Matchday 4: AC Milan vs Real Madrid (3/11/2011)

Rino's post match comments were interesting and true. Arguably, in many ways our best 3 performers last night were Rino, Pirlo and Pippo. The 3 are veterans and struggle with younger players, but all three showed a desire and lack of fear in the match. It's their personalities that make them strong and it's useful to see some of the younger players play with a similar mentality.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

EDIT: Just read what said Ibra ... That's quite interesting, he would like to play more with Inzaghi because of the way he plays, being more often in the area and letting Ibra play like he wants, be more free, and as a consequence, it was easier for him to pass to Inzaghi.

He makes a fair point, but what I don't understand is why we don't use Pato in the way he use Pippo, as a poacher in the box type player. With Pato and Ibra, the latter is used as a target man up front with Pato supporting from deeper areas. However, Pato has consistently shown that with his pace and ability to play on the shoulder of the last man, he can be a great poacher. The majority of his goals come in similar ways to Pippo, by either breaking the offside or good positioning in the box.

Originally Posted by mzk57

What happened to all the optimists on MM who were over the moon after the big summer transfers?

There's still plenty to be optimistic about. As Geotav said we're still in the hunt for all competitions despite our struggles. I can't imagine we will remain like this all season, as there are signs that we can achieve more, just we're not fulfilling our potential.

so, old folks like Gattuso/Pirlo/Pippo will only shine in big matches on the big stage? How true is this statement?

If Ibra said he would prefer to play behind a striker and Pato has said he prefers to play as a striker not as a winger why doesnt Allegri take there advice and use them in there prefered positions, if Dinho does not want to play AMF i'm sure Robinho would love to play!

Originally Posted by Kaka1899

If Ibra said he would prefer to play behind a striker and Pato has said he prefers to play as a striker not as a winger why doesnt Allegri take there advice and use them in there prefered positions, if Dinho does not want to play AMF i'm sure Robinho would love to play!

Exactly.. maybe we'll adopt this in January or February...when all is lost.

Horrible game by Milan. I couldn't believe my eyes at what I was watching. Long gone are the days when teams came to the "Lion's Den" and their legs shook. Now they come to our home and bully us like we are nobodies.

The front three (apart from Ibra at times...seems he learned something at Barca) never pressure. Teams are free to play the ball from the back. This CAN NOT HAPPEN. It would be ok if we were playing with only 1 up front and he didn't pressure.....but we have 3 players up there that just stand around when we don't have the ball. That leaves the rest of the team very very uncovered.

The other problem is that we are playing a low-pressure game.....yet what we saw last night was not even low pressure. That was NO pressure. With the defence sitting on the edge of the box and 3 midfielders 10 meters in front of them. We were letting Real freely come to within 30 meters of our goal. It's too much.

Individuals: there is not much to say. I thought Nesta and Silva did well. As well as they possibly could in a game where they were so much uncovered and little protection. Abate was decent but Zambrotta should not be playing at this level anymore. Gattuso has the heart of 10 Milan players nowdays. And Ronaldinho should be sent back to Brazil immediately. Pato should sit on the bench for a few games, or until he realizes that another 10 players ware the same color jersey as him on the field....so he is not out there by himself.

We should consider ourselves lucky with this draw. Although we did have a few chances to score more.....but they had triple that amount. We were completely overrun by them. In every aspect of this game. Our midfield doesn't have the quality nor the legs to keep up with high level teams anymore. They can't support the attack quickly enough.

Again, I think we all know what's missing in this team. We are in bad bad bad need of a full back. Also an attacking midfielder that will run the show. Move move move and move to get the ball. Put his foot on the ball and bring others into attack. Create chances. That's what we are missing. Ronaldinho has an unbelievable football ability, but he can't move. Or he won't move. He just doesn't have the heart to play this game the way it's supposed to played anymore. So we need someone that does.
And then we need a serious box-to-box midfielder.

If we get these players then we can dream again. But until then (or until our current players grow balls again to at least fight and challenge) we will keep seeing teams come to the San Siro and score 2, 3 goals on us and bully us. Something that was unthinkable for pretty much anyone a few years ago.

Originally Posted by nefremo

Horrible game by Milan. I couldn't believe my eyes at what I was watching. Long gone are the days when teams came to the "Lion's Den" and their legs shook. Now they come to our home and bully us like we are nobodies.

The front three (apart from Ibra at times...seems he learned something at Barca) never pressure. Teams are free to play the ball from the back. This CAN NOT HAPPEN. It would be ok if we were playing with only 1 up front and he didn't pressure.....but we have 3 players up there that just stand around when we don't have the ball. That leaves the rest of the team very very uncovered.

The other problem is that we are playing a low-pressure game.....yet what we saw last night was not even low pressure. That was NO pressure. With the defence sitting on the edge of the box and 3 midfielders 10 meters in front of them. We were letting Real freely come to within 30 meters of our goal. It's too much.

Individuals: there is not much to say. I thought Nesta and Silva did well. As well as they possibly could in a game where they were so much uncovered and little protection. Abate was decent but Zambrotta should not be playing at this level anymore. Gattuso has the heart of 10 Milan players nowdays. And Ronaldinho should be sent back to Brazil immediately. Pato should sit on the bench for a few games, or until he realizes that another 10 players ware the same color jersey as him on the field....so he is not out there by himself.

We should consider ourselves lucky with this draw. Although we did have a few chances to score more.....but they had triple that amount. We were completely overrun by them. In every aspect of this game. Our midfield doesn't have the quality nor the legs to keep up with high level teams anymore. They can't support the attack quickly enough.

Again, I think we all know what's missing in this team. We are in bad bad bad need of a full back. Also an attacking midfielder that will run the show. Move move move and move to get the ball. Put his foot on the ball and bring others into attack. Create chances. That's what we are missing. Ronaldinho has an unbelievable football ability, but he can't move. Or he won't move. He just doesn't have the heart to play this game the way it's supposed to played anymore. So we need someone that does.
And then we need a serious box-to-box midfielder.

If we get these players then we can dream again. But until then (or until our current players grow balls again to at least fight and challenge) we will keep seeing teams come to the San Siro and score 2, 3 goals on us and bully us. Something that was unthinkable for pretty much anyone a few years ago.

Agree, by an extent.

The bolded parts are just what I've said a few pages ago. When I consider how badly we need an attacking midfielder, I think Kaka's possible return is not a bad idea really.

Attacking midfielder should be priority in January. We can win Scudetto this year, Inter is not that good anymore, so we should try to get someone at least on loan. Perhaps even Kaka. Side backs are not critical in that measure, at least Allegri can put Sokratis at RB, I mean if we could win CL with Simic, than Sokratis can be useful for one season surely. The thing is, when you play 4-3-3 you need your side backs to constantly support wingers and for our side backs that is a bit over the top. It would be much easier for them in 4-3-1-2.

I'm not sure we could use Kaka for C L

yea...we could use Kaka for CL as he hasn't made an appearance yet.

Knowing Milan though we would not sign Kaka only for a loan...so I'd rather go for Ganso.

Originally Posted by mzk57

Here is the way to deal with Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid

Abbiatti
Zambro Nesta Silva Antonini
Flamini Gattuso Ambrosini
Boateng Seedorf
Inzaghi

My prediction: ACM will win comfortably

I just remembered you post. I think it could be better that we play with defensive tactic like you post (to brake madrid midfield+attack) rather than unclear tactic 7-3. I am only a bit optimistic with our chance in Serie A since Allegri tactic is still suitable against small team.