Week 10 - U.C. Sampdoria vs A.C. Milan - The Empire Strikes Back (or so we hope)

Jim that team would get destroyed.

I hope we get a play with two strikers as I believe that Kaka plays best behind 2 strikers. I'm hoping to see this line-up.

DIDA

ODDO-----NESTA-----MALDINI-----BONERA

GATTUSO----PIRLO----GOURCUFF

KAKA

INZAGHI-------GILARDINO

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

personally, i would like to see this formation:

--------------Dida-------------
-Oddo---Nesta--Maldini---Kaladze-
------Gattuso-----Emerson----
--Gourcuff---Kaka---Serginho--
-----------Gilardino-------------

If not Oddo, then Cafu.

Not a bad side there Jim but I have doubts we'll see it and for one good reason. I don't think Maldini can play in this match to begin with after playing against Roma, whilst Serginho I don't think is quite match fit yet. I also think Carlo will stick to a similar shape we lined up with against Roma.

I'd like to see something like this..

------------Dida-------------
Oddo--Nesta---Bonera--Favalli
----Rino--Emerson--Sergio----
------Gourcuff----Kaka-------
------------Gila--------------

Essentially, it's to allow Serginho to take advantage of the left wing, whilst Gourcuff can push out on the right, with the freedom to move central. Emerson and Rino will be key and because neither have the ability that Pirlo does, Kaka/Gourcuff will need to drop deeper to collect the ball before pushing forward.

Defensively I've selected Bonera for his greater athletic abilities, which may be useful against trickier players like Cassano and Montella, but also suitable against more physical attackers (Bonazzoli and Caracciolo).

I've also decided that the players that disappointed most in the last match (Kala, Pirlo, Seedorf and Ambro) should be left out to have a chance to recover for the weekend.

Another option, and not unlikely, is that Gourcuff is left out for Brocchi who plays alongside Rino and Emerson, with Serginho alongside Kaka. I'm not as keen on this as I'd prefer to see Gourcuff given the chance, though I'd understand Carlo if he did this.

However, I doubt we'll see any of the systems you listed or me. Mostly because I don't think Carlo will rotate so much, and Samp certainly aren't pushovers.

FORZA MILAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Bandit®

Jim that team would get destroyed.

Why is that? With 2 dedicated defensive midfielders in front of the defence we'd have alot more protection.

In retrospect i would follow Dev's lead and change Maldini for Bonera for the sake of letting Maldini recover. Then all you have to ask yourself is who plays left-back, Favalli or Kaladze. I've gone with the Georgian, but Guiseppe could easily start instead.

Ambrosini can't play because of the red card and we won't miss Seedorf because he contributed almost nothing against Roma. Plus if he found the midweek and then the weekend game too exhausting, how will he be any good to us again this time round?

Serginho was for my money our most dangerous player when he came on, he could beat his man and put in a decent cross, something no one else could do on the left (save 1 Maldini cross that Gilardino almost had to break his neck to get anything on it!). Gourcuff i would hope would provide more creativity also.

So really i don't see how we would get destroyed at all, with the way certain players are playing this team/formation would have more defensive strength and possibly more creativity.

With Gourcuff & Serginho in clear wide positions, when we don't have the ball they would drop back to help out the full-backs, something that happened very little against Roma. Plus with Kaka dropping back, it would make a wall of 5 across the midfield and be hard to break down.

Ancelotti wont start Gourcuff. He would rather play Brocchi and Emerson before him. So we will see in this match. Ouch i forgot Sampdoria had Montella

I would like to see this Formation but Seedorf playing more forward thn back... if these players are available....
Maldini showed good Performance at the LB considering he's 39 and coming off an injury...

i would also like to see Kalac instead of Dida

------------Dida-------------
Oddo--Nesta---Kalazde--Maldini
----Rino--Pirlo----Seedorf----
-----------Gourcuff--------
---------Gila--Kaka--------

as for Gila playing alone at attack its not really an option neither is a Gila-Pippo formation...

i would say Kaka- Gila and Gourcuff-Seedorf behind them with Gattuso "defending" the midfield and Pirlo going more forward

Ace, you must have been watching a different game to me.

I would disagree strongly with the notion that Maldini had a good performance at left-back. The Roma game was surely a clear indication that he just cannot perform in that position anymore.

Likewise Gattuso can't defend the whole midfield by himself as Seedorf & Pirlo will offer little to nothing in the way of support. Again this was clearly shown against Roma.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

personally, i would like to see this formation:

--------------Dida-------------
-Oddo---Nesta--Maldini---Kaladze-
------Gattuso-----Emerson----
--Gourcuff---Kaka---Serginho--
-----------Gilardino-------------

If not Oddo, then Cafu.

That is an extremely good idea Jim, although I don't know if Serginho is ready to play from the start. Also Maldini will probably be tired so Bonera would be better off in his position. Serginho was indeed very dangerous for us and he and Gourcuff would be pouring crosses into the box all day long for Gilardino. More accurate ones than Cafu at least

why not the 4-1-3-2

------------Dida----------------
-Oddo--Nesta--Maldini--Kaladze-
----------Gattuso--------------
---Gourk---Kaka-----Seedorf---
-----Inzaghi----Gila------------

Im new to soccerology so if this is really bad and makes no sense then sorry. Since most of these smaller teams like to counter attack us out the ass, wouldn't having more people up top cut down on the backs coming up in support? that way when we loss the ball in the midfield we have more than just our center backs behind the ball.

Originally Posted by Mystik

That is an extremely good idea Jim

thank you, your cheque is in the mail

although I don't know if Serginho is ready to play from the start. Also Maldini will probably be tired so Bonera would be better off in his position

I replaced Maldini with Bonera in a later post You and Dev are both right about Serginho, though i would rather play him from the start and see if he can get to around the 60 minute mark. I personally would then replace him with the Aubameyang brother who played quite well for us out wide in the summer. I forget if that is Wily or Pierre.

I know Ancelotti wouldn't do this though, which is a shame.

It was Willy Aubameyang and I did think of him but Carlo specifically said that he would NOT use that formation in a league game(your guess as good as mine as to why not ). Personally I don't think we have anything more to lose. Our "best 11" can't get the job done, so why not try something different? Who knows it just may work.

My idea, 4-2-1-2-1

Dida
Oddo-Nesta-Bonera-Kaladze
Gattuso-Emerson
Pirlo
Gourcuff-Serginho
Kaka

I know, it sounds crazy, but just an idea. Kaka up top, I know it sounds crazy, but he's a more capable finisher than we think. And he gives us the mobility, pace, and width that's desperately needed in attack. We need movement and space!

I remember reading that Ronaldo was to return on the 31st of October vs Sampdoria. Guess not ha?

The christmas tree formation has been a failure in serie A matches but flourished in Cl matches. If our wing backs failed to provide more surging run forward and quality crosses then tacticallly we failed to unlock our opponents defensive unit(as they defend in numbers). narrow attack though the middle won't work in serie A matches as most serie A team knows where our attacking threat came from. With serginho on the left flank and gourcuff on the right might be a tactical plot ancelotti would like to try.

we need something new or more option from our play.

Forza Milan!

i hope Ronaldo plays(unlikely)....