Abbiati MotM for me.

From what I understand, Allegri is giving the youngsters a proper chance, not 2-3 minute cameo appearances. hope that doesn't change once our official games kickoff. the youth can save us from this misery!

Agreed

maybe nervese, they way he played last time, Allegri thought a lot of him today and Yepes din't not live up to it.

He's #19 now

I wouldn't worry about him too much. he was supposed to be Favalli's replacement ie fourth choice CB.

I still can't believe we convinced Gattuso to stay. He was like a turd with legs, all he did was run around and stink.

Pato to the rescue. Pato is our saving grace.
Arsenal were giving us the run around a bit looked pretty as they always do with their countering play. Our midfield looked a bit slow and at times played long ball. Arsenal looked pretty good and we're lucky they didn't have Fabregas and some of their internationals to deal with even though Nasri, Walcott, and Arshavin were knocking around the ball great.

We got lucky with the Randall miss was a sitter than Van Persie would have buried. They got lucky with that Zambrotta cross bar strike, its like where did that shot come from??

Overall nice to see the big clubs back in action, gettin me pumped for the weekends again to watch the games.

Didn't see the game but I didn't really need to. +1

If Rauls and Gutis of this world can easily leave Real Madrid because they're not good enough anymore, so can Rino. I don't mind him staying, I just hope he doesn't expect a starting spot from Allegri.

All in all, I'm not displeased with the team's performance. Personally, I thought Arsenal would asphalt us. There were some significant absences but the guys held stuff together mostly (AGREE on wtf were we doing convincing Rino to stay, love him to death but he should've moved on). Things picked up when the kids started coming in and I am inclined to give each of them a cookie.

Yep, Rino was poor today Very slow - kept getting caught in possession.

It was still a great header by Pato for the goal - but it was an inch perfect free kick from Seedorf. More of that please.

Pato scored with a header?! I love it when he scores headers. can't think of many Brazilian forwards with that ability.

+1, I also think that was the most stupid move from Allegri, and I think this year was the last year we could sell Oddo, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Gattuso and beside them I think we could also sell Borrielo, he is a retard of a player, and with all that money we could buy at least only Dzeko, maybe and Honda if Berlusconi finally open his fuc...g pocket.

And I forget, great games from Abbiati, Flamini, Pato. Abbiati MotM - agreed, and Seedorf (must play little more offensive role) and Antonini was solid. If I look only this game my starting 11 for upcoming season would be: Abbiati, Antonini, Nesta, T. Silva, Zambro, Flamini, Pirlo, Seedorf, Dinho, Pato and Huntelar (if we don't sign better striker)

+1 for YOUNGSTERS
YOUNGSTERS - IN, Oddo, Kaladze, Jankulovski, Gattuso - OUT

No Pirlo, No Ronaldinho....very very impressed!! I understand Arsenal aren't at their strongest...but considering they've been in training longer than us...I think this is cool.

+100000000

Finally someone who says that

Arsenal were obviously superior and could have buried the game if not for bad luck and Abbiati's great saves. Still, we didn't play as bad as I was expecting.

Why so surprised? Pato scored with his head before. He has got a good header! I said it yesterday or so...

game over?


how did the kids play?

Yesterday or so I was trying to convince people around here Pato is as best as striker and has got a decent header. Today he proved in both me right.

Gattuso was bad, it seems like Strasser and Merkel are better than him. Gattuso needs to leave (too painful seeing him stay), he wants to actually but 'we' would not let him...

To be honest the best 2 players on the pitch were Nests and Seedorf. The kids did well but you could see we weren't fit. All the fuss about JKH going is amazing considering how awful Borriello looked but the result was better than I expected

Nice to see merkel getting time.


He's a german/Kazakhstan midfielder. He is quite talented.

goals:


Pato



chamakh

---



Tomorrow's game will be interesting. I have a feeling Verdi might start

I'll post some pics up either later tonight or tomorrow. Merkel did do well if not overly productive and to be honest we had no threat up front at all but like I said we did look so more unfit than Arsenal be interesting to see tomorrows line up

Yay, I do hope so. And Amelia probably will start. Abbiati was awesome today, so Amelia good luck to you!

Just came back from the game ugh what a day it was!!!

Not surprised I already knew he's good at headers (his Lazio goal still gives me goosebumps). I just..like it when he scores with headers!

@ Blue

Thanks for the link!

I know Abbiati was decent today but I still want to see Amelia starting.

First half was a nightmare but the second half was far better. All the kids played better then most of the senior players. The first half was mind numbingly tedios, Seedorf and Rino making triangles and losing the ball again.

The second half once again the kids came in and gave our game some pace. Merkel has impressed me in both of his appearances. Verdi should be on the bench at least in most Serie A games and I don't know why we co-owned Strasser, he's better then Rino at this point.

Yepes was horrible, but I'll give him a chance to get settled before judging him. Nesta was Nesta, Antonini was missing that spark of last season imo.

Zambro was very good imo, pushed forward a lot which is nice to see from him.

Flamini was awesome. He really was everywhere. Pato as well.

Bori was quiet and Abate was his usual self, not bad but nothing spectacular. The rest were pretty average, imo most of them were even showing the reluctance to run, they were trying to play the game while walking or at best a mild jog.

As for Allegri, I don't know why he's insisting on the 4-3-3 without Ronaldinho and Pirlo. It clearly won't work.

