Inter - Milan [game comments]

Originally Posted by pirlo2004

At the end of the day the players play how the coach tells them too, i dont mean good or bad but positional from things like set pieces, your basicaly saying ignor what ancelotti says, when it comes to set pieces players are told where and when to stand and are pre warned before the game who to watch and who they'll be marking and the shape of the defence.. Not having players on the posts for corner kicks is just criminal and like it or not it comes from the training ground, its not an argument its a fact and the result of this is staring us all in the face, again i'd like to state i'm an ancelotti fan and dont call for his head because there is no one to replace him but something needs to be said or done - yeah we need more youthful defenders but set pieces is our main problem and thats down to coaching and expirience, and we have more than enough expirience so there's only 1 place the blame can lie.

so you're saying that carlo tells his players that on set pieces they should do nothing?!? you're making it sound like ancelotti is telling the players to be positioned in certain places and to not make a play on the ball. from what ive been watching the past two seasons, we let forwards get in front of us, and worse is that we get caught looking at the ball and let stupid rebounds (which is dida's fault) be shot in by the other team.
if you look closely, we give up too many rebounds and we never cover any forwards coming in for the shot. perhaps ancelotti should start treating them like kids and teach them the fundamentals. because to tell you the truth, its gatting to be fuking ridiculous. i was one to say that our defence was ok and that we didn't need to bring someone new. but it looks to me that we're too old and too slow.

forza milan!!!

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

Dida, Sheva, and Gattuso (to lesser extent) all deserve critique for this loss, but none more so than Dida, whose two mistakes, cost us two goals...

dida should have gotten a 1 because he was crap against inter. just against liverpool in the CL. maybe it was a mistake to loan abiatti to juve. he's doing a better job than dida.

cant belive im sayin this, because i always argue with my friends that milans defense is amazing, but its seriously time to fix the set piece issue, and its not like weve given up any goals by the other team giving a good pass and scoring, its always scrappy goals caused by slow defense and unawareness on setpieces

Originally Posted by Milan3869

so you're saying that carlo tells his players that on set pieces they should do nothing?!? you're making it sound like ancelotti is telling the players to be positioned in certain places and to not make a play on the ball. from what ive been watching the past two seasons, we let forwards get in front of us, and worse is that we get caught looking at the ball and let stupid rebounds (which is dida's fault) be shot in by the other team.
if you look closely, we give up too many rebounds and we never cover any forwards coming in for the shot. perhaps ancelotti should start treating them like kids and teach them the fundamentals. because to tell you the truth, its gatting to be fuking ridiculous. i was one to say that our defence was ok and that we didn't need to bring someone new. but it looks to me that we're too old and too slow.

forza milan!!!

Old and slow your defence may be but that is hardly of any use in set pieces! I agree that none of it plays a part in defending in set pieces. What does is experience, common sense and perhaps a physical advantage. Based on your post - even if Carlo does not 'coach' his players' positioning in set pieces - he would do very well to actually point out their mistakes, no? And seeing that its a repetitive mistake Milan is making you wonder if Ancelotti mentioned any of it at all. (I find that Toni's goal and Martins' is somewhat similar) I am not calling for Carlo's head yet as the season is still long and perhaps things will change; but just merely pointing out that this fault of Carlo's can be a deeper problem than you think.

Originally Posted by Milan3869

so you're saying that carlo tells his players that on set pieces they should do nothing?!? you're making it sound like ancelotti is telling the players to be positioned in certain places and to not make a play on the ball. from what ive been watching the past two seasons, we let forwards get in front of us, and worse is that we get caught looking at the ball and let stupid rebounds (which is dida's fault) be shot in by the other team.
if you look closely, we give up too many rebounds and we never cover any forwards coming in for the shot. perhaps ancelotti should start treating them like kids and teach them the fundamentals. because to tell you the truth, its gatting to be fuking ridiculous. i was one to say that our defence was ok and that we didn't need to bring someone new. but it looks to me that we're too old and too slow.

forza milan!!!

