Milan vs Palermo (ALL comments)

Not sure if I wanted to start this thread, as we drew the last time I did...and a draw would hand the title to Juve....if they win vs their minnow opponents....

But, here we go vs the wonderfully pink clad Palermen....hmm so grateful I dont support that team...in my totally homophobic country, (rated as the most homophobic in the world...nothing to be proud of, but a reality nevertheless) wearing a pink jersey would be inviting a sure pelting with any hard material that could fit into the human hand...

I beg to differ with the preview from channel4....I dont see this as a must win game....I see next Wednesdays fixture as the only must win game we have left this season.

From:http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...5/mil-pal.html

(a very loose quote mind you... )Serie A Week 37 - 20/5/05 (20.30)
Milan - Palermo

Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

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Milan’s Friday night clash with Palermo at the San Siro is a must-win game. Although the club will probably have one eye on next week’s Champions’ League Final, Carlo Ancelotti knows that anything less than a win will see Juventus crowned champions. Palermo, on the other hand, are looking to secure a UEFA Cup berth and are still a few points away from doing so. But their recent form has seen them fail to win in six attempts.

Milan are forced to make one change from the side which drew 2-2 at Lecce. Max Ambrosini suffered a groin injury and is likely to miss the rest of the season, so Serginho takes his place in the team. Alessandro Nesta returns in place of Kakha Kaladze, with Paolo Maldini reverting to left-back. Pippo Inzaghi is also expected to start a second consecutive game given that Hernan Crespo is injured.

For Palermo, Giuseppe Biava comes back in place of Cristian Zaccardo. Prolific striker Luca Toni will be keen to impress given his recent links with Milan, after the Rossoneri looked to be priced out of a move for £35m man Alberto Gilardino.



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Milan: Dida; Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Maldini; Gattuso, Rui Costa, Serginho; Kaka; Shevchenko, Inzaghi

Palermo: Guardalben; Biava, Barzagli, Conteh; Santana, Barone, Corini, Grosso; Brienza, Zauli; Toni

Ref: Bought and paid for by Juve

How dare they suggest that we would field our strongest line up, when we have the UCL finals a few days thereafter!!!

I would lose ALL respect for Carlo were he to do something as foolish as what I see channel4 intimating....they cannot be serious....but, since they dont pick the team, I will endeavour to reduce my blood pressure, and relax, until I see the official line up from acmilan.com.....

Actually, I am surprised that someone even opened a thread for this game I mean seriously, who still cares about Serie A given that Juve have already won the title and we have a CL final several day after that.
Couldn't care less what is going to happen in this game as long as nobody gets injured.

You are absolutely right Warro Bantan. Let's wait until offical line-ups will be announced. I hope Carlo will make it rational.

Ancelotti should rest all the first 22 players.

My guess for a starting lineup would be something like this:

Dida - Cafu, Nesta, Costacurta, Kaladze - Brocchi, Dhorasso, Serginho, Rui Costa - Inzaghi, Tomasson.
Inzaghi will get 45 minues I think. I am not sure about Cafu or Nesta whether they will play. They were not selected last weekend...

Cafu and Nesta will not start, believe me. Im pretty sure Simic will play.


Whatever it is, I REALLY, REALLY hope Milan can please scrape a win out of this and let Juve win it by themselves. Think about it, if Juve dont win, the final day of the season would be superb.

Hope he reste every one.

We should play

Abbiati, Pancaro, Simic, Billy, Kaladze, Dharosso, Brocchi, Ancelotti, Tassotti, galliani and Berlusconi

We cant afford any injuries so even Dida, Rui, Serghino etc should be rested. maybe if we couldnt get the bosses playing a couple of youth team players could play. Oh i forgot Leonardo

Well it'd be a boring way to win the Scudetto if Milan didnt win this game. Good of Palermo to change the schedule and make the game on friday.

Originally Posted by K77SH C

Hope he reste every one.

We should play

Abbiati, Pancaro, Simic, Billy, Kaladze, Dharosso, Brocchi, Ancelotti, Tassotti, galliani and Berlusconi

We cant afford any injuries so even Dida, Rui, Serghino etc should be rested. maybe if we couldnt get the bosses playing a couple of youth team players could play. Oh i forgot Leonardo

That is the best starting lineup I have seen since posting on MM!

I agree 10000000000000000000000%! Hopefully Berlu and Galliani will forge the same winning partnership on the pitch as they have in the boardroom!

Indeed though, on a more serious note, all first teamers should be given the day off, just as our opponents, who have no other competitive fixture apart from their soon to be losing effort in the final, will.

...Abbiati...

Pancaro..Simic...Billy....Kaladze

Brocci....Dhorasoo....Serghino

.........Rui Costa........

...JDT.....Pippo....

Bench: Paolo Inzahgi, Clarence Dumbeldorf, Dode, Kaka(no accent on the "a"), Van Basten, Weah.

