Milan Want Ronaldinho

Originally Posted by zlatanov

the thing is that we can't fight with success on 2-3 fronts (Serie A, CL, and maybe even Coppa Italia) with using primarily the same players at LB and RB as these are the two most tiring positions out there.

there are more than enough games to be played to have two, more or less, equally good players for each of those positions, so with cafu going it is not gonna be enough to just get a no-talent player who will just make up the numbers but someone who should be good enough to start a good 30 games for us.

Same goes for Pirlo and Kaks' positions - these guys have been way overplayed in recent years and often have to play when they would be better off resting or are just plain in bad shape ... from all that, the whole team suffers just because we don't have adequate sub for them.

As for the players I mentioned - Billy is retiring, Cafu is leaving for sure, similar fate could happen to Favalli, Grimi (loan), Serginho, Simic (has been unhappy here for some time now) ... and from who's left Kaladze and maldini are anything but guarantees at the back with their constant injuries ... maybe next season things will be dif for Kaladze but not Maldini as he would still be 38/39 yo, if he doesn't retire that is.

The midfield also needs to be refreshed a bit as it's been the same for 4 years now and some players don't have adequate subs while others need some competition to make them pick up their game.

i would expect changes in attack too even though the management seems to be denying everything so far.

I think we'll end up getting 1 CD, 1 RB, 1LB (Zambrotta is a one player who could play in both positions), 1-2 midfielders and 1-2 new forwards ... and these are important players I am talking about, not just number-makers.

Wouldn't exclude a move for Buffon too should he become available despite Dida's contract extension.

All in all, I think we'll end up with 5-7 new players ... something that will refresh the team but at the same time will leave the backbone of the current squad intact as, even after all transfers would be done, we would still be able to field this year's starting 11.

The only assumption here, Zlat, is that there are adequate supply of players. Unfortunately, there are not many, and Milan doesn't bring in players randomly. In addition to skills (which is a must already), they look for self-discipline, class (e.g., R99), and actual performance. All in all, you won't be surprised that there are not many out there and, if there are, they are not for sale.

It's just plain difficult to find someone with the calibre of Kaka` et al., and for those who don't have such skills, they usually lack self-discipline (unlike Brocchi).