Summer Mercato

Originally Posted by Peachtot

benzema didnt play where he should be played. domenech put him behind the main striker, picked up the ball from france pairing central midfielder, sometimes ran to the flank to open the space and pull tight romanian defender.
benzema will show all his ability exactly in where anelka or gomis stood last night.

He played like that for most of this season (principally after Fred's return from injury) and did well ...

It's just that this match was horrible lol, and so every guy on the pitch made an horrible match, looked like both Roumania and France were satisfied by this draw, and it seemed like that in their after-match declarations ...

Anyway, we can't bash someone for ONE bad match and say "he's not good, let's not take him". Toni and Benzema could be the scorers of the next match so let's wait (even if I think France will play with Henry-Anelka and will loose I hope lol) ...

Originally Posted by jmacpherson

Does Milan have a long-term project?

Oh yes. WIN.WIN.WIN.
your idea is valid, indeed, but I see that as being the project for teams like Napoli (who could have a promising future) or other mid-table teams. We cant sacrifice a season or two to develop future players... especially as it has been a while since we accomplished something mentionable (world cup doesnt count, and apart from the CL last year we were crap). its been 4 years since we won the Serie A, the time has come to have the tricolor badge on our chests - or atleast pose a mighty threat to those who do get it.

We do ofc need to rejuvenate the squad, but we cannot risk getting promising 18yr olds for every department that needs mending. ideally we need players about 25 years old - future investment but usable in the 1st 11 right now.
Right now, the likes of Adebayor (24) and Zapata (22) seem just right - they 7-10 years left at top levels, are bound to improve even if slightly (not only experience wise), and are already quite reliable (zapata is already integrated with the Serie A-and quite well, i might add). Drogba could deliver results, but only last 2-3 years max (he might even have troubles integrating as some said, and by the time he adapts he will be too old). So hopefully we dont get too many reinforcements which will only last us 2-3 seasons (zambi, abbiati…)
but that's just my analysis and thought regarding the issue, i might be terribly wrong -

Originally Posted by Xudong

Chill, man. You didn't have to edit your own post just to add a whole paragraph to insult Giancarlo. Was that really necessary?

I didn't insult him. I was getting tired of the ITALY>WORLD posts.

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

Thanks Koeke...lets use it guys...transfer business here please.

And Dru..from ur recent posts, its obvious my last shipment didnt arrive, or if it did, it got sent to the Azurri by mistake...hence the recent performances by both you, and them.

Dont worry, I sent you some more, so just check the regular guy, at the regular time

sorry mi brethren.....meh ah tek 'way de o/t now

Originally Posted by Jeff

Caught red-handed?

Naturally you will spin things in the worst possible light......funny that I am not the only one who has gotten sick of his "Italy is the greatest thing since sliced bread" posts. It's just that I'm not afraid to say what I think. I made no insult to the guy who views every opposing opinion/ comment as an insult...might as well cut to the chase and me if it fills your life with purpose

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

I think MIlan do invest in youth, just that it is not enough. When you think about it, over the past 4-5 years, Milan did bought at that time, Kaka 21 or 22, Gilardino 22 or 23, Bonera 23 or 24, Pato 17, Gourcuff 20, Flamini 24. Those are not so call late 20s early 30s signings. It is just that Gourcuff was never able to break into the rotation b/c guys like Seedorf, Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambro, Kaka are always holding the starting spots and if there is an injury or bad form, the coach likes to put Brocchi or Emerson in instead. For all the times I saw Gourcuff played, I think he could start for Milan as long as he is not the focus of the team, ie having guys like Kaka or Pirlo around him instead of subbing for them. Bonera is solid and really played well whenever he started. Gila, yes he did bad here but most if not all of us here saw that as a great signing. Pato is a different story, as when the time he broke into the squad, R9 and Pippo was injured, Gila is MIA even when he was on the field, and Carlo had no choice but to play Pato. I am sure that if R9 and Pippo are healthy, Pato would not have done as well as he did last season.

What I am trying to say is that Milan did invest in youth but under the climate of the team it is very very hard for these youth to get playtime. Kaka was on the bench until Rui Costa form really decline. Gila was signed as Milan third striker behind SHeva and Pippo, despite scoring more goals than Pippo or SHeva in the league the previous season.

The point is, even if Milan actually signed C7 or Messi before they hit the superstardom, I doubt they can reach their heights now if they actually did play for Milan.

Exactly. If Gourcuff had retained his spot after that AEK match he would probably have improved tremendously. He came to us after making waves in France. He hardly got decent serie-a game time and now we're loaning back to the french league. How does that prepare him for serie-a?

They maybe plan to loan him to Bordeaux to allow him to get back confidence (and play CL), then he will be loaned next year in an average team in Serie A with his confidence back and will come back then ? Would be logical this way I think ...

Originally Posted by Gio-mania

Oh yes. WIN.WIN.WIN.
your idea is valid, indeed, but I see that as being the project for teams like Napoli (who could have a promising future) or other mid-table teams. We cant sacrifice a season or two to develop future players... especially as it has been a while since we accomplished something mentionable (world cup doesnt count, and apart from the CL last year we were crap). its been 4 years since we won the Serie A, the time has come to have the tricolor badge on our chests - or atleast pose a mighty threat to those who do get it.

