Summer Mercato

[millinarios]

Pandev kinda makes sense, in the Galliani way of things.

[Nalx]

Pepe Reina is another goalkeeper linked with us. But now that Madrid have already bought Keylor Navas why not try to loan Diego Lopez? Come on Kojak, make another unannounced visit to your friend Florentino Perez.

[ACMILAN1983]

I think it's interesting that many responses to selling Balotelli are "no", but it appears less about the quality the Balotelli brings to the team and more about the fear of replacing him inadequately, if at all.

It says a lot about our decline and the problems we face. The problem we face is that keeping Balotelli means we have to hope Pippo can finally help him grow up. The likelihood based on past experiences is that he won't grow and we continue to stagnate in the position we've found ourselves in during recent years. The longer that occurs, the more difficult it is to rebuild. Of course it's not as simple as Balotelli defines whether we successfully rebuild or not, but his status and position means he is important in the process.

Selling him is a huge risk too though, as failing to replace him adequately (whether it be reinforcing well in a new striker or in other areas) causes extreme amounts of damage too. That said though, as mentioned above his sale isn't the be all and end all for the future of the club, as there's many different aspects that defines this side and it's future.

Ultimately, I think the risk of stagnating is high with Balotelli. We continue to hope he'll grow and it's always the same sort of response. It was the same vs Liverpool the other day too, as he moped and walked around looking frustrated and gesturing to the bench of his unhappiness. Knowing that it's difficult, if not impossible to change him, I do think we should sell, even with the risks involved. I'd rather see a risk taken to change things than let things be and continue this stagnation/decline.

Apparently some of our officials met with Campbell's representatives to see if he's interested in coming. Signs are good and he seems willing to join, so the club will next speak to Arsenal, either with a loan option or outright signing. Cerci still seems first choice though, but a lot depends on price (Torino apparently request 20m).

There's also been meetings between Robinho's representatives and clubs in UAE, with a real opportunity of him finally being sold. Tuttosport thinks it could happen, although obviously the biggest roadblock is likely to be his wage demands.

[nefremo]

Ultimately, I think the risk of stagnating is high with Balotelli. We continue to hope he'll grow and it's always the same sort of response. It was the same vs Liverpool the other day too, as he moped and walked around looking frustrated and gesturing to the bench of his unhappiness. Knowing that it's difficult, if not impossible to change him, I do think we should sell, even with the risks involved. I'd rather see a risk taken to change things than let things be and continue this stagnation/decline.

I was thinking the same thing after the Liverpool game, but didn't say anything in here cuz I didn't want to go on anothe Balotelli rant again.
He actually started that game well. The first 10 minutes he moved around caused some problems. Than there was a moment of about 15 minutes where he didn't get the ball much and kind of disappeared, so you could see he was starting to get frustrated. The last 15 minutes was vintage Mario. Looked careless, with his head down. In 82nd minute (I remember distinctly), we had all three midfielders plus the wingers sprinting in Liverpool's half trying to press the ball. Than you look 10meters away and you see Mario walking. Same old shit. I don't know how every single coach has so much patience with this clown.

[Sajymundo]

Transfer market for Milan has been pretty piir as we know but its too early to lose all hope. Granted we got smashed in all our games but its still very early in preseason. We have the best part if a month to go and I hope in that time, inzaghi will get some good training in and we will look like a team at the start of the season.

I just hope we get rid of a few more players and give the players we have a good go, we have 1 game a week so can't use too many games as a excuse and our young players should be able to cope with that.

I would like to see Milan change its system though. My thinking is we have 2 wing backs in DES and Abate.we player 3 CB as we have loads if them or 2 CB with De Jong used as a 3rd when opposition only play one up front. Similar to what he did for Holland at times. 5 man defence when defending and good width when we attack. Darmian would therfor be an excellent addition. Thus would also allow one of the CB to roam forward when required giving attacking options, rather pass to de jong who passes sideways.

de King to play def mid/ CB when required and Cristante as box to box midfielder. That should also mean de jobg takes less long range shots which would be a good thing. Monto could play this role when back too.

attacking mid, creative player - Honda/ Menez. Honda needs to play in the centre and create. Mastour had one moment in a pretty season game where he picked up the ball and ran from deep and layer on a goal, that's what we need. He is the long term future in that position.

2 up front. Combination of Balo/SES/Pazzini.

More than anything I think we need a GK, Abbiatti to my dispair stayed but we need a keeper. Go out and get cech or one of the Madrid guys.

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I hate typing on my phone, sorry for the spelling mistakes.

