[han2503]

I know people have been dieing to talk about this, which is why I didn't open it ahead of the Lazio thread since we'd camp here most likely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I'm not optimistic and I'l consider a draw like a win. The defence today showed some major vulnerabilities, if we have to play Antonini at LB once again then I wouldn't exclude a mauling (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Allegri picking Ambro for the midfield is worrying and Im 99.9% sure that this will be the case. Seedorf will most likely take Aquilani's spot, even if I thnk Aqui deserves his spot, even just for his amazing corners, I mean when was the last time we scored off one of those??

So my team would be

Abate--Nesta--Thiago--Zambro
Nocerino--VB--See/Aqui
Boateng
Ibra--Pato

I'd prefer it if Boateng was moved back on the left, but I don't think there's the slightest chance of seeing that one happen

What Allegri will pick (cue a million (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) here)

Abate--Nesta--Thiago--Zambro
Ambro--VB--Seedorf
Boateng
Ibra--Pato

Don't know if Zambro will be fit but I'm seriously on my knees praying for it, we simply cannot go into it with Antonini playing there, play Yepes and make him stay back if you have to but please, no Antonini against Messi & Co. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

[CHU-LIP]

I think both Seedorf and Aquilani should start. Seedorf seems to offer a lot of more, surely vs Barça, than Boateng, to me. Unsure what to do with the attack. I feel like Robinho should start, along one of Ibrahimovic and Pato.

[han2503]

I think both Seedorf and Aquilani should start. Seedorf seems to offer a lot of more, surely vs Barça, than Boateng, to me. Unsure what to do with the attack. I feel like Robinho should start, along one of Ibrahimovic and Pato.

I'm really surprised that you're the one to say this. You're all about the combative midfield but when we face Barca you want to drop a fighter for Aquilani/Seedorf?

I think playing both would be too risky and would get our midfield overrun. Last season's final should be taken as a lesson. Why did Man U get beaten the way they did? Because of their soft midfield, if you don't pressure Barca then you're going to lose, it's simple. If you make them play without the ball, they don't know how to do that, yes they press a lot, but if we manage to keep posession for any length of time then our team won't be the only one getting dead tired trying to constantly press them.

Playing a high line would just be the death of us because you know Messi will drop back and Iniesta/Pedro/Villa will get in behind. While on the other hand, if we drop too deep and try to defend for our live like Inter did, it would still most likely result in a Barca goal.

I don't know, it's Allegri's headache at the end of the day, him and the team need to find the perfect solution and need to play the perfect game, and I don't think we're ready yet

[CHU-LIP]

I'm really surprised that you're the one to say this. You're all about the combative midfield but when we face Barca you want to drop a fighter for Aquilani/Seedorf?

Seedorf is also a fighter, surely/especially/at least in a CL match vs Barça. In my opinion he is defensive quite strong (stronger than Boateng), and not as reckless as Boateng. We need players who won't lose their head in a game like this. And the past has shown that Seedorf and Van Bommel are our key midfielders in a game like this (Van Bommel vs Inter/Sneijder, not in CL yet obviously). With Nocerino and Van Bommel we already have two DMs, and Seedorf who can defend, same goes for Aquilani as AM, making our midfield strong (defensevily and passing wise). Seedorf, Aquilani and Van Bommel all are good passers which is important. You can't lose possession often vs Barça.

I think playing both would be too risky and would get our midfield overrun. Last season's final should be taken as a lesson. Why did Man U get beaten the way they did? Because of their soft midfield, if you don't pressure Barca then you're going to lose, it's simple. If you make them play without the ball, they don't know how to do that, yes they press a lot, but if we manage to keep posession for any length of time then our team won't be the only one getting dead tired trying to constantly press them.

The main downside now is indeed missing pace. That's why I normally would play Boateng over Nocerino then, but against Barça you may go for the extra defensive skill. This gives only more reason to start Robinho in attack. Not only because of his pace, but also because his immense workrate and energy, making us even stronger: defending like a team can be done which has to be done vs Barça. That leaves either Zlatan or Pato as other forward, but that's a very tough choice in my opinion.

Reading the game well, anticipation and so, beats pace though. Players like Van Bommel and Seedorf know what to do. And having Aquilani is also nice because he played very well, and indeed his set pieces is also a plus.

edit: and about ManU's CL final: yeah, only Park did something, but we would have Van Bommel and Seedorf who will do something for sure, and Nocerino will also, and Aquilani+Robinho can do too.

This post has been edited by CHU-LIP: Sep 11 2011, 01:21 PM

[han2503]

Seedorf is also a fighter, surely/especially/at least in a CL match vs Barça. In my opinion he is defensive quite strong (stronger than Boateng), and not as reckless as Boateng. We need players who won't lose their head in a game like this. And the past has shown that Seedorf and Van Bommel are our key midfielders in a game like this (Van Bommel vs Inter/Sneijder, not in CL yet obviously). With Nocerino and Van Bommel we already have two DMs, and Seedorf who can defend, same goes for Aquilani as AM, making our midfield strong (defensevily and passing wise). Seedorf, Aquilani and Van Bommel all are good passers which is important. You can't lose possession often vs Barça.


The main downside now is indeed missing pace. That's why I normally would play Boateng over Nocerino then, but against Barça you may go for the extra defensive skill. This gives only more reason to start Robinho in attack. Not only because of his pace, but also because his immense workrate and energy, making us even stronger: defending like a team can be done which has to be done vs Barça. That leaves either Zlatan or Pato as other forward, but that's a very tough choice in my opinion.

Reading the game well, anticipation and so, beats pace though. Players like Van Bommel and Seedorf know what to do. And having Aquilani is also nice because he played very well, and indeed his set pieces is also a plus.

edit: and about ManU's CL final: yeah, only Park did something, but we would have Van Bommel and Seedorf who will do something for sure, and Nocerino will also, and Aquilani+Robinho can do too.

I think Seedorf has the better footballing brain to cover spaces, he's not very good defensively but he's a smart player who knows how to cover his areas like Aquilani or Boateng wouldn't. But purely as a defensive player, Boateng is better, simply because he has the energy to hassle the opponent. Another key factor is the energy in midfield, which is why Boateng, Nocerino and Robinho would come in handy, the only thing that scares me about Robinho is him missing sitters...

think we need 2 fighters (Nocerino + Boateng), an anchor (VB), someone who will know what to do with the ball when we have it (Seedorf/Aqui) and one of the strikers dropping deep to help the midfield (Robinho would do this the best out of all of them, but I don't trust him in front of goal)

Seedorf is not going to run and press for 90 minutes, you can forget about that. That's why we can't rely on him for that kind of work, and why I think he should play behind the strikers.

Essentially we need to play a xmas tree set up like we did under Carlo

Boateng--VB--Nocerino
Seedorf--Robs/Pato
Ibra