Summer Mercato

There are some strong changes happening in Milan, and you can't deny that. Our transfer season has been very active. Ignazio Abate is coming back to Milan. Who cares if these are loan returns? If these are young, energetic players why not? Doesn't our squad need some youth?

Originally Posted by Milano84

I just dont see him as next zidane, controlling game like that

I'm tired with people always and always claiming that "X is the next Z" ... it's not against you Milano84, just that everybody always says that everywhere.

Zidane is unique (so the Nasri, Gourcuff and co are not the next Zidane), Ronaldo is unique (so Benzema is not the next Ronaldo), etc.

I think it's a lack of respect for the "original" one lol and a lack of respect for the "new" player who is only the "next". I don't know if you understand me ... lol

Anyway, Gourcuff will probably have a good carreer but he will never be as good as Zidane and co, he will just be an excellent midfielder for mid-table teams in Serie A (top 3 teams in Ligue 1 lol) or a good/decent midfielder for top teams from Serie A.

What's wrong with the X-mas tree certain coaches have prefered formations and live and die by them. Fergie uses 4-4-2, Rijkaards uses 4-3-3. There might be variations here and there but as Dev rightly pointed out formations aren't as important as personnel. I could see the tree till I die as long as we have the personell to be successful or at least entertaining

These moves are pretty exciting for next season ... we will discover new talents in our team and, because of the come back from guys like Abate, we will probably discover new tactics when it's needed too (for example, in matches against bottom table/mid-table teams, guys like Abate will be put on the pitch to break the defenses).

True Dru...but with personnel that we had this year the Xmas tree was dead and it was brown and losing needles fast. If we have the right players, ok, but I still think we can have some flexibility. Fergie wasn't playing 4-4-2 this year, as he had rooney so withdrawn, and tevez and ronaldo all over the place. that is the flexibility i'd like, but it has to work with the players we have. With the staff of last year, our best bet would've been an 4-6-0,

Originally Posted by drucurl

No we didn't lack heart...we lacked legs (looks at Pirlo)and pace and stamina and backup and Quaresma (sorry guys couldn't help that one ) . Our boys give their all I'm pretty sure about that one.....except for Gila who I always thought his heart was elsewhere. I think if anyone lost heart it was Pirlo....he made the most amount of silly decisions I have ever seen.....he was the worst player on the pitch vs Arsenal and his free kick form has gone south. He was sort of a midfield Gila all season....but in his defense he is probably the most overworked with the body least suited to such rigours...I can't see how a player who could do the hit the post trick at will take such bad free kicks...did I mention that a certain player from Porto takes GREAT freekicks

I might actually have to agree on this one.

And not only that Milan did have a pretty bad injury crisis... at one point we were lacking a forward. I hope this does get resolved. Quaresma? After yesterday I'll pass on that one. Pirlo's form did regain itself towards the end of the season though.

Too much talk about speed in this thread today. Buying fast players is one thing, but it is not the solution to our problem last season. Movement of the ball (and in general) is what needs improving desperately, as we've been far to slow to move forward with the ball this season, instead holding onto it for minutes on end in the middle of the pitch.

Another factor that heavily affects our game has been our positioning on the pitch, which has been far too deep to really produce effective attacking play from.

That said, I'm very happy that Abate is ours again and hope to see him in the squad next season, as I'm sure he'll be of great use.

Originally Posted by drucurl

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

I disagree. Though Bonera can be found flat footed sometimes when a player runs at him, he's not a slow defender. At the very least he's got average speed, if not above average.

Pirlo is looking like little boy lost with italy, so i'm not too reassured with him. Injury crisis wouldn't have been so bad if we were prepared for it, and we didn't exactly make purchases that would cover our asses. You've got to expect that in a season you'll have injuries-we didn't do well for cover in that arena.
Abate i'm getting more and more excited about. I think he's one to watch. Carlo Carlo let him play!

Originally Posted by Giancarlo

There are some strong changes happening in Milan, and you can't deny that. Our transfer season has been very active. Ignazio Abate is coming back to Milan. Who cares if these are loan returns? If these are young, energetic players why not? Doesn't our squad need some youth?

i guess part of me is skeptical. abate excites me.... but will carlo play him over brocchi? We all know Carlo is conservative for better or worse (not a bad thing at all....but sometimes he'll get caught playing it too safe) but really other than him nothing so far really excites me....

Abbiatti- meh
zambrotta- i like. proven commodity. All around stellar but temporary fix
boriello- PASS
flamini- i like him. but another DM. Call me crazy, but DMs dont excite me. (necessary though)
antonini- i'm curious I wont lie. But i dont expect anything huge

I mean really not alot of young exciting talent SO FAR.


btw, did you see articles on inter getting massive season ticket sale increase cause of mourinho, and the clubs notoriety increasing worldwide because of his presence. Kind of like what happened at chelsea..... 2nd btw, **** chelsea for getting scolari. Scolari plus unlimited budget is scary....

