Summer Mercato 2011

[Hitman]

- looks like this young portugese defender has been snapped (we heard same rumors of us 'blocking' Lucas Marcelinho, why should these reports be more reliable?).. only worry is that it seems he's been a choice of braida and we know how he is at picking those young defenders

- ganso's agent arrives at milan while braida is in brazil.. everyone is working to closing the deal.. ganso is ours and our only obstacle is Santos' asking price

- marseille's president has confirmed that Taiwo has been in talks with Milan...with Taiwo saying the he wouldn't declare his team until end of May, it kinda seems like Galliani has told him that.. because we haven't renewed any contracts yet and are planning to do everything later, so it would make sense if Galliani told him to wait before announcing anything to avoid causing unrest until the Scudetto is sealed..

- linked with robben and constant again

- i dont know why are we going for hulk? I do love know Ibra's is the most responsible person for us winning the scudetto this year, but i am a realist and unlike most - i have an eye on the balance sheet and know how important it is (after losing our beloved Kaka)... to avoid a similar situation in the future it would be best to cut down the costs... Ibra at the beginning was real good doing everything for Milan, but so many times he likes to phase out and go into his own lazy world doing nothing.... and he's going to get paid 9m (18m after tax) a season when he comes here.. those wages alone for his four year contract are = 18 * 4 = 72m euros, add to that his 24m price tag and thats 96m euros.... getting rid of Ibra and bringing in someone like Hulk (or Neymar omg) will make milan play better as a team and save a great deal of cash..... I am also glad that Berlusconi recently said "maybe I have thrown away my cash" after Ibra's recent suspension... it shows that it may not be as impossible as it may first seem.

- galliani: "we have a gentleman's agreement with genoa for boateng"

- and lastly about Taiwo - does anyone have any GOOD videos of taiwo's performance rather than his goals? I wanna see how is he at defending and attacking during the game..... he doesn't seem to be too impressive to be honest.

[Ca Rossonero]

- i dont know why are we going for hulk? I do love know Ibra's is the most responsible person for us winning the scudetto this year, but i am a realist and unlike most - i have an eye on the balance sheet and know how important it is (after losing our beloved Kaka)... to avoid a similar situation in the future it would be best to cut down the costs... Ibra at the beginning was real good doing everything for Milan, but so many times he likes to phase out and go into his own lazy world doing nothing.... and he's going to get paid 9m (18m after tax) a season when he comes here.. those wages alone for his four year contract are = 18 * 4 = 72m euros, add to that his 24m price tag and thats 96m euros.... getting rid of Ibra and bringing in someone like Hulk (or Neymar omg) will make milan play better as a team and save a great deal of cash..... I am also glad that Berlusconi recently said "maybe I have thrown away my cash" after Ibra's recent suspension... it shows that it may not be as impossible as it may first seem.

summation of my feelings. If Milan are serious about fiscal responsibility paying that amount of money for a mentally unreliable player who is turning 30, who we've shown we can win without. Not smart.

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BTW a player I wouldn't mind poaching is Abel Hernandez. Only 20, I liked him last year, and his goal yesterday was roidiculous. Didn't realize till yesterday he's actually pretty tall (186cm?). Uruguay are producing an awesome forward line.... cavani and suarez, with Abel and Gaston Ramirez behind them.....

He reminds me a bit of etoo, the runs he makes, movement etc.

Though it shows how awful Sokratis instincts and positioning are....


had a nice one last year too:


Becoming the new miccoli-like thorn in our side.

[Siregar]

I disagre as I think we have many tools to play 4-2-3-1, maybe requiring 1 or 2 players to really make it a strong system for us to use. The way I'd like to see the system implemented is with a back 4 with two offensive fullbacks who are capable of overalapping the two wide attacking players. Abate is already one and it looks very likely we'll get a LB.

In midfield, we need to holding midfielders, both capable ball players and both solid in the tackle. Van Bommel and Ambrosini are two examples, and potentially we could even use Pirlo as a ball playing deep midfielder. Then there's Gattuso who is a good destroyer and can press opponents well. Personally, I'd like to see a new face for one of these roles, but we do have players for the roles.

