Summer Mercato

If you go back and watch our matches from 2005, that team was FAST; Kaka' was blazing from box to box, wingbacks were flying, and it was just a quick team. We've definitely lost that, and we've definitely suffered because of it. Our attacks are useless because it takes ages for anyone to get down the field, at which point their box would be stacked, we'd have stationary Gila, then a cross out of bounds, and there we are.
I've always been in favor of playing with at least one winger; however, it doesn't seem like Carlo would play this way. The game has changed, and fast and physical play is the norm; I think the paradigm has shifted now, before we could boss the game, control it in a slow and deliberate way (ie ManU) and take our opponents out; now, they just keep bombarding.
It's not right to ask aging wingbacks to do the running and defensive cover, so we need to address at least one side of our mid as a wing. All the talk of big strikers, holding strikers, won't mean anything if we can't get good service to them to do their things. Look at why Sheva succeeded and why Pato does well-they pick the ball up 30-40 meters outside of the box.
Euro's have been great fun thus far,but few players have really stepped up and shown great quality; rather, many "potential greats" seem to have slipped a bit.
A Ribery-esque player makes the most sense to me for what I PERSONALLY want. Is there another one out there? Would Carlo even play in that formation? Will Pirlo be dropped? Stay tuned....!
I think that I feel quite similar to Dru, players with pace and determination are the top of the heap; we've got to come to terms with it and be the best!

Quaresma

Originally Posted by drucurl

I always thought of Nesta as being rather fast for a defender....If we get Zapata...I've heard people speak glowingly about his pace we'd be ok....IF we got a speedster like Alves we'd RULE!!

Nesta was (or still?) fast. I remember how he catched Obafemi Martin when he still played for Inter and Inter made a counter attack witn Obafemi was alone and ran like a bullet and brougt the ball near the right line of the field (Milan point of view). Nesta followed him until he catched Oba (untul Nesta was in the same line of Oba) and marked Oba, this made Oba lost his control on the ball and let the ball out of the field.

Man, if thats not fast, I dotn know how describe it then!

I had to catch up on alot...that was some freakin entertaining stuff that was going on this weekend in this forum.

Anyways regarding defenders - Nesta is fast, as I seen him trun on the burners and chase down an attacker when someone else is caught outta position, but for the most part I think he relies far more on his technique. His class comes out when he slide tackles, deflects, and get little but important touches on the ball to disrupt the play and many times keeps possession to start a quick counter.

Zapata is just freaking fast and closes on his man instantly...he would prove to be a MASSIVE aid on our defensive line. Not too much would get past him and Nesta down the center. The transfer fee might be a lot to get him but his wages wouldn't be all that high. I really hope management does the right thing and find a way to sign him. His value will only go up.

Re: Nesta
Yeah, he is super fast, but he's not the one going up the wings. I think on the sides is what I was referring to. We rely so much on wingbacks yet they are slow, negating our offense. Carlo plays as if our midfielders have no offensive responsibilities; Ambro and Gattuso aren't offensive, Pirlo is dropped so far back. Kaka' is our only link-up, but he doesn't go on the blazing runs as much, so I would like to see a change of policy whereby our midfielders have to be able to pass and counter and run swiftly!

I know abate is very attacking minded player. but I could see why Galliani brings him back, probably to play as RB so Galliani doesnt have to send money buying one more fullback.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

If you want speed, you have now Abate !!

It's true we need one or two players who can run very "fastly" (this word sounds weird to me lol) ... but if they walk like Seedorf, their speed will be useless !! lol

The best would be a guy who runs very very fastly in our defense (so the most probable would have been a side-Back but we won't get any new, I don't know any CB running really fast** ??), one in our midfield (now Abate + Kaka' when he has the ball) and one in our attack.

** and who is a good CB too lol

Zapata IMO is pretty pacey for a CB. In fact its one of the main reason why he is so good.

Originally Posted by Bosniaco

I know abate is very attacking minded player. but I could see why Galliani brings him back, probably to play as RB so Galliani doesnt have to send money buying one more fullback.

Very cheapskate tactic imho but it's all good...I don't think Serginho could have spelt "defense" before he came here (was actually listed as a striker in '04) But after Roberto Carlos he was the best left back in the world for a brief period.....Mancini switched roles between attacking and defensive left back a couple of times well and so does Zanetti......Abate is young and hopefully the transition won't be too painful....plus he's Italian...defense is in his genes....kinda of like each Brazilian deep down thinks himself a striker

Zambrotta aside most wingbacks aren't the most competent at defending anyway...the important thing is to patrol the wings and send in some crosses from the upper segment of the final third and to offer some defensive cover to opponent wing play. For this speed is a must

Originally Posted by drucurl

Very cheapskate tactic imho but it's all good...I don't think Serginho could have spelt "defense" before he came here (was actually listed as a striker in '04) But after Roberto Carlos he was the best left back in the world for a brief period.....Mancini switched roles between attacking and defensive left back a couple of times well and so does Zanetti......Abate is young and hopefully the transition won't be too painful....plus he's Italian...defense is in his genes....kinda of like each Brazilian deep down thinks himself a striker

Zambrotta aside most wingbacks aren't the most competent at defending anyway...the important thing is to patrol the wings and send in some crosses from the upper segment of the final third and to offer some defensive cover to opponent wing play. For this speed is a must

Speed is important but not as important as stamina for a wingback. That's where zambrotta impress me with his impossible stamina, we need wingback like him around before we can return to our 2005 form.

