View Full Version : ACMilan- Arsenal Champions League 07/08
dont be so stupid with those words even now
I am true here and if you don't like my words, just don't talk or write, this is the fact and you don't need to be a rocket scientist to spot it
I have been postiog here for the past few months about how Milan is an aging team and need to be reconstructed and reinforced especially for Europe and the most of you laughed and taunted me with stupid phrases like: "yeah, for the next few years to come then we could change", no it was needed since last CL and you guys almost blew it last time if it weren't for the revival in San Siro against Man Utd, and then you kept the going on on a high level, but still it was appparent that you needed new blood, what the heck was Ambrosini doing in the game???!! He was none-sense, I was surprised of Gattuso's game that night, where is that fighter who shrug off Ronaldo like a piece of turd, where is the midfield that was boosted to be the best in Europe? Where was it that match? You need reinforcements, and you have the raw talent in the form of Pato for the attack, Gourcouff for the midfield, but still you need proven players, so you go out and get Emerson??? wow Berlu and Galliani wow :rolleyes:
Excellent said
Donadoni would be great
I wouldn't be surprised to see Carlo NT coach and Donadoni on Milan's bench in the summer
on the grounds of what mrki posted on top, I have a wuestion for all Milanisti here
Are you saying that you are content if you keep on putting in below par performances in the league and focus on getting into the top 4 of the scudetto charts and focus mainly on the CL and try to win it for the future seasons and keep whatever sort of form you have now, but only to improve in europe and not focus much on the scudetto?
Just got back from Malpensa, will give my thoughts on the game/experience later.
Warro Bantan
05-03-2008, 17:10
Saw this on theguardian, and thought it useful to post:
http://football.guardian.co.uk/championsleague200708/story/0,,2262354,00.html
'Milan: The End'
The Italian press react to Arsenal's victory over Milan at San Siro
Paolo Bandini
Wednesday March 5, 2008
guardian.co.uk
The Gazzetta dello Sport's front page headline suggests it's the end of an era for the deposed European champions
Defeat to Arsenal saw Milan fail to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since the second group stage was abandoned in 2003-04, and the first time they have failed to reach the semi-finals since 2004-05. With Milan's starting XI boasting an average age of over 30 last night, and 39-year-old captain Paolo Maldini set to retire at the end of the season, it is unsurprising, perhaps, that the Italian press have greeted last night as the end of an era.
"Milan: The End", booms the front page headline - written in English - of today's Gazzetta dello Sport, while other papers have taken a similar tack. "[Milan manager Carlo] Ancelotti's era is over", insists a Corriere dello Sport headline, despite the fact the club's owner, Silvio Berlusconi, has insisted he plans to stick by his manager even if he fails to qualify for next year's Champions League. "End of the Road", concurs the Corriere della Sera.
Nevertheless, few writers have been particularly critical of Ancelotti's team - most preferring to reflect simply on a remarkable spell of European dominance. "Now that it is finished, before explaining why it is finished, let's have a round of applause for the exit of the champions of everything," says Gazzetta's Franco Arturi. "Milan deserves it. They carried for a long time a legend, founded on their play, class, and desire, around the world; they are one of the most successful Italian brands. They burned themselves out as they did so often, pushing themselves to the very edge of their limits. A serene end, if not a glorious one, to years spent in the very best way.
"Ancelotti knew he had a squad on its knees, one that had been bouncing for months between Wednesdays and Sundays to an unsustainable rhythm: the last high, the intercontinental cup won last winter, was paid for at the highest price possible, with an impossible calendar. To try to repeat the miracle achieved last year would have required a complete turnover of players between the championship and the [Champions League] - 10 players in and 10 players out each time. Milan's precarious position in the league wouldn't permit such a course of action."
To a man the Italian press corps seem in accordance that Arsenal fully deserved their victory, but nevertheless a few were left ruing the timing of Cesc Fábregas's opener. "I have to admit I allowed myself to be fooled in the last 20 minutes of the game, when the exhausted Milan drew out their very best, through sheer heart and positive thinking," says Gazzetta's senior writer and former editor Candido Cannavò. "Some members of the team called for the physio, but the flashes from Kaka and [Alexandre] Pato allowed one to keep dreaming."
