How to beat Milan

[Joe Le Toff]

And what did Milan do when we crammed the midfield, taking out Pirlo? They brought on Serginho to attack down the left...bypassing central mid cause then understood we were too strong there...

Then SG played right back...
And we won.

[Lecter]

Imagine a fully fit Kewell on the left at the same time! What a difference that would make.

Kewell has to start then get injured

Hes our lucky charm in finals

[Rich]

I suspect we'll start with a flexible 4-5-1, and change to 3 at the back if required, i.e. chasing the game. I can't imagine Rafa settling for 3 at the back from the start, seems a little gung-ho for me.

[CAD]

If you read Rafa's comments on 2005 above its highly likely we will flood the midfield (ie play 5 in there)

Whether that means playing 3 at the back or 1 upfront I'm not too sure though

Knowing Rafa a 4-5-1 is much more likely though. Basically a 4-4-2 with Kuyt working hard down the midfield to begin with and Crouch on top.

3-5-2 to start with is not Rafas style in a big game like this.

I can't fcuking wait for this one!!!

[CAD]

Kewell has to start then get injured

Hes our lucky charm in finals

[CAD]

I suspect we'll start with a flexible 4-5-1, and change to 3 at the back if required, i.e. chasing the game. I can't imagine Rafa settling for 3 at the back from the start, seems a little gung-ho for me.

Two great minds, huh?

[breffniboy]

Two great fallacies were exposed in Milan:

One, that Ferguson is a 'great' manager. Not so. His achievements match the best, granted, but time and time again his lack of tactical acumen and reliance on gung-ho attack is cruelly exposed. One Champions League final and one lucky victory after eons in charge and oodles of Premiership triumphs/CL campaigns show that the purple-nosed one isn't up to the job at the very highest level. Two finals from three tilts at the thing show that Rafa is the boss man in Europe, end of.

And how DARE Fergie send Rafa Benitez a tactical breakdown of how we won in 2005. If ever there was an example of a lesser man seeking glory by belated association in hindsight, this was it.

Two, that Ronaldo is a great player. It's one thing doing it at Sheffield United, quite another against Milan. His head went after ten minutes. Trying early flicks that didn't come off, in a typical display of vanity that shows how he too over-estimates his own ability and sees the game as a vehicle for aggrandising his own inflated sense of himself as opposed to a team sport where individuals form part of a group. He epitomised why Liverpool will do a much better job against Milan than the Mancs did. We are much more of a team and work harder.

If we work from front to back like demons, with players like Kuyt and Masher and most crucially of all, one of the keenest tactical minds in our dugout plotting and planning, I'm certain that we can bring home number six. United's almost embarrassing naivete made Milan look better than they are, when we take them on it will be a different story. As such they will go in as favourites depsite us having disposed of Barca and Chelsea, and I simply cannot think of a better way to be going into a final.

[marcus50bucks]

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

If we are to press Gattuso, would you choose Sissoko to do that job?

[CAD]

If we are to press Gattuso, would you choose Sissoko to do that job?

Not in a million years

[Lecter]

Not in a million years

Sissoko is the more effective "reducer" but he cant pass water nevermind a football

I think Rafa will go with Mascherano & Alonso with Momo on the bench

[Shaggy]

Two great fallacies were exposed in Milan:

One, that Ferguson is a 'great' manager. Not so. His achievements match the best, granted, but time and time again his lack of tactical acumen and reliance on gung-ho attack is cruelly exposed. One Champions League final and one lucky victory after eons in charge and oodles of Premiership triumphs/CL campaigns show that the purple-nosed one isn't up to the job at the very highest level. Two finals from three tilts at the thing show that Rafa is the boss man in Europe, end of.

And how DARE Fergie send Rafa Benitez a tactical breakdown of how we won in 2005. If ever there was an example of a lesser man seeking glory by belated association in hindsight, this was it.

Two, that Ronaldo is a great player. It's one thing doing it at Sheffield United, quite another against Milan. His head went after ten minutes. Trying early flicks that didn't come off, in a typical display of vanity that shows how he too over-estimates his own ability and sees the game as a vehicle for aggrandising his own inflated sense of himself as opposed to a team sport where individuals form part of a group. He epitomised why Liverpool will do a much better job against Milan than the Mancs did. We are much more of a team and work harder.

If we work from front to back like demons, with players like Kuyt and Masher and most crucially of all, one of the keenest tactical minds in our dugout plotting and planning, I'm certain that we can bring home number six. United's almost embarrassing naivete made Milan look better than they are, when we take them on it will be a different story. As such they will go in as favourites depsite us having disposed of Barca and Chelsea, and I simply cannot think of a better way to be going into a final.

Beautiful post mate.

[nigecardiff]

Two great fallacies were exposed in Milan:

One, that Ferguson is a 'great' manager. Not so. His achievements match the best, granted, but time and time again his lack of tactical acumen and reliance on gung-ho attack is cruelly exposed. One Champions League final and one lucky victory after eons in charge and oodles of Premiership triumphs/CL campaigns show that the purple-nosed one isn't up to the job at the very highest level. Two finals from three tilts at the thing show that Rafa is the boss man in Europe, end of.

And how DARE Fergie send Rafa Benitez a tactical breakdown of how we won in 2005. If ever there was an example of a lesser man seeking glory by belated association in hindsight, this was it.

Two, that Ronaldo is a great player. It's one thing doing it at Sheffield United, quite another against Milan. His head went after ten minutes. Trying early flicks that didn't come off, in a typical display of vanity that shows how he too over-estimates his own ability and sees the game as a vehicle for aggrandising his own inflated sense of himself as opposed to a team sport where individuals form part of a group. He epitomised why Liverpool will do a much better job against Milan than the Mancs did. We are much more of a team and work harder.

If we work from front to back like demons, with players like Kuyt and Masher and most crucially of all, one of the keenest tactical minds in our dugout plotting and planning, I'm certain that we can bring home number six. United's almost embarrassing naivete made Milan look better than they are, when we take them on it will be a different story. As such they will go in as favourites depsite us having disposed of Barca and Chelsea, and I simply cannot think of a better way to be going into a final.

spot on mate

[Resu]

Good post, but I`m not sure I agree with everything.
Slur hasn`t figured CL, but he sure is the master of PL.
To say he isn`t a great manager is is just wrong IMO

[murder_inc]

One thing i did notice last night, after 60 minutes Milan started to look very tired. They looked like they had burnt themselves out so if we can keep them running their hearts out for 60 minutes then we can go for the kill in the last 30.

[breffniboy]

Good post, but I`m not sure I agree with everything.
Slur hasn`t figured CL, but he sure is the master of PL.
To say he isn`t a great manager is is just wrong IMO

Premiership mastery is not an achievement to belittle and in Fergie's case, I certainly wouldn't belittle it when we're this long without a title ourselves.

But time and time again he has gone at Europe, has immense experience in the competition but yet sends his team out to play in such a naive almost schoolboy manner as last night. To me, despite his obvious strengths as a manager, he just never has and never will measure up when pitted against the very best managers in the game at the highest level where the demands on all facets of managership are tested. The record bears me out. One CL title, a fortunate one at that, and one final appearance in how many attempts, 13/14? Compared to Rafa, he languishes in a very sorry ha'penny place...