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acid911

Nov 7 2008, 12:00 AM

QUOTE (Portikins @ Nov 7 2008, 03:54 AM)

Dissapointed by the team performance.

So, what's new!?

We've been playing like this right after the inter match.

QUOTE (Habitant @ Nov 7 2008, 03:52 AM)

looks like he's about to take a big out of his shoulde

Pato sometimes cracks me up. But, looks like he gets along great with the team, and in particular the Brazilians. But the way things are going, I don't think he'll cross the 10 mark this season. Pity. Unless he gets his scoring boots on (those orange ones, hehe!)

Tennie

Nov 7 2008, 12:10 AM

QUOTE (zdrossoneri @ Nov 6 2008, 05:39 PM)

I do assume 4-0's as better quality wins than 1-0's.

In other words, how can a team that has so much quality player always struggle to score a single goal in so many games in a row?? no, Tennie. Milan, and Serie A as a whole, is not defensible in this case. people are too [not sure if this is the right word] pragmatic in Italy and Carlo is the king of them. it doesn't hurt to play a more attracting football sometimes...

I disagree, zd. Fine defending is, to me, just as important as fancy tricks and scoring. And to me it is just as fascinating to watch, if not more so. To use a recent example, watching how Chiellini and Legrottaglie shut down Raul and Van Nistlerooy was just as fun - if not more - than watching Del Piero's goals (though I really did like that free kick). This, however, is a matter of personal preference, I think. To me, the superstars are more often defenders than strikers. Others prefer the strikers. That's fine - it just means we look at things differently.

Now if you're talking about Milan's recent performances? Yeah. I agree with you there. The team SHOULD be scoring more goals, at least in theory. But the team is also missing Andrea Pirlo who is very important to the flow of the game and in makng sure that the ball actually gets forward to the strikers/ams. Seedorf is good and is very important but there's a big hole in the midfield without Pirlo there. There just hasn't been really consistent distribution to the front and when there has been, the strikers haven't always capitalized - eg Pippo's missed a few, Pato's missed a few, etc. And - I realize I may be strung up for saying this - with the exception of the very fine goals scored, the rest of the game play of both Kaka and Ronaldinho could have been a LOT better (not counting the derby in this; I think everyone did well there).

Zed.D

Nov 7 2008, 12:27 AM

But after all they give 3 points to a team that scores more, not defends more. I'm not saying defending is not important. it'd be stupid of me to say that. I'm just saying it's weird to see a team like Milan defend a 0-0 result. you first attack, score, then defend your goals and hit your opponent on the counter attacks and score more. that's how a team with so many big players should play. unfortunately Carlo thinks about not conceding more than he think about scoring. that's not enjoying defensive brilliance, that I do too (I love to see Chiellini make world class strikers like Nistelrooy look desperate too). that's getting bored!
I can't find any other explanation for our embarrassing 15 goals in 10 games other than Carlo's defensive tactics. not even the missed chances.

As for Pirlo, I agree. I actually am missing him a lot recently.

I think Kaka has been great and consistent this season (unlike last season). much better than Ronaldinho (though Ronaldinho's been as much decisive thanks to his class). I'm sure many agree on that too.

Il Diavolo

Nov 7 2008, 12:31 AM

Ronaldinho saved us with a masterpiece. What a boring game! No ideas from either side. Carlo hates UEFA Cup obviously. No mood, no imagination. The only good performances came from players who either 1) need to improve /like Sheva and Dida/ or from defensive players /Antonini, Gattuso/. That's fine by me as long as we keep winning in the Serie A. I'm having a bad feeling about the upcoming Lecce game. We need to play more attacking!

And yes, I want the trophy. The final is in Istanbul. At least, there will be something poistive from this city, left in our history. And the most important fact - we will play for the Supercup. So... I agree. Serie A and UEFA or failed season.

By the way, Senderos did a fine debut. Looked a bit nervous in the first half, but was solid in the second. World class tackling in one of Braga's dangerous counterattacks.

