Summer Mercato

rt9 raised some nice points that almost all of us share, but I prefer to wait a little longer before saying that they will not spend. I have a feeling that some spending will take place, what Galliani is saying is just him being himself - which is annoying at times.

and just a reply for those who keep arguing that Milan has significantly lowered the average age of the squad replacing Antonini and Abate for Serginho and Cafu -- I dont know, it seems like they are just doing that for the sake of 'lowering the average age'. I am not convinced these two players have what it takes to take Milan to a higher level than they already were. Abate may seem like a nice move, one like Gourcuff, or it could just be one to satisfy the UEFA rules of homegrown players.

I wouldn't bet on Abate/Antonini starting over a fit Oddo/Jankulovski. Boriello/Abbiati are also two transfers that I really think is a step backwards. Boriello was tried in Milan more than once before, and the entire 2006 season and he failed to make an impression - I cannot see him doing it this time. Abbiati is the same calibre as Dida and Kalac - no upgrade there. I hope Dida leaves, he is not only a disgrace of a keeper, but of a person too. The way that he is chosing to stick to Milan and get every penny out of them is really low - given that Milan trusted Dida and were always behind him and even agreed to give him that contract in the first place.

Zambrotta and Flamini are two world-class signings no doubt. We need to sign 4-5 more players of their calibre if we are looking forward to win both the Scudetto and UEFA cup (which definitely is in our reach, given that we do some spending). I dont think we will be signing anyone until the Euro is done. I also seem to have officially lost hope of us signing Balotelli so now I will settle for something like David Villa

Modric? 16 mil pounds? I thought only Madrid can pay such silly amount of money!

modric is that cheap!?!?!? would've expected something like 20-25M minimum.
but he did miss that penalty......

Let's chalk the water out of the bin and sign a couple of players. Easily we mustn't forget that we need class.

Essien for the midfield. Such power and fuel. His working rage. Desire to win.

Originally Posted by Gio-mania

modric is that cheap!?!?!? would've expected something like 20-25M minimum.
but he did miss that penalty......

16 mil pounds is not cheap by any means. Its round 25 mil euros. Modric is great by any standard, I have no doubt about it,But I cant help to think tht Totanham paid too much. But Dinamo Zagrebs Vice president is smth like Lyons, hig good at negotiating. And his capable of making a big fus around a player which results in higher market value.

If Eduardo was sold around 12-14 mil euros than Modric is over priced, but thats tottnham, they are the ony one capable/stupid enough( read darren bent) to do that.

But Modric is worth the risk IMO.

Arshavin's been linked to us today thanks to Gazzetta and Ancelotti's comments, but for some reason I don't see us getting him, though I think he could be a great squad player for us (Hiddink said he's the most intelligent player he's ever coached).

Personally, I'm not disappointed in our signings so far, I think many of those signed are quality players that will strengthen our squad very well. Antonini strengthens our LB area (in depth) whilst Abate will offer us pace in wide areas, an option we've lacked in the past couple of years whilst Sergio has struggled. I do trust in these guys to provide good options for us. Let's not forget they have been two of Empoli's best players (along with Giovinco).

Flamini and Zambro are two potential starters that have been brought in and both are superb players that will strengthen areas where we seriously struggled in the last season. Personally, these two signings are massive imo.

Personally, if it were up to me we'd get a class GK (Boruc has impressed me most over the past couple of years), a new defender (Zapata is the name impressing most), an attacking midfielder (Arshavin would be a great signing) and a great forward. However, realistically I can see us looking to maybe get only some of these signings, looking to build more next summer. Most likely it seems we'll get a top level forward that can partner Pato.

However, say we do get just a forward now (not that I think that's all we'll get), then the squad for the new season looks very strong, with a lineup something like (or at least what I'd like)...

----------------------Abbiati-----------------------
Bonera------Nesta----------Kala/Maldini----Zambro-
------------Rino/Flam---------Ambro---------------
-----------------------Pirlo------------------------
------------------------------Kaka-----------------
------------------Pato-----------------------------
-------------------------CF------------------------

With these guys on the bench to cover...

Kalac/Dida, Antonini, Oddo, Darmian, Kala/Maldini, Favalli, Rino/Fla, Brocchi/Emerson (I think one might leave), Janku, Abate, Seedorf, Pippo, Borri and others I might have missed.

For this season, that's a strong squad to contend for trophies (I doubt UEFA cup will be aimed for as much as CL, so expect a little rotation). What's important is we'll have strong foundations in place for the future too.

Say then we continue our rebuilding project next season too, bringing in some of the key names linked with us now like Veloso or Zapata, then you can see a very strong squad that can compete at all levels coming through again.

Essentially, we still need to strengthen a great deal, and I expect at least the odd couple of signings yet. But don't expect all areas to get covered this summer, I have a feeling the project will span at least this summer and next.

Originally Posted by rt9

This is fundamentally my question. Why do our rivals like Barca, Real, Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea go for the BEST in the market, while we have to settle for second or at times third best? Barca goes for Alves and sells us Zambro. Man Utd are serious about getting Benzema while Galliani baulks at his price tag. Liverpool bought Torres for an enormous sum last year and we cant compete. Chelsea spent big on some players, they paid a fortune for Drogba and Essien---they (esp the latter) are now one of the best players in the world and their value have risen. While we go for Antonini, Abate, etc. I know it is good to invest in youth esp from our own academy, but really when was the last time AC Milan actually broke the bank for a top level transfer? Did we get Pippo Inzaghi on a free, did we get Sheva for free? Did Nesta join on a free transfer? We got all these guys at their prime and spent huge fortunes on them----but it paid off because we won tons of trophies. So logically to start another cycle, we need to start taking a tip in the mercato and get some top players---all of whom will cost money. But sadly, despite being owned by Italy's richest and most powerful man, despite being the world's most successful club, it seems like we cant compete with the best anymore. And for someone who's been following Milan over the last 20 years, it is very very frustrating.

