devoted_dm

devoted_dm · 26-02-2009, 19:01

Yup, I definitely see the similarities to 2001 and 2002. It was the end of an era for Milan. After being dominant in Europe for the most part of the 90s, the management decided to stick with a group of players that were past their prime. We had won the scudetto in 98/99, but the team was just not performing anymore, and we were being made fools of in Europe and Italy. Zaccheroni was running out of ideas, and Milan appeared to be falling apart.

It is very similar to what is going on right now. We have a group of players who are aging and have won every major trophy there is, a coach who is running out of ideas, and the team is being made fools of in Europe and Italy. The situation was eventually solved as Ancelotti came in and the squad was renewed.

Between 2000 and 2002, we made some very important signings in Nesta, Pippo and Seedorf, but with the exception of Nesta, none of these players were considered world class at the time of their arrival. Pippo had hardly been playing for Juventus, and Seedorf had wasted two years at Inter. We did sign Rui Costa and Rivaldo too, but Rivaldo was no longer the player he used to be, and Rui Costa (although I loved him), did not enjoy the same kind of success at Milan that he had at Fiorentina.

The player that really made the difference was Andrea Pirlo, who joined us for close to nothing from Inter in 2001. It wasn't until Ancelotti came in and started using him as a defensive playmaker that things really clicked for Milan though. Another player that Ancelotti got the best out of was Gattuso, who had already spent two years at Milan without performing at the level we've come to expect of him today. Dida was another player nobody believed in, but when Ancelott came in, he suddenly became a world class goalkeeper, and stayed at that level for many years.

If you look at our line-up for the CL final in 2003, I think it is fair to say that we succeeded with a team that had been built over some time, from 1999/2000 to 2002/2003. We had a few players from the "old guard" remaining with us in Billy and Maldini, and a few undoubtedly world class players in Nesta, Shevchenko and Inzaghi, but by and large, the board had been making the right moves on the transfer market for several seasons, and what had lacked was a coach that got the best out of the new players.

The situation today is pretty similar. If you imagine that everyone is injury free and playing to the best of their current capabilities (considering age and all), our strongest starting XI today would be:

Abbiati - Zambrotta, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski, Pirlo, Gattuso, Flamini, Kaka, Borriello and Pato.

In that group of players, we have some who should probably be replaced, like Abbiati, Kaladze and Jankulovski. We have some players who consistently perform at a high level when they are fit, such as as Kaka, Gattuso and Nesta. We have a few players who are just waiting to really leave their mark on Europe and Italy in a way that will make everyone take notice, such as Flamini, Borriello and Pato (the Duck has succeeded in Italy, to a certain extent, but is still young, and has yet to prove himself in the CL).

All in all, the situation is very similar to 2001-02. The year after, we still had a bunch of average players in the squad, such as Roque Junior, Martin Laursen, Brocchi, Rivaldo (who, in all fairness, had been world class before), Simic and so on, but we had a new coach who got the best out of the young and/or unproven players, and made those who had been with the club for some time start performing again.

All in all, I have some hopes for next season. Thiago Silva is coming in, and he is as good a central defender as any. We will probably need another central defender of some class, as things are not looking good for Nesta, and that is something the board will be forced to address. I can imagine that Sheva will leave, or that Pippo retires, so we will need another striker as well. Our midfield is generally alright, and we'll probably bring back Gourcuff, who is setting France on fire these days.

What remains then is for us to sign a new coach with new ideas. Replacing your coach is always risky business, but I imagine that if Ancelotti is sacked, we will bring in Frank Rijkaard, who has proven himself at the highest level with Barcelona, and is a former player who belongs to the Milan family. If not him, then we have other options in Donadoni and Leonardo. Maybe Scolari should be considered too, since he is also available at the moment, and could probably do wonders for Milan, considering the large number of Brazilian players we have. I do think that it is definitely time for Ancelotti to go.

So to summarize: Yes, the situation is very similar to 2001-2002, and like then, we need one or two world class signings, while some fairly unproven players should be given more faith and responsibility. And we need a new, quality coach who brings new and fresh ideas to a Milan that has become fairly stale. If that happens, and I think we have reached the point where everyone can see that it -must- happen (including the board), then we are on route for more success in the coming years.

Berlusconi said something about Milan earlier this season: "A great man can allow himself to rest for some time, but never for too long." Milan have rested for two seasons, but I foresee changes to the squad and management that will bring more success to the club fairly soon.

What we need to focus on now is qualifying for the Champions League next season. I don't care if we finish 2nd or 4th, as long as we get one of those CL spots. It is absolutely vital.

