So then,

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Odds on Kewell starting and limping off after 20 minutes.

Fair.

Be safe and say 4 to 1.

[tomasjj]

I hope you're not dissing the Kaiser there AF11

No dissing Didi.

[shelly]

Rafa has been knocked out one time in the last four years in Europe.

That was against Benfica. He knows how to play against Milan.

Not sure I like that argument at all AF
Problem with it is that Milan have been to the CL final 3 times in 5 years and making the semis 4 out of 5 of those years...
and sure they have lost:
2004 - they lost to deportivo in QF
2005 - they lost to us
2006 - they lost to Barca
But 2 x they lost because they were overly arrogant and casual
and 2006 they lost to Barca - who were practically unstoppable, but also partially because they had too many players injured. Plus Sheva's goal in nou camp should have stood...

Say wahtever you like, Milan's pedigree is unmistakable.
So is ours, but that argument doesn't hold to say because Rafa knows Europe he has the beating of Milan - Ancelotti can claim the same thing.

If you look at the team Milan had 05 and what they have now then the only difference will probably be that they have Gilardino and Inzaghi upfront instead of Sheva and Crespo. The rest of the team will probably be the same as it was 05 in Istanbul.

No surprises for Rafa.

We have more options than Milan.

Errr..... no.... where on earth did you get that idea?
Not true at all!!!
1) they play a different formation this year than the one used in Istanbul. Due to their lack of good strikers they have mainly be playing the X'mas tree this year, not 4-3-1-2 which means that they will have Ambro playing in CM besides Pirlo, and Gattuso. Seedorf would sit slightly higher of Pirlo, dropping back when necessary. Andrea moves forward when needed as well, since there are 2 not one 2 other midfielders that do the wrecking/tackling role now.

2) their defensive options have changed. you forgot they lost stam didn't you? in that final it was cafu nesta stam maldini
maldini has not played left back for them since that final more or less... meaning it's either Marek or if he recovers serginho.... there's also favalli but he is less favoured, or possibly kala. But this season it's mainly be Marek

Cafu has been dropped in favour of Oddo... more or less. He's lost a lot of his pace. their options there are oddo, cafu and probably bonera, although billy can play there too..
CB: It will be nesta maldini if paolo recovers. otherwise kala or bonera

Midfield yes the core is the same Pirlo, Seedorf and Gattuso,... with the added bite of Ambrosini. remember ambro was injured for the CL final. They have another wrecker in Brocchi

Attacking midfieldwise they have the same one Kaka, but they have added Gourcuff who is not a bad backup to have albeit young and raw.

Their biggest changes come in their strikers... it will be inzaghi, gilardino, or oliveira... probably Gila as first choice...

Unless they switch formations you are going to see one and only striker up there. We have to watch and see if carletto practices using different tactics over the next 3 weeks
If you are expecting the same milan from 2005 you are going to be in for a surprise

Kaka is better now than 05 but we also have a better holding midfielder.

Eh? Didi was one of the best at what he does... Xabi is the same lad....

[SouthAfricaRed]

Stopping them will be easier then stopping Barca.

Momo is boss.

Or Chelski

[AFII]

Not sure I like that argument at all AF
Problem with it is that Milan have been to the CL final 3 times in 5 years and making the semis 4 out of 5 of those years...
and sure they have lost:
2004 - they lost to deportivo in QF
2005 - they lost to us
2006 - they lost to Barca
But 2 x they lost because they were overly arrogant and casual
and 2006 they lost to Barca - who were practically unstoppable, but also partially because they had too many players injured. Plus Sheva's goal in nou camp should have stood...

Say wahtever you like, Milan's pedigree is unmistakable.
So is ours, but that argument doesn't hold to say because Rafa knows Europe he has the beating of Milan - Ancelotti can claim the same thing.



