The grudge match. The match that can possibly determine our entire serie A outcome. The match which carlo can be put into glory or into deep water. The match that can can have rippling effects on the entire calcio.

That match is the derby: Milan vs Inter.


We must win, FORZA MILAN MILAN MILAN MILAN MILAN

Game is 20:30 GMT

if we draw it's not over, if we lose yes.

my lineup:

Zambrotta-maldini-bonera-janku

Gattuso-seedorf-ambro--

----------kaka--------------

---pato----------borriello

we have a loss over inter. We cannot lose no matter the circumstance. We have to win against inter later in the season and maybe against juve too if we tie.


Winning now will put us into a bit of a comfort zone later in the season.

I like that, but I doubt Bonera will play ahead of Kakha .. And I suspect either Ronaldinho or Shevchenko to start this ne out.

yeah to the kaladze i hope he doesn't. I dont think sheva will play. It will most likely be ronaldinho.

I prefer this one to. But I would change Ambro and Seedorf.

Carlo Ancelotti can see Milan taking shape, but can’t be happy after losing Marco Borriello for the derby.

The former Genoa striker scored in the 2-1 win away to Reggina this evening, but limped off clutching the back of his thigh.

“It doesn’t seem to be particularly serious and we’ll have to wait a few days to see the extent of the damage, but clearly he cannot recover for the derby,” revealed the Coach.

This was the Rossoneri’s second consecutive victory that sends them into the top half of the table, but not enough to keep Carletto content.

“The saving graces are the result and a few moments of the match. We struggled, Reggina were very aggressive, but we reacted well after their equaliser and deserved the win.”

It comes just three days after a crushing 4-1 victory over Lazio and gives Milan a good run-in to Sunday night’s derby against Serie A leaders Inter.

“We are slowly emerging from the difficult period with two important wins to best prepare for the derby.”

Ronaldinho was left on the bench at the Stadio Granillo and Andriy Shevchenko was a substitute, but with Borriello sidelined it’s likely one of them will face Inter.

“Both are improving. Even if they are not 100 per cent ready, they can still play. I am not worried about the derby, as in one week we have made massive steps forward. I was more worried on the eve of the game with Lazio.”

man borriello is already very important member of the team i hope he is not out for very long we just cant afford that specilly after he started so gud but as he is certain to miss the derby i hope carlo does not revert to christmas tree with sheva as a loner bcoz for these big game he mite not consider pato. We need pato with sheva two upfront for this one as well

Abbiati
Zambrotta Bonera Maldini Jankulovski
Gattuso Flamini Seedorf
Kaka
Pato Shevchenko

or

Abbiati
Zambrotta Maldini Kaladze Jankulovski
Gattuso Flamini Ambrosini
Kaka Ronaldinho
Pato

Carlo will go with one of these.

damn.....

I think that Ronaldino gets a start because if he cannot get excited about this derby then he has no footballing soul left whatsoever and needs to ride the bench for a while.

well said, mate

-----------------Abbiati------------

---Zambro----Kaladze----Maldini---Janku-

-----Flamini-----Ambro-----Seedorf--

------------------Kaka---------

-------------Pato-----Dinho---------

we should go with this...Dinho's skills can and will be very much needed and will be in need..that's why i'll put dinho over sheva

we do need two upfront for which i go for sheva-pato but it is very much possible that r80 and sheva start with pato on ench carlo is still strubborn like emerson no cardaccio or the big one favilli not antonini he mite not risk a young player for teh derby

I wouldn't compare Sheva with Puma and Favalli. And I'm sure Pato will play, he's scored 3 in the last 3, he's out most in form striker, he will start.

As for who will start between Dinho and Sheva, Carlo said that neither of them are 100% yet. So I think both of them will get a half. Maybe we should start with Sheva in the 4-3-1-2, and in the second half sub in Dinho for Sheva but still keep the same system and formation with Dinho as a striker, but he will start his plays from wider areas. Plus defenders will get a bit tired and Dinho will be fresh and can exploit that. While Sheva will be better at exploiting the scrappiness of the games first 30 minutes, lurk around in the box and snatch something from a rebound. He is a better finisher then Dinho so that's why I would start him in the first half.

AS for the defence, we all know that Kala and Maldini will be the starters so there is no use putting Bonera in the formations.

^^^

So you'd have Kaka as trqueartista behind R80 and Pato. I would have swapped that. I think R80 is much better at passing than Kaka. And Inter are not a side, which is gonna give us space. So R80 will have to play behind to open up space for Kaka.

I think they would interchange positions. Depending on the situation. Inter aren't going to be as tight as Reggina were yesterday, they will try to attack also. I think it will depend on the situation. If R80 does come on in the second half he would be better coming in from out wide and running at defenders. Kaka, Pato and Sheva/R80 wouldn't have a fixed position, they can all play in any of the 3 psotions in attack so they will continually interchange positions with eachother. Pato or Sheva could even drop into the trequartista roles, I've seen Sheva do it very well for Ukraine and I'm sure Pato wouldn't have any problems playing there either

This really is a make or break match already.

