Summer Mercato 2011

[Best-Pundit]

............. I believe that when Inter Merda beat them over two legs, Iniesta was absent from both games, Barcelona was extremely tired due to valcano affecting their itinerary, Mourinho's "humble" tactics (packing the midfield), and of course luck such as Milito's obvious offside goal and contraversy over Bojan's last minute goal disallowed. I think without any element, that would not have happened.

With all due respect xudong, are you trying to take away the credit of that stunning victory from Jose Mourinho & Inter and give it to luck and other factors? That would be so biased and unfair, even for some die hard AC Milan fan. Inter absolutely crushed Barcelona in the first leg. You are saying about Milito's possible offside goal? But you are forgetting that Inter could have easily finished the game 5-1 or 6-2. No doubt Barcelona is the team of the moment and best of the last 6 years, but last season was Inter's & the victory over Barcelona was absolutely well deserved. 100% credit to them.

& as for the packing of midfield tactic, well what else you do against the midfield of Barcelona? Going to Camp Nou with a 3-1 lead & then thanks to Oscar winning act of Bushquets, an important man down early in the match & you expect the team to play passing and attacking game?! Well no one with common sense would do that & those who do are called Arsene Wenger & Alex Ferguson & then they get humiliated & crushed, just like we have witnessed over the past 3 seasons.

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.......ibra always failed at high tempo vs strong Cb's...

The exact reason why people will forget him few years after he retires. Only 2 UCL knockout stage goals which came in 1 match, & this guy has played for Ajax, Juve, Inter, Barce & ACM in the UCL for a decade now. This fact is humiliating for a player who according to some (fans from Mars) is candidate for world's best forward

Sell him while he still worth some bucks, because soon his knees would become week & he won't be able to do his little tricks due to his large presence (against the lower sides of Serie A of course)

[ElMago99]

Is it just me or was this Barca's formation last night?

-----------Pedro-------------------------------------
----------------------Villa-----------------------------
-------------Messi----------------------------------
---Iniesta----------Xavi-------------------Alves---
-----------------Busquets-------------
Abidal----------------------------------------------
----------Pique------Mascherano------------------
-------------------------------------------------------
----------------Valdes----------------------------------

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How come Messi no longer plays RW?

Now he's playing same position as he does for Argentina...I guess because he's not surrounded with same guys in Argentina as he is with Barca, he can't repeat form.

[Aficio]

playing at Audi Cup won't mean anything, however.

money and the relaxed mind. We have been worry too much.

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But we will have to start by upgrading our own team first. We have not been in CL QF for a while now, why are we talking about beating Barcelona? For now, we should talk about how to beat Spurs when we meet them again.

[xudong]

............. I believe that when Inter Merda beat them over two legs, Iniesta was absent from both games, Barcelona was extremely tired due to valcano affecting their itinerary, Mourinho's "humble" tactics (packing the midfield), and of course luck such as Milito's obvious offside goal and contraversy over Bojan's last minute goal disallowed. I think without any element, that would not have happened.

With all due respect xudong, are you trying to take away the credit of that stunning victory from Jose Mourinho & Inter and give it to luck and other factors? That would be so biased and unfair, even for some die hard AC Milan fan. Inter absolutely crushed Barcelona in the first leg. You are saying about Milito's possible offside goal? But you are forgetting that Inter could have easily finished the game 5-1 or 6-2. No doubt Barcelona is the team of the moment and best of the last 6 years, but last season was Inter's & the victory over Barcelona was absolutely well deserved. 100% credit to them.

& as for the packing of midfield tactic, well what else you do against the midfield of Barcelona? Going to Camp Nou with a 3-1 lead & then thanks to Oscar winning act of Bushquets, an important man down early in the match & you expect the team to play passing and attacking game?! Well no one with common sense would do that & those who do are called Arsene Wenger & Alex Ferguson & then they get humiliated & crushed, just like we have witnessed over the past 3 seasons.

