[CHU-LIP]

Assuming Taiwo can't start this match, Zambrotta is most logical option left for leftback. Nesta was not only very poor against Lazio, but also during pre-season. He simply is not ready for Barça, if he ever will be again. Yepes has proven to be an excellent defender for both Milan and his NT, so at least for now I will trust him more. Hopefully Mexes won't need too long to recover fully.

Aquilani has been excellent yesterday, and Seedorf has been also this year. Both should start, and Van Bommel is the obvious choice in front of our defense: just ask Sneijder. Because we play away vs Barça, I guess Nocerino seems a better choice than Boateng who can be poor and reckless.

I expect Barça making the play and we should be able to have some sort of counter. Robinho and Pato are quick, and Pato is an excellent finisher: our best. Robinho's workrate and energy should be a reason to start him over Cassano, who was key yesterday, but Barça is a different story. And at the same time Cassano is our biggest weapon as a sub. Also now I didn't pick Boateng, Robinho is even more needed to have enough pace in the team. The decision between Pato and Ibrahimovic is tough for me, but Ibrahimovic vs a team like Barça doesn't seem to work, and how are we going to play then anyway? And all midfielders are good passers making Pato's runs more than useful.

Pato, Robinho
Aquilani
Seedorf, Van Bommel, Nocerino
Zambrotta, Yepes, Thiago Silva, Abate
Abbiati

bench: Roma*, Taiwo**, Nesta, Ambrosini, Boateng, Cassano, Ibrahimovic

* did well everytime he played for us; I like him more than Amelia
** if he can start, start him over Zambrotta

This post has been edited by CHU-LIP: Sep 10 2011, 03:50 PM

[han2503]

Assuming Taiwo can't start this match, Zambrotta is most logical option left for leftback. Nesta was not only very poor against Lazio, but also during pre-season. He simply is not ready for Barça, if he ever will be again. Yepes has proven to be an excellent defender for both Milan and his NT, so at least for now I will trust him more. Hopefully Mexes won't need too long to recover fully.

Aquilani has been excellent yesterday, and Seedorf has been also this year. Both should start, and Van Bommel is the obvious choice in front of our defense: just ask Sneijder. Because we play away vs Barça, I guess Nocerino seems a better choice than Boateng who can be poor and reckless.

I expect Barça making the play and we should be able to have some sort of counter. Robinho and Pato are quick, and Pato is an excellent finisher: our best. Robinho's workrate and energy should be a reason to start him over Cassano, who was key yesterday, but Barça is a different story. And at the same time Cassano is our biggest weapon as a sub. Also now I didn't pick Boateng, Robinho is even more needed to have enough pace in the team. The decision between Pato and Ibrahimovic is tough for me, but Ibrahimovic vs a team like Barça doesn't seem to work, and how are we going to play then anyway?

Pato, Robinho
Aquilani
Seedorf, Van Bommel, Nocerino
Zambrotta, Yepes, Thiago Silva, Abate
Abbiati

Still don't agree about Yepes. He's certainly not cut out for this, and 2 mistakes aside from yesterday Nesta saved a sure fire goal yesterday for us. And was doing better after the 2nd half. And I wouldn't say he had a terrible pre-season. It was average, getting back into shape and all that.

Both Seedorf and Aquilani? I think we need 3 fighters in that midfield who can cover space easily. Boateng imo, has to play. The decision will be between Seedorf and Aqui, allegri will surely choose Seedorf. Also I disagree about Ibra, he'll do well against Mascherano and whoever else plays for them at CB because of his height and we'll most likely find it very difficuilt to go through the midfield so launching balls at him might be our only option here. Also, the though of playing Robinho makes me cringe, simply because I know that he'll get into all the great scoring positions and miss them, I'd rather see us not creating a chance then watch him squander one guilt edged chance after another. It's better for our health that way

[d'Arc.LP]

According to Sportmediaset.It, Pato is fresh and rested, so he is expected to start together with Ibrahimovic against Barcelona. Boateng's shoulder is not a concern, so he can play against Barcelona. Also Seedorf, Zambrotta, Tawio and Robinho trained with the team, and are expected to travel in Spain.


