Just in case anyone out there hasn't already seen them, there are
several Milan videos on YouTube of the open-topped bus trip and the
San
Siro event on Saturday night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuH36wMcxbs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loS76eyTWoM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XU_TzhKeaEQ

and more, which have been bringing a smile to my face (even if Sandro
is mainly conspicuous by his absence, as usual!)

I think I'm eventually coming to terms with it all now - by kick-off
I was strangely calm (and worried, since I realised that really, I
expected us to win - oh dear!)  I don't feel that it was really
revenge for 2005, but I do feel like some ghosts have been laid to
rest. Over the football drought of the summer, I may even re-play the
2005 video, something I couldn't even bear to think of doing before
Wednesday night.

Now if we can just follow the recent pattern, it'll be the scudetto
next year!

Marion

The game report in the previous message is from the Football-Italia
site.  I suppose many regular members recognize it.  Still, I think
it is better that we quote the source of reports, articles etc. we
cut and paste from other sites, blogs, etc.

To anano and other new members:

A basic spirit and principle of the MOD groups is that we respect
other people's work and efforts, whether that is an individual fan or
a professional writer/website.  If at all possible, when posting
articles and photos etc from other fans' site or blog, it is best
that we seek permission first.  At the minimum, we should give credit
to the original author and name the site/blog where the material
comes from.  Even when posting stuff from commercial sites, the
source should still be quoted, if possible.

There are two reasons for this.  The first is simple basic courtesy,
to respect and recognize the effort of the person who produce/put
together such material.  The second reason is, providing the source
of the material help the other members judge the reliability of the
information.  (e.g. A transfer or contract renewal announced on a
club's official site is reliable, while something mentioned on the
Sun newspaper is not.  A direct quote from a player published on a
reputable newspaper/megazine/website is more reliable than some
speculation passed off as news by some rumour-monger prefessional or
amateur.)

Taking an extra 30 seconds to provide the source of what we posting
is really not that difficult, and is a good habit to develop.

Your understanding and coorperation is most appreciated.

Ming
(Moderator)


--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, anano silagadze
<anano1214@...> wrote:
>
>
> ---------------------------------
>       Champions League Final - 23/5/07 (19.45)
>
>     Milan 2 - 1 Liverpool    Inzaghi 45, 80 (M), Kuyt 88 (L)
OACA Spyro Louis Stadium, Athens
> ---------------------------------
>         Pippo Inzaghi's brace has given Milan revenge over
Liverpool with a 2-1 Champions League triumph in Athens!
>   These teams clashed in Istanbul in the 2005 Final with the
Rossoneri throwing away a 3-0 lead to lose on penalties. Two years
later they were back fighting for the trophy and Paolo Maldini
recovered from a knee injury to play his eighth Final. Pippo Inzaghi
was picked ahead of Alberto Gilardino to start upfront, while
Liverpool opted for Dirk Kuyt with support from Steven Gerrard and
Bolo Zenden.
>   Both sides qualified for the tournament via the preliminary
round, as Milan were originally excluded due to the Calciopoli trial,
but battled their way to their third Final in five years.
>   Jamie Carragher charged down an Inzaghi volley after five
minutes, then Clarence Seedorf's first touch let him down from an
overhit Marek Jankulovski cross. A terrible Jankulovski error on the
edge of his own area gave Jermaine Pennant the ball, but Nelson Dida
was at full stretch for a fingertip save.
>   Pennant found more space down the right and luckily for Milan
Gerrard scuffed his shot. At the other end Inzaghi sprung the offside
trap on Andrea Pirlo's chipped pass over the defence, but couldn't
get the ball under control with only Pepe Reina to beat.
>   Reina got down well to smother a Kaka strike from distance and
Daniel Agger escaped without a card for his cynical shoulder-charge
on Kaka. Gerrard had too much space to drill over the bar on the
counter and Kaka flicked the ball round two Liverpool players on the
sole of his boot before he was eventually stopped by Javier
Mascherano.
>   Pennant again was allowed to push forward and the ball eventually
fell to Xabi Alonso's shot that whistled just wide of the far post.
John Arne Riise blasted well over, but another Jankulovski error
handed Liverpool a great chance with Kuyt's finish deflected off
target.
>   Gennaro Gattuso was the first player in the Final to enter the
book for a sliding tackle on Alonso on 40 minutes.
>   Alonso pushed Kaka on the edge of the area and from the resulting
Pirlo free kick on the edge of the D took a crucial deflection off
Inzaghi to beat Reina. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was furious, as he
felt it was a handling offence, but the ball struck him between his
shoulder and his chest.
>   There was a pitch invasion from a local Greek supporter straight
after the restart, who was dragged off the field by stewards. Kuyt
and Kaka were both halted for incorrect offside positions and
Jankulovski was shown the yellow card for a futile foul on Pennant.
>   Inzaghi pounced on an Agger error inside the area, but hesitated
and allowed the Liverpool man to recover. Mascherano was booked for
going through the back of Pirlo and the first substitution saw Harry
Kewell replace Zenden. Kaka sprinted past Carragher and the England
international could do nothing but drag him back for a yellow card.
Pirlo curled the free kick over the bar.
>   Gattuso handed the ball straight to Gerrard and the captain ran
towards the area, but the tame right-foot shot was into the arms of
Dida. It was arguably Liverpool's best opportunity of the game so
far.
>   There was bad news for Carlo Ancelotti on 70 minutes when
Alessandro Nesta pulled up with breathing difficulties, saying he
felt sick, but the defender recovered and was able to carry on.
>   Pirlo's pass struck the referee and fell kindly for Gerrard, but
the shot was off target from 20 metres, then Gattuso won the ball
back only for Kaka to be charged down. A corner came out for Clarence
Seedorf and was deflected off Riise before Mascherano closed down
Inzaghi with a crucial tackle.
>   Liverpool's top scorer with six goals, Peter Crouch came on for
Mascherano in the final 12 minutes, so Kakha Kaladze replaced the
disappointing Jankulovski.
>   There was a fantastic opportunity for Milan, but Inzaghi was
surprised that Gerrard failed to get a touch on Kaka's cross, so it
slipped past him. Carragher did very well to stop Kaka's run through
the middle.
>   However, Milan doubled their lead with eight minutes to go. Kaka
threaded a perfect pass through for Inzaghi. He went round Reina and
placed a delicate but remarkably precise angled drive under the
goalkeeper from the tightest of angles. SuperPippo was in the stands
in Istanbul due to injury, so this was a particularly special chance
to avenge that day.
>   Riise battled to hold off another Kaka run, but Dida did
brilliantly to fingertip a Crouch long-range drive over the bar.
Alberto Gilardino replaced brace hero Inzaghi and Arbeloa came on for
Steve Finnan.
>   Milan can never relax when it's a Champions League Final against
Liverpool, as they got one back with less than two minutes left on
the clock. A corner kick took several touches on the way to Kuyt's
header at the back post for his first Champions League goal for the
club.
>   The referee added three minutes of stoppages and Giuseppe Favalli
came on for Seedorf. The Dutchman joined Inzaghi in stalking up and
down the sidelines shouting at his teammates. Gerrard's shot was
charged down and Milan lifted the Champions League trophy!
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
>         Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski (Kaladze
79); Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf (Favalli 91); Kaka; Inzaghi
(Gilardino 87)
>   Liverpool: Reina; Finnan (Arbeloa 87), Carragher, Agger, Riise;
Pennant, Xabi Alonso, Mascherano (Crouch 78), Zenden (Kewell 59);
Gerrard; Kuyt
>   Ref: Fandel (Ger)
>
> Forum:http://nesta.ucoz.com/forum/14-57-1#255
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Panel today!
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>

