrow my heroes!!!!!!!!!!! :5ok:
What did he say?
He really winds me up aswel as Townsend
Summat on the lines of
Sure, Kaka is brilliant but go through the team - the keeper is dodgy and the back four is creaking and should hold no fear for United's forwards. Anything else to be scared of? Pirlo? No. Seedorf? No. Ambrosini? No. Gilardino? Definitely not.
I dont even watch Itv for the main reason of townsend
OCmilano
22-05-2007, 19:58
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AM7VnWqmaZs
Can we start getting pumped up in this place....
I've already said my piece, now I can only watch and wait. Good luck to Liverpool and their supporters. May we have an injury and controversy free game and one that we'll remember for years.
likewise and thanks
I'm hoping for 3-2
Kaka, Maldini (everyone needs a last hurrah)
Crouch, Gerrard
AN Other depending on who you want to win
My vote is with Robbie Fowler in the 111th minute but I'm sure you'll disagree :)
Mostly, I hope the ref isn't mentioned in the match report other than as a 'fine job' afterthought
curry chicken
22-05-2007, 20:31
Our tifosi were held up because of the airline strike...but news is that they are going through to Athens as we speak. I can't imagine a game without the Milanisti in the crowd. I hope they keep arriving through the night, and bring those huge as hell banners and their loudest singing voice.
Christopher
22-05-2007, 21:04
Our tifosi were held up because of the airline strike...but news is that they are going through to Athens as we speak. I can't imagine a game without the Milanisti in the crowd. I hope they keep arriving through the night, and bring those huge as hell banners and their loudest singing voice.
couldn't agree more . . . . should look something like this!
:5schal: :5schal: :3band: :5schal: :5schal: :3band: :5schal: :5schal: :3band:
Ok, the day is here. I didn't post in this thread so far because I didn't want to get into conversations about this game. I'm scared to think anything I just can't wait to see it. I feel scared and confident at the same time..........but for some reason I think we will rape them this time. This is our year. God helped them last time and he saw that he made a mistake. That's why he gave us this second chance. To take back what's ours. To take OUR trophy back. To go on top of Europe again. Whatever happens I love this club....however a win would at least make my year......or at least make me feel great untill next September. :grinser:
FORZA MILAN!!! Let's show them who the real kings of Europe are!!!
remote2book
23-05-2007, 00:33
this win wud make my whole year..through all of the scandals....every game ive watched...this wud top it all off...i just wanna see maldini win this .and costacurta right there next to him
Atleast Andy Gray has changes his attitude towards Milan, I think he was embarassed at what he said before the second leg against Manchester United
Andy Gray makes me SICK :devf: Every time he has to talk abt a Milan match he just gives cheap reasons that why AC Milan are not a great side. Every time he goes after the aging back 4 of AC Milan. I have seen him saying this for the past 2 years How is our back 4 aging???? Maldini aside, its pretty young defence :) Nesta (30) Janku (28) Oddo (29) Kaladze (28) r OLD DEFENDES in his eyes :mad: Plus according to him the only playmaker of ACM is Kaka and if he is man-marked then ACM is finished :wallbang: Others can't score or creat things :uhm:
asmileneverlies
23-05-2007, 01:35
Goodmorning to all Milan fans.
Another wonderful day in front before another CL final.
We need to forget Istanbul (very hard to do it) and win, win and win.
Forza milan!!!!!!!!
what a crap...my local club, FK Sarajevo, is having a celebration for winning the league trophy.... TONIGHT !!!!
If only we were spiderman we would turn from 'red to black' with revenge and kill them off..
King tiger
23-05-2007, 04:42
what a crap...my local club, FK Sarajevo, is having a celebration for winning the league trophy.... TONIGHT !!!!
jebo halida gledaj ligu prvaka :D
zlatanov
23-05-2007, 05:15
Liverpool's official site already held their celebrations for Pool winning the trophy ... yesterday ... later today it's acmilan.com's turn to do the same ;)
Forza Milaaaaaaan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Kaka1899
23-05-2007, 05:16
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpoAw_c9zHA
watch that and have faith that video will remind you why your Milanista and putting yourself through all this.
Forza Milan!!!!
