Spurs have quite a few injury concerns themselves, mainly in their central defence. Could be one high-scoring tie.

What worries me is their wingers against our FBs....

@ x-off, I'd like to see Seedorf in the CM position instead of one of the DMs. Rino, Flamini and VB all in the same midfield, now that's ugly...

I'd give Pato and Ibra another run out, they need to learn how to play together. Cassano playing behind them for me. Robinho has been playing non stop for weeks now, he could use a rest, while Cassano would be better at supporting them imo, even if you say otherwise (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Cassano can't play in CL

I think he was referring to the match against Genoa. As for our midfield, Van Bommel in front of the defense would be ideal. Unlike our other DMs, he has vision and good passing skills. Gattuso on the right, Flamini on the left and Seedorf behind the strikers.

Yeah, that's one of the biggest mysteries of this season. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Half the people say he can, half say he can't. The pathetic organization that is UEFA should have issued an official statement on the status of Cassano and his eligibility in the Champions League.

Half the people who say he can must get their facts straight. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

True. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) The confusion probably arose from the recent law change that the powers-be at UEFA implemented from this season. In any case, I'd be happy with a quarters or semifinal appearance in the CL this year, along with the Scudetto of course. The Italian Cup is a nice extra if we get it.

Hmm....


Interesting..but I'd play something like...


Abate---Yepes---Silva---Luca
-----Rino------------Ambro----
----Pirlo------------Robinho----
-----------Pato------------------
---------------------Ibra-------


I'd like Pato, Binho and Ibra to be the ones who keep interchanging positions and dropping deep. I don't know if the Duck can do it, but it's possible. Pirlo to play his free-ish mezzala role and our two DMs give us cover for the fullbacks.

It will be a change of plan, since we won't be playing with mid-field runners anymore. But I would keep that for the second leg, when we're at White Hart Lane. With their wing heavy formation, I think Tottenham is really vulnerable down the centre and with Binho, Pato and Ibra running at their defence it will be interesting.

And in Pirlo you have the person capable of making the through ball and the long pass.

Play a more subdued 4-4-1-1 in the second leg. Hopefully Boateng will be back by then.

^ Ambro won't be back till the end of March.

Ahh. Mattie then.

Just remember Mascherano (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Yup. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

Referring to the match against Genoa in the second part of my post


No matter which way you put them, the combination of those 3 DMs together is a disaster waiting to happen if you ask me. Our problem have not be the strikers not clicking, it's been the midfield and the fact that they do not support or provide for the attackers. Non of our DMs can do that, you say VB can, so far he hasn't shown it, and personally I don't trust him yet. Seedorf in the midfield will help us retain possession and control the game which is what we've been lacking. Cassano can bring in Pato and Ibra into the game because he's our best passer in tight spaces, that's why imo he can play the AM role better then Robinho


Rino and Ambro should never play both against a pacy team like Tottenham, they'll get creamed. Rino imo has been average all season, no matter what people say that he's back, clearly those people did not witness Rino during his best years. And Ambro has just been plain bad lately. Either way Flamini should be automatic choice at this point, even against Lazio he was one of our best performers imo and he was just returning from injury

correct me if i'm wrong, but i think as per

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Downlo...49_DOWNLOAD.pdf

i think he can't play..

I'm talking about Van Bommel on behalf of what we've already seen of him at Bayern and Netherlands. The guy is not just your average defensive midfielder. He can organize, make through passes, shoot from the distance. In other words, he's a sort of Pirlo replacement from a technical point of view, though they are miles away in terms of characteristics and skills.



My line-up against Tottenham, saving possible injuries, would be the following: