Back to business, first league game of 2012. Hopefully we start the year on a high.

Juve will be away to Lecce, so I can't really see the opportunity to gain ground here, but you never know...

Anyone have any idea on who is still injured?

This is the mediaset lineup. Gazzetta have Robs starting ahead of Pato, I personally think Pato is the better choice as he needs to start playing if we want to get him scoring as much as possible.

I'd personally sit Aqui down in this one and start Urby, or push Boateng back and bring in Robinho. Aqui is a yellow away from being suspended. That would mean losing him for the Inter game

That would weaken us, and Atalanta is undefeated at home, and last season in Serie B only beaten twice at home. So I wouldn't do that, too riskful, and that only in case he gets yellow...

He tends to get a lot of yellows... Very clumsy challenges in every game, it would weaken us very slightly imo, but I prefer that weakness to be against Atalanta than Inter...

Hopefully Abate is fit for this.

If we have Inter next,we surely woudn't want to risk him,no?

I don't think he is. Gazetta have him returning for the Inter match

i think KPB had some slight injury and mite miss this to be fully fit for Derby game (milannews)

Abbiati; Zambrotta, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Antonini; Aquilani, Van Bommel, Nocerino; Boateng; Pato, Ibrahimovic.

We have the worst fullbacks in the league.

Taiwo should be given the chane in this one, while playing Zambro is much better than playing Bonera.

Hopefully Abate gets back for the derby so we can play him on the right and Zambro on the left

Agreed, Zamb should be RB over bonnera in this one

Sucks that we couldn't get Balzaretti!

Naah, it isn't that bad. However, against Inter we should pray seeing Abate back as RB.

Yep, because that would either mean Antonini on the left or Bonera on the right. Or even worse, the both of them if something happens to Zambro

This is mediaset's lineup.

Apparently Aquilani is injured, Seedorf as well, so we're very short in medfield.

Glad to see Boateng being pushed back, what I don't like seeing is Urby once again behind the strikers. Play Robinho there FFS, it would save a lot of hassle!

If Allegri plays Emanuelson over Robinho, consider me speechless.

Inzaghi injured/not ready or Allegri treatment?

Does it really matter at this point?

Be prepared

Can't wait to see this happen!!


Who knows at this point, he seemed more than ok on Wed.

This is what Max said


I find it ridiculous that he only considers Urby as an AM, when he's so far from being that it's not even funny

Now I wish we had Montolivo...



And we need to play a mid over Robinho at least at AM, cuz we can't allow only 3 mids with that weak midfield. Urby, Carmona, Valoti, Idunno..

I wish we had Merkel even more

And Taiwo? Of course, Antonini and Bonera are far more reliable. FFS's Max, when will you ever learn?

I hope El Sharaawy gets some minutes in here

IMO,that's not a weak midfield...Boateng and Nocerino are machines,and Van Bommel is a defensive midfielder who covers the defence.Robinho working his a** behind the strikers should be more than fine.


And,about the fullbacks,maybe there was a mistake in translation.Maybe,he's talking about only one side :/

I don't think we'll live to that day..

Why??

It's not a weak midfield, on the contrary, it's a very powerful midfield with 2 great runners and VB covering the defence. Robinho would help link it all up, far better than Urby

Agreed,don't see the reasoning behind CHU's thoughts there.

CHU considers Boateng an offensive player, remember? To him, with Robinho, we'd be playing with four attackers and only two midfielders.

Who are the creative ball playing midfielders? Van Bommel is the only one. VAN BOMMEL

Can't you see how much either Montolivo or Merkel would add to that midfield?

And that's why I see it as a weak midfield, so I would play it safe and start with both Furby (AM) and Robinho (SS).

I don't see how Emanuelson can make the difference. I my opinion it's better to play a midfield of classy workers and fighters without a true AM (which we're playing anyway all season long) then add in one half-decent and newly pronounced AM like Emanuelson.

I see Carmona is called up. Let's start him at AM, and bench Emanuelson. I also don't see much in Emanuelson. Carmona seems the closest thing to what we miss in midfield. So:

Because if we going to play Robinho as AM, it will be runners, runners, and runners, oh, and Van Bommel...

as interesting as that would be, i promise you Carmona won't start. If anything Il Faraone would get the nod over Carmona...

as interesting as that would be, i promise you Carmona won't start. If anything Il Faraone would get the nod over Carmona...

El Shaarawy has played for Milan only as forward/ss. And looking at how he plays, I think it's for the best to keep it that way, at least for now. AM gives more responsibility, responsibility you better can give to Robinho, or an actual midfielder like Carmona, Emanuelson and Boateng.

And of course Carmona won't start, just posting what I would. Emanuelson is going to start at AM, or Robinho.

How many times did you see him play again?

Who??? For Pete's sake, CHU.

This is a must win. Derby coming up and we must secure all 3 points. That said, I have some bad memories regarding our past clashes with Atalanta.

Are you freakin kidding me with this chu??

We need players who will make a difference, playing a youth player really won't make any sense as he would be easily bowled over by an Atalanta side who will play a very physical game.

So what if we don't have a typically creative player in the midfield?? We still mostly rely on Ibra to create the goal opportunities, Aqui just keeps the ball moving, something Boateng will still manage to do without much trouble.

And who's talking about Monto or Merkel?? They're not even part of the team! Our options are Urby or Robs, which is why EVERYONE here wants Robinho to start behind the strikers which would be the logical thing to do

Agreed

Atalanta-Milan: le formazioni ufficiali

ATALANTA: Consigli, Masiello, Ferri, Manfredini, Peluso, Schelotto, Cigarini, Carmona, Padoin, Marilungo, Denis.
MILAN: Abbiati, Bonera, Mexes, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Boateng, Van Bommel, Nocerino, Emanuelson, Pato, Ibrahimovic.


Haha,X-off

+ :headslap:

We'll see how long it takes for Allegri to realise his mistake and make the change. Like usual, typical Allegri

Liking Boateng's position though

i'm really looking forward to that midfield

The midfield 3 would be a real test for the possibility of a Tevez, Ibra, Pato attack.

But it's ruined with Urby there who won't be able to accomplish anything, Robinho should have started

They're really bullying our players...

Yes and someone want Valoti and Carmona to start, that would have gone over very well

Clueless foul by Boateng.

Penalty!!!

Pato hacked down. Hope he isn't injured. Looks in pain there

justified pen IMO

IBRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

i had an odd feeling he might be a little upset with his demotion from the AM spot...