we will probably see both merkel and seedorf feature alongside flamini, perhaps we ll also field janku as we dont really have any options left. The more i look at the spurs line up and midfield the more i fear this could get humiliating

Lennon Modric Palacious Bale
VDV
Crouch

god help us

I agree with you there mate, Strasser pwns both Merkel and Seedorf easily. Strasser has been very solid whenever he played. It's just, Seedorf has been THAT bad, so many games in a row now, that also Merkel pwns Seedorf. Merkel, sometimes having a bad game, sure, but he also had better games. Overall, easily better than Seedorf.

And Merkel is growing, Seedorf is declining (he has A LOT this season). Give trust in the youngsters (when the older ones are letting down) (as in: Merkel over Seedorf).

Gee, you'd be a pretty bad advertising agent. With that kinds of slogans Don Draper would have fired you instantly

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is determined to rock Tottenham's Champions League hopes, and is confident they will collapse in Wednesday's last 16, second-leg affair by claiming they are not the strongest team in Europe.

Allegri feels Tottenham, who boast a 1-0 aggregate lead heading into the game at White Hart Lane, don't have the strongest of foundations on the continent.

"We should not have made mistakes against Tottenham at San Siro, but they took advantage of a counter attack to beat us," Allegri told Radio Crc.

"However, despite playing good football, they are not among the strongest teams in Europe."

Allegri sounds confident ahead of the return leg, but the Milan coach has his own problems to deal with as he sifts through the debris of a broken midfield.

"Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini are both injured, and thus for half of our midfield we only have a limited number of players available," he added.

"Plus, the players who arrived in January are cup-tied."

And his message of transferring their Serie A winning form to Europe couldn't be clearer.

"It's not always possible to play 95 minutes of spectacular football, but what counts is winning," he said.

Source - http://www.goal.com/en/news/1716/champions...n-the-champions

I am with CHU here, it's not just about the names, it's about giving any youngster (be it Strasser or Merkel, or anyone else for that matter) an opportunity if the need comes up, such as this. I guess it all comes down to dieing, who are you willing to die with? An old player who we know what he is capable of, or a young blood who just may come out good. Even if he doesn't, I'd much rather be willing to get knocked out because of the mistakes of a younger player than an old veteran - at least the younger player will learn and take something out of the experience.

Once again, it is not about the names. Merkel and Strasser probably should not have been upgraded to the first team just yet, and likewise Seedorf should not have been our number 10 after say 2008-09 season at most. But like I said you can swap the names out and put anyone else in for all that matters.

Merkel owns Seedorf??? Talk about going Over the Top!!!

I said he never really played well when he was in the midfield 3! Big difference. His best performances were when he played behind the 2 strikers, when he plays in midfield he ends up looking like the inexperienced, average player he is. You're making him out to be like some Messi in the making FFS!!! Merkel has had a couple of decent games nothing else, to trust someone like him, in a position that is not his own and that would put him under immense pressure would be a mistake of massive proportions.

Living in the past? Sorry to disappoint you but had we had a better choice in midfield neither Seedorf nor Merkel would get anywhere near the pitch if it were up to me. Netiher one of them is good enough at this point in their career. But looking at the bigger picture, and as the lesser of 2 evils, Seedorf wins hands down over Merkel.

Merkel has found it difficuilt in little away games, how do you think he will fair in an away CL game were we're already starting on the back foot?? Not pretty!!

I'm all for giving kids a chance, but WTF?? I still want us to at least give this thing a shot and not go out ala last season at OT. And Merkel would surely help in that, his indecicive play, his hesitation, trying to dilly dally with the ball near our own box and then ending up getting himself into heaps of trouble, sorry to ruin your paty, but I'm 100% sure Seedorf wouldn't do any of that sh!t.

Also saying Seedorf has declined a LOT this season based on 2 performances is ridiculous! I remember him getting booed constantly in the San Siro n 06/07 because of similar performances, but when the going got tuff especially in the CL, he was the one who delivered


Agreed

I can't agree. It's simply that, other then age, there's no real quality in Merkel (yet). That's why this turned into an age-debate. I've seen Merkel play, none of his matches impressed me, most of the time his defending was poor, so I don't think he can be good against Tottenham in a CL match. That's to much pressure on someone who isn't Messi.

''Merkel has had a couple of decent games nothing else'' - han

And that's enough to do better than Seedorf nowadays.

''Also saying Seedorf has declined a LOT this season based on 2 performances is ridiculous!'' - han

I was talking about a whole lot more games than 2.

The only thing we seem to agree with is that choosing between Merkel and Seedorf is not what we want. We won't agree with who to pick though. For some reason, you have faith in Seedorf, in my opinion too much based on the past, and too little faith in Merkel. In an ideal world we had Pirlo.

