How to beat Milan

[CAD]

interesting post

Thanks mate

[Lecter]

I have to say that I disagree with your simplistic evaluation of Gattuso. When Gattuso left the pitch at OT Scholes went from the invisible man to starplayer in 2 mins. Pirlo had nothing on Scholes! Pirlo is not nearly as important as the beast Gattuso. When we look at the shortpassing on the Milan midfield it becomes evident that Gattuso is much more than a waterboy. What makes Gattuso so unique is the ability to do the donkey work better than almost any other footballer alive and have the strength and footballing ability to participate in the game up field. Without Gattuso this team is only Kaka. Without Gattuso, Pirlo and Seedorf disappears. Why is that? Gattuso insures the much needed breaks for both Pirlo and Seedorf. Pirlo is to small to impose himself on the midfield against a team like Liverpool. He doesn't run enough either. Seedorf offers next to nothing defensively. If asked to pull little weight, as he was in the 2nd half at OT, he offers NOTHING forward.

In other words. If we can dominate Gattuso you will see Milan struggle.

How to do this and what line-up might be most effective is another story. Some absolutely ironcast certainties would be that Gerrard must be at CM in a 4-4-2 formation with Kuyt working like he did against Chelsea. Gerrard has the physic, grit and most of all heart we need against Gattuso.

I see Alonso on the bench again and Crouch as the other striker as you say. We need the width Pennant provides. LM will probably go to Zenden, in what could be he's last outing for us. I think we need Riise at LB. Arbeloa is not the answer.

With or without Maldini, I think that Pennant will be key. There will be room for him on the rightside in this game.

I think your first paragraph has basically said what I did in two lines

Gattuso pressed & dominated Scholes, first leg when he went off Scholes got freedom

Last night was the same but its Pirlo that hurts teams with his passing

You only have to look back at what Rafa said circa 25th May 2005 he brought Hamann on to press and close down Pirlo who was dictating the play

You could argue without Gattuso the other midfielders dont have freedom but despite Pirlo's size its him that actually is the playmaker that sets things going

[Resu]

Sissoko's wayward passing is something we can't afford with predators like Seedorf and Kaka ready to pounce.

I think this is why Mascher will play. Momo gives the ball away at least three or four times each match. We can`t afford that vs Milan.

[jimw]

I agree, the key to success is dominating that wacko Gattuso

[tomasjj]

You only have to look back at what Rafa said circa 25th May 2005 he brought Hamann on to press and close down Pirlo who was dictating the play

You could argue without Gattuso the other midfielders dont have freedom but despite Pirlo's size its him that actually is the playmaker that sets things going

Gattuso often gives the ball to Pirlo when he has won it, but I reckon he is more than a water carrier.

And regarding your other point, did Hamann play that high up the pitch so that he pressed Pirlo? I though they were both sitting back further, with Hamann sticking to Kaka. But it is a lon gtime since I saw that game.

[Rich]

I think it's pretty simply, you need to try and dominate Pirlo, Gattuso and Seedorf that way you cut off the supply to Kaka and you win.

[Lecter]

Gattuso often gives the ball to Pirlo when he has won it, but I reckon he is more than a water carrier.

And regarding your other point, did Hamann play that high up the pitch so that he pressed Pirlo? I though they were both sitting back further, with Hamann sticking to Kaka. But it is a lon gtime since I saw that game.

Look for quotes by Benitez round that time

Fairly certain he said the instructions to Hamann were to press Pirlo

If anyone should know you would hope it was the guy who actually made the tactical switch

[CAD]

I think your first paragraph has basically said what I did in two lines

Gattuso pressed & dominated Scholes, first leg when he went off Scholes got freedom

Last night was the same but its Pirlo that hurts teams with his passing

You only have to look back at what Rafa said circa 25th May 2005 he brought Hamann on to press and close down Pirlo who was dictating the play

You could argue without Gattuso the other midfielders dont have freedom but despite Pirlo's size its him that actually is the playmaker that sets things going

I disagree again

Kaka raped us during that first half in 2005. He was the one we shut down with Hamann.

Pirlo is more than controllable if Gattuso isn't there to provide cover.

Last night Gattuso controlled/dictated the tempo just as much as Pirlo. Obviously Pirlo is a starplayer as well but if Gattuso breaks the team breaks IMHO.

[Lecter]

I disagree again

Kaka raped us during that first half in 2005. He was the one we shut down with Hamann.

Pirlo is more than controllable if Gattuso isn't there to provide cover.

Last night Gattuso controlled/dictated the tempo just as much as Pirlo. Obviously Pirlo is a starplayer as well but if Gattuso breaks the team breaks IMHO.

Then write to Benitez and disagree with him because I'm fairly certain he said the plan was to bring on Hamann to press Pirlo

[CAD]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,1492510,00.html

[tomasjj]

Then write to Benitez and disagree with him because I'm fairly certain he said the plan was to bring on Hamann to press Pirlo

Are you sure, cause what Hamann was mainly needed for was to close down Kaka who was receiving the ball in the space between our defense and midfield.

Oh well... gonna watch the game now soon.

