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Champions League MD1: Barcelona vs Milan

14K views 418 replies 76 participants last post by  brickeberg  
#1 ·
Biggest match of matchday 1 right here, as the defending European and Spanish Champions take on the Italian Champions.

Nothing much to say, but getting a result is certainly not impossible.

My line-up:

Abbiati

Abate-Nesta-Thiago Silva-Zambrotta

Nocerino-Van Bommel-Seedorf

Boateng

Ibrahimovic-Cassano​

Zambro needs to come in for Antonini who I thought offered almost nothing in attack vs Lazio and was very shaky against Konko. Can you imagine him against Messi?

Nocerino did well in the last game and I really have hopes of him to at least replicate Gattuso's running that we've been missing so much all these years.

Ibra is never going to be dropped and Cassano is on fire so unfortunately Pato has to miss out again.

Going to be a nice match for the neutral, that's for sure.

FORZA MILAN!
 
#2 ·
TV here is showing Genk-Valencia :groan:
 
#6 ·
We are capable of getting a result, but the most important thing is too match the effort of Barca.

We can't match their collective plays, but our front line is as good as theirs, bar Messi who is on another level.

One DM, One playmaker and box-box in the middle. Not point overloading the middle as it's useless, but if we can get their defenders facing their own goal then we can cause them problems, esp without the def leader Puyol.

Shame not to have Taiwo in def, but we have options like Antonini & Zambro there.

How I'd play

Abbiati
Abate Nesta Silva Zambro
Nocerino Seedorf VB
Boateng Ibra Robinho

Subs: Aqualiani, Cassano, Pato.

We need don't need our main creative mid chasing their wingers and he's always effective in the centre in big games. Pure invention and pace for the subs to hopefully expose spaces left by tiring players.

FORZA MILAN.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Agreed with Jani's lineup. Just 2 points:


1. Taiwo, if recovered, should start over Zambrotta because a Zambro + Seedorf combo on the left flank would really suffer in pace against Sanchez/Pedro + Dani Alves, and we all know how quick Allegri adapt during the game. ;) Otherwise (Taiwo not fully fit), Zambrotta should definitely start over Antonini or Bonera.


2. Boateng left the pitch carrying a shoulder injury in the Lazio game. If he isn't 100% fit by Tuesday, I'd say let's make a bold and brave move and play Cassano at AMC, who's red hot at the moment, to support the Zlatan-Pato duo. Too attacking?? Cassano's workrate seems to have improved a lot. and for balance's sake we still have Nocerino & Bommel for the dirty works. As opposed to having a lot of pitbulls there, maybe fielding more skillful players there to actually play some football would be the way to survive in Nou Camp.



The defence and Abbiati must remain 100% focus during the game.
 
#12 ·
Whatever, I don't care much about this game as long as we keep decent, as in not losing like we did at Deportivo. The important games are the next two games at home against Pilzen and Bate.



Why do you need a Sheva? So he can score a legit goal and the refs disallowed it?
 
#11 ·
Zlatan will sure start. One of Pato and Cassano will start and the other coming off the bench.


Being a huge Ambro fans in the past, I really must point out that his form is pre-season games and the Lazio game are really... alarming. We must drop him for the time being as he has almost no mobility at the moment, that's suicidal against the Xavi, Iniesta and Cesc of this world.


-----Nocerino-----VB-----Seedorf------
----------------Boateng---------------


This is only the way they look on paper. Seedorf and Boa's positions should be more fluid. When defending, Seedorf and Boateng can swap places as Boateng has better pace to chase the Catalans, and for our counter-attacks Seedorf can play some defence splitting pass from a more central position.


But again, if the defence plays the way they did on Friday, we are up for a record beating. They should all step up.
 
#14 ·
To get anything from this match I would try going completely different here and play this"

------------Abbiati-----------

Abate----Tsilva---Yepes---Tawio

--------MVB(DM)------Nocerino(DM)

KPB(RAM)------------Robinho(LAM)-------
---------------------Cassano(SS)
------Zlatan(S)----------------

(4-2-2-1-1)

I really want to see a lot of ball movement between Cassano and Robinho its binho who has the higher work rate and much better ball movement. Having both Pato and Ibra as our attackers would really take away from our game they are just too similar. I would start Yepes ahead of Nesta because Yepes had an amazing game vs Argentina in the Coppa and Im sure he could replicate the same performance vs Barca and Messi. I believe this formation is better suited to counter attacking football.
 
