Gornata 9: Chievo vs Milan, Sunday Oct 25, 2009

Originally Posted by Xudong

But have you realized that in three games in a row now, we have all had a very crappy first half and fantastic second half?

I've been asking the same question to myself. How far can we go this season with performances like these? It's better to have a good second half than none at all, like the what we had earlier this season. If we are to win the scudetto or UCL, some reinforcements in January are mandatory.

If we win the next game we will climbe up in the table for sure! very importent game.
look:

Napoli-Milan
Udinse-Roma
Juve-Sampdoria
Inter-Palermo
Genoa-Viola

Each of those teams will Challnge us for the top 4!
Very hard games for Inter and Juve and for us also!!!

Inter Milan 22
Sampdoria 20
Juventus 18
Palermo 15
Fiorentina 15
Milan 15

Originally Posted by fallawati

My points / comments / Feeling:
1- Dida... that save is needs to be on a poster
2- Nesta.. i am sorry i removed you from this game from my fantasy football team ( stupid me)
3- Seedorf... excuse me mr. but the goal is forward not on your back.. please have an attcking mind more
4- Our engine starts only on the second half.
5- All season games made me tense...we need to win some games comfortably andf score early. I am tired of being tensed.
6- Did we ever score from corners? can someone remind me the last goal that we scored from corner ( ok Real Madrid goal was disallowed)
7- Our Mid filed need to socre more goals ( ok Seedoof socres, but what about the remainig)
8- I jumped off my seat with Nesta's the 2nd goal, had not have this feeling since Pipo's or (JDT) goal against PSV in the CL semis in 2003.
9- I am still die hard milan fan since 1987

I agree with your 9 points.
But the Pippo/JDT goal was against Ajax, and it was like quarterfinals.

It was oddly amusing to see Antonini go down with cramping late in the second half, only because it was an obvious testament to his rustiness due to extended bench duty.

first of all, i was so proud yesterday with the spirit of the team until the final whistle...i have to say that a week ago that was very different...i know we are not playing great football, but after the summer mercato i'm sure none of us was realistically hoping to see beautiful football, but the spirit we were playing with at the begining of the season was shameful (regardless how disappointed the players are with the transfer campaign)
obviously credit to Leo for that and for his interviews: i'm sure u all heard his version for explaining the Dida mistake of RM and, regardless if it does make any sense, i just admire how he tries to protect his player.
by the way, the Dida save of yesterday...WOW...but am i sold?...well...not really...at this level u need CONSISTENCY.
Nesta is the best defender in the world at the time
Silva has great potential and nothing can help him fulfill that like playing alongside Nesta
Oddo i thought was below average, i remember 1 or 2 crosses that actually did find a target and when u count how many he did during that night, this is not good enough
Antonini, above average especially for someone playing his first competitive match since god knows how long (which is something i wished for here before the match) and as Blacktop said, explained his cramping
Pirlo & Seedorf had an average game, considering that i believe they both needed a rest, Seedorf did the effort to help at the back very well which compensated for his poor contribution in attack and Pirlo did eventually create both goals to compensate his overall below par performace
Flamini i thought was above average, i really like the guy and i think he is a better version of Gattuso since he actually can contribute to the attack: he can get past an opponent, he can pass and he can shoot
i agree with samaldinho & nefremo about R80, he was above average and i could understand him being a bit surprised at being substituted.
Pato was very generous with his efforts as well and i just cannot get enough of him running at players, he just needs to work more on some of his touches...and as Warro said, he can be greater than Kaka: he has the pace, the technique, the dribbling, the shooting and remember, is still 20
Huntelaar i still think deserves more before we can judge him and i hope he gets that but also i totally understand that Leo could not have kept him in yesterday.
Boriello did very well when he came in just like against RM

for Napoli, we sure need to rest one if not both of Pirlo & Seedorf. fortunately Ambro will be back and with Flamini, we just need one more midfielder so we can start with one of them and then substitute with the other when it is time to.
Antonini deserves another start and Zambrotta can come back in for Oddo.
Nesta & Silva cannot be rested
Boriello deserves to start as well

Last night was another rollercoaster of a match that ended well for us. However, again weaknesses showed and we need to sort these out as we cannot maintain this sort of performance. We suffered an early episode which could have been avoided with tactical discipline, we again struggled to come out and really push Chievo until quite far into the second half. Our talent isn't missing, we have some very good players who can all make a difference, but the fighting spirit of the side doesn't show until late, nor is it concentrated.

The first half was a timid affair. We conceded an early goal, which should have been avoided. Where the CM pair where is a big question, as one of Pirlo or Flamini should have been covering the edge of the box. Thiago argubly could have been tighter to Nesta and covering in front of the goalscorer too. Our response wasn't the best. We looked slow, stodgy, lacked movement and creativity.

The second half was a huge improvement. There's no doubt we found some heart and really looked for the result. We created a number of chances and Sorrentino was excellent to respond. In all fairness, it would have been much more comfortable had his performance not been so good. In the end, we actually scored from set pieces, which is good to see, as we've been pretty useless at set pieces for years, but now in 2 games we've made use of them 3 times.

Regarding players...

