Fan vs Fan: AC Milan - AS Roma

voldemort · 10-29-2007, 03:30 AM

Milan and Roma lock horns in a titanic Serie A tussle. Goal.com asks Milan fan Joel Whitehead and Roma fan Adrian Del Monte to set the scene...

GOAL: First of all, how do you feel about your side's start to the season?
Joel (Milan): Frankly, I am very disappointed by how Milan have begun this term. Our play has been as inconsistent as it could possibly be. We crash in one game, bounce back in another, succumb again, only to respond again with a good win. It is difficult to tell whether Dr. Jekyll will turn up or Mr. Hyde.
Adrian (Roma): We have had a somewhat inconsistent start to the season, however despite this; I am pleased with our current progress. After an amazing start to the campaign, we have struggled lately, especially in defence, however the signs are still positive. I think that this week will be a real test for us, and if we can emerge victorious against Milan at the San Siro, it will provide us with the boost of confidence required to get our season back on track.:

GOAL: What were the goals at the start? Do they need to be modified now?
Joel: We were supposed to finally get back on track domestically, after having been off the pace all of last season. However, this has not occurred, and we are already well back of the leaders. At this point, we can still get back in the hunt, but will most likely put all of our eggs into the Champions League basket.
Adrian: Prior to the season, our goals were simply to seriously challenge for the Scudetto, improve on our Champions League performance of last season, and most certainly finish in the top four of the Serie A to qualify for next seasons Champions League competition. At this stage, I do not believe that these goals need to be modified, as we are still certainly in a position to achieve all of these goals.
GOAL: How do you rate your opponents' start to the season?
Joel: Fairly good, but they are clearly not going to have the charmed season they endured last year.
Adrian: Obviously Milan have had their problems throughout this season, however I feel that they are finally starting to get things together. Wednesday’s 4-1 win in the Champions League over an in-form Shakhtar side, definitely showed that Milan are still one of Europe’s powerhouse clubs. This weekend’s match against Roma is crucial for them, as three points will really begin to positively shape their season.
GOAL: Who do you think has the edge heading into Sunday's game and why?
Joel: With our brilliant victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, we will have momentum on our side, but Roma are certainly capable of taking us down.
Adrian: Although I’d love to say Roma, I believe that Milan have the edge heading into this game. The reason I say this is because they are always difficult to defeat at home, and although they lost to lowly Empoli last weekend, they’ll definitely be looking to rebound and prove that, that performance was a one off (which it most likely was). When the likes of Kaka, Pirlo and Seedorf are playing at their best, Milan are always a difficult side to defeat. And if they can do so this weekend, Roma, possibly without our talismanic captain Totti, may struggle.
GOAL: Tactically, where do you think the key to this game will lie?
Joel: As our midfield will be at its usual best, we need the striker/s (depending on the formation) to get on the scoresheet. We simply cannot continue to rely on the midfielders’ goals to win matches.
Adrian: I believe this game will be won in the midfield. Both sides do possess strong midfields, and it will be a matter of which midfield provides better service for its forwards. Roma’s midfield, consisting of De Rossi, Pizarro, Mancini, Perrotta and Giuly, has been fairly consistent this season; however they will need to all step up if they are to get the better of Kaka, Pirlo, Seedorf, Gattuso and Ambrosini. It will be a thrilling battle in the midfield this weekend.
GOAL: Which opposition player do you consider to be the greatest threat to your team in this clash?
Joel: If he is indeed fit for this encounter, then it will Francesco Totti. When on form, he is one of the best players in the world.
Adrian: The obvious answer for this question is Kaka. He is simply brilliant, and in my eyes, the best player in the world. If he’s not scoring a goal, he’s setting up a goal, and if he’s not doing either of the two, he probably isn’t playing. Having said this however, I do regard Andrea Pirlo as a great threat also, as he has the ability to create something from nothing, as he has proved on so many occasions.
GOAL: Would you want him in your team?
Joel: Yes, he would be a great complement to Kakà, and would give us the undoubted best squad in Europe.
Adrian: Yes please. There wouldn’t be one club in the world that would refuse the Brazilian’s signature. To have him at Roma would be a dream come true, and although it will never happen, if it were to happen, it would be simply amazing!
GOAL: What are your team’s strengths at the moment?
Joel: To be honest, we don’t have any one part of our squad that has stood out, but we can always rely on quality from the midfield. Kaka, Seedorf and Pirlo have been on and off, but when on, they can rip through any team.