Point out where i said, "he tells them to do nothing".... i didn't, i said set plays are something that is practised in training, so obviously he's telling them to do something, but obviously not the right thing, you have to defend your posts on corners, even the Juventus supporter in here can see it happening, we have the best defenders in the world but tacticaly from set pieces we are crap, and for the 50th time thats is simple training ground stuff... now i kinda find it hard to cruticise Dida, as on his day he is in the top 3 in the world, remembering the champs league agains Inter he was the un sung hero, but imo i think he plays on confidence and at the moment his is totaly gone....... Do you think Juve would sell Buffon? lol

Dida´s problem has always been crosses, or rather the management thereof.

He either hesitates, which is often fatal, or comes too early or too late. He is a huge player physically, so he should feel confident in going for crosses in a packed box. All he has to do is fall theatrically, and the ref or linesman will blow for a foul on the keeper...

Maybe we need to look at our goalkeeping coach...and as for Abbiati...he had similar problems, but was very brave, however, I much rather Dida, who is a better shot blocker.

Milan need to really look at set piece defending, as I think 99% of the goals we have conceded, are from set pieces, either free kicks, or corners.

Now in football, set plays are inevitable. Especially with the poor coverage our midfield tends to give our defenders. Why a CB (eg Kaladze) has to charge out of the box, to tackle a player, (giving away the foul that really wasnt, but nevertheless, resulted in Dida not saving properly, and Martins reacting faster than our sleeping players) demonstrates this lack of coverage. A midfielder should have been present to help win that ball...

And I could go on and on...but lets not forget the poor officiating...I mean, for such a high profile match, this was poor reffing at best, and abysmal at worst.

Waaaay too many bad calls, and, as one of our players said, the ref wasnt running enough, to keep within proper range of the play.

So we have our weakness...so does every other team. We just have to ensure that we limit set piece opportunities for the opposition, and keep the ball, and FCS, score when opportunities present themselves.

On another point: Gila needs time to adapt. We also need to stop the lazy long ball...its sooooo easy to launch a ball upfield, but what happens more often than not is that we give the ball right back to the opposition.

It is unfortunate that there are only 3 subs, and not unlitmited subs in football as they are in basketball...as believe me, any player that kicked a long ball, when we have time and posession, which results in a turn-over...would be substituted, and given a long lecture by me(if I was the coach), then sent back in to see if he learned anything...but I am not a coach, nor do the rules allow this....

Further news to further ruin my day:

From theGuardian:

Nerazzuri revel as the new Masters of Milan

Juventus's 10-point lead may sound insurmountable, but as Inter have been reminding their neighbours all week, so did 3-0 in Istanbul, reports James Richardson

Adriano celebrates Inter's winner in the Milan derby. Photograph: New Press/Getty.

So abysmal is Inter's recent form against Milan that they have to borrow other clubs' players to taunt their neighbours. Sunday night's spectacular Milan derby opened with the curious sight of the entire Inter end covered in a huge, and hugely approximate, caricature of Jerzy Dudek with a red nose on. Above him came three scorelines; 3-1, 3-2, 3-3. In what turned out to be the first of many lost battles that night, the Milan end amazingly failed to respond - not even a mention of 'May 4, 2002', the day Inter threw away their best shot at the title in 13 years.

From the off Inter looked the hungrier team this time. Their more rested players swarmed at Milan, leaving the rossoneri struggling to find their customary footing and the normally rabid Gennaro Gattuso a bystander as Sebastian Veron (who'd borrowed his angry pills) and fellow countryman Esteban Cambiasso raged around the midfield. Twenty-three minutes in, the pressure paid off. A series of flicks and backheels from Cambiasso to Obafemi Martins to Adriano ended in the Brazilian firing a return pass straight at Alessandro Nesta in the heart of the Milan defence. Undaunted, Martins bundled over Nesta, who collapsed like an Inzaghi in a strong breeze. "Penalty!" shouted referee Domenico Messina, deciding the defender had touched the ball on the ground. Adriano stepped up to the spot, and, at 1-0, we were off.

Fifteen minutes later Messina evened the score with an equally controversial call. Andrea Pirlo's free-kick was fired straight into the Inter wall, slammed off Cambiasso on to the hand of Dejan Stankovic next to him, and the official blew up once more. Shevchenko made it 1-1 with his one decent kick of the game.

