AC Milan 2-2 Catania

The Rossoneri had big injury problems as Beckham, Onyewu, Nesta, Bonera, Pato, and Jankulovski were out. Leonardo unleashed an attacking 4-2-1-3, though, with Ronaldinho, Marco Borriello and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in attack just as I had predicted.

Catania raced into a 2-0 lead in the first half through Maxi Lopez and Adrian Ricchiuti which lead to my heart attack! Only for thankfully, Borri to score a great double and salvage Milan's pride.

Milan played a very poor first half and only through Silva,Ronaldinho,Inzaghi & Borriellos combined great efforts were they able to get anything from the match.



Player Ratings
Dida: Played really well but didn't have to make any real noteworthy saves, both goals he was NOT at fault with. 6
Abate: Was very impressive workhorse who ran all day and helped provided the cross for Borriello.Is rapidly improving with everygame. 7.5
Thiago Silva: Very average game for him this afternoon and at times looked like he was sleeping. At fault for one goal. 5.3
Favalli: Struggled against the pace and movement of the oppositions forward partnership and has big question marks on his ability to still compete at the highest level . 4.7
Antonini: Poor day from Luca as he was caught out of defence one to many times. Also led to some stray passes. Redeemded himself in the second half with a few key tackles and good movement. 5
Pirlo: Some very nice passes today but to few tackles and not much of an influence on the tempo of the game today.Needs to improve if he wants World Cup spot. 6
Seedorf: As usual, only a good super impact sub or can only play one good first half of football before disapearing like so many of his teammates today. Gets a 6.2 only because of his impact in the first half.
Huntelaar: He played today? He barley touched the ball! 3.5
Borriello: Loves to bully little teams and was back against Catania!Borriello exploded after the break with two excellent finishes. Was a real handful in the second 45. 8.3
Ronaldinho: Got no protection from the referee today, but still did all he could to create for Milan. Finished impressively. 7.5
Substitutes:
Flamini: Helped win the midfield after his introduction. 7.3
Inzaghi: Involved in second goal and a real handful. 7.2
Mancini: Contributed little. 5.1

Azzmilan

Leonardo To Leave Milan - Report + Catania Match Up

Leonardo To Leave Milan - Report
Milan and Leonardo are on course to split at the end of the season because the coach cannot take Silvio Berlusconi's pressure, according to Il Corriere dello Sport.

Berlusconi has expressed his displeasure with the way Milan have struggled to match Inter this season, and often the buck has stopped with Leonardo.

Berlusconi has also accused the Brazilian of dragging his feet, something that has led him to reconsider his future.

"If only those in charge of the team allowed it to play..." the Italian supremo said back in February.

However, on Friday Adriano Galliani rejected previous reports claiming his coach would quit the Rossoneri for Brazil.

"Leonardo is staying here," the Italian told the press.

I honestly believe this is disgraceful and a spit in the face to all Leonardo has done with a deplorable Milan squad this season. His has exceeded my execations and has got the full support from myself.



Also regarding tonights game with Catania I believe we will win 2-0 as we are currently on a roll. We are fighting to keep our title hopes alive while Catania are just middle table club but are not to be underestimated. A great side on their day.

Alexandre Pato, Amantino Mancini, David Beckham, Alessandro Nesta and Oguchi Onyewu are all unavailable, but Mathieu Flamini returns from suspension.
Here is the available squad:

Goalkeepers: Abbiati, Dida, Roma

Defenders: Abate, Bonera, Thiago Silva, Favalli, Jankulovski, Oddo, Zambrotta, Antonini, Kaladze.

Midfielders: Ambrosini, Seedorf, Gattuso, Pirlo, Flamini.

Strikers: Inzaghi, Huntelaar, Adiyah, Zigoni, Borriello, Ronaldinho.

I think it will be ;
Dida
Abate Silva Favalli Antonini

Ambrosini Flamini
Seedorf

Huntelaar Borri Dinho


Azzmilan

Leonardo Issues Milan With Five-Point Ultimatum – Report

Leonardo Issues Milan With Five-Point Ultimatum – Report
Milan coach Leonardo wants more decision making powers over several key aspects, including the transfer market, if he is to stay at the club.

