Semi final - Manchester United vs AC Milan

If Milan had their top 4 defenders out, they would have played

Kaladze - Simic - Bonera - Cafu

(with young Antonelli to spare)

It wouldn't be too bad, as we saw in the weekend - mainly coz Milan's main defence hasn't been working too well this season anyways. Also, If Gila is out and Inzaghi plays, its still the same. Milan rely on Kaka and Pirlo, injuries to them would hurt Milan very much.

Anyways, thats a pointless discussion. Important thing is that ManU can still score against Milan, you have your midfield intact... and Milan's defence is not in top form defensively.

Rez wrote:

bluenine wrote:You are going overboard, as usual. ManU will have some players fit for the second leg, and just have to hold on for a close result at home.

(in hindsight) ManU were lucky to play the first leg at home. Injuries or no injuries, Milan will be cautious at OT and that will work in your favour. Even if Milan win by an odd goal, ManU will have players back to play their game at San Siro - not easy, but against this Milan its possible.

I would say its 55-45 in Milan's favour.

Tweedle wrote:I put this 70:30 in Milan's favour.

Quite hoenstly if they can;t beat this Utd side then they don't have a hope in hell of beating Chelsea (who I think will beat Liverpool) in the final and in all honesty wouldn't deserve to be there

If Milan had their whole first choice defence out, plus two other back up defenders and no Gilardino, I would put the tie 70-30 in uniteds favour. I think we may get Neville back, but Vidic, Ferdinand and Saha wont be back. Our defence is shocking at the momemt and Kaka will have a feild day. Ronaldo and Rooney will have to play the game of their lives to give us a chance.

Agree with blue, attackwise Janko>Oddo.

Odd may have a great cross on him but he ain't particularly fast or unpredictable - Janko is obth of these and more - he'll also be up against Fletcher in comparison to oddo who'll be up against Heinze.

I know who'd I prefer to face if i was a pacy left back

Heinze?

Fletcher is amazing where ever he plays, Tweedle.

This fat girl at work ate her sandwiches at 11am this morning then went out and bought a fucking McDonalds. I'm still in shock.

When will they learn?! Its not glandular

Whats that got to do with Man Utd and Milan?

Funny though.

I assumed that by posting a comment saying that fletcher was decent in any position he plays, that anything goes in this thread

Rez wrote:

bluenine wrote:I ve been sayin this all along, Milan have the luck of the devil in europe this season!!!

To top it all, they have just found form, right in time for the big CL games and the crunch Serie A games!!

I think ManU are also paying a bit for a weaker squad depth. For a top team, they need another quality striker and a quality DM to have a complete squad. but no one could have planned for the injuries in defence (and thats one area where you actually have squad depth!). Just like Inter, we have 3 quality DMs, and all 3 were injured for the valencia game!! Sometimes in a KO competition, luck plays a big role.

Rez wrote:

bluenine wrote:TBH, I never really believed in Gila, even at Parma... I thought he was good, but not as good as he was made out to be. I still think Milan should ve gone for Iaquinta instead. Gila is more like Pippo, while Iaquinta is more like Vieri (tho not as good).

Looking forward to the game too - it will be exciting, so much better than the same ol Chelsea vs Pool thing (yaaaawn). ManU like to attack and will try to speeden up the game, while Milan also like to attack, but will probably try to lower the pace a little and try to dictate in the midfield. Its a contest, would have been more fun if Rio, Vidic, Saha, and Ronaldo were playing

Not so sure about the Ronaldo bit. I cant believe in our biggest CL game in 5 years we are going to have to rely on Oshea, Brown, Fletcher and Smith. Seriously I cant beieve this injury crisis, we finally get to the CL SF and this happens. It was going to be hard with our first team, but with this team its nigh on impossible.

Are AC Milan the luckiest team in the world, get reinstated in the CL, then get the easiest group in the CL, then draw Celtic, then Bayern (who probably wont even qualify for the CL) and now play a injury ravaged united team.

The squad depth is weak in midfield, but its strange that the position we have the least cover has been relatively injury free. We have 6 defenders out, no team in Europe have the squad depth to cope with 6 injured defenders.

Both teams have been very lucky this season. Manu didn't replace rvn but managed to replace the goals through cronaldo, and somehow they have survived the tougher games when their midfield has been overcome. Milan have been poor up front (loss of sheva) and their midfield has overcome that, however pirlo, gattuso etc have not been as good as usual and it is mainly down to seedorf although all the credit is going to kaka. Although everyone is pointing to kaka, if you leave seedorf alone at the moment he will beat you or create something, and he tackles back (the most complete midfielder at Milan, even though he is known to be "lazy").

