Forza Milan! I knew Milan would beat Roma but never thought it would be that easy. Cassano and Montella were no where to be seen in the seond half and Totti showed what he really is, a dumb genius! Totti is bigger than the club and Cassano is a spoilt brat! They need to sell these two, get a good coach and build on the young guns they have in their squad. Only then can they again become a force to be reckonned with in Serie A.

Dinho, Let me list Milan's team which faced Ajax in the 1995 CL finals and tell me which were "boring" players (almost teh same team that beat Barca 4-0 a year before that). I'll do the same with Juventus team that played in the 1996 finals and you see the difference in the squad... MILAN -Rossi -Tassotti (Ancelotti's deputy today) -Panucci (Later joined Real, Chelsea and now Roma) -Albertini (now plays for Barca) -Costacurta -Galli -Maldini -Donadoni (Livorno coach - great player, featured even as late as 1994 WC for the Azzuri) -Desailly (was going downhill when he joined Chelsea and had his best years at Milan as a midfielder) -Boban (midfield maestro-the Croatian playmaker) -Savicevic (another great and technical player) -Massaro (great goal scorer) Coach: Capello Do you still think Weah joined a team with boring players? Now look at Juve's squad... JUVENTUS -Peruzzi -Ferrara -Torricelli -Vierchowod -Pessotto -Conte -Jugovic -Paulo Sousa -Di Livio -Deschamps -Del Piero -Vialli -Ravanelli Coach: Lippi They were a good unit but the only ones who stood out technically were Paolo Sousa (the only creative midfielder in the team - Jugovic, Conte and Deschamps were defensive midfielders) and Del Piero. Also look at the philosphy of the coaches to understand the game the teams played. Shujui, We were talking about the team prior to 1996; Jose Mari joined Milan in 1999. They were crap during that period and coached by the boring Zacherroni who ruined Milan's game. De Ascentis also joined the Milan team in the 1999/2000 season from Bari. Also, Zidane joined Juve in 1996 and Dugarry signed for Milan the same year, both from Bordeaux. To see how dumb Milan were..listen to this...Milan were once beaten by Bordeaux 4-0 where Dugarry and Zidane played a major role. Milan bought the goalscorer Dugarry while Juve bought the playmaker, Zidane The rest is history! The only top quality player they signed in towards end of the 90's and who managed to be established in the Milan team is Shevchenko. Their squad around 1996 featured the likes of Edgar Davids, Kluivert and many other good players but none of them settled at the club.

Dinho, So when George Weah was voted the... - African Player of the Year 1994 & 1995 - European Football Player Of The Year 1995 - Football Player of the Year - FIFA 1995 ...he was playing for a team that played boring football? How then did he get noticed by the whole world? He must have been doing some really fantastic things to win all those awards during a period you claim Milan was playing "boring" football. Do you think forwards like Vialli and Ravanelli played better (or more entertaining) football than Weah? The Dutch trio left around 1993 but Milan went on to win Champions League the following year (1994) 4-0 against a very strong Barca, and went to play the final of 1995 which they lost 1-0. How do you explain that? Did they get there by winning through penalties? I think not.

I never liked him because he (together with Rui Costa) always caused problems for bigger teams which travelled to Florence. But he was a great player. If only Batigol and Rui Costa had moved to bigger clubs much earlier, they would have been greater players.

Originally posted by Dinho: A very talented squad even though i think Rui Costa has always been over-rated :rolleyes: . the rest of the squad is pure class. Dinho, You evidently haven't seen him at his best when he played for Fiorentina (for about 13 years?). He has aged and isn't the same player as before and should have moved to a bigger club long ago. Rui Costa probably set up over 80% of Batistuta's goals and is a 100 times a better player than his countryman Figo. Cruyff brought Figo to Barca where he got much more exposure but Costa was at Viola during his best years and didn't have that much exposure. BOB, AC Milan has been the most entertaining team in Italy and the secnd most successful side in Europe. They had a bad four years or so after Baresi hang his boots, but they have recovered since they strengthenned their defence.

