X-Mas Tree??

Originally Posted by zlatanov

why didn't you say this after the games vs ManU?
there is nothing wrong with playing X-tree provided we have the right players for it. With Gorky coming back, we could play our ususal X-tree formation - against certain teams - with Seedorf at LM and Gorky taking Rui Costa's place next to Kaka.

You can't risk playing ALL of our 'attack minded' midfielders at once. We'd need at least one other AM for us to play our Christmas tree. It's a fine tactic.. just that currently we don't have the players for it.

Originally Posted by Mystik

You can't risk playing ALL of our 'attack minded' midfielders at once. We'd need at least one other AM for us to play our Christmas tree. It's a fine tactic.. just that currently we don't have the players for it.

it's nothing more than the normal/measured risk we take when we play with say Seedorf+Kaka+2 of our best forwards, which is a formation we play in like 80-90% of the games. In that case we risk 4 attacking players all at once.

Not much dif in playing a X-tree, which is something we would be doing only from time to time when the moment is right, say once in 5-6 games ...
Risk, after all, is part of the game ... what comes to mind right now is that saying about the "heat" and the "kitchen", they are things that go hand-in-hand ... same is with risk and football.

What I meant..was that we wouldn't have the subs to compensate for injuries/fatigue. Whereas we have at least 2 other forwards to replace our starting 2.

I see your point but again we would/could use X-tree once in a while even with the current squad. If it were to become our predominant system, then yeah, we would defnitely need at least one more AM like Kaka or Gourcuff.

The way things are now, playing a X-tree form time to time hardly represents a higher risk for injury or fatigue to our players than a dimaond formation does - after the game where X-tree was used, we could play a diamond and rest one of the AM, for instance.

As for having 2 strikers as a replacement, I think Carlo would rather use a X-tree than start with Boriello up front

Well we're neither here nor there. We should buy both an attacking midfielder AND a quality striker. So we can alternate whenever we feel like. That christmas tree could have worked better if it were seedorf instead of Ambro(yes I understand he was there to combat in the air..but the guy really cannot offer us much more than that) and Gourcuff/another AM to partner Kaka. Gilardino or Oliveira are better suited to this formation than Inzaghi imo.

I like the tree, (matter of fact, I love all trees, especially the flammable ones ), but agree with most that its very dependent on the personnel that is available.

I like the Xmas tree. But now we do not have the real players for that.

The best Xmas tree ever was with:

---------------Shevchenko--------------
--------------Rui-----Kaka--------------
Seedorf/Ambrosini----Pirlo---Gattuso-----
Kaladze---Maldini-----Nesta-----Cafu----
----------------Dida--------------------

Goal will come from the highest 3.
- Lone Striker, we now have three: Pippo, Gila, Oliveira. But back then, the best Striker for that formation is the missing Sheva. Both Pippo and Tomasson cannot play good.
- Two Supporters, Kaka is there, but we do not have the genius Rui Costa. Rui is physical weak, long shoot not really good, but his passing is the best in the world, especialy through ball.
- Seedorf is half winger, half center, he play good in diamond than Xmas. Gourcuff lack the experience. The best solution for Kaka's partner is..... Pirlo. But I dont think that is a good idea.

Poor Carlo, he do not have much choice, our players seem to be very tired and discouraged.

I'm waiting for January.

IMO with the current players that milan are having i don't think Xmas Tree is the right formation we need to change our style of play

That formation really sucks, hardly produce any goals. Plus our players are not suited for it. But I wouldnt it if we had this combination of players :-

----------------Kyut------------------
-----------Aimar---Kaka--------------
-------Seedorf--Pirlo--Gattuso--------
--Kaladze--Maldini--Nesta--J.Zanetti--
------------Cudicini-------------------

But with current players I would like them palying with 4-3-1-2
-------------Pippo----Gila--------------
-----------------Kaka-----------------
------Seedorf----Pirlo--Gattuso---------
-----Kaladze--Maldini--Nesta--Cafu------
------------Any one but Dida-------------

I did a bit thinking of the current Milan situation and my thought is 4-2-3-1 is better than X'mas tree. The problem with this formation is our current squad is missing one key element in the defensive midfielder position. Other than that, I would like to see the lineup to be:

Dida

Cafu/(new signing) - Nesta - Maldini/Bonera - Jankulovski/(Favalli?)

Kaladze/Ambro/(new signing) - Gattuso/Brocchi

Pirlo/Seedorf

Kaka/Oliveira/Foggia - Gourcuff/Serginho

Gilardino/Pippo/(Borriello?)

It doesn't deviate from the current style by much, but I do think it resolves a few problems I have seen and heard.

1) Seedorf can't be starter all the time. He holds onto the ball for way too long and slow down the tempo at a counterattack. Both Seedorf and Pirlo are not famous for their defensive skills and work rate. By pushing them up, they will spend more effort to organize the offence (wishful thinking).

2) Having Kaladze or Ambro at defensive midfield could possibly help reducing the chance of concealing from crosses. I think the current midfield is undersize and that could put pressure on the D. That's why I always feel more comfortable to see Ambro on the field when it comes to closing out the game. No one can doubt his heading ability, right?

3) I think Kaka said that he isn't too fond of playing on the right side only. I do agree if Kaka sticks only on the right side, it will limit his threat to opponent's D. If we could shift Pirlo to the right to drag a defender out when Kaka cuts thru the middle, there should be more space for Kaka to create his chances... (again, I am thinking in theory)

There are a few problems I can't really resolve though... based on past experience when Gattuso and Ambro playing in front of the D, the offensive game would go quiet because they are not superb passers or dribblers. The last time I remember about Kaladze playing as a Def Mid-er, he gave the ball away and turnt into a goal. Brocchi... I don't know - I haven't seen him too often to judge. I think that is the weak link besides the aging defense...

Also, Kaka and Oliviera needs to learn when to pass the ball... I think that's part of the reason why the whole tean haven't been scoring. Oh, Gourcuff doesn't appear to be as fast as Kaka... if he can pick up some speed, it could be terrorizing to have 2 Kaka cuting through defense.

Finally I would like to say - Please give those youngsters a chance to play. Take Roma as an example... Curci, Aquilani, Totti, De Rossi, Bovo, etc. they all came from the youth team. Oh well...

i thank better milan to use, the most fovourite formation at this time..
4 - 2 - 3 - 1

and try to get Amelia too...

AMELIA
BONERA - NESTA - KALADZE - JANKULOVSKI
GATTUSO - PIRLO
KAKA - GOURCUFF - SERGINHO
PIPPO / GILA