Ok � What about Milan�

[SkippyjonJones]

Very little talk of them so far. Are too many people thinking that because we have improved since last time then it?ll be easier to beat them. How motivated will they be after last time?

How are they doing this year? Whose likely to be playing for them. How are they gonna try and beat us? Are they a better team? Will they have more fans than last time?

 

 

 

 

Come on you Italian experts (hence not Matty) ? what you got for us?

[Rich Gobey]

Yes.

 

Probably more than usual.

 

Ok, in fairness.

 

Their best eleven.

 

Goals! goals! goals!

 

Than us? maybe.

 

No.

[The Hitman]

What about them?

 

They'll get beat.

[Mike]

they'll batter us for 60 minutes i reckon. we need to keep it tight and still be in it for the last 30.

[Stevie H]

they're better at keeping possession than we are. kaka and seedorf are hard to track, so mascherano will have a busy evening. both their full-backs like to bomb on, and the pairing of gattuso and ambrosini covering them let's them do this.

 

if we start kuyt and crouch up front then kuyt will have to have one eye on pirlo while looking to support crouch as often as possible. need crouchie to have a really big game up against what are frankly f***ing legends in maldini and nesta.

[SkippyjonJones]

Play Bellamy to exploit their lace of pace at the back?

[Flasher]

Milan will be under tons of pressure becasue of last time. They will start really fast I reckon.

 

Pressure may get to them though if they don't score.

[blago]

I would be inclined to start with a 4-2-3-1 formation. They will probably have 5 in midfield themselves and we need to match them there. If we can cut off the supply to Kaka then much of the danger will have been nullified. I would go with Crouch upfront on his own with Gerrard behind or in a free role. I expect Kaka to play kind of on the right of midfield so Iwould play Arbeloe and Riise on that side and let them both take care of shackling him. Kewell and Kuyt can be our impact subs. Rafa will get it right though I'm sure

[Stevie H]

Play Bellamy to exploit their lace of pace at the back?

don't think bellamy would get any space to work in tbh. keep him for later in the game when it might have opened up a bit.

[matty]

Come on you Italian experts (hence not Matty) ? what you got for us?

C^nt.

 

It certainly won't be easy to beat them, they have lots of good players. And for some reasons it will be a very different match to 05. They certainly will have feelings of gaining revenge, because that is part of the Italian mentality - the past is very deeply ingrained into them. this may be to our advantage.

 

On the pitch they've not had a hard season. They stank the league out until January, a combination of having quite a few injuries, and not coping at all with the loss of Shevchenko, who wasn't replaced. They have played most of the season without a good striker. Their top scorers in the league are Gilardino - 12; Kaka - 8; Seedorf - 7; Ronaldo - 7; Oliveira & Inzaghi - 3.

 

They are much fresher than 05, and their season has peaked at the right time. They have even more experience now, and Kaka is approaching his best.

 

Reasons to be optimistic are that I think they are over-reliant on Nesta, Pirlo and Kaka. They have no Crespo and Shevchenko as alternative outlets up the field, and if we isolate Kaka, we'll have a seriously good chance. Their full-backs are good, but we can press them back more easily than we could Cafu & Maldini. Dida also hasn't really got any better since 05.

 

Midfield is obviously their strong point. Seedorf is having a good period, but he and Pirlo will need to find Kaka with regularity. What is crucial is that we don't allow big gaps between our defence and midfield for Kaka Seedorf and Pirlo to run into, especially for the latter two to release Kaka into. Kaka is not averse to the theatrical tumble, and he'll be looking to draw Mascherano into fouling him.

 

The thing about Milan is, they are always under pressure to play attacking football. Their history demands it. This is a strength as well as a weakness. The mancs picked them apart at Old Toilet through pace and exploiting gaps they left. Team selection will be fascinating - Ambrosini could start, meaning quite a protracted midfield battle. I can see an argument for us starting with a five man midfield - with Gerrard supporting a striker when we break, and Masch picking up Kaka, and Alonso sitting.

 

The 2005 final was a freak game. The early goal meant tactics were already f***ed, and they made hay. We've got the game to frustrate Milan and prevent them getting their way as they did at San Siro v Mancs.