Milan were now growing in confidence, and by the start of the second half were showing flashes of their usual sumptuous passing game as they swept towards the Inter goal.

However, Messina wasn't finished. An Adriano run at the other end finished with the Brazilian stumbling over a pair of Milan players. Probably a free-kick, decided the ref. Adriano's powerful shot was then palmed by Milan keeper Dida straight back in front of goal, from whence a grateful Martins stuck it in the net. Two-one.

Now the pressure was all Milan's and shortly after Kaká's superb chance was deflected on to the woodwork, they finally made it 2-2. Pirlo this time floated a free-kick high into the Inter box, and a colossal leap from Jaap Stam saw the Dutchman head home the equaliser with seven minutes to go. There was little chance to celebrate though; Inter went back on the attack and, two minutes into injury-time, Adriano shook off some namby-pamby marking from day-before-yesterday's man Christian Vieri to head in his second and Inter's third, sealing a memorable 3-2 victory.

Now Inter have a player of their own to put on their banners. Recent years have seen the nerazzurri suffer continually at the hands of their neighbours - twice knocked out of the Champions League, and hammered 6-0 in one league derby - finally they can call themselves Masters of Milan. How long they can hold on to that title is anyone's guess, but for the moment the win sees them also inherit both Milan's second place and their role as Juve's official title rivals. Which, with Juve now 10 points clear, might sound an improbable task, but not to the fired up nerazzurri: "If we keep playing like this, we'll catch them!" promised Emporer Adriano post-game. Roberto Mancini agreed. "I've already won one title after catching up nine points on Juve, so I know it can be done," recalled the Inter manager. "Let's wait though till the halfway point of the season and see how much work there's left to do."

Let's not, decided the Gazzetta Dello Sport, who's giant 'Yes, Inter Believe They can Do It' headline on Tuesday must have made them titter over in Turin. After all, it's not just the 10-point gap, it's the fact that Juventus have won 14 of their 15 games so far (including a 2-0 dismissal of Inter at the Delle Alpi), a record which places them beyond even Chelsea in terms of domestic dominance. It's the fact that they're the top scorers, and stingiest defenders too. Short of them suddenly hiring Kevin Keegan as manager, prising the Italian title from their steely grip sounds inconceivable - as Silvio Berlusconi has already conceded, and his Milan side are only a point behind Inter. Still, as his opposite number at Inter, Massimo Moratti wisely reflects: "In this life, you never know". Ten points may sound like an insurmountable lead, but as Inter themselves were reminding their neighbours on Sunday, so did 3-0 in Istanbul.

Stuff like this is KILLING ME!!!! But the sad thing is, that the truth hurts....

Well, it must be said that a big part of the defeat lies in the fact that we missed Maldini and Cafu. And Messina's decisions were also idiotic, Inter's first two goals came as a result of his wrong calls. He screwed Inter too occasionally, but we were hurt more by his idiotic display.

Anyway, it's crystal clear that Juve is running off with the Scudetto. Our only hope relies in UCL. I think Carlo knows it too. If we don't win the CL trophy then it's probably goodbye for him in the summer. I doubt if Berlu would forgive him 2 seasons in a row without a major trophy.

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

Dida´s problem has always been crosses, or rather the management thereof.

He either hesitates, which is often fatal, or comes too early or too late. He is a huge player physically, so he should feel confident in going for crosses in a packed box. All he has to do is fall theatrically, and the ref or linesman will blow for a foul on the keeper...

Maybe we need to look at our goalkeeping coach...and as for Abbiati...he had similar problems, but was very brave, however, I much rather Dida, who is a better shot blocker.

Milan need to really look at set piece defending, as I think 99% of the goals we have conceded, are from set pieces, either free kicks, or corners.

Now in football, set plays are inevitable. Especially with the poor coverage our midfield tends to give our defenders. Why a CB (eg Kaladze) has to charge out of the box, to tackle a player, (giving away the foul that really wasnt, but nevertheless, resulted in Dida not saving properly, and Martins reacting faster than our sleeping players) demonstrates this lack of coverage. A midfielder should have been present to help win that ball...

