Bah! It would have been done by someone or the other. At least m1ke!! Now this one's on you!! Don't make a monster post about tactics and Ibra and Rino. IT'S ALL ON YOU!!!

Edit: If we win though, it's coz I hastened to make the second post that broke your bad karma.

If we lose it's not my fault that no one wanted to open the thread

Why do something today, when you can put it off till tomorrow or the day after??

Should have done it after the game

Don't know enough about Auxerre but they haven't won a game this season.

So far you're the only guy discussing the game. If you want to talk to yourself...why don't you look into the mirror and act like De Niro.

You talkin to me?

I'd replace Zambro and Abbiatti in that lineup.

Isn't Zambro still injured?

According to latest reports, Thiago is to miss the game. Bonera is favorite over Sokratis.

Bonera is favorite over Sokratis.

In pre-season Bonera was awful to watch as CB, while Sokratis impressed me as CB.

Abate for Zambro

-abate-bonera-sokratis-antonini

If you ask me, I'd let Pippo start this one. He's been on form for the past matches plus we all know his special European Cup record.


Yes, that might be possibly the worst Milan defensive four in my almost two decades of watching and some old classics in addition. Only competition is that Chamot-Sala-Junior-Kaladze line.

Yes i left Pirlo out mainly because i think he really needs a rest.

But in general i think that's the best setup in midfield for our version of the 433 with flamini subbing for ambro.

My question is, when was the last time we saw Bonera play two good games in a row? Hell, even one?
He's our weekest defender I belive. I'm not going into the story what happened to him, cause at some point he was considered good and talented, but nowdays, he's just sub-standard.

Seems like Nesta and Seedorf are okay. Play the Sok? Or play Super Mario?

MILAN-AUXERRE: THE ROSSONERI SQUAD
9/14/2010
MILANELLO – Massimiliano Allegri named the following 19 players for Milan’s Champions League match against Auxerre:
Abbiati, Amelia, Roma, Antonini, Bonera, Nesta, Zambrotta, Yepes, Abate, Ambrosini, Boateng, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Ibrahimovic, Inzaghi, Pato, Robinho, Ronaldinho.
Unavailable: Thiago Silva, Flamini.
Not called up: Jankulovski, Oddo,

new line up according to call ups:


--------abbiati----
abate-nesta-bonera-antonini

seedorf----pirlo---ambrosini---

Pato------Ibra-------dinho

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has warned his side not to take Auxerre lightly in their Champions League encounter on Wednesday.

Milan are coming off a shock 2-0 defeat to Cesena but Allegri believes his men are in good spirits ahead of the Group G clash against the French outfit.

"Our morale is high; we have talked a lot and analysed the game at Cesena," said Allegri, according to Uefa.com. "It was a strange game, we didn't play well. Of course, as many have said, you always expect something more from a team like Milan.

"My players tried their best, we had a couple of chances in the first half, made two or three mistakes, and I'm sure those are mistakes we aren't going to make again."

The Milan tactician continued, "I haven't had the chance to watch an Auxerre game live, but I viewed their two play-off matches in the summer and their league game against Monaco. Against Monaco, although they lost, they had many chances.

"So we have to be careful, because Auxerre have quick players, both up front and on the flanks. It's not going to be an easy game for sure, we must not make mistakes – especially our defenders."

In the other game in the group on Wednesday, Spanish giants Real Madrid welcome Ajax to the Bernabeu.

goal.com

As expected, Thiago Silva has not recovered for Milan’s Champions League game with Auxerre, but Alessandro Nesta and Clarence Seedorf return.
The Brazilian defender limped off during half-time in Saturday’s 2-0 Serie A defeat to Cesena and is not even in the squad for tomorrow’s match.

Nesta does return after his injury and should partner Daniele Bonera at centre-back, leaving Gianluca Zambrotta and Luca Antonini on the flanks.

Seedorf also missed the Cesena tie and is available again, but Mathieu Flamini remains sidelined and is joined on the treatment table by Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Coach Massimiliano Allegri is expected to stick with the trident of Alexandre Pato, Ronaldinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Robinho and Pippo Inzaghi find their place on the bench to begin with.

Milan squad: Abbiati, Amelia, Roma, Antonini, Bonera, Nesta, Zambrotta, Yepes, Abate, Ambrosini, Boateng, Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Ibrahimovic, Inzaghi, Pato, Robinho, Ronaldinho

Milan’s pre-game press conference was held this afternoon. Coach Massimiliano Allegri and Alexandre Pato responded to the journlists’ question. The coach: "It's not right to criticize Ibrahimovic"

MILANELLO – Massimiliano Allegri and Alexandro Pato were the protagonists of today’s press conference at Milanello, held the day before Milan’s Champions League opener against Auxerre.

Coach Allegri’s first statements: "Auxerre is a team which defends very well, especially in away matches, therefore we’ll have to play well. Our mood is good, we had a discussion and analyzed our match played against Cesena. It was a strange game, we didn’t play well, but neither poorly, as it was said, even though it's normal that Milan is always expected to do well. The team tried to give its best, as we had chances in the first half, however, we made some mistakes on two or three occasions, but I’m sure we won’t repeat them. Auxerre? I didn’t have the possibility to watch them play live, but I saw their matches in the preliminaries against Zenit and their championship game against Monaco. Even though they lost against the latter, Auxerre had some quality scoring chances. We’ll have to pay attention, as they have quick players up-front as well as on the wings. It will be all but an easy match, we’ll have to avoid making mistakes in defence."

