Summer Mercato

Originally Posted by rt9

And this thing with Dida is also pissing me off. The guy should have some dignity. Most players would ask to be released if they are not playing regularly and may even accept a pay-cut to do so----just look at Gilardino's move to Fiorentina. We made a huge mistake in renewing his contract...

Think about that and try to be Dida ...
You've been the starter in goals for 5 years and a half, you got an injury (stupid injury lol), Kalac who has been your sub for many years has a chance and plays well or decently whereas you were awful ... no new GK comes ... you probably think you'll be able to compete with your former sub, why would have he suddenly become better than you ?

I don't like Dida, I hope he will go, but try to be coherent too, we usually say that we want players who love Milan, and when a guy doesn't want to leave us, you criticize him ... all medias saying he refused offers, or anything else are crap, I mean, we don't know what is true or false, like always ... so he maybe thinks he can be again a starter in Milan and so wants to stay.

Maybe he will want to leave when a new GK will arrive ... we can't know.

Do you know Berlusconi personally? Are you involved in his so-called projects? It may be your hypothesis that he is busy spending money elsewhere. My hypothesis is that based on our current transfer activity so far plus last year's mercato plus the year before, our current managment are not strenghtening our team.

And based on Galliani's and Berlusconi's repeated statements such as "Adebayor is too expensive" "Barca is an expensive boutique to shop" "Serie A is in financial crisis" And all the while, Inter strenghten, Juve strengthen, Fiorentina strengthen---I can only conclude that they no longer want to spend the necessary money to maintain this club at the highest level.

After the last couple of transfer seasons, all the Mr. X crap and R10 crap, I no longer trust that our managment will deliver---until of course, I see some quality signings. So let's pray that I'm wrong.

As for Dida, I can only conclude that he has no class. His time at Milan is up, if he insists on staying just to collect his fat salary, then he can do so, but his performances on the pitch certainly do not merit it.

Originally Posted by rt9

Do you know Berlusconi personally?

No I don't, do you ?
So hypotheses are all available ...

Originally Posted by rt9

Are you involved in his so-called projects? It may be your hypothesis that he is busy spending money elsewhere. My hypothesis is that based on our current transfer activity so far plus last year's mercato plus the year before, our current managment are not strenghtening our team.

I'm sorry, but all depends on the objectives we had: they always said that CL was the most important competition ... they made a team for it and with some success.

Inter, Chelsea, etc spent millions and millions, did they recently win CL ?

Originally Posted by rt9

And all the while, Inter strenghten, Juve strengthen, Fiorentina strengthen

Let's stop with that, if we are writing about this current mercato, we strenghtened more than Inter or Juventus. Fiorentina does an amazing mercato, I can't deny it (but they will be in CL).
Inter and Juventus didn't buy anyone yet (Juventus bought 2 players and one return from loan if I'm not wrong, don't want to check now, too late lol, for Inter, noone yet)

On the 21st of June 2008, we already have:
- Abbiati
- Storari
- Zambrotta
- Antonini
- Flamini
- Abate
- Borriello

And please, don't tell me we lost Serginho and Cafu, they were useless this season ... (Serginho played something like 3 matches, Cafu maybe 8-9).

Originally Posted by rt9

As for Dida, I can only conclude that he has no class. His time at Milan is up, if he insists on staying just to collect his fat salary, then he can do so, but his performances on the pitch certainly do not merit it.

Same question you asked me: do you know personnally Dida ?
Like I said, I don't like him, but how can you be sure that he stays in Milan just for the wages ?

It's maybe true, maybe false ...

Now, I go sleeping !!

A couple of points before I sign off and get some coffee

1) CL was one of our objectives---How did we do this past year? Would you call it a success? Have we qualified for CL next year? Hence, shouldnt we strengthen to get ourselves back in contention or should be just slide down the league table next year?

2) Inter bought Ibrahimovic (from under our noses), Vieira, Cambiasso, Figo, Suazo (also from under our noses), Jimenez, etc... They won the scudetto this year and over the past 2 years we have been WAY behind them on points. They have spent money and been successful. CL is not the only yardstick for success in football you know? Even Chelsea, where were they before Abramovich came in and where are they now? They are now one of the top football clubs in the world. I am not saying we should spend like them, but to acheive success we need to spend more than what we are doing.

3) Juve bought Amauri for 23M. Last year they bought Tiago, Almiron and had a pretty busy mercato even if they were just promoted to serie A. Oh and they bought Momo Sissoko for big money and qualified for CL. How is it that they have money to spend, but we dont? And, would they have qualified for CL had they not strengthened their squad?

4) That list you put up is a joke---We signed Flamini on a free transfer and bought 31 year old Zambrotta for a cut-price. The rest are all loan players coming back or half owned players we bought. If you call that a successful mercato, then I dont know what to say.