'' sorry to ruin your paty, but I'm 100% sure Seedorf wouldn't do any of that sh!t ''

The last many many many games Seedorf has played, he has done very bad things for the team, every game of them, losing possession over and over again, so please don't act like Seedorf is not a liability and Merkel is the only one of the two who is likely to screw up. Like acid said, rather a prospect learning from his mistakes, than Seedorf seeing Seedorf playing almost whole the game awful like he has been doing too many games in a row now.

Milan ace Robinho is convinced that his side can beat Tottenham in the Champions League this week.

The Rossoneri arrive for Wednesday’s White Hart Lane clash a goal down after their 1-0 San Siro reverse.

“I honestly believe we can win in England,” he told UEFA.com. “Our goal is to comeback from England having qualified for the next round of the Champions League.”

Milan were pretty disappointing against Spurs last month and Robinho has called for more focus from his teammates.

“We will have to change our attitude and be even more focused,” he added. “If we concede a goal things will become even more difficult, but anything can happen in football.

"Unfortunately, we lost the home leg in a difficult match. And we conceded a goal when we were playing better. But that does not mean we cannot win there.

"They play in a different way, focusing on physical strength, plenty of crosses into the box. I think they will play exactly the same way again."

Robinho joined Milan late in the summer transfer window and he has eyes on winning the greatest prize in European club football.

"It is a great competition and unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to win it,” he added.

"So I hope to become a European champion here with Milan. It is a competition I love playing in, a difficult one, the toughest in European football. We hope to win it this season.



source - http://www.football-italia.net/mar07s.html



bit of optimism or call it dillusional from robinho

Chu, you're just exaggerating too much. I can't agree that Seedorf has been "that bad" nor can I say that it's Merkel has to play because he had "more good games." It's absurd. For god sake, Merkel played one good game, and it was a Coppa match. Beside that he's a manace to Milan from a defensive standpoint, Seedorf loosing possesion is nothing compared to that! I cannot understand the confidence you have in writing Seedorf totally off; 'many many games' - what does that mean? He was also good a few times, even more then Merkel.

''Beside that he's a manace to Milan from a defensive standpoint'' F. Simone

And Seedorf isn't ?!?!?!?!

''He was also good a few times, even more then Merkel. '' F. Simone

Not in the second half of this season. Even in the games he makes assists, he played awful IMO, same goed for the match he scored - it was the only thing he did well, rest of the match he was AWFUL. Merkel did better IMO.

I don't believe Seedorf is able to play good matches anymore. He can do good things, as in giving a good pass, or score that one time. But for the rest, he will suck, ruining all our attacks, losing possesion all the time. It's ruining us. Merkel is not awesome, but Merkel is not THAT bad. I wish we had a better option than Merkel, but we haven't.

Okay, let's say we just disagree then and let's call it a day.

Finally!

Not before I say my word.

In the long run, (meaning throughout the entirety of a season), I'd pick Merkel over Seedorf any day as starter. Seedorf is a finished player that can't keep up with the pace of any major European football championship anymore. However, when we're talking about games like this against Tottenham, which Italians refer to as partita secca (like finals or derbies), then Seedorf gives me much more confidence. Why? Because Seedorf, despite his precarious conditions, is able to pull out a world class performance for 90 minutes that Merkel could never dream of achieving. His experience is so immense, and his class is so undisputed, that allow him to "bypass" his age, just for one game, and make the difference! And that's why we need him tomorrow night, considering our absences. But like I said, just for one game.

+1 X bro

on another note im secretly praying and hoping that PATO explodes scores one or two and runs riot

Same. I think (and hope) that Pato will be the key to this game.

Oh, he dreams alright. This I can assure you! Most footballers and fans dream about being a hybrid cross between Kaka, Cristiano, Messi and characters like Superman, Batman and Terminator.

How fit is Strasser? I know he's been injured for awhile. If he's fit, he should be starting alongside Flamini and Seedorf.

Bottom line is that neither of Merkel and Seedorf should be playing from the start.
Seedorf is done and dusted and has been for a long time... he is so slow it hurts to watch and all he relies on now when he is on ball is to look for the foul. I am thankful for what he has done for the team but it's time to retire.
Merkel is an investment for the future, he shows some good qualities that need to be developed in time and we shouldn't be looking at him as a finished product yet, nor should he be playing in big games like this.

We should start with a flamini-strasser-janku midfield and if all is going well and we need to protect a lead then Seedorf can come on for the last 20 mins and slow the game down and draw the foul and use his experience in that way... 20 minutes is his maximum these days and he showed that against Juve where he looked like the most tired of the whole team when he was only on for 20 mins.