Originally posted by Dinho: Dinho: From about 93-2000 milan were a total bore to watch So Milan were playing a boring game when they beat Barca 4-0 in the 1994 final? I am yet to see a more entertaining CL final (the Real-Leverjusen was up there with teh best when Zidan scored with a killer volley). And do you remember how they got to the final the following year when they lost to Ajax? I would say the problem started in the late 90's, in 1996 to be precise when Baresi started to faulter and the whole team didn't have a proper structure. I would agree wholeheartedly if you said 1996-2000, but saying the 90's is a misconception. They had their best team in the early 90's with the Dutch trio Rijkaard-Gullit-van Basten with Maldini, Tassoti, Costacurta and Baresi in the back. Cassano, Barca was the better team in the tie, but Chelsea were damn effective! Barca lost despite having 66% possession and spectacular saves from Cech made it even more difficult. I respect Chelsea because they did something no one believed they could do, play attacking football and overturn the deficit (all in the 33% of the time they had the ball, lol).

Dinho, The only time Milan won a Scudetto playing boring football was in 98 i think when Zacheroni was the head coach and he brought the likes of Bierhoff and Helveg from his former team Udinese. He ruined Milan's styule of play and turned it into an "Everton", a team with soldiers instead of football players. I was not at all pleased with that Scudetto to tell you the truth because they ground their way through. Milan also struggled a lot from 1996/97 because they lost the greatest maestro football has ever seen, the one and only, Franco Baresi. You just don't replace players like that easily. Real Madrid are still unable to replace Sanchis and now even Hierro who have played for the club for a very long time. They have had problems since Sanchis quit the team and Hierro became shaky. Milan finally got their defence in order when they bought Nesta from Lazio, Cafu and Stam followed him to Milan too. Now they have without doubt the best defence in Europe and also the most experienced. Look at the Milan of today and show me a more talented and even well-balanced team in European football. Their squad is better that ALL the teams in Europe. Which team has the likes----> of Stam, Rui Costa, Dhorasoo (voted best player in France last year), Serginho, Dario Simic, Tomasson, etc. on the bench? Keep in mind that the first choice forwards Sheva and Inzaghi are currently out. The latter has barely played this season. Do you know of a team in Europe that has a better squad and especially in depth? Plus, if you look at their team, the only player who is a "fighter" and not very creative is Gatusso. All the others are very attack-minded midfielders...Kaka, Seedorf, Pirlo and Rui Costa. Juve in the late 90's played with Zidane and three other defensive midfielders (usually Davids, Conte, Tacchinardi and Pesotto/Birindelli were brought in). Today the only creative midfielder in Juve is Nedved. With him out, Camoranesi is supposed to be the creative one with the help of their forward Zlatan. You are the only person who I have heard say the opposite of what usually is the reality; any Serie A fan will tell you that Juve are boring and Milan represent flare. I wonder what Cassano/Totti our resident Serie A expert thinks of this... Capello is the one who has brought some quality to their side. He brought Canavaro, Emerson, Zebina and Zlatan and put on the bench the usual boring players that Lippi has stuck with for ages; Montero, Pesotto, Birindelli, Tachinardi and the inneficeint Del Piero. But the absence of Nedved has meant that they can not play attractive football and have to lock the game and hope for a break. PS: They alread met this year at Della Alpi and Juve were outclassed in the whole 90 minutes. Despite a spectacular game by Milan, it ended 0-0. Can't wait to see the return leg!