Originally Posted by rt9

Do you know Berlusconi personally? Are you involved in his so-called projects? It may be your hypothesis that he is busy spending money elsewhere. My hypothesis is that based on our current transfer activity so far plus last year's mercato plus the year before, our current managment are not strenghtening our team.

And based on Galliani's and Berlusconi's repeated statements such as "Adebayor is too expensive" "Barca is an expensive boutique to shop" "Serie A is in financial crisis" And all the while, Inter strenghten, Juve strengthen, Fiorentina strengthen---I can only conclude that they no longer want to spend the necessary money to maintain this club at the highest level.

After the last couple of transfer seasons, all the Mr. X crap and R10 crap, I no longer trust that our managment will deliver---until of course, I see some quality signings. So let's pray that I'm wrong.

He's right. This has been said over and over again. I do not know Berlusconi or Galliani, personally. There are people in my family in Italy that do know Berlusconi and members of his political party, but that is as far as it goes. I do not know what is going on behind the scenes with regards to Milan.

However, we have acquired a variety of players. Do not accuse Milan of sitting on its hands when it quite clearly is acquiring players. I am tired of this. Here is a list of players we have acquired:

Flamini (24), Abate (21), Borriello (26), Zambrotta (31), Luca Antonini (25)

If you think we have not acquired any players, please read that list. That's a total 5. I'm not sure what will happen with Abbiati and the goalkeeper issue that still stands, but this clearly shows we are clearly reinforcing the flanks.

If you think we are NOT spending the amounts required, or making the acquirements necessary, you are mistaken.

I will stand by this.

Originally Posted by rt9

4) That list you put up is a joke---We signed Flamini on a free transfer and bought 31 year old Zambrotta for a cut-price. The rest are all loan players coming back or half owned players we bought. If you call that a successful mercato, then I dont know what to say.

How is it a joke? Juve have acquired Amauri. That's their only one major signing. Mellberg is a joke (was terrible against Russia).

Juve also did something similiar to what Milan did. They brought back two co-ownership players. Paolo De Ceglie and Rey Volpato (who also came from Empoli).

In essence, Juve has also only bought one player Amauri (not in co-ownership/free transfer). Mellberg was bought on free transfer.

How is that not successful pal? That's a total of 5 new players for Milan (and with Abbiati six). Storari is still out on loan. That's reinforcing our ranks. That's a fact.

Anymore major signings are hindered by the Euro 2008 Cup with regards to players in that cup. I hear Milan has expressed (or at least displayed) interest in Andrei Arshavin as of late, but talks will not happen because I'm sure Milan agents (and agents of other clubs) are prohibited from approaching players during or between games.

Originally Posted by rt9

A couple of points before I sign off and get some coffee

1) CL was one of our objectives---How did we do this past year? Would you call it a success? Have we qualified for CL next year? Hence, shouldnt we strengthen to get ourselves back in contention or should be just slide down the league table next year?

2) Inter bought Ibrahimovic (from under our noses), Vieira, Cambiasso, Figo, Suazo (also from under our noses), Jimenez, etc... They won the scudetto this year and over the past 2 years we have been WAY behind them on points. They have spent money and been successful. CL is not the only yardstick for success in football you know? Even Chelsea, where were they before Abramovich came in and where are they now? They are now one of the top football clubs in the world. I am not saying we should spend like them, but to acheive success we need to spend more than what we are doing.

3) Juve bought Amauri for 23M. Last year they bought Tiago, Almiron and had a pretty busy mercato even if they were just promoted to serie A. Oh and they bought Momo Sissoko for big money and qualified for CL. How is it that they have money to spend, but we dont? And, would they have qualified for CL had they not strengthened their squad?

4) That list you put up is a joke---We signed Flamini on a free transfer and bought 31 year old Zambrotta for a cut-price. The rest are all loan players coming back or half owned players we bought. If you call that a successful mercato, then I dont know what to say.

I have a few quick responses:

1) CL has been our objective, but and you cannot judge by one year (which is awful we all know). Now I'm not saying we should live in the past (we should not), but you must understand that Milan IS indeed the most successful club in CL for the past 6 years, starting with the one we won the CL back in 02/03. We have been consistently playing well in CL except last year.

Looking back, probably Liverpool and Man U are two teams that can match us in terms of how far we have progressed.

Chelsea, for example, has CL as their objective (and not sole objective), but they haven't achieved anything. And they have spent big, much bigger.

2) I thought it's almost a consensus that Inter's recent rise to the top of the league is because they benefit from the calcio scandel which can be a scandal itself?

No comments on 3) and 4). I'll live it to the other guys .

Originally Posted by Jeff

1) CL has been our objective, but and you cannot judge by one year (which is awful we all know).

