Summer Mercato 2011

[Siregar]

- Fans will not go to Bejing to protest the decision of playing outside Italy.

It is really good. That gives more tickets for home fans in Beijing (China).

[WCmilan]

I like the idea of having paloschi and el shaarawy next season, hopefully they'll get a fair share of games

[ACMILAN1983]

I like the idea of having paloschi and el shaarawy next season, hopefully they'll get a fair share of games

Same here, I really want to see these guys forming an important part of our squad in the future. Not only young, both have the potential to do really well in Milan, and I'm keen on seeing Paloschi team up with Pato again, as they did really well when 18 together.

From the highlights I saw, Ganso can defense quite well. He is capable of stealing the ball from his opponents. He lacks the speed and stamina, but he is quick in decision making. We scored a lot of goals this season thanks to counter attack, and I think he can help to make thing even better. His natural position is ACM, but I don't think Santos have creative forwards like Ibra/Cassano in front of him.

Conflict with Ibra/Cassano is the first reason. Second is Boateng now can only play ACM, and he helps the team very well. Third is if we use him there, we still lack a LCM. Last but not least, playing deep, like you've said, is not unfamiliar to him.

You're right, Ganso definitely doesn't shirk his defensive duties, but it's his other attributes which to me suggest he's best at ACM rather than LCM or regista (as someone else suggested). Most particularly, I think his movement, and the freedom he gets in ACM is really an important element to his game. He's intelligent with his movement and although he's not been great (well, kind of debatable if you look at stats) in the Brazil side, I think it's also the system that limits or restricts him there, as he can't just move without encroaching on the space of others.

Personally, I think we'd be in super shape if we signed Hamsik/Pastore as ACM and Asamoah at LCM and switch Boateng at RCM. We'd have hard working side midfielders allowing our FBs to join the attack, but still provide enough offense of their own.

Someone straighten me out, but my interest in Ganso has waned now that I've finally seen him play his last 4 games (libertadores final and 3 copa america matches). The last match he looked pretty talented, but he seems lethargic to me. He doesn't really move much on the pitch. My ignorance led me to think that Ganso (as an ACM) was in the kaka mold - that is, someone who had speed in addition to incredible ball control. But that doesn't seem the case.

Am I seeing the real Ganso, or is this an injured player who normally plays a LOT better?

I would say the Ganso of Libertadores (I didn't see the match, but I understand he wasn't bad at all) and Copa isn't the best Ganso, but a player who's clearly been out with long term injuries and recovering, as well as a player who has yet to fully integrate in a new system with new players. That said, he has 3 assists in 3 matches (the current best in the Copa) and has been involved in most of the key plays in the Brazil side, even though not at his best.

@ ACMILAN1983,

I didn't write off Hamsik, Allegri and Galliani surely have a plan B, so if Montolivo comes and not Schweinsteiger, then Hamsik will be our next target and not Ganso I think.

Of course, there is an option to buy more defensively minded midfielder (De Rossi, Asamoah) and to go with Boateng in center midfield, but I'm not for this option, as in my opinion Boateng is not good enough for that role, and we're losing Gattuso's CL experience which could be crucial in our assault on CL next season.

About Schweinsteiger being too expensive and hard to get... well if we're going to buy a PROVEN classy player it will had to be expensive and hard to get. I know Berlusconi and Galliani are able to buy any player in the world bar Messi and Ronaldo if they want to. Quite some time ago people were saying that if Berlusconi wants a player it's aleady half of transfer.

I see your point, although I disagree that who we buy may be dependant on others we buy. I think Allegri and Galliani will look for players with certain qualities for different roles. Still I'll wait and see as there's little to know of yet beyond rumours.

Why would Boateng dropping into midfield mean we lose Gattuso? It's a worthwhile experiment to see how Boateng does in midfield (he has the qualities to be a great midfielder even if he's still a little lacking atm) and if he displaces Gattuso in the team then it's fine because it only serves to improve the team. Gatttuso's CL experience is important, but let's not forget it was Gattuso who lost his head in last year's CL.

What if the plan is to convert Ganso to regista just like Pirlo?
The midfield might look like this
-------------Robinho/shawaary-------------
Prince--------------------------------flamini/gattuso/shawaary
------------------Ganso---------------

Does anybody know if he has the tactical discipline to excel in such a role?

I think he could play the role relatively well, but I don't think he would fit as well as Pirlo. I say this because I think Pirlo had a better long pass than Ganso, while Ganso great at threading through balls.

As for Pato being a No. 9. I think he needs to learn more about playing with his partners before hand, IMO, he is saying he wants to play theCF role bc he does not want to learn and develop more in his game. I think Pato can be the next great CF but he needs to learn to play with his team instead of trying to dribble and out run everyone.

