Summer mercato 2009

How many geniune wc defenders are there out there?

Not many. None in liverpool, arsenal, one in man u, one in chelsea, on injured in milan, that's about it.

If we can sign someone youngish, quick, and brave I'll be happy. Agger & Mexes don't cut it for me. Zapata, Alex, Santacroce I'd be happy with.

I was reading comments from Cesare Maldini about us supposedly after Kjaer, and I found this quote really interesting.

Originally Posted by Cesare Maldini

"If Carlo Ancelotti gives his approval, the player could arrive in Milan.

Contrary to what we believe, this suggests Carlo has quite a large say in the players we get in Milan. Maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Some other interesting news, Napoli are interested in Zuniga according to the player's agent. As many will know, Santacroce often plays at RB for Napoli. Whilst this doesn't mean they will replace Santacroce with Zuniga, the availability of Santacroce may well rise should Napoli get Zuniga.

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

@Everyone:
I watch a lot of EPL, so I have a question about Peter Cech...do you guys want him as a Milan goalkeeper next season?? Do you think he´s a reliable player for our goalkeeper position?

His form has dipped a lot and I can't imagine he'd be cheap. We don't desperately need a new GK, so no, right now I don't want him for many reasons.

Originally Posted by Fret

Next year, I'd like to see Agger and Santacroce.
Nesta recovered (my first wish) and Thiago to turn out a god Defender.
Lately, I am too under the impression that Mexes will arrive (don't know how I feel about that thogh).

As for Flamini, I'd rather see him in the midfield but it might get to crowded.

We will probably sign Adebayor (again, just a hunch, like in Mexes's case).

As for the goalkeeper situation, it's all still a mystery.

So, my ideal starting 11 for the next season would be:

--------------------Marchetti

Zambro--------Nesta-------Thiago-------LB?

--------------------Pirlo-------------------

-------Flamini------------------Gourcuff----

--------------------Kaka-------------------

-----------Pato----------Adebayor---------

The season is long, so these players would of course rotate with Abiatti, Gattuso, Agger, Bonera, Santacroce, Ronaldinho, Boriello, Pippo (?), and some of the future prospects from the youth squad of which we discuss the last few weeks.

Seedorf would play somewhere far far away from Milan

You could quite easily make a defence of...

Santacroce---Nesta--Thiago---Zambro

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

Btw, to ruin my day, Alex is doing what appears impossible...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...%27/article.do

"Alex has been outstanding and is clearly a top player. He is very quick, has a good sense of anticipation and is very strong in the air. He is very capable on the ball and has a ferocious right foot, which he has shown at free kicks. Riccy's injury problems have been ongoing and as a manager you just can't take chances with that.
Former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott


It´s funny that people still call Alex slow, even with the fact he was tested the second fastest player at PSV( Beasley, that fast North American winger was the first), and with quotes of non biased Brazilians fans as Cocu, Hiddink, Paul Elliott talking about his speed.

Now, for me(Carlo and Braida) thats really bad news
Hope Hiddink keep his words and really leave the club next season

It doesn't surprise me Alex is quick, he kept up with Sheva at his peak and marked him out of games back then.

I was just thinking... Maybe our attack should stay as it is... Look, when we brought Sheva back, he was a mess. I don't know what they've done to him in Chelsea... And Carlo immediately said that it will take quite some time for Sheva to get back to 100%. From some of his last games it looks like he finally did. He played brilliantly for Ukraine against England, he played good against Lecce and now against this Hungarian team. It would be a waste of time and money if we brought Sheva back just to fix him and then send him on his way back. Let's take him for another year and see what he can do. I mean he couldn't just forgot how to play football... He just needs a chance to shine. Besides we already have a good attack as we are the best goalscoring team in Serie A, despite all the problems.

So, without spending a lot of money on a new attacker, we could use that money to buy one or two world class defenders, one or two solid defenders, and maybe a midfielder if Gourcuff doesn't come back. I think that Borriello really can provide us around 20 goals next season, if he stays healthy, Pato also, and to have players like Sheva and Pippo on the bench is a plus. Because this two players won't complain if they sit on the bench (but they also have to get some playing time, especially in the Serie A against some smaller teams).

Originally Posted by will4li

I said sendros better than laursen and coloccini is mainly due to he filled our needs,he is a heavy weight,when italian average team played us simple air ball game and always worked to some extent,he stood firm and tall in recent games.plus he is willing to step up from the bench prepared.
Did any big club intend to recruit laursen and coloccini right now? that tells what's their material!

Are you saying that because Senderos is willing to sit on the bench he's better than players who weren't? And Laursen is bigger than Senderos, and better at handling a "simple air ball game".

Also the reason why no club is trying to get Laursen (I don't know about Colo) is that he might be out for 9 months with his chronic knee injury, and is considering retirement.

Originally Posted by Blacktop

What the f**k does THAT have to do with anything?

i dint mean to piss you off..but you constantly take shots at other milan players and spare the one you love..i knoe everybody has fav players,but its better being not biased..

Originally Posted by gregapenny

I was just thinking... Maybe our attack should stay as it is... Look, when we brought Sheva back, he was a mess. I don't know what they've done to him in Chelsea... And Carlo immediately said that it will take quite some time for Sheva to get back to 100%. From some of his last games it looks like he finally did. He played brilliantly for Ukraine against England, he played good against Lecce and now against this Hungarian team. It would be a waste of time and money if we brought Sheva back just to fix him and then send him on his way back. Let's take him for another year and see what he can do. I mean he couldn't just forgot how to play football... He just needs a chance to shine. Besides we already have a good attack as we are the best goalscoring team in Serie A, despite all the problems.