Tennie

Nov 7 2008, 12:40 AM

Actually...not so much on the Kaka general performance, really. At least going by player ratings, which I'm tracking for the whole season. I'm using datasport's ratings for all league games. Kaka's average rating right now is 6.2 - highest rating a 7 for the game v. Samp and the lowest a 5 for the game v. Reggina. I don't think he's been consistently great in the way he can be. Ditto Ronaldinho but I think he's improving. They both are, just they're not there yet.

For what it's worth, the players with the highest average ratings are:
Emerson 6.5
Abbiati 6.4
Borriello 6.3
Ronaldinho 6.25
Inzaghi 6.25
Kaka 6.22
Gattuso 6.21

acid911

Nov 7 2008, 12:40 AM

I, for one, am always for good defending.

As they say, good defense wins you the league, while a good attack wins you tournaments. As for Milan, it really is a mess at this point in a time. A very good mess, a working mess, but a mess nonetheless. I don't know how much of it is down to Pirlo (and Nesta's) absence.

We're all very happy for the great goal scored. But what if it was the other way round? What if they had scored at the last kick of the match?

No, I don't want that. The only reason we won this match was because luck was on our side. We should have won this match 2-1 in regular time. 3-0 in regular time. What if the assistant counted 2 minutes of stoppage time? Think about that. As some members have put it, disappointing performance. I'd say, very disappointing performance. Not the way I've known us to play.

Eve in the Napoli match, Kaka-Pato-Ronaldinho were exact polar opposites of Kaka-Pato-Ronaldo.

Some of our recent matches have been so bad, it made me want to sleep by the first half of proceedings. And maybe I'd take these sorts of result for another few weeks, but do you know who we have to face towards the end of the year? Juventus, Udinese, Roma, and Fiorentina in that order in the matter of four weeks. All clubs in the top tier of the league any given time. This is when the Serie A will be decided! Quote me on this.

QUOTE (Il Diavolo @ Nov 7 2008, 04:31 AM)

Ronaldinho saved us with a masterpiece. What a boring game! No ideas from either side. Carlo hates UEFA Cup obviously. No mood, no imagination. The only good performances came from players who either 1) need to improve /like Sheva and Dida/ or from defensive players /Antonini, Gattuso/. That's fine by me as long as we keep winning in the Serie A. I'm having a bad feeling about the upcoming Lecce game. We need to play more attacking!

And yes, I want the trophy. The final is in Istanbul. At least, there will be something poistive from this city, left in our history. And the most important fact - we will play for the Supercup. So... I agree. Serie A and UEFA or failed season.

By the way, Senderos did a fine debut. Looked a bit nervous in the first half, but was solid in the second. World class tackling in one of Braga's dangerous counterattacks.

Top post.

Agree on all counts, particularly the bolded ones!

acid911

Nov 7 2008, 12:50 AM

QUOTE (Tennie @ Nov 7 2008, 04:40 AM)

Emerson 6.5
Abbiati 6.4
Borriello 6.3

Can we say, massively overrated?

Gattuso should be tops.

So does Janks and Seedorf while we're talking about averages. Janku is the one who gives the most every game, running all the way from the back, time and time again. So does Zambrotta. Along with Kaka and Ronaldinho. They're our only star players on the world level, along with Nesta. Any average of under 7 is suicidal for them, meaning they're treading in mediocrity.

Borriello won't make it past double figure goals for the season. He keeps running around the pitch as opposed to scoring goals. Abbiati while okay should be in the top five, not three. Emerson shouldn't be allowed on the pitch, he'll give away more fouls than passes, and almost gave a penalty today.

And unless they do anything out of the complete ordinary, they shouldn't be rated above 6. Abbiati while very good is nowhere close to Caesar (best) or Buffon's class. Had he saved us vital points in the first two matches, I'd be more inclined giving him an average above 6. What this actually proves is two things: 1) Kaka and Ronaldinho aren't there yet, and 2) those who are don't have to be.

And Tennie good thing on Datasports ratings. +1.

