For us to win this match its gonna be key we watched our attack. Liverpool's counter attacking long ball tactics will destroy us if were not careful. I would personally prefer inzaghi to start this game because he will be closely watched. Kaka and seedorf will be bringing up the attack with pirlo hitting in long balls. Ambro and gattuso will have to be playing a perfect game, gattuso with gerrard and ambro with the high balls. We can't rely too much on paolo eventhough he is probably the best defender in the world, his speed isn't what it used to be. Ofcourse i doubt anybody would be able to actually get passed him 1-1. Janku should stay a bit back, but oddo should go up and hit hard. I've watched alot of liverpool matches and gerrard usually switches from right to middle. They prefer right route instead of left. Hopefully carlo knows all this and thinks of a good formation to counter it. I would personally go:

----------------dida
------nesta-----paolo---janku
-oddo
-------gattuso---pirlo----ambro
-----------seedorf
-----kaka------
-----------------inzaghi

I agree with Bluesummers on the line up. Plus Gila can be great off the bench, as he shown vs United. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Having Ambro, Gattuso and Pirlo in the midfield will really help us, Rino can try and take Gerrard out of the game, like he did with Cristiano, and we'll still have 2 in the middle to battle with Alonso.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: May 9 2007, 09:37 AM

I see three likely approaches for Liverpool in this one:

* Conservative
* Counter attacking
* Aggressive

CONSERVATIVE:

--------------------Reina------------------------
Finnan---Agger----Carragher------Riise/Arbeloa
Gerrard---Masch---Alonso-------Zenden/Riise
------------Kuyt------------------------------------
----------------------Crouch----------------------

This is mainly based around keeping things very tight in midfield and defence with the main avenue of attack sending long balls up to Crouch with Kuyt in a withdrawn position. An example is the way they played against Chelsea in the second leg. It's a low risk strategy that would mainly be aimed at stifling our attacking play and scoring from set pieces won around the box by playing aerial balls up to Crouch.

COUNTER ATTACK:

-------------------Reina------------------------
Finnan---Agger----Carragher------Arbeloa
Gerrard---Masch---Alonso------------Riise
------------Kuyt-------Bellamy--------------------

Again, this strategy keeps things pretty tight in midfield and defence but has more pace up front for counter attacks. This is how Liverpool played away against Barca and it worked with a 2-1 result. It's a good strategy to use against a team like Milan who play with attacking fullbacks and has a slightly less pacy central defence. Sissoko could replace either Mascherano or Alonso in the midfield if they want to mark Kaka.

AGGRESSIVE:

-------------------Reina--------------------------
Finnan-----Agger------Carragher---Riise/Arbeloa
SG/JP------Masch-------XA/SG-------Kewell/Riise
------------Kuyt------Crouch/Bellamy------------

This is Benitez's most attacking strategy and it involves the use of specialist flank players such as Pennant and Kewell to play horizontal balls from dangerous positions. Kewell is coming back to fitness and is an option on the left, but if he doesn't play it will probably be Riise with Arbeloa slotting in at left back. If they play Pennant on the right then Gerrard will probably partner Mascherano or Alonso in the middle, otherwise Gerrard will be on the right with XA and JM in the centre. I doubt that Benitez will start with both Pennant and Kewell from the outset.

I would put my money on Benitez starting with the conservative strategy, mainly because we have conceded a few goals from set pieces recently and this is the best strategy for exploiting that weakness. It plays to their strengths (difficult to break down, dangerous from set pieces) and is what Benitez went for against Chelsea when they needed a win. Also, if he starts that way he can "build it up" to a more attacking situation if they need a goal, whereas it's not so easy the other way around.

Benitez has a few options available to him and he's a very very good tactician. Ancelotti is also one of the best tacticians going around, but our system in the CL is pretty much set (4-3-2-1, unless there are injuries to key players) so we are somewhat predictable in that sense. That in itself is not a bad thing, as everyone knew the system Barca used last season but no one could actually beat them. Benitez is what I fear the most about Liverpool. He's the ace in their ranks, as much as Kaka is ours.

Seedorf eyes Liverpool revenge

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf has admitted that he wants revenge when he comes face to face with Liverpool in the Champions League Final.

The two teams meet in the European Cup Final again this month just two years after the English club overturned a 3-0 deficit to win the Istanbul showdown on penalties.

