Summer Mercato 2011

[GeoTav]

We're linked with Parolo (26 yo) from Cesena to replace Flamini due to his injury ... Anyone can rate this player ?

[Aficio]

IMO, Parolo is a good CM who can shoot with both legs. He is a non-injury-prone, one year younger, less handsome and 2cm shorter Aquilani.

He scored 4 goals, assisted 5 times and received 5 YCs in 37 matches (he could play all 38 matches without a YC).

The way Cesena sold Nagatomo makes me think we can sign him without spending too much. We bought Nicola Pozzi from them, IIRC.

[Siregar]

Maybe the management isn't spending much because they have a strategy to promote the young players in the near future. If that's the strategy, I'm perfectly alright with that.

I don't think so. If they indeed want to promote youngsters, they should not buy backup players like Aqualiani (if he does come to Milan). Milan should release the old guard and replace them (only the starters) with experienced players with quality and use youths as 2nd or 3rd sub for the starters. It is obvious the youngster are not ready yet to play as starters, they need to be integrated to the first team gradually.

If indeed we don't get proper replacement for at least Pirlo (CAM too IMO), it is a shame for them since they threw much money last year but then stop spending money to buy player for the most needed position, left CM. If they know (they must know!) that they don't have money, they should not release Pirlo. At least Pirlo still can play 1-2 more years and management can still have time to reinforce the team every year gradually.

---

Ah yeah, about Flamini. Why is he injured so often? He is not young or growing his muscle/body but his injuries seems the worst (in term of number of times he got injured) we have in the last couple of years. Milan should sell him before his contract ends, we can't get the best from him due to his often-injuries. Ambrosini has been also injury prone in Milan. If both are injured, we really lack of players, no DM at all since Bommel and Gattuso are starter. We should prevent signing injury prone players in similar position.

[theaxeofpain]

I don't think so. If they indeed want to promote youngsters, they should not buy backup players like Aqualiani (if he does come to Milan). Milan should release the old guard and replace them (only the starters) with experienced players with quality and use youths as 2nd or 3rd sub for the starters. It is obvious the youngster are not ready yet to play as starters, they need to be integrated to the first team gradually.

If indeed we don't get proper replacement for at least Pirlo (CAM too IMO), it is a shame for them since they threw much money last year but then stop spending money to buy player for the most needed position, left CM. If they know (they must know!) that they don't have money, they should not release Pirlo. At least Pirlo still can play 1-2 more years and management can still have time to reinforce the team every year gradually.

I think it makes perfect sense if they want to replace the old guard with the youth players from the Primavera squad. They are signing cheap and/or free players to cut unnecessary spending for big name players, when they want to promote the youth within 2-3 years. I don't think the management are stupid tbh. We have Ely, Fossati, Calvano, Valotti, Boateng, Beretta, Paloschi, Merkel, Strasser etc, who are all interesting good prospects for the future and can replace the various Nesta, Gattuso, Seedorf, Ibra, Ambrosini, Van Bommel etc. If they develop well, they might as well make it to the first team within a couple of years gradually, thus replacing the old guard immediately, without signing big names for big money, especially now because of the Financial Fair Play.

[Gabriel426]

If there is a youth movement then where are the youth in midfield? Beside Boateng, Flamini and Urby, the youngest mid is 33 or 34. While Urby is not even in the squad rotation, Flamini is all but gone by next summer. The only two ready midfielders for Milan are Strausse and Merkel and Milan loaned them out. If they are going with youth then they should have cut one of Ambro, Flamini and Gattuso and maybe even Two of them in order to make space for Merkel and Strausser instead of those Mr.X BS or the 8 mil, three installments starting from 2012.

I really don't give a damn about Aqua coming, what I hate is the fact that the MGT has no plan or strategy to improve the squad. I am not even asking for a 100mil investment but rather just don't embarrass themselves and their players and most importantly their fans. After all, it was only 18 months ago that San Siro is more than half empty.

As for CL, let's just hope Milan is not draw in a group of depth with Barca or Real along with City.

---

I don't think so. If they indeed want to promote youngsters, they should not buy backup players like Aqualiani (if he does come to Milan). Milan should release the old guard and replace them (only the starters) with experienced players with quality and use youths as 2nd or 3rd sub for the starters. It is obvious the youngster are not ready yet to play as starters, they need to be integrated to the first team gradually.

If indeed we don't get proper replacement for at least Pirlo (CAM too IMO), it is a shame for them since they threw much money last year but then stop spending money to buy player for the most needed position, left CM. If they know (they must know!) that they don't have money, they should not release Pirlo. At least Pirlo still can play 1-2 more years and management can still have time to reinforce the team every year gradually.