They're usually the most reliable of the lot.

m1ke

Nov 7 2008, 12:51 AM

Average game for me. We started brightly, but Braga had some great chances and probably deserved at least a point. Still, winning when we're playing badly is great news. My ratings:

Dida: 6.5
Antonini: 5.5
Kaladze: 6.5
Senderos: 6.5
Jankulovski: 6
Flamini: 6
Gattuso: 7.5 (he keeps getting better!)
Emerson: 6.5
Pato: 6
Shevchenko: 6.5
Inzaghi: 6

Seedorf: 6.5
Ronaldinho: 7

I think Pompey will be a tough game - they've got some decent players. Really want to get tickets for this one (does anyone know how I can get away tickets shipped over to England?)

Zed.D

Nov 7 2008, 12:51 AM

QUOTE (Il Diavolo @ Nov 7 2008, 04:01 AM)

The final is in Istanbul.

You don't say!

QUOTE (Tennie @ Nov 7 2008, 04:10 AM)

Actually...not so much on the Kaka general performance, really. At least going by player ratings, which I'm tracking for the whole season. I'm using datasport's ratings for all league games. Kaka's average rating right now is 6.2 - highest rating a 7 for the game v. Samp and the lowest a 5 for the game v. Reggina. I don't think he's been consistently great in the way he can be. Ditto Ronaldinho but I think he's improving. They both are, just they're not there yet.

For what it's worth, the players with the highest average ratings are:
Emerson 6.5
Abbiati 6.4
Borriello 6.3
Ronaldinho 6.25
Inzaghi 6.25
Kaka 6.22
Gattuso 6.21

Ratings are much different in every website. everyone sees different aspects of a player's game. the one here looks to be more tempted by flashes of brilliance [Dinho] than playing consistently good [Kaka]. otherwise Kaka would've gotten a better average rating, as it might be the case with other websites that give ratings. I think it's fair to say Kaka, while not 100% yet, has improved A LOT compared to last season [which he played most of it through injury] and has been one of better players this season.

But of course, both Ronaldinho and Kaka can still improve a lot. they're still not playing like a Ballon d'Or winner would!

Tennie

Nov 7 2008, 12:54 AM

Er. Mike, re the Pompey tickets - why not just call Pompey? That's where the game is being played.

m1ke

Nov 7 2008, 12:59 AM

Well, the home seats are sold out (and for obvious reasons I don't want to sit there

). I'm trying to get hold of tickets in the away end, and I was under the impression these are distributed by Milan.

Tennie

Nov 7 2008, 01:11 AM

I just looked at acmilan.com, mike. It seems you need to go to Banca Intesa to get a ticket in the Milan end. Have you tried mpestero?

m1ke

Nov 7 2008, 01:13 AM

I had a quick look on there, but they want me to collect from Milan. Ideally I need them shipped to England - anyone going to be in Milan and fancy sending a few tickets my way?

Tennie

Nov 7 2008, 01:15 AM

Well, if you could get them sent to Florence, I could pick 'em up and send 'em on. I'll be in Florence the week of the game.

TriniKing_CE

Nov 7 2008, 01:19 AM

QUOTE (Habitant @ Nov 6 2008, 06:52 PM)

looks like he's about to take a bigte out of his shoulder

Now that U mentioned it it does resemble a Dracula scene!

acid911

Nov 7 2008, 01:23 AM

QUOTE (TriniKing_CE @ Nov 7 2008, 05:19 AM)

Now that U mentioned it it does resemble a Dracula scene!

Now you got me scared.

PatitoFeo

Nov 7 2008, 01:37 AM

I have faith that Sheva will start/sub and get at least one goal. he does really well in Europe

TriniKing_CE

Nov 7 2008, 01:41 AM

QUOTE (PatitoFeo @ Nov 6 2008, 08:37 PM)

I have faith that Sheva will start/sub and get at least one goal. he does really well in Europe

I removed my post as I answered thinking I was in the Lecce thread..

acid911

Nov 7 2008, 01:48 AM

QUOTE (TriniKing_CE @ Nov 7 2008, 05:41 AM)

I removed my post as I answered thinking I was in the Lecce thread..

Boy, you really have some sort of an attachment with the Leece thread, Trini!

You really do!

acid911

Nov 7 2008, 02:53 AM

Anyway, before I go to bed, some random musings.

