futbol_bill wrote:It´s pretty obvious we are starting game pressing and then if we get lead by half, we will go more defensive.

Before we agree to disagree on starting line-up, let's discuss a few items
1. What was our line-up and formation when we have tried the pressing game.
2. Coentrao playing entire game vs Ajax pretty well rules him out of starting line-up although he is more than likely to get into line-up in 2nd half.
3. How bad is Arbeloa. Mou said he only took him off to avoid injury. If he is healthy he is a better fit than either Lass or Coentrao.
4. @Nick, I didn't hear Mou say definitely Lass would be starting only that he will likely play. I still think he will come on in 2nd half when we become more defensive.

I think we are all in agreement that Casillas, Pepe, Ramos, Alonso, Khedira, Di Maria, Benz and CR7 start and Higgy coming on in 2nd half. What is debateable is the exact formation (1st half) and whether or not it contains Ozil, Lass, Arbeloa, Coentrao or Marcelo. I don't see(nor have I seen any comments) about anyone else potentially starting.

By the way, there are a number of survey out today in which Madristras overwhelmingly have said no to trivote (Lass, Khedira, Alonso). We want to take them on head on.

1) we have tried both the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations when pressing, and the only game we did it for a long period of time was in the super copa albeit with a tired DiMaria as well who had just come back from copa america. This time around all of our guys will have been rested for an entire game so they should have sufficient energy to carry it on for at least 3/4 of the game

2) coentrao is another guy i think Mou likes because of his energy, tbh even if he played two games in a row it wouldnt be of an issue for him, not to mention it would have been either Marcelo or Coentrao vs ajax, you just then have to ask yourself the question who can keep up his fitness after that game, and Coentrao is the only valid answer for that question. And Mou before the game against ajax said that some starters would start/play in the clasico, no doubt he was referring to benzema/higuain and Coentrao

3) dont think Arbeloa is fit enough to play this game, we have to remember that he was taken off because he felt discomfort in his leg(he was also a doubt for the clasico anyways according to karanka), and its not like Mou will be begging for him to be fit anyways because i think he has kinda figured out who he needs against either Villa(Coentrao) or Alexis(Lass) if he isnt playing

4) Mou seems to favour Lass against tough oppositions because i think he trusts him more than the other mids/defenders...tbh i wouldnt be suprised seeing him in the trivot and Coentrao as a RB, like we saw against sporting

Another thing..... whats the likeliness of Benzema starting on the wings and Ronaldo as a CF...Benzema is better in the link up play while Ronaldo is a better goalscorer, and if we are playing a trivote then no doubt Ronaldo will be occupying that spot imho

talking about trivot and poll... i think we have played good with a trivot before not necessarily against the sevillas and valencias... but against barca, remember the last time we played a trivot properly was when we won the Copa. if we do indeed play it tonight i hope we put in a masterclass shift and press properly because no doubt if they take the lead it will be very difficult for us to get the ball away from their keeper and defenders who will pass it around in circles

Lastly whats will all of you guys predicting wins for us....

RJFTW ffs

it will be another manita methink

Zealous wrote:Benzema starting is not a 100% thing imo. Higuain might still start depending on how we decide to play...

Benzema would obviously be favoured in a 4-3-3 formation

4-2-3-1 is more open but i think we need a guy to drop deep rather than stay up there, unless Mou has told DiMaria not to defend because he is one of the reasons our strikers gets so many chances