SIENA-AC "MILAN" Sat. 15/09/07

Originally Posted by Jeff

I would simply say that we are drawing conclusions too early.

If Seedorf had scored the last freekick, I bet half of the pessimistic post and the cry for Ronaldo or our abhoration against Gila (1) and Dida (2) will be gone.

I would rather say that yesterday's game show how pathetic (once again) our crosses are, with virtually NONE reaching our strikers, not even close at all. To improve the situations there are several ways:

1) Play Ambro every game.
2) Train their crosses.
3) Striker's position.

How can Gattuso send in a better cross than Oddo in the SuperCup game is still beyond my understanding...

Yes, Seedorf have 2 unlucky freekick at crossbar, and our crosses were too bad. I dont remember whether Favalli can cross, Cafu can only cross near penalty area but he is too old to get there, his cross looked like a pass for opponent's CB and GK.

I did not know about the Gattuso's case, too

I think part of the reason Gila struggles to perform and crosses seem so worthless is actually due to the pace when moving the ball forward.

Gila particularly suffers as his positioning isn't anywhere near as good as Pippo's (who get's many goals drifting away from defenders) and his technique is nothing compared to Ronaldo (who has the ability to score even when surrounded), so usually by the time the ball reaches him, he's completely surrounded by defenders, especially if the opposition defend deep.

Crosses are the same too, as often by the time any of the fullbacks cross the opponents have pretty every blade of grass in their box covered against usually Gila/Pippo and sometimes one of the attacking midfielders.

Pirlo with his long passes and Kaka with his pace are both great to move the ball forward swiftly, which is why we don't often see the problem, but as shown yesterday the other players don't always do this.

This isn't to say they can't, for example Seedorf, who I was bitterly disappointed with as he was responsible to lead the attack in place of Kaka, has often shown good movement and swift passing. Favalli isn't bad going forward (if he was he wouldn't have scored a few last year) and Cafu despite his inability to run at players now does actually time his runs earlier so he's quite far up when players in the centre are looking for options.

However, our decisions to hold the ball at the halfway line for so long often give time to opponents to get back and organise.

We can utilise wide areas well and on a few occasions have done so, like Oddo against Genoa for Kaka's second goal, Janku on his goal made a great run against Sevilla and in the same match Rino and Pirlo were fantastic on Pippo's goal as Sevilla tried to push out and they got in behind thanks to a smart move by Pirlo and quick reactions from Rino.

If Seedorf had scored the last freekick, I bet half of the pessimistic post and the cry for Ronaldo or our abhoration against Gila (1) and Dida (2) will be gone.

Don't be too sure. Milan handily defeated Sevilla 3-1 and yet there was the usual mass hysteria over a goal that wasn't solely his fault.

Even if we'd won 10-1 yesterday, someone'll find something to raise objection about. We are a hard crowd to please.

Originally Posted by BMWTaylor

Don't be too sure. Milan handily defeated Sevilla 3-1 and yet there was the usual mass hysteria over a goal that wasn't solely his fault.

Even if we'd won 10-1 yesterday, someone'll find something to raise objection about. We are a hard crowd to please.

Certainly, certainly, but the reaction will at least be less negative. The fact that we are making a big fuss about Gilardino or Dida is NOT gonna help them, at all. While it's easy to bash them and say, 'ya you just suck', it's so much harder to say, "ya it's fine. Just don't make the same mistake next time"

Originally Posted by BMWTaylor

Don't be too sure. Milan handily defeated Sevilla 3-1 and yet there was the usual mass hysteria over a goal that wasn't solely his fault.

Even if we'd won 10-1 yesterday, someone'll find something to raise objection about. We are a hard crowd to please.

Originally Posted by Jeff

Certainly, certainly, but the reaction will at least be less negative. The fact that we are making a big fuss about Gilardino or Dida is NOT gonna help them, at all. While it's easy to bash them and say, 'ya you just suck', it's so much harder to say, "ya it's fine. Just don't make the same mistake next time"

This piety is tiresome...

Dida has been making mistakes for a long time now, and I am talking about howlers. I don't ask for much. I just ask for a modicum of consistency.

We can always put a positive spin on something, and I did with Gourcuff, Emerson and Gila. But Dida's error cost us the game, a game, btw, I am fully aware that we did not deserve to win.

Should a goalkeeper fill us with dread every time he dons the gloves? If he performed well in Athens, I am supposed to look the other way the whole season?

In all of this I feel the most sorry for our defence. They must know that in effect they are the last line of defence. That feeling must be very stressful.