Corriere della Sera's Mario Sconcerti agrees. "With the sort of irony that often accompanies goodbyes, Milan's run ended with the concession of a goal in their best moment of the match," he says. "Arsenal were no longer managing to hold on to the ball, [Arsenal striker Emmanuel] Adebayor, extraordinary atypical monument of modern football, had disappeared. Indeed, Fábregas had understood the slowness of his team and took the responsibility of going it alone. He got lucky, but neither he nor his team-mates stole anything. They dominated the game. In the first leg and the second."
Arsenal are lauded for their attacking intent, La Repubblica's Gianni Mura noting that: "Arsenal brought seven players looking to play the ball in Milan's half, while Milan for long periods were restricted to two: Pato and [Filippo] Inzaghi forward, sometimes supported by Kaka, and the rest a long way behind." Fábregas, meanwhile, comes in for special praise from Mura's colleague Andrea Sorrentino. "Here he is, the splendid midfielder who disappointed a little in the first leg. This time he was the master of the pitch, in front of the defence to shut down (well) Kaka, then indefatigable weaver of the play, often the furthest forward, avoiding Gattuso and Ambrosini's traps and even getting himself into positions from which to shoot."
Inevitably, however, the acknowledgement of the end of an era has also opened the discussion of how Milan can progress from here. "The elimination now opens the route to a remodernisation," says Sconcerti, "maybe even a real refounding. The last time, at the beginning of the 2000s, Ancelotti managed to find new solutions on the fly. He had a 23-year-old Pirlo, a 28-year-old Inzaghi, a 25-year-old Nesta. He had leaders as well as champions. This team now, however, is a decadent Milan that no longer has a firm point of reference. Kaka goes on his own, Pato is a kid and outside of any communal initiative. Pirlo follows but doesn't lead. I don't think it was by chance that their worst night arrived when they were missing the one truly charismatic player they have left - [Clarence] Seedorf."
The last word was saved for Maldini, for whom last night marked the sad end of a glorious European career in which he has picked up five European Cups across three decades. All of the major Italian dailies named him Milan's man of the match. "In London, Maldini had been 'magnificent' according to the English press," concludes Corriere della Sera's Paolo Tomaselli. "Yesterday Paolino was simply one of the best in Ancelotti's team. One of the last to give in to the evidence of a generational clash which Milan couldn't win." Some of the thoughts of the Italian press has tears in my eyes as I type this...indeed, our team are to be applauded for their efforts, and I salute them all....
I chose to see this, as not the end, but as a new beginning..an opportunity (hopefully) for Carlo to actually influence the selection of new players, so obviously needed to sustain a challenge on two or three fronts, which big clubs such as Milan are obligated to do.
I wont join the 4th place debate with Karim, nor will I respond to those who want to sack the most successfull coach most of us have known at Milan, because we exited the UCL "prematurely", and are currently 5th.
I have faith in Carlo, in Berlu, and in Milan...for those lacking...well...glad I am not in your position.
Siempre Milan...Milan Siempre.
hitmannq8
05-03-2008, 18:21
Karim, that has happened only in the last two seasons..Milan has always went for Serie A and CL before, it's just that the squad has been too weak.
Wow, I never expected Roma to go through, let alone put in an impressive performance like that at the Bernabeu. I hope they can go all the way, but they will need a much much better Totti than what we are currently seeing. Inter, I don't know if they can beat Liverpool, their problem is their mentality. Let's hope for another Italian representative at the quarters.
Are you saying that you are content if you keep on putting in below par performances in the league and focus on getting into the top 4 of the scudetto charts and focus mainly on the CL and try to win it for the future seasons and keep whatever sort of form you have now, but only to improve in europe and not focus much on the scudetto?