Liverpool and chelsea both had tougher ties in previous rounds, chelsea having the toughest group as well.

Liverpool and Chelsea have had tougher draws than us. We have had tougher draws than Milan. But what I was saying is that in the CL everything seems to be going for them and now they are playing a semi final against a team with half the first team out and 13 fit players in the squad. I dont think I have seen a team in the CL get so lucky.

I really hate this tedious word 'luck' when talking about the champions league.

There's nothing lucky about finishing in the top places in your domestic league, going through qualifiying rounds if neccisary and then playing in a competition involving (effectively) 32 of the best teams in Europe.

most ties will be hard games, no one has had it lucky, especially not any of the semi finalists

Luis wrote:I really hate this tedious word 'luck' when talking about the champions league.

There's nothing lucky about finishing in the top places in your domestic league, going through qualifiying rounds if neccisary and then playing in a competition involving (effectively) 32 of the best teams in Europe.

most ties will be hard games, no one has had it lucky, especially not any of the semi finalists

Did you just sleep during your final in 04/05 then? Or maybe against us as well, when the ball "crossed" the line. Thats called luck.

Ballack wrote:

Luis wrote:I really hate this tedious word 'luck' when talking about the champions league.

There's nothing lucky about finishing in the top places in your domestic league, going through qualifiying rounds if neccisary and then playing in a competition involving (effectively) 32 of the best teams in Europe.

most ties will be hard games, no one has had it lucky, especially not any of the semi finalists

Did you just sleep during your final in 04/05 then? Or maybe against us as well, when the ball "crossed" the line. Thats called luck.

Chelsea fans are so predictable

Luis wrote:

Ballack wrote:

Luis wrote:I really hate this tedious word 'luck' when talking about the champions league.

There's nothing lucky about finishing in the top places in your domestic league, going through qualifiying rounds if neccisary and then playing in a competition involving (effectively) 32 of the best teams in Europe.

most ties will be hard games, no one has had it lucky, especially not any of the semi finalists

Did you just sleep during your final in 04/05 then? Or maybe against us as well, when the ball "crossed" the line. Thats called luck.

Chelsea fans are so predictable

Liverpool fans are so clueless.

MANCHESTER UNITED-MILAN: I CONVOCATI ROSSONERI


Sono 25 i convocati rossoneri di Carlo Ancelotti:

PORTIERI: Dida, Kalac, Fiori e Storari.

DIFENSORI: Bonera, Cafu, Costacurta, Favalli, Jankulovski, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo, Serginho e Simic.

CENTROCAMPISTI: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo e Seedorf.

ATTACCANTI: Gilardino, Inzaghi e R. Oliveira.

Costacurta could be my dad. And the grandad of Ballack. Frightening.

How Man Utd and Milan match up

Manchester United are out to avoid a third Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Italian side Milan when the two sides meet at Old Trafford.

With both sides packed with talent - Kaka, Alberto Gilardino, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to name but a few - the scene is set for an epic tussle over two legs.

Alberto Zaccheroni enjoyed a successful career in Serie A - leading unheralded Udinese to third place in 1998 and then moving to Milan and helping them win the title the following season.

Here Zaccheroni shares his insights on how the two giant sides will prepare for the match.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6583495.stm

blutgraetsche wrote:Costacurta could be my dad. And the grandad of Ballack. Frightening.

Wow. But hes not German, so he couldnt be either of our relatives.

He is OLD

Rai Krol 14 wrote:How Man Utd and Milan match up

Manchester United are out to avoid a third Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Italian side Milan when the two sides meet at Old Trafford.

With both sides packed with talent - Kaka, Alberto Gilardino, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to name but a few - the scene is set for an epic tussle over two legs.

Alberto Zaccheroni enjoyed a successful career in Serie A - leading unheralded Udinese to third place in 1998 and then moving to Milan and helping them win the title the following season.

Here Zaccheroni shares his insights on how the two giant sides will prepare for the match.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6583495.stm

don't listen to Zac, he's utterly clueless

Only 10 outfield players fit for Mondays training?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD3SxT9ne0w&mode=related&search=

Good build up to the game.

