Week 17: AC Milan (0) vs AS Roma (1) - 18/12/2010

[Raghav]

I will love Allegri if he starts Strasser even if we lose.

 

[olEe]

I will love Allegri if he starts Strasser even if we lose.

Me too

 

[Congo Powers]

I will love Allegri if he starts Strasser even if we lose.

 

[gaizka22]

Zambrotta's loss can be covered by Antonini, even by Jankulovski or Bonera. Different case with Gattuso. If he can't recover on time, will Allegri move KPB back as holding midfield along with Ambrosini and play Seedorf as AM? Not really something that I'm keen to see since we really need KPB's explosiveness and coming from the midfield to pounce on any cross (like he did with his 2 goals that all came from Ibra's assists from the left). But that's what the real option for me.

Playing Strasser in a game where so much is at stake - not to mention the win will give us at least 6 points buffer until the new year which will surely boost the confidence - is not advisable. Sure Strasser did quite good in the game vs Bologna but coming in as a sub when the team is leading 2-0 is different with starting the match vs tougher team.

Just hope Rino will make it. How he loves this powder-keg game...

 

[joyrider]

we better kick some roman ass, and strasser should lead us to victory

 

[Senatore_M84]

I hope Gattuso can recover cause I think he can control Menez if fit, but if he doesn't it would be great if we play Strasser....

. He can't do what Gattuso does but Strasser is incredibly tactically disapline CM for a 20 year old. Really rare to see a player that young play like that.... Really impresses me.... he will allow pirlo more freedom to move forward (and boateng)

I think Strasser can be the heir to Ambrosini at anchor role as he's a solid passer, strong on ball and reads well...... Maybe has the upside to play more like Yaya, Toulalan or Mikel but I won't get ahead of myself.



Champion

 

[acm55]

Allegri prensa to Strasser if Gattuso does not recover
14/12/2010 12:15 by Peter Mazzara article read 662 times


Rodney Strasser could be the middle third against Roma. Massimiliano Allegri has a great view of the median of Sierra Leone who, against Bologna, it was very disengaged and did not regret what he could to be a master of the role. If Ringhio could not recover for Saturday's race, the Rossoneri could launch the product from the first minute of the nursery Rossoneri confirmed Boateng behind the strikers.
milannews


forza Allegri

and forza Strasser!

 

[GreatKalu]

I got to watch Roma when they came here to Cluj. Their lineup was as follows:

Lobont; Castellini, Burdisso, Mexes, Cassetti; Simplicio, De Rossi, Brighi; Menez, Totti; Bori.

Stand-out players were Menez and Mexes, with Totti and Bori combining well up front. The slickness of their passing and movement from midfield forwards was very impressive.

I don't know who they'll bring in to replace De Rossi, and Vucinic + Juan will bring much more quality. Still, its a team that has a strong central defensive pair, but their main strength remains in the middle. This is why Gattuso I feel would be a huge loss if he doesn't make it.

Anyway, hopefully Stasser can fill his boots. I'm also leaning towards a KPB - Strasser combo, than a Clarence - KPB one. Abate's also matured at RB ... so Stasser won't be completely exposed if he started.

Forza Milan!!!

 

[joyrider]

ranieri and d rossi are lloing forward to beating milan on saturday, but guess what douchebags, we'll send you to roma back with tears and grief

 

[Sod-Lod]

Tuesday 14 December, 2010 Ranieri: 'Beat Milan to change season'

Claudio Ranieri feels a victory over leaders Milan on Saturday “would set up a truly interesting campaign” for Roma.

The Giallorossi have fallen off the Scudetto pace in recent weeks, but have high hopes for their last game of 2010.

“A victory would bring us closer to those who are ‘reachable’ and set up a truly interesting campaign,” said the Coach.

Milan are on 36 points followed by Juventus, Napoli and Lazio on 30. Roma come next on level terms with Parma on 26 points.

“It is an important game for us, because we got back on track after that bad start, are on a positive streak and are facing the Serie A leaders.

“I expect a great performance from Roma in a crucial match. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is, naturally, the one to watch.

“He is proving in every game that he is a stratospheric champion and can find magic in games where there doesn’t seem to be any.”

 

[fredrik9]

Ranieri is a clever coach. He can spot a loss from a mile away.

"He is a stratospheric champion and can find magic in games where there doesn’t seem to be any."

 

[theduck7]

Read an article that Doni would be playing and he's their 3rd choice keeper now? Surely he's not worse than Labont? Only a few seasons back he was attracting some good teams

 

[Revolution]

I'm glad Julio Sergio isn't in goal, but I think Doni is the better of their two backups. Was it last season Sergio got a red card, and Doni came in and made a great penalty save? Doesn't matter, he's a decent keeper, but it's definitely somewhat of an advantage to have Julio Sergio out.

 

[RollingPapers]

Does anyone have a video or more picture about the Milan Christmas Show?

 

[crazy4milan]

I think Strasser can be the heir to Ambrosini at anchor role as he's a solid passer, strong on ball and reads well...... Maybe has the upside to play more like Yaya, Toulalan or Mikel but I won't get ahead of myself.

Yeah I also think he is more destined to be the heir to Ambrossini than the heir to Gattuso. It would be very to watch him start in case Rino doesn't recover, mostly cause the way Milan has been managed in the recent past, Strasser would never be an option, specially in a game vs Roma. The possibility of this is very much welcome, specially considering it would be the most ideal to contain Menez and co. (though if Allegri finds some other option that is more ideal and it works, can't blame him)

 

[Vecchio Ultra]

We didn't win vs Roma in San Siro since 2005-06 season... 3 losses and one draw even, and we don't have Silva, Pato, Zambrotta and Gattuso around this time... I'm not optimistic, I'd take a draw at this point.