Summat on the lines of
Sure, Kaka is brilliant but go through the team - the keeper is dodgy and the back four is creaking and should hold no fear for United's forwards. Anything else to be scared of? Pirlo? No. Seedorf? No. Ambrosini? No. Gilardino? Definitely not.
I dont even watch Itv for the main reason of townsend
So much for the all English final to be played in England they were predicting.
We know they are English and they are going to favour the English side, but it would just be really refreshing for them to talk about Milan like the great side they really are!!
Kaka1899
23-05-2007, 05:32
So much for the all English final to be played in England they were predicting.
We know they are English and they are going to favour the English side, but it would just be really refreshing for them to talk about Milan like the great side they really are!!
:5ok: i agree watched a build up show yesterday on sky sports which was on for a hour and a half a hour and 20 minutes about how Liverpool will crush us then 10 minutes on how we are the worst team left in the champions league made me sick i ended up arguing with my dad on how biased they are! which clearly couldnt see! :grinser:
rome1977
23-05-2007, 05:42
Well, it's been fun being here these past few weeks.
And now finally, the big day has arrived.
Funnily enough I was more nervous in May 2005. I am not nervous today at all. Perhaps nerves will set in as kick-off draws closer.
I know many are predicting a much tighter game this time round. I'm not so sure.
I think in Kaka and Pirlo, you will always be threatening to score goals, but at the other end, I think your defence is weak to the threats we can pose it (eg Crouch and also when he is not on the pitch, counter attacks).
Essentially, your attack is strong, your defence is weak. I think Rafa will instruct the likes of Risse, Agger, Gerrard and Kuyt to shoot when given half a chance. Dida is a weak link, who suffers from confidence issues. imho
Regarding Liverpool, we are more balanced across defence/offence. We rarely concede, but yet we rarely threaten to run amok at the other end.
I imagine that we will hassle and harry Milan when they have the ball............and when we have it, I expect it to be zipped around at pace. That will help tire out Milan's aging legs at the back and in midfield.
My only questions regard team selection/tactis. If Rafa goes with the aerial threat of Crouch from the start, then he will need to have someone like Pennant to supply the crosses. Thus I suspect we will either see none of them start the game, or else both.
But they will play a part at some point I imagine. But in using them, that would be very attack minded.
The most likely starting lineup will have essentilly five across midfield, with one of these (Gerrard) supporting the lone striker (Kuyt). That would be my best guess.
Anyways, I raise a glass of Guinness (I am in N Ireland) to you all inhere. I hope we get a great game. I can't say I want to see another like last time, because I am unsure if my heart could come through that again.
All my best wishes.
rome1977
23-05-2007, 05:44
We know they are English and they are going to favour the English side, but it would just be really refreshing for them to talk about Milan like the great side they really are!!
there is a big article in today's Independent devoted to talking with Gullitt.
zlatanov
23-05-2007, 06:21
Well, it's been fun being here these past few weeks.
And now finally, the big day has arrived.
Funnily enough I was more nervous in May 2005. I am not nervous today at all. Perhaps nerves will set in as kick-off draws closer.
I know many are predicting a much tighter game this time round. I'm not so sure.
I think in Kaka and Pirlo, you will always be threatening to score goals, but at the other end, I think your defence is weak to the threats we can pose it (eg Crouch and also when he is not on the pitch, counter attacks).
Essentially, your attack is strong, your defence is weak. I think Rafa will instruct the likes of Risse, Agger, Gerrard and Kuyt to shoot when given half a chance. Dida is a weak link, who suffers from confidence issues. imho
Regarding Liverpool, we are more balanced across defence/offence. We rarely concede, but yet we rarely threaten to run amok at the other end.
I imagine that we will hassle and harry Milan when they have the ball............and when we have it, I expect it to be zipped around at pace. That will help tire out Milan's aging legs at the back and in midfield.
My only questions regard team selection/tactis. If Rafa goes with the aerial threat of Crouch from the start, then he will need to have someone like Pennant to supply the crosses. Thus I suspect we will either see none of them start the game, or else both.
But they will play a part at some point I imagine. But in using them, that would be very attack minded.
The most likely starting lineup will have essentilly five across midfield, with one of these (Gerrard) supporting the lone striker (Kuyt). That would be my best guess.
