UCL SF 1st Leg: Manchester United vs. Milan

Originally Posted by Milan_Mad

Man utd back four will be something like

Fletcher O'Shea Brown Heinze

we should attack attack!

LOL to be honest 3 of my 4 fav players for man united are in there !!

fletcher - o shea - brown the other being richardson

Originally Posted by zlatanov

I think Neville could return for the Milan game or at least make iton the bench ... would expect him to be rusty though after a long absence.
As for Heinze, he regularly plays CD for argentina NT and is very, very good in that position, so while ManU do have some big problems and absences in defense, they can still play a pretty good backline on Tuesday with either Oshea or Brown partnering Heinze in CD and Evra at LB.

I see heinze in CD and i think of penalty for us. Heinze is too agressive for his own good and when you play against kaka, you surely don't want to react that way. kaka has a habit of making his opponents get yellow and Heinze in CD.

rio ferndinend .......wont be able to play for both legs....SOCRING GOALS!!!!! IS WAT WE NEEDD TO DOOO!!!!!!! ALL OF THEIR DEFENDERS R OUT!!!! DAMNITTTT

Originally Posted by Rosso6

We are going to Athens, I can emphatically state that Milan is going to beat Manchester in both legs. It will be a tough tussle but we will prevail. Last year I was resigned to defeat against Barca. There is a certain feeling, an aura, a swagger about this team. In last 4 games, the team has improved in leaps and bounds;the passing, the tactical awareness, the feeling that they can turn it on at any point in the game.
This team is equally as good as the team that suffered in Istanbul.
See you Tuesday,
Forza Milan!

I smell a bit too much confidence here, yes we're without Vidic, Ferdinand and Neville, and lets face it with them you wouldn't stand a chance, but Brown is a good CB who's injury's are the only reason he isn't a world class one, Heinze plays CB for Argentina, Evra should be back and fletcher is a solid player who can do a job at RB, and if you doubt the threat we pose up front give Panucci, Mexes and Chivu a call and see what they think.

Originally Posted by p_ps_sock

I smell a bit too much confidence here, yes we're without Vidic, Ferdinand and Neville, and lets face it with them you wouldn't stand a chance, but Brown is a good CB who's injury's are the only reason he isn't a world class one, Heinze plays CB for Argentina, Evra should be back and fletcher is a solid player who can do a job at RB, and if you doubt the threat we pose up front give Panucci, Mexes and Chivu a call and see what they think.

Man U fans are a bunch of jokers, 1 good game and that is what they would hum on forever. While your Man U players are caught up in the cloud up there, Milan will squash all your hopes. can't even beat boro with most of the first 11, what can you guys do?

Originally Posted by hwmook

Man U fans are a bunch of jokers, 1 good game and that is what they would hum on forever.

its 3 weeks ago, still pretty recent. Now if I was constantly going on about a CL match 2 years ago and using that as evidence of how we were going to beat you then that would be different...

Originally Posted by hwmook

While your Man U players are caught up in the cloud up there, Milan will squash all your hopes. can't even beat boro with most of the first 11, what can you guys do?

Vidic, Rio (for 50 minutes), Neville, Evra, Giggs (for the first 45) Saha all out, not very good with numbers eh?

Every team has poor games, we still managed a draw against a decent team, although no where near CL standard.

You just better pray Ronaldo and Rooney are in the same mood on Tues than they were yesterday, although somehow I think they'll find it a bit easier to motivate themselves for a CL semi than a league match...

Originally Posted by p_ps_sock

I smell a bit too much confidence here, yes we're without Vidic, Ferdinand and Neville, and lets face it with them you wouldn't stand a chance, but Brown is a good CB who's injury's are the only reason he isn't a world class one, Heinze plays CB for Argentina, Evra should be back and fletcher is a solid player who can do a job at RB, and if you doubt the threat we pose up front give Panucci, Mexes and Chivu a call and see what they think.

Personally i don't like it when people are far too confident or arrogant, regardless of who they support. It usually has a way of coming back to bite you in the ass. That aside, have to disagree completely about Brown, injuries aren't the reason he's not world class, skill is the reason he's not world class. He's far too inconsistent and is prone to big lapses in concentration. Yes he's improved but he's nothing more than a squad player.

You have to admit that Heinze is a rash player, we all know he's a solid defender with a wealth of experience, but at cb he's far more likely to make a costly mistake than at LB.

Most of the Man Utd fans i know don't rate Fletcher at all and now he's suddenly a solid RB? Come on, be honest, he's not very good at RB. He doesn't offer much defensive stability and it goes without saying he's not as imposing offensively as Neville.

