Samaldinho

Samaldinho · 29-03-2010, 19:04

While people blame Galliani (why, I don't know) I think really the question is whether Berlusconi decides that he is willing to spend money or not. That seems to be the deciding factor here, I don't think Galliani has a track record for wasting money when he has it, especially in comparison to Inter and Juve, over the years.

The idea that this team needs some massive overhaul only gets loud after a disappointing result. However, despite the miss from Abate, I have to say that I was happier with his first real shift as a midfielder than I was with his first shift as a RB. I think he's a very raw player, that will either serve a (important) Serghino-type function, or I honestly think he has the engine and work-rate to partner Flamini in our midfield in the future. Milan bringing in more players like Abate is one of the things that we need to improve the squad.

Milan being linked with random players, like Torres, doesn't embarrass us. I don't see that at all, if you look at the narrative, the "theme" that the media and people like to use for different people, clubs, etc, it just seems that everyone likes the story of Milan falling. Even when we are kicking ass, there are those who are determined to write that we are falling and terrible and that us being where we are was an accident.

Astori is bad because he's coming to Milan, if he was an Inter or Juve player, it'd be another example of who we are missing. I'm not sure if we get to watch Astori play against us next week, but, we'll get to see our boy. I don't think one game is what you need to understand a player, but, again, it'll be useful to paint a better picture of him as a player.

The funny part of many arguments against Milan, is that its really our defense is the problem. Even with the Derby games, we have only concedes one more goal than Inter, 28 goals to 29. If our defense is so poor, Zambro, Antonini, Abate, etc, why are we doing so well in defense? It wasn't just this year. Last year, too. In fact, the last time we had a really poor defensive record was when we were 5th. Before and after that, we have and still do have, one of the best defenses in Serie A.

So, what has been the problem? Clearly, our loss of points in the scudetto chase has coincided with our loss of our scoring touch. That is the big difference, and that is really at the core of Milan's issues and it really goes back to the sale of Sheva. Sheva, as a player, was not the issue; Sheva's goals were more important. That is not to say that Sheva wasn't a great player, he most certainly was, but, it was the scoring that he provided, that was luckily picked up by Kaka (for a little bit) that has made Milan what it is.

You can say "static" midfield, or that there isn't enough "hunger" or whatever. The facts are the facts. We don't score enough goals, and that's because we don't have the sort of production from strikers to back that up. Milito, Etoo, and Balotelli have between them 18, 10, and 7 goals in Serie A. Pato, Ronaldinho, and Borriello have 12, 9, and 9. That's a big difference, and when you consider how many goals of Milan are created by Ronaldinho alone, it brings into sharp reality what our major problem is: goal scoring.

You can talk about all sorts of other crap, old players, speed, static, Galliani and Berlusconi worshipping Satan and praying to Satan that Milan fans waste their money so they can laugh and watch Milan explode, but there is a simple fact here. We aren't scoring ugly, crappy, goals. They count the same, believe me, I've checked. You don't get 1.5 goals for a Borriello volley, its still 1. We are not scoring ugly, crappy goals, and that's because we don't have a player, like Milito, Sheva, etc who will just score. Half-chances, volleys, bicycle, tap-ins, whatever, just goals. Inzaghi has shown bursts of it, and if you think that Inter is just destroying teams every week, then you haven't watched Inter play. Man Utd doing that in the EPL is not the same, even Mourinho says that Serie A is much tougher, that top teams just don't come in and roll-over 5-1 winners over their "Wolves" or "West Ham" teams.

Even with Nesta out, our defense in Serie A has held together. Favalli has played very well the last few games, and I don't hear anyone say anything nice about him. Yes, we shouldn't be relying on him, but when Bonera, Nesta, and Onyewu are all injured, and Kaladze is as terrible as he is, aren't you happy that old man Favalli can still play?

Even with "average" Abate and Antonini who aren't "fit to start for a club like Milan," we have one of the best defenses out there. We used players like Simic, Pancaro, and Serginho as our FBs for long stretches when we were destroying teams a few seasons ago. So, don't give me this BS about those players being "bad for Milan," because Antonini has shown that he is a great asset to this club and has really played well. Abate, considering he's never played as a RB before, has done a great job. The numbers speak for themselves.

If you look at the amount of points we've dropped in the last few games, its not that we've concede goals, lost 3-4, or anything. We haven't scored more than 1 goal. The last time we scored more than one goal was in the 3-1 win over Atalanta in February. So, if you think the team is bad, terrible, bad ideas, blah blah blah. Go ahead, drive yourself insane with your convictions. However, if you take a step back, look at how Milan has actually played with drive, trying to win games in the second half, even with old players, you'll notice that all teams need that player to provide consistent, unfancy sources of goals.

That is why people want Dzeko and that is why we bought Huntelaar. Huntelaar was supposed to be goals, and so was Borriello. Turns out Huntelaar and Serie A don't mix, and Borriello loves missing chances. So, the more you are convinced that Milan should be beating teams 5-0 by the 30th minute, than the more you don't remember how teams win league championships. They are won and lost by ugly games, games you don't deserve to win, but win 2-0. Look at Dzeko's last game with Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg played like garbage until Dzeko scored two late goals, done.

I just hope that we can focus on what's really important, and also, realize that we actually have a team worth cheering for and that change, while slow and not to any of our liking, is still happening, and Leonardo is a big part of it. So stop crying and stop acting like we are Juventus, we're actually still a good team.

It's not being an "optimist" that makes me think this way, its actually me being a realist. The quicker we look at our team and realize what they've done and are doing, the quicker we can realize that the management under Leonardo and Galliani, has done pretty well, especially considering the circumstances.