Anyways, I raise a glass of Guinness (I am in N Ireland) to you all inhere. I hope we get a great game. I can't say I want to see another like last time, because I am unsure if my heart could come through that again.
All my best wishes.
you read and more importantly trust British press way too much, rome.
after the ManU drubbing, one would expect that the "experts" on the other side of the tunnel would see light but I guess one more scalp has to be taken for that to happen ;).
Milan's goalkeeper and defense aren't weak, the only weakness in this team is the sense of being too good for the opponent, which leads to slacking off, loss in concentration, which in the eyes of the non-bliever seem like weakness due to old age or lack of quality.
This game however is different as there is only one game to play and no second leg to fix the mess we might create for ourselves (read 1st legs vs Bayern and ManU when Milan were toying with the opponent only to let the initiative slip away due to that weakness I mentioned above) ... in this game you won't see a "weak" Dida or a "weak" and "old" defense made up of grandpas and great-grandpas but what Milan is all about as Milan has this rare quality to excell when it matters most, when the backs are against the wall ... and in this season of calciopoli and attacks vs Milan as a club, in this game, that's exactly what the situation is.
My prediction for the game would be a close game - lots of battle in midfield (milan's with Gattuso and AMbro is by no means weaker or less physical than Pool's) so the defenses will "mop up" whatever manages to squeeze thru the mids.
Kaka will not have the luxury of space in this game - like he did vs ManU - but will manage to dictate things in tight spaces using his much improved team-play in his new role and will leave his mark on the game by moving around and creating space and chances for his teammates.
It will be a game of few real opportunities but I think in the end Milan's creativity in midfield thru Seedorf, Pirlo and Kaka will open the score in the start of the 2nd half ... the result will be doubled toward sthe end of the game when Pool will be rushing forward and will fall victim to the speed of Kaka and Serginho.
All in all, it will be a classical, tactical game with no surprises or turnarounds like the last time the two teams met.
Hasan Rossonero
23-05-2007, 06:25
I'm a bundle of nerves right now. I barely got 5 hours of sleep.
Forza Milan! I believe.
rome1977
23-05-2007, 06:33
reading over in another forum that Milan have returned 5,000 unsold tickets. Could this be true?
Liverpool fans can't get tickets for love nor money.....some reports at the weekend of touts demanding between 2 and three thousand euros. Barmy.
It sounds like the Liverpool supporters are going to dominate the stadium once again.
Hasan Rossonero
23-05-2007, 06:38
reading over in another forum that Milan have returned 5,000 unsold tickets. Could this be true?
Liverpool fans can't get tickets for love nor money.....some reports at the weekend of touts demanding between 2 and three thousand euros. Barmy.
It sounds like the Liverpool supporters are going to dominate the stadium once again.
No, I don't think it is. Milan have sold all their 17,000 allotted tickets. The official website said so.
I'm a bundle of nerves right now. I barely got 5 hours of sleep.
Forza Milan! I believe.
We are all going through this.
I just came back from my barbers, whilst he was cutting my hair we had a discussion about tonights game. As he is XEnglishX Spanish he would obviously side with Liverpool, he told me how Liverpool are going to rip Milan apart. He was saying Milan are weak, Maldini and Nesta are way too old and aren't quick enough and when opposition runs towards them they get scared.
He was soo stupid he was giving me an example of the game between Bayern and Milan and he goes that Bayern were 2-0 Up and they sat back which was a mistake. Whilst discussing as usual I was answering him back with facts and I could feel he was getting angry and the machine he was using kept getting rougher on my skin. It was a pretty good debate and when I left i said to him good luck with tonight AND good luck with Wolverhampton Wanderers trying to get back into the premiership next season and every single season after that till judgment day.
rome1977
23-05-2007, 06:40
All in all, it will be a classical, tactical game with no surprises or turnarounds like the last time the two teams met.
interesting post, zlat.
All the main pundits here are predicting a tight game with few goals. Mind you these same pundits were predicitng a great cup final on Saturday (man utd v chelsea). They go that wrong too.
I actually think there will be a fair few goals again.
It will be hard to stop Milan scoring. And assuming there is an early goal for someone, either very early on, or at least in the first half - then we are gonna see an open game.