What you posted here are the facts that each Milan fan realizes, except in a slightly ironic way which is to be expected from the Inter fan.
Remember the 2004/2005 season? Was Milan only focusing on the CL?
We all realize that Milan needs new players, so we can feel safe about injuries, so the 1st squad can rest mentally from football.
The point is that Milan's current squad is great when all of them are in top form. Part of being in top form is resting from time to time, without a trade off of losing to mediocre Serie A teams.
Milan doesn't focus entirely on CL, Milan focuses on CL only when the players' shape forces us to only focus on one competition.
remote2book
05-03-2008, 19:49
The thing that saddens me about this years elemination from CL than other years is that just like last year we gave up in the league and are fighting for just 4th place and focused on the CL luckly for us we won last year and doing the same thing this year we got knocked out by a team much better than us in the first round...maybe if we were 1or 2 points behind inter i would be more content and wouldnt mind going out of the CL...but we are facing an uphill battle for fourth place..
Why are people so grim about all this thing? It's not like the end of the world. Buck up!
This media thing trying to say that "milan's era is coming to the end" is just as ridiculous as saying "HSBC is going to crash because of the subprime mortgage crisis". Trust me, a class team is always a class team; it takes time to rebuild (just think about milan's doom day like 10 years ago and now... hey you can't really complain can you :D)?
I hate this pundits or idiots who will:
1) praise Milan like hell if Milan win.
2) Say that Milan is over when they lose.
BE A MAN. Predict before and say "ok I predict incorrectly", instead of saying, "See I told you".
remote2book
05-03-2008, 21:42
Why are people so grim about all this thing? It's not like the end of the world. Buck up!
This media thing trying to say that "milan's era is coming to the end" is just as ridiculous as saying "HSBC is going to crash because of the subprime mortgage crisis". Trust me, a class team is always a class team; it takes time to rebuild (just think about milan's doom day like 10 years ago and now... hey you can't really complain can you :D)?
I hate this pundits or idiots who will:
1) praise Milan like hell if Milan win.
2) Say that Milan is over when they lose.
BE A MAN. Predict before and say "ok I predict incorrectly", instead of saying, "See I told you".
Agree with everything jeff spoken like a true master :1whis:
Why are people so grim about all this thing? It's not like the end of the world. Buck up!
This media thing trying to say that "milan's era is coming to the end" is just as ridiculous as saying "HSBC is going to crash because of the subprime mortgage crisis". Trust me, a class team is always a class team; it takes time to rebuild (just think about milan's doom day like 10 years ago and now... hey you can't really complain can you :D)?
I hate this pundits or idiots who will:
1) praise Milan like hell if Milan win.
2) Say that Milan is over when they lose.
BE A MAN. Predict before and say "ok I predict incorrectly", instead of saying, "See I told you".
Some fans are as guilty off writing off this team as the idiots in the English media. We're Champions of everything, for a few more months at least! Next season we start again.
jmacpherson
06-03-2008, 05:20
We got knocked out of the champions leagues, time to move on.
It happens to many great clubs every season, there can only be 2 teams in the final.
Milan have been in far worse situations in the past, serie b years ago, negative points last season, exclusion from uefa for an entire season due to complaints about floodlights.
If we finished 10th I would still support Milan. Yes, I would be dissappointed but there is always next season and one after that.
Yes some fresh faces are required in the summer and but a mass overall will cause more problems.
milanista03
06-03-2008, 08:07
It's a game... sometimes you win sometimes you lose... That's fine by me... I need my mourning time on my own... but life goes on.... Milan can and will win it again sometimes in the future. I'm cool to accept the fact that we're out and won't win anything this season. The saddest thing for me is Maldini (despite of what you think about old players and anything...)will end his career in a season like this.......... :cry: :cry:
outlaw_member
06-03-2008, 08:42
Milanista03 don't be too disheartened, about Paolo. You guys have probably seen this, but i'll post it anyway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXpPD3FpxIg
Milanista03 don't be too disheartened, about Paolo. You guys have probably seen this, but i'll post it anyway.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXpPD3FpxIg
Hehe, I posted this video a week ago, too. Maybe the kid will become world class player, when I am the same age as Paolo now :D.
outlaw_member
06-03-2008, 09:00
Maybe? He definitely will, Cesare, Paolo and now it will be Daniel.
thanks outlaw for the kind words :)
you're a nice guy :5ok:
Firstly if any fan feels like I shouldn’t have bumped up this thread again then I’m sorry as I just want to give my two cents on the whole experience.