[Paul B]

They'll go 3 up by half time leaving us all depressed and cursing our luck. Then some of our fans will start a defiant chorus of YNWA which the team will hear causing Rafa to tell them not to let us down. We'll score pretty early on in the second half, possibly through a Gerrard header then we'll get two more in the next few minutes and beat them on penalties. Course, these things only happen in the maddest fiction and no-one alive would retain their credibility if they wrote such a story.

[_00_deathscar]

They'll go 3 up by half time leaving us all depressed and cursing our luck. Then some of our fans will start a defiant chorus of YNWA which the team will hear causing Rafa to tell them not to let us down. We'll score pretty early on in the second half, possibly through a Gerrard header then we'll get two more in the next few minutes and beat them on penalties. Course, these things only happen in the maddest fiction and no-one alive would retain their credibility if they wrote such a story.

 

Not even worthy of a movie that...no one would believe it.

[SkippyjonJones]

Thank Matty

 

I watched them a couple of times recently ? not enough provide any sort of expertise.

 

They definitely seem to reply on their midfielders to get forward and support the strikers. Seedorf is playing as well as I?ve seen in a couple of years.. and Kaka ? well he is a great player. Seems like a lot of the play goes through him ? much like ronaldinho for Barca so if you stop him pinging the ball around and setting others up then it really retricts their option. With someone picking him up and making sure pirlo doesn?t get time to pinpoint passes from deep then I think they will be left with long balls or running straight at the defense ? neither of which will phase our back line.

 

I can see Gerrard starting on the right ? just to give some defensive cover early to Finnan ? with momo/mash/xabi in the middle (maybe all 3) to block them there.

 

With those 4 covering midfield then we could do with Kewell pushing forward and riise right behind him.. but that means only one striker ? maybe crouch to hold the ball up as any of the midfield can get forward and help / hit them. It think Dida is still a potential weak link ? mentally he is still probably having nightmares about Istanbul and to try to pepper the goal early may totally unsettle him ? meaning their defense may have to stay closer to him and open p gaps in midfield for us to exploit.

 

Their forward line is just nothing close to that of 2 years ago? saying that I bet that t*** inzahgi starts and bloody scores for his first goal in 8 years or something?

[WillG]

Obviously, Kaka will need to be kept under wraps but the player I fear most is Gattusso.

 

He's got a great engine and he's the one player in their side that can really get them up for it (hopefully Stevie will cripple him early doors).

[CaptainXabi]

Obviously, Kaka will need to be kept under wraps but the player I fear most is Gattusso.

 

He's got a great engine and he's the one player in their side that can really get them up for it (hopefully Stevie will cripple him early doors).

Stevie is putting a reducer on Gattuso within the first 5 minutes. No question in my mind.

[Paul B]

Not even worthy of a movie that...no one would believe it.

 

 

Forgive me for suggesting it.

[matty]

Thank Matty

 

I watched them a couple of times recently ? not enough provide any sort of expertise.

 

They definitely seem to reply on their midfielders to get forward and support the strikers. Seedorf is playing as well as I?ve seen in a couple of years.. and Kaka ? well he is a great player. Seems like a lot of the play goes through him ? much like ronaldinho for Barca so if you stop him pinging the ball around and setting others up then it really retricts their option. With someone picking him up and making sure pirlo doesn?t get time to pinpoint passes from deep then I think they will be left with long balls or running straight at the defense ? neither of which will phase our back line.

 

I can see Gerrard starting on the right ? just to give some defensive cover early to Finnan ? with momo/mash/xabi in the middle (maybe all 3) to block them there.

 

With those 4 covering midfield then we could do with Kewell pushing forward and riise right behind him.. but that means only one striker ? maybe crouch to hold the ball up as any of the midfield can get forward and help / hit them. It think Dida is still a potential weak link ? mentally he is still probably having nightmares about Istanbul and to try to pepper the goal early may totally unsettle him ? meaning their defense may have to stay closer to him and open p gaps in midfield for us to exploit.

 

Their forward line is just nothing close to that of 2 years ago? saying that I bet that t*** inzahgi starts and bloody scores for his first goal in 8 years or something?

 

I agree about giving Dida a few shots and crosses early on. This is where Crouch/Kuyt can be very effective. Getting in amongst their defence and worrying them - although Nesta and Maldini rarely appear worried.