The 3 men higher up should be balanced as offensive weapons, but players capable tracking back to perform defensive duties. Boateng is a great player for the system as he can play in wide areas or can be a central player in the three (never mind we're after Ganso who is perfect for the central role). He's also capable of dropping deep to make a 3 man midfield. Pirlo can also play as a creator in the middle or on the left, cutting in (with a fullback overlapping). Flamini is another well suited to playing a solid role in wide areas, although may lack the quality to fulfill his attacking duties. If we say we need a balanced midfielder who can attack or defend on one wing, we need a wide forward for the other wing. We are in no way short in this position with Robinho and Cassano, with also Pato more than capable as well. Add in some variation with more natural widemen like Urby, and you've got a pretty balanced system with possibilities of variation.

Up front we need attackers of various qualities, whether it be a target man (Ibra), a player to stretch opponents with his movement (Pato) or a poacher (Pippo and Pato). We're in no way short in this aspect.

I'd argue we need maybe 2-3 players to really make the most of the system. One holding midfielder, Ganso and probably another wide option.

4-2-3-1 need fresh DMs especially if the formation uses strikers as forward-wingers. We can't use both 34-35 years old DM combo. We will be attacked easily. In addition our forward-wing are weak at defensive duty. We can't hope Cassano to track back. Pato is better than Cassano but still very weak while Robinho is hardworker and likes to track back but he can't track back all time. He is just too forward minded. We only have Flamini there as fresh DM. We need at least one great DM or should be two DMs. For forward wing we don't have backup. I won't play Cassano as winger except a quality DM like Silva plays in the two DMs. Pirlo is not a winger. If we play him on leftside, it will be than a 3 midfield formation (4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3, not 4-2-3-1). As for fullback, we need very strong one defensively. Contraoe type of player won't be enough.

Plus as has been said, it will takes pretty long time to adapt to new system since many players have to be introduced to the formation.

[Ca Rossonero]

ITALY/ GENOA, Veloso and Rafinha ready to leave
18:20| Marco Gori | read 231
© foto di Daniele Buffa/Image Sport

According to Sportsbook24.net, 24 year old midfielder Miguel Veloso and 25 year old wingback Rafinha could leave Genoa at the end of the season. The Brazilian player could move back to the Bundesliga.
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Could easily see us going for Veloso. We have eyed him a while.

[WCmilan]

abel is a good player imo he has a great finishing touch.. we should have looked into buying van der vaart he went to tott for only 8mln.

[abbeyleemania]

Zamparini is defenitely out of this world. He increased his asking price from 50m euros to 60 m euros, after his perfonmance vs Papa...One italian cup makes 10 m euros jump on price...Did we see any drop after 7-0 humilation by Udinese or after another loss...? 7-0 with Pastore on the pitch...Zamparini is defenitely from another planet...

Regarding Abel Hernandez, his pace, dribbling ability and strentgh is good combination, he has also a good finishing. But yet he couldnt show his value yet, he couldnt play with continuity...

Abel as vice ibra would be nice, he would help ibra in attack, with his strength...We could use ibra's abilities more if we play with 1 big and skilled player infront... He could be a great help to him...

Veloso was always an overrated player, i never rated him, as he couldnt show his value at Genoa... i talked about Kucka here before, inter is interested in him. A.Konko as rotation player, he could be useful. Veloso? No thanks...

Regarding ibra, i saw how he take 5 palermo defenders to free up Emanuelson... ibra is that player... i can understand your thoughts about him, his 9 m euros wage is a problem but he deserves it... For CL, first Pato should prove that we can depent on him and he should step up in CL, then we should talk about selling ibra, even if on our minds... but for now, ibra is very important for us...

We have many steps to do lowering wage's amount before getting rid of ibrahimovic's wages...

-Papa
-Onyewu
-Oddo
-Bonera
-Vila
-Jankulovski
-Seedorf, Ambrosini and Pirlo
-Flamini(he earns 5.1 m euros and however he didnt convince me with his perfonmances. We misses Gattuso with Flamini when Rino doesnt play)

Our wage bill increase later, as Pato and Silva are earning low amounts...it can be a problem for us. considering we pay 5 m euros to Mexes...Latest rumours said that Pato wants 10 m euros a year and wants to match ibra's wage...

[Ca Rossonero]

Lamela has had a few man of the match performances over last few months:


If you didn't know, he gets comparisons to messi and Riquelme because of his cultured left foot. To me he's more of a pastore style player with a lefty. Still very raw though. Just turned 19




Thing is he's pretty young. Ganso could slot in as a starter. Lamela is not there yet....

