Just wanted to do a quick potential line up for next season that includes all the players we have been linked to this past week and a half. Assuming Montella plays a 4-3-3 with a trequartista, I think it should look something like this.
..................................Donnarumma..................................
De Sciglio-------Romagnoli---------Musacchio---------Antonelli
-------------Paredes------------------------Badelj/Fernando-----
-------------------------------Kovacic-------------------------------
Pjaca--------------------------------------------------Bonaventura
------------------------------Lapadula-------------------------------
Backups: Niang, Menez (debatable), Kucka, Montolivo, Bertolacci, Zapata, Abate, Zapata, Vangioni.
Not only does the starting 11 have quality and talent, but the entire squad has depth, something we have been lacking for a long time. I would prefer getting the players for that line up above instead of one marquee signing.
We are also linked with Javier Pastore. Another great midfielder if we can get him.
07-05-2016, 09:06 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-05-2016, 09:21 PM by nefremo.)
Jay,
Let's agree to disagree. He was phenomenal at Porto last year and he wasn't bad by any means for Atletico this year....he just wasn't the grinding midfielder that Simeone likes. He is obviously the technical finesse player and Simeone prefers something different. We all know the football that he likes. Nothing wrong with it and it's obviously proven to be successful but it's jut not a good fit for Oliver. He was used in the beginning of the year, and than got injured. He struggled to gain a spot after that and it was mostly because of the style of play, rather than performances.
I want him here because I think he is a greatly gifted footballer with experience at just the age of 21. Dortmund has been interested in him for a long time too as well. I think this is the type of player we are missing in our team...someone that won't shit his pants and lose the ball as soon as he is pressured. He is not the finished product by any means but finished products of his mould cost 50+mil.
Don't take this the wrong way, but that type of response was the same exact response I saw from people back in 2011 when some people were advocating for Thiago Alcantara and others were saying that 22mil was crazy for an unproven player that barely gets any minutes for Barcelona. Let's fast forward 5 years and now we are "crying" for that same player. To me, Oliver Torres is pretty much at the same exact situation that Alcantara was back than. His ceiling is really high and imo he needs the right environment to reach it. The fact that we are missing a technical player in the midfield only makes him more a fit.
Don't get me wrong, I would love a proven player that's in his mid 20s for that position....let's say Alcantara, or Isco, or Verratti...but as we all know, that's pretty much impossible. So if we can find a player that's just entering his 20s, has shown promise to be as good as them in the future (I think this is where our views differ), isn't really a good fit in his own team, and there is a possibility of a move.....why not! Oliver Torres would instantly become the most technical midfielder on our roster and the one with the most potential as well. Whether we can get the best out of him, or if he'll fit in the league and the country, or if he'll fulfill that potential is something different and something we can't know right now. But imo, it's worth a shot.
I'm ok with Bacca leaving, but as nefremo said, it's the replacement that counts more. I think if the Chinese are serious and want to make a statement, then they can't let Bacca go and replace him with a name like Pavoletti. Fans would lose it imo, even if they sign a number of good names elsewhere. After all, every club with money has a star man up front.
On a general point, I also think we should curb expectation of this 400m over 2 years. Honestly, it's Berlusconi talking, a man with a history of lying and a man known to milk press opportunities to make himself look the hero any given opportunity. I'm not saying that with the deal there won't be money, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it is the 100m previously rumoured.
We've also been linked to Pastore in the past hour or two. I actually think that if he came, he'd be an ideal signing for Montella. His technical and attacking qualities aside, he's versatile with the ability to play in the wide areas and more recently has shown great ability playing in midfield (in a midfield 3). His attributes, his familarity with Italian football, his age (just turned 27) and the likelihood that there is a chance of getting him as his time at PSG is often limited means he could be a realistic target. I also think he'd be one of those "marquee" names I've been mentioning in the last few days, after all he's an internationally recognised player who if he came would be considered one of the star names in Milan.
Beyond that, personally I wouldn't particularly change strategy on rebuilding. I'd still be looking at Pjaca, Fernando, Paredes, Kovacic and Maksimovic (or Musacchio who seems more likely at this point). It's all about focusing on the overall project and bringing in players who will fit into a model of play, not just looking to get the biggest names. In that respect, the star names would be Pastore, the Bacca replacement and to a much lesser extent Pjaca and Kovacic. They may not appear to be the most exciting names, but I think they'd add substance to what we have.