Win and we're right up there, with the confidence that we can beat anyone, we also have that pschyological edge over Inter as well as 3 wins in a row.

Lose and we're 7 points behind at an early stage. They have the confidence of not dropping many points at all, a few wins in a row and the fact that they beat us.

A draw is okay. Maybe this isn't a must win, but certainly is a can't lose game.

Dinho played really well right after the strikers as we all saw in matches with Bologna and Lazio. So I believe:

------ Pato ------

Dinho ----- Kaka

In case of we need to attack, we may change to:

---Pato------Sheva---

--------Kaka----------

Gazzetta's (early) predicted lineup

(4-3-1-2)

Abbiati
Zambrotta
Maldini
Kaladze
Favalli
Ambrosini
Gattuso
Seedorf
Kakà
Pato
Shevchenko

Nooooo, not Favalli!

First of all I think Flamini is certain to start as he's one of our best players right now (@ bluesummers' lineup).

As for the formation I'm afraid Carlo will go with the Christmas tree, with Sheva starting (provided that Borriello doesn't recover in time).

I think this will be Carlo's lineup:

----- Kaladze - Maldini - Favalli.

We may as well give up now, that's terrible.

**** Gazzetta's lineup, there's no way Favalli's going to start ahead of Janku!!

Favalli?? NO0o0o0Oo0o0o0o0o0o0o0!! Janku or Antonini please!~~ looks like Ance wants to see if he can beat Mancini on sprint test along that flank..

^^

Chill man....you'll age too fast, if you stay so tensed...

what kind of injury did janku have with janku and zambrotta we are a different team but if one of them goes missing comes in favilli and everything is changed dont know why the hell did we let oddo leave

Hmmmm, I'm not sure Janku has injury. Gazzetta surprised me.

Janku isnt listed as injured on Gazzetta, nor is he in the predicted lineup or subs bench

I think we will start out with Dinho and Kaka behind Pato in Christmas tree formation. Then, when Dinho gets tired, we will sub in Sheva and go back to a 4-3-1-2 (like the good old Kaka behind Crespo and Sheva days).

Any news on Inzaghi id love him to start this match but not gunna look likely memories of last season

Gazzetta has Inzaghi listed as injured

If janku can't play it should be, Bonera-Kaladze-Maldini-Zambrotta.

Darn, I'm starting to miss Oddo already.

Instead of fighting for his place he choose the easy way out.

Yeah I suppose that's true. But until Nesta comes back, and Janku gets 100% fit, we'll always have trouble in defense. Paolo's got all the skills in the world, but he's 40, Kaladze can't defend right if his life depended on it. Tough times ahead, these couple of months.

Attack is our only hope, we always concede at least one goal per game. More even.

interesting factoid..Sheva's birthday is the day after the derby as well. it would be nice to see him get off the mark for the season, 1. because its about time, 2. its against inter and sheva goal against them would be nostalgic, 3. it would be a nice gift for himself and his son's godfather, and 4. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, you're only getting older sheva! so score already! and prove that age is all a mindset..

As stupid as Kaladze can be at times, he almost always performs in the big games. I have some confidence in him

Gazzetta have updated their formations. Jank is on the left, with everything else the same. Inter's weak links appear to be Viera and Materazzi. Lets hope Kaka runs rings around them again. Also it looks like Cruz is playing wide. Does Mourinho usually put him there (Like Balotelli)

We Should Play a 4-4-1-1.
There's No Way, We can Stop Quaremsa,Zlatan, and Manicini with the formations we have been playing.]

Bonera-Kaladze-Maldini-Zambrotta
-Flamini---Ambrosini---Seedorf-Gattuso--
-------------Kaka----------
--------Pato-----------

We Have To Win This..Come On Lads.

I REALLY hope Maldini doesn't play this derby.

unfortunately your right

I really hope he has a great game like the one against Arsenal in the first leg.

I pray to Heavens you turn out to be right.

The problem is not any player individually, we do not defend as a unit and we fail to do that against Inter, we're going to pay for it!

*cough* Kaladze *cough*

That's not a player...

Anyway, I think Ronaldinho would do well if he played, he has a lot to prove. Too bad he's not in shape yet. Wonder if he'll ever be...

that would mean christmas tree not to sure if we go for that as for the defence i think it all depends on attack from milan side we will have to score 2 goals atleast if we want to win

You, sir, are right on this count. Anyway, if it was some other player (say Sanderos) he'd probably have received a big bundle of bullets in mail after the number of mistakes he makes in a season.


You have a point. Now that I think of it, Ronaldo adjusted pretty well in his first few weeks here. Fat and all. I still would give R80 benefit of a doubt, he's had a rough ride up till now. Having said that, I would have liked to see him get some time against Reggina.

All I know is that I wouldn't bet my money on our defense saving our @sses. we need to think about attacking... A LOT. plain & simple.

Blasphemy!! Ronaldinho ahead of the mighty Emerson??