I have to disagree with this comment. These days Pato rarely looks to take on more than the odd player and will often make a simple pass if there's an opportunity. He's also happy to play as either CF or Supporting forward, which he alluded to prior to the Copa. He's definitely developing his game as his movement and work ethic has improved in recent months, and I certainly doubt he himself doesn't want to develop further. Personally, I think he's a CF who is deadly with a good partner (or two) up front. Currently, in the Brazil side you have Neymar who's playing for himself, Ganso who's not at his best and Robinho who in general looks poor. With this, it's only normal Pato's struggled up front. Also, look at the general reviews of Brazils matches and unsurprisingly most say Pato's general been the most positive of the attack.

[abbeyleemania]

Firstly, its a boring mercato so far. We signed Taiwo and Mexes early, so this signings makes expectations higher. im happy with Taiwo's arrival. its very hard to find a suitable left wing back nowadays on the market, except Taiwo, Armero is a player that i like and rate much. i see him in a big in few years.

Secondly, we should analyse what we need for starting line up and even adding more quality to the bench. i think that LCM who is creative, agressive and who can score goals is a priority for us. Hamsik is a player we want, Allegri wants, Galliani wants but Napoli doesnt want to sell. Hamsik wants Milan move, thats make things easier for us. Hamsik's Milan move looks unlikely so far in my opinion. But many things will change soon. Pastore's move can change many things.

After that, Lately, Preziosi said that he talked about Casemiro with Galliani on the dinner, about buying him together. Sao Paolo asks for 20 m euros while inter's offer is 14 m euros. Casemiro is a box to box player. He just turned pro and its his first year. Hernanes was proven player, who got player of the year and was in team of years. Lazio got proven Hernanes for 10 m euros from the same team, while Same team asks for 20 m euros for unproven young player.

He is non eu, i dont know if Genoa used non eu spot, as they signed Ze Eduardo and Seymour. They became an interesting team with Ze Eduardo, Birsa, Seymour, Constant and Merkel.

Casemiro's price and being Non Eu, makes things compliacated for both of us and Genoa.

We have many players who can retire in 1-2 years, so its better to sign some midfielders from now. Seedorf, Van Bommel, Gattuso and Ambrosini. 2-3 of this 4 can leave next season. Gattuso can leave or retire, Seedorf will leave or retire, Van Bommel or Ambrosini can stay one more year if they play well next season. We need at least 1-2 midfielders.

[LebRN]

talking about midfielders and copa america, Fredy Guarin looks like a very impressive player. Excellent passing & crossing, strong, explosive, good dribbling and shooting....i haven't seen too much of him but every time i do, he impresses me (last night against Peru)...
given that his name is not that hot on the market, i'm guessing there must be something wrong with him (consistency maybe?) i don't know....if anybody watches the Portuguese league and can comment that would be great

[fLame]

Just stopped by to say that Robinho looks amazing in Copa America.... Ganso - yet again mediocre.

p.s. brazilian finishing today was the biggest footballing fail i've ever seen in my life... it's like they had 11 robinhos on his worst days

[Hitman]

nah flame.... the truth is.. they had PATO there to destroy their chances one after the other

[Siregar]

It is amazing Brazil couldn't score even from 4 penalties! I wonder if Robinho was the adviser for the coach when it came to penalties.

[Aficio]

Let's welcome our fantastic 4 to the pre-season

Both Brazil and Argentina need new coaches.

[WCmilan]

ganso was mediocre, pato played good at least he got something on goal unlike any of his team mates, robinho played outstanding to be honest, the best players on brazil are all ours. Andre santos is also good we should take advantage, this copa america really showed a lot about the hype surrounding so many players, neymar netted some goals but to be honest was nothing special, ganso did nothing today, he had one good game. as for argentina, a lot of there players were mediocre too and overhyped, i dont count messi over hyped because HE himself did not play poorly, his team mates did.. aguero and messi were good for argentina.

The point im trying to make is, and this isn't because i'm italian, i myself think we lack talent badly to, but south american youngsters always get overhyped when they play good, some players live up to the hype but a lot dont.. Neymar imo was too young to be a starter for brazil, btw was hulk injured or something? he would've been 10x better then neymar ill assure you that much. I think brazil had all the creativity in the world, but once the ball got to the box it was like eveyrone was a ghost, pato was the only one actually in the box trying to cause anything, if i was the brazil coach i would've brought nilmar because of his finishing and either kaka or hulk to rotate with neymar.. what leiva and ramires were good, but i think melo or someone with more experience would've been better. anyways in summary i dont think its brazils lack of talent, there packed with talent it was mainly the coach imo poor choice of substitutes as well, taking off pato was one mistake, silva should have advanced more frequently as paraguay never really were on brazils side

Anyways , i dont want ganso anymore, if montolivo is our mr x i wont be happy either.. Schweinsteiger or fabregas are the two players im thinking of, i'd be disappointed with ganso now tbh as our mr.x