Liverpool rarely ever do boring finals. Our last two european finals were classic heart stopping affairs - when we beat milan in 2005, and also our uefa cup victory in 2001 when we beat Alves 5-4.
I think there will be goals, and possibly a fair few of them. The lowest I think it will be, will be 2-1
i'm gonna predict either a 2-2 going to penalties, or else a 3-2 win for Liverpool after extra time.
there is a big article in today's Independent devoted to talking with Gullitt.
Thats what you expect with the independent. We cant expect anything decent on skysports.
You talk about TV coverage come on, there was a problem with Alitalia but now is solved and 7000 of our supporters are coming. Il presidente arrived a few hours ago.
You talk about TV coverage come on, there was a problem with Alitalia but now is solved and 7000 of our supporters are coming. Il presidente arrived a few hours ago.
Where do you want me to come
Nothing ignore me :5ok: Come on Milan
Did Haroon post one of his customary previews??
Hasan Rossonero
23-05-2007, 08:27
It's official...I am going to eat my arm out of anxiety.
Come on Milan! FORZA ROSSONERI! SIAMO CON VOI!
Days like these are the ones to relish. Pre-game nerves. I wish I was stoic, but I am anything but.
There was an interview with Massaro, and he said he was sure Gila would start.
rome1977
23-05-2007, 08:33
WILL THE CURSE STRIKE AGAIN? (my headline)
from one of today's papers:
When he came into Milan's press conference yesterday, Kaka passed by the European Cup and ran his fingers along its surface.
That is a VERY BAD OMEN. That is exactly what happened in Istanbul.
Nerves are killing me. FORZA MILAN.
WILL THE CURSE STRIKE AGAIN? (my headline)
from one of today's papers:
When he came into Milan's press conference yesterday, Kaka passed by the European Cup and ran his fingers along its surface.
That is a VERY BAD OMEN. That is exactly what happened in Istanbul.
Kaka' can do that because he is bigger then "bad omen".
WILL THE CURSE STRIKE AGAIN? (my headline)
from one of today's papers:
When he came into Milan's press conference yesterday, Kaka passed by the European Cup and ran his fingers along its surface.
That is a VERY BAD OMEN. That is exactly what happened in Istanbul.
That is one of Kaka's trick to cheat you all.
It was yesterday and not the game day, so he let you feel to win on the press conference and the opposite on the matchday....right?? :5ok:
Anfielded183
23-05-2007, 08:57
I am also f'n nervous about the game but also I am confident of victory - like you are about Milan.
It will be a close game I feel but I think it will be won in normal time. The question you've got to ask is that are Milan too focused on revenge not to play good intelligent football or will that revenge give them the hunger to win. It will be interesting to find out.
Between the white shirts and touching big ears, I think Milan are showing superstitious nonsense is just that, nonsense. Just sending us a message you fear nothing.
It's mind games and not bad ones either.
Anyway I'm off
If you win I'll be back to say congrats, otherwise that's it for me here.
Thanks for having rivals on your board and for being good hosts.
I have been a bitter person since 2005 and it doesn't help that i live in the UK and all they want to talk about is that game.
We need to put them to the sword tonight if this were gladatorial i would want to see every drop of liverpool blood shed before i was satisfied.
Please Milan if in my lifetime i never see another CL final with you again it wont matter. Destroy liverpool for me tonight.
Between the white shirts and touching big ears, I think Milan are showing superstitious nonsense is just that, nonsense. Just sending us a message you fear nothing.
I think the only reason why Milan choose to wear the all white because they want to protect people from watching Pool's disgusting yellow jersey....
No offending purpose....just to relax our nerves while waiting another 5 hours for the game to start... :dielaugh:
I think the only reason why Milan choose to wear the all white because they want to protect people from watching Pool's disgusting yellow jersey....
