TriniKing_CE
Jan 27 2011, 10:33 PM
Okay,
So last time around (Spet 18th) we only managed to get 1 point at home after equalizing in 45min to make it 1-1.
This weekend we will be playing in Catania, so as Alegri would say, don't expect an easy game.
QUOTE
CATANIA TOUGH NUT TO CRACK | AC MILAN
From the Italian Cup to Serie A, from Genoa to Catania. Coach Simeone, in only his second game in charge of the southern side, welcomes a rossoneri side to the Massimino stadium fresh from their victory over Sampdoria in the Italian Cup. So far all five of Catania's wins this season have come at home, where last season the Milan giants produced a last gasp winner.
MILANO - Not an easy trip the one to Catania, where Milan will play on Saturday evening at 8.45pm for round 22 of the Serie A season. Past games and very recent encounters suggest that it will not be easy at all to beat Simeone's men, the man who officially took over from Giampoalo on January 18th. the change was made after a run of poor results from the Sicilian side although they still remain formidable at home.
Catania have in fact won all five of their games this season at home, in front of their adoring crowd. At the Massimino stadium they have picked up 19 of their 22 points with victories over Parma, Cesena, Udinese, Bari and Brescia. On top of thjis they have drawn against Bologna, Napoli, Fiorentina and Chievo. They have only lost twice, against Inter and Juventus.
Maxi Lopez is Catania's top scorer so far with 5 goals to his name, followed by the defender Silvestri with three goals. And the new coach will be hoping to have the defender available for the game against Milan as he explained in the press conference. He spoke on tuesday and will not be holding any other press conferences until after the game so that he can concentrate completely on the game in hand and getting his side ready. Simeone, who started his adventure on the catania bench with a defeat against Parma, said he would play with a 4-3-3 formation with Biagianti, Potenza, Izco and Llama all doubtful.
Milan have won their last two games in Catania but the victory of two years ago, on May 3rd 2009, broke a negative streak that had been on-going since 1964 where the rossoneri had picked up six draws in a row. That run, including the 1-1 draw in 2007 with Seedorf and Spinesi the scorers and also the 1-1 draw of 2008 with Pato and once again Spinesi on the scoresheet, came to an end in the 0-2 victory of 2009 with goals from Inzaghi and Kakà. Milan repeated that result a year ago in November when Huntelaar scored a brace in the dying moments after coming on in the 39th minute of the second half.
RECENT MATCHES
SEASON 2009-2010
29 NOVEMBER 2009: CATANIA-MILAN 0-2
SEASON 2008-2009
3 MAY 2009: CATANIA-MILAN 0-2
SEASON 2007-2008
27 FEBRUARY 2008: CATANIA-MILAN 1-1
SEASON 2006-2007
13 MAY 2007: CATANIA-MILAN 1-1
SEASON 1983-1984
2 FEBRUARY 1984: CATANIA-MILAN 1-1
Link: http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/show/131846QUOTE
BETWEEN GENOA & CATANIA | AC MILAN
Lots of work in the gym today with only Pirlo and bonera out on the field. Tomorrow training resumes at 12.00 and at 5pm the squad will leave for Sicily.
MILANELLO - Following the good win over Sampdoria in Genoa that takes Milan through to the semi finals of the Italian Cup, the sqaud were training today at Milanello to prepare for the match against Catania. The session started at 11.30 and it involved the usual in-between game workout.
The training session was a standard affair with no real differences in the work carried out between those players who played at Genoa in the Italian cup game and those who did not. Many of the players did work out in the gym, both those injured and those who played against Sampdoria.
Andrea Pirlo and Daniele Bonera did some running which is part of their specific work-out program. The team leaves Malpensa airport tomorrow at 5pm.
Link: http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/show/131850EDIT: Nearly forgot... See Sig. <Forza Milan!!!> 
X-Offender
Jan 27 2011, 10:47 PM
Sportmediaset's suggested line-up: Abbiati; Abate, Papastathopoulos, Yepes, Antonini; Ambrosini, Thiago Silva, Van Bommel; Robinho; Pato, Ibrahimovic.
I'd play Thiago in defense and Emanuelson in midfield.
acid911
Jan 28 2011, 12:11 AM
Huntelaar.
Not once, but twice in the dying moments!
Darunia
Jan 28 2011, 01:40 AM
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Jan 27 2011, 03:47 PM)
Sportmediaset's suggested line-up: Abbiati; Abate, Papastathopoulos, Yepes, Antonini; Ambrosini, Thiago Silva, Van Bommel; Robinho; Pato, Ibrahimovic.
I'd play Thiago in defense and Emanuelson in midfield.