And I could go on and on...but lets not forget the poor officiating...I mean, for such a high profile match, this was poor reffing at best, and abysmal at worst.

Waaaay too many bad calls, and, as one of our players said, the ref wasnt running enough, to keep within proper range of the play.

So we have our weakness...so does every other team. We just have to ensure that we limit set piece opportunities for the opposition, and keep the ball, and FCS, score when opportunities present themselves.

On another point: Gila needs time to adapt. We also need to stop the lazy long ball...its sooooo easy to launch a ball upfield, but what happens more often than not is that we give the ball right back to the opposition.

It is unfortunate that there are only 3 subs, and not unlitmited subs in football as they are in basketball...as believe me, any player that kicked a long ball, when we have time and posession, which results in a turn-over...would be substituted, and given a long lecture by me(if I was the coach), then sent back in to see if he learned anything...but I am not a coach, nor do the rules allow this....

I like your point about the lazy long ball, i've noticed it too in recent games and was supposed to ask about that somewhere, why have we started doing that? we totaly by pass our midfield when we do and give the ball straight back, where as when we were playing well it was passes along the ground starting from the back, then on to our midfield who would then calve open the defense to the forewards, or open a gap for themselves, so does anyone know why this has changedor is it an overall show of the lack of confidence we seem to have at the moment?

I remember January 6, 2004. We went to the Olimpico to play Roma. We were 2nd in the table by a diff of 3 points. When we played Roma, it was arguably the best performance Milan has played under Ancelotti. After that day, to the end of the season (except a Champions league vs Deportivo, and a Coppa italia fixture against Lazio) we played UNBELIEVABLY well, and VERY attractive football.. we had almost 10 chances a game, and scored a lot of goals while having the best defence in Serie A by far..

We collected 22 points out of a possible 24 from Roma,Juve,Inter,Lazio. We only dropped points vs Juve at the San Siro because we were not that perfect. I remember JDT gave us the lead only for Di viao to equalise.

Anyway, that season we played absolutely perfect. Cafu's runs down the right, Pirlo's unbelievable passes/vision. Sheva's form was outstanding. JDT was so very useful to us as he scored in almost every game he came on as a sub. Gattuso was a beast. Maldini-Nesta were amazing in the middle. Pancaro had his best season ever in his career. It was Kaka's first year for Milan and we all know how great he was.

I mention all that because I have hope that we might hit form this January. I really wish for that to happen. True the difference between us and Juve in the scudetto is 11 points, but we have nothing to lose right? We r in 4th place! i think the players should play as if they've got nothing to lose, that will most likely relieve them from the pressure, which just might lead them to playing some wonderful football as they are used to...

have some faith guys we have had a terrible last month, and every team has to go thru bad form once in the season at leastt!! but to be honest I think this is the best time for it to happen..we only lost in Serie A! We r still running for the Champions League! Hopefully we wont go thru any more bad forms this year.. Does anyone remember last year? We really had a good year, we got really exhausted at the LAST month of the season, May, and we did not win ONE game in may! And we lost both the scudetto and the champions league in may!!! Juve/Barca/Chelsea teams like these have been in great form all through the year, that is why i have this big feeling that they will lose their form when it counts.. during the knock-out stages of champions league..


anyway, my main point of all that is that WE SHUD NOT GIVE UP! that is a problem with Milan fans.. when we go 1-goal down, we sit in the stadium and keep our mouths shut! I mean, WTF???? Why do we only support them when they are winning??.. In istanbul, We were 3-0 up at half time.. every single liverpool fan was singing at half time the "We will never walk alone" anthem and then at the end they all shouted "WE WILL WIN FOUR-THREE" 3 times.. Look at the difference!! We must support the team through good in bad.. I believe all this team needs is support from their fans to boost their confidence and morale!!

Everyone here should be shouting FORZA MILAN! instead of biatching about bringing in Cicinho,balack,alex,frey,reveilliere,sneijder,cassano and all that! Leave the transfers job for our directors to handle, all we can do is support the team! Believe you me, Milan will return to winning ways come January, all they need is a little boost in morale. Now I expect everyone to say:

FORZA MILAAAAAAAAAN!

