No, I'm sorry but that midfield wouldn't do, 3 DMs?? It would make our play in the midfield stagnant, we won't be able to hold possession just like against Bari or control the tempo of the game, and Seedorf will need a lot more help in the attacking department, Boateng can push up better then anyone. 3 DMs is just ridiculous, normal teams play 1 and you want to play 3?

Ambro as the holding mid with Flamini sweeping up and Boateng being that someone that drives the midfield forward and helps Seedorf out. Seedorf won't be able to drop back and try to retrieve the ball because the ones behind him are unable to give it to him.

Flamini, Ambro, Rino is over kill and jst plain unnacessary

Han is exactly right, guys. With Ambro, Rino and Flamini, you have three abile but static DMs. Creativity gets reduced to nothing, and moreover, we'll be constantly seeing Gattuso in Inter's defensive midfield, which is equal to .

And that's where you're wrong Jack. Rino *will* be playing as box-to-box. If you haven't yet noticed, in Allegri's playing style, the two side midfielders attack and defend at the same time. And while Flamini is very capable of playing such a role, Gattuso can't do it for the love of god. If I was ever to play Gattuso, I'd relegate him in front of the defense and leave to Ambro the offensive/defensive duties, because he's much more capable of doing it than Rino.

That said, I'd never play Gattuso, and play the same trio of Palermo against Inter. Like I've already mentioned, Boateng and Flamini complement our midfield perfectly. There is no need to bench any of them, especially not in favor of a half-baked cookie as Gattuso.

Guys, what about Dinho ?? We have to give him a chance.

Well,We'll see what happens.I have a feeling Allegri will give him a chance to start in the derby,and if he doesn't do well then Seedorf can come in and fill his place.I want him to play of course,because without him,the match is just not the same.But,if it hinders the team's balance then ok :S

Who?

Dinho's already prepared his bags for LA.

I don't think Silvio will let him away that easily, do you ?

Oh, he will, you'll see that. After all, I don't think Silvio is willing to pay €8 million every season to someone who warms the bench, do you?

Seedorf deserves his spot, if things aren't going well with him Dinho can always come in. At X-Off, until the summer Dinho and Seedorf are our only options at AM and Seedorf isn't going to play every 3 days, and imo both are at the same level. So let's not start jumping to conclusions

Oh my!!! Is this really han, or did some turtle-esque demon possess his spirit?

Come on! I'm going on what I see, when I defend Dinho it's only because what I see from you strikes me as biased in comparison to his performances and the factors sarrounding it.

Seedorf played a great game against Palermo, I attribute this mostly to the midfield 3 behind him, which always supported him, won the ball quickly and gave it to his feet and he didn't really have to work that much. Imo Dinho given that kind of support would probably play it better then Seedorf since he's a far more creative player. BUT having said that as long as Seedorf keeps playing this way then Dinho has no right to take back the spot. The moment Seedorf starts playing badly the Dinho can step in. The position is there for both of them to fight for, competition for places is great before neither of these players who have a tendency to get lazy and rest on their laurels had to fight for their position, they were automatic picks, which was the problem. Now whoever want to play has to fight for the slot.

Also if it's not working against Inter, Dinho can come in.

But I remember you complaining of how Seedorf disappeared after the 70' mark and we should play Pirlo instead of him etc.

I too think Seedorf has been great in these last two games, and that's probably to the fact that he's been well supported by our strong midfield. Who knows, maybe this will last more than just 2-3 games. Hopefully.

Well he did... I still think Pirlo should start ahead of both him and Dinho in these types of high tempo games, but Pirlo is out so...

Seedorf was trying to walk the game after a certain point, he was dead tired, even after not having to do all that much hard work because of that midfield behind him, but getting tired in the 2nd half does not dether from the contribution.

Like I said, he's not going to be able to play every 3 days, against the smaller teams Pirlo can move into the midfield 3 and Dihno and Seedorf fight for that position (especially since smaller teams like to park the bus so that extra hard man in the midfield won't reallt be necassary). But like I said as long as Seedorf does well he can keep the position, if he's not Dinho can come in and if he also does well he can keep the position until he underperforms. Healthy competition for places is what we need in this team. Players being happy to jog around in one match simply because they are assured of playing the next just cannot continue anymore.