What Pato had to say about the French side: "It will be a difficult match, it’s no coincidence they eliminated Zenit in the preliminaries. We are ready for a great match, we have to listen to our coach and do what he asks from us during training sessions. They are dangerous.”

Allegri continued: "I believe that the week leading up to the match against Cesena was a particular one, as previously we beat Lecce in convincing fashion, then the arrivals of Ibra and Robinho gave us even more of a lift, but we couldn’t work all together because of the international break. All this made it difficult for the new players to fit in with the team, especially for Ibra, who started against Cesena. We have to learn from that match, that in order to win, it’s fundemental to have full respect for your opponents, especially in Italy, where the smaller teams play with a lot of enthusiasm at the beginning of the championship, thus creating problems for the stronger clubs. If you don’t pay enough attention when you’re playing less well, it’s difficult to win. We can’t have the presumption of winning the championship by playing spectacular football in every game. It’s important to be able to win even when you don’t play particularly well. A great example of this was Roma in the last few years, when they always played wonderfully, but didn’t manage to win those matches in which they didn’t play so well. Of course, I would like the team to play spectacularly and win always 2-0 or 3-0, but it’s not possible. We made serious mistakes before the goals Cesena scored. We should have avoided especially the second one, as the match could have gonein a different direction, if we would have been only one goal down at half-time. Therefore the team has to pay more attention during the games. The problem against Cesena was maybe our excessive will to equalise as soon as possible. I repeat that our match on Saturday was a strange one, Cesena were compact and we weren’t quick enough in our offensive movements. Seedorf is an important player for Milan, just like the others, he’s got great charachter and splendid technique, he’s a different kind of player compared to Gattuso and Ambrosini."

Then it was Pato’s turn again, who talked about his goals ruled out int he match against Cesena: "You’ve seen it too, I scored, I did my job, now I only have to think about tomorrow’s game. Since I’ve been at Milan, I’ve always dreamt of playing in the Champions League final and winning the trophy. This year, I believe we can do it, like I’ve always did. I want to win it and I’m sure we’ll succeed. After our match against Lecce we were all pleased, unlike after the game against Cesena, but now we have to think only about Auxerre, we’ll have to play a great game tomorrow.”

Coach Allegri concluded the press conference with the following words: "Thiago Silva will undergo some tests today and I’ll make a decision on whether to name him for tomorrow’s game or not, based on his condition. The favourite to win the group? Real Madrid and us have the same chances, 50%-50%. We are going for the first place. I’ll field Ibrahimovic, unless something happens to him in today’s training. I think it’s not right to criticize him, he played for us after only one training session with the squad, and anyway, he worked hard for the team. The only question is whether Thiago Silva would be available. If everyone does his job, Milan can afford three forwards in the team at the same time. Tomorrow? I’ll be excited, I can’t deny it, but we are all focused to do well. This team has great potential and could achieve important objectives. In Cesena our game based on keeping the ball on the ground failed, therefore we started making crosses also because of their full-back Nagatomo, who is not particularly tall, but without much success. When we conceded the first goal, seven players of ours defended against four of them. The beauty of the game is this: football is strange. The refereeing? The club has a great management, they’ll take care of these issues. I can only wish that next time these errors will favour us.”

My predictions:


Milan 3-1 Auxerre

Madrid 1-0 Ajax

Milan 3-0 Auxerre

Madrid 1-2 Ajax

I'm hoping for a good thumping like 5 - 0.

And i don't think Madrid will lose at home,maybe draw.

I want to see Ibra playing the withdrawn forward role. Let Pato play CF. No offence, but that boy doesn't seem to be too much of a wily, crafty, creative genius. He's a direct forward.

Let's not make a drag racer run on the Monaco circuit.

I want to see Ibra playing the withdrawn forward role. Let Pato play CF. No offence, but that boy doesn't seem to be too much of a wily, crafty, creative genius. He's a direct forward.

Madrid 1-2 Ajax

A draw would be perfect for us, but I think they're going to fail.

Suárez and Vertonghen won't play though. Pretty much all attacks have Suárez involved, whenever Suárez cannot play Ajax mostly went from an awesome team to an average team that won't score. Vertonghen out means probably Ooijer and Alderweireld as central defense, I guess Ooijer should be a good cover but I won't be surprised if he disappoints either.

So no Suárez. What now? Well, El Hamdaoui is the striker, he is good in counter attacks. So I guess Ajax should play on the counter. Emanuelson is the left winger and also a midfielder, so he is good for a counter team as well. Eriksen as right winger then? Also partly attacker/midfielder.

El Hamdaoui
Emanuelson, De Jong, Eriksen
Enoh, De Zeeuw
Anita, Ooijer, Alderweireld, Van der Wiel
Stekelenburg

This could be a nice counterteam maybe. I don't see any better options with Suárez suspended. Now I have no idea who are unavailable also besided Suárez and Vertonghen, let alone I know how they will play. This is just something I made up myself.

The entire post ?