Serie A: AC Milan vs Juventus [12/01/2007] (13 Viewers)
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Seedorf bemused by Milan's poor league form
MILAN, Nov 30 (Reuters) - AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf cannot understand why his side are struggling in Serie A but has acknowledged that rivals Inter again look stronger than the rest this season.
They beat Cagliari 2-1 last weekend but lost 2-1 at Palermo in September in their only away defeat in the league this term.
"We haven't played that badly to be in this position. We are lacking goals at home. At Palermo we played our best game of the season and lost," Seedorf told Reuters at his home.
The 31-year-old Dutch international is still confident Milan can storm back, just as they did last season when they finished fourth despite a patchy start and an eight-point deduction for match-fixing.
Catching champions and leaders Inter will be tough, though.
"Maybe Inter are the only team that are superior. There is a long run-in. This year is very competitive, everyone is winning against everyone," he added.
Milan are performing better in their bid to retain their Champions League title, with Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Benfica enough to put Carlo Ancelotti's men through to the last 16.
"It was important to get a good result. We knew it wouldn't be an easy game," added Seedorf, who travels to Japan with his team mates later this month to compete in the Club World Cup.
The gleaming stadiums of Japan will be very different from some of Italy's ageing arenas and Seedorf said authorities had to act to avoid a repeat of the fan violence which again hit the Italian game earlier this month.
Milan's game at Atalanta was abandoned after fans tried to smash a fence. As a result of the general trouble, Juve fans have been banned from the San Siro on Saturday and other away supporters stopped from travelling.
"The decision (to ban away fans) has been made and when they make a decision you have to be part of it and help make it work," Seedorf said.
"But for the long term there's lots of things we should focus on. We need to invest in stadiums."
Reuters
MILAN, Nov 30 (Reuters) - AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf cannot understand why his side are struggling in Serie A but has acknowledged that rivals Inter again look stronger than the rest this season.
They beat Cagliari 2-1 last weekend but lost 2-1 at Palermo in September in their only away defeat in the league this term.
"We haven't played that badly to be in this position. We are lacking goals at home. At Palermo we played our best game of the season and lost," Seedorf told Reuters at his home.
The 31-year-old Dutch international is still confident Milan can storm back, just as they did last season when they finished fourth despite a patchy start and an eight-point deduction for match-fixing.
Catching champions and leaders Inter will be tough, though.
"Maybe Inter are the only team that are superior. There is a long run-in. This year is very competitive, everyone is winning against everyone," he added.
Milan are performing better in their bid to retain their Champions League title, with Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Benfica enough to put Carlo Ancelotti's men through to the last 16.
"It was important to get a good result. We knew it wouldn't be an easy game," added Seedorf, who travels to Japan with his team mates later this month to compete in the Club World Cup.
The gleaming stadiums of Japan will be very different from some of Italy's ageing arenas and Seedorf said authorities had to act to avoid a repeat of the fan violence which again hit the Italian game earlier this month.
Milan's game at Atalanta was abandoned after fans tried to smash a fence. As a result of the general trouble, Juve fans have been banned from the San Siro on Saturday and other away supporters stopped from travelling.
"The decision (to ban away fans) has been made and when they make a decision you have to be part of it and help make it work," Seedorf said.
"But for the long term there's lots of things we should focus on. We need to invest in stadiums."
Reuters
Del Piero To Start On The Bench Again
Reports in Italy suggest that Alessandro Del Piero is set to start tomorrow’s match against Milan on the bench.
The Golden Boy was dropped from the starting line-up for last Sunday’s game against Palermo, with Coach Claudio Ranieri opting for David Trezeguet and Vincenzo Iaquinta up-front.
Both strikers scored as the Bianconeri raced into a two-goal lead at half time. However Del Piero was introduced into the fray on 68 minutes and produced a magical cameo performance, scoring two goals, one a brilliant free-kick, as well as creating another for Marco Marchionni.
The post-match debate was all about whether Del Piero, at the age of 33, is actually of better use to Ranieri as some kind of super-sub – a player who can come off the bench in the last 20 to 30 minutes to change the game.
It appears that the Tinkerman sees it this way as Juve’s training schedules suggest that Iaquinta will once again partner Trezeguet in a 4-4-2 formation.
Ranieri is unlikely to deploy a trident attack, as Milan are renowned for being at their best against teams who open up and attack them.
A silver lining for Del Piero could possibly come in the form of Mauro Camoranesi. The winger is struggling with fatigue and if he fails to be fit, it could prompt a tactical reshuffle.
However in this scenario it seems more likely that Camoranesi will be replaced by either Marco Marchionni, or former Bayern Munich man Hasan Salihamidzic.
goal.com
Reports in Italy suggest that Alessandro Del Piero is set to start tomorrow’s match against Milan on the bench.
The Golden Boy was dropped from the starting line-up for last Sunday’s game against Palermo, with Coach Claudio Ranieri opting for David Trezeguet and Vincenzo Iaquinta up-front.
Both strikers scored as the Bianconeri raced into a two-goal lead at half time. However Del Piero was introduced into the fray on 68 minutes and produced a magical cameo performance, scoring two goals, one a brilliant free-kick, as well as creating another for Marco Marchionni.
The post-match debate was all about whether Del Piero, at the age of 33, is actually of better use to Ranieri as some kind of super-sub – a player who can come off the bench in the last 20 to 30 minutes to change the game.
It appears that the Tinkerman sees it this way as Juve’s training schedules suggest that Iaquinta will once again partner Trezeguet in a 4-4-2 formation.
