Milan-Cagliari (22nd of February)

I wasn't able to watch the game but if someone did, I would really like to know the reason for Pirlo's brilliance. Goal.com says it's due to Janku's ability as a natural LM to make runs down the left, something that Ambrosini fails to give.

However Pirlo also made runs which he doesn't seem to do anymore. What was different today? Can someone please elaborate on his performance?

Originally Posted by boring

I wasn't able to watch the game but if someone did, I would really like to know the reason for Pirlo's brilliance. Goal.com says it's due to Janku's ability as a natural LM to make runs down the left, something that Ambrosini fails to give.

However Pirlo also made runs which he doesn't seem to do anymore. What was different today? Can someone please elaborate on his performance?

Well it was a completyl different formation, 5 midfielders, one attacking midfielder. He seemed in a more free role this time around, since he had Flamini beside him, and he wasn't really the deep playmaker. So he was more free to make forward runs, as oposed to the normal Christmas tree where sometimes looks more like a Libero than a midfielder, and the two midfielders besides him runs forward. At first i actually thought that Pirlo was an attacking midfielder, which wouldn't be to unlikely since he used to play that role.

pirlo RAN on the left, on the right, he MOVED with the ball, and he did a lot of changes between CM, LCM and AM, ... his passes and accuracy of his long balls with his left foot are the same as his passes with his favorite right foot, brilliant , he didn't lose the ball in the defense like he always does.... and he DRIBBLED trough cagliari players like ronaldinho or kaka would do... and actually, instead losing the ball, he TOOK the ball from cagliari players 2 or 3 times, and made a wonderful half-counter attacks with his passing ability....
and, in 2 or 3 occasions he actually came in the shooting position, and shot near the goal....

highlights anyone?

Pirlo had a pretty great game. This game unlike the others, however, was more open and Cagliari didn't put everyone in their half like the other teams we have faced. I don't really think Pirlo can play the same role in future games as there is usually a lot tighter marking giving him a lot less room. I actually thought he was playing alongside Seedorf as well when the match began.

Some observations:
That was 3 points but a terrible way of earning 3 points.
We were lucky to not be down by a goal or even 2 in the first half.
Why all the crosses? Our play runs down the wings and guess who is in the box, Pippo. He may be super but not tall...seriously.
Seedorf gave the ball away so many times when he could have made the short pass I wanted to cry.
Ambro for Pippo, seriously?
Beckham can only go for 65, 70 minutes tops. After that he becomes very accident prone.
Why is it everytime I watch Flamini I think he is very close to getting a straight red? He needs to work on his technique and be a lot less reckless.
Carlo let's finally try a sub before the 75th minute. You could seriously see a drop in energy from the 60th to the 70th minute. Our goal was a lucky one too and we were not threatening.
Give Pirlo room and he goes from okay to pretty good. Give Pirlo room and move him up the pitch like you know to the midfield finally and he goes from okay to great.
Today made me realize just how great Pato is and how much he changes the dynamic of the game when he plays. I know it's far, but this guy is going to be an absolute monster next season.
I am beginning to like Favalli.

Pirlo simply was the player we all knew in 2006, he was involved in almost all of the attacking plays we had, starting from runs into the box, accurate passes and great tackling/defending....
Abbiati was once again brilliant...
I actually love this formation, but instead of Seedorf and Inzaghi, i'd like to see Kaka and Pato, great stuff, and lots of goals i suppose, especially when we counter!

http://ac-milan-football-highlight.blogspot.com/

low quality and not a good highlights video, but its ok for now

So, guess the people who want Pirlo out of Milan have something interesting to think about.

Good to see Flamini start a game.

I don't want Pirlo out of Milan but let's not get ahead of ourselves. One good performance out of a number of lacklustre ones won't quickly change anyone's mind. He needs to keep up the running/movement and not play as a third CD as he does sometimes.

Originally Posted by Mystik

I don't want Pirlo out of Milan but let's not get ahead of ourselves. One good performance out of a number of lacklustre ones won't quickly change anyone's mind. He needs to keep up the running/movement and not play as a third CD as he does sometimes.

There is no doubt Pirlo is one of the few true performers in our squad. Today showed that tweaking the system will allow our REAL performers to actually perform. Thats if Galliani stops playing fantasy football.

We Won _ still no hope of the scudetto it seems _ and well all this did really was make sure were 3 points ahead of viola _ in the cl running spots

Does anyone know who passed that long ball into Pippo, that caused the defensive error that led to the goal?

pippo goal is illegal. there is a foul on Lopez by Inzaghi, he is pushed by pippo. sorry, it isn't a regular score.

either Pirlo or Maldini
it came from our half

Originally Posted by ginoformaggino

pippo goal is illegal. there is a foul on Lopez by Inzaghi, he is pushed by pippo. sorry, it isn't a regular score.

he was tackled by his own GK