Barzagli

I feel I must take this up again. for three years straight now I seen people talk about us signing him. Looking at Tony's thread the clear majority see him feature in our central defense next season. Personally I don't get it, have you all watched him play?

Palermo have one of the worst defenses in the league and they failed season after season because of that. He is slow and not particulary technical, but great in the air. I seen so many quick and technical forwards humilate him that it is not funny, even slow and technical forwards like Del Piero have done it.

As I see it he is the defender you need when defending low and not suffering from counters. We if any team suffer from counters. so I don't seem him as a good fit either.

We have a player like him already in the squad too, he is called Kaladze. Possibly not as good ni the air, but with better technique.

There is not doubt that I would rather go for Zapata, someone that have impressed more and have the right characteristics. In fact I would pay twice as much for him than I would for Barzagli.

One above average season and a massive overrating in football manager mean people think he is a god of a defender.

I don’t really understand the hype of Barzagli either. I think he’s a decent defender, but not particularly special, although I’m not completely against signing him (that said I don’t think he’s an improvement over Kaladze or Bonera).

Zapata has impressed a lot this year, definitely looks a strong candidate for the future, and another who has impressed me a lot is Santacroce of Napoli. The latter is definitely the biggest question mark, as Zapata has shown consistency for a couple of years now, but he’s clearly got a lot of ability.

Spot on.
We should only bring players that will be an improvement. Barzagli IMO is not an improvement over Kaladze, so why spend 15-20 mil on him.

I like Fiorentina pair: Ujfalusi and Gamberini are very solid centre backs.

Ujfalusi can be a great back up (and who knows, maybe even win a place) and he can play as a RB as well. I know that his contract expires this summer, and he'll be available for free..........unless he signed an extension in the last month or two and I haven't read about it.

THe more I watch Barzagli plays and the more I read what people say about him here.

IT really reminds me of someone who once thought by most here as the next great CB and now he is someone who also thought by the same people here as not Milan quality.

He is none other than Legroettile, forgot his name, but he plays for Juve now.

Dig back and look at those Legro threads and u can find the similarities.

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

Dig back and look at those Legro threads and u can find the similarities.

Actually, if you dig for those you will see me saying the same thing I now did about Barzagli. Doesn't mean it will be true of course, just saying my opinion.

I'd agree with Giovanni about Ujfalusi being a very solid defender. Not sure about Gamberini as I have not followed him as much.

Thats good to hear, kind of forgot what I said of Legro, but I always rate Bonera as a better option as he can play both RB and CB.
I still support Bonera even after last Sat. As I still think he has quality.

He Is A National Team Member And Gamberini Isnt.

Originally Posted by dejo

He Is A National Team Member And Gamberini Isnt.

Which really doesn't matter that much. Depends on the coach and depends on enviroment. Swedens possibly best domestic playing player never succeeded in the national team and hardly played for it.

when Gilardino scored 23 goals and was in top hot form he was still not choosen for the national team. Ironically enough he became a first teamer there after his form began to dwindle.

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

I don’t really understand the hype of Barzagli either. I think he’s a decent defender, but not particularly special, although I’m not completely against signing him (that said I don’t think he’s an improvement over Kaladze or Bonera).

Zapata has impressed a lot this year, definitely looks a strong candidate for the future, and another who has impressed me a lot is Santacroce of Napoli. The latter is definitely the biggest question mark, as Zapata has shown consistency for a couple of years now, but he’s clearly got a lot of ability.

ACMILAN1983, it´s simple...he´s a Italian defender.
The same thing hapen in Brazil, but only with MD´s, strikers and full-backs. Any foward or MID scoring and playing good here in Brazil is labeled(sp?) as a amazing talent and the next good thing. Also, any young FB roaming the field scoring goals(Ilsinho) is the next Cafu or Roberto Carlos...and so, europeans clubs come here and spend millions in normal players that will be BIG busts in Europe.

Barzagli in Brazil would never be called for the NT...Juan, Alex, Lúcio, David Luiz, Cris, Luizão, Thiago Silva, Miranda, the old Caçapa(he´s doing good in Newcastle??) are by far better than him...and we have young guys like Breno, Henrique, Deivid, Léo that will make hard for him to be called for NT in the future, also.

Barzagli is what he is...a normal defender. But he has the advantage to be a defender born in Italy...as in the past Fábio Júnior had, because it was a striker born in Brazil...

We already have Bonera and Kaladze as good backups, so we better buy a real STARTER for our central defence...and also midfielders that can keep it up with the pace of european footbal. If these mid´s can create anything with the ball, better... or the next season will be loooooooong like this year...

Ding! Ding! Ding! Brasileiro wins the gold medal in this thread. He has hit the nail on the head. Sometimes people assume that every four Italians will be Nesta, Canna, Maldini and Zambrotta, just like they assume every Brasilian is Ronaldo. Nope, most turn out to be simply Legrottaglie and Julio Baptista, unfortunately.

The best and cheapest option to me would be Mexes, i think he is by far better than Barzagi, and if we can get him in exchange for Gila or Boriello i think Milan should try to acquire his services and he is young as he is only 25.

i agree with payne