[Rossoneri7]

Yeah, what about him?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I don't like the guy, and how he is raking up goals playing in a powerful engine behind him, but at 24 years of age, what more is there to be said. I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up with 100 CL goals by the time he is done. Another six, eight years of top flight football should do it for him.

Very little can be argued about this kids talent, but a lot of criticism is poured his way about not making it work at the WC and the likes. It can be argued that with a strong team you can achieve immense success, as is the case with Barca. But it can not be overlooked that at NT level the player Messi is the same as the player in club football, for many reasons - and I suspect you all could name a couple.

Having said that, as an individual, he is one of the most sought after players in modern football ... I wouldn't blink an eye to think twice about signing him for my beloved Milan if I had the chance; as acid stated, I also wouldn't be surprised if he did set an all-time record in the CL.

[acid911]

Very little can be argued about this kids talent, but a lot of criticism is poured his way about not making it work at the WC and the likes. It can be argued that with a strong team you can achieve immense success, as is the case with Barca. But it can not be overlooked that at NT level the player Messi is the same as the player in club football, for many reasons - and I suspect you all could name a couple.

Aye. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) It's no fault of the player, I suppose I wouldn't get bored and ask for a newer challenge, if I were the guy. Things are working so well for him, few people care about the NT, or a tougher league. At least, Maradona played in the Italian league, which sets him apart even from Pele.

Same goes for CRON - he played and won it all with Manchester, and now with Real Madrid.

[han2503]

That would still mean playing with three strikers, something which we've rarely done this season. And besides, I honestly don't see what changes Robinho could bring to the table by playing as AM. In your eyes, we'd be playing a very defensive midfield with Van Bommel, Nocerino, Muntari and Emanuelson, but I digress. Muntari is not a DM. He's a typical box-to-box mid that really impressed yesterday. Nocerino, we're all aware of his capabilities, and Emanuelson has been doing great as of lately. His speed and passing have improved a lot. So you see, it's not your typical 3 DMs midfield Allegri-style, like Gattuso-Ambro-Flamini of last season, comprised of people who couldn't even pass the ball to each-other. Personally, I think, in case of forfeiture from Boateng and Aquilani, that we should play the same line-up of Cesena. It's not the maximum we can offer, but it's a solid line-up nevertheless to face a team like Juventus.

Urby has improved when he's played in the midfield 3. Are we really going to compare him playing in the AM position against Cesena to against Juve?

Just watch his previous games in that position and it should be enough incentive to not do it. Urby did well in the AM postion against Cesena because he literally had all the time and space to do what he wants. I don't think we'll be seeing either Aqui or Prince start tbh honest. So getting the best out of Urby is crucial, and that has to be in the midfield 3.

That midfield you posted would get ridiculed by Juve, their only edge on us is their midfield, so why play into their hands by playing such a midfield? Sure Muntari was impressive, but he's still Muntari and what he did against Cesena could easily be eclipsed by a complete screw up against Juve. And now Allegri has the brilliant idea of playing him behind the strikers...

[X-Offender]

I think a midfield with Robinho as AM would get screwed against Juventus, you think otherwise. Fair enough. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

[Fillipo Simone]

I think a midfield with Robinho as AM would get screwed against Juventus, you think otherwise. Fair enough. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

So you'd prefer Muntari as AM?

[X-Offender]

So you'd prefer Muntari as AM?

I'd prefer Emanuelson as AM.

[William405]

Hasn't aquilani been training regularly?

[X-Offender]

Hasn't aquilani been training regularly?

He has, but the guy hasn't played a match in a long time. Can't see him being played immediately against Juve.

[han2503]

I'd prefer Emanuelson as AM.

I'm really diasppointed to see that a match against Cesena has convinced you of the travesty that is Urby behind the strikers. He just cannot play the position, doing it against Cesena means nothing.

How would a midfield with Robs behind the strikers get screwed. The most important aspect of the midfield is the 3 behind the AM, yes the AM in our system contributes a lot, but the difference between Urby and Robinho in terms of workrate and tracking back is null imo.

The most important thing here is to play smart, quick football, not get caught out on the counter. Imo, we cannot achieve this with such a mediocre midfield. Which yes, looked promising against Cesena, but would be a completely different story against Juve

[X-Offender]

Honestly, I don't consider that midfield mediocre. Van Bommel and Nocerino are starters, Muntari seems in top form (remember, he played in the ACN) and Emanuelson has been doing great as of lately. Not only against Cesena, but against Arsenal and Udinese as well. Whether he plays as LCM or AM doesn't really change much IMO. If a player is having a good moment he'll do well regardless of where he's played.

Why would a midfield with Robinho get screwed? Because Robinho is no midfielder. Even if he tracks back quite often, we'd be exposed way too much to Juve's counters. It's an unbalanced line-up, something we've rarely tried this season and not a good thing to experiment in such an important game. That's how I see it anyway.

This post has been edited by X-Offender: Feb 20 2012, 05:56 PM

[han2503]

Honestly, I don't consider that midfield mediocre. Van Bommel and Nocerino are starters, Muntari seems in top form (remember, he played in the ACN) and Emanuelson has been doing great as of lately. Not only against Cesena, but against Arsenal and Udinese as well. Whether he plays as LCM or AM doesn't really change much IMO. If a player is having a good moment he'll do well regardless of where he's played.

Why would a midfield with Robinho get screwed? Because Robinho is no midfielder. Even if he tracks back quite often, we'd be exposed way too much to Juve's counters. It's an unbalanced line-up, something we've rarely tried this season and not a good thing to experiment in such an important game. That's how I see it anyway.

I'm sure we'll see your preferred midfield in the Juve game, we'll see if it works then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Fillipo Simone]

Well, ain't that a bit hasty, saying Muntari is top form right now? Based on what? ANC and Cesena can hardly be enough to be sure. Just a few weeks ago we were all laughing and making face palms.

And honestly, I don't think it's irrelevant whether Emanuelson plays AM or LCM; I prefer him on a side, preferably left. To me it seems quite obvious he isn't an attacking midfielder and shouldn't be played there, especially against Juventus in of the decisive games this season.

But like han said, we'll see soon enough.

[X-Offender]

Well, ain't that a bit hasty, saying Muntari is top form right now? Based on what? ANC and Cesena can hardly be enough to be sure. Just a few weeks ago we were all laughing and making face palms.

And honestly, I don't think it's irrelevant whether Emanuelson plays AM or LCM; I prefer him on a side, preferably left. To me it seems quite obvious he isn't an attacking midfielder and shouldn't be played there, especially against Juventus in of the decisive games this season.

But like han said, we'll see soon enough.

You can easily spot whether a player is in form or not. What games he plays doesn't really matter. Allegri saw Muntrai's conditions in training, and that's why he played him from the start against Cesena. Otherwise he would have played Van Bommel and Ambrosini.

And yes, ideally I'd also prefer Emanuelson as LCM. However, we have no AM available at the moment, and I don't like the idea of Robinho playing there.

[kurtsimonw]

Laptop was down and didn't see the game. Only saw the goals on ESPN. Good win.