AC Milan general spiel 2.0

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Getting back to the general idea of the team Allegri picked:

If he wasn't going to look to keep possession and work the ball out from the back, why did he play two ball-playing central midfielders?

Surely, if he was going to focus on playing a pressing game, he should have picked more mobile, aggressive players? At the very least one would think Nocerino would be a far more appropriate player to play when trying to press than Aquilani.

My general point is that the combination of the players Allegri picked and his game plan just don't add up.

He's picked immobile possession players to play a pressing game and strikers that don't work hard enough to really contribute to the pressing.

That's not to say there are other players who could have made the system a success - just that Milan don't have the players to play that way. Juve, for instance, can have a stab at it because they have guys like Vidal, Marchisio and Pepe who can run around all day (that tactic was very useful against Milan earlier in the season).

Milan are slow and technical and they should have stuck to playing the way they know how to.

They can, of course, decide to sign more mobile players to compete with Barca in the future, but they can't go head to head with Barca in an open game just now.

[RomaShield27]

NESTA BLOW FOR AC MILAN


AC Milan have suffered a blow ahead of Sunday's home game against Chievo with veteran defender Alessandro Nesta ruled out until the new year. Nesta was hurt in Milan's 3-2 midweek Champions League defeat to Barcelona. Tests confirmed Nesta will be sidelined for at least a month with a muscle strain.

Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri, whose side have already progressed to the knockout round of the Champions League, will be hoping Nesta's absence does not hinder his team as they look to extend a six-match unbeaten run in Serie A.

"We cannot fail in the league," Allegri said. "We have to be ready for Sunday's game against Chievo, which will be a difficult one. We need to get as many points as possible in order to arrive into the Christmas break in the best position in the standings."

The Rossoneri were held to a goalless draw by Fiorentina last weekend and lie third in the standings, one point behind leaders Juventus. Milan, who have yet to lose at home in the league this season, will fancy their chances of taking maximum points against a Chievo side that has yet to beat the Rossoneri at the San Siro in Italy's top flight.

However, the men from Verona go into this weekend's match in fine form. Chievo followed their 1-0 triumph over Fiorentina with a 2-1 victory at Catania last weekend. The victory, Chievo's first on their travels this season, lifted them into ninth.

"We are doing well and I'm happy with how my players are performing," said Chievo coach Domenico Di Carlo, whose side also beat Modena 3-0 in midweek to reach the last 16 of the Coppa Italia.

"Now we have to recover because we face a very difficult game on Sunday and we will have to be at our best if we are to take a good result in Milan," he said.

Sergio Pellissier will lead Chievo's attack with the Italian striker looking to score his 100th goal for the club.

[p_maldini_3]

Juve fight Milan for Tevez
By Football Italia staff

Carlos Tevez’s future seems to be in Serie A, but his agent confirms “Milan are the first choice” while Juventus raise their offer.

The Manchester City rebel had a total breakdown in the rapport with manager Roberto Mancini and a January move seems inevitable.

Representative Kia Joorabchian is in Italy at the moment and confirmed negotiations with the Rossoneri are on-going.

“Manchester City authorised me to meet with the Milan directors. Since this summer Carlos has received three offers from Corinthians, Inter and another Italian club, but City turned down Inter’s proposal.

“At the moment Milan are the first choice, as Carlos wants to wear the Rossoneri jersey. I am certain he’d win there, just as he has everywhere else. We have not yet spoken about the economic aspects with Adriano Galliani.

“Carlos’ problem in the Premiershit is not City, but Mancini.”

This morning all the Italian newspapers suggest Milan may have got in there first, but Juventus are mounting a head-on assault to snatch Tevez away.

According to the Gazzetta dello Sport, the Bianconeri have offered €4m wages net to play from January to June.

If the club activates the buy-out clause, then Tevez will have a three-year contract worth €9m per season plus performance-related bonuses.