Agreed, backline should be
Abate Yepes Thiago Silva Antonini
X-Offender
Jan 28 2011, 02:07 AM
I wouldn't mind Sokratis alongside Thiago, though Yepes has been excellent so far.
TriniKing_CE
Jan 28 2011, 04:32 AM
QUOTE (acid911 @ Jan 27 2011, 07:11 PM)
Huntelaar.
Not once, but twice in the dying moments!
+1 That was amazing!
TriniKing_CE
Jan 28 2011, 04:32 AM
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Jan 27 2011, 09:07 PM)
I wouldn't mind Sokratis alongside Thiago, though Yepes has been excellent so far.
+1
I wouldn't mind Thiago in next to either of the two in order for Emanuelson to get the start as well, but both have basically played well in the past few appearances, I'm okay with either option at this point.
Any word on the injury status of Abbiati, Nesta, Zambrotta, Bonera, Gattuso, Flamini, Strasser, Pirlo, Boateng & Pippo?
acid911
Jan 28 2011, 04:48 AM
QUOTE (TriniKing_CE @ Jan 28 2011, 08:32 AM)
+1 That was amazing!
More than amazing, Trini, more than amazing.
It was breathtaking. Snatching victory from the jaws of defeat (in this case, draw). The first goal was epic, the second one a minute later was the work of titans. For me only his last goal in the Milan shirt topped these two (the left foot volley from 40-yards out).
The most clinical finished in world football, only Ibra, Pato, Dzeko, and Torres, follow him in the list below, IMO.
il_diavolo_mtl
Jan 28 2011, 07:22 AM
why the **** is ambro playing over Urby...
il_diavolo_mtl
Jan 28 2011, 07:24 AM
abate's riding a hot streak so we don't need to cover him with a useless ambro. Mark my words this will be the game Van Bommel out classes ambro
dst
Jan 28 2011, 08:27 AM
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Jan 28 2011, 03:07 AM)
I wouldn't mind Sokratis alongside Thiago, though Yepes has been excellent so far.
Sokratis can also play on the right. That's where he was playing in Genoa's 3-man defense actually. He's solid going forward and better than Abate and of course he's better than Abate in defense. But I think Silva is needed in this midfield role, he's excellent there.
Urby is not playing because he's tactically not very aware I think and Catania are going to play a much more conservative game than Sampdoria did.
han2503
Jan 28 2011, 08:37 AM
Personally I'm not happy that we're risking Thiago in the midfield, and even though Sokratis and Yepes have been solid most of the time, there are still moments were they run into each other instead of cover each other. Thiago should be in defense imo, no question about it, he's more likely to get injured in that midfield which is another issue, we have huge games coming up, we can't afford him getting injured when Nesta is out too.
Urby, Van Bommel and Ambro in the mid is more then enough imo
X-Offender
Jan 28 2011, 01:31 PM
QUOTE (TriniKing_CE @ Jan 28 2011, 05:32 AM)
Any word on the injury status of Abbiati, Nesta, Zambrotta, Bonera, Gattuso, Flamini, Strasser, Pirlo, Boateng & Pippo?
Abbiati is not injured. We know Nesta, Gattuso and Seeodrf will be back in 2-3 weeks. No idea about the rest.
QUOTE (il_diavolo_mtl @ Jan 28 2011, 08:22 AM)
why the **** is ambro playing over Urby...
The new arrival takes the place of the squad captain? That's unheard of. Emanuelson should earn his spot.
X-Offender
Jan 28 2011, 02:18 PM
Called-up players: Abbiati, Roma, Paleari(61); Antonini, Bonera, Ely(53), Jankulovski, Oddo, Papastathopulos, Thiago Silva, Yepes; Ambrosini, Calvano(54), Emanuelson, Merkel(52), Van Bommel; Cassano, Ibrahimovic, Oduamadi, Pato, Robinho.
Abate out as well. WTF is going on with all these injuries???
acid911
Jan 28 2011, 02:42 PM
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Jan 28 2011, 06:18 PM)
Abate out as well. WTF is going on with all these injuries???
I say it's about time B&G did the world a favor and burn the Milan lab (including the clown-faced doctors inside), put the ashes in a titanium safe, kill whoever knows the combination and launch them into the center of the Sun.
For all intents and purposes, this is the 13th addition to our already large injury-list.
I don't know what kind of a job are these guys doing. Losing both Flamini and KPB at the same time was bad enough, then a host of other long-term guys in Zambrotta and Pirlo, and now then Nesta and Abate.
Get serious!
Jack Sparrow
Jan 28 2011, 02:53 PM
Mmmm....maybe it's just that football's changed.
Though I think a lot of our players are playing with injuries. And I also heard that Milan lab has been shut down for sometime now. We have a different medical setup now.
acid911
Jan 28 2011, 03:23 PM
Could be, but at least we have a medical facility in Milano.