---

.......ibra always failed at high tempo vs strong Cb's...

The exact reason why people will forget him few years after he retires. Only 2 UCL knockout stage goals which came in 1 match, & this guy has played for Ajax, Juve, Inter, Barce & ACM in the UCL for a decade now. This fact is humiliating for a player who according to some (fans from Mars) is candidate for world's best forward

Sell him while he still worth some bucks, because soon his knees would become week & he won't be able to do his little tricks due to his large presence (against the lower sides of Serie A of course)

no, zeekay. I didn't try to take credit away from him. Mourinho is a smart coach and he obviously knows what to do to even survive a slim chance to beat this Barcelona side. What I tried to say was that without Mourinho, there would be no way that Inter could beat Barca; but even with Mourinho, Inter would not have beaten Barca if not for those elements that constituted a perferct storm.

[Gabriel426]

To say that the Milan defense is better than ManU is a bit much. First Taiwo as far as I concern ain't the second coming of Maldini on the left. What Barcelona did against ManU is what they had been doing against anyone defense over this past season. Just remember that Barcelona got about 70% ball possession pretty much the whole game and those possession ain't in their own zone between defenders kicking the ball back to the GK, rather they were all in the opposing half during attack. Rooney was pretty much invisible beside his goal and Chaircito was no where to be found. That's not bc they had a bad game but simply bc they never got real chance of having the ball.
It's funny how some of you are saying Italian teams will fare better against them bc of their defensive DNA....well, Inter beater them once without any Italian on the pitch. In all honestly, if Milan play Barcelona now let's say in CL where games are meaningful, Milan would get destroy.

[curki]

I believe Milan's philosophy should be to create dynamic and technically good midfield. We already have very compentent attacking line, and thanks to Mexes and Taiwo very good defensive line.

What we lacked comparing to other European gigants last years were versatile midfield players, who can attack AND defend whole game. Our main problem were one-directional players, who either play defense or attack... Think about it, our attack minded players were Pirlo and Seedorf and they suck at defending. The same can be said about Gattuso, Ambrosini and Flamini, who can defend well but don't contribute in attack because of their limitiations.

Modern football is about defending and attacking with so many players, just look at the Barcelona or even Man Utd. They tend to attack and defend with 6-7 players all the time. To be able to compete with them, we need starting lineup with four tehnically and physically good players, where the one in front of the defence should be bit more defensive orientated (Fabregas ideally), and the one behind strikers should be like Boateng.

Ideally our midfield in this system would be
-----------------Fabregas---------------------------
-----Flamini-------------------Hamsik--------------
-----------------Boateng----------------------------

The question is if this midfield is enough balanced, but according to players' profiles we would get midfield composed of dynamic, young and tehnically good players.

If you add this to our current roster:

---------------------------Abbiati-------------------------------
---Abate-------Nesta-----------Silva-------Taiwo-------------
-----------------------Fabregas--------------------------------
-----------Flamini---------------Hamsik------------------------
---------------------Boateng------------------------------------
------------Pato(Robinho)------Ibrahimovic-------------------

That formation would ensure that we always have 6 players to attack and defend (one of the fullbacks, Fabregas, Flamini, Hamsik, Boateng, Robinho)... By the way, I really like the addition of Emanuelson, and if he gets better in defensive phase, he would be important alternative for ML position

Just my opinion!

[mrki]

Hello people! How are you guys? I havent been posting for a while coz I had some ftuff in my life that kept me our of the MM for a while. But I was here now and then to read and of course followed our scudetto and celebrated 2 days

So I'll now comment about our mercato and the way I see it in one maybe longish post, so I apologise if it is too much. Who has patience can read it all. ( fLame you dont need to , kidding man ( thanx for letting me use my nick again, lol))