Champions League Final - 23/5/07 (19.45)
Milan 2 - 1 Liverpool
Inzaghi 45, 80 (M), Kuyt 88 (L)
OACA Spyro Louis Stadium, Athens
Pippo Inzaghi's brace has given Milan revenge over Liverpool with a 2-1 Champions League triumph in Athens! These teams clashed in Istanbul in the 2005 Final with the Rossoneri throwing away a 3-0 lead to lose on penalties. Two years later they were back fighting for the trophy and Paolo Maldini recovered from a knee injury to play his eighth Final. Pippo Inzaghi was picked ahead of Alberto Gilardino to start upfront, while Liverpool opted for Dirk Kuyt with support from Steven Gerrard and Bolo Zenden. Both sides qualified for the tournament via the preliminary round, as Milan were originally excluded due to the Calciopoli trial, but battled their way to their third Final in five years. Jamie Carragher charged down an Inzaghi volley after five minutes, then Clarence Seedorf's first touch let him down from an overhit Marek Jankulovski cross. A terrible Jankulovski error on the edge of his own area gave Jermaine Pennant the ball, but Nelson Dida was at full stretch for a fingertip save. Pennant found more space down the right and luckily for Milan Gerrard scuffed his shot. At the other end Inzaghi sprung the offside trap on Andrea Pirlo's chipped pass over the defence, but couldn't get the ball under control with only Pepe Reina to beat. Reina got down well to smother a Kaka strike from distance and Daniel Agger escaped without a card for his cynical shoulder-charge on Kaka. Gerrard had too much space to drill over the bar on the counter and Kaka flicked the ball round two Liverpool players on the sole of his boot before he was eventually stopped by Javier Mascherano. Pennant again was allowed to push forward and the ball eventually fell to Xabi Alonso's shot that whistled just wide of the far post. John Arne Riise blasted well over, but another Jankulovski error handed Liverpool a great chance with Kuyt's finish deflected off target. Gennaro Gattuso was the first player in the Final to enter the book for a sliding tackle on Alonso on 40 minutes. Alonso pushed Kaka on the edge of the area and from the resulting Pirlo free kick on the edge of the D took a crucial deflection off Inzaghi to beat Reina. Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez was furious, as he felt it was a handling offence, but the ball struck him between his shoulder and his chest. There was a pitch invasion from a local Greek supporter straight after the restart, who was dragged off the field by stewards. Kuyt and Kaka were both halted for incorrect offside positions and Jankulovski was shown the yellow card for a futile foul on Pennant. Inzaghi pounced on an Agger error inside the area, but hesitated and allowed the Liverpool man to recover. Mascherano was booked for going through the back of Pirlo and the first substitution saw Harry Kewell replace Zenden. Kaka sprinted past Carragher and the England international could do nothing but drag him back for a yellow card. Pirlo curled the free kick over the bar. Gattuso handed the ball straight to Gerrard and the captain ran towards the area, but the tame right-foot shot was into the arms of Dida. It was arguably Liverpool's best opportunity of the game so far. There was bad news for Carlo Ancelotti on 70 minutes when Alessandro Nesta pulled up with breathing difficulties, saying he felt sick, but the defender recovered and was able to carry on. Pirlo's pass struck the referee and fell kindly for Gerrard, but the shot was off target from 20 metres, then Gattuso won the ball back only for Kaka to be charged down. A corner came out for Clarence Seedorf and was deflected off Riise before Mascherano closed down Inzaghi with a crucial tackle. Liverpool's top scorer with six goals, Peter Crouch came on for Mascherano in the final 12 minutes, so Kakha Kaladze replaced the disappointing Jankulovski. There was a fantastic opportunity for Milan, but Inzaghi was surprised that Gerrard failed to get a touch on Kaka's cross, so it slipped past him. Carragher did very well to stop Kaka's run through the middle. However, Milan doubled their lead with eight minutes to go. Kaka threaded a perfect pass through for Inzaghi. He went round Reina and placed a delicate but remarkably precise angled drive under the goalkeeper from the tightest of angles. SuperPippo was in the stands in Istanbul due to injury, so this was a particularly special chance to avenge that day. Riise battled to hold off another Kaka run, but Dida did brilliantly to fingertip a Crouch long-range drive over the bar. Alberto Gilardino replaced brace hero Inzaghi and Arbeloa came on for Steve Finnan. Milan can never relax when it's a Champions League Final against Liverpool, as they got one back with less than two minutes left on the clock. A corner kick took several touches on the way to Kuyt's header at the back post for his first Champions League goal for the club. The referee added three minutes of stoppages and Giuseppe Favalli came on for Seedorf. The Dutchman joined Inzaghi in stalking up and down the sidelines shouting at his teammates. Gerrard's shot was charged down and Milan lifted the Champions League trophy!
Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Maldini, Jankulovski (Kaladze 79); Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf (Favalli 91); Kaka; Inzaghi (Gilardino 87) Liverpool: Reina; Finnan (Arbeloa 87), Carragher, Agger, Riise; Pennant, Xabi Alonso, Mascherano (Crouch 78), Zenden (Kewell 59); Gerrard; Kuyt Ref: Fandel (Ger)

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OH YEAH...CL Champs again!!!!!

Your are right...it was not Milan's finest game,

but the result was fantastic.  I was a bit

teary eyed watching Maldini lift that trophy.

They really turned their season around in

a great way.

Forza Milan and Grazie!!!

carol

jujuboodoo <michele.chang@sympatico.ca> wrote:

WOOOHOOOOO!!!

(The capital letters can come out now. :-D)

Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
campaign.

But I don't care!

Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.

I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan boys'
resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very difficult
season.

Congratulations, and Grazie!

Ming

---

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this game puts me through  but I still

Yeeeha!!!!!!! Forza Milan e Grazie Super Pippo!!!!

But how ironic is it that I was terrified to watch the match – I
wanted only to hear that we won. So, I only saw the last 10 minutes
of the game. When Liverpool scored, I switched off the TV – I was so
stressed!
But I kept reminding myself that we couldn't make the same mistakes
again… So I watched a bit and the final whistle sounded – yey!!

Everyone was so happy, Maldini and Nesta were beside themselves,
Gattuso couldn't stop grinning, Seedorf hugging everyone like crazy,
what a wonderful night. I can't express how proud I am to be a
Rossonero. I know I shed a few tears, even though I expected Milan
to win - it was like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders... I
can't compare this to the Azzurri winning the World Cup, nothing
compares to that, but it's a very close second!
Grazie :-)
I will watch the re-runs of the match tonight then I can contribute
my views on the actual game instead of screaming about how happy I
am, lol!

Vuyo.

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> As I said, this final is not really a classic (but then few
important
> finals are), and this is not the best game in Milan's campaign
this
> year.
>
> But still, I am not complaining, especially after the season Milan
> (and Nesta) have endured.
>
> The Milan camp were right on in their assessment of Benitez and
> Liverpool: they are experts in stopping their opponents from
playing
> football. As many experts feared, Liverpool did a great job in
> neutralizing Milan's midfield with efficient hard pressing and
> denying Kaka', Pirlo and Seedorf any time and space on the ball.
> While I think Pirlo and especially Seedorf had come down a bit
from
> the peak form they displayed during the QFs and SFs, Liverpool's
> tactics also contributed a lot to their sub-par performances
today.
> Pirlo's passes lost a bit of accuracy, while Seedorf, never the
> quickest nor the most mobile of midfielders, disappeared from the
> game for long stretches.
>
> But Liverpool's tactics in stopping Milan from playing is in a way
> also a two edged sword. To accommodate 2 defensive midfielder and
2
> wingers (to exploit Milan's attacking fullbacks), the only place
left
> for Gerrard is right behind the striker. Such a line-up
neutralizses
> Milan's midfield, but it also sort of neutralizes Liverpool's own
> best player. While Gerrard was still Liverpool's most dangerous
> player in today's game, he is most effective coming up midfield
from
> deep. He certainly is not a support striker nor a player for
> the "hole", and most definitely not a Kaka'. Playing farther
upfield
> also put him squarely into Nesta-Maldini territory, where even
world
> class forwards get lost.
>
> In such a tactical chess match of a game, it takes a few flashes
of
> brilliance from the superstars to decide the game. For all his
talk
> of Milan's luck, I wonder if Benitez secretly wished he had a
Pippo
> Inzaghi. Milan's second goal was sheer brilliance from Kaka' and
> Pippo. In one interview I read, Pippo claimed that the first goal
> was in fact a move that had been rehearsed in training. Whether
> Pippo was aware of that goal or not when he scored it, being in
the
> right place at the right time is the sign of a great striker.
That
> is why many of the great strikers have a tendency to score lucky
> goals, even with their butts! ;-) Even if it was down to sheer
dumb
> luck, Milan deserve it, because the gods really do owe them one!
>
> I am not sure about the final statistics, but Liverpool seemed to
> have more possession, especially in the first half. That may be
an
> unexpected aspect of the game. I don't know if that lured some
> Liverpool fans into a sense of false security. Milan may be a
team
> that normally strive to play a beautiful attacking based on
> possession and short passing, but they are an Italian team, with
the
> tradition of Italian football in their DNA. They are just as
adept,
> comfortable and effective with the counter-attacking game. And
that
> is quite unique among teams that play beautiful football.
>
> Besides Jankulovski having some shaky moments in defense
(rectified
> by his substitution by Kaladze in the second half), Milan's
defense
> did very well. And Nesta, at the heart of that defense, had an
> excellent game. While MOM Pippo had some flashes of brilliance,
> Nesta played great for the entire 93.5 minutes. He was a
commanding
> presence in the Milan backfield, and it is not difficult to
> understand the scribes keep using words like "magnificent"
> and "imperious" to describe him. Yes, he was turned once by
Gerrard,
> but he also expertly stopped Gerrard on at least 2 other
occasions,
> and made crucial tackles, intercepts and clearances all game long,
> covering a lot of ground in the back covering for his teammates.
> There was one occasion in the second half when he was chasing a
long
> Liverpool pass in a one against two situation, with 2 Liverpool
> players on his tail. He showed many of the qualities that made
him a
> great defender--great pace, experience, good judgment and
confidence--
> by simply shielding the ball with the positioning of his body and
> shepherding the ball out the goal line and out of danger without
> touching it and thereby not conceding a corner nor a throw-in.
> Nesta's heading (and Ambrosini's) was invaluable, as otherwise
Milan
> were completely dominated in the air by Liverpool.
>
> This is getting long winded, so, that much for now.
>
> Very happy for Nesta, the Milan boys and Ancelotti!
>
> Ming
>
>
>
>
> --- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
> <michele.chang@> wrote:
> >
> > WOOOHOOOOO!!!
> >
> > (The capital letters can come out now. :-D)
> >
> > Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
> > campaign.
> >
> > But I don't care!
> >
> > Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.
> >
> > I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan
boys'
> > resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very
difficult
> > season.
> >
> > Congratulations, and Grazie!
> >
> > Ming
> >
>

Yeeeha!!!!!!! Forza Milan e Grazie Super Pippo!!!!

