Milan - Panathinaikos (06/08/10 in Detroit, USA)

Ok, now lets go back to the topic.

Start 4 youngsters tonight. period

Best case scenario: mgm will only get one midfielder,which means we will still have 1-2 player shortage. In this case let`s promte 2 players from primavera.(i don`t mean take them when u have shortage of players due to injury).take them to train with the first team, put them in the bench and throw them in fire, thats how you get them to mature.

in this regard i think Verdi should be the first one being promoted, he was our best player last season and he is the profile of a player that we miss the most since Serginho(LW).

De Vito should be the other one due to lack of good FB. but I don`t seem him around this pre-season, mayube he is injured?

Odumandi and Merkel are the other ones, with merkel being the one that suits the Allegri system more.

Thats why I feel it is of vital importance that these guys starting from tonights game play more for the first team, actually in every game until 2 of them stand above the other and deserve the call up.

Take Pedro from Barca. Both Dos Santos and Krkic are way more talented and skillful than him. But who got to play in the WC final it was Pedro. you know why?
Pedro is a very lucky SOB. he got 3-4 times to play for the first team and the guy was really lucky to actually score 3-4 times. Those 3-4 lucky goals gave him so much confidence that made him grow into the player he is today.

We had that luck with Pato and Kaka, not with Yoan. Who has ever played professional football understands perfectly the importance of self confidence in football.

maybe we`ll get lucky with one of young start...but sure we won`t if we don`t use them at all.

Originally Posted by kastriot

Take Pedro from Barca. Both Dos Santos and Krkic are way more talented and skillful than him. But who got to play in the WC final it was Pedro. you know why?
Pedro is a very lucky SOB. he got 3-4 times to play for the first team and the guy was really lucky to actually score 3-4 times. Those 3-4 lucky goals gave him so much confidence that made him grow into the player he is today.

We had that luck with Pato and Kaka, not with Yoan. Who has ever played professional football understands perfectly the importance of self confidence in football.

Agreed. But Barca actually give chances to their young players. They really try to mold the new generation into the existing plan. And it's obvious they have a plan. Pedro is nothing but another fine product of Spain, who became World Champions following the example of Barcelona. It was simple. It was brilliant and Netherlands did the same with Ajax back in the early seventies. And the Spanish U-21 youngsters are a joy to watch too. They are here to stay. Man, we can go into Italian football and it's youngsters but it's a long talk in general. Needs a different thread

Bad news: Pato could be injured, he felt pain to one of his ankles during the last training session ...

The probable formations:

MILAN ( 4-3-1-2): Abbiati; Zambrotta - Nesta - Thiago Silva - Antonini; Gattuso - Seedorf - Flamini; Merkel; Pato - Borriello
Edit: Pato being injured (it seems it is only a small injury), Oduamadi should replace him.

PANATHINAIKOS (4-2-3-1): Tzorvas; Vyntra - Sarieghi - Kante - Spyropoulos; Simao - Katsouranis; Govou - Ninis - Leto; Cissè
In bold, their main players, I think.

On TMW, you can also read an article reporting that Allegri will keep Merkel and use him in first team this season, and will try to use him in the position he will play tonight. So it will be interesting to see how he performs.

PS: If I'm not wrong, Merkel never was an important player for our Primavera ? If someone confirms that, that will mean there is something weird in our youth system as a guy who will be promoted in first team wasn't a 100% starter in Primavera ... either the youth coaches or Allegri made/makes a mistake, or the player suddenly improved.

The links for the game: http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?ma...23&part=sports

A question that has nothing to do with this friendly game: will our Serie A games be streamed on Bet365 again this year ?

[quote=GeoTav;576640]The probable formations:

MILAN ( 4-3-1-2): Abbiati; Zambrotta - Nesta - Thiago Silva - Antonini; Gattuso - Seedorf - Flamini; Merkel; Pato - Borriello
Edit: Pato being injured (it seems it is only a small injury), Oduamadi should replace him.

PANATHINAIKOS (4-2-3-1): Tzorvas; Vyntra - Sarieghi - Kante - Spyropoulos; Simao - Katsouranis; Govou - Ninis - Leto; Cissè
In bold, their main players, I think.