What can I say? Like I said before the game this would certainly be a night to remember and those words never let me down. I have lived to experience the night of beating Madrid at the Bernabau, Inter at San Siro 5-1 and against Roma when Henry got the hattrick but on Tuesday night it was something out of this world. Many Gooners flooded the city centre and it was funny going to the bars to find Italians wishing us good luck because they support Juventus or other teams. I remember going to the underground station at Duomo and hearing crowds chant ‘Milan Milan’ and I swiftly moved on to the Arsenal support. The chants started in the train and it never ended all night.
Walking to the San Siro it was special, going past the burger vans and seeing the Siro from a distance it's much larger than whn you see it in the pictures. Many years I have watched this stadium but being there in person was something different. I don’t want to carry on going on and on and on but I would like to say it was a great game from both sides. The support for Milan was magnificent and truly great, I can only imagine how it must have been against United last season. After Cesc scored the Milan fans started clapping at us and we done the same, even outside I met a few Milan fans and said to them Forza Rossoneri and they were very well impressed with my Italian ha. However that night I didn’t get much sleep as we stayed up all night and no words can describe how the atmosphere was.
On the way home I met a lot of Milan fans (at the airport and in person as I had my Arsenal scarf on) first they congratulated us on our win, they told me how Arsenal were a strong team and good luck in the next round and competition. I have never come across more respected fans and this is just one of the many reasons why I love this club.
As a finale I would like to say Forza Milan and Forza Arsenal.
Blistering through these posts I can see many fans blaming Ancelotti and I’m so confused, this guy has taken Milan to a new height and is one of the most respected coaches in the world. Changing coaches won’t help, all Milan require is new fresh blood and for Silvio to inject new funds in to the team.
Thanks for the post. I've quoted it on another forum, I'm sure you won't mind:) Best of us luck for the rest of the season. Hopefully RVP and Toure can comeback in time to see off United and the win the league.
I just love some people saying that Milan's era is over.
I mean, for god's sake, can't they have the gut to say that before the game? Such hindsight BS is beyond levels of stupidity.
You may well be better off like Lippi saying that he predicted Milan won but his prediction turned out to be incorrect, then someone came out and stamped on Milan.
These people are the worst enemies of Milan of all.
Well said Ghost ...
To come back to Ancelotti, all the people saying "Ancelotti sacked" just forgot all he gave to us !! And they forgot that just after a defeat ... if Milan had won this match, all these people would have said "great coaching" or something else !!
The fact is that for me, all the people wanting Ancelotti to be fired just because of this year, all these people just aren't real Milan fans ... wanting to put Lippi, one of the best coaches in the world but who has no history with Milan (and he never won the CL ... perhaps i'm wrong, but if i'm not wrong, so if the guy comes, after being eliminated from the second turn of the next CL, you will all want him to be sacked), or Mourinho, same but who did nothing with a club like Chelsea (except winning Premiership), wanting that is an abberation.
What was wrong at that game
I think Kaka Pato duo was not a winning combination (maybe with Pato as lone striker) in this team
They both have do or die way of dealing with ball so they either go through or lose it immediatelly
Seedorf is slower on the ball but is able to hold on to it longer and was crucial figure in our play
Why is this important, because we have slow sidebacks who get covered by Ambrosini Pirlo and Rinowhen going up. As attackers lost balls very frequently, midfielders had to run back instead of taking part in attacks and were drained after 50 minutes, that is why Andrea had such a bad evening, the man was running up and down all the time while there was no anchorman upfield to slow the pace.