[Lecter]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/Colum...492510,00.html

Somewhere there are actual quotes from Benitez

Cant be arsed looking for them but it gave a rundown of what exactly his tactical switch was designed to do

[CAD]

Somewhere there are actual quotes from Benitez

Cant be arsed looking for them but it gave a rundown of what exactly his tactical switch was designed to do

Hamann was sitting too deep to get anywhere near Pirlo. Watch the match again and look at Gerrard and Pirlo in the 2nd half!

"Benítez's brave change of tack leaves Milan in reverse gear


Thursday May 26, 2005
The Guardian


Liverpool's players were magnificent but so was Rafa Benítez with the changes he made. His team would never have come back if he hadn't switched things at half-time.
Benítez was brave going to a 3-2-4-1 but it worked brilliantly. Liverpool could have played all night with the original system and they would not have recovered because Milan were completely in command like that.

Andrea Pirlo was getting on the ball and finding Kaka who was picking out the two strikers, especially Andriy Shevchenko, and Liverpool couldn't get a grip. But that changed when Benítez started playing with two inside forwards - Luis García and Steven Gerrard to begin with - and two wide midfielders.


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I can see why Benítez started with Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in the middle. He probably wanted their energy against Kaka rather than using Didi Hamann. But because Milan were getting such easy possession Gennaro Gattuso and Pirlo were finding Kaka and he was wonderful in the first half.
Benítez's changes made it much harder for Pirlo and Kaka to get in the game. Gerrard and García were either side of Pirlo, so he had more men around him. Also he had to look after one and get Gattuso back to help with the other (see graphic).

That left no one on Alonso and forced Kaka to drop deeper and so he then didn't have the same space to play in. Nor was he getting the service because Pirlo was quickly under pressure and couldn't get the first pass away.

Another critical thing was that Gerrard started making runs off Pirlo which the Italian couldn't cope with because he is not the best defender. Gerrard got into the box to head the first goal and was brought down for the penalty.

Benítez also deserves credit for a switch he made after Milan brought on Serginho on to the left. Serginho was putting in a lot of crosses so the manager got Gerrard to switch with Smicer and play almost as a right wing-back. He knew Smicer could not cope one for one against Serginho whereas Gerrard played that role brilliantly and blocked a lot of crosses.

Did Benítez get it wrong to begin with? When you go 1-0 down so early your tactics can't get settled and the main thing is he reacted well. Milan should never have lost the game from 3-0 up and some of their defending was lackadaisical but Liverpool - and Benítez - deserve huge credit."

[murder_inc]

CAD, super post mate. Everything in there is so spot on.

IMO, as an old Mafia saying goes - To kill the snake you cut off its head.
With Gattuso out of the game you cut off the supply route from Pirlo and Seedorf to Kaka.

I never really realised how integral Gattuso was to the Milan team until the game last week at OT and last night. The man is a ****ing monster and HE will have to be stopped. Full stop.
Yes Pirlo and Seedorf have to be kept a close eye on but not as much as that ****ing beast.

He reminds me of an older Masher

[Lecter]

Hamann was sitting too deep to get anywhere near Pirlo. Watch the match again and look at Gerrard and Pirlo in the 2nd half!

"Benítez's brave change of tack leaves Milan in reverse gear


Thursday May 26, 2005
The Guardian


Liverpool's players were magnificent but so was Rafa Benítez with the changes he made. His team would never have come back if he hadn't switched things at half-time.
Benítez was brave going to a 3-2-4-1 but it worked brilliantly. Liverpool could have played all night with the original system and they would not have recovered because Milan were completely in command like that.

Andrea Pirlo was getting on the ball and finding Kaka who was picking out the two strikers, especially Andriy Shevchenko, and Liverpool couldn't get a grip. But that changed when Benítez started playing with two inside forwards - Luis García and Steven Gerrard to begin with - and two wide midfielders.


Article continues

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I can see why Benítez started with Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in the middle. He probably wanted their energy against Kaka rather than using Didi Hamann. But because Milan were getting such easy possession Gennaro Gattuso and Pirlo were finding Kaka and he was wonderful in the first half.
Benítez's changes made it much harder for Pirlo and Kaka to get in the game. Gerrard and García were either side of Pirlo, so he had more men around him. Also he had to look after one and get Gattuso back to help with the other (see graphic).

That left no one on Alonso and forced Kaka to drop deeper and so he then didn't have the same space to play in. Nor was he getting the service because Pirlo was quickly under pressure and couldn't get the first pass away.

Another critical thing was that Gerrard started making runs off Pirlo which the Italian couldn't cope with because he is not the best defender. Gerrard got into the box to head the first goal and was brought down for the penalty.

Benítez also deserves credit for a switch he made after Milan brought on Serginho on to the left. Serginho was putting in a lot of crosses so the manager got Gerrard to switch with Smicer and play almost as a right wing-back. He knew Smicer could not cope one for one against Serginho whereas Gerrard played that role brilliantly and blocked a lot of crosses.

Did Benítez get it wrong to begin with? When you go 1-0 down so early your tactics can't get settled and the main thing is he reacted well. Milan should never have lost the game from 3-0 up and some of their defending was lackadaisical but Liverpool - and Benítez - deserve huge credit."

Ooops I apologise you were right - its old age I dont know whether its Wembley or Wednesday these days

"I started to write the new formation on the board. I told Traore to get changed and that Hamann was coming on for him. The idea was for Hamann to make Kaka’s life much tougher.