Well, its not actually awful. We are talking Milan here. Milan is not just a sudden big club or a temporary big club. Fail to get UCL spot is really huge mistake. Loosing a scudetto is a normal case for big club but failed to play in CL is unacceptable for a big club like Milan.The reasons why Milan failed (management version) were also stupid. To get a spot in CL is not like playing a play-off games where luck factor could be so decessive. Its a 38-game competition!

ManU, Barca, Real are Milan level considering how big they are. When did on of this club fail to play in CL? Even Arsenal can make it happen (playing in CL) every year since Wenger coaches Arsenal (CMIIW).

Originally Posted by Siregar

Well, its not actually awful. We are talking Milan here. Milan is not just a sudden big club or a temporary big club. Fail to get UCL spot is really huge mistake. Loosing a scudetto is a normal case for big club but failed to play in CL is unacceptable for a big club like Milan.The reasons why Milan failed (management version) were also stupid. To get a spot in CL is not like playing a play-off games where luck factor could be so decessive. Its a 38-game competition!

ManU, Barca, Real are Milan level considering how big they are. When did on of this club fail to play in CL? Even Arsenal can make it happen (playing in CL) every year since Wenger coaches Arsenal (CMIIW).

EVery big team has its bad years. Bayern for example did not succeed in getting into the CL one year, got new players like we did, and then they won their domestic title (despite failing at the UEFA Cup). Failing to get the CL spot was unfortunate, but it is part of the past.

The Milan management has not failed, and I will continue to defend them.

The fact that they say CL is our main priority is shocking to me really. Where's the pride about becoming italy's best team again? Don''t they miss a Serie A trophy by now?

Anyways.

Arshavin is a great player, but Russia is an expensive market these days, it's not easy to get players to move from Russia.

Yeah, every big tim has its bad year and I wouldnt really concern if the management had try their best to prevent that bad year to happen but they didnt. They kept arrogant and feeling that their squad were good enough to compete in League, CL, World Club Cup and Coppa Italia.

If the management had prepared everything well and an anomaly happened, nothing to concern about it. But this one is unacceptable (even though I am 'glad' Milan play in UEFA as this could slap the management face but my thought till now is still wrong ).

Arshavin could be bought at a very low price... and he has the qualities that our midfield needs. We need to stop putting all the pressure on Seedorf and Kaka... besides that Kaka and Arshavin could be very interesting.

How is this one unacceptable? We're acquiring players. I see nothing wrong here.

The Arshavin story corroborated by the unreliable goal.com lol...

http://www.goal.com/en-US/Articolo.a...enutoId=745279

Well, I'm actually hoping that goal.com is right, as well as the other link. The Russian playmaker could be far cheaper than others.

I can understand the frustration of some people and I can't blame you. However let's be patient as the market is open until August 31st.

Also, I don't understand why people are complaining about the market so far. It's only the 21st of June and we have brought some players to the club. Whether they were on a free, or co-owned, or promoted from the youth academy makes no difference because they are here now but weren't untill May.

So many people wanted some youth injected in the squad and now that the management is doing that people are still complaining. Let's be real, we can't get the best young players of the world every summer. We did that last year with Pato and this year we have brought Abate and Antonini back to strengthen our Italian as well as Milanese character. I think it's great that we are doing this as I would rather have Abate, Antonini and Darmian on the bench and improving then having old Serginho, Cafu or Simic.

When was the last time we had one of our own come up and do something great on the field. I know Paloschi did something similar this year and it felt incredible. Abate and Antonini had solid seasons. They weren't the best players in their teams but they are surely two of the brightest talents in Italy. Let's give them a chance to shine, grow and develop. You never know what happens and we might just be looking at a new Maldini, Baresi, Donadoni etc.

The team's average age has so far been drastically lowered with the introductions of Abate, Antonini, Flamini in place of Serginho, Cafu. Gourcuff is on loan and he will have his chance to shine and develop before he is possibly taken back.

All I'm saying is let's be patient and enjoy the summer. I know that Galliani is talking too much crap and it's even pissing me off (I'm very calm and patient). I think he should just do his job and stop talking crap.
In any case there are another 2+ months of open mercato and plenty of players available (or at least would be willing to transfer out of their clubs)
Barca has said that Eto, Dinho, Deco will leave before the 14th of July because they don't want them in their preseason camp. Adebayor and Drogba are still up in the clouds while we are looking at some rummors about Arshavin.......and Pavlychenko, Mutu might be available as well.I am sure we will sign one of all these players. Add that to Zambrotta, Flamini, Abate, Antonini, Boriello, Abbiati?, Darmian....and you have a decent mercato.

Stay calm people. It's summertime. Go grab a beer and relax.

Sorry for the long post! I'll keep it shorter next time.