But how ironic is it that I was terrified to watch the match – I
wanted only to hear that we won. So, I only saw the last 10 minutes
of the game. When Liverpool scored, I switched off the TV – I was so
stressed!
But I kept reminding myself that we couldn't make the same mistakes
again… So I watched a bit and the final whistle sounded – yey!!

Everyone was so happy, Maldini and Nesta were beside themselves,
Gattuso couldn't stop grinning, Seedorf hugging everyone like crazy,
what a wonderful night. I can't express how proud I am to be a
Rossonero. I know I shed a few tears, even though I expected Milan
to win - it was like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders... I
can't compare this to the Azzurri winning the World Cup, nothing
compares to that, but it's a very close second!
Grazie :-)
I will watch the re-runs of the match tonight then I can contribute
my views on the actual game instead of screaming about how happy I
am, lol!


Vuyo.



--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> As I said, this final is not really a classic (but then few
important
> finals are), and this is not the best game in Milan's campaign
this
> year.
>
> But still, I am not complaining, especially after the season Milan
> (and Nesta) have endured.
>
> The Milan camp were right on in their assessment of Benitez and
> Liverpool: they are experts in stopping their opponents from
playing
> football.  As many experts feared, Liverpool did a great job in
> neutralizing Milan's midfield with efficient hard pressing and
> denying Kaka', Pirlo and Seedorf any time and space on the ball.
> While I think Pirlo and especially Seedorf had come down a bit
from
> the peak form they displayed during the QFs and SFs, Liverpool's
> tactics also contributed a lot to their sub-par performances
today.
> Pirlo's passes lost a bit of accuracy, while Seedorf, never the
> quickest nor the most mobile of midfielders, disappeared from the
> game for long stretches.
>
> But Liverpool's tactics in stopping Milan from playing is in a way
> also a two edged sword.  To accommodate 2 defensive midfielder and
2
> wingers (to exploit Milan's attacking fullbacks), the only place
left
> for Gerrard is right behind the striker.  Such a line-up
neutralizses
> Milan's midfield, but it also sort of neutralizes Liverpool's own
> best player.  While Gerrard was still Liverpool's most dangerous
> player in today's game, he is most effective coming up midfield
from
> deep.  He certainly is not a support striker nor a player for
> the "hole", and most definitely not a Kaka'.  Playing farther
upfield
> also put him squarely into Nesta-Maldini territory, where even
world
> class forwards get lost.
>
> In such a tactical chess match of a game, it takes a few flashes
of
> brilliance from the superstars to decide the game.  For all his
talk
> of Milan's luck, I wonder if Benitez secretly wished he had a
Pippo
> Inzaghi.  Milan's second goal was sheer brilliance from Kaka' and
> Pippo.  In one interview I read, Pippo claimed that the first goal
> was in fact a move that had been rehearsed in training.  Whether
> Pippo was aware of that goal or not when he scored it, being in
the
> right place at the right time is the sign of a great striker.
That
> is why many of the great strikers have a tendency to score lucky
> goals, even with their butts!  ;-)  Even if it was down to sheer
dumb
> luck, Milan deserve it, because the gods really do owe them one!
>
> I am not sure about the final statistics, but Liverpool seemed to
> have more possession, especially in the first half.  That may be
an
> unexpected aspect of the game.  I don't know if that lured some
> Liverpool fans into a sense of false security.  Milan may be a
team
> that normally strive to play a beautiful attacking based on
> possession and short passing, but they are an Italian team, with
the
> tradition of Italian football in their DNA.  They are just as
adept,
> comfortable and effective with the counter-attacking game.  And
that
> is quite unique among teams that play beautiful football.
>
> Besides Jankulovski having some shaky moments in defense
(rectified
> by his substitution by  Kaladze in the second half), Milan's
defense
> did very well.  And Nesta, at the heart of that defense, had an
> excellent game.  While MOM Pippo had some flashes of brilliance,
> Nesta played great for the entire 93.5 minutes.  He was a
commanding
> presence in the Milan backfield, and it is not difficult to
> understand the scribes keep using words like "magnificent"
> and "imperious" to describe him.  Yes, he was turned once by
Gerrard,
> but he also expertly stopped Gerrard on at least 2 other
occasions,
> and made crucial tackles, intercepts and clearances all game long,
> covering a lot of ground in the back covering for his teammates.
> There was one occasion in the second half when he was chasing a
long
> Liverpool pass in a one against two situation, with 2 Liverpool
> players on his tail.  He showed many of the qualities that made
him a
> great defender--great pace, experience, good judgment and
confidence--
>  by simply shielding the ball with the positioning of his body and
> shepherding the ball out the goal line and out of danger without
> touching it and thereby not conceding a corner nor a throw-in.
> Nesta's heading (and Ambrosini's) was invaluable, as otherwise
Milan
> were completely dominated in the air by Liverpool.
>
> This is getting long winded, so, that much for now.
>
> Very happy for Nesta, the Milan boys and Ancelotti!
>
> Ming
>
>
>
>
> --- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
> <michele.chang@> wrote:
> >
> > WOOOHOOOOO!!!
> >
> > (The capital letters can come out now. :-D)
> >
> > Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
> > campaign.
> >
> > But I don't care!
> >
> > Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.
> >
> > I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan
boys'
> > resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very
difficult
> > season.
> >
> > Congratulations, and Grazie!
> >
> > Ming
> >
>

As I said, this final is not really a classic (but then few important
finals are), and this is not the best game in Milan's campaign this
year.

But still, I am not complaining, especially after the season Milan
(and Nesta) have endured.

The Milan camp were right on in their assessment of Benitez and
Liverpool: they are experts in stopping their opponents from playing
football.  As many experts feared, Liverpool did a great job in
neutralizing Milan's midfield with efficient hard pressing and
denying Kaka', Pirlo and Seedorf any time and space on the ball.
While I think Pirlo and especially Seedorf had come down a bit from
the peak form they displayed during the QFs and SFs, Liverpool's
tactics also contributed a lot to their sub-par performances today.
Pirlo's passes lost a bit of accuracy, while Seedorf, never the
quickest nor the most mobile of midfielders, disappeared from the
game for long stretches.

But Liverpool's tactics in stopping Milan from playing is in a way
also a two edged sword.  To accommodate 2 defensive midfielder and 2
wingers (to exploit Milan's attacking fullbacks), the only place left
for Gerrard is right behind the striker.  Such a line-up neutralizses
Milan's midfield, but it also sort of neutralizes Liverpool's own
best player.  While Gerrard was still Liverpool's most dangerous
player in today's game, he is most effective coming up midfield from
deep.  He certainly is not a support striker nor a player for
the "hole", and most definitely not a Kaka'.  Playing farther upfield
also put him squarely into Nesta-Maldini territory, where even world
class forwards get lost.

In such a tactical chess match of a game, it takes a few flashes of
brilliance from the superstars to decide the game.  For all his talk
of Milan's luck, I wonder if Benitez secretly wished he had a Pippo
Inzaghi.  Milan's second goal was sheer brilliance from Kaka' and
Pippo.  In one interview I read, Pippo claimed that the first goal
was in fact a move that had been rehearsed in training.  Whether
Pippo was aware of that goal or not when he scored it, being in the
right place at the right time is the sign of a great striker.  That
is why many of the great strikers have a tendency to score lucky
goals, even with their butts!  ;-)  Even if it was down to sheer dumb
luck, Milan deserve it, because the gods really do owe them one!