Originally posted by Dinho: Viking, Milan were always the boring team while Juve were the entertaining team, until recently with a mix of Brazilians/Italians etc have Milan been 'more' entertaining. do you remeber the 90s? who was more entertaining Juve or Milan? Let's see what Milan have achieved the past two decades in Europe and the kind of players that have played for them and compare to Juve... MILAN 1989--> Milan 4 - Steua Bucharest 0---> Best in Europe! 1990--> Milan 1 - Benfica 0----> Best in Europe AGAIN and the only team to win back to back and last team to do so so far in the CL! (Liverpool did it last in the European Cup in 77&78) 1993--> Marseille 1 - Milan 0----> Beaten by the best team in the final, a team feat. Boli, Pele et al. 1994--> Milan 4 - Barca 0---> Best in Europe! Do you remember the beautiful goals scored by Savicevic and Desailly? There hasn't been a better final than that yet! Do you recall the Barca team they beat? Stoichkov, Romario, Koeman etc. 1995--> Ajax 1 - Milan 0---> Beaten by the best team I've ever seen where Kluivert scored the only goal of the game! Four of their best players joined Milan a year or so later (Kluivert, Davids, Reizeger and Bogarde) 2002--> Milan beat Juve in penalties in the most boring final ever! Let's see what Juve have acheived in Europe in the same period (1989 to today)... JUVENTUS 1996--> Juve 1 - Ajax 1 -->Juve on penalties in a slow final. 1997--> Borussia Dirtmund 3 - Juve 1---> Outclassed by the Dortmund team led by Mathias Sammer! 1998--> Real Madrid 1 - Juve 0 --> Real beats Juve in the second most boring final I've ever seen! Only a scrappy goal by Mijatovic set the two team apart. 2002--> As above, they were defeated on penalties by Milan in the boring final at Old Trafford. Do these players strike you as players who play "boring" football? van Basten, Gullit, Rijkaard, Weah, Boban, Savicevic and Roberto Baggio just to name a few. Besides Zidane and Del Piero, I don't recall any other "technical" (entertaining) players that can be compared to those who have played for Milan. We all know that Del Piero though talented, is a player who has been VERY MUCH overated throughout the years. As for their current Juve team, take away Nedved and Ibrahimovic and you are left with no "technical" player who can entertain the spectators. I'll name just two very entertaining games Milan have been involved in the past year or so in the CL...can you remember ONE game involving Juve that has been entertaining? Milan- Deportivo Last year in the quarters of CL. They won 4-1 at San Siro and were beaten 4-0 in Riazor, lol. Very entertaining two legs where we saw 9 goals! and total football displayed by both teams, each one showing its best football at home. Milan - Manchester The first leg at Old Trafford; Milan displayed how football should be played, both defensively and offensively with the midfield maestros enjoying themselves.

Originally posted by Viking: As for the CL results, this is how I think it'll go... Arsenal V Bayern -Bayern through Man Utd V Milan - AC thru Juve V Madrid - Juve thru L'pool V Bayer - L'pool thru Chelsea V Barca -Barca thru (just like the last time they met) Porto V Inter -Inter thru Werder V Lyon - Lyon thru PSV v Monaco - PSV thru If Inter go through (which they should with ease) I would have gotten one prediction wrong, the Chelsea game :mad: Not bad eh?

Originally posted by $187$: Milan for me, just play for the result like chelsea. Teams like Barcelona and Arsenal actually want to entertain and give the fans something to be happy about. I believe that these 2 teams are the only sides in Europe who come close to total football of Michels. Wenger even admitted he was inspired by Michels and Rijkaard of course he's dutch. The only Italian teams i like are inter and Juve. Milan are just too boring even with the likes of kaka and sheva. Roma - may Allah help them, good side but may Allah help them 187, Sxb, you are being dishonest with yourself here...How dare you say Juve are more entertaining that Milan??? I have never ever heard someone say that before. Juve are the most boring team in Italy and I'd rather watch Sampdoria, Lecce or other lower teams than Juve. Did you watch when they played each other at Della Alpi this year? There was only one team on the ground and taht team was Milan, they outclassed Juve totally and dominated from beginning to end. Look at how boring Juve played against Real and compare to Milan's performance at Old Trafford... do you see the class difference or do you just love Juve even when they disappoint? Milan are always known for their flare, remember Rijkaard-Gullit-van Basten? Milan play very well and can play and beat any European team at any given time, that's why they are the SECOND BEST team in Europe only after Real Madrid. You don't win 6 European titles on playing for results. Also, look at the way they were played...No doubt that the Juve-Milan final two years ago was one of the most boring finals ever! But they beat Barca 4-0 in the final of 1994 and played them like dummies for the whole 90 minutes. Look at how they played ManU at Old Trafford? Could Arsenal come close to that performance this year? Be honest saxib, that was one of the best displays this year (as Cassano said above). As for Barca and Arsenal, they do play very attractive football and entertain their fans, I love them and rarely miss their games when they play...but Barca have won one CL cup and Arsenal have NEVER played in a semi-final...so much for "their" entertaining football. So sxb don't go comparing minnows with Milan. Ajax? Great team! They have won CL 5 times and play very attractive football. Their 1995 team was the best team I've ever seen put together and they played total football for 90 minutes.