And seriously, I am not impressed at all by the job they are doing. May be the doctors are not diagnosing correctly, or maybe the players return earlier than they should. Part of the reason could be the players themselves. At the end of the day it's the club's loss.
We practically drew the last couple of games because of missing key players. Had everyone been available ...
X-Offender
Jan 28 2011, 03:52 PM
Allegri said in today's press conference that Flamini should return next week against Lazio.
Jack Bauer
Jan 28 2011, 06:25 PM
We have 11 injured plaers. Just from them you can make a good starting 11 for a top Serie A side.
X-Offender
Jan 28 2011, 06:29 PM
Considering Abate is injured and we don't have neither Zambrotta nor Bonera available, I wonder who will Allegri play on the right. Oddo, or Sokratis? My money's on Oddo.
Jack Bauer
Jan 28 2011, 06:43 PM
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Jan 28 2011, 08:29 PM)
Considering Abate is injured and we don't have neither Zambrotta nor Bonera available, I wonder who will Allegri play on the right. Oddo, or Sokratis? My money's on Oddo.
Don't count Bonera out, though I also think Oddo will start.
X-Offender
Jan 28 2011, 07:14 PM
Oops, didn't notice Bonera was called-up.
arivanjj
Jan 29 2011, 10:07 AM
Gazzetta:
Abbiati
Oddo, Thiago Silva, Yepes, Antonini
van Bommel, Ambrosini,Emanuelson
Robinho, Pato
Ibrahimovic
William405
Jan 29 2011, 10:22 AM
Possibly the best formation that we can be put.I hoped Cassano would start ahead of Robinho though,also I don't know if Merkel should have played instead of Ambrosini or Van Bommel...Two holding midfielders is too much,I'd put Merkel instead of Ambrosini.
han2503
Jan 29 2011, 11:00 AM
QUOTE (arivanjj @ Jan 29 2011, 10:07 AM)
Gazzetta:
Abbiati
Oddo, Thiago Silva, Yepes, Antonini
van Bommel, Ambrosini,Emanuelson
Robinho, Pato
Ibrahimovic
I like that, however I agree with William that Cassano ahead of Robinho would be better. He's the one that can really provide that final pass to Pato and Ibra.
Robinho there will just push Pato out wide
Ry4n
Jan 29 2011, 12:16 PM
i like the lineup it gives us stability the last two times we played here we've drawn i want a win and no more conceding stupid goals
kurtsimonw
Jan 29 2011, 12:31 PM
A draw wouldn't surprise me, only Inter and Juve have won there so far this season.
Ry4n
Jan 29 2011, 01:11 PM
QUOTE (kurtsimonw @ Jan 29 2011, 03:31 PM)
A draw wouldn't surprise me, only Inter and Juve have won there so far this season.
if Juve can win there considering there season just saying that gives us even more reason why we should win
X-Offender
Jan 29 2011, 02:27 PM
When will you people realize that Cassano can't play behind the strikers? Just because he has good feet doesn't mean he can play out of role.
Anyway, it will looks like Pato will be benched tonight, according to Mediaset.
William405
Jan 29 2011, 03:35 PM
Imo,benching Pato after his good performance,at least in the first half,would be a big mistake.
If it we're up to me,I'd use this formation:
Abbiati
Oddo, Thiago Silva, Yepes, Antonini
Merkel,Van Bommel,Emanuelson
Cassano
Ibrahimovic, Pato
X-off:Why can't Cassano play behind the two strikers?
han2503
Jan 29 2011, 04:28 PM
QUOTE (X-Offender @ Jan 29 2011, 02:27 PM)
When will you people realize that Cassano can't play behind the strikers? Just because he has good feet doesn't mean he can play out of role.
Anyway, it will looks like Pato will be benched tonight, according to Mediaset.
He can play it better then Robinho that's for sure....
X-Offender
Jan 29 2011, 04:29 PM
QUOTE (William405 @ Jan 29 2011, 04:35 PM)
X-off:Why can't Cassano play behind the two strikers?
Because he's not mobile. A trequartista needs to play at two fronts, midfield + attack. Cassano doesn't have it in him to do all that running, just like Dinho didn't have it.
X-Offender
Jan 29 2011, 04:30 PM
QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 29 2011, 05:28 PM)
He can play it better then Robinho that's for sure....
Well, Robinho is the opposite of Cassano. He's fit to play in that position, but he doesn't have the necessary qualities. But I think, at this moment, he's a better choice than Cassano.
William405
Jan 29 2011, 05:14 PM
Ok,I may agree,although I think he's better than Robinho there,here's an updated version of my formation:
Abbiati
Oddo, Thiago Silva, Yepes, Antonini
Van Bommel,Ambrosini,Emanuelson
Merkel
Ibrahimovic,Cassano/Pato
Oh,I wished if we bough Lucas instead of Emanuelson or Van Bommel.