We do ofc need to rejuvenate the squad, but we cannot risk getting promising 18yr olds for every department that needs mending. ideally we need players about 25 years old - future investment but usable in the 1st 11 right now.
Right now, the likes of Adebayor (24) and Zapata (22) seem just right - they 7-10 years left at top levels, are bound to improve even if slightly (not only experience wise), and are already quite reliable (zapata is already integrated with the Serie A-and quite well, i might add). Drogba could deliver results, but only last 2-3 years max (he might even have troubles integrating as some said, and by the time he adapts he will be too old). So hopefully we dont get too many reinforcements which will only last us 2-3 seasons (zambi, abbiati…)
but that's just my analysis and thought regarding the issue, i might be terribly wrong -

Based on the age and calibre of some of our players, we will need to spend big each and every transfer. How much is a Nesta replacement going to cost us?
I realise we need players who will make an instant impact, but at 30+ its just very short-sighted

Its only June the 10th, still a long way until silly season is finished

Originally Posted by Giancarlo

Your own opinion. While I respect the Germans, they'll always be a step behind Italy, and hardly ever win against Italy. It goes back to 1982. It's a bit of a curse. How is the Italian team arrogant?

How are the Germans always a step behind Italy ?
If you count h2h as of late, then yes, but if you count international succes then they are pretty equal. Italians have 4 world cups , the Germans have 3. Italians have 1 euro cup, Germans have 3. Italians played 5 world cup finals, Germans played 7 world cup finals. Italians played 2 euro finals, Germans played 5 euro finals.
As for your post about the Milan midfield, i still stand by my words that it was the reason the Italians lost the match. No doubt that the worst players out there were the CB's but Gattuso and Ambrosini were the ones who let the Dutch do whatever they want. Pirlo himself hinted that it was a terrible mistake not to play De Rossi.
Now, it was a tactical mistake by Donadoni to always use the 4-3-3 no matter the opponent but the fact stays that the Dutch were toying with the trio of midfielders and that Gattuso and Ambrosini couldn't stop not even 30% of their attacks.
Pirlo is not to be blamed at all. He was never allowed to create the play because the two guys next to him didn't allow him the freedom to create anything.
What's the point of running your hearts out when you run like a headless chicken and everyone plays with you ?
Camoranesi and Di Natale weren't of any help either, but this is again Donadoni's fault. Camoranesi runs up and down all the time for his club, but yesterday you could notice how Donadoni's tactics didn't let him play more behind because he is an attacker in his formation.
With 4-4-2 and Camoranesi playing on the same line with the other midfielders it would have been much different, but what's done is done.
You need lots of pace and physical condition to play 4-3-3, but it's kind of hard to do that when the only player younger than 30 was Barzagli.

Edit: Sorry Warren, didn't see your post. Transfer bussines only from now on

i dont remember where is saw this, but a site reported that Udinese has no plans to sell zapata.

Veloso may be the new target for braid, since he can also play in CB and LB.

Originally Posted by payne

i dont remember where is saw this, but a site reported that Udinese has no plans to sell zapata.

Veloso may be the new target for braid, since he can also play in CB and LB.

Udinese is a word that perfectly describes "typical selling club".
They will sell Zapata when the good offer arrives. They know they have a quality cb out there that can bring them even more money in a year or two. Probably they expect to gain +17/18m euro for him but there is no such offer yet.
If someone today offers them these money they'll sell him, no doubt about that.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

but I don't see any problem with being fan of Netherlands/Germany and being a fan from Milan ? People do what they want in life ...

I absolutely agree. No relation about supporting Milan and supporting Italy. I pretty like Italy because some Milan players are there. Just like Brazil when Cafu came to Milan, Dida got the 1st. GK in Milan (and also in Brazil), Kaka got his spot in Brazil, I started to like Brazil (because of these players) but not before that. To be honest, I dont have a national team that I love like I love Milan(ups of course except my national team ).

Milan is MIlan, Italy is another business.

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

Thanks Koeke...lets use it guys...transfer business here please.

And Dru..from ur recent posts, its obvious my last shipment didnt arrive, or if it did, it got sent to the Azurri by mistake...hence the recent performances by both you, and them.

Dont worry, I sent you some more, so just check the regular guy, at the regular time.

what a contradictory post

so,,,,transfer business or cargo/shipment business ?

I just can't believe it

Galliani: if we get a "BIG" then mercato is closed

I thimk that our team need more than a "BIG" player

http://milannews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=1866

Originally Posted by drucurl

might as well cut to the chase and me if it fills your life with purpose

I just love this argument.

Originally Posted by Jeff

I just love this argument.

and I love your subtle but unfounded accusatory rhetoric

it seems like we are linked to Benzema.
http://www.sportmediaset.it/mercato/...egatti%20milan
the article says although Lyon have priced him at 50M, it could be done for 30-35M. His salary would also be of about 4-5M, which is lower than the likes of Eto'o and Drogba. the fact that we didnt push for Lloris is supposed to be a plus, when it comes to our relations with Lyon.