Guess Rafa's tactics for the final...

[Morph]

I think he'll go out to win.

what's your source?

[kurtangle01]

why would you sacrifice our stable back line tho, for the sake of pushing riise up?

furthermore arbeloa would usually only play if meelan went with a left footer on the right hand side

I know where you're coming from but I'm almost certain that Bolo was marked down to play in the final at left midfield, for a few reasons. 1) Experience, 2) Balance, 3) Would Rafa through Kewell right in at the deepend? 4) No way will speedy play from the start. So assuming that Bolo's out we don't really have have much choice at left mid. Rafa would, imho, be more likely to push Riise forward and Arbeloa at left back than put Kewell or speedy in.

Who would you play at left mid?

[kurtangle01]

I think he'll go out to win.

Hello Mark. Sorted for Athens?

[tomasjj]

Okay.

First tactic gives us a really solid spine. Stevie would be able to push forward and suplement the attack but would also be able to help Xabi and Mascherano out with some defensive duties in the middle of the pitch when needed. Playing a 5 man midfield would help us retain our shape in midfield and would hopefully mean that we don't get pulled all over the place from the likes of Seedorf, Pirlo and Kaka. Playing Crouch up front would hopefully mean that we can get the ball out of midfield quickly aswell, if he could hold it up long enough for Stevie, Harry and Pennant to join in. Playing Kewell and Pennat would mean that we could get crosses into the box for Crouch and the rest of the lads to get on the end of.

The second tactic is probably the most likely. It gives us a strong back 4 but also gives us good defensive cover in the wide areas. It might leave us a bit short in the middle though. Playing Crouch and Kuyt would hopefully give Maldini and Nesta some trouble. The work rate of Kuyt closing down and the height of Crouch would hopefully be quite a bit for them to handle. One of the problems I see with this tactic are when Stevie starts to roam we could leave Finnan exposed and as such lose our shape.

Bellamy wouldn't start but could hopefully come on and use his pace to good effect if the Milan defence tire. I wouldn't put Momo naywhere near the the line up unless he is really needed to help defend a lead for 1 minutes or so. Ball retention will be a must against Milan and sadly for Momo he gives the ball away far to much.

Cool.

To your first lineup, the one you say is least likely in your opinion, I reckon swapping Kuyt with SG and putting SG on the right is pretty similar. It gives us fairly the same options imo. I do think that Pennant is not ready for such a game from the off though. So that is why I think SG will be on the right. We will still be able to attack down the flanks. I think this way of play is more likely than your second lineup.

As you point out, the 2nd lineup leaves us stronger on the flanks(mainly left) and a bit softer in the middle, where Milan is very strong. Not much softer though, as Kuyt is as hard a worker as SG. I don't think he will pick Arbeloa though. He has been low on confidence lately.

Rafa being fond of a cautious approach and this being a final, I think he will try to nullify the strong central midfield of Milan.

[tomasjj]

Hello Mark. Sorted for Athens?

Are you going, mate?

[nobbylad]

Hello Mark. Sorted for Athens?

Yes Scott, r u going?

[kurtangle01]

Are you going, mate?

I had a ticket but I've had to sell it because I couldn't afford the flights, new passport and spending money. All in I was looking at £850 and although my mum offered to lend £300 of that I really needed the full £850 in one.

My wife's just had a baby a few months back and is still off work which basically means that she's only earning half of her wages aswell so I couldn't afford to push the boat that much. If she'd been back at work and earning full wages I'd have been fine.

It just came at a bad time for me this year.

[kurtangle01]

Yes Scott, r u going?

No.

Had to sell my ticket.

[dww]

I think Rafa will go for SG on the right.
This is mainly due to Milan being strong up through the middle. Sounds odd, you might say, but with Alonso and Masch in the middle we can stop Kaka and Pirlo from running the play and also release SG down the right or where ever he wants to roam.

I think we will have to keep a good shape. I think Gerrard on the right is probably the best option but he will need to offer more width than he has of late.

One worry is that Masch and Xabi will occupy the same space and get in each others ways, but I reckon Xabi will play a little more advanced. This also depends on how offensively Milan plays from the off.

Actually I think positionally they are both very aware and quite unlikely to get in each others way. My worries about playing them are:
1/ The propencity of both of them to arc the ball across the pitch. I think it leaves us very vulnerable to counter attacks, particularly from a compact side like Milan.
2/ Neither of them are particularly dynamic. I would really like to play an in form Momo - much like against Barcelona he allows us to hustle people all over the pitch without requiring as many players to concentrate on defensive duties.

Now with Zendens injury and Rafas latest comments I think Kewell will start. I think he trusts Kewell more and will choose him before Pennant on the right and SG on the left. It could be that Arbeloa has played better lately though and that Riise will push forward. I would be surprised though. Kewells ball retention is vital against a team of AC Milans capability. Riise, as we know is **** at that. This also lets us keep to players out wide who can keep the ball, beat a man and cross. The only buts being Kewells defensive capacity and SG positional dicipline to help Finnan out. But with Milan usually playing narrow I don't see this as crucial. Our fullbacks will probs sit back though, as Milan strikers/Kaka seek wide positions.

Up front I think it will be Crouch and Kuyt. Not many options there except using SG behind Crouch, but Kuyt will play. Defo. Having Kewell and SG on the flanks will be a plus with those two towers in the middle.

