Summer mercato 2012

[ACMILAN1983]

But De Sciglio is primarily Abate's understudy, and he actually does play better on the right flank. I think we should give Didac a chance though, who knows, we might be pleasantly surprised (thanks for the reminder, I forgot we still had him ).

The biggest worry we seem to have is in the middle of the field and up front actually. Despite not a lot of splashes, our defense may just surprise us.

Nini---Mexes---Zapata---Abate
Vila---Yepes---Bonehead---Di Sciglio

If only we could get a decent centerback, we'd be set in defence.

Up front its going to be P-ES, Pazz and Binho, no means a poor attack, but could definitely use a bit more aggression. Rossi doesn't seem a good deal now, since he's pretty much in the same mold as Pato or Pazz. We need a creator-orchestrator
Someone similar to Cassano, but with way more stamina and aggression. Messi or C. Ronaldo-ish types.

Its the midfield that I'm really worried about.

Urby-Noc-Monty-Prince is all well and good, but based on current evidence, our backup all suck.
1.) Ambro is too old.
2.) Traore is all work ethic and stamina, but no technique, physicality or intelligent positioning (Against better opposition, he gets bypassed way too easily),
3.) Muntari is as close as Noce as we can find, but he's only playing come January,
4.) Despite being a Chievo-Constant fan, I can only see the Genoa-Constant, which is useless.
5.) As much as I love Christante and Valoti, they aren't as ready for the step up as Merkel or Strasser was two seasons ago. We need to give them time to play, but as backup in important matches, can we afford to do so?

Also, someone mentioned previously that we have two imaginative players, Monty and Urby. Everyone else is all about work ethics. We need a more imaginative midfield and attack. Even more so now that Fat-antonio is gone.

Di Sciglio is primarily a RB, but as you said he'll be Abate's understudy and it's not like Abate's particularly old. Right now, he's probably pretty much on par with the rest of the left backs (Didac Vila is an unknown without much trust) and could be in for a shout as a regular LB, growing into the role. If we have space to use him, then I'd look to use him rather than just keeping him on the bench. Let's not forget Maldini wasn't a LB until he was asked to make his debut (not to say Di Sciglio's the new Maldini).

You don't see Acerbi as part of the first or even second team? Personally I think he'll be a starter, if not immediately, then in the not too distant future.

lol, if only we could get Messi or Ronaldo On a serious note though I think based on rumours Kaka's being considered as the player you'referring to. He would also add a lot of creativity (not that I endorse the transfer).

About midfield, I think we need one good holding midfielder and we're set. Montolivo showed he can play in front of the defence, but imo we need a guy like Desailly or Rijkaard in the past. Push Montolivo into the mezzala role to allow him to not only provide focus to our game, but also give him the opportunity to press high. Against Juve we had a lot of running without direction and control, while Montolivo would chase the ball being pulled out of position. From this our midfield would get a great balance, with one destroyer (the new Desailly/Rijkaard guy), one passing midfielder (Montolivo) and one runner (Nocerino).

Going onto your points about midfield:

1) Ambro should play a fairly low number of games now, I think he's valued mostly for his presence in the dressing room
2) Traore has been ok imo during preseason. He may not change the face of the side, but he appears to be solid and able to cover.
3) I'd say Flamini's the closest alternative to Nocerino, with Constant probably the second closest. Imo, Muntari's a different type of player.
4) I'm a little surprised at your thoughts on Constant. Personally, I've been impressed with him this summer.
5) About Cristante and Valoti, can we really write them off? Thing is, not many would have said Merkel and Strasser were ready at this point 2 years ago, it was only when they started getting involved in competitive games that we knew we could rely on them.

[LebRN]

Can someone recall Flamini's last season with Arsenal?
I remember he was a monster that year playing alongside Cesc but I'm trying to remember if he was played a CDM or they had someone else for that role. I'd appreciate If anyone can confirm if that was the case and if so then he should be the player we try there.

---

In that side Flamini was acting as the destroyer in midfield, often being compared to Gattuso.

thanks for the reply. Yeah that's what I remember and I don't see why we don't try a player who is yet to find his best form for us in a position in which he was most successful and which we r looking to fill!

[Revolver]

We've just made the dumbest move of this summer's mercato as we actually PAID Inter to swap one of the best Italian players, and probably technically the strongest player in the world, Cassano for under-performing Pazzini. :S And yet, even worse, Cassano will go to Inter.

Galliani and Allegri didn't learn on their mistake from last season, when they let Pirlo go to Juventus which was paid by Juventus taking the title from us. I really hope the same thing won't happen this season.

Speaking about Cassano, I'm not surprised the left, I said on couple of occasions during WC that he's not in Allegri's plans. Cassano is not a workhorse, and he's attitude is to loose for Allegri's liking. I'm sad that we're constantly offloading technically strong players, first it was Ronaldinho, then Pirlo and now Cassano. In a year or two a team who was known for having the players of the highest technical quality, who entertained the viewers around the globe, will become a team of workhorses. Sad.

[Arildonardo]

We've just made the dumbest move of this summer's mercato as we actually PAID Inter to swap one of the best Italian players, and probably technically the strongest player in the world, Cassano for under-performing Pazzini. :S And yet, even worse, Cassano will go to Inter.

