Coppa Italia: Palermo - AC Milan (ALL comments)

So Coppa Italia begins for us, and we must play Palermo first. Not an easy rival, especially considering they will probably give more importance to this competition than us.

Milan will most probably field those players who had less playing time so far....the likes of Abbiati, San Billy, Coloccini, Dhorasoo, Ambrosini, Brocchi Serginho and Rui among others, will certainly play. JDT and Crespo should also feature, in order for them to find some very needed goals. I wonder if Simic will be fit by then, I am not very informed about his injury.

Abbiati

Simic - San Billy - Coloccini - Kaladze

Brocchi - Ambro - Serginho

Rui

JDT - Crespo


looking good

---censored for gross stupidity by myself ---

I think it is likely that Sheva will play, maybe not the full game but at least 45 minutes. I predict that 2 out of Kaka, Gattuso, Pirlo and Seedorf will be rested and that Rui and Ambrosini will take their spots. Hopefully Coloccini may get a shot at starting the game if Nesta or Maldini are rested.

How is Shaktar doing in their league?

Originally Posted by Henrik

I don't think Milan will field a "second string" team against Palermo. 1) It is an away game 2) Palermo just beat Sampdoria, and are no pushovers 3) We can't afford to slip further behind Juve.

4) this is a Coppa Italia match

sorry, I should have pointed that out in the thread's title....now it is

My bad, I retract point #3, I still think we won't field a pure reserves team, but Sheva will likely get a rest.

Well, players like San Paolo, Cafu, Pirlo, Kaka and Sheva for example could really use a rest. Besides, few of our 'reserves' play like reserves, the likes of Brocchi, Sergio, Dhorasoo, Kaladze, Billy and Rui for example, have been showing some convincing performances, even if only for few minutes, sometimes playing better than those they were replacing ....our 'reserve team' is more like a 2nd 1st team

The biggest concern is obviously the reserve strikers, who just seem to have forgotten how to score
I wouldn't be concerned at all if the defense and midfield got a complete rest. Don't think it will happen though.

Originally Posted by Henrik

The biggest concern is obviously the reserve strikers, who just seem to have forgotten how to score

true, it is in these matches that they should be given more opportunities to find their scoring touch...in Serie A matches Sheva MUST play.

When is the match?

Palermo - Milan

Sabato
20/11/2004
ore 21.00

all matches can be found here
OTTAVI DI FINALE - ANDATA

http://www.lega-calcio.it/ita/timc_secondafase.shtml

so what is our fixture list for the next few weeks? its hard to keep up they are coming thick and fast

there is an international break next wk...Italy was supposed to play China..however due to China's Asia World Cup qualification stage...the friendly is cancelled and the Serie A gets to have a 1 week break!!~

Originally Posted by Shmikes

so what is our fixture list for the next few weeks? its hard to keep up they are coming thick and fast

Italy has a friendly this week against Finland if I am not wrong...not that it matters much, because coach Lippi didn't call any player from Milan anyway. I don't know what the other European countries' schedules look like for this week, but as for our South Americans, they will be busy with the South American qualifiers to be played between Tuesday and Thursday.

Milan resumes on Saturday against Palermo in the Coppa Italia. After that we have a game against Shakthar for the Champions League. Then, on the 28th (two weeks from now) Serie A resumes, and we play Chievo away, while Juve visits Inter....then, well, you can check the Serie A and CL calendar threads

Milan will be fielding a team of second string players for this game, and I'm expecting a draw. Palermo are tough cookies at home and Milan can't score without Sheva. It's time Crespo & co prove me wrong.

I doubt most channels will be showing this game, cause 20 Nov is also the day of El Superclasico (Barca - Real) in Spain, probably Europe's biggest game that week.

Originally Posted by Goirre

I don't know what the other European countries' schedules look like for this week, but as for our South Americans, they will be busy with the South American qualifiers to be played between Tuesday and Thursday.

The Brazilians will travel to Equador and will face really tough competition there. Pekerman cut Crespo from the squad that will play against Venezuela - just Coloccini will be in the line-up - so, against Palermo, Crespo will have another chance to find his long lost form. Sooner or later he'll start to score because he really knows how to do it and has good players to feed him.
Van Basten didn't call Seedorf and I don't know if Tomasson and Sheva will be involved in European qualifiers. Hope not.
If not, the more likely is a Crespo-Tomasson attack against Palermo; the second squad on the pitch and some youngster from the Primavera squad on the bench.
RAI International will show the game?

Originally Posted by Goirre

Abbiati

Simic - San Billy - Coloccini - Kaladze

Brocchi - Ambro - Serginho

Rui

JDT - Crespo

seems to be second team... I wonder what we want from this match - if a victory we need Sheva or Palermo player to score, cuz no one of this squad can do that...