Milan-Cagliari (22nd of February)

No Ace Pippo pushed the defender in the back...it was clear via the replays.

what a papethic game, worse game I have seeing in years...no comment

Originally Posted by _Ace

he was tackled by his own GK

ace, it's a clear Inzaghi foul, no way.

Originally Posted by honsano

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.

He got the technique, I think it was obviously due to lack of playing time, this was the first time he played 90 min. in 2 consecutive matches.. (correct me if Im wrong) if he played more regularly, I believe his timing would be much better..

Go Flamini !

Only 6 pages so far? Boy, I don't remember any serie-A games with fewer pages than this one. But considering our display that bored me to death, I think I can understand.

Originally Posted by Nalx

Only 6 pages so far? Boy, I don't remember any serie-A games with fewer pages than this one. But considering our display that bored me to death, I think I can understand.

Even otherwise, MM has been slow for the past few days..

IS it me or is Pirlo really becoming Seedorf, someone who is only good in 1 out of 4 games or so.

I know Pirlo did well today but Caligari did not play tight defense like other teams.

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

IS it me or is Pirlo really becoming Seedorf, someone who is only good in 1 out of 4 games or so.

Nope, I've noticed it too, buddy. And IMO that's whats been going on these past 2-3 years. In fact, I've never seen Pirlo played like himself after the WC. And contrary to what most of MM said here, I don't think he played that well last night.

He didn't make suicidal mistake, but he didn't do anything special either. With Seedorf playing as clumsily as usual, and Marek's crosses reach his usual standard, I understand why Pippo looked so frustrated when Carletto substituted him.

Don't know what you guys are on about. Pirlo has been solid every game since christmas, he's not as flashy as today, but come on, he shouldn't be with Kaka, Pato, Seedorf in the team. Also he's become better defensively in Gattuso's absence it seems.

I wasn't particularly impressed by the team in yesterday's win, but am glad we won. We clearly missed the cutting edge and pace of Pato and Kaka up front and it showed in our attacking play. For me the biggest improvement was Pirlo played in the way he needs to play, with freedom to move and create as he can.

The game on the whole was a fairly dull affair. I gave most of my thoughts on the first half during HT, where essentially Seedorf was simply shocking, Janku and Beckham needed to support in attack a little more, the defence wasn't closing down Cagliari too well and our tempo was too slow.

We improved in the second half where Seedorf slightly raised his game and we tried to player higher up the pitch. I really don't have much else to say if I'm honest, the game was dull and very little actually happened.

Players...

Abbiati - Excellent, made some crucial saves
Zambrotta - Good workrate, but his distribution wasn't too great yesterday.
Bonera - Not brilliant before being subbed, just hope the injury's not too serious
Maldini - At times lost his man, could have done better
Favalli - Our best defender yesterday, did reasonably well at LB
Flamini - He isn't as precise as Rino in his tackling (that said, Rino is actually brilliant in timing his tackles), and a little sloppy on the ball at times, but his workrate and pressing make a big difference in midfield. He's much better than Ambro.
Pirlo - MOM for me and without doubt looking like he had something important to contribute. I actually felt he was let down by those around him. Carlo needs to give him this kind of freedom more often.
Janku - He did reasonably well down the left, again showing he's a LM not a LB.
Beckham - At times he did reasonably well, but he wasn't always playing at a consistent level through the match before coming off.
Seedorf - Shocking, there's no other word for him. I don't care if he scored the winner quite frankly, he deserves no credit.
Inzaghi - Often isolated up front without enough coming his way.
Senderos - Did his job.
Ambro - Did what he came on for up front, out of position.

I don't really understand this fuss surrounding Pirlo. Since the Udinese match in December, he has been our most consistent performer barring Pato. He's struggled at times, but he's played in a way that restricts his strengths. In the same way Kaka struggles with Dinho as he can't move out left and is restricted in the centre or right, Pirlo struggles when he's our last man in midfield with little chance to move around the pitch. Yesterday, Flamini covered for Pirlo well, as well as Janku or Beckham often supporting defensively meaning Pirlo had less shackles tactically while playing.

I will use the same argument I've used in the past about Pirlo. In 2009 we saw what we're like without him when facing Reggina (I doubt anyone was impressed). It can be argued we did well without him during the first half of the season, but we must look at how many of our victories were (1-0 or 2-1 often with a Dinho set piece or a penalty saving us). We wouldn't have maintained positive results with the way we were playing. We also must consider when our best performances were this year, for example Lazio, Udinese or Bologna, in two of which Pirlo played an important part.

Few will argue Pirlo utilized correctly is a major bonus for our side. It's the same with Kaka, Pato, Janku and Flamini. However, rarely are we seeing our play utilizing these players. We need to move forward quickly and play higher up the pitch if we're to use Kaka's and Pato's pace. Pirlo needs freedom if he is to create as he can, and not get marked out of games by opponents. We need to play Flamini if he is to become our next great ballwinner and Janku must be used in midfield if he is to show his strengths in his workrate and running rather his defensive weaknesses.

