Winter Mercato

indeed ...

did you just merge some threads? I thought someone had hacked my account when i noticed i'd apparently posted in a thread i've not been in for ages

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

indeed ...

did you just merge some threads? I thought someone had hacked my account when i noticed i'd apparently posted in a thread i've not been in for ages

I merged a newly created thread on Pirlo with the player's thread in "players" section.
if you are talking about that one, yeah, it was me ... if not, maybe you are a ghost already, in which case I will have to eat an extra clove of garlick

you must be a hit with the ladies with all that garlic on your breath Zlat

unless they have a garlic fetish

no, I was just messing with you ... actually, I don't remember the last time I ate garlick

I saw some highlights of PSV v Arsenal and i thought i saw Ronaldo in defence for PSV, but it turned out to be Alex!

Seriously though, he looked so bulky last night and his positioning and defending were just slack to say the least. I must be missing something as so many people seem to think he's a good player and we should get him, but everytime i've seen him he seems poor.

I know what people will say, 'you only saw the highlights', but even so, in those brief moments, in that 10 minute compilation, he was bad.

Originally Posted by zlatanov

I think Juve right now could use some short term solutions - older but quality players that is as they would have to build almost an entirely new squad and 35 mil won't get them anywhere because with this money they could buy a good number of players but they will be young(-er) and less established players, who always run the risk to not live up to the expectations. By getting players like canna or Zambrotta back, that risk is virtually eliminated.

My thoughts exactly

Originally Posted by zlatanov

This being said, Juve is rumoured to be after Dida who would supposedly take Buffon's place if he leaves. If not Dida, I would expect Juve to ask for Abbiati too as part of a possible Gila-Buffon swap.
So, in the end by giving Trez + Buffon away, Juve will end up with Gila (a much younger striker similar to Trez) + Dida/Abbiati (either of them would a very good and suitable replacement for Buffon) + money (anywhere between 15-20 mil, which would come in very handy in attarcting several quality players when added to that 35 mil Juve already has).

Come to think of it, it's not gonna be too bad a deal for Juve either ... in fact, I think that, sentiments regarding Buffon's and Trez's status at Juve aside, it would be the smart thing to do with regard to rebuilding a new quality squad from scratch.

This can as well happen but i simply can't see so many new names in Juve.
Juventus already needs at least 4 new players ( this is the minimum) in the starting line-up. If both Trez and Buffon are sold ( and Camoranesi for sure will leave if these 2 go) then Juve will need 7 new players at minimum.
It means changing almost the entire starting line-up and i just can't see that happening. No matter how good Gilardino or Dida or Barzagli, Salihamidzic, Grygera etc are, they will be new and unknown to eachother. Even Inter in their good old days weren't changing the entire team.
These actually aren't my words but the words of Blanc ( he's smthg in Juve's menagment, i still don't know what he is ). He said this and underlined how only 3 or 4 new players will come, mostly defenders !

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

I saw some highlights of PSV v Arsenal and i thought i saw Ronaldo in defence for PSV, but it turned out to be Alex!

Seriously though, he looked so bulky last night and his positioning and defending were just slack to say the least. I must be missing something as so many people seem to think he's a good player and we should get him, but everytime i've seen him he seems poor.

I know what people will say, 'you only saw the highlights', but even so, in those brief moments, in that 10 minute compilation, he was bad.

i haven't seen any highlights but I'd guess he might have just had an off game ... I doubt he would be voted MVP (or soething like that) for the last 2 seasons in Holland, including this one.
I am sure if you were to first lay eye on Maldini in one of his bad games, you'd also wonder what the fuss is about but ...

Originally Posted by Tony29.

These actually aren't my words but the words of Blanc ( he's smthg in Juve's menagment, i still don't know what he is ). He said this and underlined how only 3 or 4 new players will come, mostly defenders !

I am sure those words were heavily based on the assumption that trez and buffon won't ask for a transfer but it seems to me the former is more or less gone already.
btw, Kanoute is the latest striker connected with Juve after Toni and Gila.

Even so Zlat, to me he always seems quite rash. Last night for some reason he just appeared to be jumping around all over the place, he stayed off when he should have been tight, he wandered around aimlessly and didn't seem to be able to marshall the other defenders.

Now i know, highlights show the worst in defenders (unless they're scoring a goal), but taking that into account he just doesn't seem that great. I also don't understand why people say he's fast, the times i've seen him he's been anything but speedy. I guess i'm just unlucky.

