Ascoli - AC Milan (pre-game comments)

First match of the season! against a team that was 6th in Serie B last season....not that we can underestimate them though....if there are any teams that usually trouble us, these are the 'small' ones....besides it is important to have a strong start. This seems the type of game where a 3-men defense would come in handy.

comments? lineups?

let the season begin!.....

!!!FORZA MILAN!!!

Rui Costa has to start. Thats the most important thing.

And we really, really shouldnt think 3 points are in the bag, remember last year againts Livorno?

I`m really eager to see how our line up will look like against Ascoli.I think Carlo could try and experiment a little in any way.I`d like to see 3 man defence and how it`d work.On another hand,i really hope that we won`t underestimate them,because as mentioned above we all know what happens then.And to tell the truth it has happened several times last year(the underestimating thing).However, i just can`t wait for Serie A to start,i`ve missed it and i need my weekly dose of good,proper football

P.S.
Sorry,bit off topic:
Carlos,could we have a sticky thread with a list of all serie a teams and all the players who play in them?
I`m bit ashamed to say but i have no idea who plays for Ascoli apart from Colacone,Bucchi and Monticciolo(if they haven`t been sold).I think i`m not the only one who doesn`t know much about them and that`s why i think such a thread would come in handy.What do you and the rest think?

IMO, the games against the small teams are even more important than the games against the giants. Remember how we lost last season and the one before our 17th scudetto? It was all due to losses and underestimation of the smaller sides. Milan seem to be able to find the mental mindset to beat Juve, Inter, Roma, Man U, Real Madrid, Barcelona etc. But collapse under the weight of mighty Livorno lol.

So, let's start off with 3 points and bag wins against all the minnows. In that way, losing the few games against the giants (if we do) won't affect us as much.

In which colors do Ascoli play?
Cuz you know, we are going to play away from home, and I want to know in which color we will play...

I think red.. but Im not sure

I think we will wear all white.

Yeah. we always seem too struggle against the smaller side. I think carlo should start with the usual 4-3-1-2 and in the second half test the new one with the three defenders.

P.S Rui should at least play 45 min against ascoli.

in the 3 man defence where does cafu play?

in midfield

Originally Posted by ariel

I
P.S.
Sorry,bit off topic:
Carlos,could we have a sticky thread with a list of all serie a teams and all the players who play in them?
I`m bit ashamed to say but i have no idea who plays for Ascoli apart from Colacone,Bucchi and Monticciolo(if they haven`t been sold).I think i`m not the only one who doesn`t know much about them and that`s why i think such a thread would come in handy.What do you and the rest think?

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

there you go d, all teams and their players:d. i think ascoli play in white, but i'm not sure

this is hopefully the team we'll play on sun/sat

-----------------------------dida----------------------------

---------stam--------------nesta---------------maldini


cafu--------gattuso----------------pirlo------------------------jankulovski

-----------------------kaka--------------------------

------------gila---------------------sheva


subs:
rui costa
kalac
ambrosini
seedorf
kaladze
vogel
simic


(vieri i suspended)

Well I hope we win this game but being away and our first game, I called a draw on the "prediction league" thread.

I must say that after we conceded 2 goals to Sampdoria, I do not have as much confidence as I did post the Juve game.

While Samp isnt a baby or minnow, I think we shouldnt have allowed them back into the game, and to equalise...this to me underscores my feeling that we should have done more to reinforce the backline than we have this summer.

Kaka´s return to scoring form is wonderful news, and this will undoubtedly give Carlo some sleepless nights as he debates how to integrate an on form Rui Costa in the middle.

I think starting with a three man defense vs Ascoli would be a mistake, and I would much rather us adopting that formation after a scoreless first half.

I may be incorrect, as I havent seen the highlights, or read any report on the Samp game except for channel4.com and the narrative on acmilan.com...but it appears to me that we may have conceded the 2 goals after changing to the three man defense.

The three man back line for me is something we should draw out of the hat when faced with a goal deficit, or a stubborn defending team...so I do understand Carlo´s experimentation with it vs Samp, but hope that he is not so cavalier when the real deal starts.

What am I saying Carlo being cavalier? Thats like saying Inter will win the Champion´s league!

Ok, so, I believe we will win this game, with a goal from Sheva and Rui Costa, with Kaka being denied only by the woodwork.

Ascoli 0, Milan 2

3-1 to Milan. Shevchenko will get 2, Vieri 1. You heard it here first!

We should start with the 3 man defence, and move to 4 if we take the lead. Makes sense to me.

Originally Posted by m1ke

3-1 to Milan. Shevchenko will get 2, Vieri 1. You heard it here first!

We should start with the 3 man defence, and move to 4 if we take the lead. Makes sense to me.

Vieri can't even play and he will score?