Olympique de Marseille vs AC Milan: UEFA Champions League 15/09/09

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

Not sure I will b able to watch the game, as I have surgery @ 11am, and the game is on @ 130pm here.

This may be a good thing, as I feel we are in for a sound thrashing....whether or not we score....if Livorno can hit so many shots against us in the first half, most of which forced saves from Storari, then what will Marseille do?

I shudder to think.

Maybe we will only lose by a couple of goals, and still be outplayed to the point where its obvious, even to Berlu....that we need reinforcements in Jan.....mayb he won't watch the entire match, but I'm sure the highlights will convey the message (ie shot after shot, and hopefully, save after save by Storari) till we concede a couple, inevitably from a set-piece.

To play, or not play Dinho?
At this point, I ....I agree with Dev that "tactically" its an excellent game for him to start, but I don't see with all of Marseille's pace and running, how we can manage to play R80, Pato, Pirlo, and Hunter/Pippo together....

As a result, I am sure we will see the X-mas tree today, as we look to hit on the counter.

Prediction: Marseille 3, Milan 0.

Hope I'm wrong!!

I think you're referring to nefremo's post Warro, as I'm vehemently against Dinho playing tonight lol.

Anyway, good luck with the surgery and hope it goes well

I think tonight will be our turning point. We lack confidence on the ball, and having Seedorf start is our best way of ensuring that we regain it.

--------Nesta----Thiago
Abate--------------------Zambro
-------------Pirlo
-------Flamini------Ambro
-------------Seedorf
--------Pato-----Inzaghi/Klaas

I think this is a solid team, and the players are on good form (maybe not ambro and zambro, but whatever).

We will do well, if not a win, then an away draw. I hope Abate starts at right back ahead of Oddo, OM's pace will tear him to pieces.

It is hard to feel positive at the moment. Ronnie shouldn't be near the pitch and for Gods sake it is time Abate gets to play. Nesta+Silva to be the saving grace? Pato to do some magic? One can hope. But I feel I should put money on Marseille, that way I can't be disappointed.

Actually, no matter the way we play, we just have to ... win. It could only be a step up regarding confidence in our team as a lot of people and medias bet that we won't pass the group stage ...

We should win this no matter what,i dont care if we get just one chance in the game,as long as we finish it and win,thats how you play in CL.

Oddo has to get out of the starting XI ASAP for this game,he cant handle the young and energetic players of Marseille,Taiwo moving forward down that left flank will tore Oddo to shreads.We have to get Abate or Antonini there(i prefer Abate).Those players have the lungs and willingness to run up and down the flank and they are more energetic,also Abate has a great cross,he and Pato are clicking well together i have noticed.Zambro should start at the left flank,Janku is better moving forward,but i prefer somebody who can defend better.

In midfield,Flamini and Ambro should do it,we have no other options,Seedorf in the middle of the park doesnt scare me,it seems that he only can perform great in that position,he doesnt have to run that much and has great vision and pass.Pirlo behind Pippo and Pato should cause damage,the defence of Marseille is good but not world class.

Dont give Hunter the fault for the 0-0 draw to Livorno please......i watched the game and he didnt got one good split pass or chance,he got nothing,you have to feed him the ball he is not a player like Pato.If Leo didnt sub him and Pirlo played behind he would have finished those chances off that Pippo missed.

Oh and one more thing,if Dinho is benched,who will play as AM,Pirlo or Seedorf????

Its absolutely necessary that Dinho is benched. Velodrome is a large pitch and the game willbe wide and fast, we'll play with 10 man if Dinho goes walking around as usual.

Since its a classic CL away game I expect Flamini, Ambro, Pirlo and Seedorf in the middle, with Pato-Pippo up front. Aldough I am not dissapointed with Huntelaae who has played well and had some smart and nice moves. Once Milan started to play, he was off the pitch...

Hopefully Leo will fix the FB situations somehow. Im still waiting for Abate to be tried out as a RB, it seems to me he can do it well. Of course I still claim that Silva would be a world class right back that would be absolutely impassable at the back, but we lack one very good CB to pair up with Nesta.