Edit: I hope Gattuso makes it, throwing Strasser into starting a big match like this is throwing him to the lions, if he fails the press and fans will eat him alive and he will never be heard of again, we will loan him to Venezia or something, see Papastatophoulos, he made errors during Cesena loss and he never started again

 

[Milan10]

I think Gattuso will make it back in time, but our real concern will be the left side of our defense with Bonera and probably Antonini. I really hope Zambrotta and Gattuso will make it back in time, but I think we can win without them. Frankly, Roma is not that intimidating this year and I think the atmosphere in the San Siro will be electric. This will be our biggest home match since we played Madrid, and I think the fans know that this game is huge for our title challenge. We can effectively eliminate Roma from contention, go 16 points clear of Inter, and potentially add some space between ourselves and Juve (they play at Chievo, IIRC).

I'm so exited (and nervous) to see how our new trequartista performs against better opposition... Boateng was simply impressive last match with his beautiful goal and his passing, so I think he will do just fine against Roma. The great thing about an attack with him, Ibra, and Robinho is that they are always working so hard for each other and at some point you know something had to give. We haven't had an attack like that for several years as Senatore mentioned... Even last year, we only had Borriello working his ass of up top, and it all went to hell whenever be was out...

I'm thinking we should have Ambrosini and Gattuso sit behind Pirlo this match instead of having Pirlo out to the left. I think that would help our defense more than having Pirlo at LCM, Ambro at CM, and Gattuso at RCM... Basically, give Pirlo the freedom to be Left, center, or out to the right, but always have Gattuso and Ambro intercepting passes and defending behind him. What's nice about our current starting XI is that we have two defensive beasts (senatore has shown this to be true in the rumor commode) and also Pirlo, Boateng, Ibrahimovic, and Robinho, who all drop back to aid the defense from time to time.

If we are anywhere near as dominant against Roma as we have been laty, then I'll be pretty confident in our ability to win the Scudetto barring injury. I'm excited and nervous for this match

 

[Revolution]

Roma stand no chance with our current form. Our midfield, even without Gattuso, should definitely overpower theirs. KPB playing behind Ibra and Binho has been amazing in the last two games.

 

[crazy4milan]

We didn't win vs Roma in San Siro since 2005-06 season... 3 losses and one draw even, and we don't have Silva, Pato, Zambrotta and Gattuso around this time... I'm not optimistic, I'd take a draw at this point.

We beat them last year.

 

[Revolution]

We beat them last year.

We sure did: D(10), W(09), L(09), D(09), L(08), L(07)

Not to mention our team is much better than it has been in a long time.

 

[fertygo]

I'm not gonna bitch if we get a drew though.

Consider we lucky if Menez not destroy all of Pirlo, Anto, n Bonera by himself.

 

[Xudong]

Doni is that type of goalie that in one game he is a hero but in another one a zero. Extremely inconsistent. Last game against Bari after he substituted Lobont, he was booed by his own fans throughout the entire second half.

 

[Sven]

I'm not very confident about this game, and I don't know exactly why. Maybe Gattuso is the player who give me more hope and confidence and I always find our team strange without him...
Or maybe because this game is very similar to the game x Juve, I don't know. I just want good news from the rest of the week.

 

[gaizka22]

We beat them last year.

And that win basically saved Leonardo as Milan coach and jump started our chance to challenge for the scudetto as we climbed from 11th place to 2nd place. It also started an incredible run that includes the win vs Real Madrid and the 3-0 win vs Juve (and the 2-0 home loss vs Palermo). Before we grinded to a halt with the loss vs Inter, we scored a whopping 33 goals in 13 games.

We are in better shape vs last year, the players are better and the morale is a lot higher, surely we should do better. I'm a bit worried about the Boriello effect, though.

 

[MilanMB]

I'm not gonna bitch if we get a drew though.

Consider we lucky if Menez not destroy all of Pirlo, Anto, n Bonera by himself.

Even though Menez play is awesome this season (the games I've seen anyway), I heard the commentator at the last Roma game say that he hasn't produced one single point this season (no goals or assist). Can someone confirm this? Because it sounds unlikely.

But if is true, I guess it's good for us. He is a "selfish" player, and selfish players that doesn't produce goals or even assists are IMO bad for the team, especially in a tight game like this.

 

[fertygo]

No, I remember he score awesome goal VS Udinese, n several assist in some match too IIRC.



Btw he's have a shot in there starting line-up is quite late, just about a month ago CMIIW.

Wiki said he have 2 goal n 3 assist.

But he just in another world since became starter. constantly tearing opposition defense just by himself n make striker like Borrielo have lot of space.

 

[MilanMB]

I thought so...

Yeah, he's been really great this season, he has such a flow with the ball. Antonini and the midfield is going to have a tough job against him.

 

[fertygo]

Off topic

@Vecchio Ultra
can u activate your PM ?

 

[Patistico]

If Roma are smart their attack will be centered on moving the ball left to right in midfield. As our midfielders come out to mark them, they will run another midfielder/FB into the open space. In the end, they will have the ball open on the wing or 1v1 vs Antonini.

 

[Vecchio Ultra]

We beat them last year.

Wasn't it 2-2 last year? We were 0-2 down at HT and then came back to 2-2 if I remember correctly, or was that the year before? Ugh, I'm getting memory loss from old age lol