I am not sure about the final statistics, but Liverpool seemed to
have more possession, especially in the first half.  That may be an
unexpected aspect of the game.  I don't know if that lured some
Liverpool fans into a sense of false security.  Milan may be a team
that normally strive to play a beautiful attacking based on
possession and short passing, but they are an Italian team, with the
tradition of Italian football in their DNA.  They are just as adept,
comfortable and effective with the counter-attacking game.  And that
is quite unique among teams that play beautiful football.

Besides Jankulovski having some shaky moments in defense (rectified
by his substitution by  Kaladze in the second half), Milan's defense
did very well.  And Nesta, at the heart of that defense, had an
excellent game.  While MOM Pippo had some flashes of brilliance,
Nesta played great for the entire 93.5 minutes.  He was a commanding
presence in the Milan backfield, and it is not difficult to
understand the scribes keep using words like "magnificent"
and "imperious" to describe him.  Yes, he was turned once by Gerrard,
but he also expertly stopped Gerrard on at least 2 other occasions,
and made crucial tackles, intercepts and clearances all game long,
covering a lot of ground in the back covering for his teammates.
There was one occasion in the second half when he was chasing a long
Liverpool pass in a one against two situation, with 2 Liverpool
players on his tail.  He showed many of the qualities that made him a
great defender--great pace, experience, good judgment and confidence--
  by simply shielding the ball with the positioning of his body and
shepherding the ball out the goal line and out of danger without
touching it and thereby not conceding a corner nor a throw-in.
Nesta's heading (and Ambrosini's) was invaluable, as otherwise Milan
were completely dominated in the air by Liverpool.

This is getting long winded, so, that much for now.

Very happy for Nesta, the Milan boys and Ancelotti!

Ming




--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> WOOOHOOOOO!!!
>
> (The capital letters can come out now. :-D)
>
> Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
> campaign.
>
> But I don't care!
>
> Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.
>
> I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan boys'
> resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very difficult
> season.
>
> Congratulations, and Grazie!
>
> Ming
>

I didn't see the game! But i sooooooo HAPPYYYYY they won! I'm so
happy especially for Sandro of course and Paolo Maldini!

I'm waiting for the replay.  I missed the nervous-fun of the game,
but duties are duties, and i forgot to record it.

CONGRATS MILAN!!

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> WOOOHOOOOO!!!
>
> (The capital letters can come out now. :-D)
>
> Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
> campaign.
>
> But I don't care!
>
> Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.
>
> I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan boys'
> resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very difficult
> season.
>
> Congratulations, and Grazie!
>
> Ming
>

WOOOHOOOOO!!!

(The capital letters can come out now. :-D)

Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
campaign.

But I don't care!

Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.

I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan boys'
resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very difficult
season.

Congratulations, and Grazie!

Ming

  I only got to see the first half, as I spent the day in the hospital with a friend. We watched  the first half and then I had to go out of the room, so I went and ate, and  missed the second half. My mother, who is a Milan fan as well, told me all about it. She stated Milan didn't play as well as they should have but I don't care now.  THEY ARE  THE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE. After the way the season started, I am sooooo happy at how it ended. FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!   Jo Jo

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, trinity2no <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Congratulations Sandro Nesta and AC Milan!!! :-)
> I am so happy about this win. Although I am also a Liverpool fan, I
> hoped for Milan this time. They deserve it!
> Forza Milan!
> Love, Trinity
> --- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
> michele.chang@ wrote:
> >
> > WOOOHOOOOO!!!
> >
> > (The capital letters can come out now. :-D)
> >
> > Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
> > campaign.
> >
> > But I don't care!
> >
> > Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.
> >
> > I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan boys'
> > resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very difficult
> > season.
> >
> > Congratulations, and Grazie!
> >
> > Ming
> >
>

Congratulations Sandro Nesta and AC Milan!!!  :-)
I am so happy about this win.  Although I am also a Liverpool fan, I
hoped for Milan this time. They deserve it!
Forza Milan!
Love, Trinity
--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> WOOOHOOOOO!!!
>
> (The capital letters can come out now. :-D)
>
> Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
> campaign.
>
> But I don't care!
>
> Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.
>
> I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan boys'
> resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very difficult
> season.
>
> Congratulations, and Grazie!
>
> Ming
>

WOOOHOOOOO!!!

(The capital letters can come out now. :-D)

Not exactly a classic of a game, and not Milan's best in this
campaign.

But I don't care!

Sweet revenge? Strangely I do not feel a sense of vindication.

I am just relieved right now, and very very proud of the Milan boys'
resilience and the team's great accomplishment in a very difficult
season.

Congratulations, and Grazie!

Ming

----- Original Message -----

From: carol whitten

To: nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 4:41 PM

Subject: Re: [Nesta the Minister of Defense] Re: The Final

I have ignored all the pre-game hype as well.  I just

want to get the game played!!  I have my Milan scarf

out and ready to wave....hopefully we will have plenty

of reason to wave and celebrate today!!!!!  Seedorf

and Kaka have been tremendous and I hope they are

golden again today.  Gattuso is always hyped and

up for these big games...I hope he can contain Gerard

too.  Hopefully L'pool doesn't sit back and defend trying

to force PK's...

Enjoy the game ladies!!!!!!!

carol

vlengisi <vlengisi@hotmail.com> wrote:

Well, I'm feeling confident - the same confidence I felt when we
drew Man United... Liverpool didn't really beat us, it was on
penalties... But I understand the anxieties that come with the whole
build-up talks, they should just shut up and stop speculating, it
really makes me uneasy when they talk so much before a game...

I think the important man on the field will be Gattuso - if he can
handle Gerrard tonite then we should be fine.

Forza Milan!!!

Vuyo.

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, ecosse082000
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Is anyone out there feeling confident? Personally I can't bear to
> read the build-up stuff in the papers, and especially hear the
stuff
> on the sports radio, where they keep playing clips of that awful
> night in Istanbul and I have to run away with my fingers in my
ears.
> If it was any other team than Liverpool I'd be so excited now, but
if
> the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing to
them
> again! (Fortunately my brother is a psychiatric nurse, so I've
asked
> him to keep a bed for me in case I need a couple of weeks under
heavy
> sedation....)
>
> I went to the UEFA Cup Final last week, as it was being played in
my
> country, and so I could enjoy one final without feeling sick.
> Beyali - what a fantastic advertisement for Spanish football -
great
> game, great fans! We went in genuine neutrals but the Espanyol
fans
> won me over. Now if only tomorrow's game could be as good (though
> I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only Milan
> can win.)
>
> Trying hard to think positive,
>
> Marion
>

---

Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when.

Well, I'm feeling confident - the same confidence I felt when we
drew Man United... Liverpool didn't really beat us, it was on
penalties... But I understand the anxieties that come with the whole
build-up talks, they should just shut up and stop speculating, it
really makes me uneasy when they talk so much before a game...

I think the important man on the field will be Gattuso - if he can
handle Gerrard tonite then we should be fine.

Forza Milan!!!

Vuyo.

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, ecosse082000
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Is anyone out there feeling confident? Personally I can't bear to
> read the build-up stuff in the papers, and especially hear the
stuff
> on the sports radio, where they keep playing clips of that awful
> night in Istanbul and I have to run away with my fingers in my
ears.
> If it was any other team than Liverpool I'd be so excited now, but
if
> the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing to
them
> again! (Fortunately my brother is a psychiatric nurse, so I've
asked
> him to keep a bed for me in case I need a couple of weeks under
heavy
> sedation....)
>
> I went to the UEFA Cup Final last week, as it was being played in
my
> country, and so I could enjoy one final without feeling sick.
> Beyali - what a fantastic advertisement for Spanish football -
great
> game, great fans! We went in genuine neutrals but the Espanyol
fans
> won me over. Now if only tomorrow's game could be as good (though
> I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only Milan
> can win.)
>
> Trying hard to think positive,
>
> Marion
>

Ladies,

Thank you for the supportive messages (much needed as I'm a quivering
wreck and it's only lunchtime.)  Jo Jo, I don't know if Maldini has
been declared fit, either.  I have only been doing very light surfing,
avoiding anything I think might upset me (all this talk of revenge
makes me very nervous, even though it is exactly what I want.)  To be
honest, I think I just want it to be over as soon as possible, and I
hate feeling that way!

I do hope the evening is trouble-free - I was a bit perturbed to see on
the news last night that the authorities in Athens intend to switch off
the big public screens before the kick-off, due to fears that the huge
crowds of ticketless Liverpool fans will make the areas impossible to
police.  (I may be thick, but I'd have thought that would be an ideal
way to start a riot!)

Anyway, may the best team win (so long as it's Milan!)

Marion

Well, I'm feeling confident - the same confidence I felt when we
drew Man United... Liverpool didn't really beat us, it was on
penalties... But I understand the anxieties that come with the whole
build-up talks, they should just shut up and stop speculating, it
really makes me uneasy when they talk so much before a game...

I think the important man on the field will be Gattuso - if he can
handle Gerrard tonite then we should be fine.