Lets start with the contract's: As far as Im concerned, Galliani did everything right.
1) Pirlo - Pirlo wanted a long and rich contract, that he got in Juve. Maybe money wasn the problem, but Milan does not want to give long contracts to players that are over 30 anymore. Im NOT SATISFIED that Pirlo is at Juve, becouse ( aldough Im not sad - tactically, personally yes, as he was a gread icon at Milan - ) Pirlo can and WILL give Juve a lot of quality and that will be shown. He'll lift their game on a new level if his fitness allows him. Marchisio, Krasic and probable Bastos are the players he needs around him. Im ok with Andrea leaving , but not in serie a team. But well... Than you Pirlo and good luck. He gave us much and deserves an applause. I will never forget European supercup Milan - Sevilla. If there was a deep playmaker that played so good, every, that is that that time and Pirlo. Tactically : Allegri wants a classic DM in front of the defence. Bommel is a solution for next year, we'll see how our sistem will eork. That is a classical italian coaching school, compact football. Perfect for serie a, but we'll see how it will function in the CL.

2) Seedorf - This season I thought that if I see Seedorf on the street I'd go to him and kick his ass and tell his to get out of my Milan! ( which is not possible coz he's 5 times stronger then me, in skinny like pippo ). But Im not against his renewal now. Its a a low cantract, and people need to understand that some players are important even in the training, bench and in the locker room. Players like Ambro, Seedorf, PIRLO, Rino, Nesta... For one mroe year, NOT AS A STARTER, Seedorf will be VERY usefull, in my oppinion.

3) Bommel - low wages, tactician with work rate, and experience, ok by me.

Players we lost, as Marek, legrottaglie, seems now Oddo etc, are good moves as Milan will earn 14mln from contract renewals and lost players with absurdly huge wages. That is a lot of money.
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Other news, that are saying how Galliani and Allegri and Silvio actually TALK ABOUT COACHES WISHES are something I havent experienced with Carletto It is nice to hear such things in Milan.

I have a feeling that Gattuso wil take the offer. Looking as a life choice, its a smart move, the contract is simply HUGE. I will be very sorry, coz Rino is important even when sitting on the bench.

Im all for letting Cassano go, if he is not ready to get fully fit. He needs to know he'll not be in first 3 forwards next year ( I expect Robinho to play even better, as he has showed he is improving even in this short time he is in here considering serie a, as a player I love him).

The defence is ok, aldough im sorry we didnt snap up Ziegler for a free transfer, as he is better then Antonini and Zambrotta. Maybe there will be a fullback that will arrive. Taiwo is going to African cup.

Mexes, NEsta, Thiago ( god!) and Yepes are players that make me feel safe about our backline. (specialy bravo to Yepes for this year ). Abate will improve more as I see it, and Taiwo will show he could be a powerfull player when he gets into tactically cohesic sistem. I dont know what is the situation with Bonera, aguess he is staying.

Of course, the midfield is the main question. If Allegri wants Boa to play CAM that is only becouse he is extremly hard working and is able to cover a lot of space and insert himself from 2nd lines. Boa has also showed improvements since he came, and will improve more.

There is talk about Hamsik, Fabregas, Bastian. Ganso etc. First player I'd sign, if I can choose is ofcourse Fabregas, who is undobtebly a player that will make Milan a midfield powerhouse again. The secoud one is GANSO. Do not foret, that this player has potential to be a player like Xavi, Fabregas, Rui Costa...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTLOHKg5a...r_embedded

This is, as people say, his best game since he came off from his injury. Please take a look at this. If someone doesnt understand what kind of player this genious is, then f... it.

Lates news say real target is De Rossi... which is impossible.

I'd play Ganso as a LCM, not Hamsik, Fabregas etc. As he can become a player that makes his team play as he pulls the strings. And I do not understand why dont we try and play Boa as a RCM.
------------Ganso--------
--Hamsik-------Boateng-----
----------MvBommel-----

In this case Ganso is a CAM, yes, but we'll practically play 4-4-4 with variations as Ganso tends to play VERY deep.

