Can't stop staring at this goal Atalanta scored the other week, by the way:

Anybody watching the Milan derby now? No longer a big match at the top nowadays but still an intense match so far. Plenty of young players in both teams, don't even know some of them.

Just tuning in. Not really expecting much though.

Mexes scores an own goal. Despite playing quite well. He really is one of the most unfortunate players in football.

edit: overruled by the referee.

Still 0-0

There's no way I'm watching another Milan game without someone pointing a gun at me.

that Atalanta goal. yes!
is it just me or does Serie A seem to have the most bicycle kick goals? i used to think this 10 years ago, but it still feels the same

Klaus wrote:

There's no way I'm watching another Milan game without someone pointing a gun at me.

I thought you hate the Milan under Allegri. I tell you what, ever since he left they are even harder to watch. Horrible footballing team nowadays, no clear game plan in most games.

Milan derbies have been really boring in recent years. Inter made it interesting in the final 10 minutes but overall as a spectacle it's really poor. I think I am going to keep clear of it till they are both back in the big time.

Kovacic is a real talent, one to watch certainly.

Claudius wrote:

that Atalanta goal. yes!
is it just me or does Serie A seem to have the most bicycle kick goals? i used to think this 10 years ago, but it still feels the same

Serie A always have some exceptional goal. There's one goal that always come to my mind, think it was Illcic for Palermo few years back.

Watched parts of it and it was worse than you'd imagine. Might be harsh but Inzaghi seems completely clueless to me, his Milan side plays some disgusting football, only player worth watching is Menez who had a huge season to be fair.

Still think it was unfair on Seedorf to not even give him a full season last year, Milan looked better and won more games under him.

Clrnc wrote:
Klaus wrote:

There's no way I'm watching another Milan game without someone pointing a gun at me.

I thought you hate the Milan under Allegri. I tell you what, ever since he left they are even harder to watch.

Because they are poor (as in economically bankrupt). They were awful under Allegri and even worse now.

They've tried to do what we did when we built Emirates, only they were never self-sufficient to begin with and they don't have a Wenger. Recipe for disaster.

I think Allegri gets more blame than he deserves.

Yes, his teams play a boring brand of football but he did not do too badly when you take the league positions that Milan achieved with him into account.

He was totally shafted by Fester's transfer dealings and lack of financial support from Berlusconi.

Klaus wrote:

Because they are poor (as in economically bankrupt).

If I am not wrong, there's this filthy rich China guy who is going to buy over Milan. Let's see if things will change.

FWIW, the Indonesian Billionaire pumped money into Inter but they are still pretty poor despite making quite a number of signings.

6 days later

Matteo Darmian with a really cool goal against Juventus:

Atrocious defending from Bonucci though.

I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on this guy in the summer. He's been going really strong for two years now and could play on either flank. Reckon his value is about to shoot through the roof soon. Sell Gibbs and get him in.

Klaus wrote:

Matteo Darmian with a really cool goal against Juventus:

Atrocious defending from Bonucci though.

I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on this guy in the summer. He's been going really strong for two years now and could play on either flank. Reckon his value is about to shoot through the roof soon. Sell Gibbs and get him in.

Yeah, Darmian has been linked with every big team so far (Barca, Utd, Bayern, etc.). I wonder why we didn't look at him instead of Debuchy after his strong World Cup showing.

Think Allan from Udinese might be someone to look out for, should take a punt on him too!

Super Mario wrote:
Klaus wrote:

Matteo Darmian with a really cool goal against Juventus:

Atrocious defending from Bonucci though.

I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on this guy in the summer. He's been going really strong for two years now and could play on either flank. Reckon his value is about to shoot through the roof soon. Sell Gibbs and get him in.

Yeah, Darmian has been linked with every big team so far (Barca, Utd, Bayern, etc.). I wonder why we didn't look at him instead of Debuchy after his strong World Cup showing.

Think Allan from Udinese might be someone to look out for, should take a punt on him too!

Haha was thinking of starting a 'players that have caught your eye' thread and he was one of the names I had in mind.

He 1st came to my attention against Juve, he was boss that day (dominated Pogba and co) and have seen him twice since. Looks a good passer, skilful and hard in the tackle but lack of height is his downside. Reminds me a bit of Mauro Silva (one of La liga's  top DMs in the 90s). Will keep an eye on him.

Clrnc wrote:
Klaus wrote:

Because they are poor (as in economically bankrupt).

If I am not wrong, there's this filthy rich China guy who is going to buy over Milan. Let's see if things will change.

FWIW, the Indonesian Billionaire pumped money into Inter but they are still pretty poor despite making quite a number of signings.

Yeah, its been due to mismanagement after winning the CL. Most of the players Inter have bought during Thohir's ownership have been underwhelming (other than Icardi) and they've cycled through managers like changing clothes.

Mancini has made some crazy decisions such as benching Handanovic in the Europa League, but they're stuck with him as they're paying Mazzari and Strama. They are playing better now after beating Roma.

Kovacic with a nice tackle:

Klaus wrote:

Matteo Darmian with a really cool goal against Juventus:

Atrocious defending from Bonucci though.

I wouldn't mind us taking a punt on this guy in the summer. He's been going really strong for two years now and could play on either flank. Reckon his value is about to shoot through the roof soon. Sell Gibbs and get him in.

That defending.  😆  😆  ðŸ˜† 

The dedicated man to man marking by the centre half makes it funnier.
TBF there is no way anyone could have predicted that touch.
I'm not even convinced he did it deliberately.

