Menez is still a big doubt for the game, hopefully Pippo doesn't play him if he's not 100% fit we have other players who can more than fill in that position, no need to create further problems for ourselves.

Bonaventura and DS had minor knocks with the NT but should be ready to play this game

Great threads this year Han, I proudly steal the pics for Twitter.

Yeah, kudos for the threads, Han.

That's an old picture, though. Bentegodi is a bit more modern nowadays:

Seems like Essien is the favorite to replace De Jong in the starting lineup.

So Essien AND Muntari at the same time??


Great double the enjoyment and fun(ny) moments


Thanks for the pic x-off, I'll change it, and thanks guys, just trying to do something different so that it's not always the same old match thread openings

Mediaset probable line-up: Diego Lopez; Abate, Alex, Rami, De Sciglio; Muntari, Essien, Poli; Honda, Torres, El Shaarawy.

Menez out injured.

We're gonna lose this, mark my words. With that midfield and without Menez any half-decent team can take advantage of our mediocrity.

We'll see.

I do feel for Pippo, because we really are without any central midfielders.

He's been playing Bonaventura there. So what's the deal with dropping him and playing the dynamic duo from Ghana FFS?!!

Essien is redundant, just play Muntari in the anchor position and play Jack and Poli on either side of him, plus this way Muntari gets shackled and the amount of damage he does to our general gameplay is lessened as well so this is doubly beneficial for us

Historically, this is an important game. Just like the derby or the Juve game and I think we have what it takes to take the full points.

I don't see it that way. I think you give too much credit to our ballplayers to actually hold on to the ball. This will be a touch match any which way, especially with Honda not having caught a break.

The ballplayers are the ones who do all the work in terms of keeping possession, Essien and Muntari wouldn't help in that, they'd only create further headaches in terms or pressure on our defence and stifling any creativity when it comes to getting in behind the Verona defence, especially since there's no Menez.

I really don't get where some get the ridiculous notion that more defensive/muscle players is equal to a more stable defensive game. It usually works in a completely opposite manner and creates more confusion in midfield and more pressure on the defence because our midfield can't string more than 3 or maybe 4 passes together

How many games do we need to watch where our coaches fill up our midfield with these kinds of players and we're not only impotent in attack but become totally inept defensively to prove this very point?

Yep. And what's worse is that these defensive players are absolute crap. It'd be different if we played with, say, Khedira, Busquetes and De Rossi. But we have Essien, Muntari and Poli instead, and except for Poli, the other two do more harm than good.

And I just feel the ballplayers will do as much harm. Because they're not Pirlo, Kaka and Seedorf. With no defensive cover, once they lose the ball we're screwed.

I'm going to trust the coach who sees the players in training to make the call. Menez being out is bad news. Too much stress on Bonaventura and Honda now, since I'm guessing both Pazzo and Torres will start.

What more can Muntari offer in terms of defensive stability that Bonaventura already doesn't? Just because he's labeled as DM makes him a better player when it comes to defending? You're the one who says we shouldn't confuse reality with FIFA, yet you're doing the exact same thing.

How would someone who can actually see a pass and complete it do more harm than someone who's mostly there to run around aimlessly, maybe win a couple of balls and then loses it all over again

I'm not saying go gung-ho and provide absolutely NO defensive cover. I'm saying put Muntari in the anchor position and play Jack and Poli on either side of him, that way you have a more balanced mix of industry AND creativity. Plus as I said multiple times the anchor position is probably the only position Muntari's negative influence on our gameplay is reduced because he's tactically shackled into that position instead of being given the box-to-box role which he always interprets as a "free - do whatever the f@ck you want" role.


Exactly

Trust the coach to know better

Some great news and certainly no excuses that we have limited choices in midfield.

Monto aside we basically have a fully fit squad no?

Yep, everyone is present. Pippo has all his men at disposal, let's see how he'll utilize them.

Seeing that lineup makes me sad. How we have fallen.

ALMOST everyone

But absolutely delighted to see Van Ginkel back. He looked so special, and I'd love him to start. This international break has been great for us tbh!

--------------Lopez

Abate----Alex----Zapata------Armero

----MvG-------Poli----------Bonaventura

-----Menez------Torres-------Honda

Yes, I would give Armero a start. MDS simply hasn't impressed this season, and he needs to know he has competition for the LB slot.

As for midfield, Essien God know, Muntari...no.

I know that midfield has no chance of starting but I'd like it.

I'd be stunned if both Essien and Muntari start.

Oh, they will.

Jack is going to have a coronary in 3...2...


Sadly I agree

OFFICIAL: Abbiati; Abate, Alex, Rami, De Sciglio; Poli, Essien, Muntari; Honda, Torres, El Shaarawy

Told you so, Danny.

Exactly. We may not be good, but we sure are predictable!

Expect a sterile and mediocre performance.

Shame on Pippo.

1 thing you don't get with Menez that you do with SES is the sheer effort and hard work he puts in when we do not have the ball

We have no one that can swing a pass to open up play in that midfield

What a terrible shot earlier from SES.

Hit it into the ground

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Does that count as an assist for Abate???

Own goal on Hellas! Great assist by Abate haha

That's 5 for the season I think he has as much as Fabregas for the season(?)

Well, we did need some help

Now they need to work hard an get another so there aren't any mishaps.

Essien has been good imo.

I think that anchor position is the only one him or Muntari should be allowed to play, too bad for them De Jong is heads and shoulders above them, but they both could be good cover players, anywhere else they're a burden on the side more than anything else

Abate and Honda are awesome on that right side, they've formed a great understanding with each other

Wide open in midfield to make the shot while we have 3 defensively inclined players in there

Again with the stupid corner kicks.

HONDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


What an assist El Shaarawy!!

HONDA!!! Perfect long pass from El Shaarawy!

HONDA!!!

Luca Toni has still got it in his old age. Nice save Abbiati

Toni almost had that one.

Wow Toni!!

Still awesome!

SES hacked down terribly on the counter

The amount of f@ck ups Muntari manages to make in one game is astonishing

Muntari gives away a corner with his shitty touch.

Abate definitely not offside on the assist

Why do they keep letting them cross??

Great save Abbiati