Can't afford to loose that one. I'd go with Strasser in the starting XI and Ibra benched. Would be a first time.

*lose

Ibra should be benched at all cost. Playing him would be a disgrace. It's plain obvious the guy needs some rest. I'd play Robinho-Cassano-Pato upfront, Van Bommel in midfield along with Gattuso and Boateng (if he's fit, otherwise play Merkel/Flamini).

Oh boy, I hope you are not Jovan himself. A bunch of members here visit both your and The Offside Milan blogs, including me, though were are silent readers there.

I'd play Emmanuelson in midfield,I think he can make it as a good wide midfielder for us.

So,for me It would be Emmanuelson-Van Bommel-Flamini/Gattuso.
And,Boateng behind the strikers or Robinho if Boa's not fit.
Cassano-Pato partnership in front.

Sportmediaset has Ibra starting. Plz Max, don't make this foolish mistake!

What I'd like to see



Rest Nesta and Ibra, that is a must, Flamini as well has been playing a lot lately, so he should sit it out.

Merkel should be able to hadle this one without any problems, and I'd like to see us take a more attacking creative approach through the midfield. Boateng was limping on Wednesday, so he shouldn't play if he's not absolutely 100% fit, we already risked him against Spurs, but we had our backs to the wall with that one, we can afford to leave him out for this one.

Would love to see the dynamics of a Pato, Cassano, Robs strike force. Long balls would have to be abolished though, neither of them are good in the air, so that's not really an option, which is great imo

Why Merkel?Not Emmanuelson?

I mean we bought him for a reason,and he's certainly better than Merkel,from what I've seen of him.They both suck at finishing/shooting though :/

Also,in this match Sokratis definitely has to start,we need to play this prospect.

Did you just wake from a dream?

Both completely different players, I think Urby would do really well on the left side of a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 with real wingers, but most of his assets are wasted when played on the left of our narrow midfield. Still think he'd be ok but I think our midfield lacks creativity more then anything else, not a runner like Urby. I think both should get a half, but I'd start Merkel then bring in Ubry at the 60th to kill them off with pace

It's Bari dude,can't I even mention that he should/might play xD


Han:Ok,Agreed.

Even if we play Crotone, Allegri will never play Sokratis.

I consider myself pro-Allegri but his treatment of Sokratis is really pissing me off.

Inter drop points now, we must take this one really nicely I think. 3-0 I say!!

Merda lost the points against brescia playing 1:1 and carraciolo missed the penalty in the last seconds of the match, if we win we should go on 7 points and it should be done so forza ragazi we need this win and we need this scudetto! I agree we should rest ibra and nesta but we should take this match pritty seriously because they will come and they will make everything to take the point from ss so we should be 100 percent in this match and take the points i don't care how just take it. Forza milan

I believe this will motivate the lads even more. But even if we win, nothing's decided for the scudetto. We should remain focussed and not drop a single point.

Same he should play him and not isolate him we need everyone fresh rotation at this point is key not to much rotation but one or two players here and there.

+1

This would IMO be the smartest formation available (considering Papastathodopoulos is being sold next summer, despite the fact i'd love to see him in this one)

-Rest Ibra & nesta

-Have 2 good 2-way DMs that contribute 1 000 000 000 more then rino+ambro combined

-play pato close to the net

-Place robinho as far away from a shooting position possible

-get a good look at Urby in his natural position

-Rest boateng

-place the fastest of our LBs against Alvarez (lennon-fast)

-With this lineup we have Alot of flexibility for on-field formation switches.

on bench we have. Strasser, Merkel, Boateng, janku, seedorf and Ibra that can switch things around

I think it is a nice formation, but it marks the unlikely that Zlatan would be benched, and if not him then Pato is too good to be benched.

Also, maybe Pato can use his speed more and less marking on himself if he has another player on the side with him.

is seams odd to have our fastest player as a CF but his Skillset as a forward is unmatched on this squad. Ibra decided to become Hemsky, and robinho has prosthetic jello legs when shooting. Cassano rarely shoots, he is learning to prove himself before gaining the audacity to start shooting, sadly Dweebinho doesn't go about it quite the same way.