[ACMILAN1983]

4-2-3-1 need fresh DMs especially if the formation uses strikers as forward-wingers. We can't use both 34-35 years old DM combo. We will be attacked easily. In addition our forward-wing are weak at defensive duty. We can't hope Cassano to track back. Pato is better than Cassano but still very weak while Robinho is hardworker and likes to track back but he can't track back all time. He is just too forward minded. We only have Flamini there as fresh DM. We need at least one great DM or should be two DMs. For forward wing we don't have backup. I won't play Cassano as winger except a quality DM like Silva plays in the two DMs. Pirlo is not a winger. If we play him on leftside, it will be than a 3 midfield formation (4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3, not 4-2-3-1). As for fullback, we need very strong one defensively. Contraoe type of player won't be enough.

Plus as has been said, it will takes pretty long time to adapt to new system since many players have to be introduced to the formation.

I think you're restricting your viewpoint as to how 4-2-3-1 can be played, as you're saying we would need wingers for the system, which I really don't consider to be the case. In reality, the variation we've seen of the 4-3-1-2 in recent weeks is closer to what I was suggesting compared to what others are playing when playing 4-2-3-1. We've been playing 2 holders in Van Bommel and Gattuso, with Seedorf given freedom to push forward down the left. This results in Boateng often moving to the right to add greater balance and one of the forwards (normally Robinho or Ibra) pull back to get involved in our central play.

Essentially what I'm saying is while our defensive shape is:

---------------------Abbiati-----------------------
Abate-------Nesta--------Thiago-------Zambro
----------Rino-------MvB-------Seedorf---------
----------------------Boateng--------------------
---------------Ibra-----------Pato----------------

Our offensive shape is often looking like this (fullbacks push up and overlap):

----------------------Abbiati--------------------
Abate------Nesta-----------Thiago-----Zambro
--------------Rino---------MvB-----------------
---------Boateng-----------------Seedorf------
-----------------------Ibra----------------------
-----------------------------Pato---------------

When you consider Ibra's freedom he drops into the hole behind Pato (although moves around the pitch) and Seedorf and Boateng tend to move to either side of him, making something akin to a 4-2-3-1.

Now what I'm suggesting isn't hugely different as I want one balanced midfielder on one side (i.e. Boateng) who will drop into the midfield make make our line of 3 like in our defensive system above. The difference in my variation is I'd like Ganso (or the player in the middle of the 3 in 4-2-3-1) to start pressing early, with the players at his side pressing intelligently, knowing when to drop back or when to stay high to press, unlike Seedorf at the moment who will always drop back.

Just as we used Pirlo on the left earlier this season, he can be asked to play on the left in a 4-2-3-1, dropping back into midfield to make a 4-3-2-1. Likewise, having a wide forward on the opposite side of the 3 will mean they have the freedom to attack intelligently down the side, but with opportunities to cut in towards goal, with a fullback overlapping to maintain our width. We've seen Robinho and Cassano often come out into wide areas this season, and Pato did it last season along and also moved into wide areas this season against certain opponents (e.g. Napoli recently).

About Van Bommel and Ambro, despite their age I think they are both capable as DM's as they have both shown this season (at times on their own in midfield with the midfielders either side of them pushing up). However, I did stress to make the point that either way I think it's good to bring in a fresh face in midfield (irrespective of whether we change system).

The system I propose may be considered a 4-2-3-1, but the reality is it's a small evolution of our current system. In the end, whatever we play a system is pretty much just a number, it's the qualities of the side and how the coach uses those qualities is what determines whether the system is successful or not.

[ZvonimirBoban]

4-2-3-1 need fresh DMs especially if the formation uses strikers as forward-wingers. We can't use both 34-35 years old DM combo. We will be attacked easily. In addition our forward-wing are weak at defensive duty. We can't hope Cassano to track back. Pato is better than Cassano but still very weak while Robinho is hardworker and likes to track back but he can't track back all time. He is just too forward minded. We only have Flamini there as fresh DM. We need at least one great DM or should be two DMs. For forward wing we don't have backup. I won't play Cassano as winger except a quality DM like Silva plays in the two DMs. Pirlo is not a winger. If we play him on leftside, it will be than a 3 midfield formation (4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3, not 4-2-3-1). As for fullback, we need very strong one defensively. Contraoe type of player won't be enough.