As for the tempo and defensive line I reckon we will just be fairly quick out of the blocks and try to establish control and contain play. Compact as Rafa says, but without risking much. I can see us playing the waiting game, like Rafa tried last time but was outdone by the 1st quick goal. If that happens again I reckon Rafa will be more patient this time and not lunge forward.
I don't think we will sit back with a low defensive line though. That is too dangerous, we want to stop them further up.

I can see us trying to win back the ball high up the pitch for limited periods of time to force break downs and quick attacks. This is very dangerous for Milan and will be decided by how well they can keep the ball and a cool head.

Totally agree. I think Kuyt will probably be detailed to hustle Gattuso when he comes deep.

The key issues will of course be in midfield, mainly between Gattuso/Pirlo and SG/Xabi/Mascher. One of those will sit on Kaka, and I reckon it will be Mascher and Carra combined, dependent on how much Kaka moves...which is usually a lot. He also likes to move out to into the channels, so SG might also be occupied in closing him down.

Kaka is a bugger. I wish he was more ****.

[tomasjj]

I had a ticket but I've had to sell it because I couldn't afford the flights, new passport and spending money. All in I was looking at £850 and although my mum offered to lend £300 of that I really needed the full £850 in one.

My wife's just had a baby a few months back and is still off work which basically means that she's only earning half of her wages aswell so I couldn't afford to push the boat that much. If she'd been back at work and earning full wages I'd have been fine.

It just came at a bad time for me this year.

Well, that's too bad you can't join up, but still, I can truly understand your reasoning. Family comes first.
I remember you getting a little one a while ago. Hope all is well.

[kurtangle01]

Cool.

To your first lineup, the one you say is least likely in your opinion, I reckon swapping Kuyt with SG and putting SG on the right is pretty similar. It gives us fairly the same options imo. I do think that Pennant is not ready for such a game from the off though. So that is why I think SG will be on the right. We will still be able to attack down the flanks. I think this way of play is more likely than your second lineup.

Can you see Rafa putting Kewell in from the start? I'm undecided at the moment. I think if Bolo is fit then he'll play but if not then I'm not 100% certain who'll play.

If it's Kewell no doubt the snipers will be out complaining that he's only made it back because it's a final.

[Morph]

I know where you're coming from but I'm almost certain that Bolo was marked down to play in the final at left midfield, for a few reasons. 1) Experience, 2) Balance, 3) Would Rafa through Kewell right in at the deepend? 4) No way will speedy play from the start. So assuming that Bolo's out we don't really have have much choice at left mid. Rafa would, imho, be more likely to push Riise forward and Arbeloa at left back than put Kewell or speedy in.

Who would you play at left mid?

Up until today I too though Bolo would start but with each interview i read i'm thinking kewell will start, but i'm not sure if Rafa is maybe just trying to keep Ancelotti guessing.

My best guess is that rafa will go with Kewell from the off, I wouldn't upset the back line at the expense of going forward. We can still win the match if it ends 0-0 we can't if we go a goal down is my theory, i'd sooner stop them scoring than go a bit more gung ho. But for me playing Riise and Kewell is the best of both worlds, and maybe when Kewell is tired bring on bolo if he can manage half an hour, what a reversal of fortunes

[kurtangle01]

Well, that's too bad you can't join up, but still, I can truly understand your reasoning. Family comes first.
I remember you getting a little one a while ago. Hope all is well.

Yeah, everything's excellent. He's great fun and at least I'll be able to introduce him to the joys of the European Cup Final. Not that he'll notice, mind.

[tomasjj]

I think we will have to keep a good shape. I think Gerrard on the right is probably the best option but he will need to offer more width than he has of late.



Actually I think positionally they are both very aware and quite unlikely to get in each others way. My worries about playing them are:
1/ The propencity of both of them to arc the ball across the pitch. I think it leaves us very vulnerable to counter attacks, particularly from a compact side like Milan.
2/ Neither of them are particularly dynamic. I would really like to play an in form Momo - much like against Barcelona he allows us to hustle people all over the pitch without requiring as many players to concentrate on defensive duties.



Totally agree. I think Kuyt will probably be detailed to hustle Gattuso when he comes deep.



Kaka is a bugger. I wish he was more ****.

Agree on your points there. Good ones too.
SG needs to offer more width and not go wandering about ALL the time.
Kuyt on Gattuso is a good call. I reckon Kuyt will harass and fight all match on the heels of Pirlo and Gattuso.

Now that you have mentioned it, I am a bit worried about Milan snapping up cross pitch passes, especially from Mascher who has been guilty of a couple of sloppy ones lately. Xabi is also prone to those.

Kaka? Well, thing is, he is much harder to contain than, for instance, Ronny, cause he moves so much. A real challenge that.

edit: oh..and as of Xabi and Maschers lack of dynamics, I liked what I saw from Masch against the Chavs. A lot of work between the lines there.
Gattuso, Seedorf and Pirlo are not that mobile, so I guess they will cope. Kaka is another issue though.

[tomasjj]

Can you see Rafa putting Kewell in from the start? I'm undecided at the moment. I think if Bolo is fit then he'll play but if not then I'm not 100% certain who'll play.

If it's Kewell no doubt the snipers will be out complaining that he's only made it back because it's a final.

Well, I defo think Bolo would have started if fit.
Now, and also considering Rafas comments, I think he is seriously considering it.
Could be Riise and Arbeloa behind him, but that depends on how good Arbeloa is looking in practice, cause he has been a bit dodgy in the last matches.

yup, the shameless snipers will be out, have no doubt. Sigh...