Why on earth would we want to call Mexes, Panucci and Chivu? They all had shocking games, a pub team could have scored against them while their heads were in that much confusion As people are still pointing out, we have some old defenders, but with that comes more experience and knowledge of defending than possibly any other team around at the moment. So i think we'll have our own ideas on how to try and stop your attackers. I won't say we will stop them as you can never be certain what will happen, but if we do our best and track the runners then we have a chance.

Originally Posted by p_ps_sock

although somehow I think they'll find it a bit easier to motivate themselves for a CL semi than a league match...

This i find an interesting statement. You do realise you're still fighting for the Premiership right? You should have been 100% focused on M'boro with a view to wrapping up the title before you have to play Chelsea. You've now let them back in because you weren't motivated enough. In all honesty you were lucky to get a point, that was a blatant penalty at the end, but somehow you got away with it.

I wouldn't worry too much about what Zac says, Man Utd will have their tactics about how to win the game and we'll have ours. I think what Ancelotti has said is right, they're very strong but predictable (though i think most football teams are predictable anyway), they'll come out of the traps at 100 mph and try to batter us like they did against Roma, hoping to get some quick goals and then capitalise on the uncertainty that those quick goals will bring. From there they'll look to break all the time and play on the counter-attack.

They have many dangerous runners and if we can be watchful of them, double up on players where necessary and not have the recent defensive lapses we've suffered from then we have the chance to get a result. May the best team win, which i hope is us

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

Personally i don't like it when people are far too confident or arrogant, regardless of who they support. It usually has a way of coming back to bite you in the ass. That aside, have to disagree completely about Brown, injuries aren't the reason he's not world class, skill is the reason he's not world class. He's far too inconsistent and is prone to big lapses in concentration. Yes he's improved but he's nothing more than a squad player.

he was actually tipped for the top when he first broke through and the only thing thats stopped him is every time he gets a run in the team he gets injured, that is the only reason Vidic was bought, when ever he's had a run in the team he's played well and isn't prone to mistakes, he's just prone to injuries.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

You have to admit that Heinze is a rash player, we all know he's a solid defender with a wealth of experience, but at cb he's far more likely to make a costly mistake than at LB.

I don't have to admit anything, he's not the type of CB you see in Serie A every week but that doesn't mean he's rash, he's a solid defender who takes no rubbish and I think he'll do fine against inzaghi or Gillardino.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

Most of the Man Utd fans i know don't rate Fletcher at all and now he's suddenly a solid RB? Come on, be honest, he's not very good at RB. He doesn't offer much defensive stability and it goes without saying he's not as imposing offensively as Neville.

Fletcher has had a difficult couple of years, at 16 he was hailed as one of the best prospects the club has ever had, better than giggs was at that age (although different positions) he then got a major injury and missed 2/3 years of development, he has had 2 years of being played out of position or in position alongside an aging Keane or an out of form Scholes, this season he's been turning it around, against Roma he was awesome and at RB for the last 3 games (the only time in his life he's played there) he's only been caught out of position once, I know Milan are a different prospect but still he'll do his job.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

Why on earth would we want to call Mexes, Panucci and Chivu? They all had shocking games, a pub team could have scored against them while their heads were in that much confusion As people are still pointing out, we have some old defenders, but with that comes more experience and knowledge of defending than possibly any other team around at the moment. So i think we'll have our own ideas on how to try and stop your attackers. I won't say we will stop them as you can never be certain what will happen, but if we do our best and track the runners then we have a chance.

the confusion was caused by our players, was just a coincidence that all of roma's defenders had poor games? you are right, positionally your defence will be a different prospect, but if Ronaldo starts dropping deep and running at them with his pace and skill, I think they'll find experience is no substitute for having the pace to keep up with him.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

This i find an interesting statement. You do realise you're still fighting for the Premiership right? You should have been 100% focused on M'boro with a view to wrapping up the title before you have to play Chelsea. You've now let them back in because you weren't motivated enough. In all honesty you were lucky to get a point, that was a blatant penalty at the end, but somehow you got away with it.

Are you telling me your players won't be more motivated against us than they were against cagliari? I would hope they are, no matter what's at stake its always easier to motivate yourself against a big team than a small team, Boro have a history of causing us problems anyway, stemming from our former assistant manager being their manager and knowing our players inside out.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

I wouldn't worry too much about what Zac says, Man Utd will have their tactics about how to win the game and we'll have ours. I think what Ancelotti has said is right, they're very strong but predictable (though i think most football teams are predictable anyway), they'll come out of the traps at 100 mph and try to batter us like they did against Roma, hoping to get some quick goals and then capitalise on the uncertainty that those quick goals will bring. From there they'll look to break all the time and play on the counter-attack.

