This will be a good way to see how we'll do against them in the Serie A match, still we must try to win this so we can go further in the competition.

Watching them against Inter last Sunday, they're a very strong team and play an agressive game. Don't think we'll have anyone back fit for this one though

If Milan qualifies, they'll meet Juventus.

Gazzetta's line up for Cagliari game is:



Will be great to see that.

I love everything about this line up.

My only issue is Merkel in that position. I think he's the weakest link there, as he'll leave the defence wide open, plus I don't think he's the right type of player for that position, which requires more of a pace setter for the game, someone who can dictate tempo, always keep the ball moving, etc.

He's mostly an AM. Hopefully playing him in this position won't cost the team, which in turn could hold him back from making progress

Cagliari or Lazio ? 'cos if you mean Lazio, Allegri just said that Seedorf and Bonera will start against Lazio in Coppa.

I meant Cagliari. He's obviously not gonna put our strongest lineup in Coppa game.

Why Bonera? Does he want to get knocked out?

Imo, Seedorf should start the Serie A matches. We need his creativity in that midfield

I'm sorry then. It's just 'cos this is the topic for the game against Lazio, and I thought you made a mistake.



Idk, that's what he said in his press conferece. He also said that Silva and Ibrahimovic wont start.

Expected line-up vs. Lazio (4-3-1-2): Amelia; Abate-Bonera-Mexes-Mesbah; Merkel-Van Bommel-Nocerino; Seedorf; Robinho-El Shaarawy.

Allegri: "Seedorf, Merkel or Robinho will be the trequartista tomorrow."

Solid formation except for Bonera.

Bonera has been performing quite good as a CB, I think he'll do just as good as the previous times.

Allegri Pre-Match press conference (VIDEO) [ENGLISH]: http://youtu.be/p1ZWcR0_RB0

i've just read that seedorf, bonnera will start from FI

Yeah, I know. This is the lineup (according to gazzetta) for our next league game vs Cagliari and I just wanted to share (even if ahead of time) cuz I liked what I saw.

No ones gives a damn about Coppa


Official lineups:

Milan: Amelia; Abate, Mexes, Bonera, Mesbah; Merkel, Van Bommel, Nocerino; Seedorf;Robinho, El Shaarawy
Lazio: Marchetti; Diakitè, Stankevicius, Dias; Konko, Gonzalez, Matuzalem, Lulic; Hernanes; Cissè, Rocchi




Looks like a good attacking lineup!Why doesn't allegri feild such formations everytime?

what is going on with abate...

EDIT: im actually putting that one on mexes. mexes is in no man's land. bonera is forced to track the front post run, and abate had two runners at the back post. i guess that highlights the organization skills that thiago and nesta have..

Don't understand why he started Bonera. Nesta didn't play on the weekend so he should have been ok to start

Robinho!!!!! Goal! Good goal!

OLE JOGA DO ROBINHO. he needed that.

well taken by robinho, but el sha's touches are just superb! the way he took a difficult ball down, switched play to abate...i hate dropping that 4 letter word that starts with 'K' and ends with 'aka', but we havent seen that attacking midfield play in a while! EL SHA!

Agreed, he's a very intelligent player

SEEDORF!!

holy sh*t WELCOME BACK TO THE LINEUP SEEDORF.

EL SHA..are you serious with these touches!?!? fantastic.

What a ball from El Shaa!

Because both Nesta and Silva are not 100% fit so there is no need to risk them in a coppa game.

Since when have they been not fully fit though? Nesta was suspended on the weekend not injured...

Since this week. It was reported in gazzetta. Nothing serious but we have tough games coming so it makes sense to rotate in coppa game.

Amelia is a god!

This was the best half i've seen this season,and it was cause of the attacking lineup,maybe we bit more defensive coverage,but we were great!Mesbah was awesome,very good signing.

Diaz punched VB in the face in the box. Totally deliberate in front of the ref. Should have been a red and a penalty

Don't think it was that great...

We were decent, but we barely walked through this game so far

Disgusting player.

I was talking about the half in terms of beauty,very enjoyable.

ZLATAN!

Great move from Emmanuelson!


That's the team that destroyed Inter?

Ibra!! Goal!

3-1, into the semis

Nice move from Urby there.

I think Allegri is right, he can play any position, aside from attacking mid that is...