Plus as has been said, it will takes pretty long time to adapt to new system since many players have to be introduced to the formation.

I think you're restricting your viewpoint as to how 4-2-3-1 can be played, as you're saying we would need wingers for the system, which I really don't consider to be the case. In reality, the variation we've seen of the 4-3-1-2 in recent weeks is closer to what I was suggesting compared to what others are playing when playing 4-2-3-1. We've been playing 2 holders in Van Bommel and Gattuso, with Seedorf given freedom to push forward down the left. This results in Boateng often moving to the right to add greater balance and one of the forwards (normally Robinho or Ibra) pull back to get involved in our central play.

Essentially what I'm saying is while our defensive shape is:

---------------------Abbiati-----------------------
Abate-------Nesta--------Thiago-------Zambro
----------Rino-------MvB-------Seedorf---------
----------------------Boateng--------------------
---------------Ibra-----------Pato----------------

Our offensive shape is often looking like this (fullbacks push up and overlap):

----------------------Abbiati--------------------
Abate------Nesta-----------Thiago-----Zambro
--------------Rino---------MvB-----------------
---------Boateng-----------------Seedorf------
-----------------------Ibra----------------------
-----------------------------Pato---------------

When you consider Ibra's freedom he drops into the hole behind Pato (although moves around the pitch) and Seedorf and Boateng tend to move to either side of him, making something akin to a 4-2-3-1.

Now what I'm suggesting isn't hugely different as I want one balanced midfielder on one side (i.e. Boateng) who will drop into the midfield make make our line of 3 like in our defensive system above. The difference in my variation is I'd like Ganso (or the player in the middle of the 3 in 4-2-3-1) to start pressing early, with the players at his side pressing intelligently, knowing when to drop back or when to stay high to press, unlike Seedorf at the moment who will always drop back.

Just as we used Pirlo on the left earlier this season, he can be asked to play on the left in a 4-2-3-1, dropping back into midfield to make a 4-3-2-1. Likewise, having a wide forward on the opposite side of the 3 will mean they have the freedom to attack intelligently down the side, but with opportunities to cut in towards goal, with a fullback overlapping to maintain our width. We've seen Robinho and Cassano often come out into wide areas this season, and Pato did it last season along and also moved into wide areas this season against certain opponents (e.g. Napoli recently).

About Van Bommel and Ambro, despite their age I think they are both capable as DM's as they have both shown this season (at times on their own in midfield with the midfielders either side of them pushing up). However, I did stress to make the point that either way I think it's good to bring in a fresh face in midfield (irrespective of whether we change system).

The system I propose may be considered a 4-2-3-1, but the reality is it's a small evolution of our current system. In the end, whatever we play a system is pretty much just a number, it's the qualities of the side and how the coach uses those qualities is what determines whether the system is successful or not.

So... back to the case where someone commented that by buying more forward-winger e.g. Lavezzi or Robben, we will be forced to use 4-2-3-1. According to your argument....

If we bought one of them, our offense will be:
Van Bommel - Ambro
Lavezzi/Robben - Ibra - Robinho/Cassano
Pato

But our defensive shape will be NOWHERE near 4-3-1-2, as Lavezzi and Robinho (or Cassano and Robben or any forward-winger in this matter) cannot defend and cannot fill the hole in midfield.

Thus what Siregar stated: we will be forced to adapt to new system.

[Siregar]

4-2-3-1 need fresh DMs especially if the formation uses strikers as forward-wingers. We can't use both 34-35 years old DM combo. We will be attacked easily. In addition our forward-wing are weak at defensive duty. We can't hope Cassano to track back. Pato is better than Cassano but still very weak while Robinho is hardworker and likes to track back but he can't track back all time. He is just too forward minded. We only have Flamini there as fresh DM. We need at least one great DM or should be two DMs. For forward wing we don't have backup. I won't play Cassano as winger except a quality DM like Silva plays in the two DMs. Pirlo is not a winger. If we play him on leftside, it will be than a 3 midfield formation (4-3-2-1 or 4-3-3, not 4-2-3-1). As for fullback, we need very strong one defensively. Contraoe type of player won't be enough.

Plus as has been said, it will takes pretty long time to adapt to new system since many players have to be introduced to the formation.

