First Steps In The Marathon: The Premiership

The League title race, we are habitually reminded, is a marathon, not a sprint; but there is nothing like making the first step on that nine-month-long slog a winning one. And getting off to a winning start is the ambition of all 20 Premiership managers this weekend, though some start out more in hope than expectation. Kick-off on the opening day is the one and only time in any season that all clubs start level – and the fans of every club can savour, however briefly, an unbeaten record and a dream of glory.

Hip hip hurray, football season starts today. What a happy day, prepare yourself for lots of drama and kick & rush. Rush to the nearest supermarket to buy soft drinks and some chips for today is the D-Day. Viva football....

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Pippo's Birthday Present

Pippo Inzaghi gave a packed crowd at San Siro a wonderful gift as he scored his 24th goal in Champions League or his 53th in all European competitions when Milan met Crvena Zvezda (Red Star Belgrade) in the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round tie. The goal was also special because Pippo celebrated his birthday last night.
Milan's participation in this year's Champions League was followed by so many controversies after Milan have been found guilty of match fixing scandal or known as Calciopoli, but this could not stopped the boys from getting the job done.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti had called for possession football but his players adopted an adventurous approach against the Serbian champions, with Clarence Seedorf, Alberto Gilardino, Kaká and Inzaghi all wasting good chances.

Inzaghi scored on the 21st minute when Kaká found him unmarked with a superb pass, the veteran striker then slotted pass the keeper Ivan Randjelović to put Milan ahead. He could have added his tally but wasted a number of good chances. Most of the time Milan were able to put the visitors at bay outside their penalty area. Dida only had to make two saves, stopping the header from Nikola Žigić which gone straight at him and Blagoy Georgiev early on.
Red Star will need to show more enterprise in the second leg in Belgrade on 22 August, while Milan, undoubtedly the better side on the night, will hope they are not left bemoaning tonight's missed chances by the end of the tie.

Milan: Dida; Cafu (Brocchi 79), Simic, Costacurta, Serginho; Gattuso, Pirlo (Gourcuff 81), Seedorf, Kaka; Inzaghi, Gilardino (Ambrosini 72)

Red Star Belgrade (Crvena Zvezda): Randelovic; Pantic, Bisevac, Gaj, Perovic (Tutoric 66); Basta, Kovacevic, Milovanovic (Dokic 81), Blagoy; Jankovic (Krivokapic 89); Zigic

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Ronaldinho to Milan?

According to a Spanish newspaper, Milan is ready to launch an impossible bid to sign Barcelona's star, Ronaldinho. The move would cost Milan 100 million euros. To finance this signing Milan would have to sell a star player, and right now their most valuable star is Kaka. Should Milan decided to sell him, Real Madrid would be the destination for Kaka. Capello has long been known as Kaka's admirer, and he would love to have him in the heart of Madrid's midfield. If this deal goes through Milan will get 50 million euros to their account.

Comments:
Ronaldinho probably the most popular footballer in the world today, but to exchange it with Kaka Milan would make a mistake. Kaka is a lot younger than Ronaldinho and has proven to be Milan's main protagonist for the past two seasons. Forza Kaka!

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Carrick will wear Keane's 16

Michael Carrick is officially a Manchester United's player. The England midfielder also received the honour to use no 16 which was belong to Roy Keane. The 25 years old moved from Tottenham Hotspur to Old Trafford in a deal worth 18,6 million pounds. This made him the 6th most expensive player who is bought by United.
Carrick will be presented to the fan on Wednesday (August 2nd, 2006) after he has passed his medical examination.
"Michael has passed his medical examination and we will held a press conference on Wednesday. I told him that he will be wearing no 16 and he is very pleased", said United's manager Sir Alex Fergusson.
"I'm hoping by using that number he will bring us the same spirit which Keane gave us. Sometimes the players can be very superstitious, but he is very enthusiast and happy receiving the costume", added Ferguson.
The midfielder who has 7 caps with England will also be included in the squad for Amsterdam tournament.

Comments:
Carrick is good, but Keane's successor? He has to prove it first. But a good buy by Sir Alex.

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Bonera, a new hope for Milan's defense

Milan finally bought a defender who is still young. It is Daniele Bonera who is recruited by Milan from Ennio Tardini to San Siro. This transfer has been confirmed on Milan official website, while the presentation of the player to public will be held on Saturday (July 29th, August) afternoon local time.
Bonera (25), is signed until 2010 but the details of the transfer has not been released to public. The fee is predicted to be cheap because he only has one year left of his contract at Parma. The reason Milan recruited Bonera is because the have failed to sign Zambrotta who went to Barcelona instead.
The presence of Bonera will bring a new blood in Milan's defense which is still relying on old guards like Maldini, Costacurta and Cafu. Bonera started his career with Brescia in season 1999-2000, before moving to Parma, where he stayed for 4 seasons. The ex-under 21s international is also followed by a number of clubs like Liverpool, Juventus, Inter and Fiorentina.

Comments:
Well hope Bonera will fit in well with Milan and make that defense rock solid once again.
Forza Milan.

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Milan could be banned from champions league

Milan's fate will be decided on August 2nd by a UEFA emergency panel following FIGC's decision to allow Milan representing Italy for Champions League 2006/2007. As you all know, Milan is one of four clubs who is punished for match-fixing scandal. At first, Milan were not allowed to participate in CL 2006, the total points for season 2005/2006 were deducted by 44 points (this means Milan finished 8th), and Milan started season 2006/2007 with minus 15 points. The four clubs then filed an appeal. The new verdict was that Milan started next season with minus 8 points, last season's points were deducted by only 30 points (allowing Milan finished 3rd and a Champions League spot). This is what the emergency panel has to decide. The same thing happened with Marseille in 1993, they were champions the last season but denied the chance to defend their title the next season because of match-fixing scandal in the domestic league.

Comments:
In my opinion, Milan will not be allowed to take part in next season Champions League. Well this would be a good chance to take the scudetto to Milan because rivals like Inter and Roma would have to play in Champions League as well as the domestic league. But whatever happens I think Milan have to show them that we are not what they think we are, we play with dignity and always play it fair. Forza Milan!

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Kaka - Milan's best asset

Early today, Milan's vice president Adriano Galliani (who is banned for 6 month because of Calciopoli scandal) has launched an attack on Real Madrid because they tried to sign Milan's best asset, Kaka, without contacting Milan first.

"For 50 years Real have been the greatest club in the world but now they have thrown all that out the window," Galliani told Marca.
"This Real does nothing to honour its history or its name."

Kaka himself admitted that he hasn't spoken to any journalist about going away from Milan. He is committed to Milan which is shown by resigning his contract until 2011. Although Milan is among the clubs who is punished for the Calciopoli scandal, this has not changed the way Kaka feel and he is eager to kick off the new season.

Comments: For a rossoneri fan, I just hope that Kaka will stay. After the departure of Andriy Shevchenko, Milan can not afford to lose another key player, especially who is gifted as the Brazilian midfielder. Forza Milan!

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