26-02-2009, 19:01	#6
devoted_dm Registered User Join Date: 09 2000 Location: Norway Fave Players: Pirlo, Nesta, Gattuso and Roberto Baggio	Yup, I definitely see the similarities to 2001 and 2002. It was the end of an era for Milan. After being dominant in Europe for the most part of the 90s, the management decided to stick with a group of players that were past their prime. We had won the scudetto in 98/99, but the team was just not performing anymore, and we were being made fools of in Europe and Italy. Zaccheroni was running out of ideas, and Milan appeared to be falling apart. It is very similar to what is going on right now. We have a group of players who are aging and have won every major trophy there is, a coach who is running out of ideas, and the team is being made fools of in Europe and Italy. The situation was eventually solved as Ancelotti came in and the squad was renewed. Between 2000 and 2002, we made some very important signings in Nesta, Pippo and Seedorf, but with the exception of Nesta, none of these players were considered world class at the time of their arrival. Pippo had hardly been playing for Juventus, and Seedorf had wasted two years at Inter. We did sign Rui Costa and Rivaldo too, but Rivaldo was no longer the player he used to be, and Rui Costa (although I loved him), did not enjoy the same kind of success at Milan that he had at Fiorentina. The player that really made the difference was Andrea Pirlo, who joined us for close to nothing from Inter in 2001. It wasn't until Ancelotti came in and started using him as a defensive playmaker that things really clicked for Milan though. Another player that Ancelotti got the best out of was Gattuso, who had already spent two years at Milan without performing at the level we've come to expect of him today. Dida was another player nobody believed in, but when Ancelott came in, he suddenly became a world class goalkeeper, and stayed at that level for many years. If you look at our line-up for the CL final in 2003, I think it is fair to say that we succeeded with a team that had been built over some time, from 1999/2000 to 2002/2003. We had a few players from the "old guard" remaining with us in Billy and Maldini, and a few undoubtedly world class players in Nesta, Shevchenko and Inzaghi, but by and large, the board had been making the right moves on the transfer market for several seasons, and what had lacked was a coach that got the best out of the new players. The situation today is pretty similar. If you imagine that everyone is injury free and playing to the best of their current capabilities (considering age and all), our strongest starting XI today would be: Abbiati - Zambrotta, Nesta, Kaladze, Jankulovski, Pirlo, Gattuso, Flamini, Kaka, Borriello and Pato. In that group of players, we have some who should probably be replaced, like Abbiati, Kaladze and Jankulovski. We have some players who consistently perform at a high level when they are fit, such as as Kaka, Gattuso and Nesta. We have a few players who are just waiting to really leave their mark on Europe and Italy in a way that will make everyone take notice, such as Flamini, Borriello and Pato (the Duck has succeeded in Italy, to a certain extent, but is still young, and has yet to prove himself in the CL). All in all, the situation is very similar to 2001-02. The year after, we still had a bunch of average players in the squad, such as Roque Junior, Martin Laursen, Brocchi, Rivaldo (who, in all fairness, had been world class before), Simic and so on, but we had a new coach who got the best out of the young and/or unproven players, and made those who had been with the club for some time start performing again. All in all, I have some hopes for next season. Thiago Silva is coming in, and he is as good a central defender as any. We will probably need another central defender of some class, as things are not looking good for Nesta, and that is something the board will be forced to address. I can imagine that Sheva will leave, or that Pippo retires, so we will need another striker as well. Our midfield is generally alright, and we'll probably bring back Gourcuff, who is setting France on fire these days. What remains then is for us to sign a new coach with new ideas. Replacing your coach is always risky business, but I imagine that if Ancelotti is sacked, we will bring in Frank Rijkaard, who has proven himself at the highest level with Barcelona, and is a former player who belongs to the Milan family. If not him, then we have other options in Donadoni and Leonardo. Maybe Scolari should be considered too, since he is also available at the moment, and could probably do wonders for Milan, considering the large number of Brazilian players we have. I do think that it is definitely time for Ancelotti to go. So to summarize: Yes, the situation is very similar to 2001-2002, and like then, we need one or two world class signings, while some fairly unproven players should be given more faith and responsibility. And we need a new, quality coach who brings new and fresh ideas to a Milan that has become fairly stale. If that happens, and I think we have reached the point where everyone can see that it -must- happen (including the board), then we are on route for more success in the coming years. Berlusconi said something about Milan earlier this season: "A great man can allow himself to rest for some time, but never for too long." Milan have rested for two seasons, but I foresee changes to the squad and management that will bring more success to the club fairly soon. What we need to focus on now is qualifying for the Champions League next season. I don't care if we finish 2nd or 4th, as long as we get one of those CL spots. It is absolutely vital.