29-03-2010, 19:04	#11
Samaldinho Registered User Join Date: 04 2004	While people blame Galliani (why, I don't know) I think really the question is whether Berlusconi decides that he is willing to spend money or not. That seems to be the deciding factor here, I don't think Galliani has a track record for wasting money when he has it, especially in comparison to Inter and Juve, over the years. The idea that this team needs some massive overhaul only gets loud after a disappointing result. However, despite the miss from Abate, I have to say that I was happier with his first real shift as a midfielder than I was with his first shift as a RB. I think he's a very raw player, that will either serve a (important) Serghino-type function, or I honestly think he has the engine and work-rate to partner Flamini in our midfield in the future. Milan bringing in more players like Abate is one of the things that we need to improve the squad. Milan being linked with random players, like Torres, doesn't embarrass us. I don't see that at all, if you look at the narrative, the "theme" that the media and people like to use for different people, clubs, etc, it just seems that everyone likes the story of Milan falling. Even when we are kicking ass, there are those who are determined to write that we are falling and terrible and that us being where we are was an accident. Astori is bad because he's coming to Milan, if he was an Inter or Juve player, it'd be another example of who we are missing. I'm not sure if we get to watch Astori play against us next week, but, we'll get to see our boy. I don't think one game is what you need to understand a player, but, again, it'll be useful to paint a better picture of him as a player. The funny part of many arguments against Milan, is that its really our defense is the problem. Even with the Derby games, we have only concedes one more goal than Inter, 28 goals to 29. If our defense is so poor, Zambro, Antonini, Abate, etc, why are we doing so well in defense? It wasn't just this year. Last year, too. In fact, the last time we had a really poor defensive record was when we were 5th. Before and after that, we have and still do have, one of the best defenses in Serie A. So, what has been the problem? Clearly, our loss of points in the scudetto chase has coincided with our loss of our scoring touch. That is the big difference, and that is really at the core of Milan's issues and it really goes back to the sale of Sheva. Sheva, as a player, was not the issue; Sheva's goals were more important. That is not to say that Sheva wasn't a great player, he most certainly was, but, it was the scoring that he provided, that was luckily picked up by Kaka (for a little bit) that has made Milan what it is. You can say "static" midfield, or that there isn't enough "hunger" or whatever. The facts are the facts. We don't score enough goals, and that's because we don't have the sort of production from strikers to back that up. Milito, Etoo, and Balotelli have between them 18, 10, and 7 goals in Serie A. Pato, Ronaldinho, and Borriello have 12, 9, and 9. That's a big difference, and when you consider how many goals of Milan are created by Ronaldinho alone, it brings into sharp reality what our major problem is: goal scoring. You can talk about all sorts of other crap, old players, speed, static, Galliani and Berlusconi worshipping Satan and praying to Satan that Milan fans waste their money so they can laugh and watch Milan explode, but there is a simple fact here. We aren't scoring ugly, crappy, goals. They count the same, believe me, I've checked. You don't get 1.5 goals for a Borriello volley, its still 1. We are not scoring ugly, crappy goals, and that's because we don't have a player, like Milito, Sheva, etc who will just score. Half-chances, volleys, bicycle, tap-ins, whatever, just goals. Inzaghi has shown bursts of it, and if you think that Inter is just destroying teams every week, then you haven't watched Inter play. Man Utd doing that in the EPL is not the same, even Mourinho says that Serie A is much tougher, that top teams just don't come in and roll-over 5-1 winners over their "Wolves" or "West Ham" teams. Even with Nesta out, our defense in Serie A has held together. Favalli has played very well the last few games, and I don't hear anyone say anything nice about him. Yes, we shouldn't be relying on him, but when Bonera, Nesta, and Onyewu are all injured, and Kaladze is as terrible as he is, aren't you happy that old man Favalli can still play? Even with "average" Abate and Antonini who aren't "fit to start for a club like Milan," we have one of the best defenses out there. We used players like Simic, Pancaro, and Serginho as our FBs for long stretches when we were destroying teams a few seasons ago. So, don't give me this BS about those players being "bad for Milan," because Antonini has shown that he is a great asset to this club and has really played well. Abate, considering he's never played as a RB before, has done a great job. The numbers speak for themselves. If you look at the amount of points we've dropped in the last few games, its not that we've concede goals, lost 3-4, or anything. We haven't scored more than 1 goal. The last time we scored more than one goal was in the 3-1 win over Atalanta in February. So, if you think the team is bad, terrible, bad ideas, blah blah blah. Go ahead, drive yourself insane with your convictions. However, if you take a step back, look at how Milan has actually played with drive, trying to win games in the second half, even with old players, you'll notice that all teams need that player to provide consistent, unfancy sources of goals. That is why people want Dzeko and that is why we bought Huntelaar. Huntelaar was supposed to be goals, and so was Borriello. Turns out Huntelaar and Serie A don't mix, and Borriello loves missing chances. So, the more you are convinced that Milan should be beating teams 5-0 by the 30th minute, than the more you don't remember how teams win league championships. They are won and lost by ugly games, games you don't deserve to win, but win 2-0. Look at Dzeko's last game with Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg played like garbage until Dzeko scored two late goals, done. I just hope that we can focus on what's really important, and also, realize that we actually have a team worth cheering for and that change, while slow and not to any of our liking, is still happening, and Leonardo is a big part of it. So stop crying and stop acting like we are Juventus, we're actually still a good team. It's not being an "optimist" that makes me think this way, its actually me being a realist. The quicker we look at our team and realize what they've done and are doing, the quicker we can realize that the management under Leonardo and Galliani, has done pretty well, especially considering the circumstances.