Soma_Inc, What would you be saying if Barca had converted one of their many chances? Chelsea played extremely well and suprised evenryone, including themselves. Remember Mourinho's reaction when he won the CL last year? Not a smile...compare it to his reaction last nite, he was very happy because he knows that he has overcome a MAJOR obstacle. All credit to the way the played plus they won despite Barca having 66% possession. Treble? Chelsea is not the only team with a treble dream. Milan are leading Seria A, still in Italian Cup and have just beaten ManU, twice, to head to the semis. Barca missed Marquez immensely last nite. Teams Chelsea should not want to meet are Milan and Lyon...the rest aren't veryt difficult.

macalimuu, I read this article somewhere a year or so ago, it is still interesting nevertheless. I think Eritrea too refused to take the infamous and irresponsible loans from the IMF and the WB. Kenya is also a good example of this globalisation and privatisation farce. In the 80's the govt effeciently run the energy sector, water etc. and all was going quite well. Today they import fruits (something that was grown and sold locally) from S Africa, electricity and water prices have soared and the whole infrastructure is in shambles. Since the "restructuring loans" were given to Kenya, they are forced to produce "cash-crops" like coffee, tea etc. to tend to the needs of the west where prices are dictated by the "market" (based you know where) and they are also forced to import food and other products they used to produce locally. So much for globalisation.

Rendezvous, What is this BS about calling your brothers killers? Do you think hiyo ndio ujuaji? Is that ujuaji-a-la-Webuye? I know a lot of dudes from western Kenya and they are decent chaps, you are giving them and sijuis in general a bad name. Let me ask you a q...what do you think of the 'ingokho' people? Do you like them or do you despise them as much as you do walendo? I'm asking you this because I've seen some sijuis from the provincial areas (read 'country boys') feel closer to the tribes who inhabit the region than they do towards their own Somali brethren. STOIC, Some sijuis have problems with all sorts of complexes. I remember this dude from Eastleigh who came to Nairobi in 1991 after living in Toronto for a few years... he was dissing his home and the whole neighbourhood, always telling us how "great" Toronto was and that it was the best city in the world. This is a dude we used to see climb the neighbours' trees to steal fruits when we were kids and there he was looking down on his own neighbourhood and roots, calling it a filthy place which was unfit for habitation. I thought he was a fool then and still think that now. Legend, You know me well enuf to know that I'd save your lame transit-a$$ if a thug from Kibera had a machete to your throat PS: Quit bad-mouthing Kibera suxul baruur waaxid, it's not easy living in the biggest ghetto in Africa.

Webuye? Man that town stinks! I remember travelling through one night on a bus and I kept looking at a woman seated next to me...I thought she had had too much beans and mrenda. I couldn't stand it anymore and asked her..."What the hell is that smell?" to which she answered that it was the paper-mill in Webuye stinking. Here's more stats... - 80% ya masijui have superiority complex and think that wao ni better kuliko walendo. - 99% ya walendo will come to your aid (even if they don't know you) whereas only 10% ya masijui would do this...they are cautious (or maybe just bilaa dhiig )