My fundamental question is how can you compare English transfers with Italian transfers ?
Premier League has so many advantages ... no club in world can compete with them, oups yes, nowadays Russian ones can.

Spanish clubs have too some advantages on Italian ones.

It has been shown by someone on the forum who put the way it works ...

And not being in CL one year is not a problem, if it's so frustrating to finish 5th, just remember some years ago (like you've followed the club for more than 20 years) when the club did worst ...

And Siregar I think asked why other big clubs always qualify ...
Chelsea spent so much that not qualifying for CL each year would be a joke (look at before Abramovitch was there, it was just a decent club), MU/Liverpool/Arsenal had some years too with no CL, Barcelona too, it can happen to every club.

Maybe some of you want to win everything every year but it can't happen (except if you play in Ligue 1 lol) ...

Originally Posted by Iggy

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.

Because the serie A is "controlled" by inter now like it was by juve in the past. Don't you get it by the number of dubious penalty decisions that went to inter now and juve in the past?

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

Flamini and Zambro are two potential starters

I disagree in that they are potential starters, they're good enough to start straight away. Which of our fullbacks is better than Zambrotta? Likewise Flamini is better than Brocchi & Emerson is more technical than either Gattuso or Ambrosini, plus the reason he should start (thus making it a choice between Ambrosini & Gattuso for the other spot) is because having both Gattuso & Ambrosini in the midfield is too limiting. There's not enough movement or creativity from them, as a pairing they are unfortunately too 1 dimensional.

Even though it's a semi tedious link, i'm quite happy with the Arshavin reports

Yes, it means nothing (Ancelotti being in the stadium of Russia-Sweden and saying that Arshavin was amazing) but at least, that shows that Ancelotti noticed that this player had something ...

Maybe one of our surprises of the mercato ?
No too known even if he's introduced like the Russia leader ... we never were really linked with him, who knows ?

Anyway, to come back to a previous discussion, people bashing our management never speak about players we could buy but only about players we didn't buy ...

Originally Posted by GeoTav

Anyway, to come back to a previous discussion, people bashing our management never speak about players we could buy but only about players we didn't buy ...

i agree. however we can discuss all we want (about R10, Drogba, Gomez , Adebayor etc) yet they are clearly not coming.
---
i say we have to get rid of those over paid oldies, and even if we dont replace them expensive star players, at least w/ good players from mid-table teams who wont take much for salaries. Dossena and Cigarini are two good examples... i'm sure many could come up with other names.

"La Gazzetta dello Sport"
In the next 2 days Inter should make an offer for Lampard - € 8.3 million (£ 6.6 M)… that seems very low for him (eventhough he is 30).
just updating and commenting on the European transfer market, as ours is still "Adebayor or nothing"... reports say he did send a letter to Wegner&Co to ask to be sold. Other reports say Barça already snatched him…

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

However, say we do get just a forward now (not that I think that's all we'll get), then the squad for the new season looks very strong, with a lineup something like (or at least what I'd like)...

----------------------Abbiati-----------------------
Bonera------Nesta----------Kala/Maldini----Zambro-
------------Rino/Flam---------Ambro---------------
-----------------------Pirlo------------------------
------------------------------Kaka-----------------
------------------Pato-----------------------------
-------------------------CF------------------------

With these guys on the bench to cover...

Kalac/Dida, Antonini, Oddo, Darmian, Kala/Maldini, Favalli, Rino/Fla, Brocchi/Emerson (I think one might leave), Janku, Abate, Seedorf, Pippo, Borri and others I might have missed.

First I think Flam should be a sure starter with Ambro/Rino rotating simply for the reason Jim explained. With only 1 good passer in the heart of midfield it's easy to just press Pirlo and subdue him. If there are two (Pirlo & Flamini) then they can't mark Pirlo as tightly.

Secondly I think Zambrotta will play RB while Jankulovski will be kept as starting LB. Oddo and Antonini will be their backups. Bonera will shift back to CB as sub for Nesta/Kala and Paolo will be a sub as well. The rest is fine I guess.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...ia/jun21n.html

Some more loan movement...

Fresh from goal.com:

"Adebayor To Barcelona = Eto'o And Dinho To Milan - Bronzetti

The Rossoneri have been after the Togolese hit-man since he impressed them during Arsenal's win over Milan in the Champions League.

Adriano Galliani insists that his club are still after the player but reports claim he is heading for the Camp Nou.

However, in another sharp twist to the story, Bronzetti claims that the Gunners want to sell Adebayor to Barcelona and he is advising Galliani to bide his time as he could get Samuel Eto'o and Ronaldinho on the cheap.

“Let's say the possibilities are fifty fifty,” Bronzetti told Radio Radio.

“It all depends on Adebayor but the thing is, Arsenal want to sell him to Barcelona and I have already heard they have agreed a deal with the player.

“I know that Laporta wants to show the world he can bring in a great player but they can't unless they sell Ronaldinho and Eto'o.

“I advise Milan to wait a little as they could get those two players on the cheap.”

Milan could finance Barcelona's move for Adebayor if they buy 'Dinho and Eto'o from the Blaugrana.

It seems as if Galliani doesn't want to do this because he would prefer to lure the Togolese hit-man over the other two players.

Their could well be a bargain hunt on the horizon as Barcelona may be desperate for cash in order to sign the Arsenal star and, in turn, they could let 'Dinho and Eto'o go for less than expected to bring in the funds to go shopping in North London."

- - -

If this happens I'll build a monument in honour of the holy trinity: Berlusconi, Galliani and Bronzetti!

Let it be!