Preferred Formation

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Gila on the bench. Inzaghi upfront with Pato (when available), or Ronaldo (when fit), or Kaka (if both are unavailable).

Clarence should do the playmaking as I believe he's better suited in that role, with Ambrosini/Gattuso and Pirlo as our defensive mids. Oddo on the right (no other option), Jankulovski on the left, Kaladze and Nesta in the center of defense.

My preffered formation on 2nd half of season:

------------------------Boruc -----------------------
-------Oddo--Nesta----Kaladze--Jankulovski----------
--------------Gattuso---Pirlo---Seedorf-------------
------------------------Kaka---------------------
---------------Ronaldo--------Pato-------------

------------------------Dida -----------------------
-------Oddo--Nesta----Kaladze--Jankulovski----------
--------------Ambro/Gattuso---Pirlo---Seedorf-------------
------------------------Kaka---------------------
---------------Gilardino--------Pato-------------

Unless the management decides to bring a player or 2

Ambro and Gattuso will play in a Rotation,i mean, someone has to sacrifice for the 4-3-1-2formation :P

Originally Posted by Victor_Poland

My preffered formation on 2nd half of season:

------------------------Boruc -----------------------

Fantastic topic but one should bear in mind that member should submit their formation of current squad. I prefer 4-4-2 formation with midfield of Diamond shape. I think it would help Milan cause.

------------------------Dida -----------------------

-------Oddo--Nesta----Kaladze--Jankulovski

--------------------- Gattuso --- --------------------

-----------Pirlo -----------------Seedorf-------------

------------------------Kaka------------------------

-------------Gilardino--------Inzagi-------------

Dida

Oddo - Nesta - Maldini - Jankulovski

Gattuso - Pirlo - Seedorf

Kaka

Ronaldo - Inzaghi

Originally Posted by zakakhan

Fantastic topic but one should bear in mind that member should submit their formation of current squad. I prefer 4-4-2 formation with midfield of Diamond shape. I think it would help Milan cause.

------------------------Dida -----------------------

-------Oddo--Nesta----Kaladze--Jankulovski

--------------------- Gattuso --- --------------------

-----------Pirlo -----------------Seedorf-------------

------------------------Kaka------------------------

-------------Gilardino--------Inzagi-------------

We probably would play that if Ronaldo was available, as Gila and Pippo are awful together and Ronaldo can play off the front man. Pirlo and Rino would be switched too.

This formation will NEVER BE USED by Ancelotti although I think it could work:


DIDA

BONERA NESTA KALADZE

GATTUSO PIRLO AMBROSINI

SEEDORF KAKA

RONALDO PATO

Bonera is more defensive than Oddo and so is Kaladze compared to Janku. Gattuso and Ambro are additional protection in the back and on top of all that we would still manage to play with 2 strikers and Seedorf and Kaka behind them!! An attacking force of Seedorf, Kaka, Ronaldo and Pato asssisted with the fluid passes of Pirlo and the ability of Gattuso and Ambrosini to close down opponents midfields would create the most unstopable team out their in my opinion. Again, this formation will NEVER be used but it sure would be nice.

Originally Posted by Baresi

This formation will NEVER BE USED by Ancelotti although I think it could work:


DIDA

BONERA NESTA KALADZE

GATTUSO PIRLO AMBROSINI

SEEDORF KAKA

RONALDO PATO

Bonera is more defensive than Oddo and so is Kaladze compared to Janku. Gattuso and Ambro are additional protection in the back and on top of all that we would still manage to play with 2 strikers and Seedorf and Kaka behind them!! An attacking force of Seedorf, Kaka, Ronaldo and Pato asssisted with the fluid passes of Pirlo and the ability of Gattuso and Ambrosini to close down opponents midfields would create the most unstopable team out their in my opinion. Again, this formation will NEVER be used but it sure would be nice.

Where's the width come from?

