sms wrote:

saviola wrote: Arsenal were missing van Persie, Toure, Rosicky and Eduardo, so were hardly short of injuries themselves. This result was about far more than having played a few more matches than Arsenal since the turn of the year, and it would be disastrous for the club to think otherwise. No. I think the number of matches played is crucial, especially if you take into account the average age of the team. I can remember when we beat Manure last season, Alex said part of the reason is fatigue and injury.

But you have just taken into account the average age of the team, essentially supporting what I have said. I was not suggesting that the number of matches played was a total irrelevance, but the original post to which I replied seemed to argue it to be the sole (or, at least, the most significant) problem. The Manure comparison is a slightly distorted one; that match came at a later stage of the season, when they were still challenging on three fronts (oh, and they were challenging for the title, rather than the chance to finish fourth). Even setting aside injuries, has Ancelotti been fielding his strongest team consistently since the turn of the year? Several players were certainly rested against Lazio; more than were rested by Wenger, who started against Villa with ten of the eleven who won on Tuesday.

Sheva going home!

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/mar6h.html

If you plan your season to only get it up for the big games ,sooner or later you're bound to hit a wall.

Major investment is need in the summer. Hope they don't get silly and buy Sheva, back considering his age.
Drogba's also been mentioned, but he's getting on a bit also.

I'd say Milan should be looking at the likes of Diego and Van Der Vaart and young hungry players of that ilk.

Maldini reconsiders retirement
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I don't know if that's a good idea. Then again i won't mind, PROVIDED a suitable cover is found for him. It is simply very hard to imagine a Milan without him

zeds wrote:

If you plan your season to only get it up for the big games ,sooner or later you're bound to hit a wall. Major investment is need in the summer. Hope they don't get silly and buy Sheva, back considering his age. Drogba's also been mentioned, but he's getting on a bit also. I'd say Milan should be looking at the likes of Diego and Van Der Vaart and young hungry players of that ilk.

Yeah, getting back sheva is really stupid.  At the end, Drogba may be the best fit. Because Benzema would cost a fortune and will be a risky buy, while Zamparini has vowed not to sell Amauri to us. I like the idea of Diego or VdV.

poochiem wrote:

SERIOUSLY??? Milan have played 15 matches since the new year FIFTEEN! Arsenal played 11 and that includes throwing out C teams for Fizzy cup competitions. Add to that the injury list that would shame a small hospital I think Milan did brilliantly to hold a so-called top team for 170 minutes. Unlucky. It was great to see Maldini tear up the left side of the pitch like a youngster.

But MIlan know at the start of the season even in pre-season that they would have platyed this many games they had decided to make the world a clup comp proirty .............

And agian it was thoguht we have the team that can handle a league/world cup comp/champions league campaign.............

The turth is this is arguably the best thing that could happen to milan as if we won it again it would mask our problems again we need wholse changes we need to bring in the following a keeper, 2 defenders, 2 mifeilders and a striker all of which need to be under 28 ...

I dont see the point in buying just say drogba we need whole sale changes and hopefully this is the kick upo the arse we need.


Flamini had guttuso and pirlo in his pocket all night long  

Kaka off after 10 mins... 0:2 down at half time... Udinese winning... Is a UEFA Cup place too much to ask for?

Looking older by the minute.  Pato and Paloschi  are the young ones, and they are performing the best .   Hmmmmmmm

Does anyone have any idea how bad Kaka’s knee injury is? All I know is that he was taken off after 9 minutes during the game against Sampdori,a and the injury was regarded as being ‘serious’, meaning his replacement wasn’t just to be precautious…

Ah, it would have helped had I checked their official homepage! Muscular problem – will miss Torino (obviously) and Brazil-Sweden friendly, though could feature against Atalanta on March 30th.

You know, maybe missing the CL could be the best thing for Milan.    Berlusconi has plenty of money for the one year out, and if the management is smart they might have to rely on some of the players out on loan who are performing well and are younger.  Mazoratti, Boriello, etc...  

Giving them a chance and experience for a year at Milan without CL ball for a year could be an advantage in the long run and help freshen up the squad

I agree Duncan something drastic must be done

I just want the transfer market to open. I'm so tired of all the rumuors. I don't think there's a player left that we haven't been linked with.

As much as I hate to admit it perhaps a year out of the CL would benefit Milan and force Berlusconi et al to see that everything is not ok. Winning the CL last year just served to paper over the cracks (we were shit in the final as well).
There has to be a wholesale clear out and perhaps a few more of the youth team could be brought on without the pressure of big time Euro games. Playing in the UEFA cup could provide such experience.
Maybe it is time for some of the other players to re-evaluate their futures -  Gattuso has been lacking spark all season. In the games I have seen he is often anonymous and lacking the 'skill' I expect of him. Pirlo was absolutely f**king dreadful against Arsenal and has been ineffectual too many times. Kaladze still makes glaring and very costly mistakes and Ambro can't hack it at this level. Oddo is fine going forward but is often found out at the back. Gila has no confidence and Inzaghi is too old.  
It's rather depressing but there is reason to hope. Kaka is still ace and Pato and Paloschi can only get better.
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Forza Milan
Most successful European team EVER !

Pirlo Gattuso  Ambro  --  all playing rather average is not good for Milan or the Azzurri.  With Matrix looking worse every week and Cannavaro very iffy nowadays at times, Donadoni would be well to head the warning signs

Hi guys,

Can anyone recommend any ‘cheapish’ (no more than 150 Euros) though pleasant hotels (the two, I believe, can coincide) in or near the centre of Milan? I’m planning to visit there in May with a few friends.

Much appreciated.

Nice to see young Pato score on his international debut.  

Re Milan Hotels... I stayed in a place called Hotel Lido which is walking distance from the stadium http://www.donihotels.com/lido/milan/hotel-lido-how-reach.html

and another time i stayed in town in a Jolly hotel... http://en.venere.com/hotels_milan...lly_hotel_milano_machiavelli.html

i got it for 40 euro a night but that was a special deal i think its normally around 200 per room. nice hotel though  

Van Basten wrote:

Nice to see young Pato score on his international debut.

Yeah. He's growing in leaps and bounds.