This formation is rock solid when configured with right men but Carlo doesn't have them right now and it leaks through three spots two are sidebacks and third is Seedorf's position if he gets right players for those we will be champions again in no time
I just love some people saying that Milan's era is over.
I mean, for god's sake, can't they have the gut to say that before the game? Such hindsight BS is beyond levels of stupidity.
You may well be better off like Lippi saying that he predicted Milan won but his prediction turned out to be incorrect, then someone came out and stamped on Milan.
These people are the worst enemies of Milan of all.
my gosh :eekani: I'm starting to agree with everything Jeff says these days.......I must be getting old :p157:
GREAT POST JEFF :bri:
ACMILAN1983
07-03-2008, 04:12
Well said Ghost ...
To come back to Ancelotti, all the people saying "Ancelotti sacked" just forgot all he gave to us !! And they forgot that just after a defeat ... if Milan had won this match, all these people would have said "great coaching" or something else !!
The fact is that for me, all the people wanting Ancelotti to be fired just because of this year, all these people just aren't real Milan fans ... wanting to put Lippi, one of the best coaches in the world but who has no history with Milan (and he never won the CL ... perhaps i'm wrong, but if i'm not wrong, so if the guy comes, after being eliminated from the second turn of the next CL, you will all want him to be sacked), or Mourinho, same but who did nothing with a club like Chelsea (except winning Premiership), wanting that is an abberation.
I'm not calling for Carlo's (who I rate very highly) head, even though I'd take Lippi in his place, regardless of him not having a history at Milan.
Speaking of Lippi, you are incorrect to say he's not won CL, as he won it with Juventus in the 1995/96 season (the final was against a brilliant Ajax who beat us the previous year). In fact, I'd say Lippi's track record in the CL is pretty much as impressive as Carlo's, as he's reached the final 4 times (in 8 seasons he's been at Juve), with 3 consecutive finals (we managed 3 in 5 years). He's won the CL once as mentioned, lost once on the lottery of penalties and had we lost in 2003, Lippi would be regarded a top CL coach, like Carlo is now. Against Dortmund when he lost, Juve were poor, but the other last final loss was a tight game against Real who were at the time one of the most dominant teams in Europe (that side dominated for years until Galacticos).
His CV continues too, as in 5 of the 9 seasons he was at Juve he won the scudetto (building two very strong Juve sides). He's also won a Coppa Italia, 4 Italian Supercups, the European Supercup and the Intercontinental Cup. That's 13 trophies in 8 seasons.
On top of that, he's won the World Cup with Italy at a time when Italian football couldn't have been in a worse situation.
Prior to Juve, he was at Napoli and helped them reach the UEFA Cup, a pretty incredible feat considering the state of the club in the post Maradona era. We all know what's happened to Napoli since he left.
It’s not just you, but on this forum at times Lippi appears to be underrated and normally, and falsely, those critical of him bring up his history in the CL. It’s getting a little tiring to hear the same weak argument against him.
Crap football and three losses in CL finals and his son is a crook. NO THANKS.
well, Real Madrid lost to Roma... I DONT SEE THEIR FANS ASKING THE COACH TO GET SACKED
Kulspruta
07-03-2008, 06:45
That's because you're not in a Real Madrid forum. =(
well, Real Madrid lost to Roma... I DONT SEE THEIR FANS ASKING THE COACH TO GET SACKED
If they blow the league they will besides I bet he's gone at the end of the season.
hitmannq8
07-03-2008, 16:34
well, Real Madrid lost to Roma... I DONT SEE THEIR FANS ASKING THE COACH TO GET SACKED
When Capello and Del Bosque won La Liga they still got sacked, so really Real Madrid aren't the perfect example.
Im a big fan of Carlo and really I dont think anyone can do better than him here, but you know 6yrs is a long time. Its time for fresh new ideas, fresh new tactics, fresh new faces. I dont think the Gattuso - Pirlo - Seedorf combo should be used again, they have become easy to stop and are way too predictable. If alot of players will be coming in in the summer, then keep Carlo, but if they decide for just a few buys then bring in Lippi.
