Milan v Pescara

Should be an easy win for us since Pescara have nothing to play for and they're already relegated. For us, every game is a cup final. I want a full strength (as much as we can) team today. I hear that SES will be rested for the Roma match, but I haven't heard anything on the condition of his ankle, so I assume he is fine. Prince is suspended therefore will play no part, Montolivo is still injured of course as well.

How I want to play

-----------------------Abbiati
Abate----------Zapata-------Mexes--------MDS

----------------------Muntari
--------------Flamini---------Nocerino

--------Balo-------------------------SES
-----------------------Pazzo

How we will probably play

-----------------------Abbiati
Abate----------Zapata--------Mexes---------Constant

-----------------------Muntari
----------------Flamini--------Nocerino

-----------Niang----------------------Robinho
-------------------------Balo

dat midfield

The midfield makes me cringe to be honest

The midfield is so bad, but hopefully we can finish these last 3 games strong and hopefully NEVER see a midfield like that again!

If we're up 2-0, I expect Cristante to come on.

MTD, why do you want Balo to play as a winger? It obviously won't work lol.

Expecting an easy win. Around the 3-0 mark.

Forza Milan.

Casciavit wrote:MTD, why do you want Balo to play as a winger? It obviously won't work lol.

Expecting an easy win. Around the 3-0 mark.

Forza Milan.

Balotelli has played as a left winger 3 times, all resulting in goals.

Despite back-to-back wins, I think we're yet to shake off the tepid performances that have plagued us since April. We went behind twice against Catania and was lucky not to concede against Torino, all the while producing arguably our most anaemic displays in the second half of the season.

We won our first meeting 4-1 but two of them were own goals. Pescara lost ten of their last eleven games with an away draw against Roma being the only time they managed to get a point. However, Torino lost their last three games before meeting us this week and we almost screwed up. That said, they have long lost the will to put up a good fight and merely play because they are obliged to.

Our closest rival Fiorentina will be playing away to Siena who still have a chance to come out of the relegation zone with only two points separating them and the 17th placed Palermo. And as proven by Torino's performance tonight, this can make the game trickier than it seems on paper. I just hope that we don't take our feet off the gas now that we have a four point lead ahead Fiorentina. One slip at this stage of the season could be fatal.

The 23-man squad:

Abbiati, Amelia, Gabriel, Abate, De Sciglio, Mexes, Salamon, Yepes, Zaccardo, Zapata, Ambrosini, Constant, Cristante, Flamini, Muntari, Nocerino, Traoré, Balotelli, El Shaarawy, Niang, Pazzini, Robinho

According to Allegri, we are going to see the same midfield as last game.

Last time Milan played Pescara, Allegri scored and played a huge part in the Baresi own goal.

Epic game

So Monty is out for the rest of the season?

I dont like that midfield, but we'll have to make do, i'd love to see Cristante but i think we're in too deep to give him a start

If Fio lose tonight and we win, then that seal 3rd spot for us. If that happens then i wouldn't mind seeing Cristante being given some chances

But right now we just gotta pull through with what we have

We're not playing at all well, and whilst Pescara are already relegated, they will still want to claim a result in front of their home fans against a big club. Despite this however, I am fully confident that we will win. It might be a torrid match to watch, it might be undeserved, it might be controversially awarded in the 95th minute. Sheer force of will we see us overwhelm them in the end. Whether by brilliance or luck, this is what differentiates the clubs that stay up the top and those that rise and fall. Even when everything is falling apart and we get off to our worst start in 50 years, we pull it together. I don't care how we get the result, but we'll get it.

The main questions concern Boateng's replacement in the line-up, El Shaarawy's fitness and the left back slot. Personally I hope to see Niang on the right and De Sciglio finding space at left back, however I would not be at all surprised to see Robinho lining up. Despite Allegri's recent statements that Pazzini and Balotelli playing in the same starting line-up is a possibility, the fact that we will retain the same midfield from the Torino match suggests to me that this is unlikely, particularly given Boateng's absence.

Our official squad for the match: Abbiati, Amelia, Gabriel, Abate, De Sciglio, Mexes, Salamon, Yepes, Zaccardo, Zapata, Ambrosini, Constant, Cristante, Flamini, Muntari, Nocerino, Traoré, Balotelli, El Shaarawy, Niang, Pazzini, Robinho.

I want to see Cristante get some game time, hopefully we grab a comfortable lead early on to allow him perhaps half an hour to experience Serie A. Pescara's threat on the counter shouldn't be anywhere near as vibrant as Torino's efforts at the weekend, so hopefully Allegri puts his trust in him from the bench.

That midfield is vomit inducing

I think i underestimated how much it needs strengthening in the summer, just as much as the defence in some ways id argue.