No offending purpose....just to relax our nerves while waiting another 5 hours for the game to start... :dielaugh:
that would be funny if I didn't agree with you ;)
we look like ronald MacDonald's personal assistants in them
I can't wait for next season so they get binned forever
I know I said I was off but am too edgy to work
I am soo determined today :crazy: that I am wearing my Milan 2005 jersey ( My BWIN jersey is in Toronto :( ) Superstition means nothing :crazy: today either we deserve it or Liverpool do....nothing more. I am hoping that we really :hammer: them today..... touching the Cup, the colour jersey ....argh I think I better shut up now otherwise I'm going to abuse some serious expletives :notlist:
We are sooo fired up !!! I saw Kaka blow past ronaldo yesterday in training Ronaldo does the 100 is approx 11s :eekani:
seems that all the "experts" think nesta / oddo / janku are aged? these guys are in their prime.
el capitano is are only aged defensemen, but with his experience...
i think seedorf will have a huge game today. our players are used to playing these big games...i think this is why we struggled against some of the minnows this season, and seedorf was accused of not giving 100%. he was either unmotivated or saving himself...
i cant wait to see a focused, hell-bent Milan side today (greatest show on earth!!)... i am confident that we will be the more dominate side, and have the most chances today, unfortunately that doesnt alway equal a win.
party starts soon
rome1977
23-05-2007, 09:39
I am soo determined today :crazy: that I am wearing my Milan 2005 jersey ( My BWIN jersey is in Toronto :( ) Superstition means nothing :crazy: today either we deserve it or Liverpool do....nothing more. I am hoping that we really :hammer: them today..... touching the Cup, the colour jersey ....argh I think I better shut up now otherwise I'm going to abuse some serious expletives :notlist:
:grinser:
It is no good my friend - the omens are all there (the same white jerseys, hugging the cup, etc).
Athens is the home of the Gods. And it is most unwise to upset them.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!
I can't take this sh!t!!!
I haven't done a STROKE of work today!!!!! :uhm:
My palms are freezing because the a.c. is working on the sweat :crazy: I need a drink(s) Where is the time machine whan you need it :crazy: :d55:
RobyKikic
23-05-2007, 10:09
tell me about it, im sitting at work refreshing this thread each 15seconds out of boredom and nervousness.
Anfielded183
23-05-2007, 10:11
LOL I am reading and posting in about 5 different message boards!. Nothing else to do as I'm too nervous to do much else!.
King tiger
23-05-2007, 10:13
LOL I am reading and posting in about 5 different message boards!. Nothing else to do as I'm too nervous to do much else!.
me 2
anyways
http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=310542
I'm leaving WORK!!! I'm going to get something to eat....hopefully it'll take my mind off the game for now :rone:
ghostweed
23-05-2007, 10:23
I don't make any comparisons with Istanbul because that was an anomaly, but I echo Carlo's words that Milan are better prepared psychologically this time. Milan have peaked at exactly the right time this season unlike 2005 when we "robbed" PSV, and maybe deep down there was a lack of conviction. ATM, It is in everyone's minds what Milan are capable of, so I don't think Liverpool will take the game to us, but will try to negate us. But I think it will be hard to do this because Milan can have a very fluid midfield, going from 3 and 2 to 5 very quickly. If Liverpool stick two up front, I think they will struggle to negate our play. Anyway, enough tactical BS, it is heart
that counts for more in a final.
DO IT MILAN, not only for us, but also for calcio.
Egoistka
23-05-2007, 10:24
I don't think any of the teams have a right to say they deserve to win the final. We've both got to the final deservedly. It's a bit premature to say it.
But we will win.
I gave my reasons why I think we deserve to win the CL this year...so its not premature...I said that we had so many problems and unluck, which followed us througout the year, that we had to work twice harder than any other team in the CL this year. So yes..we deserve to win in this final...:)
Truthfully speaking I dont think im going to watch it, for the past weeks this was one of the biggest occasions I was looking forward to and when it arrived I bottled it.
ginoformaggino
23-05-2007, 10:37
hey milanisti...
if you play a final, you're just a champion :bri:
if you think to a final, you're a dreamer :lu:
... if you only watch a final, well you're an intertriste :devf:
:diablo: forza Milannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn :devf:
ukrainian_CA
23-05-2007, 10:46
Forza Milan!!!!
What time does the game start?
Zlatanov, I hate those CETs. 14:45 GMT, is this the usual start time for the CL games?
Before Bayern and United games I wrote a post with only "forza ragazzi !" in it... lets do the same again!