I think you're restricting your viewpoint as to how 4-2-3-1 can be played, as you're saying we would need wingers for the system, which I really don't consider to be the case. In reality, the variation we've seen of the 4-3-1-2 in recent weeks is closer to what I was suggesting compared to what others are playing when playing 4-2-3-1. We've been playing 2 holders in Van Bommel and Gattuso, with Seedorf given freedom to push forward down the left. This results in Boateng often moving to the right to add greater balance and one of the forwards (normally Robinho or Ibra) pull back to get involved in our central play.

Essentially what I'm saying is while our defensive shape is:

---------------------Abbiati-----------------------
Abate-------Nesta--------Thiago-------Zambro
----------Rino-------MvB-------Seedorf---------
----------------------Boateng--------------------
---------------Ibra-----------Pato----------------

Our offensive shape is often looking like this (fullbacks push up and overlap):

----------------------Abbiati--------------------
Abate------Nesta-----------Thiago-----Zambro
--------------Rino---------MvB-----------------
---------Boateng-----------------Seedorf------
-----------------------Ibra----------------------
-----------------------------Pato---------------

When you consider Ibra's freedom he drops into the hole behind Pato (although moves around the pitch) and Seedorf and Boateng tend to move to either side of him, making something akin to a 4-2-3-1.

Now what I'm suggesting isn't hugely different as I want one balanced midfielder on one side (i.e. Boateng) who will drop into the midfield make make our line of 3 like in our defensive system above. The difference in my variation is I'd like Ganso (or the player in the middle of the 3 in 4-2-3-1) to start pressing early, with the players at his side pressing intelligently, knowing when to drop back or when to stay high to press, unlike Seedorf at the moment who will always drop back.

Just as we used Pirlo on the left earlier this season, he can be asked to play on the left in a 4-2-3-1, dropping back into midfield to make a 4-3-2-1. Likewise, having a wide forward on the opposite side of the 3 will mean they have the freedom to attack intelligently down the side, but with opportunities to cut in towards goal, with a fullback overlapping to maintain our width. We've seen Robinho and Cassano often come out into wide areas this season, and Pato did it last season along and also moved into wide areas this season against certain opponents (e.g. Napoli recently).

About Van Bommel and Ambro, despite their age I think they are both capable as DM's as they have both shown this season (at times on their own in midfield with the midfielders either side of them pushing up). However, I did stress to make the point that either way I think it's good to bring in a fresh face in midfield (irrespective of whether we change system).

The system I propose may be considered a 4-2-3-1, but the reality is it's a small evolution of our current system. In the end, whatever we play a system is pretty much just a number, it's the qualities of the side and how the coach uses those qualities is what determines whether the system is successful or not.

I do think the formation decides how the team play (not bad or well but the way the game played). Like your description above, I don't agree. Our core is 3 midfielder which if we do focus, it is Bommel. It is like 4-1-2-1-2.

------------Bommel-----------------
Gattuso--------------------Seedorf
------------Boateng---------------
-----Pato----------------------Ibra

With the movements of Boateng Ibra and Pato, the core of the formation is still the same, lies on Bommel covered by two midfielders. Boateng and Ibra can be as AMs there behind Pato. The variation of the formation on the field would be 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1. It won't be 4-2-3-1 which means Gattuso and Bommel won't be in line in two DM-partnership behind Baoteng, Seedorf and Ibra. Bommel will be almost of the time in the centre of the field or in the centre of midfield of normal play (when the ball is our and starting to build the play, the time we can see the original formation of a team).

It is totally different with 4-2-3-1. The core of the formation is the 2 midfileders (the 2 DMs partnership). The formation can't be turn to 4-3-1-2 since its different core. The centre of the midfield is the difference. One uses 1 player (Bommel) covered by two players, the other one 2 player/DMs in 4-2-3-1 formation.

That is why it is not easy even hard to change the system (from 4-3-1-2 to 4-2-3-1). It is much easier to change 4312 to 4321 or to 433 since the base are the same using 1 centred player (Bommel). Because of the different system, I said in previous post that we need many players since 4231 need different characteristic player compared to 4321 if we do want to have good play both defensively and offensively (good and fresh DMs and forward/wingers that can defend, close the space, etc well). We can play now with 4-2-3-1 but it would be pretty easy for opponent to destroy us IMO since we are very week in the centre of our formation cos we have only two good players defensively on the centre of our formation (the two DMs). Robinho, Pato, Cassano can't defend. Robinho is better but he is not the one who can play wide defensively (not the forward or striker that can defend or help defend well).