Coppa Italia: Milan - Catania 20/12/07

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Digao I didn't think deserved the harsh criticism he got in the first half, mostly because two errors cost goals but look at the rest of his performance and he was ok. Personally, I think he would make a better DM than a CB.

Interesting putting him as a DM, I was thinking of him as a striker, very much like Bierhoff, take advantage of his height and have him score goals (and he has a pretty good header from what I saw today). But yeah I agree, the criticism on him is way to harsh.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

I was pleased with Gourcuff, who showed maturity, leadership and quality. I was pleased when he shouted at Sergio for an awful cross when he was free in the middle, he's getting his point across.

Hope he only gets better from this point on... GO GORKY!!! Milan needs you!!!

my point was simply, gourcuff had a golden opportunity to impress carlo and the coaches and in the process get more playing time, and i highly doubt he did it with that performance.. i'm rooting for the kid, i want to see him play more, but he has to do more than that to get it.

Today's home defeat is not a disaster. To be honest, I think, that Milan treats Coppa Italia like a good training. I'm not disappointed, but I think Digao is too unreliable...

Originally Posted by mly

Interesting putting him as a DM, I was thinking of him as a striker, very much like Bierhoff, take advantage of his height and have him score goals (and he has a pretty good header from what I saw today). But yeah I agree, the criticism on him is way to harsh.

Yeah that was another thought I had, but I don't think he's got the natural goalscoring instincts. I think he's sound defensively but prone to mistakes, but technically he wasn't bad at all. His characteristics aren't too dissimilar to Ambro imo.

hmph, an OKAY game.

about Digao -- he really only plays because of kaka, i don't want to think that but its the truth, the same way with jordy cruyff.

Originally Posted by Bosniaco

I dont know what do you people expect from Gourcuff? To dribble everyone and score?

I agree on this one. A few harsh judgements on Gourcuff. He has done very good IMO.

On MM we read everywhere we need young blood, but then many aren't able to wait for these talents to blossom. A bit of a contradiction.

As i said in the previous days, Gourcuff is a great talent, he has got all the qualities, and just need to improve tactically. Considering his age, i believe he has a very bright future in front of him.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Personally, I think Digao would make a better DM than a CB.

great analisys, i was thinking the same. But we must need a few performances to judge his qualities. In the second half he was a bit more confident and played better. I suspect he was too nervous for the debut to play better

Wait and see Gourcuff when he is 25 like Kaka today, he will just just as great.

Great to hear that Gourcuff is doing well! Know where I can get a highlight of this game? J

I think everyone wants the youth to play, but to also win...

Maybe everyone's expectation is somewhat higher seeing that inter's reserves won 4-1

Let's be honest, nepotism is the only reason Digao is on this team.

Yesterday's match should be a nice confidence-booster for Gourcuff. Maybe he feels more at home when he's not surrounded by all his big-name teammates. I'm not being snide; hopefully you know what I mean.

Here's what I think:

- Let's admit it, no one cared about this Coppa Italia game, not the management, not the coach, not the fans (stadium almost empty despite the very low ticket prices)

- Based on the above, mixing 37 year olds, with 17 year olds when the team just came back from Japan and before the derby against Inter makes sense.

- This was a team that had never (and probably never will) play together... not really a team, just 11 players with the same uniform.

- Digao is not a CB... someone told him to play there because he's 1.96, and not that skilled to be a striker, but I agree with some of you, he could be something like a Bierhoff, or Zigic... if any... definetely not a Milan defender, although he did better after starting so nervous (and giving away 2 goals)... deserved to score at least one.

- Gourcuff tried to carry the team, but he seems to have very poor physical condition... strange for his age...

- Paloschi was our best player on the pitch (if anyone deserves to be called that), but let's not say he's the new Sheva or stuff like that... the kid is 17.

- Others who did well today: Serginho and Simic.

The others? no comment.

Originally Posted by burns

my point was simply, gourcuff had a golden opportunity to impress carlo and the coaches and in the process get more playing time, and i highly doubt he did it with that performance.. i'm rooting for the kid, i want to see him play more, but he has to do more than that to get it.

i feel managements thinks the same. Buy another 33y old and together with seedorf and kaka were good for next 4-5 seasons.

on the other hand, we have some first team players that should be mainly benched this season so the that argument just doesnt work for me.

Originally Posted by peters

we have some first team players that should be mainly benched this season

can you mention names?