Flamini-Strasser-Jankulovski... Lots of creativity there.

Tottenham Are Not Among The Strongest Teams In The Champions League - Milan Coach Massimiliano Allegri

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri is determined to rock Tottenham's Champions League hopes, and is confident they will collapse in Wednesday's last 16, second-leg affair by claiming they are not the strongest team in Europe.

Allegri feels Tottenham, who boast a 1-0 aggregate lead heading into the game at White Hart Lane, don't have the strongest of foundations on the continent.

"We should not have made mistakes against Tottenham at San Siro, but they took advantage of a counter attack to beat us," Allegri told Radio Crc.

"However, despite playing good football, they are not among the strongest teams in Europe."

Allegri sounds confident ahead of the return leg, but the Milan coach has his own problems to deal with as he sifts through the debris of a broken midfield.

"Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini are both injured, and thus for half of our midfield we only have a limited number of players available," he added.

"Plus, the players who arrived in January are cup-tied."

And his message of transferring their Serie A winning form to Europe couldn't be clearer.

"It's not always possible to play 95 minutes of spectacular football, but what counts is winning," he said.
goal.crap



Don't look but Allegri just motivated the Spurs to prove that they are a big team. Interview comes with the standard cop outs that his fans have been giving him all year long

What he said is true, but there's still no need to say it.

Yeh coz seedorf provides so much creativity..... For the other team when he loses the ball everytime he gets it?

Janku can push forward and put in some decent crosses and he likes to shoot and anything can happen as long as can get them on target, just like gattuso against juve.

Agreed. We've played with midfields that had less creativity this season, and it went well. Rather than playing Seedorf who is a specialist in ruining our attacks.

Except, I want Jankulovski as left-back... Antonini? Oh, please no..

Normally I'd agree with you, but lately Seedorf has been terrible in big games as well. remember the Madrid game at the Bernabeu? he was unwatchable.

That said, I'd still play him ahead of a rookie like Merkel in this game. Merkel should first be played in regular league games to learn a thing or two before setting foot in such important games.

Boateng could play.

Yes. He trained with everyone today and went with the team to London. Also, Pato is 100% fit.

MILANELLO - Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has called up the following 22 players for his team's upcoming Champions League match against Tottenham:

Abbiati, Amelia, Roma; Abate, Antonini, Bonera, Jankulovski, Legrottaglie, Nesta, Oddo, Papastathopoulos, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Yepes; Boateng, Flamini, Merkel, Seedorf, Strasser; Ibrahimovic, Pato, Robinho.

Unavailable: Ambrosini, Pirlo, Inzaghi.

Suspended: Gattuso.

source: acmilan.com

--------------------------------------

In my opinion we should play like this :

Considering our midfield situation we really should play:

Yeah,we really need Boateng in that midfeild.Robinho can manage playing behind the strikers for this one.

I just got a bit more optimistic knowing the Boat could play!

I have been waiting a while now ... Glade it has arrived. I hope we don't face Barca next

ive been feeling worried,depressed and anxious and filled with negativity today for some bizzare reason and now im wondering why ?

WE ARE MILAN ... were gonnna win this thing

thats the least of our worries right now ... we need to tackle this game from the first second. can't afford for tottenham to get comfortable.

you think we're already through!

I myself believe we'll lose again, anyone else feeling the same way?

That's how I think we'll play. Honestly, if Seedorf will do his own and Jankulovski/Antonini hold on well, that's a quality formation there. IMO we can win this one.

being negative just isnt the way forward as ive learnt, however judging from our camp's recent interviews an statements Milan are ready

Aye. The players seem confident. And honestly, we're facing Tottenham, not Manchester or Barcelona. With the right mentality and spirit of sacrifice, we can do it.

BBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

Funny stadium here , in the middle of the projects and looks like a crappy stadium outside , but inside its actually quite modern and the pitch is in perfect condition .

But a terrible neighbourhood here in north London ... First thing I saw when I arrived at the tv compound was a man and a woman screaming and throwing punches at eachother :-) What a nice welcome

Anywho , Forza Milan !

You went to London to see the game? Or do you live there?

I'm there for work ( rai italia and sky ) , live in Belgium tough .

I was not really looking forward to this game, but if Boateng can play, and play well....who knows what could happen.

What sort of work do u do? What is ur job title?

And what is your mother's maiden name?

11 defenders called up ? lolololol

+1

I'm not sure if he's fit to start....though. He'll probably play with painkillers I imagine.

Yeah, just saw that. Kinda weird, but such is the situation of our team, we lack in the attack department.