Summer mercato 2012

[Gabriel426]

In a way, I think it is good that the team best player, Ibra, has probably 2 more great yrs left in him. Thus the window to win major trophies is NOW. Forget about Flamini, MVB, and other senators, just got and sign top players and mix them with the current youth and MIlan will win.

[LebRN]

So it seems this is going to be that long-awaited summer in terms of saying goodbye to the old guard. Now the hope is that they are correctly replaced (when needed).

As was mentioned several times already, not everybody needs to be replaced because most were simply not playing anyway and the squad is too big and needs to be downsized.

A lot of you already voted in the polls & i am sure that there still are a few who haven't, but it seems that the trend was set already. So to recap the poll's results, the players we want out are:

Roma, Yepes, Zambrotta, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Van Bommel, Flamini, Inzaghi, Aquilani, Maxi, Bonera, Taiwo, Mesbah, & Robinho.

1 player is still in the running to be either in or out which is Urby (but will give him the benefit of the doubt & will keep unless the polls change)

1 player who we wanted to stay but has already announced he is leaving is king Nesta

So given the above, our squad based on milan.com less the above will be:

GK: Abbiati - Amelia

Def: Thiago - Mexes - Abate - Antonini - De Sciglio

Midfielders: Boateng - Merkel - Nocerino - Muntari - Strasser - Valoti - Urby

Forwards: Cassano - SES - Ibra - Pato

This means we are left with 18 players & we need:
Gk (1), LB (1), CB (3), Mid (3), Forwards (2) = 10 players

Ideally we should end up with somewhere between 25-27, so i considered 3 more midfielder and not 2 because Valoti makes up the numbers but never really was part of the team (he was used as a sub 2-3 times?)

I know there is a big chance we end up resigning Yepes, Ambro, Gattuso, Flamini, but we are selecting the team we want and the above 4 we voted off already...

So the next polls is for us to decide who we want to fill each position(s):

GK:
http://milanmania.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=277

LB:
http://milanmania.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=278

CB:
http://milanmania.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=280

Midfielders:
http://milanmania.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=281

Forwards:
http://milanmania.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=282

[ACMILAN1983]

It is quite sad that when Nesta is leaving, he does not see a clear and bright future for Milan. Our management should feel ashamed.

It reminds me of us letting Pirlo leave but failing to find adequate replacement.

Unfortunately, it's a complicated situation that we're in and I don't think anyone (outside of maybe Galliani and Berlu) really knows how we'll be for next season. However, as much as there is fear, there should also be optimism imo, as we've been long overdue a proper rebuild.

Just a reminder: The transfer window hasn't opened yet and it's 4 months left until it's closing. I can't guarantee a perfect mercato, not by any means, but I still feel it's a bit early to start digging our graves...

Agree completely. I'm not expecting anything great this mercato, but we could see some really solid signings.

As sad as it is to see our Senators leaving, I feel that it's been a long time coming now. We need youth, we need pace, unpredictability, stamina, and a desire to fight for the shirt. Just take a look at Pato when he first got here. He was practically indefensible. With all the great players we have shipping out, Berlu and Uncle Fester are having their hands forced to replace quality with quality, and they all know it.
Ibra claiming the current campaign as a failure just further pressures them to act. When your team's arguably best and most consistent player starts talking about a lack in quality of the team, management will respond or risk losing even him in the season afterwards as well.

Thing is football constantly evolves and we must evolve with it, even when some of our favourite players are leaving. When I started following Milan, I was watching Van Basten, Gullit and Rijkaard, but they eventually moved on or retired and I was watching Savicevic, Boban and Desailly, who again moved on and we saw Weah, Bierhoff, Leonardo come in. These guys were eventually replaced with the last generation of Sheva, Pirlo, Seedorf, Nesta, Rino and Ambrosini etc. These guys are now leaving and it's up to us to move on too and there is hope with Thiago Silva, Boateng and Ibra making up our spine.