Intresting read from:http://football.guardian.co.uk/break...016598,00.html

Milan need win to stall Juventus title party
By Simon Evans
MILAN, May 19 (Reuters) - Juventus will secure their 28th Italian title without kicking a ball on Friday if their sole challengers AC Milan fail to beat Palermo at the San Siro stadium.
Juve go into the penultimate round of games in Serie A five points clear of Carlo Ancelotti's Milan and regardless of Friday's result would win the 'scudetto' with victory at Livorno on Sunday.
It would bring Juve coach Fabio Capello success with his third team in Italy following the titles he won with Milan and AS Roma. Capello also clinched a Spanish title during a brief spell with Real Madrid.
On paper Milan would normally be expected to beat Palermo but Ancelotti is unlikely to field a strong side given their slim chances in the league and the impending Champions League final against Liverpool in Istanbul on Wednesday.
It would be no surprise if most of the likely starting line-up for next week's final are rested against Palermo with the likes of Frenchman Vikash Dhorasoo and perennial reserve Cristian Brocchi given rare starts.
Also swinging the balance against a comfortable Milan win is the fact that Palermo have plenty of reason to give their all -- the Sicilians are currently sixth and fighting to hold on to a UEFA Cup qualification spot.
ANTI-CLIMAX
The entire second half of the season has been a neck and neck battle between defending champions Milan and Juventus but the Turin side have broken clear after Ancelotti's team stumbled in the final stages.
Juve's recent victory over Milan at the San Siro was the decisive moment in the campaign and there has been an air of anti-climax over the outcome since added to by Juve's self-imposed press ban.
Last week Milan were held to a 2-2 draw by Lecce while Juve comfortably beat Parma in Turin.
The only possible tension could come if Milan win and Juve fail to beat Livorno -- taking the race down to the final day of the season.
Even then the odds would be stacked against Milan.
They would return from Istanbul to face a tough match away to Udinese who are fighting for fourth place and Champions League qualification.
Juventus, who would have a full week of rest, have a relatively straightforward home match against midtable Cagliari.
This season, for the first time the Italian Football League has decided that the 'scudetto' - a small shield awarded to the winner's of the Serie A title -- will be presented on the field as soon as the outcome is determined.
But the attempt to replicate the celebrations seen at English grounds when the Premier League trophy is awarded could be thwarted if Juve win without kicking a ball.
Should Juventus win the man who will present them with the scudetto will be Football League president Adriano Galliani -- also president of Milan.

Originally Posted by K77SH C

Hope he reste every one.

We should play

Abbiati, Pancaro, Simic, Billy, Kaladze, Dharosso, Brocchi, Ancelotti, Tassotti, galliani and Berlusconi

We cant afford any injuries so even Dida, Rui, Serghino etc should be rested. maybe if we couldnt get the bosses playing a couple of youth team players could play. Oh i forgot Leonardo

:hah: ... how about breida in the heart of defence??/ ... breida, now thats a CBs name

maybe we could ask coloccini to come back just for this game

Im a little worried Berlu will sack Carlo if he doesnt pass him the ball

IL GIORNALE: Abbiati; Pancaro, Simic, Costacurta, Kaladze; Brocchi, Rui Costa, Dhorasoo, Serginho; Tomasson, Crespo.

CORRIERE DELLA SERA: Abbiati; Marzoratti, Simic, Costacurta, Pancaro; Brocchi, Rui Costa, Dhorasoo, Serginho; Tomasson, Crespo.

TUTTOSPORT, LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT, CORRIERE DELLO SPORT-STADIO & LA REPUBBLICA: Abbiati; Simic, Costacurta, Nesta, Pancaro; Brocchi, Rui Costa, Dhorasoo, Serginho; Tomasson, Crespo.

so the only doubts are at the back. the bench will include fiori, kaladze, inzaghi with the rest being primavera players.

i think nesta will play about 45 mins because his last game dates back to 8th may, which would have meant 17days without competitive action .. a lot. so i agree with carletto on this one.

crespo might play one half or about an hour. if he plays an hour and is substitited by pippo, that would be an indication that pippo is in the starting 11 on wed.

but frankly, if we consider that recently ancelotto has played more inzaghi than crespo, i would say that inzaghi is definitely in the starting 11 on wed. last crespo game is against PSV at the san siro. That was on the 26th of april! so it is crystal clear that pippo will partner sheva up front on wednesday. vai pippo!! i believe he will be decisive, in the same way that sheva was 2 years ago after coming from an injury-hit season (only 5 goals in league).

oh damn Id love to see a Primavera player play !

woooh

Just curious....if Milan were not to be in the running for the CL would you all still view the last games as pointless ? Or hope that the team fight with everthing they have, don't get me wrong I am quite aware of the prestige that comes with the CL title. I guess this is one part of the game that I don't understand. To be so willing to give up, why can't they have both ? There is 5 days betweens games afterall.