Originally Posted by Baresi

This formation will NEVER BE USED by Ancelotti although I think it could work:


DIDA

BONERA NESTA KALADZE

GATTUSO PIRLO AMBROSINI

SEEDORF KAKA

RONALDO PATO

Bonera is more defensive than Oddo and so is Kaladze compared to Janku. Gattuso and Ambro are additional protection in the back and on top of all that we would still manage to play with 2 strikers and Seedorf and Kaka behind them!! An attacking force of Seedorf, Kaka, Ronaldo and Pato asssisted with the fluid passes of Pirlo and the ability of Gattuso and Ambrosini to close down opponents midfields would create the most unstopable team out their in my opinion. Again, this formation will NEVER be used but it sure would be nice.

This formation would work if we played orizontally, and not vertically. If the goals were on the field sides it could well work!!!!

My preferred starting 11 for serie A till the end of the season:

------------------------Dida -----------------------
-------Oddo--Nesta----Kaladze--Jankulovski----------
--------------Gattuso---Pirlo---Seedorf-------------
------------------------Kaka---------------------
---------------Ronaldo--------Pato-------------

Champions league we can play with adjust the formation add more width in midfield and play with 1 striker. 4-4-1-1 with Kaka and Seedorf playing in a more forward role.

I think, if we want to use 4-3-1-2 again, we should find young Seedorf who could play well both offensively and defensively. Plus we have also to find a great fullback. I miss the time we had young Seedorf and Khaladze on left side of our formation.

I’ve been recently thinking and about our problems, thinking mostly of ways to try and help reduce our problems to try and claim the CL spot and also to try and get more from the players, especially key figures currently not producing. Along with this, I’ve also been looking to see how we can build on what we currently have for next season, considering we can’t buy a new team and have to look to build around what’s currently available.

That said, most will agree we have some great players to build a new team around, with Nesta, Pirlo, Kaka and Pato looking like the spine of the side for a few years yet.

Moving back to the present, most will agree we’re currently in serious trouble and something needs to be done in our last push for 4th spot. Currently, few players are performing, and most know the issues of our play this season (slow, predictable, lacking cohesion and organisation, playing extremely deep, lack of width and quality service for front men). The first aspect to change is attitude and morale, which simply couldn’t be worse. We need to work harder for our wins at home and we need to look to gain confidence. This is easier said than done, as unless the team can get a couple of results at home, it’s not likely to change quickly. My hope is with some changes in the side, this may improve.

Now onto on field problems, and clearly there are some issues. In wide areas, the problems with wing backs couldn’t be worse. Never mind most of our fullbacks playing awfully 90% of the time; our two starting wingbacks are now injured, as are their backups. This means that for the rest of the season, we have to rely on guys like Bonera, Simic, Favalli and Maldini, meaning we simply won’t get much width when attacking if we continue as we are. Therefore, we must look alternative ways to get width.

The next issue is in midfield, which quite frankly is all over the place. Gattuso’s presence is rarely felt, he’s struggling with the technical side of his game and simply seems out of sorts. Ambro often has been going forward to try and help, and it has worked to some effect, but defensively he’s almost no where to be seen of late. Then there’s Pirlo who seems to be unable to cope of late, probably physically tired, but even moreso mentally drained. In this area, I would think some organization is needed to make sure we don’t get run over so easily. More importantly, we need to try and lift the spirits of the midfielders.

In attack, there’s too much relying on Pato, he needs more support. Him, and others, like Kaka, have had to drop far too deep through this season to pick up the ball to try and make things happen. This reduces effectiveness and numbers further up the field (let’s not forget we already play too deep as it is). These guys need the support from behind to try and make the difference. The other factor that’s a problem is we’re too narrow still, and the middle of the park getting congested (making defending against us easier).

So, if in Carlo’s shoes, I would look to try and change things around, as we simply aren’t functioning. A change would at least mix things up a little, giving the players something new to work on, rather than keeping focus on the current rut. A start would be to address the wide areas.