Warro Bantan
07-03-2008, 17:11
When Capello and Del Bosque won La Liga they still got sacked, so really Real Madrid aren't the perfect example.
Im a big fan of Carlo and really I dont think anyone can do better than him here, but you know 6yrs is a long time. Its time for fresh new ideas, fresh new tactics, fresh new faces. I dont think the Gattuso - Pirlo - Seedorf combo should be used again, they have become easy to stop and are way too predictable. If alot of players will be coming in in the summer, then keep Carlo, but if they decide for just a few buys then bring in Lippi.
Agree on the first, not on the second....
Keep Carlo regardless.... :diablo:
I do understand your final point tho... :dcool:
hitmannq8
07-03-2008, 17:45
I just mean we need to do something new. If we wanted to keep Carlo, then give him a whole bunch of new players so he can try something new with.. because if you leave Carlo with the same players and just a couple of new ones, he will still use the same formation with the same players.. But on the other hand, if we had a new coach, he would want to use his own formation with his own set of tactics. All im saying is that we need to change the way we play, its been the same for quite a long time and that's prolly why it aint working too well..
I tell you guys only two good sidebacks who could deliver the ball and Milan is back Pirlo and Rino can and should stay for at least two seasons as starters the problem is if you have only Pirlo as a source of decent balls from behind it is easy to stop him as it would be the same with any player regardles the form he is in as for Massimo i wold try to put someone younger on his position maybe Gorky and as for Seedorf I really have no idea who from younger generation is right to mach his profile
@Mehdi it's fine bro, I was in a rush so I never really went in to detail and only kept it brief.
To be fair I think everyone had a bad game on Tuesday, I can go on and on the amount of mistakes both teams made but the Milan mistakes were too many. One of the most obvious one's is Cesc was given way too much space for the shot, Gattuso had a very bad game (which really surprised me because I was thinking he would do what he done last year against CR7). I could clearly see Kaka was struggling with an injury and many players were not fully fit.
What would be wise in the summer would be to keep Ancelotti (Getting rid of him is NOT the way forward IMHO) and for Berlusconi to open his cheque book for Carlo. Carlo clearly wanted Riberry in the summer just gone but Silvio just didn't want to take the risk, so the problem is not the coach but the people who are running the club.
Lets just pray that Galliani & Berlusconi have finally seen some sense and are planning a lot of changes in the summer, slightly off topic but I could see in Milan how powerful Berlusconi was. Everywhere I would go I would see his boards/posters and when catching a ride in a cabbie he showed me some of the buildings that Silvio owns. For a man of this calibre and nature a few peanuts for Milan shouldn't really be a problem.
Then again trying to get Drogba, Sheva etc does worry me as that is not the way forward.
Lets just pray that Galliani & Berlusconi have finally seen some sense and are planning a lot of changes in the summer, slightly off topic but I could see in Milan how powerful Berlusconi was. Everywhere I would go I would see his boards/posters and when catching a ride in a cabbie he showed me some of the buildings that Silvio owns. For a man of this calibre and nature a few peanuts for Milan shouldn't really be a problem.
The problem is Berlusconi will be standing for election in April.
Then again trying to get Drogba, Sheva etc does worry me as that is not the way forward.
Nor is Zambrotta who is a favourite (and ridiculous) choice among many here.
The problem is Berlusconi will be standing for election in April.
So? Why can't Galliani take over and Berlusconi just supervise him?
Nor is Zambrotta who is a favourite (and ridiculous) choice among many here.
This is what worries me the most Sheva, Drogba and Zambrotta are either touching or over 30 and that is not the way forward.
So? Why can't Galliani take over and Berlusconi just supervise him?
That's been the case for years and why Milan are in this mess. Galliani is an incompetent fool. He is largely to blame for the clubs transfer policy and extending the contracts of Serginho, Cafu and Dida, backing Dida despite his many gaffs, talking Gilardino into staying when he wanted to leave over the summer etc, etc. When Berlusconi was running the show he personally handpicked the likes of Van Basten, Desailly and Savicevic.