Originally Posted by Giancarlo

I might actually have to agree on this one.

And not only that Milan did have a pretty bad injury crisis... at one point we were lacking a forward. I hope this does get resolved. Quaresma? After yesterday I'll pass on that one. Pirlo's form did regain itself towards the end of the season though.

I think pirlo just needs a little more help, and rest and we'll see a return. Last year ESPECIALLY when seedorf and kaka went down, it was waay too much pressure on him... He is going to hit 30 this year. If we want him to contribute for another 4-5 seasons he needs someone to help him, so he doesnt play 40+ matches a year

Edit: One cannot expect top form when he plays next to 2 DMs who provide no real help offensively, the guys infront of him hurt (kaka, pippo) or desperately out of form (gila). Then consider he plays probably more minutes than anyone...

Originally Posted by Milano84

Abbiatti- meh
zambrotta- i like. proven commodity. All around stellar but temporary fix
boriello- PASS
flamini- i like him. but another DM. Call me crazy, but DMs dont excite me. (necessary though)
antonini- i'm curious I wont lie. But i dont expect anything huge

I mean really not alot of young exciting talent SO FAR.

Don't know what's the hip about young, fast players all the time. Is that THE solution to our Milan? Partially, probably, but we surely don't want to turn into an Arsenal where the team peaked at the beginning of the season, beating Milan, and then....

Flamini is a DM? I don't know him well, but I thought he can play at multiple position with an attacking flavor. I might be mistaken?

Originally Posted by Jeff

Don't know what's the hip about young, fast players all the time. Is that THE solution to our Milan? Partially, probably, but we surely don't want to turn into an Arsenal where the team peaked at the beginning of the season, beating Milan, and then....

Flamini is a DM? I don't know him well, but I thought he can play at multiple position with an attacking flavor. I might be mistaken?

NO no no... I've watched flamini ALOT. He is no attacking player. He is like ambro. He'll make ghost runs into the box, head stuff in. definately useful. But he's no iniesta/xavi/fabregas.... (dont know why i jut mentioned 3 spaniards). He's more box to box than gattuso (and ambro) but he's not a player with much 'flair'

I think the thing w/ youth is, we need more HUNGRY players here. young players typical are more hungry because they havent won anything/proven as much...

Originally Posted by Milano84

i guess part of me is skeptical. abate excites me.... but will carlo play him over brocchi? We all know Carlo is conservative for better or worse (not a bad thing at all....but sometimes he'll get caught playing it too safe) but really other than him nothing so far really excites me....

Abbiatti- meh
zambrotta- i like. proven commodity. All around stellar but temporary fix
boriello- PASS
flamini- i like him. but another DM. Call me crazy, but DMs dont excite me. (necessary though)
antonini- i'm curious I wont lie. But i dont expect anything huge

I mean really not alot of young exciting talent SO FAR.


btw, did you see articles on inter getting massive season ticket sale increase cause of mourinho, and the clubs notoriety increasing worldwide because of his presence. Kind of like what happened at chelsea..... 2nd btw, **** chelsea for getting scolari. Scolari plus unlimited budget is scary....

Why pass on Borriello? I'm willing to give the guy a chance.. if anything he'll be a good forward to have there as a substitute... and Flamini has qualities about him that I do like.

Our transfer season has been far more active than other teams... juve only got Amauri, Mellberg (LOL!) and another young Swedish player I think so far.

I am very excited because I see our management is actually doing some good things... bringing back youth players... when was the last time that happened?

Originally Posted by Milano84

I think pirlo just needs a little more help, and rest and we'll see a return. Last year ESPECIALLY when seedorf and kaka went down, it was waay too much pressure on him... He is going to hit 30 this year. If we want him to contribute for another 4-5 seasons he needs someone to help him, so he doesnt play 40+ matches a year

Edit: One cannot expect top form when he plays next to 2 DMs who provide no real help offensively, the guys infront of him hurt (kaka, pippo) or desperately out of form (gila). Then consider he plays probably more minutes than anyone...

Pirlo is returning to form... he has to play though but he needs to be predicted. Yes, I agree there should be a viable substitute for him... I have confidence though he will regain his full form (and he's already shown that). We need a holding midfielder like De Rossi...

ACMilan1983, the reason we were so slow passing the ball was because nobody was moving their slow legs! A little speed wouldn't hurt us for that, and it'll increase the tempo. We have to be the ones dictating, not setting back. Our home field became a disadvantage to us because of that. Carlo is can be so conservative, and I think our fans would appreciate a 5-4 loss rather than a 1-0 loss with 10 defensive midfielders. I was pretty much ready to commit hari kari when he subbed two defenders in the second half against Napoli. granted we had nobody else but that's a failure to prepare. we didn't need emerson, but a good backup for a 35 year old forward who is hurt alot and another who doesn't have the best track record would be smart.