RinoIlCapitano
Jan 29 2011, 06:04 PM
QUOTE (han2503 @ Jan 29 2011, 03:28 PM)
He can play it better then Robinho that's for sure....
you guys didnt watch robinhos last performances??? I really think you didnt, except 4 the finishing part he was the absolute best player on the pitch delivering a lot of very good balls to Thiago, Ibra.... magic balls, so please dont wright this kind of stuff just because you dont like him 4 some of your crazy reasons , you really look silly with this comment or you simply didnt watch any match from NY (which i really doubt). And dont now come out with the f...ing finishing part, we all heard that! Robinho is awesome in 2011!
William405
Jan 29 2011, 06:56 PM
He's useful in build up play,but when it comes to the final touch,he's useless.He shoots,when he can pass and vice versa.
Don't be too fast judging our opinions,we're just saying Cassano can play better behind the strikers.Just because we're saying Cassano is better in that position than Robinho,doesn't mean we disrespect what he has offered us till now.He's been good,really good but he's not as efficient as Cassano is.With Cassano,one magic touch and you have Ibra all alone,if Cassano is given the space he needs.Although for now,Robinho-Ibra-Cassano is our best attacking combination.That doesn't mean Pato is inferior to Robinho but Allegri has to found a way to put Pato in good use.
For me,If Pato has to play then I think we should have a 2 strikers,and 4 midfielders.Either Cassano or Robinho supporting Pato because I don't know if Ibra-Pato will ever work,not at the current situation to say the least though.
KillerMax
Jan 29 2011, 06:57 PM
I think what Robinho should do, or in fact what Allegri should instill in him is that he should take less shots and pass the ball more often. Otherwise, I agree with the person before me that he has been on fire this guy!
X-Offender
Jan 29 2011, 07:32 PM
QUOTE (William405 @ Jan 29 2011, 06:14 PM)
Abbiati
Oddo, Thiago Silva, Yepes, Antonini
Van Bommel,Ambrosini,Emanuelson
Merkel
Ibrahimovic,Cassano/Pato
That's exactly how I'd play today (except Bonera instead of Oddo). But TMW reports that Merkel should play instead of Emanuelson, with Robinho behind Cassano and Ibra. IMO that would be a huge mistake. Merkel is an attacking midfielder, he's not capable of defending like Emanuelson is. We'd be way too unbalanced. Don't f@ck this up Allegri!!!
samira
Jan 29 2011, 07:58 PM
QUOTE
Catania-Milan, Formazioni Ufficiali/Official Line-up
CATANIA: Andujar; Augustyn, Silvestre, Spolli, Capuano; Carboni; Ledesma, Sciacca, Gomez, Mascara; Maxi Lopez.
MILAN: Abbiati; Bonera, Yepes, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Ambrosini, Van Bommel, Merkel; Robinho; Ibrahimovic, Cassano
U guys got it almost your way
William405
Jan 29 2011, 08:00 PM
Not the formation I wanted to see really.
kurtsimonw
Jan 29 2011, 08:02 PM
Depends how it's set out. I don't mind the lineup, it'll do the job. 3-1 Milan.
Milan Are Brilliant
Jan 29 2011, 08:04 PM
Why do I get the feeling this is going to be one of those games that we just don't turn up in.
Darunia
Jan 29 2011, 08:30 PM
Don't like Bonera at RB, but to be honest he's better there than CB. Forza Milan!
samira
Jan 29 2011, 08:30 PM
AC Milan are unbeaten against Catania since 1963 (1-0). Since then, the Rossoneri have notched-up 9 wins and 10 draws against Catania.
Tagliavento refereed 10 Milan games, including the last derby in which Milan won. Milan won 6 games and drew 4 times with him.
But that's just stats and I hope Cassano does not act selfish agian.. Or is it just me that notcied it?
Darunia
Jan 29 2011, 08:33 PM
I want to see a good performance.. we've been grinding out wins by playing ugly football, it would be nice to play well for once. Of course 3 points in the most important thing
Fillipo Simone
Jan 29 2011, 08:45 PM
Bonera again. Why?
han2503
Jan 29 2011, 08:51 PM
Still don't understand why he sat Pato on the bench after his performance in the Coppa
han2503
Jan 29 2011, 08:52 PM
Merkel is worrying me
CrazyMilanFan
Jan 29 2011, 09:13 PM
merkel needs to keep his cool
servbot
Jan 29 2011, 09:18 PM
Man I haven't been able to see matches lately, between the new signings and the injuries it's like we have an entirely new team!
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