Forza Milan!!!

Vuyo.


--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, ecosse082000
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Is anyone out there feeling confident?  Personally I can't bear to
> read the build-up stuff in the papers, and especially hear the
stuff
> on the sports radio, where they keep playing clips of that awful
> night in Istanbul and I have to run away with my fingers in my
ears.
> If it was any other team than Liverpool I'd be so excited now, but
if
> the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing to
them
> again!  (Fortunately my brother is a psychiatric nurse, so I've
asked
> him to keep a bed for me in case I need a couple of weeks under
heavy
> sedation....)
>
> I went to the UEFA Cup Final last week, as it was being played in
my
> country, and so I could enjoy one final without feeling sick.
> Beyali - what a fantastic advertisement for Spanish football -
great
> game, great fans!  We went in genuine neutrals but the Espanyol
fans
> won me over.  Now if only tomorrow's game could be as good (though
> I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only Milan
> can win.)
>
> Trying hard to think positive,
>
> Marion
>

Whatever i read, i read it in the internet or on the tv news.  So far
people are talking about revenge and stuff like that.  Of course we
all think about it.  I am nervous.  However to me, Milan seems
stronger than 2 years ago, no Crespo this time, but they have a
defense made of iron.

I won't be able to watch the game live, but i know there will be
replays the whole day on ESPN, so i'll check it out then.

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
>
> Marion,
>
> I am not as big a nervous wreck as you are, but then I am not
> surrounded by 'Pool-loving, Italian-bashing Brits.  In fact I was
> made nervous by the wall-to-wall praised for Milan after the SF 2nd
> leg against ManU, and trying to convince myself the guys are
> professional enough to not let that get to their head.
>
> > if the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing
to
> > them again!
>
> > I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only
Milan
> > can win.
>
> But I do share your sentiments there!
>
> Can't wait till the kick-off......
>
> Forza Nesta!
> Forza Milan!
>
> Ming
>
>
> --- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, ecosse082000
> <no_reply@> wrote:
> >
> > Is anyone out there feeling confident?  Personally I can't bear
to
> > read the build-up stuff in the papers, and especially hear the
> stuff
> > on the sports radio, where they keep playing clips of that awful
> > night in Istanbul and I have to run away with my fingers in my
> ears.
> > If it was any other team than Liverpool I'd be so excited now,
but
> if
> > the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing to
them
> > again!  (Fortunately my brother is a psychiatric nurse, so I've
> asked
> > him to keep a bed for me in case I need a couple of weeks under
> heavy
> > sedation....)
> >
> > I went to the UEFA Cup Final last week, as it was being played in
> my
> > country, and so I could enjoy one final without feeling sick.
> > Beyali - what a fantastic advertisement for Spanish football -
> great
> > game, great fans!  We went in genuine neutrals but the Espanyol
> fans
> > won me over.  Now if only tomorrow's game could be as good
(though
> > I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only
Milan
> > can win.)
> >
> > Trying hard to think positive,
> >
> > Marion
> >
>

Marion,

I am not as big a nervous wreck as you are, but then I am not
surrounded by 'Pool-loving, Italian-bashing Brits.  In fact I was
made nervous by the wall-to-wall praised for Milan after the SF 2nd
leg against ManU, and trying to convince myself the guys are
professional enough to not let that get to their head.

> if the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing to
> them again!

> I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only Milan
> can win.

But I do share your sentiments there!

Can't wait till the kick-off......

Forza Nesta!
Forza Milan!

Ming


--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, ecosse082000
<no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Is anyone out there feeling confident?  Personally I can't bear to
> read the build-up stuff in the papers, and especially hear the
stuff
> on the sports radio, where they keep playing clips of that awful
> night in Istanbul and I have to run away with my fingers in my
ears.
> If it was any other team than Liverpool I'd be so excited now, but
if
> the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing to them
> again!  (Fortunately my brother is a psychiatric nurse, so I've
asked
> him to keep a bed for me in case I need a couple of weeks under
heavy
> sedation....)
>
> I went to the UEFA Cup Final last week, as it was being played in
my
> country, and so I could enjoy one final without feeling sick.
> Beyali - what a fantastic advertisement for Spanish football -
great
> game, great fans!  We went in genuine neutrals but the Espanyol
fans
> won me over.  Now if only tomorrow's game could be as good (though
> I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only Milan
> can win.)
>
> Trying hard to think positive,
>
> Marion
>

I haven't read anything. I guess that what comes from living in a small town in South Central Pennsylvania USA. We cover American Football, not the most beautiful sport the world calls football.   I am always confident for Milan when Nesta is playing, Can you tell me if Maldini is playing? , or do I have to wait until tomorrow to find out. I am going into tomorrow's game expecting them to bring home the cup. Marion, tell your brother you won't need that bed

Jo Jo

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, ecosse082000 <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Is anyone out there feeling confident? Personally I can't bear to
> read the build-up stuff in the papers, and especially hear the stuff
> on the sports radio, where they keep playing clips of that awful
> night in Istanbul and I have to run away with my fingers in my ears.
> If it was any other team than Liverpool I'd be so excited now, but if
> the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing to them
> again! (Fortunately my brother is a psychiatric nurse, so I've asked
> him to keep a bed for me in case I need a couple of weeks under heavy
> sedation....)
>
> I went to the UEFA Cup Final last week, as it was being played in my
> country, and so I could enjoy one final without feeling sick.
> Beyali - what a fantastic advertisement for Spanish football - great
> game, great fans! We went in genuine neutrals but the Espanyol fans
> won me over. Now if only tomorrow's game could be as good (though
> I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only Milan
> can win.)
>
> Trying hard to think positive,
>
> Marion
>

Is anyone out there feeling confident?  Personally I can't bear to
read the build-up stuff in the papers, and especially hear the stuff
on the sports radio, where they keep playing clips of that awful
night in Istanbul and I have to run away with my fingers in my ears.
If it was any other team than Liverpool I'd be so excited now, but if
the worst should happen I can't stand the thought of losing to them
again!  (Fortunately my brother is a psychiatric nurse, so I've asked
him to keep a bed for me in case I need a couple of weeks under heavy
sedation....)

I went to the UEFA Cup Final last week, as it was being played in my
country, and so I could enjoy one final without feeling sick.
Beyali - what a fantastic advertisement for Spanish football - great
game, great fans!  We went in genuine neutrals but the Espanyol fans
won me over.  Now if only tomorrow's game could be as good (though
I'd settle for an excruciatingly dull game this time if only Milan
can win.)

Trying hard to think positive,

Marion

Hey everyone,

AS Roma have won Coppa Italia, of course we have everything about this
at www.forzaphilippemexes.com as it's filled with exclusive pictures,
videos and much more! This you can find all in the news section! So
check it out!

Forza Mexes!

Huggies,

Mol e Clau

Thanks for videos! i love youtube. :-)

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "Clau&Mol Mexes"
<claudia@...> wrote:
>
> Hey everybody,    we have uploaded a couple of Sandro videos to
YouTube
> :-)   this one is an interview from Sky Sports before the ManU game
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43UNjeq0nMQ
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43UNjeq0nMQ>    and this one is the
> interview from Sky after Catania when he was man of the match
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elnUaNpZcbk
> <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elnUaNpZcbk>    We hope you like
them :)
> huggies, Clau e Mol
>

OMG Junko you're back  we've missed you so much!

I just read your message that your computer broke down, cos I emailed you personally many times to check on you from time to time  WELCOME BACK!

Sorry that it took me so long to noticed but I was out of internet for over a month and then I went to Roma with Molly for a week  I came to post the links of a couple videos we made and I saw that the group pictured changed, then I saw a lot of messages during April so I came to check right away.

I'll email you personally to catch up a bit more, just wanted to say Hi real quick and let you know how happy I am to hear from you again

Have a great day!

Claudia

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, sundanesta <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Finally.....
>
> A scene from the latest match. During the 1st half.
> Captured by Yil.
>
> Don't you think it's a great shot as if representing his great
> performance?
>
> LOVE,
> Junko
>

Wow, I have truly run out of words to praise the Milan midfield, by
far the best...
But it must be said that Man U are not Barca/Inter/Juve, I think we
were always going to beat them but maybe we just didn't expect to
beat them by such a large margin.
And I'm glad Kaka showed them to never compare him to C. Ronaldo
again, that man was reduced to defending Oddo and did a bad job of
it too.

Forza Milan!