As for next game. I'd personally like to see this



EDIT Abbiati was amazing as well, he saved our blushes more times then I could count

Not much to say, I don't think anyone will disagree if I say we were the better team, which considering our absentees is a pleasing thought. I have to say though, your youngsters baffled me in the second half, I had no idea they were that good. Definately something to build upon. Great showing by Abbiati as well.

As for Gattuso... anyone who wants to reopen the Gattuso vs Ambrosini debate? Dreadful performance.

Maybe its not too late for Olympiakos.

highlights

http://www.footytube.com/video/arsenal-1-x...-31-07-10-52722

It's ridiculous to compare them now, but at their peaks, Gattuso is undoubtedly the better player of the 2.

I really can't see why, you only have to go back 11 months to find people ridiculing you for even suggesting that there is no huge gap in quality between them, let alone a clear superiority. That's in Ambro's favour, that is.

Gattuso hasn't been anywhere near his peak the last two seasons, and by the look of things he never will be again, whereas Ambrosini has been far more consistent over the iyears, and if there is a DM 1# spot at Milan, it firmly belongs to him.

Locke, out of curiosity, what're the gooner faithful saying about Milan's performance?

Had a chat to some gunners fans on the way home and they said they thought we were poor. I agree the 1st half was average Yepes looked lost at times and has no pace but considering he won't be a regular for us it's not a major problem. Socartis looked lost to and the system in the first half was lop sided to all in all not good

Like I said to kurt in the other thread, Rino took a major nose dive, while Ambro gets major points for being able to prolong his physical condition for longer. But then again that is more a testament to Rino's commitment to giving his all no matter what. Rino hasn't been the same since that major injury he got to his knee after playing with thorn ligaments for the entire match.

The fair comparison would have been at their peaks, and at ther very best, Rino walks all over Ambro and many coaches would have sold their arms to have Rino on their teams while Ambro was Rino's sub. That says enough.

At their best there was a huge gap in quality and only the loyal Ambro fans would say otherwise as for most neutrals and Milan fans alike there simply is no comparison as to who was the best player when at their best

Rino now is a shadow. He's only at Milan because he's a legend and a great man to have on your team, whether he's playing or not playing

Milan-Lyon possible formations :


Milan (4-3-3): Abbiati, Oddo, Nesta, Bonera, Zambrotta, Merkel, Seedorf, Flamini, Abate, Borriello, Pato.

Lyon (4-3-3): Vercoutre; Réveillère, Lovren, Seguin, Umtiti; Grenier, Kallstrom, Makoun, Bastos, Novillo, Lacazette.

No Abate in attack pls!

Milan - Lyon official line-up :

Milan: Amelia, Oddo, Papastathopoulos, Bonera, Zambrotta, Strasser, Seedorf, Flamini, Merkel, Borriello, Verdi

Lione: Loris, Gassama, Cris, Cissokho, Gonalons, Pjanic, Bastos, Toulalan, Ederson, Briand, Gomis

No pato, no nesta

Glad to see Merkel, Verdi and Strasser starting.

Also I'm corious to see Papa playing as CB.

Well, most of the focus was on Chamakh and Koscielny, but the overall impression is that it was roughly the same wo years ago: we were the better team. The only comments I remember in regards to Milan was incredulity over what has happened to Gattuso, and some praise for Abbiati and the youngsters in the second half.
The general feeling however, is that we still don't take our chances properly. We could have buried the match in the first half, instead we kept on missing clear-cut chances and then conceeding a soft goal in the second half.
Worryingly similiar to past seasons.

Milan - Lyon live stream :

http://atdhe.net/21816/watch-ac-milan-vs-olympique-lyon

What a good chance for Verdi.

Seedorf nice pass

Guys you should see how good Seedorf's playing.

EDIT

Good save by Amelia

Flamini handballs in the gk's area but no penallty says referee

Another good Amelia's save.

Borriello is so tired he is not even walking

Yellow card for Papastathopoulos

Okay, if I'm goign to pick on Ronaldinho for coming back to training out of condition, Borriello deserves the bathtub treatment too. That's just sad the lack of conditioning he's showing.

And I've just got back from Mass and am saying ACK because on turning on the telly (it's 30 minutes behind live) Oddo is on the pitch. Can't we make him go away?

the announcer on my channel was just talking about how hes our starting rb and even though is not true my stomach still turned

I diggin these new kits

HT: Milan 0-0 Lyon

Amelia, Bonera, Zambrotta, Seedorf, Strasser and Merkel were good and stabile.

Papa', Flamini and Verdi were average

Oddo and Borriello were bad like always. Borriello was not in condition to run. I want to see Beretta in the second half.

Merkel is playing as AMF and it's doing good IMO. Verdi is winger and should play in the wings he lost a perfect chance. Seedorf is playing as Deep-Lying Midfielder and played very good. Strasser was good 10X better than Gattuso. Zambrotta runed a lot. Bonera saved our @$$ in 2 or 3 times. Amelia did the best he could.

Gattuso in for Flamini.

Borriello scores.

1-0

GREAT play by Seedorf and Verdi

Verdi got injured.

Pato IN
Verdi OUT

Borriello did just about everything in his power to try and not to score that it seemed. Well done though for Verdi!

Yepes in for Papa'

Antonini in for Zambrotta

I'm really starting to dig our jerseys