On TMW, you can also read an article reporting that Allegri will keep Merkel and use him in first team this season, and will try to use him in the position he will play tonight. So it will be interesting to see how he performs.

PS: If I'm not wrong, Merkel never was an important player for our Primavera ? If someone confirms that, that will mean there is something weird in our youth system as a guy who will be promoted in first team wasn't a 100% starter in Primavera ... either the youth coaches or Allegri made/makes a mistake, or the player suddenly improved.[/QUOTE]

If the main coach shows confidence in your ability then that will improve your confidence and playing too.

I don't know exactly what you meant important there but from the line-up of Primavera last year I read that he was starters with some times coming as substitute. If we consider his age that he was second youngest player after Verdi, it should be a sign that he has something. Our team consisted also players that were in similar level which means only player with huge talent would make difference. Other thing should considered is also that he played in the midfield, a position that not so attract attention from fans like forwards for example.

Btw thanks for the info about Alliegri. I respect his plan to include Merke to the first team. Merkel could be a team-worked player. From the highlights of friendly games I saw, I think Alliegri is a coach that focuses at team-work play (pass and move), like game against Arsenal or Lyon (I forget) there was perfect play of Milan from defense until forward.

Originally Posted by Siregar

I don't know exactly what you meant important there but from the line-up of Primavera last year I read that he was starters with some times coming as substitute. If we consider his age that he was second youngest player after Verdi, it should be a sign that he has something. Our team consisted also players that were in similar level which means only player with huge talent would make difference. Other thing should considered is also that he played in the midfield, a position that not so attract attention from fans like forwards for example.

Btw thanks for the info about Alliegri. I respect his plan to include Merke to the first team. Merkel could be a team-worked player. From the highlights of friendly games I saw, I think Alliegri is a coach that focuses at team-work play (pass and move), like game against Arsenal or Lyon (I forget) there was perfect play of Milan from defense until forward.

Thanks for the answer about Merkel, I knew you would reply when I asked the question as I know you're one of the people who is the most interested by our Primavera on the forum. So if he was among the best players of our Primavera, he deserves a chance to be in first team (it should be like that each season: the best player or the best two players of the Primavera should be promoted to the first team for the preparation and the first games of the season, if they fail, we can send them back in Primavera, and if they turn to be a success, well, welcome to them in the real Milan !!).

Despite our lack of moves on the mercato (and still hoping something), I'm quite excited by the upcoming season, I don't know why, but I rarely, not to say never, felt like that before the start of a new season. Probably the fact that some young players are included, but not only, Allegri finds the words that give me some hopes !!

If you guys watch the game check out Sotiris Ninis.
The boy has got class. Sadly, i can't say the same for a lot of Greek footballers.

Geo, sorry to disappoint you, even tho Allegri so far looks better than Carlo and Leonardo, he does need some world class players in the side besides youth too.

We won't go anywhere this season with Hunter/Boriello leading the line and Pirlo in the middle.

Originally Posted by hitmannq8

Geo, sorry to disappoint you, even tho Allegri so far looks better than Carlo and Leonardo, he does need some world class players in the side besides youth too.

We won't go anywhere this season with Hunter/Boriello leading the line and Pirlo in the middle.

We do have some WC players though - Nesta, Silva, Pato, and on his day R80.

We also have some players at good age with right levels of stamina of decent ability - Flamini, Antonini, Borreillo, Abate, Sokratis. For sure another 2 players of good age and level would make us much better esp if creative and quick, but I think we should still give our youth a good chance to develop themselves.

Tony, I agree with the youth part, but I disagree that Antonini, Abate are good enough for us. They are the weakest players in the starting lineup. Boriello I would say shouldn't start but can be a good backup. Replace those 3 players with decent players and we're set IMO.

Seedorf at his personal best today...

Merkel and Oduamadi with so much energy I love it...I just dont like Rino, Seedorf and Antonini today

Merkel's touches and 1-2's and control and effort are EXCELLENT.. the ideal player to play in our midfield along flamini (who also is excellent) and Pirlo...

Odu looks very good too, 10 times better than Hunter!