Good, if unconvincing win today:

- Gattuso is immense; his third assist in four games,
- Ronaldinho with an unstoppable shot,
- Though he could have been brought way earlier,
- Sanderos can be a future Milan defender,
- I've already added his name in in my Microsoft Word and Firefox spell check dictionaries,
- Not Maldini or Nesta, but still pretty decent on one-on-ones,
- Still needs to work on some areas,
- The 4-3-3 formation obviously went in drain,
- No connection between the attackers and midfielders,
- We need either Pirlo or Ronaldinho to start every game,
- Both in crucial encounters,
- The referee had both his cards and whistle stolen,
- So many fouls and he played them all on,
- Dida with an absolute gem save of the match,
- And then he nearly did a Dida,
- Needs to cover up on these lapses, and stock up on confidence,
- Forza Milan!

MizNelson

Nov 7 2008, 04:06 AM

Fox Soccer Report is showing all the EPL teams' UEFA Cup highlights first. Idiots.

kurtsimonw

Nov 7 2008, 04:07 AM

QUOTE (MizNelson @ Nov 7 2008, 03:06 AM)

Fox Soccer Report is showing all the EPL teams' UEFA Cup highlights first. Idiots.

Hey!

Maybe it's because we have an American keeper, or two.

Tennie

Nov 7 2008, 04:09 AM

Will they even show the other highlights?

You should know, Miz, that football doesn't exist outside England as far as that show's concerned - except as a place where English teams win, buy players from, or point fingers at as a place where they always dive (just ask Steven Gerrard).

(Fishdoll is NOT a fan of the Fox Soccer Report).

EDIT for those fortunate enough never to have seen the Fox Soccer Report: half of the 60 minute show is usually devoted to English stuff. The other half is devoted to the rest of the world. Where we learn important things like Fiorentina plays in Spain.

The above comment wasn't me ranting about the EPL, it was me ranting about the bias of that show, which annoys me greatly.

MizNelson

Nov 7 2008, 05:38 AM

QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Nov 6 2008, 07:07 PM)

Maybe it's because we have an American keeper, or two.

Thief!

han2503

Nov 7 2008, 11:03 AM

QUOTE (Tennie @ Nov 6 2008, 11:23 PM)

Assuming we get into the knockout stage, I imagine the club will start taking the games seriously the spring.

Agreed, Carlo is basically treating these group games and qualifiers as Coppa games. I tend to agree with him, right now not losing silly points in the league is the most important thing.

QUOTE (zdrossoneri @ Nov 6 2008, 11:28 PM)

They've always said, don't count on 1-goal leads in football. we've been lucky overall to come off the games as winners on so many occasions where we scored only one more goal than our opponents!

We're Serie A leaders and we have scored only 15 goals in 10 matches. (

)

Compare it with the EPL leaders Chelsea: 27 goals in 11 games

And La Liga leaders Barca: 28 goals in 9 games

That's what I call a big disappointment for Milan. only Carlo's tactics are to blame as he has more than enough attacking players to choose from and yet he always aims for the minimum. 1-0, 2-1 wins.

To be fair zd, those 2 teams you mentioned play in leagues that cannot be compared to Serie A in the slightest when it comes to defending. I like watching a lot of Man U, Chelsea and Barca games, the way the smaller teams in particular defend against these teams is disgraceful. No wonder C.Ronaldo scores over 30 goals in a season, he always has acres upon acres of space to run into, he goes into the opposition's box without being challenged and takes a shot, which usually goes in because the goalkeeper is 9 times out of 10 completly cr@p. He wouldn't last a month in Serie A

Chelsea last weekend (I think they played Hull) everytime they passed the ball to either Anelka, Cole or Malouda they were up there all on their own with the oppositions defence MIA. I mean for Anelka to score a hattrick should be telling enough.

I'm not defending Carlo or his hardheadded ways regarding all the defensive tactics, you know how I feel about him

. But sometimes you can't simply just look at the numbers and make a conclusion from just that. In Serie A you have even relegation battlers who know how to defend well and won't let you just walk all over them like in La Liga or the EPL

Zed.D

Nov 7 2008, 11:37 AM

QUOTE (han2503 @ Nov 7 2008, 02:33 PM)

Agreed, Carlo is basically treating these group games and qualifiers as Coppa games. I tend to agree with him, right now not losing silly points in the league is the most important thing.

