Summer mercato 2009

No, if Kaka goes, we need Messi

Hamsik would be welcome even if no one leaves

If we can get Eto'o or Adebayor (or other WC striker), two good-great DCs (Vidic/Alex/Santacroce/Zapata and Agger), an attacking midfielder and bring back Gourcuff, I will be happy even Kaka leaves.

We have to be careful with all the rumours of the last days, we were linked with:
- Santacroce
- Vidic
- Vidic + Evans (totally stupid rumour, MU won't sell their two youngest defenders)

I'm afraid that after these rumours, we could end up with Agger. Not that Agger is not good, but I really think he is under the standards of Vidic and Santacroce (from what he did since the start of this season). I'm maybe wrong, anyway, if we bring Agger AND one player between Lucio, Vidic and Santacroce, it will be more than ok for me ...

Originally Posted by GeoTav

We have to be careful with all the rumours of the last days, we were linked with:
- Santacroce
- Vidic
- Vidic + Evans (totally stupid rumour, MU won't sell their two youngest defenders)

I'm afraid that after these rumours, we could end up with Agger. Not that Agger is not good, but I really think he is under the standards of Vidic and Santacroce (from what he did since the start of this season). I'm maybe wrong, anyway, if we bring Agger AND one player between Lucio, Vidic and Santacroce, it will be more than ok for me ...

That's why I write it with 'and'. It means one of Santa/Vidic/Alex AND Agger. If Agger is not what like we expect, he can play on the left side (like someone mentions that he can play as fullback).

Zambrotta---Santa--Silva--Agger

If Agger is like we expect, I will choose to play Silva on the left side as Silva is fast, very smart and his movement is good.

We can afford to buy Agger and one great DCs. It should cost totally around 30 euros. This is big investation but it's worth IMO as it should last at least for more than 5 years.

A realistic option is to buy Lucio and Agger.

Originally Posted by Siregar

That's why I write it with 'and'. It means one of Santa/Vidic/Alex AND Agger. If Agger is not what like we expect, he can play on the left side (like someone mentions that he can play as fullback).

Zambrotta---Santa--Silva--Agger

If Agger is like we expect, I will choose to play Silva on the left side as Silva is fast, very smart and his movement is good.

I understood the "Santa/... and Agger", I didn't react directly from your post actually ...

But about your post I quote here, I disagree at 100% (what is bold) !!
We need CD/CBs (I don't know how it has to be written), if we buy CD/CBs, it's to play them at this CD/CB position ...

If we buy one defender among the list + Agger, we will have, for our center of defense: Thiago Silva, Defender from the list, Agger, Bonera + Nesta if fit someday (which won't happen again).

You can put Kaladze + Antonini as subs for the left side. Zambrotta as the starter on the left side.

That leaves us with Mattioni alone on the right, but Bonera can do the job and already did it. So Bonera can be put as a starter there.

This way, we would actually have:

Bonera - Thiago Silva - New - Zambrotta
Bench: Mattioni, Agger, Kaladze, Antonini + Nesta

To finish, we (I lol) write like if we were sure that Mattioni is good enough to play, and like if we were sure we will keep him, but actually, if he doesn't stay, let's bring a real RB player and we'll have a hell of a defense.

The problem with Bonera as right fullback is that he defends worse in that position compare when he plays in the centre and he lacks of speed which Agger especially Silva have. Silva, in my opinion, could be our next Maldini (not his level!!! but his versatile position with good ability on both position : fullbackS and DC). Silva is fast, very smart and has good skill and movement.

That said, I will keep Bonera as back up. Kaladze, since rumours about him moving to Chelsea, doesn't want to play as fullback. Either we sell him, play him as DC or bench him without playing him.

With 2 more DCs, we will have good-to-great starting DCs and backups. It's like in a time we have Stam, Maldini and Nesta. We could use Maldini and Stam as DC or as fullback. If one of them is out, the other can replace the out DC.

What I tried to explain is that in my opinion, it is better to have a real RB and a real LB players instead of a CB who can play in these positions ... to play these positions, you need some different characteristics.

Then, of course, many CBs can do the job on LB/RB positions, but isn't it better to have a great LB/RB to play these positions ?

Originally Posted by GeoTav

What I tried to explain is that in my opinion, it is better to have a real RB and a real LB players instead of a CB who can play in these positions ... to play these positions, you need some different characteristics.

Then, of course, many CBs can do the job on LB/RB positions, but isn't it better to have a great LB/RB to play these positions ?

I agree with you if those LB/RB can defend like a CB which is very hard to find. That's why I prefer 3 CBs+ 1 fullback with one of the CBs has the ability to play well as fullback (has very strong defensive skills and good offensive ones).

With those combination a strong even very strong defence can be happen. I don't like catenaccio (defensive-minded tactic) but I do like very strong defence.

I just want to say that, if there is a need, Santacroce can easily play RB. And do it better then Bonera as Bonera is simply classical central defender who kicks people around.

We need to keep fingers crossed for ENsta to be ok and then we'll have GREAT pair in Nesta-Thiago. Maybe if a new coach arrives Kaladze can be used as a LB at some occasions, or MAttioni will play some good football so Zambro can play on the left.

But I have a feeling Milan will buy just one good defender, and now a fullback that we desperately need. Lets hope Im wrong as Milan does need a good fullback. Maybe that Rossi ( Parma ) is worth something, some say he is able to play LB also.