They have many dangerous runners and if we can be watchful of them, double up on players where necessary and not have the recent defensive lapses we've suffered from then we have the chance to get a result. May the best team win, which i hope is us

we can play the game quick or slow, we have pace on the wings and up front but have precise passers in midfield, I think you'll find that although the goals coming on the break against Roma were the most spectacular, we also had plenty were we picked them apart like a lock. I think you view us as one dimensional with Rooney and Ronaldo's pace, you couldn't be more wrong, Scholes and Carrick are intelligent footballers who can control the tempo and pace with their passing and postional play, smith is a brute up front who will reish the physical stuff, rooney is a monster and ronaldo is simply astonishing when in full flow, while Giggs is turning into a very good support striker.

Originally Posted by p_ps_sock

Are you telling me your players won't be more motivated against us than they were against cagliari? I would hope they are, no matter what's at stake its always easier to motivate yourself against a big team than a small team.

But we're not playing for the Serie A title. You're playing for the Premiership crown, the chance to win the league, the competition Ferguson has admitted is the most important to him. You surely have to be motivated to get the 3 points in these games regardless of the team you're facing.

Originally Posted by p_ps_sock

I think you view us as one dimensional with Rooney and Ronaldo's pace, you couldn't be more wrong, Scholes and Carrick are intelligent footballers who can control the tempo and pace with their passing and postional play.

Have i said you're one dimensional? No, i don't think i have. You play to your strengths, as most teams do, and your strength and main weapon is picking out the runs of Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney or whoever and breaking fast. I don't doubt you can play possesion football, but it's not your main style of play is it. That's all i'm saying.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

But we're not playing for the Serie A title. You're playing for the Premiership crown, the chance to win the league, the competition Ferguson has admitted is the most important to him. You surely have to be motivated to get the 3 points in these games regardless of the team you're facing.

Have i said you're one dimensional? No, i don't think i have. You play to your strengths, as most teams do, and your strength and main weapon is picking out the runs of Ronaldo, Giggs, Rooney or whoever and breaking fast. I don't doubt you can play possesion football, but it's not your main style of play is it. That's all i'm saying.

teams do it all the time, last season when we were chasing chelsea a sunderland team who were already relegated came to OT and defended better than you will tomorrow (no matter what the result) they had nothing to play for they were just motivated by the opposition, its human nature

fair enough, seriously I think Vidic and Rio being out has seriously weakened us at the back, they've been top class this season and no matter how much I want to talk up Brown and Heinze and believe we can do it we just aren't as solid at the back.

I think the worst thing you could do is come to OT and try to defend, you have to go for the throat against us with our defence the way it is, if you try and sit back I think we'll take a good lead to the san siro

Here is the 25 man squad called up for the match on Tuesday.

Milan squad:

Dida, Kalac, Fiori, Storari; Bonera,

Cafu, Costacurta, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo, Serginho, Simic;

Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo, Seedorf;

Gilardino, Inzaghi, Ricardo Oliveira

Originally Posted by p_ps_sock

teams do it all the time, last season when we were chasing chelsea a sunderland team who were already relegated came to OT and defended better than you will tomorrow (no matter what the result) they had nothing to play for they were just motivated by the opposition, its human nature

Yeah, we played fairly well for once - or should I say Kelvin Davis played well for once.

Anyway, it's good Milan have a full squad to choose from, I guess it's good that Dida is available.

I'm not sure Dida is 100% fit with his shoulder injury, i think they're just including him to give him enough time to see if it will heal and leave any decision to the last minute.

Originally Posted by p_ps_sock

its 3 weeks ago, still pretty recent. Now if I was constantly going on about a CL match 2 years ago and using that as evidence of how we were going to beat you then that would be different...

because you guys don't even have any UCL matches to hum on for the past 8 years. Even the CL won 8 years back is with a huge amount of luck. Try harder next time.

If anyone's interested or bored...here's Wee Gordon Strachan's (Celtic coach) take on the match:STOP THIS MAN

"Manchester United are a far more exciting team than AC Milan. It will be a close-run thing but United have got the players to do it. But AC Milan have got an incredible determination not to be beaten. That's what really struck me in our tie with them....

This is turning into Ron vs. Ricky. Some quotes from Fergie on Man. Utd's growth since 2005 and Kaka: FERGIE: RON WILL OUTSHINE KAKA

Oh..one more: 'RAZOR' TIPS UNITED TO BEAT MILAN

Love this quote from Kaka, that sums it all up:

"Manchester United are a great team, but Milan are not afraid of any side in the world. We respect them yes, but we are not afraid. We have a tremendous record in the Champions League. We have played 10 finals and won six. Our semi-finals with United will be as good as any knockout games you could wish to see."