Summer Mercato

Originally Posted by Milano84

its also an incredibly unfair comparison. If i remember correctly, Cannavaro didnt really break into azzuri permanently till he was 25? Cheillini is younger than that (or around same agE).

I still like fabio santacroce as best young rising italian defender (i'm excluding cheillini from this discussion)

Originally Posted by Giovanni

.........Chiellini

In my opinion, Chiellni is still in the making. Yes, I am very impressed with his performance as CD in the euroepean cup but great defender not only needs great performance like Chiellini did in Euro but also coscistency (not only for some games).
So, I am still waiting for 1-2 years to judge Chiellieni if he can turn to be a great defender .

But I agree, Chiellieni has huge possibility to be the new italian great defender. It's a pity Milan lost in the blind bid for Chillieni (if I am not mistaken) when Fiorentina had to sell their players when they were dropped to Serie C a couple years ago.

Originally Posted by Giancarlo

Well I'm a gambling type of person and would be willing to give him a chance... he does seem strong from what I've seen... while he is not technically skilled compared to other players, he has great potential.

Me too...Liberia isn't exactly a footballing powerhouse but they gave us WEAH
Trinidad isn't really on the footballing map either but Yorke was a very prolific and successful ManU striker

So sometimes gambles like these with proper scout research leads to awesome results

Originally Posted by drucurl

Me too...Liberia isn't exactly a footballing powerhouse but they gave us WEAH
Trinidad isn't really on the footballing map either but Yorke was a very prolific and successful ManU striker

So sometimes gambles like these with proper scout research leads to awesome results

But how is the possibility? once in a century? I wont take gamble with very little chance to 'win'.

Originally Posted by Siregar

But how is the possibility? once in a century? I wont take gamble with very little chance to 'win'.

No it just means to not judge a book by it's cover....and look a little closer at the player and less at his passport. For every Ronaldo there are a thousand Oliveras.

Trinidad's star striker Kenwayne Jones I personally think could make it here at Milan....he has all the qualities speed (one of the fastest in the prem), strength, height, free kicks etc. etc.... He's 23 and playing for Sunderland. I had the good fortune to meet him in person one day and He tole me that he was in contact with Milan

The thing with players from lesser footballing nations is that they don't get noticed as early as the Brazilians, Argentines, Dutch, Portuguese, Germans and Italians so you don't hear about them since they're 12. You will hear about them in their mid-twenties like Asharvin for instance....doesn't mean that when they were younger they weren't as good. But the infrastructure and publicity to launch their careers simply wasn't there at the time

I agree with Giancalro. But I have a gut feeling that Sobis is going to explode one day though I could be very very wrong though

Originally Posted by drucurl

Me too...Liberia isn't exactly a footballing powerhouse but they gave us WEAH
Trinidad isn't really on the footballing map either but Yorke was a very prolific and successful ManU striker

So sometimes gambles like these with proper scout research leads to awesome results

i trust our scouts. But perhaps they are bit too catious overseas. It might not hurt milan to do like arsenal, buy alot of younger players from lesser 'discovered' areas.... although i'd suggest loaning them out to lower clubs and the ones that impress can get recalled. Its also a great way to turn profit. 'Young african kid 1 mil, even if he isnt special... sold for 5 mil.

The ethics is what i question though...

i dont know if this is summer mercato topic, but it is a very interesting thing. Investing in youth programs, scouting etc around the world. I think milan should always keep an italian core, but as the world globalizes, and milan has fans of all colors, ethnicities, why shouldnt the club itself evolve.

I think this is something the EPL is far ahead of rest of europe on. Not in south america because of historical ties to La Liga and Serie A, but everywhere else in the world. Ultimately invested correctly it will cut down on transfers, as the need to buy adebayor or eto'o because the frontline is weak wont be needed.

We should invite Gali & Berlu to this forum...they would learn a thing or two from us here!!!!

Originally Posted by drucurl

Me too...Liberia isn't exactly a footballing powerhouse but they gave us WEAH
Trinidad isn't really on the footballing map either but Yorke was a very prolific and successful ManU striker

So sometimes gambles like these with proper scout research leads to awesome results

Good point Dru, but like Siregar said those are the rare exceptions. Also, correct me if I am wrong but Yorke played most of his football in England. Did he not start at Villa when he was 18? I could be wrong. Surely that had a huge impact on his development.

I agree; if the probabiliy is .001 and we try to glorify the ONE person out of a 10,000 that makes it to the top, I don't know how likely that management teams will be able to do that...

Originally Posted by Giancarlo

I can't really agree with that. Yes, Kalac made a few mistakes, but overall he did a good job as an interim keeper. I wouldn't say he's an awful keeper. Just an average keeper.

I'm with you though. We need to BUY a new keeper... but I would prefer Kalac be first choice over Dida... and I would perfect Abbiati first choice over either of them.