Adrian: Francesco Totti. He has been our most consistent performer this season, with seven goals in the first eight matches of the season. Generally when Totti plays well, Roma play well. And when he plays poorly, Roma do likewise, and thus he is our team’s main strength. We rely so much on ‘Il Capitano’, however he is a superstar of Italian football, so it’s understandable why we do. If he fails to play, due to the slight injury he received against Sporting midweek, it will be very tough for us to take home all three points.
GOAL: And weaknesses?
Joel: Lack of defensive focus. The goal we gave up to Empoli in the 1-0 home loss last weekend should have been prevented. We lack energy and pace at the back, and are in need of some youthful vigour.
Adrian: Our weakness at the moment is without doubt our defence. After such an excellent start to the season, not conceding in our first five competitive matches, we have conceded 12 goals in our past 5 league games. With new signings Juan and Cicinho joining household names such as Mexes, Tonetto and Panucci in the Roma defence this season, it’s difficult to see how so many goals could be conceded. However, we are definitely struggling defensively at the moment, and this will be a major worry come Sunday.
GOAL: Who from your team should we keep a particular eye on here?
Joel: Alberto Gilardino, as he could now be finding his form. He scored twice against Lazio a few weeks ago, and a double against Shakhtar means he may be ready to give the Milan fans something to cheer about, rather than to boo him for.
Adrian: Totti is the obvious choice, as he has been so damaging already this year. However, if he fails to play, young gun Daniele De Rossi is certainly a player to keep an eye or two on. He is an extremely talented young player, who is very creative and does have the ability to score from long range. Beware of De Rossi…
GOAL: Who is your all time number one hate figure, or object of amusement, from their lot?
Joel: I have never really hated a Roma player as I have some from Juventus or Inter. A player I always liked from the Giallorossi was Damiano Tommassi. He played with such class and leadership; I would have liked him in our squad.
Adrian: Dida. I am a big fan of Dida; however he is definitely an object of amusement for me. Nothing sums it up better than Milan’s match away to Celtic a few weeks ago, when he was viciously struck by a raging Celtic fan, and required minutes of medical treatment, and was then escorted off the field on a stretcher. I never thought it was possible to cry of laughter in a football match; however my man Dida proved me wrong!
GOAL: What would you envy about them, if anything?
Joel: The amount of goal-scoring players they have. It seems like they have just one dynamic midfielder after another. Also, the fact that they can score many goals without fielding a true striker is quite impressive.
Adrian: I have nothing against Milan, and have large amounts of respect for them. And there’s certainly plenty to envy about them. Obviously the main thing would be all of the success they have enjoyed throughout their amazing history, both in Italy and even more so in Europe.
GOAL: What was the best bit of business ever done between the two clubs?
Joel: A piece of business that should have, but never did happen, was the transfer of Francesco Totti to Milan. I believe he was on the verge of joining us a few summers ago, but the deal never went through, and I still regret that it didn’t take place.
Adrian: I believe that when we sent Cafu to Milan, although we sorely lost his presence, it was a win-win situation for both clubs. Milan lacked a quality right-back player at the time, and Roma were in a rebuilding phase, looking to develop younger talents. Besides this, I do not recall any other forms of business done between the two clubs.
GOAL: What's your fondest memory of past clashes against them?
Joel: It has to be the late-season victory in 2004, by a score of 1-0, that secured the Scudetto in our favour. Andriy Shevchenko headed a goal in only the 2nd minute, and we saw off the challenge of Roma, who were the only club able to still have a chance at the title. That is, until we took that chance from them with this victory.
Adrian: My fondest memory of a past clash is definitely last season’s match at the San Siro. We defeated Milan 2-1, in what was our first win at the San Siro against Milan for quite some time. Totti scored a brace, with his second goal coming in the 84th minute. It was an amazing match, and one I will certainly never ever forget.
GOAL: What do you think the score of this match will be, and how will it affect your week?
Joel: I really believe we will make up for the disappointments so far this season, and get a win in this match, maybe 1-0. We demolished Roma’s capital city neighbors, Lazio, 5-1, already this season, so a win over the Giallorossi would be a nice double.
Adrian: I believe that a 1-1 draw is on the cards. It will be a tough contest; however after scoring early, Roma will fade away towards the end of the match, allowing Milan to grab a second half equaliser. It shouldn’t affect my week too much, however if we lose, then that may be another story.

