AC Milan Thread [2012/13]

[ShiftyPowers]

When he plays Italian teams or Chelsea, he is frequently playing against one of the top teams in the world in a format (2 legged knockout round) that rewards the kind of cautious approach that isn't as sensible in a league game when a team might be more comfortable playing an open game because it's only 1 game of 38. That Messi has 1 game in those 16 games seems interesting, but it holds no predictive value for his next game against those teams, and as such is not relevant or interesting.

 

[Xifio]

yeah, no one but the big teams, and that too only in 2-legged formats, play the cautious approach against Barça ...

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Don't be an ass. If Chelsea met Barca in the league, they would have much more incentive, and be much more likely, to try to play football instead of parking the bus. Barca don't play against 38 busses each year in the league, but they do pretty much see 7 in the knockout rounds. To Milan's credit, they played Barca off the park, but that says a lot more about the state of Barcelona right now than about Messi. Hell, Arnau bet against Barca, but I bet it had very little to do with Messi and just about everything to do with how well the team as a whole is playing.

What you tried to imply was that Italian teams do something unique that Messi can't handle (wrong as Chelsea have been just as successful against him) and then when I cited an example to show how full of shit you were you shifted to the argument that Messi sucks against big teams. If you would like to advance the argument that Messi sucks against big teams you will find the conversation much better in the Barca thread, and you will also be wrong.

 

[Xifio]

hahaha Barça thread? you do realize who you're talking to, right?

and what bilge about me suggesting he's not a big game player ... you're not that stupid; just hellbent on trying to pin something on me, I guess ...

and the point you were trying to make is erroneous ... a lot of teams play cautious against Barcelona, even in the league ...

as for Arnau's bet:

now I really want to make up for a potentially disappointing England campaign and keep the tournament interesting by seeing how much I can make (or lose) with purely smart betting.

you can also use Arnau's betting tactic: bet on every opponent your team (i.e. England) faces; that way, you're either too happy with the win to care about the monetary loss, or you'll have cash to properly drown your misery ...

come on, buddy ...

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Oh, so you had no point. Cool. Thanks for posting a meaningless stat and then getting mad when I said it was meaningless.

 

[Xifio]

those stats aren't a coincidence ...

does it necessitate that he will continue in that vein? no ... this seems to be the point you're trying to make, and why you believe they are irrelevant ...

but, statistically it wouldn't be surprising if nothing changes -- that obviously adds fuel to the fire that he fares less well against certain opposition ...

and if he bucks the trend, then a compare/contrast will reveal the differences unique to the match; and until the existing pattern is dispelled/replaced, that match will remain an outlier ...

then again, you can't see something if you won't look, so suit yourself ...

 

[Xifio]

Montolivo was brilliant against Parma in a new DLP role ... Max did great by keeping him there in his lineup against Barça, and Monty produced a man of the match performance (IMO):

 

[Arnau]

He was good in the pitcher role

 

[Xifio]

cue the "that's what happens when you trust in youth" press spin ... nah, I kid (hah, sorry) ... that was just an old-fashioned ass whooping ...

 

[Arnau]

"@iomatrix23: Habemus Messi !!!"

Materazzi

 

[ShiftyPowers]

cue the "that's what happens when you trust in youth" press spin ... nah, I kid (hah, sorry) ... that was just an old-fashioned ass whooping ...

I thought the weirdest move was playing Flamini.

 

[Xifio]

my thoughts on Flamini in 2011:

- Nocerino to replace, and hopefully render useless, the injured Flamini (who will not be registered with UEFA)

Allegri didn't bitch out in the first leg, and played an attacking lineup with Sulley the Munt starting ... this time though, the bitch in him won over, and Flamini started ...

hasn't stopped M'baye Niang being made the scapegoat across all forums/boards where disgruntled Milanisti are to be found ... shame ...

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Yeah that's ridiculous. Players miss chances, it happens in every single game. It's about how you play and execute the plan, and frankly Niang had very little to do with that. But it's possible that no team in the world could have gone into Barcelona today and held a 2-0 win; they were ridiculous.

 

[Arnau]

Niang is a Welbeck

 

[Mus]

He's 17

 

[Arnau]

Potentially Welbeck then

 

[Mus]

Potentially ribery too

 

[ShiftyPowers]

El Shaaaawy looks more like Ribery than Niang.

 

[Arnau]

Ribery is much more dominant than both, they are more strikers. Niang really reminds me of Welbeck.

 

[Mus]

Niang is very technical and a good dribbler