Vuyo

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> Woohoo! (I will keep the capital letters till after the final. ;-))
>
> But the 3rd final in 5 years ain't bad. And against Livepool no
> less! I won't call this time for revenge (I firmly believe being
low-
> key is good for one's luck quotient! ;-) ), but surely it is time
for
> redemption, a chance for Milan, and the players who were there, to
> exorcise the ghosts of Istanbul.
>
> If Bayern could exorcise the ghosts of Barcelona 2 years after
that
> heartbreaking night at the Camp Neu, so can Milan!
>
> Let me not get too far ahead of myself, and concentrate on the
game
> today. I will try to be coherant, though that may be difficult at
> this time when I am still on cloud eight (cloud nine is reserved
for
> the final;-)).
>
> I did not get as many chances to watch Milan play this season
> compared to the last 4 (due to my travels, the snobbish local
Italian
> channel, and a crazy schedule at work). What I had seen, through
> February, was disheartening. But really nothing demonstrate class
vs
> form better than what happened this season with Milan (and to a
> little lesser degree, with Nesta). The mess they were in was a
> result of poor form (post-world-cup syndrome, an abbreviated
summer
> camp, injury crisis as a result of the aforementioned factors),
but
> the team still has class. Today's game just reminds me how awe-
> inspiring this Milan team can be when in good form and in full
flow.
> (I still haven't had time to watch the 2nd leg against Bayern and
the
> 1st leg against ManU which I have on tape.) They out-classed Man
U.
> Granted United had their own injury crisis, especially in the
back,
> today's game was won in midfield, where Milan totally dominated.
> The physical, spirited "fighters" from the EPL leaders were no
match
> for the techniques of the "whiners" from Italy. (I never noticed
> Jankulovski has such fine ball control skills!) I don't have the
> official statistics, but Milan appeared to have won the majority
of
> the duels in midfield (and in the back third and front third of
the
> pitch too ;-)), and managed to KEEP the ball after winning it to
do
> something with. The desire of the Milan players was palpable.
> Keeping the ball is technique, winning it is one part footballing
> intelligence and 2 parts fighting spirit. They simply wanted it
more
> than the kids (and the few old men) from Man U. And the way the
Man
> U players also seemed awed by the technical superiority and
> commitment of the Milan players did not help their cause either.
>
> Since the Milan midfield was so dominant, Nesta, Kaladze and Dida
had
> relatively little to do. But Nesta's class still showed in the
> apparantly simple things that he did, like some clear-eyed, well-
> read "simple" toe-pokes that got the ball out of the danger zone
> amidst a chaotic forest of bodies and legs. And of course the
first
> goal started with Nesta taking the ball out of defense and making
a
> searching long pass that found Seedorf's head.
>
> It has been said that Seedorf's form tends to reflect Milan's
> fortune, and the guy is certainly in excellent form. It is also
not
> too often that we see Seedorf fight so hard on the pitch, doing an
> industrial amount of ball winning and without turning the ball
back
> to the opponents!. (Pirlo, on the other hand, always takes his
job
> as the "defensive midfielder" seriously, even when his form
happened
> to be poor and his passing was not up to his usual high standard
and
> his defending amounted to a lot of niggling fouls.) Anyway, this
> year's Milan is different from the previous couple of seasons in
that
> they are approaching the end of the season and the CL final with
> surging form rather than staggering towards the finish line by May
> after racking up winning streaks in February and March. That has
to
> bode well. Adds to that what Joe McGinniss observed at Euro2000,
> that nothing get Italian juices flowing like a sense of grievance,
> the feeling that they have suffered an injustice. The Milan
> organization certainly and the players most probably feel that way
> with how they had been treated in Calciopoli. Though I find the
> club's whining somewhat distasteful, the sense of greievance seems
to
> have united the team and management in adversity and prevented
things
> from falling apart despite numerous "crisis" advertised by the
media.
> The Azzurri's reaction to Calciopoli has delivered a world cup to
> Italy. Will Italy's club representative be equally inspired to
> deliver another Big Cup?
>
> Last but not least, I just want to mention, before signing off,
the
> home crowd's support for Dida. Despite Dida being dissed
mercilessly
> in the press and by certain fans (calling for him to be retained
as
> the groundskeeper, and auctioning him off at 71 Euros, as I've
read
> from various sources), the Milanista at the San Siro were fully
> behind him, giving him a big round of applause everytime he came
off
> his line and caught a high ball cleanly. That is certainly the
way
> to support your team, not some sort of vindictive booing of some
> selected scapegoat of a player. That support must have helped
Dida's
> confidence, and helped prevent what I had feared before the game
> (i.e. more Dida howlers) from coming to pass.
>
> Talking about confidence, I hope that third goal helps Gila's
> confidence. I have to confess, when he was running towards goal,
I
> was muttering at the TV, "Come on, Gila, surely you can't miss
> another open goal!" Sorry, kid. It was a nice goal and a job well
> done!
>
> I am sure the Milan boys are aware that while thay have won a
great
> battle, the war ain't won yet. Liverpool await in Athens, and
there
> are 3 weeks to prepare for that contest.
>
> However, for now, I am off to savor this great victory.
>
> FORZA NESTA! FORZA MILAN!
>
> Ming
>

Wow, I have truly run out of words to praise the Milan midfield, by
far the best...
But it must be said that Man U are not Barca/Inter/Juve, I think we
were always going to beat them but maybe we just didn't expect to
beat them by such a large margin.
And I'm glad Kaka showed them to never compare him to C. Ronaldo
again, that man was reduced to defending Oddo and did a bad job of
it too.

Forza Milan!

Vuyo

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> Woohoo! (I will keep the capital letters till after the final. ;-))
>
> But the 3rd final in 5 years ain't bad. And against Livepool no
> less! I won't call this time for revenge (I firmly believe being
low-
> key is good for one's luck quotient! ;-) ), but surely it is time
for
> redemption, a chance for Milan, and the players who were there, to
> exorcise the ghosts of Istanbul.
>
> If Bayern could exorcise the ghosts of Barcelona 2 years after
that
> heartbreaking night at the Camp Neu, so can Milan!
>
> Let me not get too far ahead of myself, and concentrate on the
game
> today. I will try to be coherant, though that may be difficult at
> this time when I am still on cloud eight (cloud nine is reserved
for
> the final;-)).
>
> I did not get as many chances to watch Milan play this season
> compared to the last 4 (due to my travels, the snobbish local
Italian
> channel, and a crazy schedule at work). What I had seen, through
> February, was disheartening. But really nothing demonstrate class
vs
> form better than what happened this season with Milan (and to a
> little lesser degree, with Nesta). The mess they were in was a
> result of poor form (post-world-cup syndrome, an abbreviated
summer
> camp, injury crisis as a result of the aforementioned factors),
but
> the team still has class. Today's game just reminds me how awe-
> inspiring this Milan team can be when in good form and in full
flow.
> (I still haven't had time to watch the 2nd leg against Bayern and
the
> 1st leg against ManU which I have on tape.) They out-classed Man
U.
> Granted United had their own injury crisis, especially in the
back,
> today's game was won in midfield, where Milan totally dominated.
> The physical, spirited "fighters" from the EPL leaders were no
match
> for the techniques of the "whiners" from Italy. (I never noticed
> Jankulovski has such fine ball control skills!) I don't have the
> official statistics, but Milan appeared to have won the majority
of
> the duels in midfield (and in the back third and front third of
the
> pitch too ;-)), and managed to KEEP the ball after winning it to
do
> something with. The desire of the Milan players was palpable.
> Keeping the ball is technique, winning it is one part footballing
> intelligence and 2 parts fighting spirit. They simply wanted it
more
> than the kids (and the few old men) from Man U. And the way the
Man
> U players also seemed awed by the technical superiority and
> commitment of the Milan players did not help their cause either.
>
> Since the Milan midfield was so dominant, Nesta, Kaladze and Dida
had
> relatively little to do. But Nesta's class still showed in the
> apparantly simple things that he did, like some clear-eyed, well-
> read "simple" toe-pokes that got the ball out of the danger zone
> amidst a chaotic forest of bodies and legs. And of course the
first
> goal started with Nesta taking the ball out of defense and making
a
> searching long pass that found Seedorf's head.
>
> It has been said that Seedorf's form tends to reflect Milan's
> fortune, and the guy is certainly in excellent form. It is also
not
> too often that we see Seedorf fight so hard on the pitch, doing an
> industrial amount of ball winning and without turning the ball
back
> to the opponents!. (Pirlo, on the other hand, always takes his
job
> as the "defensive midfielder" seriously, even when his form
happened
> to be poor and his passing was not up to his usual high standard
and
> his defending amounted to a lot of niggling fouls.) Anyway, this
> year's Milan is different from the previous couple of seasons in
that
> they are approaching the end of the season and the CL final with
> surging form rather than staggering towards the finish line by May
> after racking up winning streaks in February and March. That has
to
> bode well. Adds to that what Joe McGinniss observed at Euro2000,
> that nothing get Italian juices flowing like a sense of grievance,
> the feeling that they have suffered an injustice. The Milan
> organization certainly and the players most probably feel that way
> with how they had been treated in Calciopoli. Though I find the
> club's whining somewhat distasteful, the sense of greievance seems
to
> have united the team and management in adversity and prevented
things
> from falling apart despite numerous "crisis" advertised by the
media.
> The Azzurri's reaction to Calciopoli has delivered a world cup to
> Italy. Will Italy's club representative be equally inspired to
> deliver another Big Cup?
>
> Last but not least, I just want to mention, before signing off,
the
> home crowd's support for Dida. Despite Dida being dissed
mercilessly
> in the press and by certain fans (calling for him to be retained
as
> the groundskeeper, and auctioning him off at 71 Euros, as I've
read
> from various sources), the Milanista at the San Siro were fully
> behind him, giving him a big round of applause everytime he came
off
> his line and caught a high ball cleanly. That is certainly the
way
> to support your team, not some sort of vindictive booing of some
> selected scapegoat of a player. That support must have helped
Dida's
> confidence, and helped prevent what I had feared before the game
> (i.e. more Dida howlers) from coming to pass.
>
> Talking about confidence, I hope that third goal helps Gila's
> confidence. I have to confess, when he was running towards goal,
I
> was muttering at the TV, "Come on, Gila, surely you can't miss
> another open goal!" Sorry, kid. It was a nice goal and a job well
> done!
>
> I am sure the Milan boys are aware that while thay have won a
great
> battle, the war ain't won yet. Liverpool await in Athens, and
there
> are 3 weeks to prepare for that contest.
>
> However, for now, I am off to savor this great victory.
>
> FORZA NESTA! FORZA MILAN!
>
> Ming
>

