UCL SF 1st Leg: Manchester United vs. Milan

Originally Posted by curry chicken

Do I detect a GROUP HUG, you guys?

Anyone going to see the game live? And more importantly, anyone planning on going to the second-leg at the San Siro?

Yes, i already booked a flight n hotel.

Im going to San Siro game I just didnt find match tickets yet, im waiting for Diavolo to reply me. He's the one whos helping me find the tickets, but does anyone else know how to get them? I want to know how I can buy them online..


And about the game: I didnt like Oddo's performances in the CL so far, I hope he manages to handle Giggs/Ronaldo. Janku is also a worry but I would prefer him 100 times over Kaladze. What really gives me confidence is that Nesta said something like "we know how good Ronaldo is and know how to stop him" which is just a polite way of saying "you're mine Ronaldo".. and when Nesta wants to mark a player out, the player wishes he never existed!

FORZA MILAN! WE"RE OFF TO OT!

I hope you have the time of your life hitmann! Bring back some pictures eh? And a full write-up of your experience, nothing less.

Speaking of Nesta, he also said that making it to another final would be "like a revenge for everybody".

Let's just not get ourselves sent-off all right?

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

Rio Ferdinand is out for 2 weeks after injuring his groin again against M'boro this evening. I guess he could miss the return leg aswell, but we'll see.

I guess the ManU medical staff will get a bunch of frowns from SAF as Ferdinand had gotten a slight injury to the groin in that game vs Portsmouth, I think, and I guess his return to the field was a bit too quick and now he's agrevated what initially was a minor injury.
btw, if he is out for 2 weeks, then he will almost surely miss the return leg at SS because that game is only a week after the game at OT.

I'll probably go to the match also, maybe we can all get together in front of the San Siro...

Yes, he's out for at least 2 weeks. Ferguson said it himself.
Also, Richardson and some anonimous youngster got injured today while Vidic, Park, Neville and Saha are injured for a while so , according to Alex F. , ManU has only 12 fit players ( although i counted at least 14 . Maybe he didn't count the keepers ? )

I guess they'll have this on Tuesday ( Steza's starting XI prediction will be much more reliable, of course) :

Van der sar - Fletcher (O'shea), Brown, Heinze, Evra ; Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney, Smith ( Solskjaer)

I see a problem on the right back side. Both Fletcher and O'Shea can play right backs but for none of them it's an original position. Heinze can do it as a CD but isn't his original position LB ??
The rest is OK , but there aren't any options at midfield if some of the midfielders gets injured, tyred or plays bad.

Stez ? Is this correct or i'm missing smthg ?

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.

This is why I will forever consider Zacceroni, Zaccerphony:Click here

TRAITOR!!! How could he? Not that Alex isnt an astute enough coach to figure this out himself, but he certainly doesnt need any help!

Pah! What a waste of human reproduction Zaccerphony is!

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!

"...aristocrats of Milan." I like the sound of that. Aristocrats with devil horns on their heads, that is. Thanks for the link Warro!

Gotta agree with what Zac says about our set-piece defending though.

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.

All this is true, but the squad depth is a huge problem for ManU. It's almost mission impossibile to fight for a trophy on 3 fronts with only 12-14 players.
I'll be honest and say i wish they'll go to Athens, but i rate their chances at 40% max.
Milan is the favourite in this tie, imo !

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

This is why I will forever consider Zacceroni, Zaccerphony:Click here

TRAITOR!!! How could he? Not that Alex isnt an astute enough coach to figure this out himself, but he certainly doesnt need any help!

Pah! What a waste of human reproduction Zaccerphony is!

Unnecessary comments by our former coach, I think.

Zac is showing lack of class IMO and I don't think there is need for it as the "advice" he gives SAF is something a kid can come up with on its own, so I am sure SAF has thought of that already ... at least in theory as putting words and ideas into practice takes a little bit more than a wish.

Zac is just feeling a little forgotten these day and is just using the spotlight of this game to remind us of himself ... and probably some club's president might get impressed by all that knowledge of his, so who knows, maybe a new job for good old Zac is just around the corner

I don't know about you, but I really DON'T want Kalac on Tuesday (except maybe mzk). I want a giant-goalie duel between Dida and VDS.

Originally Posted by BMWTaylor

I don't know about you, but I really DON'T want Kalac on Tuesday (except maybe mzk). I want a giant-goalie duel between Dida and VDS.

I think Kalac would be just fine ... he is not a bad keeper at all with the only real minus I see in him is that he is a bit too clumsy in coming off his goalline and "cleanly" stealing the ball from the onrushing player.

I do think however that using Kalac could have it's advantages vs ManU as he is pretty solid in the air and given all the crosses that will be headed our way, he would provide a massive obstacle in the small PA with his height and upper body strength.

All in all, if DIda is healthy, I would pick him to start but if he isn't I wouldn't worry too much with Kalac in goal.

Man utd back four will be something like

Fletcher O'Shea Brown Heinze

we should attack attack!

After watching the highlights of todays game with Boro I can honestly say they can be beaten, the team is not some kind of superior team as they struggled today and honestly Boro deserved to win, however we must attack them and surprise them.