Summer mercato 2012

[ACMILAN1983]

Sorry for the long post in advance, but there were many posts which I wanted to reply to.

Milan have reportedly offered 8 mln upfront plus Didac Vila for Rolando.

I'm wondering, are we ever going to give Vila a shot?

wtf? Really? I don't understand this, I mean Didac's a player with lots of potential in a role where we have seriously been suffering for years now. With him gone the only player within the club I have any real hope for at LB is De Sciglio, who's more naturally a RB.

As for Rolando, I just don't understand why he's being targeted if I'm honest, I just don't see anything particularly great about him.

You might call me crazy, but I think that at some big games an average Mexes played better than Thiago Silva. Surely, Silva is overall better defender than Frenchman but his showing against Arsenal and Juve weren't good enough. Mexes did a terrible mistake against Barca, but he was maybe our best player against Arsenal away when our whole team choked...

Just saying that playing Mexes with quicker defender can do the job this season...

Mexes makes a lot of mistakes at the back and for this reason I don't think he's starter material. However, you make a fair point as he did show a lot of personality/character in some big matches last season.

I agree with Revolver.

Abbiati is declining, there is no real CDM, and LB is a chronic pain, so our defense is average without Silva. However, Cassano, Pato, Robinho, El Shaarawy, Boateng and Montolivo can still form a formidable attack force after Ibra's departure. Ibra and Silva are of the same class but we need the latter much more due to the lack of good partners around him.

Silva is not really a big match player. When the pressure was on him, the defender made mistakes quite often. Yes, Baresi, Maldini, Costacurta and Nesta made mistakes, but only at old age. Silva is at best age, and he learned the skills from world best teachers, but he is not calm enough when the tension is built up. He still need a Nesta next to him to share the responsibility.

I think it'd be extreme to say Thiago Silva's not a big match player, but I think you make some valid points. Firstly, he does make technical/concentration mistakes at the back, which in the modern game is commonplace and is one of the reasons why there aren't any really great defenders left.

As for personality, Thiago Silva's presence and leadership skills are mainly from example of how he plays, rather than shouting and instructing teammates. I'm not sure if he lacks the personality to play big games, as he's been very good in many difficult games over the years, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about the lack of character he showed in the second leg against Arsenal.

T. Silva was one of the best defenders in circulation. No doubt we lost a crucial part of our team.

However, he was a bit overrated. 47 million euros is madness for a defender, no matter how good. I think if we get Astori I'd be okay with the departure. Still hurts, but okay.

We picked him from Fluminese after he had endured a horrible time at Porto and Dynamo Moscow. What's to say we can't unearth another player in a similar way?

I want to see how Acerbi performs. I am all for an Italian line-up of players. Young and solid Italian players that is.

I don't think it was coincedence that Italy played the FInal of Euro2012. Italian players are still, IMO, amongst the best in the world and they have been schooled with the right mentality. I find it laughable when people say that Italy reaching the Final was luck. Not here, but I have heard it being said.

Sell Robinho buy Destro.
Sell Ibra buy Dzeko
Sell Silva buy Astori/Ogbonna

Bring on the new era, sono pronto.

I think for defence right now I'd be happiest with Astori of all the available options too. He's at a decent age to come in and lead the new defence, something he's got experience in at Cagliari for years and at Milan he'll have support and advice from Yepes (who's been excellent for his national side for years) in leading the defence. This is vital to consider right now, as while guys like Dede or even Ogbonna might seem like naturally more talented defenders, they have no experience to lead the defence. Same goes for Acerbi who by self admission said he needs to improve tactically.

Also, what I think makes Astori a good candidate is he grew up in Milan, and understands what it means to play for the club and has spent years under Allegri's tutelage and understands the coach's philosophy. Finally, I think he could work well with Acerbi, who's aggressive and likes to try and push high to win the ball ahead of opponents, while Astori does stand off a little more and act slightly more like a sweeper, covering at the back. He's not a world class defender, but he is a good player and could find the right set up at Milan to perform to a higher level.

I'm like you about Italians, I'm keen for us to give more room to homegrown talents and giving chances to young Italians. It's something I posted about in the past few weeks.

Discovered today that Thiago Silva was officially a PSG player ... The most difficult choice in his life ? Funny because two days ago, there was "nothing" (his agent said), and yesterday, he was already a PSG player, what a fast choice done for the most difficult one of his life !! Damn, the guy's got an easy life so !!

Ibra will be a PSG player before Wednesday for sure.

Financially :
Good business overall as by selling the two players, we manage to save some money and build a small mercato budget.

Tactically / technically :
Losing Ibra is maybe the best thing that could happen to the team as we totally relied on him, his form and his will. Now, Allegri, the current players and the future players will have to play as a team, and step up if they want to have some results.
Losing Thiago Silva is maybe the worst thing that could happen to us as he was our best defender, and I don't play the "he was mistake prone" or else now he's gone. My thought about this player hasn't changed, he's the best in defence, and he saved our asses so many times (well, actually, he did his job). We should hope for some reinforcements in our defence and midfield because if we don't get new players there, we will be ridiculous when the other teams will attack ...

I'm disappointed, but I'm also very curious to see how our team will look at the end of this summer. I have to admit, again, that if Cassano or Robinho were to leave too, I wouldn't mind if we get some new players (Ibra - Robinho - Cassano - Pato - ES vs something like Dzeko - Pato - Destro - ES - Robinho or Cassano ... I don't know why, but I prefer the second solution, with real strikers, more different profiles of strikers too and as a consequence, new ways to play).

I said similar things about Thiago Silva's attitude in the venting thread. It irritates me a lot.

I agree with your ideas on the attacking department, I also prefer the second lineup too. Dzeko might be well utilised if he was to come too.

EDIT : Last report ... "Galliani wants Xabi Alonso" ...

hmm, I don't want Xabi Alonso. We need a deep playmaker, but to me there's little to no point in making an effort to reduce the average age of the squad all this time only to bring in a 30 year old who will demand a huge wage. I'd much rather we go for Sahin, who's younger and probably cheaper. I know he's said he's keen to stay at Real before, but with Mourinho not affording him any space, I think he can be bought.

lmao, best post in a long time!!