Originally Posted by zlatanov

I am sure those words were heavily based on the assumption that trez and buffon won't ask for a transfer but it seems to me the former is more or less gone already.
btw, Kanoute is the latest striker connected with Juve after Toni and Gila.

Yes, Juve scouts were in Bucharest following him against Steaua.
Trez seems to be gone already, like you say, and Gigi's situation is still unknown.
It can be seen by the transfer rumours. Juve hasn't been connected to one single keeper, but every single week Juve scouts are in Germany, Spain, Holland following some attackers !
Even more, all these attackers ( Klose, Huntelaar, Kanoute) are not some players who'll be expected to replace a 3rd or 4th choice striker, so it's logical to asume they'll be replacing one of Del Piero-Trezeguet.
Del Piero stays for sure so it must be Trez !

This makes the Gila-Buffon swap even more unlikely to happen, IMO !

Originally Posted by Tony29.

Yes, Juve scouts were in Bucharest following him against Steaua.
Trez seems to be gone already, like you say, and Gigi's situation is still unknown.
It can be seen by the transfer rumours. Juve hasn't been connected to one single keeper, but every single week Juve scouts are in Germany, Spain, Holland following some attackers !
Even more, all these attackers ( Klose, Huntelaar, Kanoute) are not some players who'll be expected to replace a 3rd or 4th choice striker, so it's logical to asume they'll be replacing one of Del Piero-Trezeguet.
Del Piero stays for sure so it must be Trez !

This makes the Gila-Buffon swap even more unlikely to happen, IMO !

actually, with Dida or Abbiati in the picture, it makes the Gila-Buffon swap a very logical outcome - juve a get very good keeper for free and get their hand on the most promising Italina striker who is exactly the same type of striker like Trez ... and all that without spending any money at all, while all those other options for a Trez replacement will cost Juve at least 15 mil euros for a transfer fee.

EDIT: actually, with a Gila-Buffon swap and Dida or Abbiati going to juve too, and Juve selling Trez, not only they won't spend any cash money but they will bag a good 15-20 mil from the Trez sale.
In case they don't get Gila in some sort of a swap deal, all that money they will get from Trez will go for a new striker and it might not be even enough in the end.

It would seriously eat me to see Gila go to Juve after only two seasons with us and lead them to a top4 finish next year scoring 2 goals against us to seal victories in the Juve - Milan clash.

Originally Posted by zlatanov

EDIT: actually, with a Gila-Buffon swap and Dida or Abbiati going to juve too, and Juve selling Trez, not only they won't spend any cash money but they will bag a good 15-20 mil from the Trez sale.
In case they don't get Gila in some sort of a swap deal, all that money they will get from Trez will go for a new striker and it might not be even enough in the end.

It's all good but you forgot to mention the main point : In case of no Gila-Buffon swap Juve gets to keep Buffon !

What you're saying is very good from a Milan fan perspective, but noone else apart from Milan fans will see this as a good deal for Juventus. Trez is rated much higher than Gila, Buffon also much much higher than the other 2 keepers mentioned and the difference certanly isn't 15 M.

Also, i noticed how you very often talk how player's price drops down after a bad season. Gila's price certanly isn't 21 M Pounds if we use that logic.
If Ibra was worthed 24 M, then Gila is 20 M maximum ( Euro).
If Gigi's price is 21 M pounds ( 28 M Euro) then Gila+Dida still isn't enough for Buffon.

This will be an awful deal for Juve and it should be clear to anyone. But , i repeat, it doesn't mean those new guys in Juve menagment won't do it.

But it's not so important, the most important thing is Valencia scored and now it's 2:2

It's a tough call, on the one hand you have the future of Italian strikers (as he's only mid twenties) and on the other the best keeper in the world

With Gilardino we know he's capapble of scoring over 20 goals a season, he's done it twice in a row and gone close on one other occassion. You also have to take into account how many more opportunities to score he'll get if we buy Ronaldinho. One thing for sure though is he'll have to get his act together otherwise given our board's love for Buffon (which is almost as big as Ronaldinho), Gilardino might find himself shipped out in the summer.

Btw, Zlatanov talked a lot about Villa and tonight i finally have to agree with him.
David Villa has everything a striker needs, even more. He scored a briliant free kick goal today.
And Inter's first goal was clear offside ! And Materazzi deserved a red card for elbowing !

And Barcelona needs a new keeper. Valdez is ridiculous