AC Milan Forums - Unofficial

(09-01-2014, 03:29 AM)Mystik Wrote: [ -> ]Good news is that it's the international break too so we get an extra week on top as well

I used to welcome early international break like this because we've always been a slow starter in the past and we could use an extra week of training. But after our game last night, it feels like an unnecessary distraction. Here's hoping none of our players returns home injured.

That should give Torres and van Ginkel more time and better chance to fit in. *hopefully*

Quote:New Italian Football Federation chief Carlo Tavecchio is looking to make three significant changes to the game on the peninsula.

Tavecchio is aiming to re-launch calcio following his controversial yet successful bid to replace Giancarlo Abete in the FIGC hotseat following World Cup disaster.

Reports today suggest that President Tavecchio will focus on a trio of primary objectives in a bid to breathe new life into the sport.

The official is hoping to reform Serie A and B by reducing the number of teams from 20 and 22 to 18 and 20 respectively.

Tavecchio has again recently insisted that there are too many foreigners in the Italian game and he is looking to tackle the issue in two ways.

Firstly he wants teams to include a minimum number of Italians in starting XIs, initially four but with the desire to increase that figure to six.

He is also keen to introduce a work permit system, which is used in England, which may limit the number of non-EU players that Italian clubs sign.

Tavecchio is looking to get the reforms into place for the start of the 2015-16 season.

http://football-italia.net/55632/tavecch...n-football

A stipulation on the number of Italians in the first XI may work to an extent but the work permit hasn't done the BPL any good so far with regards to developing English talent.

Non-EU work permits aside, which imo is a stupid idea, the general ideas seem fair. The less teams format is something both he and Albertini proposed.

More important is the Italian quota, which I guess is ok and something that many Italians have pushed for, but must be implemented correctly. Having this quota and not making significant progress on the development of young Italian players won't make the national side more competitive, it only means more mediocrity in the national competitions. Italy has some promising young players, but there's a lack of depth to that quality.

Another factor is a change in mentality is needed. The biggest issue for most young, and in Cerci's case, not so young, Italians is the lack of space at top level football in Italy. Having a quota, which is met by teams relying on older and ageing Italians doesn't benefit anyone. In fact, I bet most clubs in Serie A already probably meet the quota, so the policy doesn't actually help.

Certainly the top 3 of last year (at least Juve and Roma) shouldn't have issues with fielding 4 Italians, while Milan also easily meets the quota (DES, Abate, Montolivo and SES are certain starters most times with Bonaventura and Poli likely). Problem is the Italians they play are already senior players (e.g. Totti, De Rossi, Buffon, Chiellini and Pirlo etc), not players coming through.

Is it even logistically possible that they want to change the number of teams in the league start of the 2015-16 season? I mean, all Serie A teams entered the season expecting to have 3 teams relegated to Serie B, but just a few months later, they are told that it has changed? That could create some chaos.

The 18 team idea is very good, even excellent. There are plenty of reasons it will help, like reducing injury chances, reducing silly fixtures.

(09-09-2014, 01:01 AM)xudong Wrote: [ -> ]Is it even logistically possible that they want to change the number of teams in the league start of the 2015-16 season? I mean, all Serie A teams entered the season expecting to have 3 teams relegated to Serie B, but just a few months later, they are told that it has changed? That could create some chaos.

Not sure it would be ready for 2015/16. It would still need to be passed through officially and as you say the logistics may not allow it to happen immediately.

I'm actually more surprised about attendances in the Eredivisie (being so high) than Serie A.