Milan vs Genoa, Jan 6, 2010

Well, I must admit I am a bit surprised and disappointed that with only a couple days to go, we haven't yet opened a thread for the Genoa game...

This is sure to be a tricky fixture, as this is a team who will attack, hopefully we will be in a position to play both 1st choice central defenders, and our wingbacks and keeper put in good shifts.

Huntelaar needs to get some playing time this match, if inly to put him in the shop window....that said, I doubt Leo will take of Boriello vs his "old" team, especially if he is doing well...

Not sure of the injury situation overall, and hope for a win...we are rested, and should be in good condition for this game. 3 points here would be a sure fire morale boost for us, as even with a game in hand, the gap between us and Inter is not "easy on the eye"

FORZA MIIILAN! Let's hope Borriello, Pato, and Huntellar as the super-sub get on the score-sheet!!!

Should be a win, not sure why people are writing Milan out on this one.

MILAN-GENOA: THE CALLED UP ROSSONERI
1/5/2010
MILANELLO - Here are Leonardo's 21 called up players ahead of Milan-Genoa:
Dida, Storari, Antonini, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Abate, Ambrosini, Beckham (n.32), Flamini, Gattuso, Pirlo, Borriello, Di Gennaro, Huntelaar, Inzaghi, Pato, Ronaldinho.
Players not called up: Bonera.
Unavailable players: Abbiati, Oddo, Onyewu, Seedorf.


Apparently Seedorf, Pirlo, and Zambrotta had some minor injuries but the last assessment has cleared both Pirlo & Zambro while Seedorf is not available for this match but hopefully will be for Juve on Sunday.

I read Leo's interview in italian but couldn't find a link to post it here in english so this is the italian link http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/milan...dnotizia=15666

Some of the important things that i understood from this interview was a question about rotation and Leo's awareness that he has to find a way to keep everybody motivated. he talked mainly about 3 players: Abbiati, Kaladze, & Huntelaar

About Abbiati he said that given Dida's excellent form of late it will be very difficult to rotate in the gk position and given that Abbiati didn't even make the bench, i think he may very well be on the move in this transfer window.

About Kaladze he said that he always had some minor injuries since the begining of the season but is now much better. i'm not very convinced but i guess that is the best way Leo can handle this situation given that he has no alternative for CB cover. (Thiago being called, i guess he is ready to start).

As for Huntelaar he said that he got his chances when the team was in its worst moments at the begining of the season and therefore did not have the best situation to show his value which is the exact same point i made in some previous post on this site (not bragging, but i obviously like it when Leo sees things like us fans do )

we have a very long january ahead with matches every 3-4 days
so the importance of a win to start this month is priceless...
i know we are all excited to get to watch Milan play so often but obviously we are all hoping we will not suffer from exhaustion so i guess it's up to Leo to figure out his rotations because there is no better time than this month to do so

FORZA MILAN!!!

Milan - Genoa
LIVE ON ESPN
Stadio Meazza


Italy’s ‘Big Freeze’ meant Milan and Genoa started their Christmas holidays earlier than expected but also on a losing streak.

Both teams face an even more strenuous January, as December’s postponements will now be played on the 20th.

Milan were unbeaten in nine Serie A games until Palermo arrived at San Siro on December 13 and came away with a 2-0 victory.

The Rossoneri’s swashbuckling style of play crashed against walls of Palermo defenders who broke very effectively on the counter attack.

That defeat came at a particularly severe price as Milan lost Thiago Silva to a muscle strain and Inter stretched their lead at the top of Serie A to eight points, although having played a game extra.

The fixture list doesn’t make happy reading for Leonardo with Juventus, Siena, Inter and Fiorentina coming up over the next three weeks.

Wednesday’s opponents Genoa should prove a particularly stiff test especially as, when rested, they are among the best teams in the top flight.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have struggled for consistency this season partly because they were engaged on three fronts for the first half of the campaign.

However, the Rossoblu’s elimination from the Europa League allows them to focus on domestic matters and one wouldn’t bet against Gasperini’s men making a push for fourth place.