Gazzeta had this great joke as a preview to the Barca game:

"Messi once entered the bedroom of a girl with whom he hoped to score. The girl tells him to get comfortable and she leaves the room to go freshen up. To her amazement, when she returns, she finds him lying on the bed completely nude with two other naked guys and shouts; "WHAT'S GOING ON?"...Smiling Messi calmly replies: "I am sorry dear, but I can't perform without Xavi and Iniesta!"

This post has been edited by d'Arc.LP: Sep 10 2011, 04:07 PM

[Dracoris]

I feel like Nesta has to start, poor start or not, he's a leader. Nesta was caught out so much yesterday because the guy who covers his back started poorly too, which is Silva. I really like the idea of Aquilani behind the strikers but not sure this is the game to experiment.

I'm 50/50 on whether or not he should start over Seedorf.

[acid911]

Which would be a problem. I saw the Lazio match. How narrow we were was something that had to be seen to be believed.

Very much agreed, but I'd rather take my chances playing a defensive, counter attacking game. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Rather than be decimated 5-0 or something. Ask Barcelona to throw their cards first, frustrate them if we can at the start, play a closed game, instead of going all guns blazing and whatnot. Heck, it's the opening game of the CL, if anything!

What worked against Real Madrid in Spain a few years back (3-2, Pirlo and Pato goals) surely will not work. We 100% can't try to out-Barcelona Barcelona, not at their own game. Bur a strong CB pairing of Nesta and Silva, Pato and Ibra upfront, flanks back, and an army of dogs in the midfield (those who can fetch the lost balls), and we just may walk out from the battle and be able to tell the tale. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Counter, counter, counter, with a solid defensive touch.

[han2503]

Very much agreed, but I'd rather take my chances playing a defensive, counter attacking game. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Rather than be decimated 5-0 or something. Ask Barcelona to throw their cards first, frustrate them if we can at the start, play a closed game, instead of going all guns blazing and whatnot. Heck, it's the opening game of the CL, if anything!

What worked against Real Madrid in Spain a few years back (3-2, Pirlo and Pato goals) surely will not work. We 100% can't try to out-Barcelona Barcelona, not at their own game. Bur a strong CB pairing of Nesta and Silva, Pato and Ibra upfront, flanks back, and an army of dogs in the midfield (those who can fetch the lost balls), and we just may walk out from the battle and be able to tell the tale. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Counter, counter, counter, with a solid defensive touch.

No one said we should go all guns blazing or that we should try to attack them. But there are key points that we need to meet if we are going to get something out of this aside from a hammering.

1. Defend well
2. Win the ball as quick as we can (I know it will be hard but 4 mids against their 3 should be able to stife them a bit)
3. Keep posession as much as we can in the few moments we will actually have the ball
4. When we have the ball, use it wisely (Ibra and Pato will be good outlets for us in that respect)

All that being said, the players picked and the system need to be perfect. We can't play with Antonini on the left, Ambro in the midfield, or 2 pure creators (Seedorf and Aqui). We need at least 3 combative players in there and the 4th mid needs to roll up his sleeve and be ready to work his @ss off as well. Also 1 of the strikers needs to drop deep as much as possible to help out. This is where Robinho would be more useful then Pato, but I don't trust Robs to not miss any chances, and my heart cannot take his misses in this game, so Allegri needs to drill it in Pato's head to drop deep and work hard.

The FBs need to stay back, I'm not worried about Zambro, he knows what he has to do, Abate has handled Ronaldo and Eto'o in the past, his pace will give him more freedome and if he somehow manages to break through and put pressure on the Barca LB (whoever that might be then all the better) But he needs to pick his moments wisely, going forward like he usually does will not bode well for us.

[Fillipo Simone]

One additional note. I am convinced Milan could win or at least get a point out of this match if we play an old-fashioned Catenaccio with some modifications. Is Allegri up to it? I'm not sure, I hope so. Because Milan has every single quality such a formation needs. Zambrotta and Abate are ideal for such a lineup, Nesta is a must (Yepes WTF?), Thiago - needless to say - is indispensable, while Bommel will also come handy.

I'd start with Cassano and Ibra, just like the Lazio game; they looked very good together and we need the extra pass which can be provided by Antonio. Pato as a sub.