10-29-2007, 03:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
voldemort Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 8,191	Fan vs Fan: AC Milan - AS Roma Milan and Roma lock horns in a titanic Serie A tussle. Goal.com asks Milan fan Joel Whitehead and Roma fan Adrian Del Monte to set the scene... GOAL: First of all, how do you feel about your side's start to the season? Joel (Milan): Frankly, I am very disappointed by how Milan have begun this term. Our play has been as inconsistent as it could possibly be. We crash in one game, bounce back in another, succumb again, only to respond again with a good win. It is difficult to tell whether Dr. Jekyll will turn up or Mr. Hyde. Adrian (Roma): We have had a somewhat inconsistent start to the season, however despite this; I am pleased with our current progress. After an amazing start to the campaign, we have struggled lately, especially in defence, however the signs are still positive. I think that this week will be a real test for us, and if we can emerge victorious against Milan at the San Siro, it will provide us with the boost of confidence required to get our season back on track.: GOAL: What were the goals at the start? Do they need to be modified now? Joel: We were supposed to finally get back on track domestically, after having been off the pace all of last season. However, this has not occurred, and we are already well back of the leaders. At this point, we can still get back in the hunt, but will most likely put all of our eggs into the Champions League basket. Adrian: Prior to the season, our goals were simply to seriously challenge for the Scudetto, improve on our Champions League performance of last season, and most certainly finish in the top four of the Serie A to qualify for next seasons Champions League competition. At this stage, I do not believe that these goals need to be modified, as we are still certainly in a position to achieve all of these goals. GOAL: How do you rate your opponents' start to the season? Joel: Fairly good, but they are clearly not going to have the charmed season they endured last year. Adrian: Obviously Milan have had their problems throughout this season, however I feel that they are finally starting to get things together. Wednesday’s 4-1 win in the Champions League over an in-form Shakhtar side, definitely showed that Milan are still one of Europe’s powerhouse clubs. This weekend’s match against Roma is crucial for them, as three points will really begin to positively shape their season. GOAL: Who do you think has the edge heading into Sunday's game and why? Joel: With our brilliant victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday, we will have momentum on our side, but Roma are certainly capable of taking us down. Adrian: Although I’d love to say Roma, I believe that Milan have the edge heading into this game. The reason I say this is because they are always difficult to defeat at home, and although they lost to lowly Empoli last weekend, they’ll definitely be looking to rebound and prove that, that performance was a one off (which it most likely was). When the likes of Kaka, Pirlo and Seedorf are playing at their best, Milan are always a difficult side to defeat. And if they can do so this weekend, Roma, possibly without our talismanic captain Totti, may struggle. GOAL: Tactically, where do you think the key to this game will lie? Joel: As our midfield will be at its usual best, we need the striker/s (depending on the formation) to get on the scoresheet. We simply cannot continue to rely on the midfielders’ goals to win matches. Adrian: I believe this game will be won in the midfield. Both sides do possess strong midfields, and it will be a matter of which midfield provides better service for its forwards. Roma’s midfield, consisting of De Rossi, Pizarro, Mancini, Perrotta and Giuly, has been fairly consistent this season; however they will need to all step up if they are to get the better of Kaka, Pirlo, Seedorf, Gattuso and Ambrosini. It will be a thrilling battle in the midfield this weekend. GOAL: Which opposition player do you consider to be the greatest threat to your team in this clash? Joel: If he is indeed fit for this encounter, then it will Francesco Totti. When on form, he is one of the best players in the world. Adrian: The obvious answer for this question is Kaka. He is simply brilliant, and in my eyes, the best player in the world. If he’s not scoring a goal, he’s setting up a goal, and if he’s not doing either of the two, he probably isn’t playing. Having said this however, I do regard Andrea Pirlo as a great threat also, as he has the ability to create something from nothing, as he has proved on so many occasions. GOAL: Would you want him in your team? Joel: Yes, he would be a great complement to Kakà, and would give us the undoubted best squad in Europe. Adrian: Yes please. There wouldn’t be one club in the world that would refuse the Brazilian’s signature. To have him at Roma would be a dream come true, and although it will never happen, if it were to happen, it would be simply amazing! GOAL: What are your team’s strengths at the moment? Joel: To be honest, we don’t have any one part of our squad that has stood out, but we can always rely on quality from the midfield. Kaka, Seedorf and Pirlo have been on