More mchongoano... - ati vile wewe mchoyo mpaka ukishikilia ten bob moi anabaki na vest - Sistako ni ugly mpaka monkey ikampatia ndizi - WE NI MCHAFU MPAKA UKO NA MTARO KWA CHEST. - Budako fala alirepeat kuzaliwa - Walls za kwenyu ni thin neighbour akikata kitunguu mnaanza kulia - we mfupi mbaka ukishuka kutoka kwa zile vitanda double decker lazima utumie parachute - You are so ugly that if u walked into a cornfield the crows would bring back the corn they stole last year. - shosho yako ni mzee mpaka kunyi yake iko na spider web (plain vicious! akakaka) - We mblack mpaka ukikutana na mzungu afternoon anakushow good evening? - Ngombe yenu mzee mpaka inatoanga yogurt - Kwenu kumekauka mpaka ngombe yenu hutoa milk powder - manze una miguu kaa za kuku,ukienda,watu wanadhani unarudi. - nyii wadosi mpaka aerial yenu nu ya fila. - Umesota mpaka huwezi afford kupay attention - wee ni mzii mpaka ukiumwa na mosquito zina tema mate - Nyanyako mzee akienda kulala ye hu-hang ngozi yake kwa hanger! - Budako mjinga alipokuwa aki-fill job application form, alienda tao kuijazia huko kwasababu ilsema "FILL IN CAPITAL." - Nyinyi m-mesota mpaka mna-kunywanga chai na kifuniko ya Bic. - Hao yenu ndogo uki-turn kwa bed unapolala unajipata kwa jirani. - tv yenu ni carton baba yenu anaingia ndani halafu anasoma news - Paka yenu noma mpaka iki shika panya inaitisha chumvi - Kwenu nyinyi ni wengi mpaka mkipigwa family photo wengine wanatokea kama wame hang kwa frame - TV yenu ndogo mpaka wasee wa News wame piga magoti - ati wee ni mjinga mpaka ukirusha mawe kwa Ground bado una-hata - We mrefu mpaka ukianza kuvaa underwear by the time ifike kwa magoti ime rust. -Wacha kujisikia na kwenyu Easter mulikula Patco na mapera. -Budako ni fala, alienda kubuy ngombe akaona ikikojoa akasema, sitaki hiyo, imetoboka. - ASUBUHI ASUBUHI...HARUFU YA GUMBOOT NA BIG G - We mblack mpaka unasweat soot. - Kwenyu nyinyi ni wa daft mpaka kupata driving licence ilibidi mpelekwe boarding school. - ati kwenyu muko wengi mpaka mathe hupika chapo mbili zingine anafanya photocopy ndio yeye na fathe wakule original

Nur, Thanks bro for your response, it was beneficial to say the least. I guess 'forever' is a term humans often have a difficulty TRULY comprehending since everything we know (of or about) will come to an end. Even if it continues, we won't know about it because "we" would have come to an "end" - if you get my gist. I also came across some verses in Suratul Baqarah where this is mentionned (a few times)... "Wa lahum fiiha azwaajun mutahharatun wahum fiiha khaalidun" - "...and they shall have therein (purified mates/wives) and they will abide therein forever". And one verse on the same Surah saying...."wa ladiina kadhabuu bi 'ayaatinaa, ulaa'ika asxaabu naar hum fiiha khaalidun." - "But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayaat, such are dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide therein forever". Thanks again Nur.

Nur, LOL, the topics that most people find easier to respond to usually don't require a lot of reflecting. If you look around the topic, alas, the most trivial ones always generate the most responses. But you have also been away from these pages for the past few months (or at least I thought) and your contributions have been missed. PS: I have one very simple question that has been bothering me the past week or so...do souls ever die? We are taught that ONLY Allah SWT is Everlasting, but what happens to the souls after they are designated Paradise/hellfire? Does a soul enjoy paradise for some time (maybe thousands of years) and then die or disappear into a void or does it dwell there forever? We have a beginning, but what does the Deen say about the end? It might sound like a silly question...but as the Chinese say..."He who asks is a fool for five minutes but he who doesn't is a fool forever"

187 sxb Bergkamp is like Totti or Ronaldihno he can play from any foward position, although his most effective and dangerous as the withdrawn stricker or attacking midfield player Totti, Thanks for clearing that up. You can't expect Rossoneri to play elegantly every away game. They did a marvelous job at Old Trafford and Inter were attacking from all sides, they had to waiat till they got a bit tired. It wasn't a pretty game despite a bright first half by Inter. Milan are indeed starting to grind out the results like Juve do, lol. Keep in mind that they are playing without their two first choice strikers...so things will be different when Sheva and Pipo return.