This is reportedly far superior to the current terms on the table at Milan.
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this is sad, sad news for us. we are desperately in need for some strength and technique in midfield and the bald fuck (haven't heard that in awhile eh?) is barking up tevez's tree. this is the absolute wrong move for us.

all i can think of is that it will be a gateway move to sell pato. the 2 positives i can think of is that tevez does have a sharp eye for goal, and he is an incredible hustler off the ball. i don't mind his style, even though he's a dumbass, but he is not what we need right now. we should be spending this money on a world class midfielder. try to sign nasri from citeh, he's rotting on the bench.

[The MAN]

To the contrary getting Tevez is a solid move for us IMO. We do need some quality in midfield as a priority I agree, but that shouldnt mean we should not look at getting a quality player Tevez on a cut-price deal, it is a chance we shouldnt pass on. Too bad he's cup tied this season, but if we're thinking about being CL contenders for the next few years, then Tevez is a move in the right direction. I don't mind getting rid of Pato, injury issues aside, I have serious issues with his overall attitude and development. He's a lazy player and to top it off, is made of glass.

We definitely need some addition in midfield. I can't help but think Milan will get Montolivo in January for a couple of millions, maybe somebody else too

[San Paolo]

anybody still think Ganso might be on the move come january? i know we were linked all summer with him but Ganso said himself that if he was to move ever it would be in January here as it is the off season in Brazil

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[Brigate Rossonere]

Allegri has said for the formation tonight he is yet to decide between Bonera and Yepes to partner Silva, Ambrosini or van Bommel at DM, Pato or Robinho up front and Antonini or Zambrotta at LB.

Most likely formation:



He also said Mexes and Pippo should both be ready "soon".

[The MAN]

Official Lineup


Amelia

Abate-Thiago Silva-Yepes-Antonini

Aquilani-Van Bommel-Nocerino

Boateng

Ibrahimovic-Pato


Good move to start Pato ahead of Robinho, he's fresh and we need for this sort of post-CL game...not sure who will be captain though...Pato's been at Milan longest though I hope it would be somebody like Thiago however

[RomaShield27]

Where da feck is Mexes?

Thiago Silva as captain?

[Brigate Rossonere]

[Brigate Rossonere]

AC Milan are only behind Barcelona, Bayern Munich & Real Madrid in ball possession % in Europe Top 5 Leagues.

[The MAN]

Well, interestingly enough, I think these are the top 4 teams in this year's CL.....I'd rank us just below these 3 in terms of strongest teams contending for CL, I think those 3 are the top favourites, followed by Milan, followed by a bunch of English clubs then Inter

[p_maldini_3]

we played good football yesterday, but i don't think chievo even showed up. it was a walk in the park. but pato didn't do shit the entire game, he didn't have any other shots other than his right place, right time goal. the kid needs to move around more, be less markable. if tevez comes in january, at least one of pato or robinho should leave, they're both inconsistent to be considered match-winning players.

ps, brigate, can you do something about your signatures? it's just too big man.

[The MAN]

Pato is one lazy fuck, he'll have his monstrous game once every month or two then does jack shit/injured. If Robinho was a little better at finishing he'll our best option upfront probably. For me it's a no comparison, Robinho does everything else, works hard, creates plays, assists and tracks back. Early in the season we struggled without him. Without Pato, on the other hand, we went on a winning streak with no major issues. Robinho's definitely a keeper in my books. We should've cashed in on Pato since last summer if you ask me, while his value is still high. If he's like his value on the market will just plummet more and more.

[vtec]

i miss the good old days when fifth in europe wasn't good enough

[Brigate Rossonere]

[Brigate Rossonere]

You guys reckon we should have a matchday and transfer rumors thread to put some order into this subsection?

[RomaShield27]

[Brigate Rossonere]

Just a suggestion. I am new here and realize that you all know best.

[RomaShield27]

Ah we don't always know best now – well, perhaps us more enlightened Romanisti do, especially when dealing with lowly Milanisti like ye lot – but we're always open for suggestions, so no worries, BR.