Credit to @milanobsession on Twitter

@Mole: I think I remember you saying that you thought that a Hernanes figure was required rather than another source of creativity from the deep, however the acquisition of two quality midfielders is vital in my eyes to provide us with the depth required to fight for a league title. Even given the presence of Montolivo, our midfield remains an incomplete entity. Montolivo, De Jong and two midfielders will give us four quality players in the centre of the park competing for three spots, with Montolivo and De Jong assuming the responsibility in front of the defence depending on our need for either defensive solidarity or offensive urgency. Add into this equation a youngster such as Cristante who will slowly be introduced into the first team as an alternative to Montolivo and Flamini as depth and we will be able to acquire of the consistency and quality required to challenge Juventus for the title. I fear we will fall short in our summer dealings however.

@ SES. Lmao. To be fair to Muntari, he was excellent in his role against Torino, Nocerino was absymal however. I certainly wouldn't want to leave Muntari in front of the defence for long though, he was begging to be sent off in the final quarter of an hour. It's as if he can't manage 90 minutes without scaring Allegri.

Agreed, i feel Nocerino's time here is short. That 7 m to Napoli reported earlier in the season sounds about good right now

There was talk of attempting to include Nocerino in a deal for Inler or Dzemaili, however I would prefer to simply accept a cash deal from Napoli if he must go. Even though I've never rated him as an overall player, I still adore Nocerino as a person and a member of the dressing room, I'd like to see him remain, however he is unlikely to want to rot on the bench, particularly after previously making the squad for Euro 2012. If he must go, I hope we send him to his destination of choice and ease his passage, so 7m to Napoli sounds quite realistic to me, though given their interest in Naingollan I am sceptical about his chances of making the first team there.

El Shaarawy wrote:Agreed, i feel Nocerino's time here is short. That 7 m to Napoli reported earlier in the season sounds about good right now

Truth is , Noce should leave Milan. For the best of both parties. Flamini has outdone him in everything this season and Noce isn't a mediocre player to sit on the bench week in week out. If he joins Napoli , he will establish his place on their team , something he failed to maintain after his first season with us.

dostoevsky wrote:@Mole: I think I remember you saying that you thought that a Hernanes figure was required rather than another source of creativity from the deep, however the acquisition of two quality midfielders is vital in my eyes to provide us with the depth required to fight for a league title. Even given the presence of Montolivo, our midfield remains an incomplete entity. Montolivo, De Jong and two midfielders will give us four quality players in the centre of the park competing for three spots, with Montolivo and De Jong assuming the responsibility in front of the defence depending on our need for either defensive solidarity or offensive urgency. Add into this equation a youngster such as Cristante who will slowly be introduced into the first team as an alternative to Montolivo and Flamini as depth and we will be able to acquire of the consistency and quality required to challenge Juventus for the title. I fear we will fall short in our summer dealings however.

Poli and Hernanes?

Please let it be so. That or we could magically give Boateng some positional sense.

El Shaarawy wrote:



Credit to @milanobsession on Twitter

LOL

Well , we may laugh and all , but it is a good midfield against Pescara. On the rare occasion we may need to press for the ball , it couldn't have been better set up.As for the build up play , i wouldn't worry that much , since they will leave us a lot of space for us to keep the ball away from their box. It won't be champagne football , but with the proper work from the forwards, it will do. It will be a simple win against Pescara , if you ask me.

Up front , i'd like to see Balotelli in the left , if Sharaawy doesn't play from the beginning and Pazzo to start. If Sharaawy is going to play , then the usual. Now , because they won't be having the upper hand obviously , they will look to have numerical superiority near their middle and hope for the mistake , so they can counter. A great choice would be Balotelli dropping back from time to time ,like a trequartista , so he could help expand our connectivity and offer some magic if the chances presents itself.

Otherwise , we follow our game , control the pace and keep possesion and wait for them to allow some space . Either way , we will win Pescara . They lack the will to fight anymore , everything is done for them. One goal and the match is truly over for them.

#PescaraMilan, our XI: Abbiati, Abate, Zapata, Yepes, Constant, Flamini, Muntari, Nocerino, Niang, Balotelli, Robinho.

Milan’s bench: Amelia, Gabriel, Mexes, Salamon, Zaccardo, De Sciglio, Ambrosini, Cristante, Traoré, El Shaarawy, Pazzini.

Niang to net in his first goal

that midfield makes me want to cry

Perin to morph into Oliver Khan for 90 mins

Super Mario scores from the penalty spot! 1-0 to Milan

Oh. My. God. That bit of play between Balo, Robinho and Niang made me jizz a bit, shame Niang couldn't finish it