AC milan vs. Lecce 29th August, 2010.

The new season is here finally.
There's a new coach, some new faces but basically, it's still the same old Milan.Thankfully, the opponents, on paper at least, are easy, as Lecce don't have too many 'campioni', but we all know how many Milan has taken over the years at the hands of supposedly smaller teams, so i'm not really going to read too much into the result. It's the performance that matters (it'll be nice to win though!). I was impressed with the level of defensive play at Nou Camp. Our offensive play wasn't too shabby (we created more chances than Inter!), but considering the fact that Mr. Allegri is an ultra- attacking coach.........
Our head- to head over the last 8 meetings is 4- 3 - 1 and the last time they 'visited' they left san siro with a nice 2 - 0 gift. Will history repeat itself? or will Milan crumble?

Nice, Shegs. Everyone is focusing on Ibra's transfer now, only you still remember the match.

As always: Forza Milan!!!

from football Italia.

Milan welcome newcomers Lecce to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza for the first game of the season, but the Rossoneri will have their minds on someone else – Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Milan have been so focused on the negotiations for Ibra that they seem to have forgotten that there is a game to be played this Sunday. During the summer, the Rossoneri have limited their expenses but the arrival of the Barcelona player could change things radically.

“I spoke with Zlatan and he gave me his word about coming to Milan,” said Adriano Galliani following the friendly match against Barcelona at the Nou Camp. “Still it’s a long road ahead, I’d say the chances of Milan signing the player are 50 per cent.”

In the meantime, Massimiliano Allegri seems to be the only one who cares about Lecce. “We played a good game against Barca but have to improve a lot, especially at the back. Against Lecce I want to see better things.”

Lecce returned to Serie A following a superb campaign in the Cadetti. The Giallorossi have changed a lot in the transfer market and will not be able to field their buy of the summer – Ernesto Chevanton. The Uruguayan accepted a €300,000 yearly wage in order to come back to Puglia even though he was on €1.8m at Sevilla.

“I am so looking forward to this debut game,” revealed Daniele Corvia, last year’s top-scorer with 17 goals. “Chevanton and I can form a good partnership, so I am excited about his arrival here in Lecce.”

Allegri will field a 4-3-1-2 formation against Lecce, with Marco Borriello starting up front. Sokratis Papastathopoulos is expected to start at right-back while Kevin Boateng’s first minute debut may be delayed.

Luigi De Canio is yet unsure regarding the strategy he will be using. Ruben Olivera is suspended so the Giallorossi may be starting with a 4-4-1-1 formation. Newly signed Ignacio Piatti could make his Serie A debut and Milan should watch out from him, he has the potential to be as good as Javier Pastore.

Keep an eye on: Alexandre Pato (Milan) – The Brazilian starlet has had some injury problems but has done everything possible to be ready for this game. Il Papero has to prove a point this term after a relatively disappointing last season. Lecce are already in his line of fire.

I think the expected formation is going to be:

------------ Abbiati --------------
Sokratis - Nesta - T.Silva - Antonini
---- Gattuso - Pirlo - Ambro ------
----------- Ronaldinho ------------
--------- Pato - Borriello ----------

It seems Flamini is out, Boateng will probably not play, not as a starter anyway, and even if Ibrahimovic arrives, he won't start and maybe even not be on the bench (he needs to be registered). We can maybe expect some minutes for Merkel or Strasser. If Seedorf doesn't start, he will come in.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

I think the expected formation is going to be:

------------ Abbiati --------------
Sokratis - Nesta - T.Silva - Antonini
---- Gattuso - Pirlo - Ambro ------
----------- Ronaldinho ------------
--------- Pato - Borriello ----------

It seems Flamini is out, Boateng will probably not play, not as a starter anyway, and even if Ibrahimovic arrives, he won't start and maybe even not be on the bench (he needs to be registered). We can maybe expect some minutes for Merkel or Strasser. If Seedorf doesn't start, he will come in.

i dont think sokratis will start..and its going to be a 4-3-3 for sure mate..

Originally Posted by M.O.I.

i dont think sokratis will start..and its going to be a 4-3-3 for sure mate..