Considering our lack of wide options, I’d look to try and allow Maldini and others focus more on defending than attacking. This means we need to get width further up the field, and in mind I think Kaka (who will finally return) and Pato are important. These guys have to look to get wide regularly imo, looking to spread the play better across the field, rather than clumping together in the middle of the field. If successful, there will be less pressure on the fullbacks to be bombing forward through matches.

Moving onto midfield, I think a reshuffle is needed, to try and freshen the players minds, but utilise their best qualities. For a start, I would try and put less pressure on Rino and Ambro to go forward (maybe one attacks during an attack). Therefore, I would look to get them to perform their roles as defensive midfielders. Pirlo on the other hand I would look to push forward, as currently he plays very deep (he starts attacks when in line with defence). To some degree, I would like to see him playing a role closer to his old playmaking role than the deep lying playmaker role. I would give him freedom in this role, as he’s probably our most intelligent player, and thus won’t simply run around like a headless chicken. His role would be important for another reason, as now I’d want him to press opponents higher up the field than where he does now. This change would hopefully see the midfield being used in their most natural roles, also giving them a mental lift when playing.

These changes would hopefully remove some of our current obstacles (at least width and playing too deep), with the team looking something like this:

------------------------Kalac-----------------------
Bonera---Maldini-----Kaladze-----Favalli--
--------------Rino---------Ambro----------------
----------------------Pirlo--------------------------
-------Kaka--------------------------Pato--------
-----------------------Gila/Palo-------------------

Pirlo is really the key in this system, as his positional play on field is paramount. He cannot allow himself to drop too deep, doing so will almost certainly result with use playing too deep as we do now. The movement between Pirlo, Kaka and Pato is also of huge importance, as they would be important in opening spaces for the front man. Pressing higher up will also hopefully allow us to catch opponents before they reorganise, naturally quickening our play.

For next season, I would consider building on this, with new fullbacks offering greater options as an attacking threat, a couple of new midfielders (Flamini and someone else ideally) to offer options in the team and a target man (Gomez ideally). With Flamini in, we could look to give more rest to Rino and Ambro (or they may even go to the bench), and we could even look to give Kaka the playmaking role that Pirlo has and let Pirlo go into DM. However, this then depends on the other new midfielder, who would have good attacking qualities and can play wider (Quaresma type player?), leaving some thing like this:

------------------newGK--------------------
FB------Nesta------------CB--------FB--
------------Flamini----Pirlo----------------
----------------------Kaka-------------------
-------Quaresma---------------Pato------
--------------------Gomez-------------------

*Note: not mentioned the personnel in defence other than Nesta, as no one else is assured of a spot.

I feel a refresh is needed, this isn’t a revolution of the team or system, but rather varying of what we currently have. With some minor but important changes, I’m confident we have the chance to be very strong.

In terms of mercato, ideally I would like to see 1 GK, 2 FB, 1 CB, 2MD and 1FW of which at least three are new starters (GK, FB and FW).

Edit: Sorry for the long post

All formations are essentially variations of each other, but i talked about switching to a 4-2-3-1 system earlier in the season. I think that or a fluid 4-3-3 is the way to go. The 4-3-3 would be a big step though because Kaka wouldn't have his central position and ideally the central player in midfield should be a Gattuso/Makelele type of player and not Pirlo.

I'm going to anger alot of people now, but if we did have a 4-2-3-1 formation, i would not initially put Pato wide left, i would look for us to secure a proper left-sided player like Ribery or Ronaldinho and have Pato & Boriello on the bench. I just think the young Brazilian has alot to learn about when to dribble and when to pass, plus coming on as a sub would take alot of the pressure off of him.

So take your set-up and add these players

---------------------Frey-----------------------------------
Eboue------Nesta---------------CB-----------Vargas--
-----------Flamini---------------Pirlo-----------------------
----------------------Kaka--------------------------------
---Quaresma---------------------------Ronaldinho------
----------------------Gomez--------------------------

Bench: Kalac/Dida, Bonera, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Di Gennaro/Abate?, Pato, Boriello

I don't think this is too unrealistic now since Ronaldinho's price could be just £12 million.