Originally Posted by hwmook

Speed is important but not as important as stamina for a wingback. That's where zambrotta impress me with his impossible stamina, we need wingback like him around before we can return to our 2005 form.

I disagree Stamina is important but if you don't have the speed to keep up you will be chasing lost causes all game....it's part of what's wrong with Milan.
Oddo has some speed and some stamina so we're not totally lost defensively with him...it's just his passing, crossing have been poor. If he returns to form he'd be quite good actually.

Cafu has a lot of speed but almost zero stamina...so he'll keep you in the game but only for a while

Bonera is great tactically, technically and positionally but his speed is awful and could get roasted by a three legged turtle running on glass So the only proper way for Daniele to function is as a mainly defensive RB or if covered by somebody at CB or CDM. Personally I think he's a GREAT CB

Main things for our defense is to not shift weak goals, like what happened so much this year especially at home. I don't give a rip if our defenders don't/can't cross or even make it past the halfway line as long as we're not giving up cheap goals.
Our problem is that in midfield there is not one explosive counterattacker. So much this year we resorted to long-ball tactics, it was embarrasing. If Pirlo can have just one outlet player, his game will improve so much. Instead, he looked useless because nobody would show for him, resulting in bad passes, long balls. Maybe....Quaresma is the guy?!!
I'd still like a dutch option but they're all snapped up I'd go for Diego as well, although he's not an out and out winger. Just someone to transition quicker.

Originally Posted by Graeme C

I rate him, he and Antonini killed us on the left hand side when we played against Empoli.

Does anyone here know the full line up of the italian side from the Toulon Tournament? Were being linked with the Left back, Bocchetti this morning.

yes gazetta says us and napoli are following him. I dont peticularly remember him. For me Gionvinco and Abate stood out the most in toulon. However if napoli are following him I am interested. In terms of smart buys, they are hands down best in serie A right now....getting hamsik and santacroce from serie B last year...

Originally Posted by Gio-mania

Can abate be that player many people in this thread have been talking about, aka someone who can replace seedorf and give both offensive and defensive support? Seeing as he is a side-midfielder, that is somewhat where we played seedorf in the 4-3-1-2 formation...
This article (gazzetta) talks about Inter's mercato, esp. their search for a winger. What i found most shocking was, however, the price that Roma would be willing to sell Mancini - € 13M + a player.... this is really low for a player like him. it is of course due to his contract expiring in the summer 2009. But imagine we switch the "player" to € 5-10M (or Brocchi, who they'd refuse) - that would be a nice signing. In case Abate isnt made for that role, esp. as his main role, Mancini would fill those requisites …

abate will be much better than mancini. Mancini is making too high of wage demands at roma which is why they r keen on selling him.

Abate can play better defense and cut inside (from what i've seen)... I'm not a huge fan of mancini. I think he's good... but you have to realize he cant get a national team call up to save his life....speaks volumes. He is fast though.

abate i still wonder his position. Theres talk of wingback? but i agree w/ you... he is more a side mf. I dont know. IF carlo uses his right he canbe a VERY valuable sub. He has lots of pass, and gets involves immediately. Think what babel was to liverpool and walcott to arsenal.... or ba to milan

Originally Posted by jtelly

Main things for our defense is to not shift weak goals, like what happened so much this year especially at home. I don't give a rip if our defenders don't/can't cross or even make it past the halfway line as long as we're not giving up cheap goals.
Our problem is that in midfield there is not one explosive counterattacker. So much this year we resorted to long-ball tactics, it was embarrasing. If Pirlo can have just one outlet player, his game will improve so much. Instead, he looked useless because nobody would show for him, resulting in bad passes, long balls. Maybe....Quaresma is the guy?!!
I'd still like a dutch option but they're all snapped up I'd go for Diego as well, although he's not an out and out winger. Just someone to transition quicker.

the thing is our midfield is so concentrated towards the centre that we depend on our wing backs to cross.....this results in gems courtesy Favalinho, Oddo, Kaladze Hence our wing backs as a necessity MUST be able to cross well. The failure of our wing plat is a direct correlation to Gila's plummeting performance. THAT and Ronaldo/ a good support striker. In truth if we knew that we'd end up fifth Carlo would have done well to keep the faith with Gila and Pato and we'd be seeing the bentfits this season.....but as fourth seemed reachable we sacrificed a bit of out long term investments by juicing out Pippo.

Borriello=Gilardino imho and some might suggest that Gila>Borriello. Hence This time however we have a GREAT crosser in Zambrotta. We need either a good winger to play on the opposite end OR a wing back. Zambrotta on the left and Oddo on the right is very good but not world class and succeptible to injuries. I am hoping that Abate and Antonini can give us a boost but my grouse with management is why gamble with players who haven't done it on the big stage Alves would have been a much more calculated risk and at the very least we could have used him to improve our attack. Alves is long gone and all I can see is Quaresma since Ribery, CR7, Evra is almost impossible and Ryan Babel is tied to Liverpool. Podolski perhaps...he is doing wonders on the wing for Germany.....there is always the youngsters like Toni Kroos and David Lanzafame...but imho at this stage they are no better than what we have..later they may blow up but Tony 29 has told me that Lanzafame isn't half as good as he's rated to be.

That Ba to Milan part scares me.

I think Abate will be more the Serginho's role but on the right side. Who knows, maybe he can switch to the left too.