As long as 3pts
I dont think I like this match. Carlo simply not tried to put some effort when we lacked players who could attacking well. Lucky Abbiati played well. Few more outstanding saves I think will make him soon as number one in Italy. Pirlo was having his night. I think he contributed well in attacking and defending. Few chances by Acquafresca made me nervous too. And luckyly Seedorf could break the dead end. So we still managed in 3rd place and handled the full energy Cagliari at the end. But not an impressive game for me but for sure an important points

Originally Posted by MLM

Few more outstanding saves I think will make him soon as number one in Italy.

I'm sure you're joking. Not that Buffon is untouchable but he's way ahead of Abbiati.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

I don't really understand this fuss surrounding Pirlo. Since the Udinese match in December, he has been our most consistent performer barring Pato. He's struggled at times, but he's played in a way that restricts his strengths. In the same way Kaka struggles with Dinho as he can't move out left and is restricted in the centre or right, Pirlo struggles when he's our last man in midfield with little chance to move around the pitch. Yesterday, Flamini covered for Pirlo well, as well as Janku or Beckham often supporting defensively meaning Pirlo had less shackles tactically while playing.

I will use the same argument I've used in the past about Pirlo. In 2009 we saw what we're like without him when facing Reggina (I doubt anyone was impressed). It can be argued we did well without him during the first half of the season, but we must look at how many of our victories were (1-0 or 2-1 often with a Dinho set piece or a penalty saving us). We wouldn't have maintained positive results with the way we were playing. We also must consider when our best performances were this year, for example Lazio, Udinese or Bologna, in two of which Pirlo played an important part.

Few will argue Pirlo utilized correctly is a major bonus for our side. It's the same with Kaka, Pato, Janku and Flamini. However, rarely are we seeing our play utilizing these players. We need to move forward quickly and play higher up the pitch if we're to use Kaka's and Pato's pace. Pirlo needs freedom if he is to create as he can, and not get marked out of games by opponents. We need to play Flamini if he is to become our next great ballwinner and Janku must be used in midfield if he is to show his strengths in his workrate and running rather his defensive weaknesses.

You raise a good point. But doesnt Pirlo like to play that deep lying role?
On the other hand, with Italy, he doesnt exactly play that position and he's been bad for a while now.

I think a formation like this would be good to bring out the best in him.

Gattuso - Flamini
-------Pirlo-----

-----Kaka --------- R80

---------Pato

Here Pirlo would be free to play a more attack minded role. Ofcourse that would mean dropping Seedorf. However since Gattuso is out,

---Flamini---

Pirlo - Seedorf

Kaka - R80

----Pato----

Originally Posted by boring

You raise a good point. But doesnt Pirlo like to play that deep lying role?
On the other hand, with Italy, he doesnt exactly play that position and he's been bad for a while now.

I think a formation like this would be good to bring out the best in him.

Gattuso - Flamini
-------Pirlo-----

-----Kaka --------- R80

---------Pato

Here Pirlo would be free to play a more attack minded role. Ofcourse that would mean dropping Seedorf. However since Gattuso is out,

---Flamini---

Pirlo - Seedorf

Kaka - R80

----Pato----

I don't think Pirlo has ever specified a preference for any particular role. In fact, the reason he was originally moved to the deep lying playmaker role is because we didn't have the space to accomodate further up with Rui Costa and Rivaldo. With Italy he's been shuffled around quite a lot since 2006, rather than playing in a role suited for him. Either way, I'm not saying Pirlo shouldn't play in the deep lying playmaker, but he must be given the freedom to express himself.

The shape to the first side you put isn't too different to what I had in mind. However, I'm not sure if R80 is best suited for our club tbh. He's a great player, but until now he doesn't seem to fit in well into the side. If we can integrate him then it would be amazing, but at the same time, if we don't succeed then I'd be willing to sell him in the summer and bring in more effective reinforcements. Right now, at 28/29 he'd be worth a fair amount as we've got him into much better shape than he was when he joined. I'm also sure a club like Man City wouldn't mind getting him on their books.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

I don't think Pirlo has ever specified a preference for any particular role. In fact, the reason he was originally moved to the deep lying playmaker role is because we didn't have the space to accomodate further up with Rui Costa and Rivaldo. With Italy he's been shuffled around quite a lot since 2006, rather than playing in a role suited for him. Either way, I'm not saying Pirlo shouldn't play in the deep lying playmaker, but he must be given the freedom to express himself.

The shape to the first side you put isn't too different to what I had in mind. However, I'm not sure if R80 is best suited for our club tbh. He's a great player, but until now he doesn't seem to fit in well into the side. If we can integrate him then it would be amazing, but at the same time, if we don't succeed then I'd be willing to sell him in the summer and bring in more effective reinforcements. Right now, at 28/29 he'd be worth a fair amount as we've got him into much better shape than he was when he joined. I'm also sure a club like Man City wouldn't mind getting him on their books.

I agree with what you say about R80. He's been one of my favourites for a long time and him coming to Milan was a dream come true for me but it seems he cannot play with Kaka on the same team.

It'll be a shame if he plays for a club like Manchester City.

Originally Posted by boring

I agree with what you say about R80. He's been one of my favourites for a long time and him coming to Milan was a dream come true for me but it seems he cannot play with Kaka on the same team.

It'll be a shame if he plays for a club like Manchester City.

Robinho will leave Manchester City I think, so Ronaldinho won't want (again) to join them anyway, and it will also be the end of Manchester City era (because no star will want to go there if Robinho leaves) before its beginning ...