I think it makes perfect sense if they want to replace the old guard with the youth players from the Primavera squad. They are signing cheap and/or free players to cut unnecessary spending for big name players,
when they want to promote the youth within 2-3 years. I don't think the management are stupid tbh. We have Ely, Fossati, Calvano, Valotti, Boateng, Beretta, Paloschi, Merkel, Strasser etc, who are all interesting good prospects for the future and can replace the various Nesta, Gattuso, Seedorf, Ibra, Ambrosini, Van Bommel etc. If they develop well, they might as well make it to the first team within a couple of years gradually, thus replacing the old guard immediately, without
signing big names for big money, especially now because of the Financial Fair Play.

As much as I love the youth of Milan, I really doubt they will all become regulars for Milan. Even if they can, and say they can all do it by next summer. How do u plan to integrate them into the first team, since Gattuso, Ambro, Slowdorf and MVB will all be another yr older. What if those youth won't be ready till they are 21 thus 4 yrs later. Can u even picture Slowdorf and company plays for another 4 yrs with Milan?

[Hitman]

I share the fellow Milanisti's pessimism.

I am truly depressed at how our management handled this mercato and it is an utterfail when Berlusconi annouces we will sign two great champions, and we get linked with Fabregas/Pastore all summer and now end up getting linked with Aquilani/Montolivo. Don't get me wrong, we need both those players to replace our midfielders that have contracts expiring next year, and we need the Italian players, however these players are NOT world class champions that will make us win the CL.

I'm sad and angry. I expected a great mercato, just like how all the journalists predicted. It does seem like Berlusconi has decided against spending money. I have jumped off the management bandwagon and I have returned to be against them.

[theaxeofpain]

If there is a youth movement then where are the youth in midfield? Beside Boateng, Flamini and Urby, the youngest mid is 33 or 34. While Urby is not even in the squad rotation, Flamini is all but gone by next summer. The only two ready midfielders for Milan are Strausse and Merkel and Milan loaned them out. If they are going with youth then they should have cut one of Ambro, Flamini and Gattuso and maybe even Two of them in order to make space for Merkel and Strausser instead of those Mr.X BS or the 8 mil, three installments starting from 2012.

I really don't give a damn about Aqua coming, what I hate is the fact that the MGT has no plan or strategy to improve the squad. I am not even asking for a 100mil investment but rather just don't embarrass themselves and their players and most importantly their fans. After all, it was only 18 months ago that San Siro is more than half empty.

As for CL, let's just hope Milan is not draw in a group of depth with Barca or Real along with City.

Our youth is still not ready for the big step forward though. Merkel, Strasser and Paloschi are on loan to gain experience (the latter possibly because of lack of space for him). I think the three of them will be ready next season, when some players will possibly retire.

Then we have the younger ones, like Valotti, Calvano and Fossati, still very young though, but should be ready for 2-3 years.

As for this season, I think we'll do good enough to win the Serie A. The Champions League can wait a little bit, as we cannot afford big name and big money players.

Mind you, I'm neither defending nor attacking the management. It's just my opinion, and a possible strategy towards the future. If that's true, then I'm all in favor of that.

---

As much as I love the youth of Milan, I really doubt they will all become regulars for Milan. Even if they can, and say they can all do it by next summer. How do u plan to integrate them into the first team, since Gattuso, Ambro, Slowdorf and MVB will all be another yr older. What if those youth won't be ready till they are 21 thus 4 yrs later. Can u even picture Slowdorf and company plays for another 4 yrs with Milan?

No, I cannot, that's why I'm saying that the management are signing free/cheap experienced players, so they can play for at least 3-4 years with us, until our youth is ready.

[ACMILAN1983]

We're linked with Parolo (26 yo) from Cesena to replace Flamini due to his injury ... Anyone can rate this player ?

A decent all round midfielder that is known for his workrate and movement. He'll be a fair alternative to Flamini, with better discipline. There was a good article about him on football italia, but I couldn't find it for you. Instead, I did come across this which may give some insight.

http://www.footballitaliano.co.uk/p6_74_...zurri.html

I'm pretty excited about Aquilani joining if rumours are true. He's an excellent talent which I genuinely think Allegri can do a lot with in midfield. He's not the name we all hope for, but I can see him doing a superb job in LCM.

In other news (on milannews), Mr X could still be De Rossi.

[Jay Crisp]

There is no Mr X.

[Hitman]

There never was one... they created that farce just to keep the fans quiet during the summer....