 

The latest article I've seen says that Ancelotti is thinking about playing Gilardino and Inzaghi one half each - though that may be er, mind games.

 

I'm concerned about a lack of firepower for us up front though if we go 5 in midfield. I don't really like relying on keeping them to nil, as with players of their ability, it can change v quickly.

[Stevie H]

seedorf has really had one hell of a career hasn't he? and he's still only about 29 or 30.

[Billy Talbot]

Yeah Seedorf...

 

I don't see why people are continually slagging him off. I've seen him play on the telly 10-15 times or so - always looks a good player to me. Creative, strong, great technique, willing even things around him perhaps aren't alright on the night.

 

3 (or is it 4?) European Cup medals with 3 different clubs is incredible and shouldn't be dismissed. Each one of those coaches had him in their winning teams. Never really him play that well for Holland I suppose that might have something to do with it - but then most Dutch players don't turn up on the pitch for Holland.

 

We need to be careful with him as well as Kaka. What we don't want to be pinned back be Seedorf, Kaka and their fullbacks - allowing Pirlo time on the ball.

 

I can deffo see the logic in playing Alonso and Mascherano in the middle. I can also see the logic of playing Alonso, Mascherano, and Momo (mainly on Pirlo). Although Zenden's injury makes this difficult I think, as he would the natural selection on the left of that with a Gerrard free role. I'd not feel comfortable with either Kewell or Gonzo in the formation. The other way would be with Riise at LM, but I think Arbeola has been erratic (and understandably so) since his wonderful displays against Barca.

 

I'm not too worried Gattusso. Gerrard will keep him too busy to be an attacking threat (he says... )

[Guest Greasy Belcher]

I think this game could be a let down in terms of footballing entertainment, both teams will be very cautious. I predict it will be scorless at the end of 90 minutes and then we will either score because the milan pensioners club at the back cant keep up the pace when rafa brings on kewell and bellamy. Or mono or mash will give away a silly free kick on the edge of the box and one of their dead ball experts will bury it. Neither team will come out swinging, Liverpool will be confident of winning if the game is scoreless at halftime. Milan will be confident right from the off.

 

I think if you break it down into player verse player the teams are even. What liverpool have to push them home is the worlds best manager and at least 17,000 of the worlds best vocal support. Milan have revenge as a chariot.

 

Goal,

Both keepers are amonst the world best.

Dida is massive, but Pepe is the shootout king. Milan would be fool hardy to let it go to a penalty shootout

 

Defence

Both well marshalled and give little away. Both sets of defences lack a little in terms of pace at the centre,

but have the nouse to cover for it.

 

Midfield

Probably the two best midfields in world football today. Kaka Seedorf Gattuso or Pirlo vs Gerrard Alonso Momo or Mash

 

Forward

Both teams need to sort the foward line out after star names departed at short notice. Liverpool have the upper hand due to each foward having vastly different attributes and due to the fact that "the real" Ronaldo is cup tied

 

 

My guess is 2-0 to liverpool based purely on a game of pro evo I played on the XBOX a few hours ago.

[Stevie H]

I think this game could be a let down in terms of footballing entertainment, both teams will be very cautious.

 

don't agree with that at all.

[cymrococh]

I think this game could be a let down in terms of footballing entertainment,

F*ck footballing entertainment.

[Guest Greasy Belcher]

we'll thats your opinion and your no longer entitled to it.

[Billy Talbot]

If I wanted entertaining I'd do something less boring instead.

 

Sitting round all day, nervously drinking beer all afternoon to numb the fear of failure... Hardly entertaining is it? My other half will no doubt see it differently...

 

the football?? Who cares? but I reckon it will be ok for the neutral - the last time brings forward a certain spice for everyone watching... If both sides score it will be better for them.

 

I'd be happier with 10-0 in the first 10 minutes.

[Rich Gobey]

I think this game could be a let down in terms of footballing entertainment, both teams will be very cautious.

 

Liverpool 5-4 Alaves

Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool

Milan 3-3 Liverpool

Liverpool 3-3 WH Utd

 

Our ability to keep clean sheets tends to go out of the window somewhat in finals...