[am I Milan enough?]

I got some news for milanistas but I am only a messenger....

Friend of mines is related to Prince AlWaleed Ben Talal (won't mention how close, but close enough), he's told me yesterday that the Prince met with Uncle Silvio because Berlusconi wants to make Milan to be in the stock market (not in finance so I don't exactly get it) and spoke to the Prince to invest a stake into Milan. He liked the idea alot and the deal is 90% completed.

That's all I know so far. He did tell me to keep the info to myself but hey what the heck, it's probably fake.


And for those who don't know AlWaleed Ben Talal...well, he shits on all the other presidents of football clubs today in terms of economic power. He's one of the smartest arabs we have and he is a self-made billionaire (sorta). He is the one all of the arab kids look to as an example. If he invests into Milan, we will be in safe hands - but the prince has no knowledge in football or interest (guessing), he is 100% a businessman and if notices Milan is going down he will sell his stocks.

source milan news.it

It 's time to change. The honorary president of AC Milan Silvio Berlusconi's open to new investors in Milan. For a 40% stake, said La Gazzetta dello Sport. The tracks could be three, investors Arabs, Russians or a listing of clubs in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The imperative at the time, with a budget for the new season close to zero, the armor is big.

[Gabriel426]

Living in HK myself, I don't understand why do football clubs want to list their company in the HKSE. ManU tried but it did not go through in the end.

I think Arabs would be great as oil is getting more and more expensive, which means they will only get richer.

[Arildonardo]

New goalkeeper? Here's one free, over 30, champion... Perfect for us?

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/201...for-a-club

[ACMILAN1983]

Not sure where else to comment on this but has anyone read Pirlo's interview with Gazzetta? I've always been a huge fan of his, but his comments were a little rude imo.

Firstly, he says he left because Allegri wanted to play Van Bommel or Ambro in the centre and therefore didn't want him. The way I see it, that was a necessary change in our system as he was too vulnerable in the middle, and surely even he must have understood that. Also, it makes it sound like he was driven out which wasn't the case imo, as there were always alternative options on how to use him.

Secondly, he talks about the contract negotiations and he wanting more than others being a little younger. We've put in place a policy to only renew yearly for over 30s and he fit this criteria, he can't have complaints about it as everyone was treated equally.

Finally, he talks about Conte being a better tactician than both Carlo and Lippi. This is the one that irks me the most, as it was Carlo that gave him the breakthrough he needed to get where he is today, as well as trusting him in a role which no other top team in Europe would have gambled on. Lippi gave Pirlo his greatest break in International football by making him central to his Italy side.

In addition he mentions how he was disappointed at the club for putting up pictures of his elbows on Van Bommel in the Coppa, as he said we know he doesn't do that. I'm sorry but that's BS. Yes he never did it at Milan, but those elbows were clear to see and no one can deny what he was trying to do.

I respect Pirlo for what he's done for us, but these comments have left a sour taste in my mouth, as he just seems to disregard everyone who brought him to the top in football. He was better off not saying anything at all.

[Warro Bantan]

Players are departing, rumors are flying, silly season is starting, and the media are already farting!!

Sad to see Nesta leave, but understandable.

Let's see how the mercato unfolds.

[Arildonardo]

Acerbi + one of Astori, Silvestre and Albiol as replacement for Nesta?

http://www.football-italia.net/18693/mil...eplacement

[fLame]

The club is bigger than the player.

Pirlo used to be my favorite midfielder of all time. I even used to watch Juve regularly at the start of the season just to watch him player.
Eventually, when Juve started challenging us for the title, I couldn't watch or support him anymore. The conflict of interest was way too much and I love Milan more than Pirlo.

I also found his interviews slightly disrespectful, but it was inevitable. You never let your star leave to the rival team. Never. Maldini said the same thing spot on.

I will still support Italy NT and Pirlo who will be playing as a starter. But I do feel that my passion for him has been dealt irreparably damage.