Summer Mercato

The true power of this team will be seen in September.

We have problems, a couple of reinforcements would be nice but in the end our players will show the world why we are the best team out there.

Have faith. We are Milan.

FORZA MILAN

the true power will be seen october, november I think. We just need to take care of the first 4 rounds well untill the derby.

And hope all our important offensive players are always fit. If not, forget Scudetto!

While as a fan I find it difficult to believe that our mercato is over, and I think that without a CD a Striker and a GK we won't seriously challenge for the scudetto, as a business man with some management experience, I undersand (to an extent) our seeming reluctance to re-enter the mercato.

Its a simple matter of economics really...we need to sell/swap before we buy.

Simic (surely Digao), Brocci, and one of Dida and Kalac IMO are completely surplus to requirements, but who really wants them?

We can't realistically add to the squad, until space is made by the departure of the aforementioned...

I read this am where Simic is still a Celtic target, and that Boruc is "happy" to stay with the Scottish team...though sice it was on goal.com, I take those rumors with a pinch of salt.

So my "wish-focus" is now for us to sell, then buy before the mercato closes.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

Yes, it's sad to see that some people judge the team after a pre-season match that we played with no striker (Pirlo was the most potentially attacking player on the pitch ...) and almost no starter !!

And if you put a decent GK or Abbiati who is more than decent (he's a good GK, very good/excellent on good days, and regular), the score against Chelsea would have been something like 2-0 or 3-0 in worst cases ...

I'll try to find some messages from people who now say again that our management is crappy (especially messages when we signed Flamini, Zambrotta or Ronaldinho).

Coming back to mercato: report about us interested again for Alex Silva on Calciomercato.

I think the Chelsea match rang alarm bells for many people. After what can only be described as two very poor seasons in Serie A, we lost in terrible fashion, when the fans needed convincing that for the new season the squad was competitive. Previous doubts people had will have been amplified by such a result.

I can't really blame people for complaining about the management. In the end, some players, especially the likes of Brocchi and Dida have been given ridiculous contracts during times when they shouldn't really have been kept in the squad. This has left us with a lot of problems in the squad as we can't offload them and get adequate replacements without having to pay compensation.

Likewise, the management have made some poor comments since the friendly. Ancelotti's comments about not judging the attack because it's not available surely isn't reassuring, and rather points out an obvious problem at the moment, the very questionable fitness of our squad. Likewise, Galliani spouting on about being club world champions and most winningest club isn't helping matters either. Fans want answers, and those given are questionable to put it politely.

What alarms me personally is the fitness of the squad, as so many key players are missing. In addition I'm concerned about how well the management are working together right now. Galliani quite clearly said he would like to see Ambro tried as a defender and in the next match Carlo uses him as our attacker. Ambro is an excellent DM, but he's rarely used in his position, instead asked to play on the left as a ball carrier and in attack. What worries me in particular (and this problem has been recurring over the last couple of years) is that there isn't any real set plan as to how we aim to play, with everyone just interpreting things their own way without any cohesion with others.

The management are building, and I'm sure they have a plan as to what they want, which will take probably a couple of mercatos. However, whether everyone is on the same wavelength is debatable.

Ok but people have to understand who was playing, who was available, who was unavailable and why, etc ...

Kaka': suffers nowadays, needs rest
Ronaldinho: Olympic Games
Pato: Olympic Games
Inzaghi: injury
Borriello: injury
Paloschi: small injury or rest, I don't know
Seedorf: small injury or rest, I don't know too

Once you see that, you can understand why we weren't able to score !!
6 potential starters out (we don't know yet who will be the real starters, for sure).

We have 4 strikers (7 if you like declarations of Galliani), if we want to buy one new player in this area, we need to let Paloschi going on loan or selling Inzaghi or Borriello who just came back, but they are both injured (so no club will take them anyway) and I don't really want them to go now, especially Inzaghi, for Borriello, I don't know yet if it's good or not to have him, only time will say ...

Then, about people claiming that we have to re-enter on mercato, do you really think that our mercato is closed ? Officially in newspapers, yes, but don't you think that Galliani and co still think about who could reinforce our team before the 31st of August ?

I just recall you: our mercato was closed but 2 Uruguayans arrived between our official retirement from mercato and today ...

PS: Someone has informations about these transfers ? I mean, money, etc ...

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

What alarms me personally is the fitness of the squad, as so many key players are missing. In addition I'm concerned about how well the management are working together right now. Galliani quite clearly said he would like to see Ambro tried as a defender and in the next match Carlo uses him as our attacker. Ambro is an excellent DM, but he's rarely used in his position, instead asked to play on the left as a ball carrier and in attack. What worries me in particular (and this problem has been recurring over the last couple of years) is that there isn't any real set plan as to how we aim to play, with everyone just interpreting things their own way without any cohesion with others.