Chelsea deserved to win and were the better team today. Gerrard was nowhere to be seen and even managed to score one for Chelsea His team missed his contribution today...But he's still without a doubt one of the best players in England. Mourinho? Disgrace! He was acting like a teenager (the likes of Rooney can be excused for such rude behaviour). I hope Barca punish him and shoot down the "ego" by scoring 5 goals past them to progress to the quarters. 187, Gone are the days when the big teams ignored the cups. They today go after every trophy available. Look at when Real Madrid lost to Zaragoza in Spain's King's cup last year...they fielded all their top players but lost. Milan has also done the same in Italy, they play Udinese in the return leg of the quarter-finals on March 16th and they are fighting hard to win the Italian cup. If they progress to the final, they might play a team like Inter or Roma. Some big teams usually field "weaker" teams when playing teams from lower divisions but they bring in high profile players as they progress further in the competition (just like Man U did when they played Chelsea - compare to the youthful team that beat Arsenal's young gun-ners).

Originally posted by $187$: Viking, If you actually look at Henry's stats you will see that if he doesn't score in a match he always contributes to other goals. lets take the 4-2 loss against utd. Who set up both of the goals that arsenal scored? Henry. Just another thing you might be interested in, Henry was the topscorer and got most assists as a striker last season. Im sure you will come up with a counter reply but make sure you do some REAL research first seen as you're an Analyst . Peace! 187, It is the job of every forward to try and pass the ball to his fellow forward if he's in a better position. If you look at the goals Crespo or Tomasson scores at Milan, most of them are set up by Shevchenko. The same thing applies for i.e. Inter, Martins serves Adriano/Vieri or vice versa; but in reality, Kaka and Veron are seen as the person who's job is to work behind the forwards and supply them with passes so that they can score, the playmakers. They open up the game and create attacking options. Look at Roma, Totti, Cassano and Montella usually play as forwards but it's Totti who has the "playmaker's" role. But Cassano or Montella can end up with a higher number of assists than Totti at the end of the season because they pass to each other a lot and also help Totti score a lot of goals (note how they lost when he didn't play this weekend, they lacked ideas). This works ALL ways and often the forward ends up setting more assists that the playmaker. Same thing applies for Man U, their "playmaker" is Scholes, but even in the days of York and Cole, they had more assists than him despite despite the fact that he is the playmaker who's supposed to make those crucial passes (note how Milan managed to lock Man U out only by making sure Scholes didn't get to work freely - even the expert commentators didn't pick up on that ). If you have two players who are supposed to be in the opponents 18 yard box (forwards), do you think it's a suprise that they create assists for each other? Arsenal doesn't have a typical playmaker, but the presence of Bergkamp makes a great difference in their creativity when attacking. Put henry with Reyes and they might not score for many games. If you add bergkamp and push one of the forwards to the left, BANG! Goals are flowing from every corner. Bergkamp doesn't play the away games in the Champions League and it has proven to be a BIG blow for Arsenal. I think his absence is the major reason why they perform horribly on away games. If you saw the Milan derby tonight, a clear example can be seen. Veron was playing very well and Inter were attacking from the beginning and he was providing precise passes even across the field. I know that Milan scored just after they changed him with Emre, but did you see how the options in attack diminished with his absence? Inter are a team that has scored MANY goals in the dying minutes of games, but with the absence of Veron, Martins, Vieri and Adriano looked like lost sheep (not taking credit from the best defenders in the world; Nesta and Maldini ). PS: When I said..."For me, Bergkamp is the person who provides the most assists (when he plays) and who's task is to set up for others to score."... I was not counting the forwards but the midfielders. Playmakers are the people who's duty is to "ASSIST" the forwards in attacking. At least that's how I understand it, please correct me if I got it all wrong. Plus, I wasn't speaking as an expert analyst but just a dude who likes football, that's why I had the 'LOOL' at the end of that particular sentence