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

We also need to stop the lazy long ball...its sooooo easy to launch a ball upfield, but what happens more often than not is that we give the ball right back to the opposition.

It is unfortunate that there are only 3 subs, and not unlitmited subs in football as they are in basketball...as believe me, any player that kicked a long ball, when we have time and posession, which results in a turn-over...would be substituted, and given a long lecture by me(if I was the coach), then sent back in to see if he learned anything...but I am not a coach, nor do the rules allow this....

The player who is usually sending these long balls forward is Pirlo. But the problem is not with Pirlo. The problem is that far too often we find ourselves with no option other than to give the ball to Pirlo and hope he can cut open the oppositions defence. IMO we are really missing the contributions of Cafu. When he is playing and is on form he always gives the team the added dimension in attack. What he gives going forward is something we are sorely missing. I hope he will be back soon!

Not to worry like a phoenix Milan will rise from the ashes of this defeat and bring back the glory days. The scudetto wasn't lost in one night, it was a combination of terrible events. I would prefer we not dwell on this loss much longer and progress forward and capture #7!

FORZA CAFU! FORZA MILAN!

Originally Posted by roy_lo81

I am not used to complaining, but this has made me sick!
All those three (two) goals came from controversial incidents..

1. The penalty kick
Clearly! Clearly, it was NOT a penalty kick. Martin? pushed Nesta, the referee though Nesta was trying to stop the ball with his arms??

2. The free kick taken by Adriano, that later rebounded by Martin
It was a clean tackle by Kaladze, he even got a yellow card for it?? A free kick should NOT have been given!

3. The corner
I am not sure about this one as I didn't have a chance to watch a replay, could someone check it for me?
I think the ball was touched by an Inter player at the last time, so it should NOT have been a corner!

Now we are 4th, we have to bounce back quickly, and beautifully!
Forza Milan!

GALLIANI: ‘Don’t understand why Inter can still hope for the league title and we can’t’
12/13/2005
MILAN - Adriano Galliani spoke with journalists upon his arrival at the Football League meeting, ... A goal conceded in a last minute corner kick, which by the way shouldn't have been awarded, doesn’t change the destiny of a team. ...’


It is confirmed, all those 3 goals started from the referee's mistakes!!

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

But this loss isnt Carlo´s fault. It is a result of not having enough "grit"..."enough fight"...of the players thinking that since we have won for three years, we had this one in the bag as well.

To blame Carlo for this loss is to me, unfair, and a knee jerk reaction. Berlu, who from his throne can proclaim: "We are out of the scudetto race"...knows of all people, he is most at fault, and I am glad for once, that he hasnt made the coach the scapegoat, though I fear for Carlo if he doesnt win the CL.

THANK YOU! Gosh you seem to be amongst the very few who actually knows what the heck this is all about!
I didnt use the entire quote as I may have some few if any disagreements with it. Overall I did agree with most of what you had written in that post. I just wish the fans wouldnt be so erratic in their emotions. It's like checking into a mental ward and see if the medication has kicked in cause on one day everything is all nice and honkeydory and the next day its friggin insanity! Keep up the good work Warro and always keep that straight head of yours on.

Thanks Kui...it helps to keep my head straight by looking through "green" tinted lenses!

Carlo will pretty much be gone by the end of the year BUT... if he can manage to pull a comeback (not necessarily to win the title but say at least get better than Inter which, of course, will happen) + getting into the final of CL... then the case will be different. This is because notcie that the management are not yet ready to put the blame on anyone, not dida, not the coach. Why? Self-conscious that they made a mistake in transfer? Or because they are optimistic?

In any case, Ancelotti is here to stay at least for 6 other months so STOP talking about sacking Carlo and hire someone else which, let me tell ya, won't solve any problems we are having right now with the defense.

I'm still longing for Ambrosini to come back. I think, given the team's morale + situation, his comeback (and sub a emotionally-driven Gattuso) will give a sense of calmness instilled to the team, which is now very important.