AC Milan general spiel

[San Paolo]

overconfidence can be a real bitch as we found out in 2005, lets hope they think they will walk it again.

[San Paolo]

out of the remaining teams who would we have wanted most? i think we could have had alot worse draw as we saw we cant live with the fast high fitness sides like Zurich and Werder last season.

[San Paolo]

Now we know what Silvio Berlusconi felt like when he was walloped with a model of Milan cathedral.

No doubt Jose Mourinho and Leonardo had a similar look of utter shock and disbelief when the names of Chelsea and Manchester United were drawn out by Emile Butragueno.

On the face of it, it looks likes another bloodied nose for Serie A in the Champions League and the groans around the city of Milan all but spoilt Friday lunchtime.

A quick straw-poll found the fans of both teams staring gloomily into their plates of pasta, with the general consensus being “We’re out.”

Well, what do you expect if you don’t finish top of your group – but then again look at Fiorentina’s opponents: Bayern Munich qualified with a 4-1 away win. Against Juventus.

Maybe the only ones smiling were Juve; consigned to the Europa League (and facing Ajax), they can concentrate on their domestic form – although the reaction to the main draw suggested that Inter, Milan and Fiorentina can do likewise.

There's no use getting our noses out of joint but Italian football has become conditioned to fearing the worst after last year’s debacle in the Champions League.

Evoking the romance - if we can use such a term - of the encounters facing the Milanese clubs did little to lighten the mood around the lunch table.

David Beckham back at Old Trafford... “So what? He’s only at Milan for a few months.”

What about Jose Mourinho striding out at Stamford Bridge, then? “Would have been better at Seville or Bordeaux.”

Suddenly, everyone has lost their appetite for the battle ahead just because the little balls didn’t pop out the way they should have.

However, like the dear prime minister, it may be best to lie low for a while and take stock of what's ahead come February and March – at least Inter, Milan and Fiorentina know what lies in wait.

It will be interesting to see if Massimo Moratti will now loosen the purse strings and allow Mourinho to bring in a few new signings to ensure that the Nerazzurri have cover through the early part of the year - what with Samuel Eto’o and Sulley Muntari at the Africa Cup of Nations.

AC Milan have maintained that David Beckham will be their only addition in January and although they creaked like an old door last time out at Zurich, Leonardo can still draw heart from a vintage Rossoneri performance in Madrid.

Fiorentina could have expected something a little kinder than the Bundesliga giants who seem to be running into form, but at least Cesare Prandelli has seen his side produce excellent performances at home to Liverfekkin'wankscum and Lyon in the competition so far.
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is the downbeat feeling we have is due to the lack of action Galliani and Berlu have made in the past summers? or is it all EPL facor that makes us fear Man United? we have beaten them twice before in the CL including that invincible team they had in 2007, maybe 2010 could be a special year?

[vtec]

i fear united because they have a lot more quality in their team not because i think fergie can outwit leo. fergie is not a reactionary manager. he will put out a lineup and it will be up to leo to adapt to it, and i have faith in leo that he will. i think our chances against united are better than against the other two english teams, but i still expect us to lose, especially since we are playing the second leg away and are not very good at keeping our sheets clean.

[p_maldini_3]

hahaha, favalli might start ahead of kaladze again.

if thats not a big enough hint for the georgian to leave, then the georgian as stupid as he plays.

[San Paolo]

an ultimatum to either play him or sell him as he tries to safeguard his World Cup 2010 chances.

The Dutchman has become incresingly concerned that his lack of playing time at San Siro will have a direct impact on whether he makes the plane for South Africa. Huntelaar has clenched his fists against Milan and is not willing to miss out on the World Cup by sitting on their bench.

"I don't know if my future will still be at Milan. I have played little and the World Cup is drawing closer," he told Algemeen Dagblad.

"Everyone wants to be at the World Cup, but I am aware that sitting on the bench may not make that possible.

"Leonardo has praised me, that's true, and I know his scheme employs just one centre forward, but I want to play more."

Huntelaar has recently been linked with Manchester United.
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could be true, could turn out to not be, but what do we think about it? should we let Hunter go? or should he get some more opportunitys and start some games and give Borri a rest.

[RobHood]

Obviously shouldn't sell him to ManU...and who would we get in his place anyway? All the good strikers are cup tied as it is.

For whatever reason we're playing better away so I think the second leg in Old Trafford works to our advantage. Think we're pretty even in terms of squad quality with Man U right now; if they don't get any new players during the break we should have half a chance to go through. I really hope we do, just to shut the English press and idiot "pundits" up...again.

[p_maldini_3]

leonardo is an idiot for not giving huntelaar more time on the pitch. especially picking a useless inzaghi over him. its pathetic. enough to kill a players confidence.

[San Paolo]

as we are nearly round to the January transfer window lets list our top 5 most preferred signings to make also you must include Flash Dave and adiyiah.

1.Flash Dave
2.Adiyiah
3.Rafinha
4.Ranocchia
5. Pandev?

number 5 is a little sketchy, i think we need some more power upfront with a player who isnt a poacher, once we take Borri off we have two Options both of them the same.

