Summer Mercato 2011

[Gabriel426]

What exactly would Montelivo and Aqualine add to the current Milan squad beside decreasing the average age? Both are just solid players who really can't dominate thhe game in either offensively or defensively. Nor are they physical player like Boateng or Flamini who can pretty much sprint for 90mins of the match. If you think any of the two can over take the starting midfield of Slowdorf, Gattuso, MVB and Boateng, that's a dream, As I said earlier with that starting midfield four, if Max wants to play more defensive, he will use Ambro or Flamini ahead of Montelivo and Aqualine while if offense that Max want, Urby and Cassano certainly offers more.

I think if Anyone of those two are sign, it will be a signing for the sake of signing someone, which is dumb. Smart and good signings are signings that would increase the quality of the team and not just adding a number. The current Milan squad does not need more depth, rather they need starting 11 quality players.
Just look at this.

RB, Abate, Oddo, Zambro, Antonini, Bonera
CB, Nesta, Silva, Mexes, Yepes, Bonera
LB, Taiwo, Zambro, Antonini

DM, MVB, Ambro, Silva
RCM, Gattuso, Flamini, Boateng
LCM, Slowdorf, Boateng, Urby
ACM, Boateng, Slowdorf, Cassano

Forwards, Ibra, Pato, Robinho, Cassano, Pippo, Urby, Polashi.

That's more than enough depth, what Milan needs is quality starters and trim the useless players out.

[LebRN]

Obviously we will not agree on this, but for me:

Boateng-----Van Bommel-----Montolivo

-------------------Aquilani-------------------


is miles better than:

Gattuso-------Van Bommel-------Seedorf

-------------------Boateng-------------------

I do not understand how Urby is rated ahead of Montolivo!!!!
If people think that Montolivo had peaked while Urby has potential, Monty is freakin 1 yr older than Urby.....and i believe Monty has every chance of raising his level and be consistent in a team like Milan rather than Fiorentina.

As for Aquilani, he is definitely more of a ACM than Boateng as he is more creative and has better technique....for me Boa will be excellent as a RCM or LCM rather than a ACM.

[Siregar]

What exactly would Montelivo and Aqualine add to the current Milan squad beside decreasing the average age? Both are just solid players who really can't dominate thhe game in either offensively or defensively. Nor are they physical player like Boateng or Flamini who can pretty much sprint for 90mins of the match. If you think any of the two can over take the starting midfield of Slowdorf, Gattuso, MVB and Boateng, that's a dream, As I said earlier with that starting midfield four, if Max wants to play more defensive, he will use Ambro or Flamini ahead of Montelivo and Aqualine while if offense that Max want, Urby and Cassano certainly offers more.

I think if Anyone of those two are sign, it will be a signing for the sake of signing someone, which is dumb. Smart and good signings are signings that would increase the quality of the team and not just adding a number. The current Milan squad does not need more depth, rather they need starting 11 quality players.
Just look at this.

RB, Abate, Oddo, Zambro, Antonini, Bonera
CB, Nesta, Silva, Mexes, Yepes, Bonera
LB, Taiwo, Zambro, Antonini

DM, MVB, Ambro, Silva
RCM, Gattuso, Flamini, Boateng
LCM, Slowdorf, Boateng, Urby
ACM, Boateng, Slowdorf, Cassano

Forwards, Ibra, Pato, Robinho, Cassano, Pippo, Urby, Polashi.

That's more than enough depth, what Milan needs is quality starters and trim the useless players out.

I think, the real competition for creative spot in the midfield for Montolivo is only Seedorf. No way Ambro or Emmanuelson plays ahead of him if Max and Gattuso play. Ambro can pass and is OK offensively but Montolivo is better regarding term of creativity and distributing the ball. Emmanuelson is an offensive player but he is pretty useless in midfield since what we need a creative player. Emmanuelson is similar like Serginho in term of character of play, they can't play as LCM optimally, both are much better when playing as left forward in 4-3-2-1 striker formation, like Serginho did (well) when Carlo used that alone-striker formation.

