[Jack Bauer]

Cristante will be out for a month after injuring his left calf bone in today's training.

[Jack Sparrow]

Oh phew! Thank god Muntari will get a chance to further play and develop now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[X-Offender]

Robinho out injured for Bologna and probably Atletico as well.

Link

[han2503]

Robinho out injured for Bologna and probably Atletico as well.

Link

Good or bad? Hmm...., can't decide atm

[acid911]

Good or bad? Hmm...., can't decide atm

More good, then bad, I guess. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) A bit of both really, never the one to laugh up a player injury, even if the player is a bona fide dud like Robinho. We really should have dumped him in the summer, any and all ways possible.

[X-Offender]

Good or bad? Hmm...., can't decide atm

Of course it's good.

[X-Offender]

Kaká suffered an ankle distortion against Bologna, whereas Zapata suffered a muscular problem during warm-up. They're both in serious doubt for Atletico.

Other players unavailable for this game are Bonera, Silvestre, Birsa, Robinho, Saponara, El Shaarawy and Honda.

Link

Well now, if Kaká doesn't make it we're left to only Taarabt, Balotelli and Pazzini in attack. And if Zapata doesn't make it, will Seedorf prefer Zaccardo over Mexes again? Just thinking about sends shivers down my spine.

[milanbuf88]

Kaká suffered an ankle distortion against Bologna, whereas Zapata suffered a muscular problem during warm-up. They're both in serious doubt for Atletico.

Other players unavailable for this game are Bonera, Silvestre, Birsa, Robinho, Saponara, El Shaarawy and Honda.

Link

Well now, if Kaká doesn't make it we're left to only Taarabt, Balotelli and Pazzini in attack. And if Zapata doesn't make it, will Seedorf prefer Zaccardo over Mexes again? Just thinking about sends shivers down my spine.

Taarabt-Balo-Poli behind Pazzini perhaps?

[X-Offender]

Taarabt-Balo-Poli behind Pazzini perhaps?

How about just Taarabt behind Balo and Pazzini? I'm curious to see if Seedorf will make the same mistake Leonardo used to make, that is not letting go of your system even if you don't have players available for it, to an extent where choosing Huntelaar, Abate, Poli etc. to play as wingers. That's messed up.

Seriously, if those three names I mentioned earlier will be our only available attackers, then it's a no-brainer we should switch formation to a 4-3-1-2/4-3-2-1. Especially since we're playing against Atletico Madrid.

[han2503]

How about just Taarabt behind Balo and Pazzini? I'm curious to see if Seedorf will make the same mistake Leonardo used to make, that is not letting go of your system even if you don't have players available for it, to an extent where choosing Huntelaar, Abate, Poli etc. to play as wingers. That's messed up.

Seriously, if those three names I mentioned earlier will be our only available attackers, then it's a no-brainer we should switch formation to a 4-3-1-2/4-3-2-1. Especially since we're playing against Atletico Madrid.

What we need against Atletico is to pack in bodies in and around the area.

Personally I think using 2 strikers here is asking for it. Just one man up top and 5 players in the middle

I'd personally go for 2 DMs and 2 CMs, with only one "creative/flair" player behind Balo or Pazzo

Basically, it could be a more conservative spin on the 4-2-3-1 Seedorf likes but without all the attacking players who are unwilling to work hard to recover the ball

[han2503]

Hmm, after writing that I just realised that Monto is suspended

Maybe we can go for


Basically

De Jong--Essien
Poli
Taraabt----Urby
Balo

If this was some regular old Serie A team I'd play Balo instead of Urby and Pazzo up top. But I think going out there with both, especially given Balo's propensity to sulk and not track back, would be suicide

This way all the players behind Balo are capable of working hard and forming that second and third line of defence in front of the actual defence, but are also capable of breaking at speed when we manage to get the ball

[X-Offender]

Kaká reassured fans outside Milanello that he'll be available for Wednesday.

Link

[il_diavolo_mtl]

How about just Taarabt behind Balo and Pazzini? I'm curious to see if Seedorf will make the same mistake Leonardo used to make, that is not letting go of your system even if you don't have players available for it, to an extent where choosing Huntelaar, Abate, Poli etc. to play as wingers. That's messed up.

Seriously, if those three names I mentioned earlier will be our only available attackers, then it's a no-brainer we should switch formation to a 4-3-1-2/4-3-2-1. Especially since we're playing against Atletico Madrid.

In defense of Poli, I think he can offer a great deal wherever he plays in Midfield. Be it DM,CM,AM. We've seen him play inspired and i think it's unfair to him that Essien was signed. I'd SOOOO much rather see a Poli - De Jong double pivot then essien anywhere....

[X-Offender]

i think it's unfair to him that Essien was signed. I'd SOOOO much rather see a Poli - De Jong double pivot then essien anywhere....

+1

[han2503]

I don't think it's unfair to Poli that Essien was signed.

Essien is a completely different player to Poli.

Imo Poli should always be the direct alternative to Monto and Essien the direct alternative to De Jong.

So far when Monto's been out/not picked Seedorf has decided to go with another muscle player in that midfield next to De Jong (Muntari/Essien) and that's what's unfair to Poli imo

Essien was needed, we simply can't have a situation where should De Jong be injured we're stuck with Muntari as his direct alternative. He played around 15 minutes against Bologna on Friday and made atrocious error after error, not to mention the lazy @ss walking around