Ah it may yes, but I think Pato has quick runs always and the ability to go down and come with the ball for long runs or for counters.
However, I fear, that if he is left as the sole edge, that he will be highly attacked by the defenders. Emanuelson I do not know a lot about but I do not think he has proven himself enough to be a clear starting selection.
I wish Inzaghi will come back soon and build attacks with Pato, then we will have Boateng, Cassano, Robinho for use in the Trequartista position!!!

ok so bari has won 1 game away from home and drawn 2... i seriously dont know how this game could go wrong for us.

Our away game against them was full of goals and full of misses lol....aswell as our home game for Coppa italia i just hope players get rested we have beaten them twice this season already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJOIwqd1uLQ...feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWOntCBZqho

It seems that, but let not do it like the first game, miss a lot and then concede goals.

Called-up players: Abbiati, Amelia; Abate, Antonini, Bonera, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Yepes, Papastathopoulos; Emanuelson, Flamini, Gattuso, Van Bommel, Seedorf, Strasser, Merkel; Cassano, Ibrahimovic, Pato, Robinho.

Dear god Robinho is awful in those games i hope we sell him to Blackpool, and buy a Midfielder. Oduamadi is probably a better player at this point. Robinho makes mistakes my Sunday league teammates don't. Everyone bitches about Ibra's & Antonio's attitude but Ibra has been tame outside out yelling at our duckie and Cassano has been celebrating all our goals like the birth of his child. Robinho wastes all chance, precedes to look up and pray, not showing ANY form of accountability and when he does score he acts like he aimed that shot and dances alone away from his teammates. He has been offside Many times, can't finish, can't control & can't create. His best work all year was playing wide away from a shooting position. I have always been a fan of oduamadi is the limited first team lineup and in the primavera season. He is alot further along then Verdi IMO his age + wage +attitude + skillset makes him a better option then Uselessho going forward and deserves alot of attention during the Summer camp + friendlies.

I will probably get scolded by Fillippo, but this is just pathetic. You're making Robinho a Serie B player and prefer Oduamadi over him. Seriously, get a vacation.

You rate him highly, I don't. It's funny because you were the biggest anti-ronaldinho person and i valued his brief sejour at the club. Difference of opinions i guess.

Edit: As long as you understand frustration breeds exaggeration. Odu is obviously not as polished or experienced nor is he ready to start.

I had a good motive. Ronaldinho is a finished player, otherwise he wouldn't be playing for Flamengo right now. You can't compare him to Robinho, who's at the peak of his career. But other than that, you called him lazy and useless. You said we should sell him to Blackpool and you'd prefer Oduamadi over him. If that's not degradation, then I don't know what it is.

I just can't get my head wrapped around a striker with no finishing/control/airial prowess as easily as you.
Btw his peek was at pre-City IMO. I can't understand how overrated a player he is and how much he cost us...

Robinho is still a usefull team player, but he's not what Milan needs. He's a nice bonus to have around, and I think he'd be a great bench player, but he's not first team material.

Sadly, we don't have many options, and Oduamadi isn't one.

Robinho is a good player , but he just isnt one that can make a difference during a game.

I still think we haven't seen the real Robinho yet. Remember Eto'o last season at Inter. He did decent enough, but he wasn't determinant in Inter's success. This season, they can't do without him. Robinho could very well be another player next season. Let's not jump to conclusions yet.

He is a good player indeed, his work rate is admired very much ... But yeah, he is not a good controller of the ball, and hence he is not a player to look to when the going gets tough.

This. A 100 times over. Robinho is, and always will be a dud. A difference maker he is not, and him being a discard is the biggest reason he is playing for us. Same holds true for quite a few new players we signed up recently, players who did not cut or were past it, and Galliani got them in on cheap.

I can potentially name a dozen attackers who we could have gone for instead of this whaler, 18 million would have got us much more exotic choices, from Rossi to Nilmar and friends. Having said that, I am not ungrateful for him being here, I always thought of him as the first choice backup to our attacking combo, something to bring on from the bench with not much noticeable dip in quality. And he has done okay up till now in the league (terrible in the CL, though), but his displays are no way near the hype/cost/hoopla. The two biggest reasons he played so much are:

1) R80 got shown the door,
2) Our savior Ibra is not compatible with Pato, and vice versa.