Then how long has Berlusconi been the president? Since 2006 right? In that time what has he done?
Then how long has Berlusconi been the president? Since 2006 right? In that time what has he done?
President of Milan? Since he took over 20+ years ago.
President of Milan? Since he took over 20+ years ago.
No I meant took over the role of president full time because he was no longer the prime minister of Italy.
We got knocked out of the champions leagues, time to move on.
It happens to many great clubs every season, there can only be 2 teams in the final.
Milan have been in far worse situations in the past, serie b years ago, negative points last season, exclusion from uefa for an entire season due to complaints about floodlights.
If we finished 10th I would still support Milan. Yes, I would be dissappointed but there is always next season and one after that.
Yes some fresh faces are required in the summer and but a mass overall will cause more problems.
You saved me a lot of time here! I totally agree. Some here have got to learn how to enjoy and appreciate not only the good times for Milan but also the low moments. With all the high times and the low times since following this team back since 1987, I would not trade any other story for it. Let the Story be Told... let the story continue.
:) if u are a true fan of milan, you stand for them even when they make mistakes
hitmannq8
28-03-2008, 10:54
so who are you all cheering for in the CL? the games are next week, I know I wont be missing the Roma game for sure..hope they get their revenge back, they deserve it.
Roma shall make those english bastards see what Serie A is ;)
PS: I hope they can shut down C. Ronaldo and let him see why he isnt the best player in the world ;)
so who are you all cheering for in the CL? the games are next week, I know I wont be missing the Roma game for sure..hope they get their revenge back, they deserve it.
Don't need to state where my allegiance lie.
slicknick
31-03-2008, 15:24
Roma shall make those english bastards see what Serie A is ;)
PS: I hope they can shut down C. Ronaldo and let him see why he isnt the best player in the world ;)
I think Roma will certainly give United a run for their money, though I'm rooting for United...Sorry :smileani:
What a game! Easily the best game of the CL this season!!
Arsenal dominated the first 25 minutes through some nice passing and Liverpool hesitancy, though Reina should have been stronger with the first goal. Then Liverpool edged into it and what a fantastic header from Hyypia, curled into the top corner. After that it was mainly Liverpool until Half-Time.
Second half was i guess a bit more even though i think Liverpool shaded it. Then Torres produced a gem of a shot from nowhere, no chance for Almunia and the crowd went nuts. Back came Arsenal and Adebayor had a great chance but messed it right up!
Then some sloppy play by Liverpool (of which there was quite a lot it has to be said, though Arsenal weren't always that slick either) let Walcott go and people were too scared to tackle him and Adebayor made amends with a simple finish. Advantage Arsenal!
60 seconds later a penalty for Liverpool which Gerrard dispatched with confidence. I think it was a penalty, though Arsenal were unlucky that this was given and the one at the Emirates wasn't. However, you can't change the past and Arsenal tried again but Liverpool were just about in control, keeping it in the corners when they could.
Then another Arsenal attack lead to a clearance from Kuyt and it ended up being a sprint between Babbel & Fabregas, always one winner there. Babbel tucked it away neatly for a fine goal and that was the game won!
Amazing game, great for the neutral. Arsenal had the opportunity to really press Liverpool in the first half but they allowed them to get back in it. In the second half, for all Arsenal's neat play and threat, they only troubled Reina's goal 3 times (the Adebayor miss, his goal and once when Eboue got in the box and hit it wide) which isn't enough to win a match.
Arsenal were great at times but didn't make it count, while Liverpool suffered at times but also played some neat stuff of their own. Plus more importantly they took more of their chances which in the end is what it's all about.
Would be great if Roma could score 4 goals tonight like Liverpool :D
Looking at how the played in Rome, Roma could score 4 goals or at least 2 goals. They just couldn't finish the so-many chanches they've creat in Rome.