I am making a big fuss about Dida because he still plays for us. Quite why is beyond me.

I'm so angery about this result we already lost 4 point
Glad Nesta scored other wise w'd lose the game

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Crosses are the same too, as often by the time any of the fullbacks cross the opponents have pretty every blade of grass in their box covered against usually Gila/Pippo and sometimes one of the attacking midfielders.

Even if a cross is somehow good, gila started to miss the whole ball with his head, totally unmarked. That happened 3 times in last 4 games... ball just goes by his swinging head. Dont know where his head is these days, but neither does he.

Originally Posted by Jeff

it's so much harder to say, "ya it's fine. Just don't make the same mistake next time"

Its not hard to say, its plain wrong to say it. Its not fine, draw against siena with gifted goal and a scrapped equaliser is far from fine (only if our goal is 4th place again?). Ofcourse, if we won you could laugh at his mistake, better to do it now than in a game that would matter. Hard on him, but it did matter in this game...

Wow.

What can I say? The team on Sat was terrible, and indeed, so were the two clowns on that "Keystone Cops" goal...Kala, though, in all honesty, doesnt make that many mistakes...and I think he was just in shock that Dida spilled that easy shot, and in his haste, miskicked...why he didnt take Dida´s head off, and save us a whole lot of bother, I dont kno.

I have to agree with Hasan here, that Dida simply isnt consistent enough to play for a big club like Milan...gone are the days it seems, when the goalie was the last player I would worry about performing...now everytime the opposition gets into the box, I start to sweat...

Add to that, Gila´s inability to score, and you have for me, (though its early days yet) the beginnings of a crisis. Luckily for us, a good number of results went our way (Viola drawing, Juve losing) so we are not waaaaay down in the table, but we must, simply must do better.

Our second 11 looks like what our 5th 11 should look like....and while Berlu and Galliani didnt want to "disturb the atmosphere" by bringing in new players, I am certain they are regretting that decision, after seeing this squalid performance by the European Champions.

What I saw on the pitch on Saturday was a side that was disinterested in the game at hand, and as is our tendancy, moved the ball in attack waaaay too slowly...allowing the defending team to get back into position...and with Gila alone up front....we made life difficult for ourselves.

Milan is a poor, relegation fodder team without Pirlo and Kaka, and I for one am glad that this was well demonstrated, while we were still able to steal a point from a game we had no business drawing, much less winning....

Galliani and Berlu have to do something in Jan...as we will be even more embarassed if injury/circumstance robs us of both Pirlo and Kaka again.

Simply put, Dida has to go, and as much as it pains me to say this as well, Gila should go (at least to the bench)as well, until he proves himself the Gila of Parma.


Now bring on Benfica, and Pirlo and Kaka!!

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

Milan is a poor, relegation fodder team without Pirlo and Kaka

Warro though I share your sentiments towards this match you really can't be serious with this comment.

Dev, what can I say? I had a whole day (Sunday) to think about how we played, and I did re-watch the match (saw it live, then delayed on FOX)...and while the statement is a bit too general, I would only amend it thus:

"Milan played vs Siena like a poor relegation fodder team without Pirlo and Kaka...."

Indeed, we were slow, predictable, and only when Gourcuff moved out wide, did we start to see some penetration....and that was after Ambro came in....

We had two men constantly in the box, which should have opened up some space just before it...but no one to dribble into it...Dev, I cant even continue to describe the crap I saw...I can only say that I am glad the match is over, and ecstatic we claimed a point from a match we deserved to lose.

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

Dev, what can I say? I had a whole day (Sunday) to think about how we played, and I did re-watch the match (saw it live, then delayed on FOX)...and while the statement is a bit too general, I would only amend it thus:

"Milan played vs Siena like a poor relegation fodder team without Pirlo and Kaka...."

Indeed, we were slow, predictable, and only when Gourcuff moved out wide, did we start to see some penetration....and that was after Ambro came in....

We had two men constantly in the box, which should have opened up some space just before it...but no one to dribble into it...Dev, I cant even continue to describe the crap I saw...I can only say that I am glad the match is over, and ecstatic we claimed a point from a match we deserved to lose.

I don't disagree at all, as my post match post pretty much says the same. What was disturbing about this performance was that it was very similar to the performances we were putting in during the first half of last season, which we cannot accept a repeat of....ever. In the end the match is over, and even if we had an undeserved 3 points at the end my sentiments wouldn't have changed, but for now, let's look ahead to our clash in an hour

Indeed Dev, indeed.