And who knows, maybe we won't ever. Having followed and observed Robinho for years, I know his limitations, and what he is capable of. For him to bring his A+ game he'll have to play like he did 6-8 years back. A lot of people in Brazil think of him as someone who failed to live up to his full talent/potential. The keyword being full. And besides, Eto still was more than decent enough in his first season. Can't really compare him with Robinho.

But all said and done, you are right, let's not jump to absolute conclusions yet. Still the guy has a lot to do, starting with improving his finishing. Tenfold.


True, that's one way to put it. But still, I fail to see any signs of improvement. Neither to his ball control or finishing. And that's worrisome, IMO.

To me, Eto'o is overall a much better player.

Agreed. Big difference, one is proven, other still has a lot to prove. Weird thing is that both have loads of natural talent, I would be inclined to put both in A+ when it comes to raw talent and skills.

they are the same type player, and long term i feel odu can offer alot, i doubt he will get a chance, but he's got talent, and lots of it.


We haven't seen the real him? So then he *isn't* peeking? Which one is it? BTW i would take 1 eto'o over 3 Robinhos, There's not even the slightest of resemblance in class.

Robinho is a good and useful player to have as long as we don't have to rely on his finishing abilities...

But problem is, there's not much he can offer anyway. Is his passing great? No, Cassano's is far superior. Is his speed in decline? Well, yes. And what about his creativity? Also questionable.

The player with his abilities and skill should be a good finisher, but unfortunately Robinh isn't one.

I disagree with most of you.

Many see Robinho's misses, but his contribution not so much. In my opinion, Robinho is one of the reasons why we are top of the table. I disagree with the one saying Robinho doesn't make the difference in a game. He does, just not as eye catching as a good day from Pato for example. No, Robinho is important for us by linking midfield and attack well and also contributing in defending, by have a great movement, also having pace, and a lot of energy, and a very well work rate. He is the best passer in the final 3rd this season of all Serie A players, so say stats, as in completed passes. Robinho makes Milan better, his importance is not always easy to notice. Whenever we played without Robinho this season, I notice how much Robinho is needed. Though, I think Boateng might be a good alternative. Hopefully always one of them play. Robinho has a great understanding with players/Zlatan also. He is awesome; he has been so important for us this season. Shame his finishing is often disappointed, but that's nothing compared to what he gives us.

Good post.

I await the "he only scores and assists against bad teams.." arguement.

I'll never understand this obsession of yours with Oduamadi. We've only seen him play in the pre-season games, and frankly, he was anonymous in most of them.



Seriously? The Robinho of Real Madrid was a breathtaking player. His speed and finishing were top notch. I kinda lost track of him when he moved to Manchester, but then again, he was Brazil's best player in the World Cup. That's why I say we should give him time before we make a final judgement.



Bravo!

totally agree, great post!

while I agree with most of what you have said, I would say Robinho is not full team material for Milan. He is a great player to inject as a sub. Unless he can improve on his finishing and sometimes the dismal corner kicks he belongs to the bench.

That's been my point all along. Not a bad player, not particularly great either - good at most.

Exactly, Both Boateng and Cassano have shown more to earn the start IMO

Yup, both the players you mentioned are better at what they do. Boateng for his hustle and Cassano for his flow. And nice passes. Robinho is a Jack. Or all trades, at that. I really hoped that since Cassano was not in the CL, it was a good time for Robin boy to step up against Spurs (also because of his EPL experience), and turn in a good performance to at least net us a goal, if not two.

Instead for all it counts, Seedorf outplayed the guy, while Pato was noticeably better than him up front. Oh well, as long as we win the Scudetto. But it seems as long as I think of Robinho as a difference maker, I'm gonna end up disappointed. That's the stone cold truth.

KO in about one hour and a half in case anyone (like myself 5 minutes ago) doesn't know.