The only way for Roma to qualify is to score a goal early in the match ... again without Totti. I'm very pessimistic for them.
When you look at the first leg, actually, Roma could have score 3-4 goals, but the problem is that MU could have score 5-6 goals too (at the end: Carrick shot on the bar, Ronaldo volley, etc). And MU seemed strong in that match. So I'd like Roma to win and qualify, but I don't think they're enough strong to do it.
All I hope is a non-100% English final ... I never like European finals with 2 clubs from the same country.
Baggio10
11-04-2008, 15:59
The only way for Roma to qualify is to score a goal early in the match ... again without Totti. I'm very pessimistic for them.
When you look at the first leg, actually, Roma could have score 3-4 goals, but the problem is that MU could have score 5-6 goals too (at the end: Carrick shot on the bar, Ronaldo volley, etc). And MU seemed strong in that match. So I'd like Roma to win and qualify, but I don't think they're enough strong to do it.
All I hope is a non-100% English final ... I never like European finals with 2 clubs from the same country.
I can't see any posibilities for Barcelona to beat ManU
so this is gonna be IMHO an all English Final.
The only thing that still pisses me off is that some english fans and arsenal fans are saying that they beat us in San Siro bla bla, our team was exhausted and their condition wasn't even they were below average, if dont look at Pirlo but anyway we lost our record at home against english opposition. we came back next year HOPE ^^
My prediction is Manchester United Champion :5nana:
screw ManU
Barca shall win it all
I downloaded the game and must say it was quite an entertaining encounter indeed. I felt Arsenal probably could have and should have won the game with Adebayor's goal were it not for Senderos' incompetence. Also honorable mention go to Liverpoop who AGAIN get a controversial penalty to seal a game for them. *cough Istanbul cough* There was little to no contact there and if the minimal contact that might have taken place, took place outside the box. Horrible call.
Anyway I'll be rooting for Messi (not Barcelona) when he comes back from injury against Man U. Both Liverpool and Chelsea can get eliminated for all I care.
Baggio10
27-04-2008, 13:55
Also honorable mention go to Liverpoop who AGAIN get a controversial penalty to seal a game for them. *cough Istanbul cough* There was little to no contact there and if the minimal contact that might have taken place, took place outside the box. Horrible call.
That Remembers me Gerrard Gold medal Dive Award in Istanbul, and if u take a look in Pool's 2nd goal the goal that Dida's ate completely Baros and some other guy are Offside xD, and no mention to Shevchenko throw from Carragher or Hyppia that must be a Pk for Us. That Day Menjuto Glez screwed us xD.
Baggio10 very true, as much as everyone despises Chelsea I was happy to see them in the final and it was justice for what happened to us at Liverpool.
Even neutrals said Arsenal played them off the park in both legs.
Mainly after our elimination against Arsenal, then with the elimination of Arsenal too against Diverpool and the elimination of Roma against ManU, this CL had, has and will have no interest anymore !!
These semi-finals were horrible:
- both legs from Barca-MU were a lesson of "non-football" (in Camp Nou, a team of 11 defenders against 2-3 good Barcelona players, in Old Trafford, a team of 11 defenders against 1 amazing player) ;
- both legs from Diverpool-Chelski seemed to be made to show to the world how bad can be a game between 2 English teams ... (in Anfield, there was nothing interesting to watch, and in Stamford Bridge, wow, amazing, it looked like if we all came back in 80's-90's with no tactics in England, only long balls to forwards).
And that insipid final ... Chelski-MU, I don't know yet if I will watch it !!
The best would be that the team winning Premiership is losing the Champion's League final !!
I think you exaggerate a little Geo, Barca failed to score, but some of their are attacks were a football lesson for playing on the ground..
Also, with the Chelsea, game it's impossible to say that the game was beautiful, however the tension was there till the very last second..
I would love Chelsea to bore MU to death in the 1st half of the final, and then run them over in the 2nd :D
I think you exaggerate a little Geo
Just a little !! lol
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