He did a good job as an interim keeper, like you said, but I just don't think he has it to make it to like Dida's top level.

We need a new keeper, but that's not the priority at the moment. First, we need someone to replace the gap that Gilardino leaves us, then we have to worry about DC, and probably then the GK.

I may be "slightly" biased, but I would love to see Abou Treika in Milan. Although he is typically played as a AM/FW, I think he could do quite well in CM, or even as a deep-lying playmaker role - a la Pirlo. If I were to pick an Egyptian player, he would certainly be it.

As mentioned earlier though, Egyptian footballers don't have a very good record adapting to the European game. The ones that have moved abroad have all been relatively talented, but rarely have any of them really impressed. Once removed from their comfort zone, they seem lost. I think it is partially due to being homesick, different culture, etc...

Anyway, another major obstacle in signing the top Egyptian players is that the big clubs (Ahly & Zamalek) - where most of the talent is found - are extremely reluctant to let go of their stars. I'm not sure what the sentiment is in Europe, but in Egypt, many football fans tend to choose their club over the national team.

On a related note, this is probably the main reason why the Egyptian national team hasn't really developed to its full potential. Very few players benefit from European experience because their clubs refuse to let go of their stars. However, on the other hand, this also allowed for real team chemistry within the national team, since most of the players are used to playing with each other on a regular basis.

Anyway, just seeing Abou Treika's name mentioned here on this forum brought a smile to my face. Thanks for that, Giancarlo.

Originally Posted by Fanous

I may be "slightly" biased, but I would love to see Abou Treika in Milan. Although he is typically played as a AM/FW, I think he could do quite well in CM, or even as a deep-lying playmaker role - a la Pirlo. If I were to pick an Egyptian player, he would certainly be it.

As mentioned earlier though, Egyptian footballers don't have a very good record adapting to the European game. The ones that have moved abroad have all been relatively talented, but rarely have any of them really impressed. Once removed from their comfort zone, they seem lost. I think it is partially due to being homesick, different culture, etc...

Anyway, another major obstacle in signing the top Egyptian players is that the big clubs (Ahly & Zamalek) - where most of the talent is found - are extremely reluctant to let go of their stars. I'm not sure what the sentiment is in Europe, but in Egypt, many football fans tend to choose their club over the national team.

On a related note, this is probably the main reason why the Egyptian national team hasn't really developed to its full potential. Very few players benefit from European experience because their clubs refuse to let go of their stars. However, on the other hand, this also allowed for real team chemistry within the national team, since most of the players are used to playing with each other on a regular basis.

Anyway, just seeing Abou Treika's name mentioned here on this forum brought a smile to my face. Thanks for that, Giancarlo.

Very good post.

Originally Posted by Jeff

He did a good job as an interim keeper, like you said, but I just don't think he has it to make it to like Dida's top level.

We need a new keeper, but that's not the priority at the moment. First, we need someone to replace the gap that Gilardino leaves us, then we have to worry about DC, and probably then the GK.

Agreed. I prefer having an average keeper and great attack, instead of a great keeper and average attack. We need a striker and that's the first thing that needs to be addressed. A keeper? Maybe get a young 21-22 year old keeper in the winter transfer.

Originally Posted by Fanous

I may be "slightly" biased, but I would love to see Abou Treika in Milan. Although he is typically played as a AM/FW, I think he could do quite well in CM, or even as a deep-lying playmaker role - a la Pirlo. If I were to pick an Egyptian player, he would certainly be it.

As mentioned earlier though, Egyptian footballers don't have a very good record adapting to the European game. The ones that have moved abroad have all been relatively talented, but rarely have any of them really impressed. Once removed from their comfort zone, they seem lost. I think it is partially due to being homesick, different culture, etc...

Anyway, another major obstacle in signing the top Egyptian players is that the big clubs (Ahly & Zamalek) - where most of the talent is found - are extremely reluctant to let go of their stars. I'm not sure what the sentiment is in Europe, but in Egypt, many football fans tend to choose their club over the national team.

On a related note, this is probably the main reason why the Egyptian national team hasn't really developed to its full potential. Very few players benefit from European experience because their clubs refuse to let go of their stars. However, on the other hand, this also allowed for real team chemistry within the national team, since most of the players are used to playing with each other on a regular basis.

Anyway, just seeing Abou Treika's name mentioned here on this forum brought a smile to my face. Thanks for that, Giancarlo.

Very informative and no problem I give recognition where it is deserved... I just remember him from the African Nations Cup...

I have a feeling that we will bring back Sheva and sign R10.

Sheva's return will be fine with me. He still is a great player and one will be surprised what a great family atmosphere can do for a player. I think can return to some good form.

The same goes with R10. The Milan family atmosphere will make King Ronnie again. I also believe that Ronaldo might get offered a new contract with Milan. I think it could be a small contract with plenty of bonuses, including getting paid per games he features in.