#15 ·
I like Tony's way of thinking, but in reality it is unlikely. Most of the line-up chooses itself apart from who will partner Zlatan.

I belive Capo said in the Lazio match thread that Pato could be considered to start. Considering Cassano's form I think that would be unwise. If Prince isn't 100% I would start all three against Barca.

It's not just the result that is important in this game but the way we approach the match and what we show out there. Also important is what we learn from the match and how we go forward from it. A pity that I cannot watch it because of work.
 
#19 ·
i would play this

Boateng - MvB - Seedorf

Cassano - AA

Ibra

The only way we have a reasonable chance against Barca is if we attack them with the same ferocity in which they attack us..

I think there are only 2 ways to beat Barca
1) Out-muscle their midfield (like Inter did in 2009-10)
2) Play a organised yet very attacking game (i think this is what Allegri wants to do)

As for our lineup i would want Cassano to have more freedom to roam about..AA and Seedorf as box to box midfielders and supporting each other in defense (difficult considering how they denfend but they should just try and mark him our)..Boateng and Abate should be able to address any threat coming from our right side..
 
#23 ·
Very simplistic way of thinking.

You think because Pato is fast he must play and it's unbelievable to think otherwise? So who would you bench in place of Pato? If you say Cassano, you must be out of your mind because Cassano (along with Abate) was our best player against Lazio. Putting the Lazio match aside, he's shown good things for the Azzurri and it is clear that he's going through a great run of form.

The only other option is to play Cassano, Pato and Zlatan together, which knowing Allegri may be too risky, but if Prince wasn't fit enough I think it would be a good choice.
 
#22 ·
Ha ha ha. That cheered me up.

I hope to avoid to watch the match since I wont be in Germany.
 
#31 ·
I am with Johan in this...playing Pato is a must against Barca. Yes Cassano is in form but I can't see us hurting Barca backline with Cassano-Ibra. Either one has to be drop but it won't be Ibra for sure.

But I can't agree that we can't put their mid under presure. Nicotine and Boateng with MVB or Ambro will do the trick.
 
#32 ·
Gazzetta seem sure that Allegri is going to play Pato with Ibra for this game. Their line-up today:

Abbiati

Abate-Nesta-Thiago Silva-Zambrotta

Aquilani-Van Bommel-Seedorf

Boateng

Pato-Ibrahimovic​

I like it.

But I'm just afraid he is being naive by not playing a bit defensive. That midfield should be able to control against most teams.. But against Barca when running and tackling is more needed.. I'm not too sure.
 
#36 ·
For mature audiences

Abate-Nesta-Thiago Silva-Zambrotta

Aquilani-Van Bommel-Seedorf

Boateng

Pato-Ibrahimovic[/center]

I like it.
Seems like like your team consists of 3 kinds of players: OLD washed up players, tried and dumped somewhere(i.e reject of Barca or other), or none of the above (ok just having a bit of fun with you guys before you get all offended) :D ... I'd appreciate a good funny retort. if you have immature easily offendable kids in here, please keep them under restraints for this one.

so then! lets count heads.

Abate(none, who? is this the GK playing defense or another abate)
Nesta(OLD..come on brah, its 2011)
Thiago Silva(none)
Zambrotta(tried and dumped by non-other & OLD)
Aquilani(tried and dumped at liverpool)
Van Bommel(tried and dumped by non-other & OLD)
Seedorf(OLD)
Boateng(none ?)
Pato(none)
Ibrahimovic(tried and dumped by non-other)


Bench:

Cassano(tried and dumped globally)
Robinho(tried and dumped at :yuck: and mancity)
nocerino(wtf, ok 4th category this)

In conclusion

You seem to have a predominance of category: tried and dumped, leading the pack by 6 in total between bench and starting lineup.

4 OLD (either isolated or in combination)

4 none

and 1 wtf

Conclusion # 2

about a quarter of your team consists of players that either we dumped or were otherwise dumped by teams that we regularly spank in recent times... like this :spank: .. how do you expect to get a result :yess: with a group that all suffer from the same disease entity: Camp Nou PTSD :scared: ...

so stay tuned my good friends for the not-so-exciting matchup on tuesday night between: Mighty Barcelona vs survivors of Camp Nou PTSD

:D :D :D

This is a parody post. consider killing yourself if you cant see the funny side
 
#33 ·
Just dont play Ibra guys, he will just walk to the Camp Nou like he usually does in CL.

Best of luck, will be a great game to watch with two best teams facing each other.