Dida - Showed again that while he seems to have forgotten the basics of catching a ball he is without a doubt a great shot stopper. Really great to see the players get behind him afterwards.
Oddo - I thought he was ok, not the best but he did try and always made himself an option on the right.
Nesta - Incredible. Not only the heart of the defence and the team, now he's saving us up front too.
Thiago - A couple of mistakes that could have cost us, but on the whole excellent at the back. It's no coincidence that we look much better defending corners when he's in the side, a monster in the air.
Antonini - Struggled with Eriberto in the first half, but improved through the game.
Flamini - Worked hard and tried to drive the team forward. Good to see him back.
Pirlo - I thought he was ok (in comparison to other opinions). He simply spread play for much of the game, but when he played with more freedom then it showed. He must do this more.
Dinho - Solid display with some good passing.
Seedorf - Anonymous for almost the whole match, despite a couple of chances. It's amazing how he can be so great against Real and so bad 3 days later.
Pato - A good game, always threatening. Would have liked to see him getting into the box looking for goals more, but can't complain really. His first touch needs a little work, as he far too often has a heavy touch when in great positions.
Huntelaar - Disappointing, he's really struggling.
Borriello - Deserves to start more as he's working a lot for the team. Lacks goals, but he was a threat and he really opens up spaces.
Pippo - Tried to dribble and failed, but almost scored.
Zambro - NA

Our spirit is carrying us right now and it's great to see the players working so hard. However, we need to be tactically more disciplined and must concentrate our attacking bursts in games (right now we're not controlled, but rather reacting to events in games). However, with a little more work we can be optimistic. Pirlo and Seedorf need to be managed more, as Pirlo needs to play with freedom more often (I don't think this is restricted by Leo, but self imposed) and Seedorf must get some level of consistency in his influence in games.

Ahead to Wednesday!

Originally Posted by ThrusT

And LOL @ Inzaghi trying to dribble.

well said...hehe

Originally Posted by fallawati

My points / comments / Feeling:

6- Did we ever score from corners? can someone remind me the last goal that we scored from corner ( ok Real Madrid goal was disallowed)

very true, this has been one of our weakest points in recent years: we never take advantage from our set pieces and we always concede from the ones against us...it's so good to see that we can defend in the air now with Nesta & the huge Silva and can even score from corners...
throw Ambrosini & Boriello with these 2 and we are suddenly as good as Juve...right mrki?

Originally Posted by Gio-mania

I agree with your 9 points.
But the Pippo/JDT goal was against Ajax, and it was like quarterfinals.

Ops my bad, you are right.
Talking about the semi we played against Inter and if you remember we qualified based on home-away goals... All i remember that Martin(i think ) missed a goals on the last breath of the match.

Originally Posted by Reza

This teams needs a few practices on defense. With that Pellissier chance near the end of the half Oddo almost had to be both central defender and fullback. Nothing really wrong with Nesta and Silva of course but the unit is not working.

That was Seedorf's man. It happened in 41st min as I remember. Oddo was screaming at someone, and See was 35m from his man walking in the mid.

We got 3 points and Im trilled about Nesta!! Thank you Sandro!!! But we are still not sharp enough!!!!

It was a long time that AC Milan don't gave me a so ... happy happiness even if there is still the dwarf padded of viagra

Originally Posted by fallawati

8- I jumped off my seat with Nesta's the 2nd goal, had not have this feeling since Pipo's or (JDT) goal against PSV in the CL semis in 2003.

fallawati what game do you refer to?

2002/03 second leg of the Champions League quarters San Siro Milan - Ajax 3-2 Inzaghi, Shevchenko, Tomasson

or

2004/05 second leg of the Champions League semifinals Philips Stadium Milan - Psv 3-1 Park, Cocu, Ambrosini, Cocu.

Originally Posted by fallawati

9- I am still die hard milan fan since 1987

me to, always and however and today very smiling because we have beaten the donkeys two times, at first in Spain and yesterday at Verona

Something this team improved in the last 3 games (in second half of Roma and Madrid games, a bit in the first half too against Cheivo): possession ...

It looks like we can keep the ball more smartly, be more dangerous and play interesting fast football (or "modern football") even with our "oldies" ... some actions were simply amazing against Chievo, for example, I remember the one with Antonini passing to Seedorf who was behind two strikers who were there to be "false targerts" for the defenders ...

Leonardo's project seems to become more realistic now ... but they have to keep working !!

Originally Posted by mrki

That was Seedorf's man. It happened in 41st min as I remember. Oddo was screaming at someone, and See was 35m from his man walking in the mid.

We got 3 points and Im trilled about Nesta!! Thank you Sandro!!! But we are still not sharp enough!!!!

Yes that one and I don't disagree but Pellissier in the box should be covered better and his quality requires CDs.
This is not a Milan problem only, on so many set pieces or crossed shots the far side is open. I keep seeing it match after match, like I said not just Milan but in general. I think there is too much gravitation to the ball.

When Sandro headed the 2-1 in,i really went nuts.

In the first half we actually played decent,not great,but decent,the only thing missing was the 1-1 but Seedorf failed to shoot it in twice....But certainly Chievo werent that much better.

The second half i think we could have won the match 1-4 and not just a louzy 1-2,we created SO MANY CHANCES!,it was just incredible,Inzaghi,Ronaldinho,Seedorf(with a bit of luck)could all have scored a goal,Chievo should thank Sorrentino that they werent trashed really because the way we played second half was amazing.

I am happy Nesta scored a brace,he deserves to be in the spotlight!

Realllllyyyyyyy happy with the win,especially as we were kicking their asses in second half!

Oh and of course i wont forget Dida,that was a worldclass-save and i have to say that although i was bashing him the other day,he really is a great goalie!

FORZA MILAN PER SEMPRE!

Win Win WIN.... who is next?