Galliani and Allegri didn't learn on their mistake from last season, when they let Pirlo go to Juventus which was paid by Juventus taking the title from us. I really hope the same thing won't happen this season.

Speaking about Cassano, I'm not surprised the left, I said on couple of occasions during WC that he's not in Allegri's plans. Cassano is not a workhorse, and he's attitude is to loose for Allegri's liking. I'm sad that we're constantly offloading technically strong players, first it was Ronaldinho, then Pirlo and now Cassano. In a year or two a team who was known for having the players of the highest technical quality, who entertained the viewers around the globe, will become a team of workhorses. Sad.

I feel that you're exaggerating Cassano's abilities quite a bit. He's not one that strikes me as world class. That said he is a good player and 7 million + him for Pazzini seems a bit too much. Hopefully we have some creative players coming in as well.

[el fre]

Statement from Zvonimir Boban about this transfer:

"We'll see how things will develop, but I think that Pazzini-Pato combination will not work. They are both very good scorers, but lack creativity. I can't imagine a dialog between them on the field. On the other hand, Cassano is so good that he can adapt to any team, even Inter with so many attacking options. But his transfer request is not ok. He already said goodbye to Milan, the only question is his destination."

[Dha Brain]

Cassano destabilize clubs hey like Iker Casillas said he's a great player but CRAZY

[BINHO]

what about Didac Villa, i think he still with us??!!

Yes but apparently Allegri told him he's not in plans, but he failed the Medical to Valencia, so now he sits....Smart!

We've just made the dumbest move of this summer's mercato as we actually PAID Inter to swap one of the best Italian players, and probably technically the strongest player in the world, Cassano for under-performing Pazzini. :S And yet, even worse, Cassano will go to Inter.

Galliani and Allegri didn't learn on their mistake from last season, when they let Pirlo go to Juventus which was paid by Juventus taking the title from us. I really hope the same thing won't happen this season.

Speaking about Cassano, I'm not surprised the left, I said on couple of occasions during WC that he's not in Allegri's plans. Cassano is not a workhorse, and he's attitude is to loose for Allegri's liking. I'm sad that we're constantly offloading technically strong players, first it was Ronaldinho, then Pirlo and now Cassano. In a year or two a team who was known for having the players of the highest technical quality, who entertained the viewers around the globe, will become a team of workhorses. Sad.

Then Allegri should Be coaching Juventus. Berlusconi likes strikers and flair, Allegri can't stand players like Cassano. Then what the fuck is he the coach for? Get a coach who believes in what Berlusconi says, no? Idiots at this club.

[reza]

Well everybody can see clearly creativity was lacking even with a player like Cassano. Without him Abate, Antonini better be the new Cafu, Serginho. Midfield and support like Boateng, Constant, Nocerino and others can do some good running into the box themselves but will do next to nothing to support Pazzini, Pato, etc.

[ACMILAN1983]

The Pazzini deal looks to be all done. He's been at Milanello and has already talked to Allegri. Apparently he will go for further tests in Como before the transfer is complete. I saw this on milannews.

Also according to milannews, it seems Mesbah will agree to move to Palermo, but apparently isn't happy.

It's hard to know what we're going to do over the next week and a half to complete the mercato. Personally, my only real hope is one quality new midfielder who will be the destroyer/holder in the side. Problem is most good ones are out of our price range or simply unavailable. Considering the options, the best I can think of right now is Nainggolan. He's not normally a holder, but can play the role and I think he'd fit in well with our current set up. Realistically, we should be able to get him for between 10-15m, which if we have 7m to spend for Pazzini, then surely we can spend a little to get one really good midfielder.

[Ryo]

Didac out for 8 weeks minimum after he just had surgery. Looks like our medical room is already starting to fill up.....

Mesbah gone, Didac in the infirmary, Abate a fitness doubt. Wow, we haven't started the season and already we are down to two side-backs. What the hell?

Are we going to do a Barcelona and start playing midfielders in defence again? Flamini and Urby as backup, just perfect.


Seriously, despite never truly believing in Cassano, can't say I find it hard to believe that he wanted out. Milan have no ambition for anything right now. The defense in a shambles, we sell our main goal-scorer, our main assist-maker, and our only true defender, with Zapata and Pazzini as replacements.... What the hell?
Zapata is like a stop-gap solution, and Pazz has no industry. I agree with Boban, Pato-Pazz is NOT going to work. Both can score goals, but neither can create them. Who the hell are we going to rely on? Monty? Great, all the opposition need to do is to mark him out of the game and we're gonna be so dead. It'll be like the past few seasons where Pirlo was man-marked and we lost a whole bunch of matches because of it. Only this time, no Seedorf in his prime, no Gattuso playing out of his skin, and no Kaka (even a half decent Kaka could produce for us).

Seriously, if B & G don't bring in ANY reinforcements for the front, the middle AND the back in the next two weeks, I don't see us anywhere near 3rd place. Heck, I would be surprised if we even made top 6! We don't need to be ready for FFP anymore. We're already giving up our CL spot right now :\