Genoa have earned a reputation for playing breath-taking but physically exhausting football and their efforts should be aided by the signing of David Suazo, the Honduran sprinter, from Inter.

They currently lie 11th in Serie A albeit just four points adrift of fourth placed Roma with a game in hand that comes against Bari on January 20.

Keep an eye on: David Beckham (Milan) – The former England captain returns for his second spell on loan with the Rossoneri. While Beckham might not start against Genoa on Wednesday, Leonardo would do well to keep him in mind given he scored a great free kick against them last January.

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

Last season: Milan 1-1 Genoa
Milan (probable): Dida; Zambrotta, Nesta, Kaladze, Antonini; Pirlo, Ambrosini; Seedorf; Pato, Borriello, Ronaldinho

Genoa (probable): Scarpi; Biava, Moretti, Criscito; Rossi, Juric, Zapater, Mesto; Sculli, Crespo, Palacio

Ref: Orsato

football-italia.net

Haven't really had a chance to post...being on holidays and all but one must always make time for Milan games..this game seems like it took forever to arrive. There's rumours that there will be bad weather in Italy again tomorrow so let's hope these games can be played.

Originally Posted by Mystik

football-italia.net

Haven't really had a chance to post...being on holidays and all but one must always make time for Milan games..this game seems like it took forever to arrive. There's rumours that there will be bad weather in Italy again tomorrow so let's hope these games can be played.

Really would be terrible if the game was called of, can't wait to watch Milan again.

Genoa are missing Bochetti and his backup Papastathopoulos, while we're at full strength, finally. So I think we should be able to do well. Gonna be hoping for a bit more magic from Pato and for Dinho to continue like he left of.

FORZA MILAN

^^ Not really full strength. Neither Seedorf, nor Oddo have been called up. Suazo's pace might be a problem if we don't play a well organize defense.

Seedorf is staying home for this one because he's one yellow away from suspension, and is therefore being saved for Juventus next week.

Missed that one. To bad really, on the other hand, I guess this will mean season debut for Beckham, he should be able to go in and directly replace Seedorf. I remember he played one game last season as a Trequartista and it was one of his best games, Seedorf's role in the new system seems to be a bit more withdrawn, which might suit Bechkam so I think he can do very well in that role.

Seedorf out means we will definitely see a new starting 11 even if its only a little different.

I would just go crazy if Leo tried this formation as I think it can be the solution for underperforming Pirlo and the ideal position for Beckham.

--------------- Dida -----------------
Zambrotta - Nesta - Silva - Antonini
---- Beckham ----- Max ------------
------------- Pirlo -------------------
Pato -------- KJH -------------- R80

I'd go for that too, hitmann, but obviously with Borri.

Not long now until we find out...

With Inter beating chievo this morning a win is the only acceptable result from Milan today...no matter which starting 11 is used. a win no matter how... under the current circumstances an ugly win is in order today... FORZA MILAN!!!

Is Pato out for this one?

Yup. No Pato or Seedorf. Not sure if they're really injured, of it's just a precaution ahead of Juve.

Milan (4-2-3-1): Dida; Abate, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Beckham, Pirlo, Ronaldinho, Borriello

Looks like Beckham on the right wing. I actually think this is an improvement over Pato... Pirlo looks likely to play ahead of Gattuso and Max, so that would be fun.

Too defensive in my opinion. Pirlo was supposed to start on the bench in this one (because he's not 100%), with Beckham on Seedorf's place. I think there's no need for Beckham to play a winger because we have both Gattuso and Max, and Huntelaar should finally get his chance with Borriello on Pato's place. We will hardly score with this formation, I thought Leonardo learned the lesson after Palermo...

Too bad for Pato coz now we will lack pace as Beckham, as much as he knows everything there is to know about any position in midfield, simply cannot produce that movement that Pato can to open us spaces and at the same time be a danger in the box.

We need Pirlo to be affective in this game, we need him to play vertically as much as he can. And Rinho is back!

Win is a MUST as if we dont do it we are goind into Juve, Inter and Viola games with -10 and that is most likely the end of scudetto battle.