Serie A Week 8: Milan - Roma (18/10/09)

Seems like people have forgoten about this game, or are too busy with other things. Must win for obvious reasons, and I believe we are at least on par with Roma to pose a serious challenge, especially at home. Here's a little preview from football-italia.net

Depending on whom you believe this weekend’s match between Milan and Roma is make or break for Leonardo. The pressure is really on the rookie after just three wins in Serie A and a defeat to Swiss minnows FC Zurich in the Champions League.

Milan were fortunate that a piece of magic from Ronaldinho earned them a point away to Atalanta the weekend before last. However, the arrival of Roma at San Siro offers Leonardo his first real test since Week 2 when Milan were destroyed by Inter.

The last time Milan played at home in Serie A, they were booed and hissed off the pitch after a 0-0 draw with newly promoted Bari. Milanisti will be hoping the international break has given Leonardo time to take a fresh look at his team and its tactics.

Monday’s La Gazzetta dello Sport revealed he had a meeting with Milan’s old guard and that they persuaded him to switch formation from a 4-3-1-2 to a 4-4-2. That will make Milan less adventurous in the attacking third, but they weren’t doing so well there anyway, having scored just four goals in seven games. However, it will make the Rossoneri more compact and that should serve them in good stead against an in form Roma side.

The Giallorossi are unbeaten in Serie A under Claudio Ranieri who replaced Luciano Spalletti after Week 2. They have won three of their last five games in the League and look like challenging for a Champions League spot again.

A lot will hinge on whether Francesco Totti recovers from a knee injury or not, but defensive solidity is perhaps Ranieri’s foremost concern. Roma have yet to keep a clean sheet this season, though their own shift from a 4-3-1-2 to a 4-4-2 has rendered them more secure.

However, when it comes down to mental toughness, the Giallorossi go into this game with a clear advantage over their rivals. Roma have won their last three games at San Siro against Milan in Serie A and deserve to be favourites this weekend.

Keep an eye on: Francesco Totti (Roma) – The 33-year-old is still recovering from a knee injury suffered against Napoli the weekend before last, but news of a return to the Italy set up could well give him a new lease of life, if he needs one that is, what with playing at San Siro.

Last five in Serie A: Milan (D W L D D) Roma (W W D D W)

Last season: Milan 2-3 Roma
Milan (probable): Storari; Abate, Nesta, Kaladze, Zambrotta; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Seedorf; Ronaldinho, Pato

Roma (probable): Doni; Cassetti, Burdisso, Mexes, Riise; Taddei, Pizarro, De Rossi, Perrotta; Totti, Vucinic

Well Mystik, when we were European Champs, the forum was flooded....now we aren't, and not even scudetto contenders, so, of course, the phans are "too busy" or simply, on a Man U, or Real Madrid forum.

I think, unfortunately, that we will again drop points....a loss or a draw is, for me, is written all over this one.

Our attack still won't have sorted its impotence out, and Seedorf, in a moment of sheer brilliance, admits to being a contributary factor to our stunted attack...so I don't see any marked improvement on that front...unless Roma's notoriously porous defense gifts us some goals...which may not happen now under Ranieri.

We can only hope that the change in formation will bring some attacking verve to the team...and some much needed goals!!

FORZA MILAN regardless!!

if we are playing 4-4-2
---------Stoari---------
-Antonini-Nesta-Favali-Zambro
-Abate-Flamini--Pirlo--Janks-
--------Pato-----Huntelaar------

let Flamini play behind Pirlo a bit and let Pirlo move forward a bit and create

i think silva and borriello are both back from their injuries and i think both will start. with the midweek game against madrid some players may sit out.

is there a reason antonini hasn't played once all season. surely he could play RB and move abate to midfield. he can't do any worse than janku

I dont know what to think about this game. All I can do is follow my Milan team, pray and hope that we win. FORZA MILAN

I will watch the game, but like Bosniaco, I don't know either what to think about it.

Originally Posted by pirlofanusa

if we are playing 4-4-2
---------Stoari---------
-Antonini-Nesta-Favali-Zambro
-Abate-Flamini--Pirlo--Janks-
--------Pato-----Huntelaar------

let Flamini play behind Pirlo a bit and let Pirlo move forward a bit and create

no harm trying this , hope to see at least an improvement in our attacking play, its been horrendous so far.. (not to forget other departments too)

a DRAW with an improvement in our play will be sufficient for me.. at least for the moment

Forza Milan.

Originally Posted by edysupriadi

a DRAW with an improvement in our play will be sufficient for me.. at least for the moment

I prefer a win with yet another mediocre performance although I find it's quite unlikely to happen

Originally Posted by pirlofanusa

if we are playing 4-4-2

---------Stoari---------
-Antonini-Nesta-Favali-Zambro
-Abate-Flamini--Pirlo--Janks-
--------Pato-----Huntelaar------

let Flamini play behind Pirlo a bit and let Pirlo move forward a bit and create

Good formation, but I hope that T.Silva will be back for this match.

Forza Milan!!!

If we play well, no way we cant win.

I think Milan will win, then Berlu will come out and say that the team is great, full of champions.....Galli will come out and say that the team played with grit and determinations......fans will be cheering for the team and acted as in the last two months of horrible form was just a phrase......
Then when they play Real, and got their asses hand to them, all of us will be back in our pessimistic mode and say fire the whole team.

For real, I think ROma is a better team currently, not expecting much as I expect this to be another ugly match.

NOt sure does anyone follow NHL here, but the Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager recently came out and told the press that the players need to step up and play harder as the team has not win one game so far this season, and when asked about firing the Coach/manager, he said that if he has to fire someone the coaching staff is at the bottom of the list. And that this is the Coach who was hired by the former GM and not the current GM. I just hope Galli takes notes, as thats the way how GM suppose to act.

If Totti manages to play, and is even @ 75%, we will definately drop points...I will also bet that Vucinic will score (even if we manage a draw/win).

With absoloutely no threat in the attacking phase of our game, Roma will be all over us....they won't hesitate to swarm us on a counter, the minute we lose posession.

There is always hope though...and I do hope we manage a result, as a loss to Roma before we play Madrid isn't something I would like to stomach.

One match at a time though, one match at a time.

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

If Totti manages to play, and is even @ 75%, we will definately drop points...I will also bet that Vucinic will score (even if we manage a draw/win).

With absoloutely no threat in the attacking phase of our game, Roma will be all over us....they won't hesitate to swarm us on a counter, the minute we lose posession.

There is always hope though...and I do hope we manage a result, as a loss to Roma before we play Madrid isn't something I would like to stomach.

One match at a time though, one match at a time.

Totti is almost definitely out as he apparently pulled up in training.

Its another sign of how "low the mighty have fallen" when we have to gain hope for a victory/result from the absence of a key player from the opposition...but as a drowning man clutches at straws, so do I grasp at this instance of "good" fortune.

Well， at least CR9 won't be playing for Real for at least 4 weeks.

Storari - Oddo - Nesta - Silva - Zambrotta - Pirlo - Abate - Ambrosini - Seedorf - Ronaldinho - Pato

This is Gazetta's projected line up and they seem pretty sure that this is going to be it.

I would just put Flamini in Ambrosini's place.