Guess Rafa's tactics for the final...

[WILF]

Now that is interesting mate.

Hmmm... Momo in the lineup, and no Crouch.

How the hell with that pan out?!

-----------Reina
Finnan--Carra--Agger--Riise

--Momo---Masch---Xabi---

------Sg-----Kewell-------
---------Kuyt------------

Doesnt look right imo.

Momo usually plays a bit higher up the pitch doesn't he?

So

...................Pepe.................
Finnan....Carra......Agger.....JAR
...........Alonso.......Masch........
.....SG.........Momo.....Harry.....
..................Dirk...................

Very solid thru the middle, crowds out Kaka, and Momo harassing Pirlo,SG and Harry linking with Dirk, bursting thru the ageing Milan defence at speed

A very safe starting formation from Rafa, with possibilities to change as the match progresses

Well maybe............

[Guest]

i think it is a good line up and i cannot see kaka getting much time on ball with both momo and mascherano at his heels.

And we won't be using long balls with Kuyt upfront.

[Guest]

Momo usually plays a bit higher up the pitch doesn't he?

So

...................Pepe.................
Finnan....Carra......Agger.....JAR
...........Alonso.......Masch........
.....SG.........Momo.....Harry.....
..................Dirk...................

Very solid thru the middle, crowds out Kaka, and Momo harassing Pirlo,SG and Harry linking with Dirk, bursting thru the ageing Milan defence at speed

A very safe starting formation from Rafa, with possibilities to change as the match progresses

Well maybe............

It's more a formation which will try to win the midfield battle and try to keep possession and try to get it back as quickly as possible when we don't have it. It could be very good counter attacking wise if our front players can gel instantly.

[paulc]

That would leave the bench a bit thin on the ground as we'd have no CM cover.

if we lose a cm then we bring on a forward and go 4-4-2

[friedk]

A similar line-up to the team that tore Arsenal to shreds wouldn't surprise me. The last time we played Milan we never had a sniff until we added an extra midfielder. Keeping track of Kaka is key, especially considering he has scored 10 out of their 18 goals this season. Is that a job for Momo?

I don't think Arbeloa will play, I'm could see a line-up of
Reina
Finnan Carra Agger Riise
Pennant Xabi Mascherano(Momo) Kewell(Zenden)
Gerrard
Crouch

Xabi is in his element picking players up out wide and crosses to Crouch will give the Milan defence something they are not used to.

We started in Istanbul with a 5 3 1 1 of
Dudek
Finnan Traore Hyypia Carragher Riise
Gerrard Alonso Kewell
Garcia
Baros

Smicer and Cisse were like for like replacements, but the real difference was Hamman coming on to make it a 4 2 3 1 with Xabi and Didi covering the defence.

Milan's team is difference from 2005 because Kaka is now a support striker, but we are even more changed because we play far wider than we used to. In that final neither Gerrard, Smicer or Garcia offered genuine width, while this time, whoever Rafa picks, I'm sure we will see mainly movement out wide and crosses into the box, which, hopefully, will cause Milan major problems.

[Pacman]

The best way to stop Kaka is to stop the service to him.

When we played Chelsea at Anfield Rafa put Stevie in the middle and I have a sneaking feeling he might do this again. We need to get on top of Pirlo and Seedorf and stop the supply line to Kaka like we did with Lampard at Anfield. If he hasn't got the ball he's pretty much redundant. I think we will press them high up the pitch and try not to give them time to pass.

Milan play narrow so I can see Pennant being on the right hand side trying to use the space available. I would prefer to see Mascher going up against Gattuso. I rate Gattuso but I think a battle between them would be brilliant and I have all the confidence in the world that Mascher would come out on top. The left hand side is a big problem for me with the injury to Zenden if Kewell had played a few more games I'd be much more confident but he is lacking match practice. I don't fance Arbelola at left back he's been out of form the past 3 or 4 weeks so I'd be a bit worried about that.

Up front I would play Bellamy to start off with. Milan aren't the youngest at the back and one this Bellamy does do is move defenders around.

[enema of the state]

I think it could be either one of 2.

