PSG vs Ajaccio

Will be played tomorrow (friday).Carlo has confirmed that Lucas will be a starter.Matuidi went off injured in the last game,so I guess Verrati will start too

Probable lineup:
--------------Sirigu--------------
-Jallet-TS---Alex/Sakho-Max
-Lucas--Motta-Verrati-Lavezzi
---------Menez----Ibra----------

if matuidi can't go, it will be chantome or sissoko. The role is mostly ball recovery. Verrati can't do that...

good for lucas. i hope he benches pastore permanently.

Matuidi is playing. Pastore may be playing too with Menez getting a rest...

Probable lineup:
Sirigu
Jallet-Silva-Sakho-Maxwell
Motta-Matuidi
Lucas-Pastore-Lavezzi
Ibra

Great initiative to start the thread Regis.

I'm quite surprised that Carlo who in some ways is a pragmatist when it comes to youth, is actually starting Lucas in his first Ligue 1 appearance. Either Lucas is impressing the gaffer quite a lot in training, or Menez is being Menez, or that Carlo is finally loosening himself when it comes to giving the youth chances.

Its great to see Matudi back after hobbling off in his last game. I would line-up like this.

Sirigu
-Jallet-Thiago-Sakho-Maxwell-
Menez-Motta-Matudi-Lavezzi
Pastore
Zlatan

Backline is obvious given the lack of fullback depth while Sakho needs to start more often.

Menez doesn't deserve to be benched given how vital he has been this season. Lucas simply should not start given how fresh he is to the team tactics, communication and of course the Ligue 1. He should come on from the bench. Motta and Matudi to continue their silk n' steel combination as Verrati must continue to recover from his burnout/loss in confidence coming off the bench near the end of the game. Lavezzi is obvious.

Pastore? Don't hate on me Sports as his recent form in Ligue 1 suggests he deserves to play behind Ibra at the moment in order to see if he can turn it around.

Ajaccio despite being 13th is quite a tough team as they also are only 5 points from 6th.

Carlo trained the team hard as I heard over the winter as they cannot take this game lightly.

Its not clear if Pastore or Menez will get benched.I think it will be Pastore.I'm not even sure where Lucas will play since Carlo has highlighted that he can also play in the middle.

A couple of notes....

Carlo said that Lucas needs to learn the system and the players. He can play anywhere... but "we already know he can play on the right side". Seems to indicate he will be on the right.

I agree that benching Menez is a bit unfair. But he can't play through the middle. His passing is not that good imo. His key strength is to attack a side with speed and dribbling. That's why i would personally play Pastore because, despite being an utter disgrace, he can play the middle creative role.

Who know though lol.

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/watch/162705/1/watch-paris-saint-germain-vs-ac-ajaccio.html

Stream for anybody interested in watching this game.

Since there obviously isn't going to be chat (thanks,red) I'll join you guys to discuss it over here. Don't abandon me my amici

I'm liking what Zlatan is doing. Its obvious he wants Lucas to fit in as Ibra consistently seems to drift wide to help Lucas overlap and thus providing him passes to open space. Typical of his leadership since coming to Paris.

PSG so far in 2nd gear but in control despite Ajaccio looking up for it.

PSG playing with a very nice tempo.They are pressing for that 1st goal at the moment..2 goal scoring opportunities ,one being a clear cut one which Motta failed to convert.Its just a matter of time before they score.

Paris in full control now. Ibra dropping deep to help Matudi make his new tendency of in box runs. Lucas is drifting too wide yet showing his obvious capabilities and already forming an understanding with Ibra. Motta the best player so far in taking control of the midfield while Lavezzi has been magic.

Lucas being a little naive with the ball but making up for it with excellent work rate which surely will go down with Carlo.

If I may be frank he is influencing the game more than Pastore.

Jallet doing excellent to go down the flank and linking up with Matudi.

Goal should be coming soon.

I think it would be better for PSG to move Lavezzi on the left flank to add a bit more width as it is being wasted at the moment with Pastore adding little substance to his game.

I agree since the players are cutting in far to much. Pastore seems to be constricting Ibra in his favourite positions as I never really understood the point of Pastore supporting Ibra. There is no need and it just restricts Ibra of the freedom he wants.

Better to play Lucas off of him ala Pato/Robinho while Lavezzi and Menez wide. Pastore pls go.

Fantastic ball from Motta who has been the best player on the pitch so far..Ibrahimovic misses a sitter there.

Motta has been excellent indeed. Completely controlling the game.

Matudi hobbling for the second time today. Carlo shouldn't take such a risk on him and needs to sub him.

Paris also taking a risk with the fullbacks pushing up so high as Ajaccio looking to counter that on the break.

Entertaining game so far.

Lucas is not playing as a actual winger,hes almost playing AM,Carlo certainly told him to do that because Lucas always positioned himself a la Valencia (from United)

Ibra has been pretty poor so far

What Lucas seems to be doing is drifting in from outwide into the centre while Pastore moves back to supply balls onto the oncoming fullbacks.

Ibra has been good in creating chances yet shouldn't have missed that sitter. This complacency is typical of him after the winter break tbh

Drama at the Parc Des Princes..Motta sent off !

Horrible tackle from him..Deserved red imo.

WOW. Paris are well and truly screwed.

Ironically Motta was their best player today and the lynchpin of the midfield. Without him it'll be very difficult to control the game. Pastore will have to drop deeper with Ibra having to be restricted to hold up play.

Huge mistake by Motta.

Motta very tough tackle, deserved it.Lucas off I guess

A small summary of the game so far:

-Ibra although has done ok has looked lazy and unmotivated out there imo..So typical of him lol.You could clearly see with some of the lazy touches he had and also scuffing a clear goal scoring opportunity.

-PSG have looked considerably better ever since Lavezzi has been moved to the flanks.Not seen much from Moura so far in this half apart from a few fancy touches here and there.

-Credit to Ajaccio..Some organized gritty defending from them.They have done exceedingly well to hold out PSG's ferocious attack.PSG have their work cut out now and i'm sure Ajaccio would be delighted to take a point home from this game.Expect them to see more or less the same tactics from them in the 2nd half too.

Carlo will likely stick to a 4-4-1 or just compact the midfield back to a 4-3-2 as he usually did in Milan when down ten men. Tactically Lucas will have to be sacrificed although I'd just sub out Pastore for Verrati and give a midfield control advantage.

Shouldn't be too difficult given that Carlo is the master when having 10 men.

And excellent half time summary Surag. Resonates my thoughts.

Predictable sub from Carlo.Pastore is OFF and Chantome is ON.