.

i have been saying this for 3 years now. its all ok while you have players like See, Kaka', Rui, Sheva, Pippo fit, Cafu, Rivaldo. But when the magic is gone our play is gona also. That is EXCLUSIVLY coaches fault, noone's but his!

Pirlo is the perfect example of an absolute class player that doesnt have a clue what is his mission on the field in a team that has no concept of playing. So he passes whatever he feels like. Pirlo is Italy ( not this Donadono's italy, its the same as Carlo's Milan) is not the same player as in Milan.

The problem will not be solved untill we hire a good coach, I think that its painfully obvious to everyone except for those who simply believe in Carlo like religious people believe in god, without a firm reason.

Originally Posted by mrki

The problem will not be solved untill we hire a good coach, I think that its painfully obvious to everyone except for those who simply believe in Carlo like religious people believe in god, without a firm reason.

Lol mrki, still funny ... one firm reason: trophies.

And if you can't use "the magic", it's normal that a club doesn't play like he usually does ...

Look at Barcelona, did they play well without Messi, Eto'o and Ronaldinho last year ?
Look at Chelsea, if they can't use Lampard, Ballack, Drogba, Terry, do you think they will win a lot of matches ?

It's not Milan, it's football: when your best players can't play for any reason, the team doesn't play well and doesn't win matches that they would have won in a normal case ...

And nowadays, our starters are out in attack, but also their subs ... what can we expect with that ?!

I can't believe what I just read....mrki...u r the absoloute best!

Carlo made Pirlo into the player he is today! Yet u make the statements above.

No coach in our history (and few in the world, if any) has the record Ancelotti can boast in the time frame within which he established this record.

His ability for me is above question, simply because of what he has won with us.

Now, he isn't infalliable, and believe me, I at times question his tactics and selections, but at the end of the day, as opposed to him as I was when he replaced Terim, I have now come to value his presence on the bench.

Your accusations amigo are really unfounded, innacurrate, and based on what I find to be a sustained "anti-Ancelotti" campaign...which is all well and good...I can't and won't expect everyone to like Carlo, but at least make valid, factual points, instaed of wild accusations which are based on...what exactly? A pre-season friendly where we had practically no one in attack available except a 19 year old?

Gimmie a break.

U say the magic is gone...u tell me, based on who we had available....forget it...its not even worth my time to continue this argument/discussion...

U state that some people have blind/religious faith in Carlo, might I suggest that ur hatred/dislike for Carlo is at the same level?

Lots of complaining today - some very much warranted. A couple of points:

First, If there is any criticism of the 5-0 defeat to Chelsea, then it should be about defense - not offense. Concerns about our lack of depth up front should be ignored since TWO of our players are on international duty and TWO of our players were being rested. Personally I would like Milan to get Sheva back on loan as a replacement for Paloschi - simply so that Palo can get huge minutes at a team like Torino. I think Palo can be someone special.

Second, and again about that 5-0 loss, our defense is atrocious! It was bad last year and there's no reason to think it will improve (aside from MAYBE some marginal improvement with Zambro now on the team). We DON'T need depth - we need a starting CB to play alongside Nesta, and if Nesta is injured for a significant period, then we need a starting CB to carry the load until his return. We have plenty of second team CBs - Maldini, Bonera, Kaladze. Teams would love to have this depth coming off the bench. The problem is these guys are taking turns STARTING. Nesta's injury means we don't have one WC CB playing for us. That is why I am convinced that if we only make one more move this summer, it HAS to be for a starting CB - either Mexes (unlikely) Zapata (a bit less unlikely) or Thiago Silva (who I can only go by what I hear in the press and from Brasileiro). a starting CB is absolutely CRITICAL. (My vote is for Zapata)

Third, Carlo's been to three CL finals in 5 years. I think that says something about the calibre of coach he is. But there is something to be said about 'refocusing' a team with a new coach. In the NBA, the Lakers won 5 NBA Championships in the 1980s- 4 of them under Pat Riley. Yet after 1991, the team let Riley go. Why? He lost the players' focus. The team thought new blood was needed. Sure enough, the Lakers made it to the NBA finals the following year with their new coach.

Fourth, Abbiati is good enough for this year. Kalac is a decent backup. We're stuck with Dida. Both the team and Dida should part ways for both their sakes as i believe Dida could get back to form by getting away from the San Siro. I believe it's a confidence/mental issue with him that can be alleviated with new surroundings. Unfortunately, his HIGH wages prevent him from moving, which brings me to my next point.

Fifth, we can be too generous with wages. Kaka gets payed tons of money, and rightly deserved. He is a true world class player and should be compensated as such. But Dida's contract was very much excessive. Dida already showed decline in form prior to his contract extension. Yet the board saw fit to give him 4.5 million per season. I heard that Brocchi's contract is approx 3 million. I'm seriously hoping I'm wrong about that figure. That is just ridiculous.