So, without spending a lot of money on a new attacker, we could use that money to buy one or two world class defenders, one or two solid defenders, and maybe a midfielder if Gourcuff doesn't come back. I think that Borriello really can provide us around 20 goals next season, if he stays healthy, Pato also, and to have players like Sheva and Pippo on the bench is a plus. Because this two players won't complain if they sit on the bench (but they also have to get some playing time, especially in the Serie A against some smaller teams).

But we'll have to pay to keep Sheva !! And that is a waste of money !!
He didn't play brilliantly, he played decently compared to the good old Shevchenko of Milan times ... 1 good game, 20 good minutes in Milan and goals in a friendly game against, no disrespect, almost amateurs who played together for the first time (if I'm not wrong, it wasn't Hungarian NT but a selection of players playing in the Hungarian League) isn't enough to take the risk to keep him. Also take a look at his age ...

If I'm not wrong, I think you're one of the big fans of Sheva so, of course, you'd like him to stay then, but if you really take in consideration his performances, and knowing we'll have to pay anyway to take him next year, you will know yourself there is no way to keep him as it would be one of the worst purchases from all the past mercatos (and some of our most recent purchases were already horrible, for example ... Emerson).

A healthy Pato, a healthy Borriello, a brilliant Inzaghi (because it'll be his last year, so ... he'll probably be more motivated than ever), and a hungry young player (as 3rd/4th choice) OR a WC player to play alongside Pato is what we need, Sheva is nor a hungry young player, nor a WC player anymore.

PS: Look at what one year without regular football did with R80 ... and you'll understand why we can't be too optimistic for Sheva after 2 years without regular football.

Silva has recommended us signing Miranda. Brasileiro would they work well together?

I just read that Oddo will return in the summer. I hope we sell him immediately, because he's no good.

Coz he can't cross.

Originally Posted by Tony75

How many geniune wc defenders are there out there?

Not many. None in liverpool, arsenal, one in man u, one in chelsea, on injured in milan, that's about it.

If we can sign someone youngish, quick, and brave I'll be happy. Agger & Mexes don't cut it for me. Zapata, Alex, Santacroce I'd be happy with.

You´re right, Tony...
There´s just a few options out there.
Btw, Talking about our WC defender...Silvio Lancelotti, a Brazilian(half-Italian) pundit said that after he talked with some people in Italy(he really have great connections there), he´s afraid that Nesta can´t make it back to football...really bad, bad news

Needless to say, that I hope people that talked to him are wrong...but the guy is a friend of Del Piero, Baggio and several people of the press. But the thing that worries me is that he´s a close friend of that mustache guy(can´t remember his name) that was always there when Milan players were sub off...

I know this guy(the mustache one) is a close, close friend of Berlusca...

I´m starting to think Nesta case is more serious than I thought

Originally Posted by ACMILAN1983

His form has dipped a lot and I can't imagine he'd be cheap. We don't desperately need a new GK, so no, right now I don't want him for many reasons.



You could quite easily make a defence of...

Santacroce---Nesta--Thiago---Zambro

It doesn't surprise me Alex is quick, he kept up with Sheva at his peak and marked him out of games back then.

First bold part: I agree 100%...I asked that question because Cech since that concussion isn´t more the same player. In the last 2 year his form dropped a lot, but I saw in another Milan board people wanting him...

Second: I´m glad that you remember that series against PSV, because several Milan fans (I don´t know why) can´t remember, as you said, Sheva(at thta time, the Golden Ball) was put out of the game...

P.S. After I wrote that post about Cech form, he had one his best game of the last 2 years against Everton... Shut up! Brasileiro

Originally Posted by Tony75

Silva has recommended us signing Miranda. Brasileiro would they work well together?

Tony, imo they will work together, since they have different styles. But I will not spend another EU-spot on a unproved defender since we already send one on Silva. At least Miranda is a much better player than Alex Silva(now in Hamburgo) that Milan was linked in the near past.

My knock on Miranda(the same on Silva) isn´t lack of talent, but they came to Europe before and for some reason failed to make a impact. To be fair, they were very young, but at the same time, Alex with 19 or 20 was one of the main PSV players in that season they goes to the semi´s.

Also, Miranda play(and very good) in a 3 man defense, and It´s hard to judge the real quality of a defender in that scheme, since the 3 man D can hide some individual flaws...The perfect example of it was the 2002 World Cup when Brazil was the champion, and have the best defense of the tourney with Roque Junior(did a great WC), Lúcio(the only good defender) and Edmilson.

So, despite the fact imo Miranda is a great defender here in Brazil, he´s still a incognito...and I´m not for to spend a no-Eu spot in 2 incognito defenders. If Milan want to spend this spot in a Brazilian, and if Alex deal fail, I´m all for our board to go for David Luiz of Benfica.

Strong, fast, young and showed against us in the last champions, that can play at a high level stage. Plus, this year he´s playing also as a left-back, showing a versatility that I did´n know...

Btw, now I´m not sure, but if I´m not wrong, David has a Portuguese passport. So, if I was in charge, it will be: Alex and Santa my first options, with David replacing Alex if we can´t deal with Chelsea.

Keep in mind that IMO David is better than Santa as a central defender( and it isn´t a knock on Fabiano), but I´m also find important to keep a big Italian core at Milanello. So...

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

( and it isn´t a knock on Fabiano)

Sorry, what did you mean by that sentence? Who is Fabiano?

About David Luiz, do you know, around how much did Benfica pay when they bought David Luiz? I am afraid he is so expensive.

Brasileiro, what do you think about Diego Souza from Palmeiras? I watched a Palmeiras game a while ago, and he was all over the place in that game, I only cought the last part of the game, but at least in that part. Is he being linked with anyone in Europe, cause he seems like a great talent?

What is his position, Christian?