To be fair zd, those 2 teams you mentioned play in leagues that cannot be compared to Serie A in the slightest when it comes to defending. I like watching a lot of Man U, Chelsea and Barca games, the way the smaller teams in particular defend against these teams is disgraceful. No wonder C.Ronaldo scores over 30 goals in a season, he always has acres upon acres of space to run into, he goes into the opposition's box without being challenged and takes a shot, which usually goes in because the goalkeeper is 9 times out of 10 completly cr@p. He wouldn't last a month in Serie A

Chelsea last weekend (I think they played Hull) everytime they passed the ball to either Anelka, Cole or Malouda they were up there all on their own with the oppositions defence MIA. I mean for Anelka to score a hattrick should be telling enough.

I'm not defending Carlo or his hardheadded ways regarding all the defensive tactics, you know how I feel about him

. But sometimes you can't simply just look at the numbers and make a conclusion from just that. In Serie A you have even relegation battlers who know how to defend well and won't let you just walk all over them like in La Liga or the EPL

Let's look at it the other way around. number of goals conceded by bottom table teams:

Bottom 5 teams of EPL have conceded 73 goals in 11 matches.
Bottom 5 teams of Serie A have conceded 85 in 10 matches.

To be honest I don't know what I should think about this! you tell me why those disgraceful defenses have conceded much less goals (while they've played one more matchday) than those bottom table teams in Serie A, that like you said won't let bigger sides walk all over them?

[No offense to EPL lovers but] you know I dislike this league for the way its teams play [though they've improved a lot recently]. I'm not defending it, I'm just trying to be logical. yes, statistics don't tell everything, but they're not completely useless either.

han2503

Nov 7 2008, 09:45 PM

QUOTE (zdrossoneri @ Nov 7 2008, 11:37 AM)

Let's look at it the other way around. number of goals conceded by bottom table teams:

Bottom 5 teams of EPL have conceded 73 goals in 11 matches.
Bottom 5 teams of Serie A have conceded 85 in 10 matches.

To be honest I don't know what I should think about this! you tell me why those disgraceful defenses have conceded much less goals (while they've played one more matchday) than those bottom table teams in Serie A, that like you said won't let bigger sides walk all over them?

[No offense to EPL lovers but] you know I dislike this league for the way its teams play [though they've improved a lot recently]. I'm not defending it, I'm just trying to be logical. yes, statistics don't tell everything, but they're not completely useless either.

Lower table teams have conceeded that much goals already?

I certainly don't remember any of the top 4 trash them this way. Those conceeded goals must have come from games played against eachother, you know the usual run of the mill 3-2 or 2-2 draws. But I can't recall any of the top teams walking all over them and scoring 5 goals as easily as Man U and Chelsea have been doing. Smaller sides usually open up much more against eachother in Serie A then they would against the bigger teams.

Inter haven't been scoring bucket loads, neither have Juve or us (not counting Roma so far because as of now they were a mess)

I still stand by what I believe though I like watching both leagues and the way big teams walk all over the lower table ones in the EPL would never happen in Serie A.

Zed.D

Nov 7 2008, 09:57 PM

QUOTE

the way big teams walk all over the lower table ones in the EPL would never happen in Serie A.

I wouldn't say 'never', but rarely.

dst

Nov 7 2008, 10:00 PM

What a goal! Well done R20!

But what an ugly Milan! Well I did not expect anything more after I saw the line-up but still... Such a display is normal when the players expected to create (the midfielders; Gattuso, Emerson, Flamini and the full-backs; Antonini, Jankulovski) are average technically... when I saw Seedorf warming up I almost jumped off my seat from happiness! Damn, I miss Pirlo...

Senderos...