So my choices are GANSO for sure, and one of Fabregas and Hamsik. I believe TWO great signings are needed, not one. Ambro, Seedorf, Rino, Emanuelson, Merkel are needed, as the season is long, long.

If I could choose, this will be my lineup: Abbiatti, Abate, Nesta, Thiago ( who I will call god ), Taiwo, Bommel, Hamsik ( more realistic ), Ganso, Boateng, PAto, Ibra.
( Marchetti, Zambrotta, Antonini, Mexes, YEpes, Bonera, Ambro, Rino (?), Seedorf, Merkel, Robinho, and not Cassano.

[xudong]

good to read your post again, mrki.

I agree with you with most of your points there. I think that our defense is fine. I don't regret not getting Ziegler though. Even though he is free, but I think that ship has sailed after he turned down our offer this past winter window. He isn't going to be our starter anyway, and for backup, Zambrotta is good for a few years on both sides. I would rather that we have some primavera players to be our backup LB and eventually take over in a few seasons. With Nesta and Silva and Taiwo and Abate, I think we are pretty much set, but we should pray that Nesta remain healthy.

The attacks are a big uncertainty. We have quality players in Ibrahimovic and Pato, but neither has proven himself in CL. Ibrahimovic only scored in group matches, and Pato failed to score any this season which was a huge disappointment. If Allegri could get the most out of these two players' potential, I say that we have a bright future. Robinho is a great second attacker as he runs effortlessly and links up well, and I actually don't mind Pato-Robinho combination up front. Pippo is quality backup; Paloschi (if not loaned out again) should be ready in a few seasons and hopefully Inzaghi could give him a few pointers; the same goes to Beretta, but I am not sure if the management would be patient enough with him. As for Cassano, I actually don't mind if he leaves or stays. I am sure that Allegri can find the best solution for him.

The midfield at the moment is the weakest. We would get butchered by any quality team because of the midfield. I actually think that Seedorf is useful (like you) but it is a big if and he certainly lacks motivation for all games. I don't mind that he is staying, and I don't believe that Allegri granted Seedorf's "request" for guarantee. Everybody loves Boateng. Me too, but I feel that his skills are too raw and certainly if Milan wanted to be seriously challenging for CL title, Boateng should be the destroyer instead of No. 10. Ambrosini can alternate with van Bommel. Gattuso should go, even though I don't mind if he stays. We do need a quality LCM, and I am hoping that we get Ganso, which is my big dream too. Who should be our RCM by the way? I think currently Gattuso holds that position but I really think that we should upgrade on that too. Ganso of course can play in No. 10 hole if Allegri wants.

All in all, I think the team should be like this for the next season:

GK: Abbiati (backup: Amelia/Marchetti, 3rd: Roma)

Defense: Abate/Nesta/Silva/Taiwo (backup: Yepes and Mexes as CD; Zambrotta is the first backup. I don't seeing any or all the following players leave: Oddo, Janku, Bonera, Onyewu, Legrottaglie, Antonini. I doubt however all of them will leave. Maybe Milan will just see out their contracts.

Midfield: Ambrosini/van Bommel as the DM, and Hernanes, Ganso, Seedorf (or Boateng), and Robinho for the other three spots in the midfield. We need to maintain at least two sources of creativity on the pitch. I feel however that this midfield may be a bit weak defensively, but I really don't have trust in Flamini. It has been so many years that he has not made any progress. I don't mind him leaving.

Attacks: Pato/Ibra should be the first choice considering the enormous potentials they have, but Robinho is very useful, so I don't mind Pato/Ibra, Ibra/R70, or Pato/R70.

[Nalx]

Didn't somebody here said that if some club were interested in taking Oddo, he would help him pack? Well, what are you waiting for? Start packing!!!

[xudong]

Didn't somebody here said that if some club were interested in taking Oddo, he would help him pack? Well, what are you waiting for? Start packing!!!

really? who said that?

and what wants Oddo? is that QPR? or are there new interests?