Originally posted by BOB: Viking, for once let's pretend to be a football analysts (that is what we are in here.. any way) rather than a critic and try to figure out what could be the reason behind Henry's problem. just think about it for a minute here and I am sure you have seen enough games where he was this devastating player that we all know he can be only when he wants to and then this player that didn't do as well as we expected him to do especially in crunch matches where you would expect him to lead the line for him team. I was giving you the views of a football analyst dee, lool. I just thought of one thing that I haven't thought of before. In Arsenal, he is the "top-dog", the man expected to deliver the results. He is a bit arrogant and relishes the challenge ahead of him (I assume that's why he thumps his chest after scoring). But at Le Bleu, the top-dog is Zizou, people know that his form or contribution will decide the outcome of a game, so the pressure is off Henry. He can just chill in the left wing and watch Zizou do his magic. Could this be it? Just another thery but there might be more to it... Originally posted by BOB: by the way I didn't say he was less selfish when playing for France and I never ever thought even for a single moment that Henry & Kluivert were similar but I took both as an example and how many more goals they would have scored if they were bit greedy whenever they were in the 18 yard. I assumed that you were implying he was not selfish and that was the reason he doesn't score that much for the national team when compared to his efforts for Arsenal. Remember, you said... "The reason why he doesn't score enough goals for Le Blu is simple sxb, he is unselfish and I will go as far as saying Zizou is even more selfish than Titi and the reason why I say this is simple, for the last couple of years the stats show ( I’ve read this in a magazine that came out just before the Euro04 and I will try to post those stats in the near future Insha Allah) that Titi has set up more goals for his French teammates particularly for his ex-monaco teammate Trez than Zidane did." Why doesn't he do the same for Arsenal (set up goals)? For me, Bergkamp is the person who provides the most assists (when he plays) and who's task is to set up for others to score. In 2002 when Ljungberg scored 17 goals and Gunners won the double, Bergkamp set up over 90% of the goals for him.

Originally posted by BOB: Viking The reason why he doesn't score enough goals for Le Blu is simple sxb, he is unselfish and I will go as far as saying Zizou is even more selfish than Titi and the reason why I say this is simple, for the last couple of years the stats show ( I’ve read this in a magazine that came out just before the Euro04 and I will try to post those stats in the near future Insha Allah) that Titi has set up more goals for his French teammates particularly for his ex-monaco teammate Trez than Zidane did. I am one of those guys who believe had both Henry & Kluivert been little bit selfish when in the kitchen (in the 18 yard) they would have scored more goals than any striker on the planet. BOB, I don't believe it is because he's scared, that would be a silly thing to say. Kluivert and Herny don't play the same way, Henry likes to run from midfield (especially the left) whi Kluivert is a target player who sometimes plays just behind the other forward. I also don't buy the argument that henry scores less for his country or in the Champions League just because he is "less-selfish". Is he selfish when he plays for the Gunners and less selfish when he players for Le Bleu? I think not. French team has more talented players who can score than the Gunners team. He also playes a bit to the left when teaming up with Trez. Emanuel Petit (the ex-Gunner) was at the Eurosport studio when France played Sweden in a friendly recently and he was asked the same q why Henry doesn't score much for the national team. He said that NO ONE knew the reason why and many people come up all different theories but he said that no one knows why, not even Henry himself. Kluivert scored less goals for Barca and Ajax because he prefers to play slightly behind the forward. Henry doesn't do this with the french national team; he ither plays up-front with Trez orslightly to the left just like he does at Arsenal. Totti, The serie A team might have learnt how to play Milan but that hasn't stopped them from having the best goal difference in the league and going top on Seria A Massive game tomorrow at the Milan derby, I smell the first defeat for Inter because Milan might have boosted their confidence after beating Man U. But with Inter, you never know, they might grab an equaliser in the 94th minute like they did with Samp.