Antonio Di Natale equalled Roberto Baggio's goal record in Serie A this week. He's now tied for 6th best goalscorer of all time in Italy with 205 goals. He has scored more past 30 than the likes of Crespo and Vieiri did in their entire careers, and he has done it for a club without a single superstar.

Apparently he was close to retiring last year, but he promised his sick father - who then passed away a few months later - that he would keep going until he had tied Baggio. He's delivered on that promise now.

Didn't watch too many Serie A matches this season but Empoli have been a breath of fresh air whenever I've seen them.

Klaus wrote:

Antonio Di Natale equalled Roberto Baggio's goal record in Serie A this week. He's now tied for 6th best goalscorer of all time in Italy with 205 goals. He has scored more past 30 than the likes of Crespo and Vieiri did in their entire careers, and he has done it for a club without a single superstar.

Apparently he was close to retiring last year, but he promised his sick father - who then passed away a few months later - that he would keep going until he had tied Baggio. He's delivered on that promise now.

Di Natale scored again today. He's officially past Roberto Baggio in the all-time top scorers' league now. Take a bow.

Klaus wrote:
Klaus wrote:

Antonio Di Natale equalled Roberto Baggio's goal record in Serie A this week. He's now tied for 6th best goalscorer of all time in Italy with 205 goals. He has scored more past 30 than the likes of Crespo and Vieiri did in their entire careers, and he has done it for a club without a single superstar.

Apparently he was close to retiring last year, but he promised his sick father - who then passed away a few months later - that he would keep going until he had tied Baggio. He's delivered on that promise now.

Di Natale scored again today. He's officially past Roberto Baggio in the all-time top scorers' league now. Take a bow.

I wonder how Di Natale and Totti could've done if they had left their respective clubs for a top European club.

On another note, if we can't get Reus, Felipe Anderson would be a strong alternative.

Florenzi with a storming run today: http://giant.gfycat.com/BonyGrotesqueAmazonparrot.gif

Super Mario wrote:

I wonder how Di Natale and Totti could've done if they had left their respective clubs for a top European club.

Totti would have won the ballon d'or at least once if he had played for one of the European giants, that much I'm sure of.

Super Mario wrote:

Florenzi with a storming run today: http://giant.gfycat.com/BonyGrotesqueAmazonparrot.gif

I like Florenzi a lot. The Roma fans have christened him the new Simone Perrotta apparently. Parts of his game reminds me a little bit of Ramsey, maybe. Versatile player.

13 days later

Morata with the winner against Inter today, a few days after knocking out Real Madrid in Champions League. Two very poachy goals.

His celebration was fantastic. I want him at Arsenal just for that.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

That winner was due to a huge clanger from Handanovic

He always have those in his game, lapse of concentration. Really gone downhill since 2 seasons ago.

He really hasn't. He's solid as a rock usually.

It's poor keeping at the Morata goal, but the shot is deflected off a defender. Throws him off it completely.

Domenico Berardi with a hattrick against Milan. Love that guy. Can we just buy him already?

The second goal was class. Good run and then a confident finish with the outside of the left boot at the far post. Might have been an inch offside but it doesn't really matter. The defender was never going to catch him.

I think I said this in another thread too, but there's an opportunity here. Juve just bought Dybala. They've got Morata, Llorente and Tevez too. Offer them good money for Berardi and see what happens. He's a complete talent in my opinon. When he doesn't make runs in behind the defence he's poaching goals, banging in freekicks with both feet, or hitting 60 yard assists to his teammates. There's a lot of a young van Persie in him. Only thing he doesn't seem to like is playing with his back against the goal.

Klaus wrote:

The second goal was class. Good run and then a confident finish with the outside of the left boot at the far post. Might have been an inch offside but it doesn't really matter. The defender was never going to catch him.

I think I said this in another thread too, but there's an opportunity here. Juve just bought Dybala. They've got Morata, Llorente and Tevez too. Offer them good money for Berardi and see what happens. He's a complete talent in my opinon. When he doesn't make runs in behind the defence he's poaching goals, banging in freekicks with both feet, or hitting 60 yard assists to his teammates. There's a lot of a young van Persie in him. Only thing he doesn't seem to like is playing with his back against the goal.

That's all well and good but what about his wages?

That finish is top notch. Why is the keeper not coming out to close him down though?

That clip looks like it's from USA 94.

How has Hernanes been this season?? I used to think he would be a great option for Ramsey. 

Rohit wrote:

How has Hernanes been this season?? I used to think he would be a great option for Ramsey. 

He's been hot and cold this season. Think of most the Inter fans have said his general play has been lacking, but delivers goals and assists. 
Recently scored two against Lazio and said, "it was the saddest backflip of my career".
I think he's been mainly effective as a trequarista, but we're loaded for that position. 

Klaus love him and Cuadrado so much in the past, and still probably do now.

Yeah, Hernanes is great. I think he's suffering partly because Inter are so poor, partly because he's been moved forward a bit in the field. Their 4-3-1-2 system is a bit unconventional and, to my mind, doesn't suit him.

He's 30 in a few days, but I wouldn't mind taking a punt at him if Arteta leaves this summer. He's a similar player in a lot of ways, but quicker.

Klaus wrote:

Yeah, Hernanes is great. I think he's suffering partly because Inter are so poor, partly because he's been moved forward a bit in the field. Their 4-3-1-2 system is a bit unconventional and, to my mind, doesn't suit him.

He's 30 in a few days, but I wouldn't mind taking a punt at him if Arteta leaves this summer. He's a similar player in a lot of ways, but quicker.

The 4-3-1-2 brings back memories...of when Mancini just instructed to hit long balls to Ibra and let him do everything and Maicon was the second most creative outlet!

Mancini has had Zlatan as a player?