A.C. Milan v Manchester United

I'll be watching to see if Fletch gets pseudo-man-marking duties on Ronaldinho. He excels at taking 'skill' players out of their element. It'd also ease the psychological burden on Rafael (just contain until Fletch arrives) and pressure Milan into relying on a moment of magic. And since donkey-face doesn't really venture into his own half, we'd seldom be worse off numbers-wise in attack.

Park-Evra on the left means no joy for Milan down that brick wall I mean flank. Nani/Valencia-Rafael down the right to counter Milan's resulting focus down their left. Basically Milan have a lot more to worry about than we do. Could be a very pleasant surprise in the making.
 
--------------------Van Der Sar------------------



--Brown----------Rio----------Evans--------Evra--


---------------------Fletcher-------------------


------Nani-------Carrick----Scholes------Park---


------------------------Rooney------------------


Subs: Kuzczak,Rafael, Anderson, Owen, Berbatov, Gibson, Delaet
Formation:4-1-4-1 with Fletcher as holding midfielder. I think it is gona be a really defensive set-up. We will be having 10 player in our half all the time and Rooney in the centre midfield. Try frustrate them and launch conuter attacks if possible. And if that fails, we will rely on set-pices won around the Milan penalty box and corner kicks as our main source of goals.
Prediction: 1-1. Rooney.
 
Beckham almost cost his team a goal today, it's fair to say he hasn't lit up the San siro like he did in his previous return. I wonder if he's even going to start against us.

If Pato isn't fit enough I'd expect him to start RW. His lack of pace isn't a cause of concern to them. He'll just give longer passes as usual. If Beckham does start I reckon Borriello will be isolated up front
 
How did they line up for big games this season? I watched the Real Madrid v AC Milan game, (we're probably at CSKA) they were rubbish until suddenly Madrid let them back in it. Strange match.
 
Do Milan play over the weekend? Probably means we'll be fresher than them for the San Siro.
 
Why hasn't anyone mentioned Seedorf so far? He is one I'd really be afraid of. Always manages to do something in the big games.
 
We will not have the advantage of being fresher then Milan cos Milan played yesterday so they also have some day to rest... But as a players now-days we do have better team then them which was not the case 3 seasons ago...
 
Rooney and Park will be vital for this. We will look to counter and Park and Rooney are always involved in most of our good counter attacking play.
 
van der Sar

Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra

Carrick
Fletcher Scholes
Nani ...................... Park

Rooney


---------------------------------
Foster; Neville; Brown; Anderson; Valencia; Berbatov; Owen​


I don't see us losing this one, we're in great form and should manage a draw at the very least. I'll go for a 1-1 draw with Ferdinand to pop up with the goal for us. :devil:
 
------------------VDS--------------------

Rafael--------Rio--------Evans-------Evra

------- Fletcher---Scholes--Carrick------
Valencia-----------------------------Nani
-----------------Rooney-----------------
 
I really could see this tie going either way. Should be a cracking match in all honesty. Watch it be a shit match that ends 0-0 now.
 
2 days rest advantage is still good, plus our players got two days off yesterday and thursday.

sometimes too long of a rest can do damage. i remember we had a long rest for an important match once and were a bit rusty. i forgot which season it was. we did ok after very little rest for the treble season, and the season where we had to travel to japan. but here's hoping we wont be.
 
We controlled the tie against a better side (Inter) last season. I foresee no problems for us in this match. I think we'll have too much pace for them.
 
I remember everyone saying the same when they battered us.

Completely different circumstances. They were a team at the peak of their powers then. Kaka was the fulcrum. They had Gatusso and Pirlo at the very top of their games as well. The fact that they haven't really re-generated their side is well documented - they've definetly regressed since then.

We, on the other hand, are a far better side than in 2007 - very well versed in European football now.

Also, they don't have the benefit of playing an injury ravaged defence and a generally tired looking United side.
 
Completely different circumstances. They were a team at the peak of their powers then. Kaka was the fulcrum. They had Gatusso and Pirlo at the very top of their games as well. The fact that they haven't really re-generated their side is well documented - they've definetly regressed since then.

We, on the other hand, are a far better side than in 2007 - very well versed in European football now.

Also, they don't have the benefit of playing an injury ravaged defence and a generally tired looking United side.

Spot on. I fancy our chances in this tie.
 
------------------VDS--------------------

Rafael--------Rio--------Evans-------Evra

------- Fletcher---Scholes--Carrick------
Valencia-----------------------------Nani
-----------------Rooney-----------------

VDS
Rafael-Vidic/Brown-Evans-Evra
Fletcher-Carrick-Anderson
Valencia-Nani
Rooney

EDIT: just realised rio can play, him instead of vida/Brown

Valencia and nani are never going to start specially when were away to milan. Its going to be a 4-5-1 and park will definitely start and either nani or valencia will start on the right.
 
Valencia and nani are never going to start specially when were away to milan. Its going to be a 4-5-1 and park will definitely start and either nani or valencia will start on the right.
Agreed. I think most of us can pick 10 of the 11 that will start, with Valencia or Nani being the 11th.
 
Milan made a real meal of even getting out the group stages, their journey stops here. I just can't see us loosing.

Very true, they were lucky to pick up 4 points against Marseille (without even mentioning the Real Madrid matches).They haven't truly dominated a single match
 
Valencia and nani are never going to start specially when were away to milan. Its going to be a 4-5-1 and park will definitely start and either nani or valencia will start on the right.
Seconded.

Rooney
Park - Nani
Fletcher - Scholes - Carrick
Evra - Evans - Ferdinand - Rafael
Van der Sar​

The only ones I can see coming in, would be Brown or Vidic alongside Evans or Anderson instead of Scholes in midfield, but I doubt the latter will happen.
 
Completely different circumstances. They were a team at the peak of their powers then. Kaka was the fulcrum. They had Gatusso and Pirlo at the very top of their games as well. The fact that they haven't really re-generated their side is well documented - they've definetly regressed since then.

We, on the other hand, are a far better side than in 2007 - very well versed in European football now.

Also, they don't have the benefit of playing an injury ravaged defence and a generally tired looking United side.

Exactly.

People forget that we played the match as San Siro with a half fit Vidic and the rest of our first choice defenders were out.

Think with Milan's ageing defense, we are gonna go with Nani on left and Valencia on right.

VDS
Rafael-Rio-Evans-Evra
Fletcher-Carrick
Valencia-Scholes-Nani
Rooney
 
What I will say is, Ronaldinho isnt going to track Rafael coming forward. He and Nani on the same wing could be too much for Milan to handle. Afterall their left back is likely to be Antoninini and he's not that good. If we choose to play on the front foot, Nani and Rafael can dominate that flank and keep Ronaldinho out of the game. We did something similar to Messi a few years ago when we played Ronaldo and Evra on the left against Messi and Zambrotta.

Also I dont like Wes's habit of turning his back to his opponent, and the long way round, which he's started to do again in recent games. You lose a player like Ronaldinho while you're fecking about turning round and you'll leave space for him to play a killer pass.

I'd have Brown turning his back on someone before Rafael sliding into the back of someone anyday. Ronaldiniho is probably as competant at winning the ball as Rafael is anyway, so I'm sure there is no advantage in playing Rafael in a game United are likely to have the minority of the pocession in anyway.

There will be more killer passes getting through due to poor positioning and inexperience than just looking over your shoulder. Rafael defending against Ronaldiniho favours Ronaldiniho in absolutely every department, one on one's, set pieces, crosses, tustles, winning setpieces etc.