If he was Italian, he would be in the Primavera or loaned out

Van Basten wrote:

Nice to see young Pato score on his international debut.

Yes. I felt rather proud (and smug).  Hope he isn't knackered for sunday though.
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Forza Milan
Most successful European team EVER !

I scored on my international debut  

eh?!  

gingeki, poochiem and man city nigel

we're going to add your suggestions to our short list and then decide which hotel to stay in.

Thanks for your suggestions - they're very much appreciated.

whats going on there then 2- 0  

The form guide would suggest that not only will there be no CL footy next season, but no European football whatsoever!

Only what you deserve after this league campaign

Tuten K wrote:

Only what you deserve after this league campaign

I couldn't agree more. In fact, my only reservation about Udinese/Fiorentina/Samp grabbing the fourth spot is the fear that the usual scenario is carried out where by they sell their best players who enabled them to finish fourth.

In all honesty, I wouldn’t mind Fiorentina etc finishing fourth so long as a) they retained their players and b) they added more quality to their squads.

It's refreshing to see those three team's starting line ups full with so many Italian players...

Milan;s mid looked awful today, as well as Kaladze and Oddo.

Nesta and Maldini were actually holding together the whole half of the field, since the rest sucked

Team just looks stale, and only seemed to change a bit when Paloschi and Pato together upfront.

And was Gattuso playing right back for awhile?

No comment, Duncan, that game isn't even worth analysing  

Looks like Milan are looking to the future (yet again) with the prospect of 'pinching' Cesar from across the city!

...not to mention the continuing speculation that Milan are actually daft enough to want Shevchenko back.

…argh!!! I read that about Sheva today, too (for the hundredth time)! Why don’t they just forget him and move on… He is part of the Milanese’s history and that’s where he should remain…

Unfortunately though, if Milan happen to finish outside a European qualifying spot – which is possible and looking increasingly likely – they may find themselves in a position where they cant be too picky about who they sign. After all, who did they sign when they were a) European champions b) looking to defend the CL c) looking to challenge for the World Club Cup (not to mention the Euro Super cup and the rest)?

Though admittedly, they weren’t exactly proactive in their transfer campaign. I think the words from CA’s mouth were - “We are only in need of a couple of new players: our squad is fully capable and large enough to challenge on all fronts…”

Hmmmm… Of course he forgot to emphasise the ‘Ifs’… And the Ifs being: if Inzaghi and Ronaldo can remain fit… If Gilardino can manage to find the back of the net… If Kaka can repeat last season’s performance… If the old guard can remain fit and avoid injury… if…if…if…

I’m ranting…  and I’m very, VERY disappointed. I don’t think there’s any question that CA has to go at the end of the season. I think he’s a very good manager during his time at Milan. I just believe he and Milan need a change…

Perfectly understandable ranting-- see my ranting on the Roma thread.

Cesar has to be a joke?   He not only sucks, but he is old.

The positives from sunday... erm Fiorentina also lost. What a f**king shambles.
_________________
Forza Milan
Most successful European team EVER !

Great - Ronaldinho (once again) is linked with Milan. Let’s try and cover up our disastrous season with an attempt to sugar-coat it with the purchase of Ronaldinho for £16 million...

Lets not consider bolstering our defence (and what of a keeper?)... lets not consider buying a prolific goal scoring world class(*) striker... lets  not even entertain the idea of gradually weaving in some youth into *STOP* argh!!!

If they were consider the above and decide in favour, as well as purchase Ronaldinho, that wouldn’t be so bad. Though judging by the past few years (and my increasingly pessimistic attitude towards Milan's transfer choices or lack of in recent years) I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the only addition to the squad… oh, and perhaps a couple of injury-prone 30+ year olds as squad fillers.



(*) hmmm, world class, it wouldn’t have been so difficult to attract that calibre of player last season when we could claim to be European Champions. This summer might just be a little trickier - what with the absence of European footy a distinct possibility.

Milan turned down Toni


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Here is an observation I found quite intriguing last Sunday: Sampdoria started their game against Empoli fielding 11 Italians (with a two more appearing from the bench)!
This is almost unheard of now in most of the major leagues: usually the majority of each team’s starting line-up consists of foreigners.

I just imagined the prospect – if Samp somehow qualified for the CL next season– of them fielding more home grown Italians than all four Premiership teams fielding English players combined.  

Pure waffle, I know, but I found it interesting…

Half-Time: Milan 2-0 Cagliari
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It would be nice if there were more Italians in each team's line-up.  

Don't mind quality stranieri, but too often there are too many average ones when a home grown player would do just as well.

Also, the teams ask some outrageous prices for some players just because they are Italian