Dutchie-maybe we'll see Oddo as a RB coz he actually plays well in defensive phases of some CL games. We'll not talk about his passing and crossing of course On that right side we'll see Flamini, so most likel he'll double the wide lines with the RB. Same on the left with Ambro and the Fb.

Good luck with the surgery Warro.
Wish I had anything to add about the match today, just hope we at least get some positives. Don't think a big loss will make a difference as far Berlusconi goes, everybody should know this team has some needs to address.

all the best,Leon's first big game in Euro

Gazzetta says its Pato-Pippo in front of Seedorf for us.

I want to say this small detail I think is important:

Seedorf as an aM behind Pato and Pippo will work worse then Pirlo behind them. In this case Pirlo will end up deep, deep again ( as he shouldnt be ) and we'll end up with playing long passes to Seedorf and Pippo coz Pirlo is in no shape to constantly play as a vertical CM that will create cohesion with the midfield and forwards.

To me Pirlo as an am looks better in his current habits of movement and phisical shape. In samt time Seedorf as a LM/CM is a player that can (!if he is fit) play well deeper and has natural habit of playing box-to-box when he is fit and is not secured as starter in 11. With Pirlo as an AM and Seedorf as a CM ( plus Flamini on the right ) we can play normal transition ( Flamini and Seedorf, while Ambrosini plays CENTRAL DM, not left, NOT LEFT!! ) and create in normal and technical way with practically playing 4-2-3-1 in some parts.

Im afraid we'll play Seedorf behind the strinkers and we'll loose cohesion in midfield if that happens. Hope Im wrong, we'll see.

--Flamini----Ambro---------
-Pato----Pirlo---Seedorf-

Practically, this is what I want on the field. The players exchange positions of course.

UEFA.com

Storari, Zambro, Nesta, Silva, Oddo, Flamini, Pirlo, Ambro, Seedorf, Pato, Pippo

Question, why is Ambro starting ahead of Gattuso? I know he is captain but in all honesty his personality is too calm and this team needs some energy...albeit without the red cards.

I'm hoping Seedorf will work well behind Pato/Pippo. He may be slower but if Pirlo can push up behind him, rather than playing so deep, and let Ambro occupy more of a deep role, I hope we will have enough in attack to get some chances. One thing is for sure, with Seedorf we will have better ball control up front than with Ronnie.

I must say, though his form has been terrible the past 2 games, I am really surprised R80 isn't starting.

OLYMPIQUE MARSIGLIA-MILAN: LE FORMAZIONI UFFICIALI
15/09/2009 20.00.00

MILANO - Queste le formazioni ufficiali di Olympique Marsiglia-Milan, gara della prima giornata del girone C di Champions League:

OLYMPIQUE MARSIGLIA: Mandanda; Kabore, Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo; Cissè, M'Bia, Cheyrou; Lucho Gonzalez; Niang, Brandao.
MILAN: Storari; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Flamini, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Pato, Inzaghi.

acmilan.com

FORZA MILAN!!!!

Originally Posted by honsano

Question, why is Ambro starting ahead of Gattuso? I know he is captain but in all honesty his personality is too calm and this team needs some energy...albeit without the red cards.

I'm hoping Seedorf will work well behind Pato/Pippo. He may be slower but if Pirlo can push up behind him, rather than playing so deep, and let Ambro occupy more of a deep role, I hope we will have enough in attack to get some chances. One thing is for sure, with Seedorf we will have better ball control up front than with Ronnie.

I must say, though his form has been terrible the past 2 games, I am really surprised R80 isn't starting.

I think you might have phrased it wrong.

Anyway, if we don't score in the first half: Hunter in, Pippo out (the guy is too old to play more than a half) and Abate in, Ambro out.
If we are winning, we should field Gattuso.

No I meant it. I figured with such a big stage, there is no way Silvio will allow R80 to sit on the bench. That and I figured Leo would make this the now or never ultimatum. Small opposition on a grand stage = R80 wake up now or never.

Why don't we have the Bwin-logo on our shirts this evening?