Wow, I have truly run out of words to praise the Milan midfield, by
far the best...
But it must be said that Man U are not Barca/Inter/Juve, I think we
were always going to beat them but maybe we just didn't expect to
beat them by such a large margin.
And I'm glad Kaka showed them to never compare him to C. Ronaldo
again, that man was reduced to defending Oddo and did a bad job of
it too.

Forza Milan!

Vuyo

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> Woohoo! (I will keep the capital letters till after the final. ;-))
>
> But the 3rd final in 5 years ain't bad.  And against Livepool no
> less! I won't call this time for revenge (I firmly believe being
low-
> key is good for one's luck quotient! ;-) ), but surely it is time
for
> redemption, a chance for Milan, and the players who were there, to
> exorcise the ghosts of Istanbul.
>
> If Bayern could exorcise the ghosts of Barcelona 2 years after
that
> heartbreaking night at the Camp Neu, so can Milan!
>
> Let me not get too far ahead of myself, and concentrate on the
game
> today. I will try to be coherant, though that may be difficult at
> this time when I am still on cloud eight (cloud nine is reserved
for
> the final;-)).
>
> I did not get as many chances to watch Milan play this season
> compared to the last 4 (due to my travels, the snobbish local
Italian
> channel, and a crazy schedule at work).  What I had seen, through
> February, was disheartening. But really nothing demonstrate class
vs
> form better than what happened this season with Milan (and to a
> little lesser degree, with Nesta).  The mess they were in was a
> result of poor form (post-world-cup syndrome, an abbreviated
summer
> camp, injury crisis as a result of the aforementioned factors),
but
> the team still has class.  Today's game just reminds me how awe-
> inspiring this Milan team can be when in good form and in full
flow.
> (I still haven't had time to watch the 2nd leg against Bayern and
the
> 1st leg against ManU which I have on tape.) They out-classed Man
U.
> Granted United had their own injury crisis, especially in the
back,
> today's game was won in midfield, where Milan totally dominated.
> The physical, spirited "fighters" from the EPL leaders were no
match
> for the techniques of the "whiners" from Italy. (I never noticed
> Jankulovski has such fine ball control skills!) I don't have the
> official statistics, but Milan appeared to have won the majority
of
> the duels in midfield (and in the back third and front third of
the
> pitch too ;-)), and managed to KEEP the ball after winning it to
do
> something with.  The desire of the Milan players was palpable.
> Keeping the ball is technique, winning it is one part footballing
> intelligence and 2 parts fighting spirit.  They simply wanted it
more
> than the kids (and the few old men) from Man U.  And the way the
Man
> U players also seemed awed by the technical superiority and
> commitment of the Milan players did not help their cause either.
>
> Since the Milan midfield was so dominant, Nesta, Kaladze and Dida
had
> relatively little to do.  But Nesta's class still showed in the
> apparantly simple things that he did, like some clear-eyed, well-
> read "simple" toe-pokes that got the ball out of the danger zone
> amidst a chaotic forest of bodies and legs.  And of course the
first
> goal started with Nesta taking the ball out of defense and making
a
> searching long pass that found Seedorf's head.
>
> It has been said that Seedorf's form tends to reflect Milan's
> fortune, and the guy is certainly in excellent form.  It is also
not
> too often that we see Seedorf fight so hard on the pitch, doing an
> industrial amount of ball winning and without turning the ball
back
> to the opponents!.  (Pirlo, on the other hand, always takes his
job
> as the "defensive midfielder" seriously, even when his form
happened
> to be poor and his passing was not up to his usual high standard
and
> his defending amounted to a lot of niggling fouls.) Anyway, this
> year's Milan is different from the previous couple of seasons in
that
> they are approaching the end of the season and the CL final with
> surging form rather than staggering towards the finish line by May
> after racking up winning streaks in February and March.  That has
to
> bode well.  Adds to that what Joe McGinniss observed at Euro2000,
> that nothing get Italian juices flowing like a sense of grievance,
> the feeling that they have suffered an injustice.  The Milan
> organization certainly and the players most probably feel that way
> with how they had been treated in Calciopoli.  Though I find the
> club's whining somewhat distasteful, the sense of greievance seems
to
> have united the team and management in adversity and prevented
things
> from falling apart despite numerous "crisis" advertised by the
media.
> The Azzurri's reaction to Calciopoli has delivered a world cup to
> Italy.  Will Italy's club representative be equally inspired to
> deliver another Big Cup?
>
> Last but not least, I just want to mention, before signing off,
the
> home crowd's support for Dida.  Despite Dida being dissed
mercilessly
> in the press and by certain fans (calling for him to be retained
as
> the groundskeeper, and auctioning him off at 71 Euros, as I've
read
> from various sources), the Milanista at the San Siro were fully
> behind him, giving him a big round of applause everytime he came
off
> his line and caught a high ball cleanly.  That is certainly the
way
> to support your team, not some sort of vindictive booing of some
> selected scapegoat of a player.  That support must have helped
Dida's
> confidence, and helped prevent what I had feared before the game
> (i.e. more Dida howlers) from coming to pass.
>
> Talking about confidence, I hope that third goal helps Gila's
> confidence.  I have to confess, when he was running towards goal,
I
> was muttering at the TV, "Come on, Gila, surely you can't miss
> another open goal!"  Sorry, kid. It was a nice goal and a job well
> done!
>
> I am sure the Milan boys are aware that while thay have won a
great
> battle, the war ain't won yet.  Liverpool await in Athens, and
there
> are 3 weeks to prepare for that contest.
>
> However, for now, I am off to savor this great victory.
>
> FORZA NESTA!  FORZA MILAN!
>
> Ming
>

I saw the entire game.  I'm pretty bad at game reports so i'll just
say that Milan played superbly, they were very strong at the defense
and oh my those goals!  It was a great game.

I really hope history wont repeat itself like 2 years ago with that
incredible come back from Liverpool after being down 3-0 against
Milan.

So best of luck for this one!!