Also, do not forget that we'll have not only Ibra, but also Bommel and Zambro highly motivated, even more then the others.

The thing is, it occurred to me that Milan, against Lazio, especially in the 1st half, tried to play attractive. I hope this wasn't meant as a warm-up for Barcelona, because I am convinced that Milan cannot win this game with wanting or trying to outplay Barcelona, or play at the same technical level. We can only win points by defending tight and keeping the ball as long as possible away from Iniesta or Xavi.

[han2503]

One additional note. I am convinced Milan could win or at least get a point out of this match if we play an old-fashioned Catenaccio with some modifications. Is Allegri up to it? I'm not sure, I hope so. Because Milan has every single quality such a formation needs. Zambrotta and Abate are ideal for such a lineup, Nesta is a must (Yepes WTF?), Thiago - needless to say - is indispensable, while Bommel will also come handy.

I'd start with Cassano and Ibra, just like the Lazio game; they looked very good together and we need the extra pass which can be provided by Antonio. Pato as a sub.

Also, do not forget that we'll have not only Ibra, but also Bommel and Zambro highly motivated, even more then the others.

The thing is, it occurred to me that Milan, against Lazio, especially in the 1st half, tried to play attractive. I hope this wasn't meant as a warm-up for Barcelona, because I am convinced that Milan cannot win this game with wanting or trying to outplay Barcelona, or play at the same technical level. We can only win points by defending tight and keeping the ball as long as possible away from Iniesta or Xavi.

Agreed, trying to play Barca at their own game would result in a beating. But I don't think Cassano is that much of a good choice, yes he has a better final pass, but he's not going to work as hard as Robinho or Pato.

[Dracoris]

I don't know. If Barca is playing in a 3-4-3 we should think about attacking them pretty hard. 3 defenders can get overwhelmed pretty quickly if played right. Would need Nocerino and Boateng in midfield because we need two guys will to run back and forth the whole game. VB in the middle could anchor everything down. Aquilani as trequartista maybe? Glad I'm not the coach.

[d'Arc.LP]

I'd like to see us playing like this against Barcelona :

Abbiati
Abate - Nesta/Yepes - Silva - Zambrotta
Nocerino - Van Bommel - Boateng
Aquilani
Pato - Ibrahimovic

Robinho , Cassano and Seedorf substituting Aquilani, Pato and Van Bommel

EDIT: Just read that Taiwo is ready for the game, so if it's true, he should start.

(IMG:http://this11.com/boards/abBcPLeake.jpg)

And I agree with Fillipo Simone, Catenaccio system, is the best option we have.

[han2503]

(IMG:http://this11.com/boards/abBcPLeake.jpg)

And I agree with Fillipo Simone, Catenaccio system, is the best option we have.

I think that's the best line-up we can put out (I'm still on the fence as to who should start between Seedorf and Aqui). But sitting back deep too much will get us in trouble. Putting pressure on their midfield is key imo

[Fillipo Simone]

I think Aquilani should start, Seedorf come in as a addition later on. Zambrotta should also be fielded.

I'm not yet sure Nocerino is the right man though. He didn't convince me as much as some said against Lazio, but looking at our roster, there's not much choice. Ambrosini or Nocerino, hmh? Both have evident pluses and minuses.

Nesta Milan's captain. Ideal for the Catenaccio.

[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 Aquilani should start, Seedorf come in as a addition later on. Zambrotta should also be fielded.

I'm not yet sure Nocerino is the right man though. He didn't convince me as much as some said against Lazio, but looking at our roster, there's not much choice. Ambrosini or Nocerino, hmh? Both have evident pluses and minuses.

Nesta Milan's captain. Ideal for the Catenaccio.

Aquilani would give us the advantage one set-pieces and I think his final pass is better then Seedorf. But overall, I think Seedorf's cool head when we have the ball will count for a lot. I don't know, but I feel Allegri will choose Seedorf's experiance.

As for Nocerino, he did mire in 15 minutes then Ambro did all game, and that is not exagerating. What didn't convince you about Nocerino? The fact that he won the ball cleanly a couple of times, showed enthusiasm and actual energy? Ambro and Rino are down and out imo. Neither of them is good enough anymore, especially not for a game of this magnitude against a team who has the best midfield around, bar none.

[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