Mesbah is an awesome signing don't you think?

Yeah, this is what I've been saying for a while now, he might not be spactacular or world class, but he gets the job done, no fuss, no mistakes. Simple movements and attacks when he sees an opening. Typical Serie A defender

Oh and he has a decent cross on him as well

Not seen the game, but the above pretty much described Janku when he was with us. If he's anything like Janku, he'e welcome here.

mesbah was quite good better than our current lb.. el sharraway again proves a point altouhg he found it little difficult in 2nd half... finally mexes was cmmanding the defence

Yeah. I can't begin to express how nice it is to have a left footed left back, it truly makes a huge difference! Enough with square pegs in round holes! Seems like he'll be perfectly serviceable in Serie A. To be fair, Lazio did not play with wingers, so it could be a different thing all together when he goes up against someone like lavezzi, or say walcott in a few weeks. But regardless, he's an immediate improvement on anyone who has played the position this year.

Kurt: for a couple seasons there, i thought Janku was one of the best left backs on the continent. Im pretty sure he even notched best left back of Euro 2004 award. Mesbah is more conservative than Janku, and dont really see the swashbuckling runs and left foot cannon that Janku had. But his game is tidy, uncomplicated, and frankly completely refreshing to see after watching the guys we've had there for a recent while.

Also, while he's not as good a shot stopper as Abiatti, Amelia was SUPERB when playing the ball at his feet. Abiatti usually just kicks the ball haphazardly into the field of play, and at least once a match is good for a good old fashioned shank out of bounds. The number of times Amelia collected the ball at his feet today, and played a neat, tidy ball across the field to one of our full backs was nice. The sort of ability to play the ball out of defense (including the keeper) does SO MUCH for the fluidity of the team's build up play.

Also, Merkel definitely has a future at this club. He may not have developed a fluid understanding with Abate yet, and you cant blame him for it having arrived just last week, but I feel from watching him, the guy has a good feel for time and place on the pitch - I like his positioning for make himself available to teammates, and his willingness to step on the ball and maintain possession. That understanding of the flow of the game is something that can't be taught. I dont think his future is at the right midfield position where he's being played currently, but hes only 19. When he develops his man strength, maybe hell turn out to be a midfielder in the mold of Lampard? Toni Kroos? a kind of guy who keeps things moving in midfield, with the occasion eye to come forward.

El Shaa, Robinho, and Ibra together are a handful. Dont want to make too much of it, but very satisfying performance to watch from everyone who took the pitch today with the exception of Merkel's injury. Lazio can't make any excuses like they fielded a weak team..and aside from the early lack of communication in the back line, we whipped them.

Ah, always nice to read detailed insight from vnata001. I, sir, am your biggest fan, here in these parts of the wood, at least. Hehe. As for Mesbah, I bet no one was happier than me when we snapped him. Seeing him play with his NT, as well as occasionally in Serie A, I can safely say he's a good buy. Let's hope he grows from here on!

It's these smart purchases that I think will finally allow us to match the biggest clubs, blow by blow. Good job.

This is the second time Milan have returned from a goal down to win and I think we did superbly well yesterday. I'm pleased with EVERYONE.....even Allegri who made the kind of substitutions every fan wants to see. Congrats all and Forza Milan!

GOALS:

[Milan 0 - 1 Lazio] D. Cisse (5min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMhEdpTRPQY...mp;feature=plcp
[Milan 1 - 1 Lazio] Robinho (15 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PJmNbM2Fh4...mp;feature=plcp
[Milan 2 - 1 Lazio] C. Seedorf (18 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LzvqhomoyQ...mp;feature=plcp
[Milan 3 - 1 Lazio] Z. Ibrahimovic (84 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtQuemAd3ZY...mp;feature=plcp

Third time this season.

El-Sha won me over - some lovely touches and if we can harness his talent and nurture him properly, we could have a world class player in the future.

I'm a fanboy already

I think he could be great in the old Kaka position, he's got the pace, movements, plus a great touch. Can't wait to see what he'll offer to the team in the future

banned for 3 games.

Still cannot believe that the ref did not see that.

Is the ban only in the Coppa or in the league as well?

Unfortunately, only in the coppa.

Completely agree, he has surpassed everyone else as our top prospect and holds the biggest chance at being a WC player