Errr..... no.... where on earth did you get that idea?
Not true at all!!!
1) they play a different formation this year than the one used in Istanbul. Due to their lack of good strikers they have mainly be playing the X'mas tree this year, not 4-3-1-2 which means that they will have Ambro playing in CM besides Pirlo, and Gattuso. Seedorf would sit slightly higher of Pirlo, dropping back when necessary. Andrea moves forward when needed as well, since there are 2 not one 2 other midfielders that do the wrecking/tackling role now.

2) their defensive options have changed. you forgot they lost stam didn't you? in that final it was cafu nesta stam maldini
maldini has not played left back for them since that final more or less... meaning it's either Marek or if he recovers serginho.... there's also favalli but he is less favoured, or possibly kala. But this season it's mainly be Marek

Cafu has been dropped in favour of Oddo... more or less. He's lost a lot of his pace. their options there are oddo, cafu and probably bonera, although billy can play there too..
CB: It will be nesta maldini if paolo recovers. otherwise kala or bonera

Midfield yes the core is the same Pirlo, Seedorf and Gattuso,... with the added bite of Ambrosini. remember ambro was injured for the CL final. They have another wrecker in Brocchi

Attacking midfieldwise they have the same one Kaka, but they have added Gourcuff who is not a bad backup to have albeit young and raw.

Their biggest changes come in their strikers... it will be inzaghi, gilardino, or oliveira... probably Gila as first choice...

Unless they switch formations you are going to see one and only striker up there. We have to watch and see if carletto practices using different tactics over the next 3 weeks
If you are expecting the same milan from 2005 you are going to be in for a surprise



Eh? Didi was one of the best at what he does... Xabi is the same lad....

I know that Milan have changed system this season, at least in Europe and before they signed Ronaldo but they still have more or less the same players.

I meant Mascherano, not Xabi.



Rafa will have his tactics spot on this time from the start.

[mersey86]

I reckon Mascher will pick up Kaka.

Mashed Kaka then?

[SouthAfricaRed]

Here's a quote from Ancelotti tonight that I hope finds its way to our players

"The final will be a fascinating challenge - Liverpool are not as good as Manchester United but they are harder physically."

[einar]

Sounds good to me.

[matycowling1007]

Is it true the bookies have us as favourites ?

[kurtangle01]

Is it true the bookies have us as favourites ?

Yes.

[shelly]

I know that Milan have changed system this season, at least in Europe and before they signed Ronaldo but they still have more or less the same players.

I meant Mascherano, not Xabi.



Rafa will have his tactics spot on this time from the start.

errrrr.... i was pointing out that most of their personnel has changed.. and they don't lack options either. and if their system has changed they aren't the same milan are they?
Tis true they have the same core perhaps but even then they don't play quite in the same positions
ALso remember that same core has been through a ton since, and has shown that they do not crack under pressure. From the WC to calciopoli... and they have matured some...
It's not going to be the same milan at all.

hmmm not sure I will put masher above didi quite yet.... what has he done to prove it? He's more allround player perhaps, but Didi was a specialist at what he does and did it damned well

and i hope to god you are right about rafa getting it right this time from the start... cos we gifted them a three goal lead last time you know and somehow I just don't think this milan will surrender it quite as easily... not if they want revenge

[Iceman]

The English bookies will have us as favorites, because they expect a lot of money to be lashed on them...............their odds for CL finals are "fudged" slightly when and English team is in the final as they will get a lot of sentimental/patriotic bets

[Iceman]

And Milan are only in the competition due to their "punishment" being reduced over the match fixing scandal

Uefa only allowed them back in because they could find no legal reason not to

[Craig_H]

And Milan are only in the competition due to their "punishment" being reduced over the match fixing scandal

Uefa only allowed them back in because they could find no legal reason not to

The CL is a UEFA Competition and entry is by 'invitation' only. UEFA could easily have stopped Milan from being in it, but they're too big a name to omit.

[Iceman]

They actually didnt want any of the teams involved in the match fixing scandal in this years competition, but they couldnt find anything in their rules or european law that could keep them out............ well nothing that might not be subsequently overturned in a court case............ and imagine the chaos that would cause once the competition had started.................Uefa once again went for the "soft" option