and off, but when on, they can rip through any team. Adrian: Francesco Totti. He has been our most consistent performer this season, with seven goals in the first eight matches of the season. Generally when Totti plays well, Roma play well. And when he plays poorly, Roma do likewise, and thus he is our team’s main strength. We rely so much on ‘Il Capitano’, however he is a superstar of Italian football, so it’s understandable why we do. If he fails to play, due to the slight injury he received against Sporting midweek, it will be very tough for us to take home all three points. GOAL: And weaknesses? Joel: Lack of defensive focus. The goal we gave up to Empoli in the 1-0 home loss last weekend should have been prevented. We lack energy and pace at the back, and are in need of some youthful vigour. Adrian: Our weakness at the moment is without doubt our defence. After such an excellent start to the season, not conceding in our first five competitive matches, we have conceded 12 goals in our past 5 league games. With new signings Juan and Cicinho joining household names such as Mexes, Tonetto and Panucci in the Roma defence this season, it’s difficult to see how so many goals could be conceded. However, we are definitely struggling defensively at the moment, and this will be a major worry come Sunday. GOAL: Who from your team should we keep a particular eye on here? Joel: Alberto Gilardino, as he could now be finding his form. He scored twice against Lazio a few weeks ago, and a double against Shakhtar means he may be ready to give the Milan fans something to cheer about, rather than to boo him for. Adrian: Totti is the obvious choice, as he has been so damaging already this year. However, if he fails to play, young gun Daniele De Rossi is certainly a player to keep an eye or two on. He is an extremely talented young player, who is very creative and does have the ability to score from long range. Beware of De Rossi… GOAL: Who is your all time number one hate figure, or object of amusement, from their lot? Joel: I have never really hated a Roma player as I have some from Juventus or Inter. A player I always liked from the Giallorossi was Damiano Tommassi. He played with such class and leadership; I would have liked him in our squad. Adrian: Dida. I am a big fan of Dida; however he is definitely an object of amusement for me. Nothing sums it up better than Milan’s match away to Celtic a few weeks ago, when he was viciously struck by a raging Celtic fan, and required minutes of medical treatment, and was then escorted off the field on a stretcher. I never thought it was possible to cry of laughter in a football match; however my man Dida proved me wrong! GOAL: What would you envy about them, if anything? Joel: The amount of goal-scoring players they have. It seems like they have just one dynamic midfielder after another. Also, the fact that they can score many goals without fielding a true striker is quite impressive. Adrian: I have nothing against Milan, and have large amounts of respect for them. And there’s certainly plenty to envy about them. Obviously the main thing would be all of the success they have enjoyed throughout their amazing history, both in Italy and even more so in Europe. GOAL: What was the best bit of business ever done between the two clubs? Joel: A piece of business that should have, but never did happen, was the transfer of Francesco Totti to Milan. I believe he was on the verge of joining us a few summers ago, but the deal never went through, and I still regret that it didn’t take place. Adrian: I believe that when we sent Cafu to Milan, although we sorely lost his presence, it was a win-win situation for both clubs. Milan lacked a quality right-back player at the time, and Roma were in a rebuilding phase, looking to develop younger talents. Besides this, I do not recall any other forms of business done between the two clubs. GOAL: What's your fondest memory of past clashes against them? Joel: It has to be the late-season victory in 2004, by a score of 1-0, that secured the Scudetto in our favour. Andriy Shevchenko headed a goal in only the 2nd minute, and we saw off the challenge of Roma, who were the only club able to still have a chance at the title. That is, until we took that chance from them with this victory. Adrian: My fondest memory of a past clash is definitely last season’s match at the San Siro. We defeated Milan 2-1, in what was our first win at the San Siro against Milan for quite some time. Totti scored a brace, with his second goal coming in the 84th minute. It was an amazing match, and one I will certainly never ever forget. GOAL: What do you think the score of this match will be, and how will it affect your week? Joel: I really believe we will make up for the disappointments so far this season, and get a win in this match, maybe 1-0. We demolished Roma’s capital city neighbors, Lazio, 5-1, already this season, so a win over the Giallorossi would be a nice double. Adrian: I believe that a 1-1 draw is on the cards. It will be a tough contest; however after scoring early, Roma will fade away towards the end of the match, allowing Milan to grab a second half equaliser. It shouldn’t affect my week too much, however if we lose, then that may be another story.

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