He is crap but he has such a funny face and I can't get mad at him... but boy he is slow! In fact he is so slow he makes softcore porn look rapidly hardcore! He barely managed to stop his opponents, BRAGA PLAYERS, at full stretch! I am so privileged to have watched the duo of Kaladzity Jane and the retarded brother of Flash Gordon...

han2503

Nov 7 2008, 10:21 PM

QUOTE (zdrossoneri @ Nov 7 2008, 09:57 PM)

I wouldn't say 'never', but rarely.

Ok saying never was exxagerating it on my part. But as you said it rarely happens.

QUOTE (dst @ Nov 7 2008, 10:00 PM)

What a goal! Well done R20!

But what an ugly Milan! Well I did not expect anything more after I saw the line-up but still... Such a display is normal when the players expected to create (the midfielders; Gattuso, Emerson, Flamini and the full-backs; Antonini, Jankulovski) are average technically... when I saw Seedorf warming up I almost jumped off my seat from happiness! Damn, I miss Pirlo...

Senderos...

He is crap but he has such a funny face and I can't get mad at him... but boy he is slow! In fact he is so slow he makes softcore porn look rapidly hardcore! He barely managed to stop his opponents, BRAGA PLAYERS, at full stretch! I am so privileged to have watched the duo of Kaladzity Jane and the retarded brother of Flash Gordon...

You're killing me over here

Kaladzity Jane / retarded brother of Flash Gordon

Zed.D

Nov 8 2008, 08:50 AM

QUOTE

Ok saying never was exxagerating it on my part. But as you said it rarely happens.

But agree that there's not much the will to do so. IF Milan really want to attack and score +3 goals against a Siena type team for example, it can.

don't believe Carlo's bullsh1t about how these teams are unbreakable! that word should not even exist in Milan's dictionary...

__________________________________

:

QUOTE

ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS LIKE THIS

11/6/2008 11:59:00 PM

After seven years on the Rossoneri's bench, Carlo Ancelotti is happy with the target reached and proposes himself for another: "That of tonight was the first game of the next seven years."

MILAN - These are the declarations of the Rossoneri's coach Carlo Ancelotti at the end of Milan-Braga 1-0:

"Tonight we found it very difficult, but it was predictable because Braga is an unknown team, but with excellent qualities, who play with order and we are forced to adapt to a different game system. In the first half Milan played well, the attackers on the pitch were very quick. In particular Pato and Shevchenko did well, then in the second half we had some difficulties.

"Seven years have passed since I arrived on the Milan bench. The first seven came to an end, that of tonight was the first match of the next seven years. The first game was in Coppa Italia against Perugia which we won 3-0. Even tonight we are away from the league and we start with a win, hoping that in the future there are other Champions Cups to win.

"Gattuso is an extraordinary player, his presence is very important, especially right now that he's fine. He feels as the leader of this group. Even Ronaldinho was fantastic, he's a player we can expect everything from, and from the practical point of view he was important because he has already scored five goals.

"For the first time tonight, Kaladze and Senderos were on the pitch as the central duo. It was an important performance, despite the condition not being optimial, but I'm happy.

"On Sunday we shall go to Lecce, it will be a difficult game and for this reason we have tried to rest some players and at the same time give more minutes to others."

Please, be kidding me

MizNelson

Nov 8 2008, 11:51 AM

QUOTE

ANOTHER SEVEN YEARS LIKE THIS

Egad. Sorry, Carlo, as much as you like to think you're SAF, you're not. Accept it as fact.

If there's one match in this group stage I'm looking forward to, it's Portsmouth; I really hope we wax them like a set of cheap candles. The English birdcage liners will probably engage in an orgy of Dida/David James jokes and building up the valiant Pompey against the Evil Empire of Milan in the week leading up to the match. After an 0-0 draw, it'll be hailed as their best European effort ever.

Rossoneri7

Nov 8 2008, 01:27 PM

QUOTE (MizNelson @ Nov 8 2008, 01:51 PM)

Egad. Sorry, Carlo, as much as you like to think you're SAF, you're not. Accept it as fact.

If there's one match in this group stage I'm looking forward to, it's Portsmouth; I really hope we wax them like a set of cheap candles. The English birdcage liners will probably engage in an orgy of Dida/David James jokes and building up the valiant Pompey against the Evil Empire of Milan in the week leading up to the match. After an 0-0 draw, it'll be hailed as their best European effort ever.

acid911

Nov 8 2008, 01:54 PM

QUOTE (MizNelson @ Nov 8 2008, 03:51 PM)

Egad. Sorry, Carlo, as much as you like to think you're SAF, you're not. Accept it as fact.

