xtremer11
09-15-2007, 10:26 AM
Siena-Milan
Last season Ronaldo was the star of the show with his first goals for Milan in a thrilling 4-3 away victory, but Il Fenomeno won’t be at the Stadio Franchi after a return to Brazil ruled him out for a month.
The Rossoneri have not been able to field the South American at all so far this term and it looks as if they will have to make do without him for a while longer. With Alberto Gilardino continuing to misfire, Pippo Inzaghi giving his best in Europe and Alexandre Pato ineligible until January, Carlo Ancelotti has some tough choices to make.
Their Champions League campaign kicks off on Tuesday against Manuel Rui Costa’s Benfica and they cannot afford another Serie A slip after their 1-1 with Fiorentina. Kaka looks set to take a more pro-active role in support of Gila along with Clarence Seedorf, resting the veteran Inzaghi for the continental competition. Paolo Maldini and Serginho are the other long-term absentees.
Siena are among the favourites to go down this season and two consecutive defeats are not a promising start. Coach Andrea Mandorlini aims to stick with his favoured 4-3-3 system that, although attacking in theory, has given them just one goal in favour and five against. Their record against Milan in this fixture is no more reassuring with one win in April 2005 and three losses.
Enrico Chiesa again seems destined for the bench despite the poor form of Massimo Maccarone and Mario Frick, while Roma youth product Daniele Corvia is bound to feature as a substitute in the second half when legs are tiring. Valerio Bertotto is sidelined with a muscular problem, but Milan-owned Argentine defender Leandro Grimi gets the chance to shine against the club that sent him out on loan.
Siena (probable): Manninger; Alberto, Portanova, Loria, Grimi; Vergassola, Codrea, Galloppa; Frick, Maccarone, De Ceglie
Milan (probable): Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Gilardino
Last news for this game are that Pirlo, Oddo and Kaka will be rested due to their time with the Brazilian and Italian national teams this week
Pick: Although Milan wont play with the optimal starting XI they are far the better team and they will win. Away win
Tottenham - Arsenal
TEAM NEWS
Tottenham
Jol has received a much need boost ahead of the North London derby as Darren Bent and Aaron Lennon have been given the green light to play. Defensive linchpin Ledley King is still recovering after his operation, so new signing Kaboul looks set to continue at the heart of defence. The other notable absentee is Anthony Gardner who is still ruled out with a leg injury.
Squad: Robinson, Chimbonda, Rocha, Zokora, Lee, Taarabt, Malbranque, Jenas, Huddlestone, Bale, Berbatov, Keane, Defoe, Cerny, Stalteri, Lennon, Dawson, Kaboul, Bent.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has mixed injury news ahead of the derby battle with their fierce rivals Spurs. Bacary Sagna is fit again, but William Gallas and a host of others will miss the game. Wenger has ruled out William Gallas (groin) and Philippe Senderos (suspended) so Gilberto is likely to fill in at centre-back alongside the imposing Toure. Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) is also missing and Manuel Almunia will get another chance to stake his claim for the number one spot with Jens Lehmann (elbow) still out.
Squad: Almunia, Fabianski, Hoyte, Clichy, Toure, Traore, Diaby, Denilson, Gilberto, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb, Sagna, Song, Rosicky, Walcott, Adebayor, Eduardo, Bendtner, Van Persie
Pick: Although this is the old (141th) North London derby, i expect an open play by both team. Arsenal have the slight advantage in my opinion, but we have to expect everything by Tottenham (they have the quality but they lack experience), they can win by 3-4 goals or in the same time lose with the same result.
Best bet here will be: Over 2,5 goals, having in my that both teams' weakness is in the defence usually, and having in mind that both team are missing key players in defence. And because i'm a gunner i will go for the away win with the +0.25 AH - small bet (the last time that Spurs beat their fierce rivals was the 7'th of November 1999 )
Last season Ronaldo was the star of the show with his first goals for Milan in a thrilling 4-3 away victory, but Il Fenomeno won’t be at the Stadio Franchi after a return to Brazil ruled him out for a month.
The Rossoneri have not been able to field the South American at all so far this term and it looks as if they will have to make do without him for a while longer. With Alberto Gilardino continuing to misfire, Pippo Inzaghi giving his best in Europe and Alexandre Pato ineligible until January, Carlo Ancelotti has some tough choices to make.
Their Champions League campaign kicks off on Tuesday against Manuel Rui Costa’s Benfica and they cannot afford another Serie A slip after their 1-1 with Fiorentina. Kaka looks set to take a more pro-active role in support of Gila along with Clarence Seedorf, resting the veteran Inzaghi for the continental competition. Paolo Maldini and Serginho are the other long-term absentees.
Siena are among the favourites to go down this season and two consecutive defeats are not a promising start. Coach Andrea Mandorlini aims to stick with his favoured 4-3-3 system that, although attacking in theory, has given them just one goal in favour and five against. Their record against Milan in this fixture is no more reassuring with one win in April 2005 and three losses.
Enrico Chiesa again seems destined for the bench despite the poor form of Massimo Maccarone and Mario Frick, while Roma youth product Daniele Corvia is bound to feature as a substitute in the second half when legs are tiring. Valerio Bertotto is sidelined with a muscular problem, but Milan-owned Argentine defender Leandro Grimi gets the chance to shine against the club that sent him out on loan.
Siena (probable): Manninger; Alberto, Portanova, Loria, Grimi; Vergassola, Codrea, Galloppa; Frick, Maccarone, De Ceglie
Milan (probable): Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Kaka, Seedorf; Gilardino
Last news for this game are that Pirlo, Oddo and Kaka will be rested due to their time with the Brazilian and Italian national teams this week
Pick: Although Milan wont play with the optimal starting XI they are far the better team and they will win. Away win
Tottenham - Arsenal
TEAM NEWS
Tottenham
Jol has received a much need boost ahead of the North London derby as Darren Bent and Aaron Lennon have been given the green light to play. Defensive linchpin Ledley King is still recovering after his operation, so new signing Kaboul looks set to continue at the heart of defence. The other notable absentee is Anthony Gardner who is still ruled out with a leg injury.
Squad: Robinson, Chimbonda, Rocha, Zokora, Lee, Taarabt, Malbranque, Jenas, Huddlestone, Bale, Berbatov, Keane, Defoe, Cerny, Stalteri, Lennon, Dawson, Kaboul, Bent.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has mixed injury news ahead of the derby battle with their fierce rivals Spurs. Bacary Sagna is fit again, but William Gallas and a host of others will miss the game. Wenger has ruled out William Gallas (groin) and Philippe Senderos (suspended) so Gilberto is likely to fill in at centre-back alongside the imposing Toure. Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) is also missing and Manuel Almunia will get another chance to stake his claim for the number one spot with Jens Lehmann (elbow) still out.
Squad: Almunia, Fabianski, Hoyte, Clichy, Toure, Traore, Diaby, Denilson, Gilberto, Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb, Sagna, Song, Rosicky, Walcott, Adebayor, Eduardo, Bendtner, Van Persie
Pick: Although this is the old (141th) North London derby, i expect an open play by both team. Arsenal have the slight advantage in my opinion, but we have to expect everything by Tottenham (they have the quality but they lack experience), they can win by 3-4 goals or in the same time lose with the same result.
Best bet here will be: Over 2,5 goals, having in my that both teams' weakness is in the defence usually, and having in mind that both team are missing key players in defence. And because i'm a gunner i will go for the away win with the +0.25 AH - small bet (the last time that Spurs beat their fierce rivals was the 7'th of November 1999 )