I do a lab report from the start of the day and at times i connect to see what is taking place....
FORZA RAGAZZI !
:3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band: :3band:
Truthfully speaking I dont think im going to watch it, for the past weeks this was one of the biggest occasions I was looking forward to and when it arrived I bottled it.
dont understand "bottled it".
how could you not watch? i could see burying your head into your milan jersey during a pk... but...
ACMILAN1983
23-05-2007, 11:03
Dev, my brother....thank you for that. I knew you'd put something together before the big one. :proud:
All right, this is way too early to cry. I've already said my piece, now I can only watch and wait. Good luck to Liverpool and their supporters. May we have an injury and controversy free game and one that we'll remember for years.
Go out there and show the world what you've got. Forza Milan!
Thanks sweety, of course I had to post before the game one last time, I actually did a 2 parter, first my tactical opinion then my feelings towards the match. You're post before was also a big influence on me :1five:
reading over in another forum that Milan have returned 5,000 unsold tickets. Could this be true?
Liverpool fans can't get tickets for love nor money.....some reports at the weekend of touts demanding between 2 and three thousand euros. Barmy.
It sounds like the Liverpool supporters are going to dominate the stadium once again.
I'm fairly certain that's false. Milan have said all tickets were sold out pretty much immediately, with over 70,000 requests.
If there is a problem for Milan fans, it could be the aiport strikes going on in Italy.
zlatanov
23-05-2007, 11:06
Forza Milan!!!!
What time does the game start?
Zlatanov, I hate those CETs. 14:45 GMT, is this the usual start time for the CL games?
upphhh, sorry ... that's 14.45 EST (not CET) or 11.45am PT
dont understand "bottled it".
how could you not watch? i could see burying your head into your milan jersey during a pk... but...
Too much tension, sweaty palms heart beat racing and its still 2 and a half hours away.
:star: FORZA GRANDE MILAN :star:
oskarius
23-05-2007, 11:35
:firedev: Forza Milan :firedev:
asmileneverlies
23-05-2007, 11:38
2 hours to go, forza grande milan!
rome1977
23-05-2007, 11:42
Speedy Gonzalez to start up front alongside Crouch.
Gonzalez can do 100 meters in 10.2 seconds.
With that pair, you're gonna need a stepladder and a racehorse to keep up.
sheva-gila
23-05-2007, 11:44
nothing to say more just FORZA GRANDE MILANNN!!!!!!
zlatanov
23-05-2007, 11:45
Speedy Gonzalez to start up front alongside Crouch.
Gonzalez can do 100 meters in 10.2 seconds.
With that pair, you're gonna need a stepladder and a racehorse to keep up.
does that mean that Pool will have 2 pure forwards - Gonzalez and Crouch/Kuyt - and 4 in midfield - possibly Pennat, Gerrard, Alonso/mascherano and Zenden/Kewell - or is Gonzalez considered a left winger, with Pennat, Grerrad, Alonso, Mascherano the rest in midfield and only Crouch/Kuyt up front?
Hasan Rossonero
23-05-2007, 11:52
Truthfully speaking I dont think im going to watch it, for the past weeks this was one of the biggest occasions I was looking forward to and when it arrived I bottled it.
hahaha...
Buddy, do watch it. I know it's tempting not to. Before Italy VS France this past summer, my nerves were much worse. But I watched right till the end. You must watch it man.
Forza Milan!
rome1977
23-05-2007, 11:57
does that mean that Pool will have 2 pure forwards - Gonzalez and Crouch/Kuyt - and 4 in midfield - possibly Pennat, Gerrard, Alonso/mascherano and Zenden/Kewell - or is Gonzalez considered a left winger, with Pennat, Grerrad, Alonso, Mascherano the rest in midfield and only Crouch/Kuyt up front?
:grinser:
my best guess, zlat is
kuyt
gerrard
zenden mascherano alonso pennant
I couldbe totally wrong
I connect again 2:41 still to start, i now see the Liverpool stuff that just arrived.... we are on our way.
hitmannq8
23-05-2007, 12:07
omg my heart is pounding so fast..
im wearing my Kaka 2007 jersey..now im on my way off to little italy to watch the game..
FORZA MILAN
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2026, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.