Montolivo is not a great player but his type of play is what we need since we have only Seedorf. Allegri also already said good things about him. This doesn't mean he would be a sure starter but at least Allegri knows what Montolivo can offer for Milan.

I will take Montolivo as a squad player and if we don't sign a great CM this summer. I would take him although I am not that happy since we let Pirlo go and we should get a player in his class. It is however better having Montolivo in the starting line-up than playing Ambro, Bommel and Gattuso plus Boateng in our formation (which offers little creativity in our play).

---

Obviously we will not agree on this, but for me:

Boateng-----Van Bommel-----Montolivo

-------------------Aquilani-------------------


is miles better than:

Gattuso-------Van Bommel-------Seedorf

-------------------Boateng-------------------

I do not understand how Urby is rated ahead of Montolivo!!!!
If people think that Montolivo had peaked while Urby has potential, Monty is freakin 1 yr older than Urby.....and i believe Monty has every chance of raising his level and be consistent in a team like Milan rather than Fiorentina.

As for Aquilani, he is definitely more of a ACM than Boateng as he is more creative and has better technique....for me Boa will be excellent as a RCM or LCM rather than a ACM.

I agree with you about Montolivo but not with Aqualini. Boateng offers more than Aquallini with respect of playing as player behind two strikers (particularly what Allegri needs from a player in such position) since Boateng is much better physically (can press the opponent very hard and protect the ball physically), can cover the hole left by one of sided-centre midfielder (Seedorf especially), very mobile and his move to the penalty box to get chance to score is what Allegri does like. What Aquallani can offer more than Boateng are probably only quality of passing, creativity (only a bit better than Boateng IMO) and he is Italian.

[Gabriel426]

U guys misreading my posts.
First of all, I said that both Montolivo and Aqualini cant break into the starting 11. Thus, they will be on the bench. If Max wants to start playing a more defensive lineup to secure the lead, he will use Ambro and Flamini instead of M and A b/c they are better defensively. While if Milan needs a goal, Cassano will be the first person off the bench in place of a midfielder, or even Urby.

Secondly, why would a lineup of Boateng, MVB, Montolivo and Aqualini as ACM be better than what Milan currently have? Aqualini is not an ACM, he is a CM. He is also not a good player to begin with. As for Montolivo, well, he is also a CM and just a solid one. From what I seen of the two, they are really not that good. And since they are at an age where the term potential does not apply to them, I really don't see how they can improve the team. I also don't buy into the late bloomer thing, unless the players never have the chances to play regularly but thats not the case for them.

Thirdly, tactically, if Slowdorf can't play, Boateng will probably drop back to play his position while Cassano or Robinho will play as ACM or just another SS. I know Milan did that last season and the results ain't that good, but the diff are the players, Pirlo might offer more than MVB offensively, but he is not a good DM for 4-3-3 while MVB is. Also Boateng did not settle in then but will sure be now.

I am not keen on a fixed formations as Milan got too much talents upfront. That's why I really don't think M and A are good signings for Milan, since Boateng can offer a lot of movements for midfield while Two of Gattuso, MVB, Flamini and Ambro are as good as they come as DMs. That midfield behind guys 3 of Pippo, Ibra, Pato, Robnho, Cassano are Strong and compact enough. Can they beat Barca, probably not, but I doubt having guys like M and A will increase the chance of beating Barca either.

[ZvonimirBoban]

Can they beat Barca, probably not, but I doubt having guys like M and A will increase the chance of beating Barca either.

Still talking about these things today?

[Gabriel426]

I think it is normal to compare the team with Barca. After all, if you want to be the best, you got to beat the best. Would it be better, if I write stuff like, can they beat Parma?

[mihan]

I just start to think the big market shot could be between Mario and Edin, as they apparently have problem co-exist technically. There aren't too many big names available and there are Real, Barca, Man City, Chelsea, Malaga, Anzhi, PSG ahead with cash in hand. Big name, available, milanista, these two are what I can think of.