I've been advocating the development of youth (I totally agree with Mathias on this, though I won't rant on about it again) and bringing in Italians too. Some might notice that in my list of names, I don't name a single Italian. The problem is the key areas we need players are areas where it's difficult to find the right Italian players. I mentioned earlier that I simply don't think it's feasible to replace Bacca with Pavoletti. The only Italian midfielder that really is ready to take a key role in Milan and is appealing is Verratti who I don't think is likely. We need a CB partner for Romagnoli and again it's difficult to see an Italian to fit the bill. Bonucci would be my pick, but he's simply not coming and a guy like Rugani seems a very big risk even if possible. Another Italian that I've mentioned before is Vazquez, but under Montella it seems he wouldn't have a role. That isn't to say we lose our Italian identity, it means we have to build it internally by trusting our core group of Italians (Donnarumma, Romagnoli, Abate, Antonelli, Montolivo, Bonaventura, maybe Poli, DES etc.)
However, one thing to note on the list of names I put, all, with the exception of Pjaca, have experience and have had some success in Italy (Kovacic imo was one of the brighter spots of Inter in recent years).
Mediaset is running a rumor, Rugani-DeSciglio swap. Just to note, they've been highly unreliable in recent times, so make of it what you will...BUT, it IS silly season, so why not have fun with it and discuss it. What do you guys think?
(07-05-2016, 10:29 PM)nefremo Wrote: Mediaset is running a rumor, Rugani-DeSciglio swap. Just to note, they've been highly unreliable in recent times, so make of it what you will...BUT, it IS silly season, so why not have fun with it and discuss it. What do you guys think?
It's pretty ridiculous if you ask me.. There was already a rumor that De Scgilio is highly regarded by Montella and he requested that all offers be rejected,
On the other hand, why would Juve give up on Rugani quite easily? Barzagli and Cacares aren't getting younger with Chiellini also going on the wrong side of 30.. Why would they give up on the future defender of the NT?(atleast, he's regarded as such..)
Musacchio would cost us €25M, and he is an established defender.
Tah would cost us €12M, but he is still very young. However, he has shown signs of being a great defender.
Money is obviously no object, but which person would you guys go for?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
07-06-2016, 12:36 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-06-2016, 12:51 AM by nefremo.)
Tah will only cost 12? I'd get both of that's the case...
The big question mark with Musacchio is obviously fitness! I feel like he's been around forever but he's also had a lot of set-backs.
I can't say that I have an opinion on Tah. He seems like a physically imposing CB but I haven't seen enough to have an opinion, only what I've read and clips I've seen.
In other news, we are linked to Valero heavily again. I don't know if this is just the obvious Montella link from the papers or if it's actually true. Either way, Valero is exactly the type of player we need IMO, the type of player I've been raving about for years now. My only objection is that he is 31 and will be 32 before year's end. But, he hasn't shown signs of slowing down so I don't know that it's a problem. Obviously it all depends on Fiorentina's asking price as he is one of their most important players. It feels good to be linked to one of the most technical mids in Serie A!
I would love rugani but find it difficult to believe that we'd get him. Although there are serious rumours that if Juve buy Benatia, which is possible, that Rugani will request to leave. Doesn't want to sit on the bench all season again. Either way, giving away a youngster plus cash for another youngster to me seems stupid.
If we could get him outright and kee DES then I'm in, but swap one for the other and that to me is stupid.
Although does sound like something Galliani would do.
07-06-2016, 05:05 AM
(This post was last modified: 07-06-2016, 05:11 AM by am I Milan enough?.)
Im not sure if Rugani- Romagnoli is ideal partnership for us, Rugani is just like Romagnoli, they need someone like Bonucci, Chiellini, perhaps Benatia, Hummels to guide them to another level. Besides, I would still want to keep DES. If the money is for real, we should get real established def, if not wc, to partner Romagnoli.
I'd get Rugani if he's available, but not for DES and not necessarily as an immediate partner for Romagnoli as it's a big risk.
Gazzetta is reporting Juve are favourites to land Pjaca. Hope we can get him, but it looks less likely.
Finally on Borja, Mati Fernandez and Xabi Alonso (also linked yesterday), no to all of them. I can accept maybe the odd one like Borja as a player who knows and understands Montella's ideas, but we need to think bigger and we cannot rebuild around players who are 30,31 and 34.
Here are the list of names right now:
http://www.rossoneriblog.com/2016/07/06/...the-dream/?
I'm much more inclined to build around the list of 22 year olds than the older midfielders.
|