Reports in Brazil have linked the coach with the national team job when Carlos Dunga leaves at the end of the World Cup and Silvio Berlusconi's recent complaints have only fuelled the speculation further.

However, Leonardo wants to stay, and he is expected to give the club the following five-point ultimatum, according to Il Corriere Dello Sport:

1: He wants to rejuvenate the squad. Out with the old, and in with the new. Young players who do not demand mega wage packets.

2: Leonardo wants more involvement on the transfer market. He was behind deals for Kaka, Thiago Silva and Alexandre Pato in the past, and he wants more decision-making powers. Last year he wanted Edin Dzeko and Luis Fabiano.

3: New rules on training. Leonardo has set morning sessions this season to ensure players do not have excessive mundane sessions. He plans to make things more severe next term.

4: He wants independence in his choices. He will no longer accept complaints from senior players like Gennaro Gattuso, Filippo Inzaghi, Clarence Seedorf, Gianluca Zambrotta or Mathieu Flamini. The players will need to accept the environment with more serenity.

5: Medical section. Milan's fair-share of injuries have worried the coach this season. He wants to adopt new measures in relation to the medical department at the club and he will intervene personally in certain circumstances.

I personally agree with all his demands and would be estatic if he stayed and recieved this from the Milan board. He has performed miracles for us and deserves all the rewards in the world.
Cheers Leo, you have my vote!

Azzmilan

Juventus, Milan and Inter are fighting in out for CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder Milos Krasic, says agent Vlado Borozan.

Juventus, Milan and Inter are fighting in out for CSKA Moscow attacking midfielder Milos Krasic, says agent Vlado Borozan.

Krasic, who resembles former Juve star Pavel Nedved, is wanted by the Italian giants, who are likely to tussle for him during the summer transfer market.

Borozan, who works alongside Krasic's agent Dejan Yoksmovic, told Tuttomercatoweb.com: "I think he will be the market man for the summer. All the big clubs are after him with Milan, Juve and Inter asking about him.

"There is also big interest in Spain and England. Bayern Munich have also made themselves heard, but there is no real deal at the moment."

Inter will likely take a closer look at the Serbian when they clash with CSKA Moscow in the Champions League quarter-finals next week.

Milan have yet or confirmed or denied their intrest but they really need attacking depth and this would greatly help replinish their squad.

Azzmilan

Darkness Just Before Dawn

If the worst case scenerio played itself out this season and we were knocked out of the Europa League and failed to even qualify for Europe, would it be such a bad thing?

Disscussing it today, after the match between Manchestered United & Liverpool FC ,my dad and I agreed, although highly depressing as it is and as deluded as this may sound, it might not be the worst thing to ever happen to us.

Hear me out: Say we finish 7th and Benfica knock us out, i'd say that this would be the catalyst for major changes at our football club. For a start, the management would be under serious review. Assuming that it is the end of the line for Rafa and he or the club feels he can no longer take us forward, then the club would have to seek alternative management.

Secondly, the current owners, under pressure from the banks and without European revenue for 12 months, may forced into selling the club to new ownership.

Thirdly, it may give us the chance to focus EVERYTHING into attacking the premier league for just one season. Provided we could keep all our top players and bring in some fresh faces, added to this, a new manager, with new ideas (Mourinho???) then this could be the ideal chance to rebuild, re-focus and start again. We would be forced to get rid of extra baggage that are dragging the club down (Riera for instance) and the players that would remain, we know would be the dedicated ones, up for the fight.

Call me crazy, but the night is darkest just before dawn and this could be exactly what we need. No more papering over the cracks or false "guarentees", this could be the re-birth of Liverpool Football Club.

ScousePride





P.S ( I am giving a rotation of Liverpool writers a fair go before I decide on one feature writer.)

Coming Soon

Hi everyone, this blog is now under some development issues and should be back in about 10 days and will be posted on reguarly. It will also feature some articles from the Romanian League,Liverpool FC,Manchester United & some Champion League articles as well. This blog will be better than ever.


*UPDATED
23th March 2010
I have now as you can see released a Liverpool FC article which wil be part of my "EPL Specials" Which will be written about anything to do with the EPL from twice a week to once a month depending on how people like it. There will be more articles in the coming days mainly on Milan and then on the 27th we will kick off properly again.
Thank you for your patience.