Arsenal-Milan CL Round of 16 Leg 1

Originally Posted by GeoTav

Isn't the match against Lazio at home ?

mrki, I'm sorry, but Arsenal fans were ok ... they didn't shut up, they just supported their team during the entire match !! And only for that, that's very good. They also whistled not too much, which is a sign of respect for the opponent (not sure they would do the same against MU or Chelsea lol).

And for the San Siro ambiancy, I would like to see an intimidating ambiancy for each match of CL and some matches of Serie A at least, because actually, we see an important support in Milan only for the dangerous Milan matches against great teams. Did you see any good support for the first three San Siro matches in the round robin ?? Personnally no, nothing compared to Celtic support or Barcelona support ...

Yes, playing home.
Arsenal fans seem to be great, while some fans actually worry that the potato pitch at SS will ruin Arsenal's ground ball game (as if Milan only play long ball lol).

Fans don't even go to stadium except big matches these days. I guess we lots of fans are spoilt to just watch great matches in the world involving Milan.

Milan vs. Livorno? who cares...

yea pato played after a long injury...(no one outside of italy has seen him play yet) it was his debut in the CL but when he is 100% again along with kaka and seedorf you will see a player better than rooney

Actually, nobody can say anything about Pato, even Milan fans that we are ... he didn't play enough to allow anybody to say "he's da man" or "put him in the next plane for Brazil".

The 3-4 appearances he did just showed he could become the next big thing in Milan, all is hypothesis ...

Pato had unbelievable touches, he ran around the arsenal defense when he had good passes. I expect kaka and pato(back for the 2nd leg) at san siro to put on a tremendous performance in the 2nd leg....FORZA MILAN!!!!

Originally Posted by Jeff

Yes, playing home.
Arsenal fans seem to be great, while some fans actually worry that the potato pitch at SS will ruin Arsenal's ground ball game (as if Milan only play long ball lol).

Fans don't even go to stadium except big matches these days. I guess we lots of fans are spoilt to just watch great matches in the world involving Milan.

Milan vs. Livorno? who cares...

Real supporters would have to care (in a perfect Milan world lol) !!
(i don't say you or other are not good supporters, i don't know any of you yet lol)

Personnally, I take care of Milan-Livorno for example, it's less exciting for sure, but it is as important because when we loose these matches against this kind of team with nobody in the stadium, it's also our next CL we already waste ...

I dare to say that Pato will become better than Kakà, one day. His talent is pure. He just need to rule it.

Did you see when he recovered something like 10 meters to Gallas?

Originally Posted by Giovanni

I dare to say that Pato will become better than Kakà, one day. His talent is pure. He just need to rule it.

Did you see when he recovered something like 10 meters to Gallas?

Pato goes fast, it's true, and Gallas is a kind of "tracteur" (seems like it is translated by "tractor", french expression to say he doesn't run very fast).

Would enjoy to see him scoring in CL, but he needs to score many goals in Serie A too to become our 1st goalscorer.

And i hope not to see a 4-3-1-2 formation at the return leg, i don't like the way Milan plays when there is 2 attackers.

yea he deffinetly had more pace than the arsenal defenders

Of course we all care; all I am saying is that Milan is a lot more hype about serie A now, and it looks like such mindset is slowly trickling down even to the (not-so-hard-core) fans.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

Pato goes fast, it's true, and Gallas is a kind of "tracteur" (seems like it is translated by "tractor", french expression to say he doesn't run very fast).

Would enjoy to see him scoring in CL, but he needs to score many goals in Serie A too to become our 1st goalscorer.

And i hope not to see a 4-3-1-2 formation at the return leg, i don't like the way Milan plays when there is 2 attackers.

In CL, yes. In Serie A, starting with 2 strikers almost always produce better results.

The problem sounds to me like players are gradually not motivated by Serie A (what is better than winning both CL and Serie A ? Remember 2005, it was an amazing season, we unfortunately lost all at the end, but we could have won everything too), supporters gradually seem not concerned by this competition, and so players are less concerned too, so less motivated, so the supporters ... do you understand my reasonment ? I'm probably wrong (I hope) but it is how I feel this situation.

This is what you mean, GeoTav?

1) Let's go for Serie A!
2) injuries, bad luck, stupid GK, Gila not scoring, Inter winning like crazy, referee bla... ok start to lose more games.
3) Winning in Champion League! More attendence! 3-0! 4-1! Gila scored! GK amazing! Referee doing a good job!
4) Serie A against Parma: 4-3-2-1 and draw again.
5) Galliani: CL is always our objective.
6) Seedorf: um... okay.

Does this make your point GeoTav?

lol Jeff,
I never said Pato wasn't good...I've seen him play for AC milan, he has scored i think 4 goals...correct me if i'm wrong..with 2 of them being against genoa?? Also correct me if i'm wrong.
One of his very first goals was a tap in...and i seem to remember him missing a fair few sitters in one of his matches.
I'm not saying he isn't...he just isn't up to the standard that people are setting him for, that's my own opinion anyway.

And yes Maldini is top class...best display from a defender against Arsenal i've seen in a while.