[Siregar]

@Gabriel,

You talked about defensive and offensive formation but the truth is these two options are not our primary formation. We have a normal formation with Pirlo as CM (later stage Seedorf played here). Defensive or offensive formation are only used in the second half of the game or certain games which are not many. In offensive formation, Montolivo IMO would play ahead of Cassano, Robinho since both are weaker than Boateng regarding their job connecting the midfield and attack. In addition Boateng as midfielder is average-OK in term of performance. He offers almost nothing there since the hard and dirty job already covered by MVB and Gattuso. Boateng can't hold the ball or dribble a bit, his ability is more in skill and mobility. We would stuck with Baoteng, MVB, Gattuso even we play 3 strikers IMO.

When Seedorf can't play, Montolivo would be starter in our team IMO, except someone comes (Fabregas, Schweini and similar quality players). Montolivo even can compete with Seedorf for LCM spot.

---

I just start to think the big market shot could be between Mario and Edin, as they apparently have problem co-exist technically. There aren't too many big names available and there are Real, Barca, Man City, Chelsea, Malaga, Anzhi, PSG ahead with cash in hand. Big name, available, milanista, these two are what I can think of.

Who are they? New names?

---

What papers say...

Gazetta: half of Emanuelson and Paloschi for Montolivo
Corriere: Milan put Cassano on the market
Tuttosport: Milan’s plans for Balotelli and Thiago Motta

football-italia.com

If we do buy Montolivo, it is better to give full of Emanuelson + half of Paloschi, not full of Paloschi + half of Montolivo since Paloschi still has years to develop and we do need player like him as Pippo's replacement (except we buy a great finisher when Pippo retires) while Emmanuelso is pretty useless in our squad due to his character of play.

[Gabriel426]

Siregar, you are playing too much attention to who is what in the midfield. If Boateng. Is play in the LCM spot, Taiwo will most likely be more agressive in attacks. And the formation will be more like 4-3-3 in defense while become more like a 4-2-1-2-1 in attack. Since Robinho, Pato and Cassano all can pretty mucch dribble pass one on ne defenders or play off Ibra in the middle. If Montolivo comes to Milan, of course he will start if Slowdorf can't play but he would not add much diff if he does not exist, since Boateng can play that role with Cassano or Robinho playing at ACM. Point I am trying to make is that if Milan is going to sign a player, spend wisely and not on someone who will be sitting on the bench and add depth since depth is something Milan has plenty of.
How I wish Milan is actually after Hernanes or Honda, as these two will upgrade the current Milan team.

Mario is Super Mario and Edin is Dzeko.

[Siregar]

Siregar, you are playing too much attention to who is what in the midfield. If Boateng. Is play in the LCM spot, Taiwo will most likely be more agressive in attacks. And the formation will be more like 4-3-3 in defense while become more like a 4-2-1-2-1 in attack. Since Robinho, Pato and Cassano all can pretty mucch dribble pass one on ne defenders or play off Ibra in the middle. If Montolivo comes to Milan, of course he will start if Slowdorf can't play but he would not add much diff if he does not exist, since Boateng can play that role with Cassano or Robinho playing at ACM. Point I am trying to make is that if Milan is going to sign a player, spend wisely and not on someone who will be sitting on the bench and add depth since depth is something Milan has plenty of.
How I wish Milan is actually after Hernanes or Honda, as these two will upgrade the current Milan team.

Mario is Super Mario and Edin is Dzeko.

I do think it is important who play in every position since every player is unique and offers different things among them. Having Boateng, MVB and Gattuso in the midfield is a weak point for Milan. We have seen it last year, we struggled when we don't have creativity in the midfield. Playing Cassano, Robinho or Ibra as second striker offers nothing but offensive force. We also have seen how our strikers couldn't get proper ball or chances since the bridge between midfield and strikers was empty. Taiwo could help but without creativity no matter how great our left fullback, he will be useless going forward since he could only use his dribbling and speed in one direction of target without having player to conduct the play.

I don't want Montolivo as our primary target for LCM but he offers something we don't have right now except old Seedorf. I will be unsatisfied if we get only Montolivo