Less likely

.......................................Reina
...Finnan................Carra...............Agger ..............Riise
...Pennant..............Xabi................Javier (marking Kaka)Kewell
.......................................Stevie
.......................................Crouch

More likely

.......................................Reina
...Finnan.............Carra.....................Ag ger..............Arbeloa
...Stevie.............Xabi....................Javi er(marking Kaka)Riise
........................Crouch...................K uyt

right second time i reckon with:

.......................................Reina
...Finnan.............Carra.....................Ag ger..............Arbeloa
...Stevie.............Xabi....................Javi er(marking Kaka)Riise
...................................Kuyt
..................................Crouch

if zenden fit then hell get the not at LM with riise going back to LB

[enema of the state]

I kind of wanted to dig a bit deeper than just a lineup thread...just saying like.

A) thats our best team based on current fitness.
B) Milan are inherently defensive - there means of scoring are actually very limited. stop kaka and youve got an excellent chance of shutting them out for 90-120 mins. If we do that, we stand a chance of scoring at some point or at worst winning on pens. Thats our best tactics in terms of likelihood of winning the trophy.
C) if we need to chase the game, well go 3-5-2 as per istanbul

[Diego]

reina
finnan carra agger riise
gerrard mascher alonslo zenden
crouch bellamy

i have a sneaky feeling zenden will be match fit and bells will start.

[tomasjj]

reina
finnan carra agger riise
gerrard mascher alonslo zenden
crouch bellamy

i have a sneaky feeling zenden will be match fit and bells will start.

Kuyt will start, mate.

[Diego]

i know thats logical, and i hope so but benitez surprises us all the time, i think bells will start, might be crouch on the bench. but we play with such a defensive minded midfield that i think we need a fast player to run into spaces...

[simey85]

i think we should go gerrard alonso masher risse across the middle its a very solid mid with risse and stevie not afraid to get forward but also give us the ability to get stuck into their midfield which is their strongest sector!

[Ben_Itez]

I think we should all stop trying to second guess Rafa.....i've just come up with 5 different teams all of which wouldnt surprise me as the starting line up.

Two key things for me though - stopping Kaka (obviously) and Pirlo. I think Masher will be looking after Kaka but i think we've a few options to stop Pirlo (which for me is more key - he's their heartbeat)). Either Gerrard playing as one of a midfield 3 off a single striker, Kuyt as a deep lying striker or Momo again as part of a midfield 3 but like an advanced defensive midfielder. This last option would involve having Gerrard and Kewell as advanced wingers with freedom to roam off a single striker (Kuyt). This would give us (in all options) a spare midfielder to chase down the ball/harass Pirlo and stick to him like glue when he doesnt have the ball hence stopping their usual style of building play.

Think the back 5 is a gimme unless JAR plays left mid, which i doubt, and Arbeloa would come in.

My preferred team:

Reina
Finnan Carra Agger JAR
Gerrard Alonso Masher Kewell
Kuyt
Crouch


Wouldnt be surprised to see Bolo, Pennant or Momo in that side though. With Alonso, Crouch and Kewell the ones likely to be making way.

Cant ****ing wait!!!!

[CAD]

My predictions is as follows:

1) Alonso will be on the bench.
2) Gerrard will be at CM.
3) We will have Pennant and Zenden as our wide players.
4) Crouch will be on top with Kuyt as a hanging striker in what could best be described as a 4-5-1. We will crowed the midfield when Milan are on the ball.
5) Bellars will sub Crouch around 60 min and we will switch to 4-4-2
6) Kewell will sub Zenden around 60 min.
If Alonso comes on he will sub Pennant and Gerrard will move to RM. This will only happen if we go one up IMHO.

Starting lineup:

----------------Reina-------------------------
Finnan-----------Carra-------Agger-----------------Riise
-------------------Mascher---------------------------
Pennant------------Gerrard--------------------------Zenden
---------------------Kuyt---------------------------------
-------------------------Crouch--------------------------

[tomasjj]

Do you really think Rafa will not crowd the midfield with Xabi and Mascher?
Milans strength lies in the central areas of the pitch.