Ballack wrote:

Luis wrote:I really hate this tedious word 'luck' when talking about the champions league.

There's nothing lucky about finishing in the top places in your domestic league, going through qualifiying rounds if neccisary and then playing in a competition involving (effectively) 32 of the best teams in Europe.

most ties will be hard games, no one has had it lucky, especially not any of the semi finalists

Did you just sleep during your final in 04/05 then? Or maybe against us as well, when the ball "crossed" the line. Thats called luck.

You still haven't drawn me that picture of cech marching off the pitch in front of a triumphant Kop and gerrard tucking away the penalty

Now that was luck for chelsea

But anyway bring your tears over to the deja vu thread. it's where all the chelsea moaning belongs

Rez wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vD3SxT9ne0w&mode=related&search=

Good build up to the game.

Quality. Its like the hype build up from Sky but better

let's hope Gila's new look will bring him luck!

BoBo Vieri wrote:

Rai Krol 14 wrote:How Man Utd and Milan match up

Manchester United are out to avoid a third Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Italian side Milan when the two sides meet at Old Trafford.

With both sides packed with talent - Kaka, Alberto Gilardino, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney to name but a few - the scene is set for an epic tussle over two legs.

Alberto Zaccheroni enjoyed a successful career in Serie A - leading unheralded Udinese to third place in 1998 and then moving to Milan and helping them win the title the following season.

Here Zaccheroni shares his insights on how the two giant sides will prepare for the match.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6583495.stm

don't listen to Zac, he's utterly clueless

Luis wrote:

Ballack wrote:

Luis wrote:I really hate this tedious word 'luck' when talking about the champions league.

There's nothing lucky about finishing in the top places in your domestic league, going through qualifiying rounds if neccisary and then playing in a competition involving (effectively) 32 of the best teams in Europe.

most ties will be hard games, no one has had it lucky, especially not any of the semi finalists

Did you just sleep during your final in 04/05 then? Or maybe against us as well, when the ball "crossed" the line. Thats called luck.

Chelsea fans are so predictable

Ironic that you're talking about being predictable, when your weekly contribution to the Spanish discussions on this forum are "madrid will win la liga" and "villa or etoo are coming to liverpool in the summer".


Nothing lucky about finishing in the top places, sure, but it's lucky for you that you were 5th and still begged your way and got let back into it the next year.

Even I'll admit that we got lucky with the ref missing Sheva's goal and called a "foul" on Puyol (wouldn't necessarily have changed the result, but anything can happen).

There is definitely luck involved in winning the CL and any cup competition. It's called luck of the champions.

Just thought id mention the fact that U*d have never knocked Milan out of Europe the only English team that have are Spurs, Chelsea, Liverpool and.................MANCHESTER CITY !!!

It was after our games against Milan that we started having red and black strips for our away kit.

Utd are royally fucked. do they even have a full first XI fit?

I'm guessing Utd will adopt a similar formation to that against Roma.

This has many pluses for Utd in that it'll make their two most important players very difficult to pick up and Smith will put the effort in up front and work the back line.

I think Ole will be on the bench and will be the only player to have played in the premier league this season. The rest of the bench is from the youth/reserve team. So its not looking good.

I see two things possibly happening, either Milan see the defensive problems as an opportunity to kill the game and attack or they remain cautious and sit back waiting for an opening/mistake to materialise.

If they attack us, it could be good as Gilardino isnt that clinical and it would give more space for Rooney/Ronaldo/Giggs to exploit.

However if they play with caution and by some miracle Brown/Oshea dont make any mistakes, 0-0 would be a good result, considering the circumstances. Thats assuming that Neville/Park/Saha are fit for the second leg.

Best of luck Manchester fans

I'm going to drive up to the city and meet some Milanese frineds and watch the match in one of the Italian sports bars, so catch up with you all tomorrow!

Enjoy the match!

MILAN MILAN SOLO CON TE!!!!!!!

AVANTI RAGAZZI!!!!

I'm going to sit at home in my flat and watch it in peace while my girlfriends out with our frends tat don't like football

I'm kinda looking forward to it, though nowhere near as much as I was the Q/F for obvious reasons, all of which were incidentally proved right

The Man U make-shift back 4 will have to put in the performance of their lives to ensure that Milan do not sneak in a crucial away goal.
But in my opinion Rooney, Ronaldo & Smith(if plays) will have to capitalise on any chance that they get to put the pressure on Milan & force them to play defensively