Ranieri is unlikely to deploy a trident attack, as Milan are renowned for being at their best against teams who open up and attack them.
A silver lining for Del Piero could possibly come in the form of Mauro Camoranesi. The winger is struggling with fatigue and if he fails to be fit, it could prompt a tactical reshuffle.
However in this scenario it seems more likely that Camoranesi will be replaced by either Marco Marchionni, or former Bayern Munich man Hasan Salihamidzic.
goal.com
Since Camoranesi is injured i'd want to see this now:
----------------------Buffon---------------------
Zebina---------Legro----------Chiellini-------Molinaro
Marchionni-----Nocerino-----Zanetti------------Nedved
-------------Iaquinta---------------Trezeguet
Iaquinta has to be on this side to help out Marchionni on the wing
----------------------Buffon---------------------
Zebina---------Legro----------Chiellini-------Molinaro
Marchionni-----Nocerino-----Zanetti------------Nedved
-------------Iaquinta---------------Trezeguet
Iaquinta has to be on this side to help out Marchionni on the wing
Ronaldo Not To Be Offered New Milan Contract? Injury-plagued Milan striker Ronaldo may not be offered a new contract by the club, according to Tuttosport.
El Fenomeno signed for the Rossoneri from Real Madrid in January of this year on an 18-month contract.
The 31-year-old made an impressive start to life at San Siro, scoring seven goals in 14 games up until the end of last season.
Ronaldo then picked up an injury in July and he only made his first appearance of this campaign in last Sunday’s 2-1 win over Cagliari.
However just days later the ex-Inter star pulled up with a calf problem whilst warming up before the midweek Champions League match with Benfica.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to keep Ronaldo on the bench for the entire 90 minutes, and it has now been revealed that he will not be fit for tomorrow’s crunch match with Juventus.
As Ronaldo’s contract with Milan runs out next summer, this means that he will be able to talk to other clubs from January.
In order to prevent the possibility of a Bosman free transfer, the Rossoneri have just over a month to present Ronnie with a new deal.
However according to Tuttosport this may not be forthcoming unless the Brazilian can prove that his injury problems are behind him.
Palermo hitman Amauri has already been touted as a possible replacement, while 18-year-old wonderkid Alexandre Pato will also be available from January, thus further reducing the importance of the three-times FIFA World Player of the Year.
Carlo Garganese
"we end just like rivaldo fool"
El Fenomeno signed for the Rossoneri from Real Madrid in January of this year on an 18-month contract.
The 31-year-old made an impressive start to life at San Siro, scoring seven goals in 14 games up until the end of last season.
Ronaldo then picked up an injury in July and he only made his first appearance of this campaign in last Sunday’s 2-1 win over Cagliari.
However just days later the ex-Inter star pulled up with a calf problem whilst warming up before the midweek Champions League match with Benfica.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti decided to keep Ronaldo on the bench for the entire 90 minutes, and it has now been revealed that he will not be fit for tomorrow’s crunch match with Juventus.
As Ronaldo’s contract with Milan runs out next summer, this means that he will be able to talk to other clubs from January.
In order to prevent the possibility of a Bosman free transfer, the Rossoneri have just over a month to present Ronnie with a new deal.
However according to Tuttosport this may not be forthcoming unless the Brazilian can prove that his injury problems are behind him.
Palermo hitman Amauri has already been touted as a possible replacement, while 18-year-old wonderkid Alexandre Pato will also be available from January, thus further reducing the importance of the three-times FIFA World Player of the Year.
Carlo Garganese
"we end just like rivaldo fool"
Palermo was an exciting match. I hope this will be better, maybe the scores wont be as high, but I expect a great game altogether. As with Palermo, Ranieri should bring DP in in the second half. I hope to see the same midfield as I saw against Palermo, they're well motivated and should thus do better than against Palermo, I want to see a defence without Criscito, an attack with Camoranesi (why isn't he included in the line-up). In the second half he should change (if necessary) any weak link in the midfield, I have a feeling Nocerino will have a tough day, (someone better tell him to keep the ball closer to his feet when he pushs forward with it) a charging Gattuso can cause a lot of damage if you allow him get to the ball before you. Cristiano Zanetti will find Kaka quite a handful, that young sucker is getting stronger and deadlier. But I expect Zanetti will do well like always. I like our full backs joining the attack and I expect they'll do the same against Milan without fear, they only have to work more harder to cover up when the counters come, and I can assure you of one thing, they will come. Seedorf, Ambrosini; we'll have to force a bad day out of those two, they're the 2 most likely to have one, Nocerino can frustrate anybody, even me atimes. I want to see Ranieri play Legro and Chiellini in the CB positions and Zebina and Molinaro beside them (No Salihamidzic), he has a way of slowing down our attack. T-rez and Iaquinta upfront, then bring in DP for either of them later on in the match. Since Camo wont play, we'll have to make use of Palla from the onset Nedved has to play like he did against Palermo, he shouold run the game, and not the other way round.
I don't know who our psychologist is but he should tell them what he told them against Palermo. If he does, we'll win this one, then we can celebrate big time. I'll be modest 2-1, we win. God help us. FORZA BIANCONERO.
I need an avatar. Rogerto Baggio, the reason am a Juventino. A theme based on him would suit me just fine.
I don't know who our psychologist is but he should tell them what he told them against Palermo. If he does, we'll win this one, then we can celebrate big time. I'll be modest 2-1, we win. God help us. FORZA BIANCONERO.
I need an avatar. Rogerto Baggio, the reason am a Juventino. A theme based on him would suit me just fine.