If there's one match in this group stage I'm looking forward to, it's Portsmouth; I really hope we wax them like a set of cheap candles. The English birdcage liners will probably engage in an orgy of Dida/David James jokes and building up the valiant Pompey against the Evil Empire of Milan in the week leading up to the match. After an 0-0 draw, it'll be hailed as their best European effort ever.

Agree with everything!

I think if we play anything near to our full strength squad (not the Serie A squad, just a better and balanced UEFA Cup team, unlike last match) Portsmouth doesn't stand a chance.

acid911

Nov 8 2008, 06:21 PM

QUOTE (acid911 @ Nov 7 2008, 01:39 AM)

Who knew it'd be the same story again?

Only the uniform changed into white, with the cast remaining the same, both Gattuso and Ronaldinho! Hope it keeps up!

PatitoFeo

Nov 12 2008, 01:06 AM

Wait - in the Serie A vs. EPL comparison, are we arguing that catenaccio is a good thing?

I agree that Italians defend with more intelligence and grace than their UK "two foot slide tackle at the drop of a hat" counterparts, but the 9 men behind the ball tactics is not exactly easy on the eye.

And Fox Soccer Report is the worst half hour of sports not involving Jim Rome. I can't stand UK English accents, except for the occasional Irishmen. And no Tommy Smith is not that occasional Irishman. I have never owned an onion bag nor do I care to wikipedia that annoying reference

Tennie

Nov 12 2008, 01:16 AM

Haha. A cookie to PatitoFeo.

You echoed my thoughts far more eloquently than I could write them down about the state of football coverage in the US.

kurtsimonw

Nov 12 2008, 09:07 AM

QUOTE (PatitoFeo @ Nov 12 2008, 12:06 AM)

Wait - in the Serie A vs. EPL comparison, are we arguing that catenaccio is a good thing?

I agree that Italians defend with more intelligence and grace than their UK "two foot slide tackle at the drop of a hat" counterparts, but the 9 men behind the ball tactics is not exactly easy on the eye.

And Fox Soccer Report is the worst half hour of sports not involving Jim Rome. I can't stand UK English accents, except for the occasional Irishmen. And no Tommy Smith is not that occasional Irishman. I have never owned an onion bag nor do I care to wikipedia that annoying reference

There's nout wrong with our accents!

MizNelson

Nov 12 2008, 09:53 AM

QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Nov 12 2008, 12:07 AM)

There's nout wrong with our accents!

Not at all, but Tommy Smyth is particularly grating on the ears.

I think I'm one of the few people who likes Jim Rome nowadays because I mostly agree with what he says. Still, anyone who watched ESPN in 1991 remembers how Rams quarterback Jim Everett decked him on television after Rome kept calling him "Chris Evert." Ah, those were the days.

han2503

Nov 12 2008, 01:05 PM

QUOTE (PatitoFeo @ Nov 12 2008, 01:06 AM)

Wait - in the Serie A vs. EPL comparison, are we arguing that catenaccio is a good thing?

I agree that Italians defend with more intelligence and grace than their UK "two foot slide tackle at the drop of a hat" counterparts, but the 9 men behind the ball tactics is not exactly easy on the eye.

We're not saying that it easier on the eyes, far from it, but it's much more harder to break down these types of teams than their English counterpart. At least that's my oppinion

kurtsimonw

Nov 12 2008, 11:47 PM

QUOTE (MizNelson @ Nov 12 2008, 08:53 AM)

Not at all, but Tommy Smyth is particularly grating on the ears.

I think I'm one of the few people who likes Jim Rome nowadays because I mostly agree with what he says. Still, anyone who watched ESPN in 1991 remembers how Rams quarterback Jim Everett decked him on television after Rome kept calling him "Chris Evert." Ah, those were the days.

I did not see that unfortunately, I wasn't even old enough to go to school then!