Sixth, Let's admit it - this team has made some very good moves this summer. Getting Zambrotta, replacing a hopeless Gila with an in-form Borriello, signing Dinho for a fraction of what he would have cost last year and most definitely getting Flamini on a free. We signed four potential starters this year. But my only gripe is that in fact we only spent a net of about 14 million when you consider the contracts we sold this summer. Dinho cost 21 million, Zambro 9.5 million, Borriello 10 million. Yet we sold Gila for 14 million, Grimi for 2.5 million and Oliviera for 10 million. We can't fix all our holes in one summer, yet you would hope that we'd have a little more money left over to take one more step this summer before the season starts. That will leave more money for next summer to reinforce this team for a CL run. Zapata for 12 million NOW!!!

Finally, our market is NEVER closed, no matter what Galliani says. How many times this summer has Galliani said that Dinho wasn't coming. The fact that Stendardo's agent said Milan were asking about his client tells you that things are going on that we as fans will never know about. I am hoping against hope that we DON'T get Stendardo since he is not the calibre of CB we need and would just add to our dead weight, but it is encouraging to hear that Milan is putting some attention to helping the backline this summer. Our market will only be closed on August 31.

Well said bro! Good post!

Dont agree with all of it, but at the very least, its balanced, well thought out, and properly measured...and there is more to agree with, than to disagree with.

Rep points for u on this one!

Carlo didnt make Pirlo what he is today. Pirlo was a start of Italia U21 which won EURO U21, then he signed for inter. A lot was expected from him...of course, it was Inter. Back then Pirlo played as an AM. When he went to Berscia there was Robbi Baggio playing as a aM so the coach ( well known but I cant remember his name at this moment ) put Pirlo as a playmaking DM. That role Carlo used when Milan brought Pirlo in the end. Pirlo is a natural class, Carlo didnt make him a player Warro.

My sentences are not based on Chlsea-Milan, do not make me look like complete idiot, they are based on what I saw from Carlo coaching in serie a with Parma, Juve and Milan. The teams he had, the players he had back then. When you have cčlass players those people play for themselves, every coach knows that. Del Piero, Henry (right winger for Carlo), Trez, Pippo, sheva, Seedorf, rui, Rivaldo, Dinho, KAka', Pato...those players are not made by big clubs coaches. That is a natural thing with a bit of strenght from athletic coaches. they only need a sistem to play in. Noone made them. When Kaka' came to Milan Carlo called Galliani after firsat training session and said: " this boy will play at first 11, I've never seen such thing." that was in papers, Gazzetta, this summer.
He said the same thing about Pato.

i do not hate Carlo, he looks and behaves like a decent and honest man. I just dont think that he knows how to manage teams in 38 rounds league, to be presice - in long periods.

Cup games are different thing. Phisically, and tactically.

My "innacurate" "Anti-Ancelotti" campaign is the same as your "accurate pro-Carlo" cam,paign. Or, to be more precise " we will not say anything concrete, we'll just wait and see...anmd then comment the facts" everyone can do that. forthat we dont need forums, just tv amd www.livescore.com.

Boriello, the man who scored 19 goals last season said that Carlo idnt know how to use him, but now he'll try again in Milan. Personally, I dont expect much from Boriello as poster above said we excanged Gila to an in-form striker. Form of strikers goes up and down in months. In a few weeks a forwards can go into crises if they are not top class, and Marco isnt. Sorry but he isnt.

I know the facts, we won 2 CL titles in 6 years. I congratulated Carlo on that milion times. But he cant run a team in serie a. If you cant see that then you go and buy some football-tactics books from italian experts/coaches and look in there what it is about. Or look at the way old Milan played. Not players, the WAY they played, with Sacchi and Capello. Or the WAY Juve with Lippi and Capello played. Or how did Fiorentina play last year. Or Inter at the first part of the seaon.

I really hope that we will win scudetto and I'll be wrong. That I'll make a fool out of myself by writing this. But Im really, really not sure we can win it with the football Carlo prefers in serie a.

Berlusconi is the valid culprit imo.....

I just dont get it what you have against the 4-3-2-1 formation......

3 attacks, 3 midfielders(be it DM's or Wingers) and 4 defenders, its very stable to me, but it didnt work last season because some of Milan's players were on the pitch only on papers.

Pirlo wasnt as good as he is now when he was in Inter, so wether Carlo "created" him or re-created him is not the point, credit goes to him for making Pirlo where he is now.

if Pato or Kaka were handed to the wrong coach they wouldn't be were they are now.
also credit goes to Carlo(or w/e coach would have been instead of him, and if it actually worked).

on one of your previous posts you said Pirlo doesnt know what he's doing on the pitch, but you're wrong, you're simply wrong.
every pass, every assist,every Free Kick he takes, you just feel something might happen.
he also sometimes makes the unexpected, like Ambrosini vs United at San Siro.

and I was actually starting to like you more mrki, you were starting to get positive, but one bad match and here you go again critising the management, the coach, the players and everybody who has anything with Milan.

Won't take this any further.

U win mrki.

Just happy that u r not Berlu, or the owner of Milan.