Anyone remember what hapenned two years ago? I think it was the quarters or semis when Juve played Real and lost 1-0 at the Bernabeu. They went on to beat Real 3-1 at della Alpi andwent on to play Milan in the finals. They have the same task this time around...but Juve will get back Trezeguet and hopefully Nedved too, so I think Juve have a good chance to progress. They have no options but to attack and score goals. Totti, What a display by the Rossoneri eh? Imagine Sheva was missing and they didn't even play Dhorasoo. I was hoping Ancelotti would introduce him in the second half but he opted not to. Imagine a bench with Dhorasoo, Serginho, Stam, Simic etc (Inzaghi still to join them). I told you they'll overhaul Juve at the top because they have a braod squad and play offensive football. Forza Milan! Originally posted by SoMa_InC: What an ambush that was! But Chelsea done very well in deed. Our defence was superb. Claude Makelele, our destroyer was outstanding. Joe Cole turned in the performance of his life. The likes of W.Galas, Ferreira and Carvalho and Tiago were exceptional! Surely Drogba should have scored that goal to settle the game. But anyways we got that vital away goal and we have a chance of jetting to the next round. Soma_Inc, I preferred to watch the ManU-Milan game instead of the Chelsea game and was glad I did. I watched the whole Barca-Chelsea game on Europsport last night and on that evening, there was only ONEteam on the field. I can count the number of times I saw Valdez (Barca keeper). Remember when Tottenham came to Stamford Bridge and played only to defend? They got a 0-0 draw and after the match Mourinho said that they might as well have put their team bus in front of the goal. he was disappointed that only his team wanted to play and Tottenham came to defend (and hope to ge ta goal on the counter-attack). I agreed with his funny comments because I believe a team (even when playing a stronger team) should try and attack, fancy their chances and play the 90 minutes. But what Chelsea did at the Nou Camp was worse than what Tottenham did. I'd say... they might as well have put the aeroplane they flew in to Spain with in front of their goal (but still conceded two goals). You cannot blame Drogba's sending-off because Chelsea had not created any chances before that, besides the own goal and the goal Drogba wasted. If Barca's opponents are Newcastle, I'd call them heroes, but as leaders of the Premiership and a team that wants to be up there with the "big-boys", they put on a disgraceful display! Look at how Milan played at Old Traffor or how Lyon and Inter played away from home...that is how a confident and strong team plays. I can't remember ONE good thing Joe Cole did...Where was the celebrated Lampard? Besides the great pass he gave Duff (that led to the own goal), I can't recall anything creative he did during the match. The whole midfield were sitting on the lap of the defence. After Barca scored the second goal...what does Mourinho do? He removes a forward and puts in a defender. That shows you he didn't even attempt to push ahead. Chelsea might go on to win the return leg since it's not all over yet, but they were part of the most one-sided games I've ever seen, both domestically and in Europe. Originally posted by $187$: NGonge, You reckon Henry is only good against average teams? Is that why he has nominated for the past 3 WPOTY and came second. I think you should carefully consider your words when you speak or gonge around some other topics.He plays great when he has the right service and he didnt get that against Bayern. Henry is a very good player but does not perform well when in bigger competitions. You talked about "right service", what better service is there that the best playmaker ever Zizou? Henry doesn't score many goals in the national team either where he has the service of the best players around, Trezeguet does much better. If I'm not mistaken, I think even Djorkaeff has scored more gaols for France that Henry has, and he was a midfielder. But then again, he is top scorer in the Premiership every season almost, the other forwards also play the Crystal Palaces and the West Broms, why aren't they top? With Henry, it's difficult to see why he doesn't do the same forhis country or for Arsenal in Europe.

Originally posted by juba: i am QUITE aware what homophobic means :rolleyes: lets not twists its meaning which is simply fear u say that "not out of hate" then in the next sentence u say "because we loathe the act" contradiction? we hate the thing we loath! my point is as muslims we shouldn't fear gays and instead bring them back to the right path, hard to do when ur scared straight! juba, No contradiction dear. Not out of hate (for the person) and but we are homophobic "because we loathe the act and it has been forbidden by Allah SWT". If the person still insists on being homosexual, then you have no choice but to severe ties with him/her because of Islam's stand on the issue.

Originally posted by juba: r u trying to say that WE MUST be homophobs to be good muslims? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary... HOMOPHOBIC: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals AVERSION: 1: obsolete: the act of turning away 2: a: a feeling of repugnance toward something with a desire to avoid or turn from it b: a settled dislike : ANTIPATHY c: a tendency to extinguish a behavior or to avoid a thing or situation and especially a usually pleasurable one because it is or has been associated with a noxious stimulus 3: one that is the object of aversion I guess the answer would be an empatic YES! Not out of fear or hate, but because we loathe the act and it has been forbidden by Allah SWT.