Originally Posted by cescvanpersie

lol Jeff,
I never said Pato wasn't good...I've seen him play for AC milan, he has scored i think 4 goals...correct me if i'm wrong..with 2 of them being against genoa?? Also correct me if i'm wrong.
One of his very first goals was a tap in...and i seem to remember him missing a fair few sitters in one of his matches.
I'm not saying he isn't...he just isn't up to the standard that people are setting him for, that's my own opinion anyway.

And yes Maldini is top class...best display from a defender against Arsenal i've seen in a while.

I rate Pato because he has skills that no other 18 y o have. You have to watch his technical baggage, which is already complete, and compare it to other 18 y o players in the world.

He is fast, has a fantastic technique, has got heading abilities, shoots with both feet, has a terrific shot (Toure got injured on his strike), moves all over the attack front, has terrific control of the ball. He will become a lethal finisher. Yes, even though he has missed a few goals.

In few words, he has all the qualities to become a n.1 in the world. I'm convinced about that, because when you rate a player you don't have to rate his few performances, but the overall qualities, especially if he's so young.

Maybe now he is a bit naive and doesn't know the european game so well. He has immense potential, but has to work on it. He has to get better in every department. But what this guy lacks, at the end of the day, is just experience. When he will understand how to fool the European defenders he will be unstoppable.

You say that he missed a few goals and some of them were tap ins. Well, considering his impact in Serie A the likes of Platini and Van Basten couldn't do the same, or at least didn't have the impact Pato has had on our league. He's 18 y o, don't forget, and these other players (including Kakà who was 21 y o) went to Italy when they were much older.

Di Marzio, an italian scout who discovered Maradona and many other southern american talents, said this guy belongs to a different class. Many coaches confirmed that. Ancelotti played with Van Basten and faced Maradona. He should understand a bit out of it, given that he saw the amazing talent of Kakà after just 1 training session. After that first session he said : " Kakà is a regular". Some eye, you would say.

In last, consider that Pato has scored 4 goals in 5 games and half in Serie A. If he scored the chances he naively missed, we would be talking about 8-9 goals in 6 matches. Just out of this world, and in line with what Ancelotti said at the beginning of January: "I've never seen a striker with these qualities. He can score 30 goals in 6 months".

Originally Posted by GeoTav

Isn't the match against Lazio at home ?

mrki, I'm sorry, but Arsenal fans were ok ... they didn't shut up, they just supported their team during the entire match !! And only for that, that's very good. They also whistled not too much, which is a sign of respect for the opponent (not sure they would do the same against MU or Chelsea lol).

And for the San Siro ambiancy, I would like to see an intimidating ambiancy for each match of CL and some matches of Serie A at least, because actually, we see an important support in Milan only for the dangerous Milan matches against great teams. Did you see any good support for the first three San Siro matches in the round robin ?? Personnally no, nothing compared to Celtic support or Barcelona support ...

Celtic has great support but Barcelona and Real Madrid have laughable fans! those teams have no ultras whatsoever, or if they show up, its like 200 of them. In Camp Nou THE CLUB makes coreos and then all the turists out there lift it up, pathetic. Same with Mardid.

Milan plays horribly in serie a, and laws in italy are killing the supporters spirit 8 fireworks, flags, banners ). And, Fossa dei Leoni had been dissmissed. BUT - I have seen A LION flag with our surva at Parma, so that is a good sign! Maybe the old crew will be back soon! Plus, serie a has been ruined , it needs time for people to start believing in cvalcio again. Soon, when Eniglish people lose everything they have in EPL. like they have started to, the EPl will become like MLB. England needs to protect its clubs from Russians, Tailand or whatever owners. Its for the good of England's football spirit. The Highbury was broungt down, not it will be Ainfeld... Bolton has REEBOK stadium...not good.

The buzz at Bernabeu is just noise, the singing of Curva at San Siro, Roma, Napoli is something else, you'll see.

And I have to say I dont think that will affect Arsenal play, but it will affect milan's play, the tempo we will play in will be higher, for sure.
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So much for the crowd. Van Persie will not beready I think, but Rosicky could be fit.

As for Pato, he is a boy who has played 6, SIX, games for milan, this was his FIRST CL game, after an injury... he did well. And befrore those 6 games, he didnt play for 5 months. And before that he played like half a season only in professional football with Internacional... he did wqell trust me
We need to take care of him and give him time, in 2 years we see real Pato. And in San Siro only one man will be important up front - Inzaghi.

Pato has a touch of a football genious. He lacks strenght and power. he even looks like a boy! but the speed against SAGNA, Eboue, Gallas ( who is not so slow )...wow. When PAto gets a bit of routine, and Milan gets one more good forward ( whoch is important for PAto )..I hope we will see a player that you can see in his every touch of the ball. You dont need statistics, Gazzetta ratings and all that crap. You just need one training session to see it all.

I envy Arsenal for palyers like Hleb, Rosicky ( free ), Sagna, Eboue ( Beveren!!!)...and so on... But PAto will will Golden ball. We can put a bet if you guys want.