<strong><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/SSC_Napoli.svg_.png"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-12911" title="SSC_Napoli.svg" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/SSC_Napoli.svg_.png" alt="" width="100" height="100" /></a><a href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/it-ac-milan.png"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-10290" title="it-ac-milan" src="http://www.thehardtackle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/it-ac-milan.png" alt="" width="100" height="100" /></a></strong> <strong> </strong> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>NAPOLI</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>v</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>AC MILAN</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Stadio San Paolo</em>, <em>Naples, Italy</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;">26<sup>th</sup> October 2010, 00:15 Hrs, IST</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">After a heartbreak at the <em>Bernabeu</em>, Milan travel to the city of <em>Naples</em> on Monday to face the <em>Parthenope</em>.<em> Walter Mazzari’s</em> side must be kicking themselves after they played a goalless draw against <em>Liverpool</em> in the Europa League. <em>AC Milan</em> on the other must be desperate to close in on Lazio who went 5 points clear after beating Cagliari 2-1 today. The Rossoneri are in a spot of bother with injuries to <em>Ronaldinho</em> and <em>Thiago Silva</em> and would be hoping that Inter drop some points against Sampdoria.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">The Warning</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;">Manager Max Allegri has given an<em> ultimatum</em> to all the players. He has clearly stated that no one in the Milan line-up can take his place for granted. Milan were washed away by<em> Real Madrid</em> earlier this week and his selections have raised some eye brows in the media. He has favoured <em>Seedorf</em> and <em>Gattuso</em> over the likes of <em>Boateng</em>, who has quickly become the fan favourite and Frenchman <em>Flamini</em> who has fully recovered now. The writing is on the wall for the fans. Allegri was being pressurized to play the <em>“old timers”</em> and this is a clear message from the two time “<em>Silver Bench”</em> winner that this persistence cannot be misread as favouritism. Seedorf and Gattuso might find it hard to earn a start in Naples. Injuries have always been an integral part of this Milan team and the absence of Ronaldinho is bound to disturb the team balance. An injury to Abate might be a blessing in disguise as this will mean that Bonera will replace Zambro which gives <em>Sokratis</em> a chance to accompany <em>Nesta</em> in the centre of defence.<em> Robinho</em> has showed his ability to be dynamic but whether he can flourish in the absence of R80 or not, remains to be seen.</p> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Seedorf: Writing is on the wall"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/sports-news-july-2010/image/9391968?term=Seedorf" target="_blank"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9391968/sports-news-july-2010/sports-news-july-2010.jpg?size=500&imageId=9391968" border="0" alt="July 21, 2010 - 06201931 date 20 07 2010 Copyright imago Gribaudi ImagePhoto DB Carnago VA 20 07 2010 raduno Milan Photo Daniele Buffa Image Sports Nella Photo Clarence Seedorf Massimiliano Allegri PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxITA men Football ITA Series A 2010 2011 Carnago Training camps Training Vdig xsk 2010 vertical premiumd." width="300" height="450" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;">Diavolo’s position on the table does not give a fair idea of the problems that the team is facing. They were shown the harsh reality by Mourinho's men in Madrid and even the victories they managed in the league were tricky barring the initial drubbing of<em> Lecce</em>. The way they have fared against the lesser known teams has not gone unnoticed. After signing the <em>“hot shots”</em> Silvio Berlusconi and Adriano Galliani must be wondering what is it that they need to do in order to gain the respect Milan once had.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">The ever attacking<em> 4-3-3</em> has not worked and this might be a good chance for Allegri to start with the dreaded <em>Christmas tree</em> which has been abandoned since<em> Carlo Ancelotti’s</em> days. Pirlo playing deep with support from<em> Boateng</em> and <em>Flamini</em> is his best option that is if he decides not to go for Seedorf.<em> Ibrahimovic</em> will also be tested in this formation as he will have to play the lone striker and Robinho and Pato will need to feed him.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">The Danger Man- <em>El Matador</em></span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><em> </em></span></span></strong> <em>Edinson Cavani</em> is the man that Napoli will be banking on tomorrow. The <em>Uruguayan</em> who was signed on a loan bid from Palermo has already scored 6 goals in the season and is sharing top spot with <em>Samuel Eto’o</em>. The way his electrifying performance stunned Cesena is a reason enough for the Rossoneri to worry about. The <em>Azzuri</em> will be without their captain <em>Paolo Cannavaro</em> who is suspended. Milan think tank will also need to chalk out a strategy to contain the likes of<em> Marek Hamsik</em> and<em> Lavezzi</em> who can be a handful on their day.</p> <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Milan’s possible starting Line-up:</span></strong> <em>Abbiati, Bonera, Nesta, Sokratis, Antonini, Boateng, Pirlo, Flamini,Pato, Robinho, Ibrahimovic</em> <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">Napoli’s possible starting Line-up:</span></strong> <span style="color: #000000;"><em>De Sanctis, Grava, Aronica, Campagnaro, Maggi, Pazienza, Gargano, Dossena, Hamsik, Lavezzi, Cavani</em></span> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span></span></strong> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="302" caption="The Dreaded Christmas Tree Could Be Back"]<img class=" " src="http://this11.com/boards/1287944969969935.jpg" alt="" width="302" height="464" />[/caption] <em> </em> <strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">TheHardTackle’s PREDICTION</span></strong> Napoli<strong> 1-1 </strong>Milan <strong> <span style="color: #ff0000;"> TheHardTackle's PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR</span></strong> <span style="color: #000000;"><em>Kevin-Prince Boateng: </em></span> [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="The real Prince amongst the fans"]<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/ghana-kevin-prince-boateng/image/9287573?term=kevin+prince+boateng" target="_blank"><img style="border: 1px solid black;" src="http://view4.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9287573/ghana-kevin-prince-boateng/ghana-kevin-prince-boateng.jpg?size=500&imageId=9287573" border="0" alt="Ghana's Kevin-Prince Boateng throws his cap to soccer fans during his team's visit to Soweto, July 4, 2010. The Ghanaian national soccer team will return to Accra on Monday. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko (SOUTH AFRICA - Tags: SPORT SOCCER WORLD CUP)" width="400" height="264" /></a>[/caption] <p style="text-align: justify;">The talented Ghanaian has impressed in all the games he has played in Milan colours so far. His mobility has helped to connect the midfield with the forward line. Credit goes to him for becoming the fan favorite in such a short span of time. He must be excited about the warning given by Max Allegri for every player to earn his place as he has by far been the most enthusiastic of all Milan players and with Seedorf on the down side of his career, this match could be his best opportunity to be recognized as a permanent starter.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">TheHardTackle's BLAST FROM THE PAST</span></strong></p> <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"> </span></span></strong> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="640" height="385" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcLjcVInGBc?fs=1&hl=en_GB" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="385" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/VcLjcVInGBc?fs=1&hl=en_GB" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"> </embed></object>