Derby: Inter Milan - AC Milan [11/14/10 7:45 PM GMT]

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Not sure I'd want Boateng to start this one tbh. His lack of tactical discipline and recent form with giving away the ball could be very negative for us in this match. If we don't start Pirlo in DM, then I say go with Ambro, Rino and Flamini.

I've also thought about that a couple of times. I was not sure if it is Gattuso or Boateng to start. Boateng gives away ball pretty easily but he is getting better.
I don't know exactly what you mean about tactical discipline but in last game he was very disciplined especially to come back to defend. Our trio midfielders (Boateng, Ambrosini, Flamini) were disciplined enough in the last game.

Gattuso on the other hand is good at tactical knowledge or awareness but we get trouble when he goes forward since he can't come back quickly, like a mobile midfielder. What I like from our trio from last game match that we could attack from both sides and could change the side of attacking starting from the middle of the field which means we need player who can come back to their original position when the attacking is not on their side (Flam moved back quickly when the attacking was changed to Boateng/Antoni and vice versa). Boateng and Flam sometimes decided too fast to go forward when they were not sure if the attacking would be on their side but fortunately they were very mobile, went back to their positions quickly to accompany Ambrosini to get ready to face counter attack from the opponent.

Anyway, what most important is to play the trio without Pirlo. Boateng or Gattuso I can understand the decision. Playing Pirlo as deep-playing playmaker will give us trouble very often since we lose ball often because of lack of creativity and or quality of players besides Pirlo (either it's Boateng/Ambrosini with Antonini on the left side or Gattuso/Flamini with Abate on the right side) if we play Boateng/Ambrosini-Pirlo-Gattuso/Flam. Other problem also lies that our forwards especially our attacking midfielder like Dinho and Seedorf can't track back when they lose ball. It is ok when Dinho, Seedorf and striker lose ball when our midfielders are still on their position but it will give big holes in Milan area on the half of the field if one of the fullbacks AND one or two of the midfielders are already upfront. Playing Boateng, Ambro and Gattuso/Flam give us strength on the midfield making us able to control the game, not yet with great creativity there but still we can play as unit thanks to the compact of the trio.