--- In nestatheministerofdefense@yahoogroups.com, "jujuboodoo"
<michele.chang@...> wrote:
>
> Woohoo! (I will keep the capital letters till after the final. ;-))
>
> But the 3rd final in 5 years ain't bad.  And against Livepool no
> less! I won't call this time for revenge (I firmly believe being
low-
> key is good for one's luck quotient! ;-) ), but surely it is time
for
> redemption, a chance for Milan, and the players who were there, to
> exorcise the ghosts of Istanbul.
>
> If Bayern could exorcise the ghosts of Barcelona 2 years after that
> heartbreaking night at the Camp Neu, so can Milan!
>
> Let me not get too far ahead of myself, and concentrate on the game
> today. I will try to be coherant, though that may be difficult at
> this time when I am still on cloud eight (cloud nine is reserved
for
> the final;-)).
>
> I did not get as many chances to watch Milan play this season
> compared to the last 4 (due to my travels, the snobbish local
Italian
> channel, and a crazy schedule at work).  What I had seen, through
> February, was disheartening. But really nothing demonstrate class
vs
> form better than what happened this season with Milan (and to a
> little lesser degree, with Nesta).  The mess they were in was a
> result of poor form (post-world-cup syndrome, an abbreviated summer
> camp, injury crisis as a result of the aforementioned factors), but
> the team still has class.  Today's game just reminds me how awe-
> inspiring this Milan team can be when in good form and in full
flow.
> (I still haven't had time to watch the 2nd leg against Bayern and
the
> 1st leg against ManU which I have on tape.) They out-classed Man
U.
> Granted United had their own injury crisis, especially in the back,
> today's game was won in midfield, where Milan totally dominated.
> The physical, spirited "fighters" from the EPL leaders were no
match
> for the techniques of the "whiners" from Italy. (I never noticed
> Jankulovski has such fine ball control skills!) I don't have the
> official statistics, but Milan appeared to have won the majority of
> the duels in midfield (and in the back third and front third of the
> pitch too ;-)), and managed to KEEP the ball after winning it to do
> something with.  The desire of the Milan players was palpable.
> Keeping the ball is technique, winning it is one part footballing
> intelligence and 2 parts fighting spirit.  They simply wanted it
more
> than the kids (and the few old men) from Man U.  And the way the
Man
> U players also seemed awed by the technical superiority and
> commitment of the Milan players did not help their cause either.
>
> Since the Milan midfield was so dominant, Nesta, Kaladze and Dida
had
> relatively little to do.  But Nesta's class still showed in the
> apparantly simple things that he did, like some clear-eyed, well-
> read "simple" toe-pokes that got the ball out of the danger zone
> amidst a chaotic forest of bodies and legs.  And of course the
first
> goal started with Nesta taking the ball out of defense and making a
> searching long pass that found Seedorf's head.
>
> It has been said that Seedorf's form tends to reflect Milan's
> fortune, and the guy is certainly in excellent form.  It is also
not
> too often that we see Seedorf fight so hard on the pitch, doing an
> industrial amount of ball winning and without turning the ball back
> to the opponents!.  (Pirlo, on the other hand, always takes his job
> as the "defensive midfielder" seriously, even when his form
happened
> to be poor and his passing was not up to his usual high standard
and
> his defending amounted to a lot of niggling fouls.) Anyway, this
> year's Milan is different from the previous couple of seasons in
that
> they are approaching the end of the season and the CL final with
> surging form rather than staggering towards the finish line by May
> after racking up winning streaks in February and March.  That has
to
> bode well.  Adds to that what Joe McGinniss observed at Euro2000,
> that nothing get Italian juices flowing like a sense of grievance,
> the feeling that they have suffered an injustice.  The Milan
> organization certainly and the players most probably feel that way
> with how they had been treated in Calciopoli.  Though I find the
> club's whining somewhat distasteful, the sense of greievance seems
to
> have united the team and management in adversity and prevented
things
> from falling apart despite numerous "crisis" advertised by the
media.
> The Azzurri's reaction to Calciopoli has delivered a world cup to
> Italy.  Will Italy's club representative be equally inspired to
> deliver another Big Cup?
>
> Last but not least, I just want to mention, before signing off, the
> home crowd's support for Dida.  Despite Dida being dissed
mercilessly
> in the press and by certain fans (calling for him to be retained as
> the groundskeeper, and auctioning him off at 71 Euros, as I've read
> from various sources), the Milanista at the San Siro were fully
> behind him, giving him a big round of applause everytime he came
off
> his line and caught a high ball cleanly.  That is certainly the way
> to support your team, not some sort of vindictive booing of some
> selected scapegoat of a player.  That support must have helped
Dida's
> confidence, and helped prevent what I had feared before the game
> (i.e. more Dida howlers) from coming to pass.
>
> Talking about confidence, I hope that third goal helps Gila's
> confidence.  I have to confess, when he was running towards goal, I
> was muttering at the TV, "Come on, Gila, surely you can't miss
> another open goal!"  Sorry, kid. It was a nice goal and a job well
> done!
>
> I am sure the Milan boys are aware that while thay have won a great
> battle, the war ain't won yet.  Liverpool await in Athens, and
there
> are 3 weeks to prepare for that contest.
>
> However, for now, I am off to savor this great victory.
>
> FORZA NESTA!  FORZA MILAN!
>
> Ming
>

Woohoo! (I will keep the capital letters till after the final. ;-))

But the 3rd final in 5 years ain't bad.  And against Livepool no
less! I won't call this time for revenge (I firmly believe being low-
key is good for one's luck quotient! ;-) ), but surely it is time for
redemption, a chance for Milan, and the players who were there, to
exorcise the ghosts of Istanbul.

If Bayern could exorcise the ghosts of Barcelona 2 years after that
heartbreaking night at the Camp Neu, so can Milan!

Let me not get too far ahead of myself, and concentrate on the game
today. I will try to be coherant, though that may be difficult at
this time when I am still on cloud eight (cloud nine is reserved for
the final;-)).

I did not get as many chances to watch Milan play this season
compared to the last 4 (due to my travels, the snobbish local Italian
channel, and a crazy schedule at work).  What I had seen, through
February, was disheartening. But really nothing demonstrate class vs
form better than what happened this season with Milan (and to a
little lesser degree, with Nesta).  The mess they were in was a
result of poor form (post-world-cup syndrome, an abbreviated summer
camp, injury crisis as a result of the aforementioned factors), but
the team still has class.  Today's game just reminds me how awe-
inspiring this Milan team can be when in good form and in full flow.
(I still haven't had time to watch the 2nd leg against Bayern and the
1st leg against ManU which I have on tape.) They out-classed Man U.
Granted United had their own injury crisis, especially in the back,
today's game was won in midfield, where Milan totally dominated.
The physical, spirited "fighters" from the EPL leaders were no match
for the techniques of the "whiners" from Italy. (I never noticed
Jankulovski has such fine ball control skills!) I don't have the
official statistics, but Milan appeared to have won the majority of
the duels in midfield (and in the back third and front third of the
pitch too ;-)), and managed to KEEP the ball after winning it to do
something with.  The desire of the Milan players was palpable.
Keeping the ball is technique, winning it is one part footballing
intelligence and 2 parts fighting spirit.  They simply wanted it more
than the kids (and the few old men) from Man U.  And the way the Man
U players also seemed awed by the technical superiority and
commitment of the Milan players did not help their cause either.

Since the Milan midfield was so dominant, Nesta, Kaladze and Dida had
relatively little to do.  But Nesta's class still showed in the
apparantly simple things that he did, like some clear-eyed, well-
read "simple" toe-pokes that got the ball out of the danger zone
amidst a chaotic forest of bodies and legs.  And of course the first
goal started with Nesta taking the ball out of defense and making a
searching long pass that found Seedorf's head.

It has been said that Seedorf's form tends to reflect Milan's
fortune, and the guy is certainly in excellent form.  It is also not
too often that we see Seedorf fight so hard on the pitch, doing an
industrial amount of ball winning and without turning the ball back
to the opponents!.  (Pirlo, on the other hand, always takes his job
as the "defensive midfielder" seriously, even when his form happened
to be poor and his passing was not up to his usual high standard and
his defending amounted to a lot of niggling fouls.) Anyway, this
year's Milan is different from the previous couple of seasons in that
they are approaching the end of the season and the CL final with
surging form rather than staggering towards the finish line by May
after racking up winning streaks in February and March.  That has to
bode well.  Adds to that what Joe McGinniss observed at Euro2000,
that nothing get Italian juices flowing like a sense of grievance,
the feeling that they have suffered an injustice.  The Milan
organization certainly and the players most probably feel that way
with how they had been treated in Calciopoli.  Though I find the
club's whining somewhat distasteful, the sense of greievance seems to
have united the team and management in adversity and prevented things
from falling apart despite numerous "crisis" advertised by the media.
The Azzurri's reaction to Calciopoli has delivered a world cup to
Italy.  Will Italy's club representative be equally inspired to
deliver another Big Cup?

Last but not least, I just want to mention, before signing off, the
home crowd's support for Dida.  Despite Dida being dissed mercilessly
in the press and by certain fans (calling for him to be retained as
the groundskeeper, and auctioning him off at 71 Euros, as I've read
from various sources), the Milanista at the San Siro were fully
behind him, giving him a big round of applause everytime he came off
his line and caught a high ball cleanly.  That is certainly the way
to support your team, not some sort of vindictive booing of some
selected scapegoat of a player.  That support must have helped Dida's
confidence, and helped prevent what I had feared before the game
(i.e. more Dida howlers) from coming to pass.

Talking about confidence, I hope that third goal helps Gila's
confidence.  I have to confess, when he was running towards goal, I
was muttering at the TV, "Come on, Gila, surely you can't miss
another open goal!"  Sorry, kid. It was a nice goal and a job well
done!

I am sure the Milan boys are aware that while thay have won a great
battle, the war ain't won yet.  Liverpool await in Athens, and there
are 3 weeks to prepare for that contest.

However, for now, I am off to savor this great victory.

FORZA NESTA!  FORZA MILAN!

Ming