Ronaldinho will be given a free role ... so it could look like a 4-3-3 sometimes, but from the last games he played, it was clear that Allegri asked him to move more on the pitch and not only stay on his left side. In these few friendly games, he played more centrally than he ever had done before in Milan or even Barcelona.

Who do you think will start on the right side of the defence ? I don't know the condition of Zambrotta, but he didn't take part to the last friendly games, so he's maybe injured ? Oddo won't start for sure. That lets us with Bonera who was tried once there, Abate who was used once there too, and Sokratis who was tried twice or 3 times there.

@geo
dinho had a free role(although clearly more on the left) cause pato was missing,and we played with 2 scs..
allegri said we'll play 4-3-3 when dinho is available because it fits better to him,if not 4-4-2..
he also said that socratis is better as a cb as he has a lot to learn for a fb,i think if zambro is available then he'll be the one,if not maybe bonera or abate(less possible imo)..i'm not so sure about the rb,thats why i didnt named any on my last post,i just dont think it'll be sokratis..

Originally Posted by M.O.I.

@geo
dinho had a free role(although clearly more on the left) cause pato was missing,and we played with 2 scs..
allegri said we'll play 4-3-3 when dinho is available because it fits better to him,if not 4-4-2..
he also said that socratis is better as a cb as he has a lot to learn for a fb,i think if zambro is available then he'll be the one,if not maybe bonera or abate(less possible imo)..i'm not so sure about the rb,thats why i didnt named any on my last post,i just dont think it'll be sokratis..

I read exactly the contrary in the several quotes of Allegri since he has arrived ...

He stated many times the following things:
- Ronaldinho must be more central but can come from the left if he wants (free role), but the goal is to have him be more and more central because "a player with his quality can adapt"
- he wants to use Pato forward, not on a side
- he wants to play with 2 strikers
- he wants Flamini to give more and become more important
- he wants to set 2 "teams", one with Pirlo, one without Pirlo (but he also said that if Pirlo misses, Seedorf is his direct replacement)

From all the quotes, you can try to write a team:

Abbiati
RB - Nesta - T.Silva - Antonini
Flamini - Pirlo - CM
Ronaldinho
(free role, put him more on the left if you want)
Pato - Borriello

If Ibra arrives, which seems a sure thing now, I think Borriello won't be a starter anymore ...

geo i dont think you remember right,or you've just misunderstood.allegri has said a lot of times and really clearly he ll play 4-3-3 with dinho..its everywhere on the net you can google it.

for e.g. http://www.totalfootballmadness.com/...g-this-season/

Allegri said that : “He had an excellent last campaign, but he can give more,”.

“Milan’s best signing of the summer could be the real Ronaldinho. He now weighs 83.7kg, whereas he was at 87 all last season.”

Allegri, who replaces Leonardo at the club, expects a lot from the Brazilian and concedes that Milan’s shape will vary on whether Ronaldinho is in the team or not.

“With him on the field he’ll play wide left in a 4-3-3,” added the former Cagliari boss. “Without him we’ll play with a trequartista, Clarence Seedorf, behind two strikers.”

i know that he prefers the 2 scs i remeber him saying it, but he has said that he cannot play that with dinho..which is correct for me btw

can't wait.

Rumors is that Prince will start this one. Same old trident up front for this one.

Originally Posted by Xudong

can't wait.

Me too.

I really think we have great chance to get the Scudetto as:

- Inter now have the formation problem, they can't field a 4-3-3 because Eto & Pandev can't be sacrificed on the wings anymore and there are no real & good winger in the team. 4-3-1-2 is the formation of winning in Mancini era, but even Mourinho found it hard with it and lost a lot of points.

- Roma is consistent, but they are Roma, and Roma of Ranieri.

- Juventus is questionable, they're moving on the right way, but they do not have much players with class.

Abbiati
Zam Nesta Silva Anto
Flamini Pirlo Ambro
Pato--------------Dinho
Borri

then Sokratis, Prince & Ibra come in.

We have improved our defence and goalkeeper = Less goals conceded
We have improved our attack (hopefully) = More goals scored
We have at least one more option in midfield = More energy

I am expecting us to at least be in the scudetto race until the final day.

for the first game of the season i dont want to see mega sparkling just a win, at the end of the day a win is a win and its still 3 points no matter how you get them!