[p_maldini_3]

i wouldnt mind astori back from co-ownership with cagliari. hes been doing pretty well, his worst game was against us when he gave up the penalty. other than that he's been flying.

hes better than kaladze, thats for sure.

[San Paolo]

The agent of Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar has dismissed reports his client is poised to leave the club in January as ‘paper talk’.

The Dutch international has been a peripheral figure at the San Siro since his summer move from Real Madrid and has been linked with several teams in England and in his home country.

“What I can say for certain is that he is a Milan player at the moment and reports about interest from other clubs are just paper talk,” agent Arnoldus Oosterver told Tuttomercatoweb.

“This does not mean I am ruling out a January exit, but I want to stress that there have not been any contacts with other clubs for now.

“Huntelaar is settled at Milan. Of course, he would be happier if he played more. Then again, I think this applies to any player.

“And it’s also normal that there are transfer rumours if a player plays little while it’s all quiet when they regularly take to the pitch.”

[RobHood]

Milan Maestro Clarence Seedorf: There Is Less Diving In England; Juventus & Inter Players Are Wimps
The Rossoneri ace has given his views on play acting...

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has condemned players who dive, hitting out at both Juventus and Inter, accusing them of faking injuries and rolling around unnecessarily. And he believes they could learn from players in the Premiershit.

Seedorf has called for new laws to be ratified in the game so the cheaters can be caught as and when they pull off a tumble.

"Diving? this is not the same in all countries. In England it is much less," Seedorf told the New York Times.

"I think it would help to use some rugby rules here. When someone is lying on the ground, let the doctor enter, remove him and let the game go on. It will help because a team will be left right away with 10 players and nobody wants to be at a disadvantage.

"And with the diving, even if they were caught by the camera, the referee may miss it. Nothing happens to that player. That is the reality of the game today. If a player is a good actor and he does it at the right moment, he can get an advantage.

"These are possibilities in the game today. You can’t always blame the player if those are the rules, even if I think the players who do this are wrong and we should be as sporting as possible. It is not part of my game. I get quite irritated even when my teammates do it."

Seedorf claims the problem in Italy is far worse as he takes a swipe at both Inter and Juventus, accusing their players of play acting.

"In the last game with Juventus and Inter, I was quite disappointed at one point when two players were hit in one moment and they were both keeping their hands on their faces even though they were hit elsewhere," he added.

"It is a bit of a lack of respect for the game. It is like you’re acting like a wimp. Don’t be a wimp.

Yeah, you tell 'em Seedorf.

[p_maldini_3]

apparently seedorf has been blogging for the new york times since september.

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/author/clarence-seedorf/

[vtec]

awesome. really, that is awesome. seedorf is the best ambassador for the game there is.

[San Paolo]

[p_maldini_3]

reports from belgium are saying we've tied up a deal for serbian striker milan jovanovic from standard liege.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehfUBqwwi94

[San Paolo]

his first name says it all! but lets not get too carried away look how good Hunter was on youtube.

[San Paolo]

Milan are tracking young Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone, according to Affaritaliani.it.

Milan have been unable to find a secure goalkeeper with injuries to Marco Storari and Christian Abbiati, while Nelson Dida has been inconsistent.

The 21-year-old has made eight appearances in all competitions for the Gunners this campaign and is considered a hot prospect for the future.

The English outfit prised the shot stopper away from the Atalanta youth side in 2005 and have been nurturing him ever since. This is the first season he has featured with any regularity under coach Arsene Wenger.

Mannone has also earned a spot as an Italy Under-21 international, making his debut in November against Hungary.
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iv seen this kid play before, good shot stopper poor at coming for crosses.

[San Paolo]

According to Studio Sport, Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko has once again stated his desire to join Milan. The player reportedly suggested he will only leave the Bundesliga for the Rossoneri.

The Italian giants have been on the trail of the Bosnia & Herzegovina international since this past summer after he played a pivotal role in helping Wolfsburg to the Bundesliga title last season. While the German outfit have not been as successful in 2009-10, the 23-year-old continues to score frequently.

The player has 13 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions this campaign and has also been linked with Manchester United.

Dzeko made similar statements in the summer, but Wolfsburg's asking price was too high and the San Siro club opted for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar instead, but the Dutchman has struggled to perform and may be offloaded in January.

[San Paolo]

Inter, Milan and Juventus face a three-way fight for Sao Paulo midfielder Anderson Hernanes.

The 23-year-old has attracted heavy interest from a number of Serie A clubs, in particular the big three are all said to be monitoring his situation.

Hernanes has also been linked with Barcelona, but Italian agent Sabatino Durante, who is a specialist Brazilian transfer market expert, believes the Sao Paulo man will be heading to the peninsula.

"Hernanes is wanted by the big teams and he is surely liked in Italy by both Milan and Inter, but Juve also asked for information about him," the agent told Itasportpress.it.

"One of the main problems of a January arrival is that he doesn't have an EU passport, meaning it would be easier to find a deal in the summer.

"Barcelona did make an offer previously, but there was no will from the player of Sao Paulo."