Pat's Football Page

Conquering The World On A Budget

2011-08-26T18:43:00.005+10:00

Alberto Aquilani arrived in Milan yesterday to undergo a medical to finalise his transfer. The star recruit was flown in by budget plane company Rayan Air. It was a fantastic symbol of Milan's new business model and perhaps a fitting way to mark the end of the first transfer window to fall under the new Financial Fair Play rules. If you ever have problems balancing the family budget - give

Milan's Progression - Building The Allegri Era

2011-08-24T18:06:00.005+10:00

Sometimes it's hard to remember much Milan has changed in recent years. Their were the big last minute signings before the 2010/11 season, but there is also many familiar faces from as far back as the 2003 Champions League Final victory - the first triumph of the Ancelotti Era. On the 28th of May 2003 Nesta, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Inzaghi and Ambrosini all made appearances for the Rossoneri.

Wolverhampton Keep Manchester Company, Juve and Milan Face-Off, Spain Wait Another Week

2011-08-23T18:33:00.010+10:00

So the EPL has seen the big clubs start sluggishly. The top 6-7 teams still look like they need another month of training in their legs before they can hit their straps. The two Manchester clubs have managed wins despite the cob webs and top the table along with the Wolverhampton Wolves. It's been particularly barren in London so far. Tottenham, Fulham and Arsenal have failed to registered a win

First El Clasico of the Season, Aguero Lights up City and Milan look to Montolivo

2011-08-16T22:02:00.004+10:00

Real Madrid and Barcelona drew 2-2 in the first leg of the Spanish Supercopa. Neither side is at there peak yet, but there is certainly going to be a few more interesting matches between these two this season. There is always a lot on the line for these two, but Madrid's pride must really be stingy. To spend the money they have during the current economic climate and get basically nothing in

Conte wants Patience, Arsenal and Liverpool Draw Opening Day and Ganso Shops Around

2011-08-14T10:41:00.006+10:00

Antonio Conte says that Juventus need more time after a goalless draw in their friendly against Real Betis. I like the way Juve have recruited, but I think they are probably a star or two off challenging for the Scudetto. Hopefully the management shows a bit of patience with the manager and the team and start planning next summers transfers. I think Galliani has shown the way for Italian clubs

EPL 2011/12 Preview - Status Quo, Money and the end of Wenger

2011-08-13T15:18:00.007+10:00

The EPL season is about to kick-off. We all know the monolith that the EPL has become and that has good and bad consequences. The one thing nobody can argue with is that The EPL is the best league in the World when it comes to promotion and customer (fan) service. So I am very excited about the new season and all that it brings. I won't give a full season preview (you can see good ones here,

Milan version 2012 - King Ibra and Waiting for the Pharaoh

2011-08-12T17:47:00.008+10:00

Without a doubt in my mind, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the difference for Milan last season. The new manager, Max Allegri, was fantastic and a bunch of players had great seasons, including new boys Robinho, Boateng and van Bommel. Everyone at Milan contributed last season, but without Zlatans amazing start to the season it wouldn't have been possible. He carried the team through while other new

Milan Win Super Cup - Allegri Maintains Perfect Derby Record

2011-08-07T17:39:00.006+10:00

Milan won this years Super Cup last night. The cup isn't usually considered very important, but the clubs VP, Adriano Galliani, insists it was better than winning the scudetto. I'm sure a few tifosi feel differently.Milan coach, Max Allegri, did take the game very seriously. Throughout his first year in charge of Milan, he always put a focus on momentum. Allegri always puts demanded the team play

Presidential Pride

2011-01-06T09:11:00.006+11:00

So, as far as I can figure, Adrian Mutu's agent told Fiorentina he wanted to leave and play for Cesena - Fiorentina said they'd choose who they sold him to - Mutu stormed out of training when he heard the news - Fiorentina now want to sue him if he doesn't do what he is told.Obviously, Fiorentina are in melt down and Prandelli was much more important to the clubs success than we ever imagined.

Winter Champions

2011-01-05T13:33:00.011+11:00

I won't go into too much details of Milan's season so far, for that you can go here, here, here and here. I just wanted to give my general impressions of where the squad is at and where the season might end up for the rossoneri.The thing that has struck me the most lately is the interchange between the front three under Allegri. Under Ancelotti and Leonardo the front three for Milan was fairly

Ciao Leo!

2010-05-15T17:36:00.004+10:00

So Leo and Milan announced their 'mutual parting' and Milan continue to look for life after Ancelotti, Maldini and Kaka. The initial response from rossoneri tifosi has been one of panic. A common sentiment has been to call for stability; a belief that a manager with tenure safer than a professors will lead to the holy land.It's understandable, change is always hard. Particularly when the change

10 Big Ideas For Milan - Part 2

2010-05-05T10:38:00.002+10:00

6. DefenceMilan's great sides under the Berlusconi Era have always had great defensive players. Whether it be Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini and Co in the back-line or Gennaro Gattuso and Massimo Ambrosini in the midfield.Milan's defence hasn't leaked goals in the last few seasons. In fact, in Serie A, Milan have averaged between 35-40 goals a season recently - about one goal a game on average.