Dinho last season only started to play well after he was benched. Now Seedorf was benched for a few games, he was picked and he's started to play well again. That midfield 3 allows for the slow AM, which is why I think we can go through this season and cover that hole at AM without much difficuilty

Pirlo's not available,we don't have any choice other than Seedorf.Although,Allegri may have been saving Dinho for this match,who knows.

Playing Dinho now wouldn't really be fair to Seedorf. If he's having trouble in the game, then by all means throw Dinho in, but until then Seedorf should and will most likely keep his position

I just wish Allegri would play Boateng instead of Gattuso. KPB gives me a lot of assurance, both from a tactical and technical point of view. I think he should always be a starter along with Flamini. Ambro and Rino are too old to be playing on a constant basis. When will we finally learn to bench old guys?

Updates on Inter's line-up:

4-3-1-2: Julio Cesar; Cordoba, Lucio, Materazzi, Chivu; Stankovic, Zanetti, Obi, Sneijder; Eto'o, Milito.

Link

the menace? that's just great.. provoking will be his mission on the field..

Haha, Matterazzi!! Thought we might miss Pato and Pippo for this match, but its all oke now. Keep it up Benitez!

Even if it's his pet project?

I think our attack should be:

------------------------Ibra-----------------
-----------------Dinho------Binho----------

No. Then you would make the same mistake Milan have been making over and over again against especially Inter. We need to play with four midfielders. Our attack should be Zlatan with Robinho, and Seedorf as AM (Pirlo won't start, right?). FFS I want Milan to be balanced and not getting humilated against Inter for a change.

You want us to be balanced yet you're ok with playing Rino, Flamini, Ambro in the same mid?

Also, coldest's line-up would be a xmas tree formation, thus a 5 man midfield with Zlatan as the single point of focus in attack

For me, as long as we play Flamini, Boateng and Ambo in midfield, we'll be balanced. That's all I'm hoping for

You really think a team existing of Flamini, Boateng, Ambrosini, Ronaldinho, Robinho and Ibrahimovic will be balanced against Inter?

A 5 man midfield? Ronaldinho? Nah...

The midfield 3 is what counts, Seedorf barely moved a muscle when he didn't have the ball against Palermo, he didn't track back, didn't close anyone down etc, yet he looked good, why? The 3 behind him covered him and relieved him of doing that work.

Either way, a 4-3-2-1 wouldn't be a bad idea, But like I said yesterday, the midfield and attack that went out against Palermo (aside from Pato) should get to keep their place, simply because they deserve it, if it's not working Dinho can come off the bench, Seedorf can be moved back, etc, we have options if we're struggling that's the important thing.

But like I said the chosen attacking trio doesn't matter to me as long at the midfield 3 in the one thatplayed against Palermo, because those hold the key to the balance and not who plays at AM or where Robinho plays.

I disagree. The AM counts ALSO, and a lot. And Seedorf does more than Ronaldinho in our midfield. You just don't notice it.

Did you really watch the Palermo game?? I'm not even talking about Dinho, don't bring him into this. I'm talking about the midfield 3, all Seedorf had to do was to stay close to them so that he was always available for the pass. He didn't really defend or close anyone down, and imo he did the right thing, because an AM shouldn't be trying to close anyone down or track back unless absolutely necassary, he shouldn't be wasting away behind the center circle trying to chase down the ball because the players behind him are not doing their jobs!

Did you ever see Rui Costa or Kaka track back or close anyone down under Carlo? No, simply becayse they had a top midfield behind them who did their jobs right. Now we can have the same thing. No matter who the AM is, you're making this into a Dinho thing when it has nothing to do with him. Be happy for once that we have a system in midfield that actually works, yes we play a 4-3-1-2 but for all intents and purposes it's 3 midfielders and 3 attackers, and what's really important is to have a balance in that midfield, if not it could get easily over run

I'm happy with that, yes. And I believe that is made possible by benching Ronaldinho. I disagree about it being 3 mids, and 3 attackers. It would have been w/Dinho, but w/Seedorf it's w/4 midfielders.


Well, that's one thing of the many Seedorf does better than Dinho which is very important (key).

I'm not saying Seedorf does a lot of those other stuff, but more than Dinho. The way Seedorf plays at AM is better for the team than the way Dinho plays at AM. That's for sure, and it affects the whole team.

I disagree !

With whom?

