AC Milan v. Udinese {9/1/2011: 15:00 CET}

AC Milan v. Udinese
Matchday 19

Seems that the following players will be suspended or injured which makes this quite the tricky game:

Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini (suspended), Boateng, Inzaghi, Flamini, Zambrotta, and we're waiting on Nesta.

In other news, Ronaldinho has officially left, and is now choosing which Brazilian team he will play for.

Still some news to come out but my first inclination of a lineup would be the following:

-------------Ibrahimovic----Pato------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------Robinho-----------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
----------Strasser----Seedorf----Merkel-----------
-----------------------------------------------------
Antonini--------------------------------------Abate
-----------------T. Silva-----Nesta-----------------
-----------------------------------------------------
-----------------------Abbiati----------------------

Now, another obvious option is to put Oddo as RB, Abate in Merkel's position, and Merkel either not playing or in Robinho's ACM position.
I would be fine with either scenario.

Cassano will come off the bench as ACM again, but he's not fit yet to play full 90.

STATS??

I heard that Cassano is still 2.5 kg overweight, so it will be another few weeks before he can be fully fit. But his creativity is obvious so today's game seems to suggest that we could count on his service even in limited minutes, which is great news.

I don't have statistics. From my recollection, our home record against Udinese historically has been overall positive (I could only remember one 1:2 loss in 03-04 right before Christmas - which is another tradition of Milan that we always suck in that game). but we should take a down-to-earth attitude when approaching every game.

But at least Ibrahimovic is back, which means that our attack department is covered. I am confident but all I want is another win and hopefully a clean sheet. Di Natale is an old fox, but our own Nesta could comfortably outfox him. So I am crossing my fingers that Nesta will make this game.

Hope that one of: Rino, Boa, Fla could play

Originally Posted by Aficio

Hope that one of: Rino, Boa, Fla could play

I believe that Boateng will be out for 3 weeks, Flamini 7 to 10 days. There is though a real possibility that Gattuso might make it.

Originally Posted by Xudong

I believe that Boateng will be out for 3 weeks, Flamini 7 to 10 days. There is though a real possibility that Gattuso might make it.

Yes I think Gattuso will play. Most probably today will train with the team.

Yesterday I saw the players a bit tired, the reason is the training camp Milan did in Dubai. It was very hard and intense and should serve as fuel for the remaining months.

I must say the midfield looks very weak in your lineup Elmago. Hopefully Ambro and Rino are fit. How much longer is Pirlo out?

edit: sorry forgot Ambro is suspended

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

I must say the midfield looks very weak in your lineup Elmago. Hopefully Ambro and Rino are fit. How much longer is Pirlo out?

edit: sorry forgot Ambro is suspended

If Gattuso is fit of course he'll start and it will be Strasser-Seedorf-Gattuso. Not ideal but we don't really have a choice.

Next will be who will play ACM: Merkel or Robinho?

I've just remembered Janku could play DM.

Well, forget it

If Rino is still injuried, play Silva as DM to cover is the best solution, IMO

Originally Posted by Aficio

I've just remembered Janku could play DM.

Well, forget it

If Rino is still injuried, play Silva as DM to cover is the best solution, IMO

Not in a million years should janku play again.

I'd play Papa in mid if rino can't make it.

Me thinks the most sensible thing to do would be to move Silva up to midfield as a destroyer (CDM) and put Yepes or Papa with nesta. Also you can't have binho pato and ibra all at once because it'd be too little defensive coverage. I expect Seedorf and merkel again.

I think that we shouldn't use Silva as DM right now since last try of using him there was unsuccessful and we really need him in defense. It's better to play Sokratis there as someone said that he played DM in world cup and seems he played well in that position.

About injured and suspended players, it is really shocking especially if Gattuso can't also play (I do hope he can play). I like watching young players playing but two young players from beginning could be too many. I don't know, maybe Allegri think they can start from beginning? With our midfield's situation right now, at least one midfielder from Primavera should be brought to this game to sit on the bench and it could be Fossati. I have heard that he is a creative midfielder. Hence, I am really waiting for his first chance with senior team.

Originally Posted by Siregar

I think that we shouldn't use Silva as DM right now since last try of using him there was unsuccessful and we really need him in defense. It's better to play Sokratis there as someone said that he played DM in world cup and seems he played well in that position.

About injured and suspended players, it is really shocking especially if Gattuso can't also play (I do hope he can play). I like watching young players playing but two young players from beginning could be too many. I don't know, maybe Allegri think they can start from beginning? With our midfield's situation right now, at least one midfielder from Primavera should be brought to this game to sit on the bench and it could be Fossati. I have heard that he is a creative midfielder. Hence, I am really waiting for his first chance with senior team.

I agree. When we experimented Silva as DM, he seemed uncomfortable and not very useful. It works better when he plays as CD and pushes forward from time to time, whenever he feels like it.

Originally Posted by Siregar

I think that we shouldn't use Silva as DM right now since last try of using him there was unsuccessful and we really need him in defense. It's better to play Sokratis there as someone said that he played DM in world cup and seems he played well in that position.