“We want to get our revenge against Liverpool, obviously only in a sporting sense,” the Dutchman told the Spanish newspaper AS.

“I cried that night in Turkey as it’s tough to lose the Cup in just six minutes…

“It will be a difficult tie where I am sure physical strength will make the difference. The key to the match will be our ability to score more than them.

“We were impressive against Manchester United in the semi-final. They are a great side, but we proved that we are superior when it comes to strength, will and determination.

“If we win then I would like to dedicate the victory to my family, friends and all those who have been part of my career.”

The 31-year-old, who joined Milan in 2002 from Inter, has won the Champions League with a record three different outfits – Real Madrid, Ajax and the Rossoneri.

“I feel privileged to have played so many games in the Champions League with many important teams,” explained the Dutchman.

“I am a better player compared to when I played in Madrid or even two, three years ago.

“Experience helps to improve and I hope I will continue to do so. I always train with desire and intensity.”

Seedorf was also questioned on Barcelona sensation Ronaldinho, who has been paired with a summer move to the San Siro.

“He might come as he was already linked with us last year, but we will all just have to wait and see,” he continued.

“Having so many high-quality players in your side allows you to increase the chances of obtaining important results.”


Channel4

I really don't like that because of how our side looks like.
1 side has nesta, oddo, and gattuso which is pretty good but on the other side is jankulovoski and ambrosini (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) all they need is a long pass over those 2 and we're done.

----------------Dida
--Oddo--nesta-----Maldini---janku
-----gattuso---pirlo----ambro
-----------Kaka-----seedorf
---------------inzaghi/gila

something exactly to the one we used against Man United or something similar

This post has been edited by jefri91: May 9 2007, 01:56 PM

You lucky biatches!!! (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/mad.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

(IMG:http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/6132/gattusopw1.jpg)

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Go Milan, I believe in you!!

We're all nervous about the upcoming match, so here's a laugh for you. This was during halftime of tonight's 6-2 massacre. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


No team manages to rain on their own parade so much than Inter. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Great post, and pretty much sums up my feels on the game too (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

I'd feel much more comfortable with facing Kuyt+Bellamy rather than Kuyt+Crouch.

A great article indeed tom_valtellina!!

I think Rafa will opt for the conservative formation. In fact, I'm almost certain it's going to be as conservative as it gets.

As for Milan, I don't think we're predictable; how can a team (the only one actually) with 3 no10's on the field be predictable? ...



(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

"Returned tickets from Milan"?? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) That's bullsh!t, they haven't even been on sale yet.

Whatever.

(!! Question: Sky Sports headlines are in Capital letters but when I copy paste them, they're in lower... anyone knows why? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) !!)

This post has been edited by dst: May 10 2007, 12:56 PM

Brilliant post tom, representing perth well. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Three #10's.. can't go wrong with three turtles moving around on the pitch.. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

If the whole team collectively plays well we'll win, no doubt in my mind.

Firstly it depends on the defensive stability.. with the major threats being the set pieces (which give me a heart attack every time just about) and those damn lapses in concentration. Then it comes down to which dida turns up on the night.

Secondly the holding midfielders just have to do what they did to united and close up the space in the middle and keep a tight leash on them on the wings.

Thirdly if kaka' is some how controlled (I think not (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ) then the freedom seedorf and pirlo will receive must be used wisely as seedorf has done in recent weeks.

Finally if pippo starts, he just has to do what he knows best and if gila starts.. just try and stay out of kaka's way for gods sake.. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

As for Liverpool, I wouldn't be surprised if he dropped Alonso and put BOTH Sissoko and Mascherano in the middle. With Gerrard and (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/puke.gif) Zenden on the wings.

I think Pippo will start this one, Carlo trusts him more then Gila and rightly so. Him and Ambro are lucky charms (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I really feel that Ambro is an underrated player for us. Not by Milan fans, who appreciate what he brings to the team, but by commentators and pundits in general who rarely seem to mention him.

He's very disciplined, can perform a specific role or task given to him by Ancelotti, wins a lot of balls in midfield, and is always a threat from set pieces (as well as being a good defender of them too).

Ambrosini is a must for our midfield. There is no question about it. The team missed him throughout the season .. As we saw his contribution yet again in the CL.

Forza Ambrosini

The more people underrate us, the more we'll surprise them. Some people still believe we're underdogs because of the belief that the EPL is superior to Serie A.