If Dinho or even Robinho are given such instructions then they'll do the same, it has nothing to do with Seedorf. For example, against Real we were playing a clear 4-3-3 at the start, if Allegri gave Dinho those instructions then he'll follow them. If Allegri tells Seedorf to stay close to the other mids so he's available then he'll do just that. It has nothing to do with the player himself, but with the system a coach deploys

Also, name one occasion where Seedorf actually tried to close Palermo down in midfield. There wasn't and imo for an AM there shouldn't be any of these occasions unless we have our backs to the walls. Wanting Seedorf or Dinho to track back, and do grunt work in the midfield just doesn't make any sense, they should do what Seedorf did, which is to make himself available for the midfield when we have the ball

With this match

Again...talking about Milan...ooops, Ronaldinho that is.

http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/show/130696

forgot source

Pirlo available, good but no other strikers called up?!?! Not even one incase of a nightmare scenario? Seems a bit short sighted, but fingers crossed for tomorrow.

(I would have threw in Verdi or Beretta if they are fit and available).

Allegri rather calls up 9 defenders than a 3rd forward.

x2, the greatest player ever !!! He will decide the derby and than everyone will be smart again and find something he didnt do well!

ops, i forgot, he will decide the derby AGAIN!

You really should stop seeing this from a fanboy point of view and realize that playing Ronaldinho right now would do no good to our game.

Han, no matter how you see it, Seedorf is more a midfielder than Ronaldinho will ever be. The team will always be more balanced and compact when he's playing than when Dinho's playing. And I don't agree that he doesn't backtrack at all. He knows how to position himself when we're defending.

And I'm really not trying to make this into another anti-Ronaldinho argument, I'm just saying what I rationally believe.

Anyway, it looks like we'll be playing Gattuso--Pirlo--Ambrosini tomorrow. Not good.

Well I don't want to get into it again so let's all agree to disagree

Gazzetta have put up a xmas tree as the propable line-up, with Dinho and Seedorf behind Ibra, which imo is a big problem, Seedorf OR Dinho would be ok, but please not both at the same time.

And if Allegri has any shread of decency left in him and isn't completely stupid, then he won't drop Flamini in favour of Gattuso

La Gazzetta are never reliable in predicting line-ups. Always use Sportmediaset.

Link

Well that's pretty much the same thing only they have Robinho instead of Dinho. I'm more p!ssed off at the fact that Allegri will most likely bench Flamini for Rino!!

And Zambrotta for Abate.

I agree about Flamini and Gattuso, but it looks like Rino will always be a starter this season, so might as well put our hearts in peace.

That's actually a good thing.

As for Rino, there is no justifiable answer as to why Rino could take Flamini's place in that midfield. I still think that Pirlo should be moved up and Boateng getting the other slot in that midfield. With that formation I can see Pirlo ending up doing the grunt work while Ambro and Rino are running like headless chickens playing as box-to-box. And that would mean no one to support Seedorf as well.

The midfield 3 that played against Palermo was flawless, Allegri changing it up is just ridiculous. If Pirlo is available play him instead of Seedorf and be done with it. No need to fix something that is not broken

Seems like the attack will be formed of Ibra,Ronaldinho as a support striker.Has he ever played in that position?Allegri says he can play as a striker anyway,and Seedorf or Pirlo will be playing in the trequartista postion.I don't know about the midfeild though,and it's pretty obvious what the defense will be formed of.

Source:http://www.football-italia.net/nov13m.html

Abate is only our best preforming full back nowadays, oh well...

Didn't you read what I just wrote? Sportmediaset is the most reliable source for predicting line-ups. The fact you're willing to trust a foreign website more is even worse.

I don't get it, based on what?

Based on this season / the last few matches. He played well vs Real Madrid and Palermo. When Antonini played this season, he didn't play well. Zambrotta and Abate are IMO our best full backs at the moment.

I still prefer Zambro-Antonini. Abate was good against CR, but...I still don't think he defends good.

You're still living in 2009-2010. Comparing last and this season Abate became obvious better and Antonini has been preforming way worse.

No I'm not, I just don't get that easily impressed. Everyone can make a few good matches now and then. And that's what Abate made - a few solid performances, nothing more nothing less.

But the debate on side, Antonini isn't that much better either. I'm in anticipation to see how fast Oddo can recuperate and if Janku is still any good. At least until January.