About injured and suspended players, it is really shocking especially if Gattuso can't also play (I do hope he can play). I like watching young players playing but two young players from beginning could be too many. I don't know, maybe Allegri think they can start from beginning? With our midfield's situation right now, at least one midfielder from Primavera should be brought to this game to sit on the bench and it could be Fossati. I have heard that he is a creative midfielder. Hence, I am really waiting for his first chance with senior team.

I agree with Sokratis as a DM. Though, we lose in creativity a bit.

Originally Posted by Sputnik

I agree with Sokratis as a DM. Though, we lose in creativity a bit.

I think he can't be less creative than Rino

If we use him, his job should be marking Di Natale. Well, he marked Messi out of match, right

Here's Allegri's press conference before the game (in English)

http://www.acmilan.com/en/news/show/131536

ON THE MATCH AGAINST UDINESE: “The game tomorrow against Udinese will be a difficult one, as was our visit to Cagliari. Tomorrow, however, it will be even more difficult, because Guidolin’s team is gifted, fast, plays well and is very well organised. We’ll need to be patient and intelligent.
At the Sant’Elia, my team played a good game, seeing that we didn’t run risks, while we created four or five big chances. When you don’t play for twenty days or so it’s never easy, as you have to get it rolling again. In Cagliari we didn’t give them much, apart from two opportunities. I think we could do even better tomorrow.”

ON HIS DOUBTS REGARDING THE FORMATION: “Ibrahimovic is returning tomorrow, I think will make it, too. We’re in a bit of an emergency situation in midfield regarding the number, but not the quality, of the available players. I’ll field Strasser, Seedorf and Gattuso. It’s possible that Robinho will play right behind the strikers. If not, it will be Merkel’s role, but I’m still to decide.”

ON THE YOUNGSTERS: “These lads have made it this far thanks to the coaching staff working in the youth sector. It takes courage to play them, but you also need to be lucky to find them space at the right moment. These youngsters did very well in the preseason tournament in London. That experience made clear to me that I could use them in the future, like it happened in Cagliari and Bologna.
Both the youngsters and the veterans are important to winning, let’s just remember Oddo’s case. He came off the bench in Naples and went on to give two assists. This kind of matches are very important.”

ON PATO: “H played a good game, he did well especially in the second half. From a physical point of view, he’s fine, he worked a lot for the team when Cagliari had possession. It’s something he hadn’t done much in the past.”

ON MERKEL AND SEEDORF: “At the moment, Merkel is playing right behind the strikers, but I think in the future his natural role will be in midfield. Seedorf didn’t play poorly in Cagliari, but I’m sure he can give even more.”

ON THE TRANSFER MARKET: “We need a new midfielder. It’s a technical matter, independent of our injury crisis. Definitely, a new midfielder would be welcome.”

ON ROBINHO: “He has done well as a second striker. At Cagliari, he did well also playing right behind the forwards. He could do well in both roles, his position depends on the given game.”

ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP: “Inter have always been in the race for the league title, as have Roma, Lazio, Napoli and Juventus. We need to found consistency and the game tomorrow is fundamental from this standpoint. Next week we’ll have some players back and having everyone available will be very important to do well both in Serie A and in the Champions League.”

ON CASSANO: “He has started his adventure at Milan on the right foot, regardless of his assist in Cagliari. He did well in Dubai, but he’s coming off two months without playing and now he’s training with a team in peak form, so it’s normal that he’s a bit behind. However, when he’s called upon he takes to the field with the right mentality, he has immense class and can help the team to reach new heights.”

ON THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PRESIDENT: “I’ve come to Milan with the intention of getting to know this club. The important thing is that the club backs me and also my players help my work.”

ON RONALDINHO: “I’ve had a good relationship with him, based on respect. He always respected my decisions, taken bearing in mind the good of Milan.
Ronaldinho and Cassano? Ronaldinho’s departure is a great loss for Italian football, because I can’t see many players around with his technical abilities, but then there’s the team’s balance to consider. Cassano is a player who can help us a great deal and I think he won’t disappoint.”

ON HIS EXPERIENCES AS MILAN COACH: “The darkest memory is that quarter of an hour in Madrid, while the highlight of these months has been victory against Inter, also because it was my first derby.”

He says that Seedorf will play from the beginning along with Strasser and Gattuso. Although Seedorf nor Gattuso had a good game in Cagliari, I figure we really don't have much of a choice in that regard.

I thought Merkel did really well in a position that he's probably not even used to playing. Allegri says that it'll either be Merkel or Robinho playing behind the two strikers, Ibra and Pato, tomorrow. I'm assuming it'll be Robinho just because he's a more established player but I wouldn't be surprised to see Merkel come on for either he or Seedorf in the second half.

The called up list should probably be up later today.


EDIT: Called up players as follows

MILAN-UDINESE: SONO 20 I ROSSONERI CONVOCATI

MILANO - Ecco la lista dei 20 convocati rossoneri

Amelia, Roma, Di Fabio (50), Abate, Antonini, Bonera, Montelongo, Oddo, Papastathopoulos, Thiago Silva, Yepes, Gattuso, Merkel, Seedorf, Strasser, Cassano, Ibrahimovic, Oduamadi, Pato, Robinho
Indisponibili: Abbiati, Jankulovski, Nesta, Zambrotta, Boateng, Flamini, Pirlo, Inzaghi
Squalificato: Ambrosini

No Nesta or Abbiati..?