P.S.

there is always a memory of Stam playing as RB

And for the comment on having 3bc's+1 fullback at the back from Siregar:
-Santacroce-Nesta-Thiago-Zambrotta-

But, again, I do not see Santacroce at Milan,aldough he'd be my first pick.

I think our formation requires alot offensivly from the full backs, so I think it would be a mistake to not play natural full backs in those positions. How many of our goals have not come from a raid by Jankulovski/Zambrotto? Against Atalanta Bonera as a RB didn't offer anything going forward, and i'm afraid Agger or Thiago Silva won't be able to either, despite their great skill on the ball.

About Agger, I think he's absolutly class. Despite playing in England his style is very Italian so to speak. He's great on the ball, and he's very fast. He relies on his football inteligence rather than his physical strength. The only downside is that he's perhaps a bit to much like Thiago Silva, and perhaps isn't as dominant a player in the air as what we need. But the only one of the players mentioned who's dominant in the air is Vidic, and I think we'll only get him if Nesta is really out for good.

Another option could be Zapata, we've been linked with him before and now he's back from his injury. In my opinion he would be the perfect partner for Thiago Silva. He's an excellent tackler, Marker and he's great in the air. He's not the best at bringing the ball forward, but it would be ok with Thiago Silva around.

Looks like milan are going into a total fire sale this summer. I was just watching a report on fox sport, they said that milan will definitely sell the older players except for abbiati gattuso pirlo nesta(if he is able to continue on high levels) and inzaghi.
So we are looking at 10 players to

dida, kalac, favalli, maldini, senderos, emerson, sheva all are definite to leave milan by the end of the season.
kaladze, janku, ambrosini, oddo and seedorf will be evaluated and sold, or benched
gourcuff, paloschi, abate and di gennaro will be recalled

they also said that milan transfer targets are:
gk: marchetti, rui patricio
def: agger, alex, lucio, bruno, zapata, santacroce, vidic, evans, eboue, clichy
mid: hernanez, kuzmanovic, thiago motta
at: adebayor and benzama

i dont think any of those are realistic targets except for agger, lucio, zapata

I have a feeling Leonardo will brng Hernanes to Milan to play classical central midfielder if he becomes a coach. The words about Hernanes in Milan were strong few months ago, some even saayd the deal is done already for him and Agger.

And now when Emerson leaves no.5 will be free so Essien can take it

And I wouldnt sell MArek, I'd keep him and played him as a midfielder which he does well. Also I dont see Ambrosini leaving Milan unless he expects first 11 football and cant get it next year.

midfield: Pirlo, Gattuso, Flamini, Hernanes, Jakulovski, Beckham ( back in october again to Milan ), Abate, Goucuff, Kaka', Dinho. its quite enough by any standard.

Originally Posted by mrki

And now when Emerson leaves no.5 will be free so Essien can take it

Speaking about number, why don't we retire the number 11? Every striker that wore that number tend to either to flop or injured way too much And when Dida is sold, let's give the #1 to Pato just for a change

Looking for 10 new players like Lebanese said is IMO a bit too much. It takes a whole season just to make them gel with one to another. Half of it will be much better

Originally Posted by Lebanese

Looks like milan are going into a total fire sale this summer. I was just watching a report on fox sport, they said that milan will definitely sell the older players except for abbiati gattuso pirlo nesta(if he is able to continue on high levels) and inzaghi.
So we are looking at 10 players to

dida, kalac, favalli, maldini, senderos, emerson, sheva all are definite to leave milan by the end of the season.
kaladze, janku, ambrosini, oddo and seedorf will be evaluated and sold, or benched
gourcuff, paloschi, abate and di gennaro will be recalled

they also said that milan transfer targets are:
gk: marchetti, rui patricio
def: agger, alex, lucio, bruno, zapata, santacroce, vidic, evans, eboue, clichy
mid: hernanez, kuzmanovic, thiago motta
at: adebayor and benzama

i dont think any of those are realistic targets except for agger, lucio, zapata

If we are to improve, this is essentially the kind of direction we need to take. Kaladze probably deserves selling after this season, but essentially, if there's truth in the report then finally we'll be rebuilding the squad the way we need to. Not sure we'll be able to get guys like Vidic or Benzema though.

well mrki you are right, ambrosini will not demand a first team football but seedorf will so does kaladze, seedorf and janku. and honestly 10 players for the midfield is a huge number you are looking for 6 sub players which i doubt they are willing to accept.

janku is a must because the combination janku+zambrotta on the left proved to be effective,
we desperately need a two cbs and a left back (janku can be moved to his natural position)

in the mid field we need a classical central midfielder (cigirani, hernanes, kuzmanovic ) but we have gourcuff who i think will have no problem playing there, and we need a wide player. Abate can just do fine he has decent crosses and a superb run. So we need to offload seedorf and emerson and we say no thanks to beckham.

in attack sheva must go

gk:abbiati MARCHETTI and promote gk from primavera
rb:zambrotta, mattioni
lb: NEW LB and antonini
cb: nesta(healthy), silva, AGGER, bonera and canini or rossi
dm: gattuso, flamini
cm: pirlo GOURCUFF
wide midfielders: janku, ABATE
Att mid: kaka, ronnie
att: pato, borriello, NEW bully striker, paloschi and inzaghi

players out: dida, kalac, maldini, favalinho, kaladze, senderos, emerson, beckham, seedorf and sheva

P.S GOURCUFF WILL LOOK BETTER WEARING #5, ring any bell? petit zidane. geotav this is a joke