John Terry Affair - A Cautionary Tale

2010-04-20T08:49:00.003+10:00

Let us forget the morale dimension of John Terry's affair with a teammates girlfriend. Terry's off-field activities have clearly affected his on-field performance. His recent decline should be a warning to all those youngsters who laugh at their managers when told to live a simple life and not get caught up in the celebrity of being a football player.Terry's rise to prominence started in 2000-

Torres' Loyalty Questioned

2010-04-20T08:42:00.002+10:00

"Fernando Torres has denied putting country before club after he was ruled out for the rest of Liverpool’s campaign having undergone knee surgery in Spain."Is this really a complaint? I say good on him. Anyone who puts winning the Europa League above the World Cup doesn't deserve to be in football.Though Torres himself denies considerations of club or country played any part in the decision and

Torrid Treatment

2010-04-19T16:54:00.013+10:00

Let me start by saying that I am aware of my bias here, but if I was Fernando Torres I would be out the door ASAP. I would have my agent shopping me all over town and pushing Liverpool to let me go right now. Liverpool knew about Torres' injury early in the season and knew the extent of it and the risks of forcing the player to play through the injury. Now perhaps at the start of the season it

The Replay Delusion

2010-04-14T11:02:00.002+10:00

Chelsea continued their end of season push by defeating Bolton to make the not-as-prestigious-as-it-used-to-be FA Cup Final. During the match Chelsea's not-as-revered-as-he-used-to-be-captain John Terry got away with what appeared to be a handball in the box.The incident has once again got some talking about the introduction of video referee's. The thing that makes me laugh is that video replay

10 Big Ideas For Milan - Part 1

2010-04-12T15:16:00.000+10:00

Last month the New South Wales Business Chamber released a plan called 10 Big Ideas for NSW. A blue print of general goals to build the state. I thought that since Milan's season is effectively over with a draw to Catania this weekend it might be a good time to do a similar list for Milan.The idea of the list will be to have long term general goals that will make Milan one of the World's best

Milan V Napoli - Scudetto Shot

2010-03-21T17:21:00.002+11:00

Milan have a chance to overtake Inter in the scudetto race this weekend if they can defeat Napoli.Napoli are a good team that is under-performing, perhaps due to some backroom issues between management and coaching staff, but they have the quality to beat anyone on their day.So here are some stats to help you pick a winner...- Napoli haven't won since January 24th and have only won twice since

Milan's Big Week

2010-03-06T12:40:00.004+11:00

Milan have come a long way this season. Under new manager, Leonardo, they have broken out of their signature Christmas tree formation and its variants - which had become predictable, dower and narrow - and now play an open, aggressive and attractive style of football.However, Leo is far from having completed building an all conquering team like the great Milan managers before him such as Nereo

My Misery

2010-02-10T22:16:00.003+11:00

I knew that Milan were going to have a tough run after Christmas leading into the Champions League clash with Manchester United, but my fan goggles had me in unjustified high hopes.Milan is definitely improving and Leo's slow revolution has produced some good results in its early stages and that temporarily blinded me to the fact that we still have many of the old frailties of the past two to

The Evil Empire - Chelski buy their way out of transfer ban

2010-02-05T11:54:00.003+11:00

Tell me if this doesn't sound stupid to you, but Chelsea were banned for poaching players (i.e, using their economic advantage to steal players off poorer clubs) and they have beaten the wrap by settling out of court (i.e, using their economic advantage to steal players off poorer clubs)!!!WTF?!?!"In an act of good faith and with a view to the possibility of future collaboration with Lens, and

John Terry Own Goal

2010-02-03T08:44:00.003+11:00

Poor, poor John Terry. The English captain has made one of the worst errors you could make as a husband and now has to make up for it in public. People will say it's a typical case of what happens when young people get too much, too quickly. Terry certainly has enough money, fame and adulation to fill multiple lifetimes, but I think these things are usually more complicated then a spoilt brat

How the Mighty will Fall

2010-01-14T11:47:00.004+11:00

EPL, the land of milk and honey, modern football, the succesful merging of capitalism and sport.Arsenal's big January signing - 35 year-old Sol Campbell on a free fresh from the depths of Englands semi-professional leaguesLiverpool's big January signing - 29 year old Maxi Rodriguez on a free. The "kid" has shown flashes of brilliance but it's

Hiddink to Juve?

2009-12-14T19:15:00.005+11:00

Reports suggest that Guus Hiddink is in talks with Juventus to replace their novice manager Ciro Ferrara. No offence to Ciro, but I couldn't be more excited.Tribal football says: "Radio Radio reports the Russia coach landed yesterday morning at Malpensa airport ahead of talks with Juventus directors."It is believed that he rejected an offer from Juve at the end of November, but Juve's recent

Week 16 in Serie A becomes Week of the Underdog and Serie A is Tightest Competition of Big Three

2009-12-14T11:18:00.005+11:00

Sampdoria and Roma were the only two teams on equal points to face each other this weekend and they drew 0-0, perhaps not a surprise. However, it was a real shock that Livorno and Parma were the only two of nine teams to face a team lower than them on the ladder and win. Bari, Chievo, Lazio, Palermo and Siena all beat teams further up the ladder and Atalanta and Cagliari shared the points with