[honsano]

I think another thing about Balo is that highlights stick out most in our mind. The games where he wins from drawing a penalty or making a wonder goal. There have been quite a few of those. Those are easy to look back at and make us scared that losing him would mean losing a number of games without him.

The reality is that he hurts the overall team effort and dynamic. Furthermore, he hinders the growth of our young players (especially ELS but probably Niang too). I think management realizes this and that is why they are pushing so hard for a move. We don't have enough individual talent to make up for a lack of full team effort. Either we play as a team again or suffer the consequences of cavalier super stars.

[nefremo]

I agree with the 5-3-2/3-5-2 idea. I don't think we'll try it, but I think right now it's the best formation to suit the players we have.

Our CBs have not looked great so putting one more in there will stabilize the line. Abate and DES can operate very good as wingbacks and can defend and give us width when going forward. Two holding mids in De Jong and X (Monto when he comes back). One creative player ahead of them when in possession. This can be Menez or Honda like you said. Monto can also be used here for a more balanced approach. Than you have the two forwards. I really do think that SES is more of a support striker than a winger. I think his runs off the ball will be much more dangerous if he is central and has 4 directions to go. The other forward can be Pazzo or Niang, or another forward that we get.

This is identical to Holland in the World Cup and also what Man U is doing now under Van Gaal.

I'm surprised Pippo has not tried anything else in these early days. He said that he'll use the American tour to try different set ups and he hasn't done that.

I think looking at our squad and they way they've performed it's a no brainer to try 3-5-2/5-3-2. At least until (and if) we get other players. Conte wanted a 4-3-3 but didn't have the players for it so he changed to fit his players and got success. Van Gaal just did the same with Holland. He wanted a 4-3-3 with the whole nation wanting it too, but he changed that to a different approach (mainly because of Strootman's injury and the weak backline) and got success too.

Those are just two recent examples, but it's only right not to be so rigid in your approach. Adapting is (especially when you don't have the players to fit your original ideas) a very important trait of a good coach. You don't have to change your philosophy or approach, but you can shift the players around the field to get as close as possible to that philosophy and approach.

[ACMILAN1983]

About the 3/5 man defence, I don't think there's much chance to see it, mostly because Berlusconi insists on a 4 man backline (he had issues with Zaccheroni for this reason). However, I don't think it's a problem, nor do I think we need a 3 man backline, but that's mostly personal preference and I find that sides with a 4 man backline tend to have more tactical flexibility.

I'm actually confident that with work we can have a solid backline this year. Between Rami, Alex, Mexes (not really my pick), Bonera and Zapata (who I think is a much better defender than we saw last season), you'd think we can get a CB pairing that's not only competent, but actually pretty good. With De Sciglio and maybe a new fullback (or Abate if he improves his form), we can have a decent backline. A big problem we had last season and so far this summer is the guys in front (midfield and attack) haven't been disciplined enough to provide protection, so the backline is being exposed more than it should be.

I think 4-3-3 is a good system personally. It's what brought us most results 2 years ago and we're still working with most of the foundations that made that side.

I think another thing about Balo is that highlights stick out most in our mind. The games where he wins from drawing a penalty or making a wonder goal. There have been quite a few of those. Those are easy to look back at and make us scared that losing him would mean losing a number of games without him.

The reality is that he hurts the overall team effort and dynamic. Furthermore, he hinders the growth of our young players (especially ELS but probably Niang too). I think management realizes this and that is why they are pushing so hard for a move. We don't have enough individual talent to make up for a lack of full team effort. Either we play as a team again or suffer the consequences of cavalier super stars.

You're right about Balo's wonder goals/set pieces. However, part of the reason we're so reliant on them is he does little to no work for the team and just doesn't take up positions where he will score "regular goals. As you said, he hurts team effort and dynamic.

[Mystik]

I think I'm in the Balotelli camp here. There's no point sell him for pennies when we won't get an adequate replacement. In addition, he's one of the few players on the team that actually keep Milan relevant. I don't see Pazzini and Muntari filling the seats at the San Siro to be honest. I'm not saying that Balotelli is selling out the stadium but we don't really have many marketable players besides him. If we were actually able to get someone with quality I'd be on board but I am fairly confident that we would not.

[reza]

It depends on what the real reality is.
If someone, B&G or whoever, will rescue this team soon then I think we can hold on to him and use his name too like Mystik says. If this is all talk and nothing except the hope of stadium and youth signings for 3,4,5 years from now then sell Balo now, won't matter much anyway.