Summer mercato 2009

Poor Wenger, he has only Fabregas, who was outnumbered by MU mids.

Our midfielders are better, but Rio-Vidic combi is not easy to deal with, MU is at top form now.

We need some serious improvement to come back.

Originally Posted by devoted_dm

Also, I doubt the club would invest that much money in a new goalkeeper, considering that we're more than covered in that position at the moment. Abbiati was brilliant this season, and even Dida is playing well now. Buffon is the best in the world, but we don't really need him.

I'm not being sarcastic in the slightest, but isn't it amazing how things change in a year? At this time last season, we'd be welcoming Gigi here with open arms.

Originally Posted by Blacktop

I'm not being sarcastic in the slightest, but isn't it amazing how things change in a year? At this time last season, we'd be welcoming Gigi here with open arms.

What devoted_dm said makes sense. We had Abbiati who performed very well this season and Dida is also playing pretty well BUT if we compare to the situation in preseason, we really needed a high quality GK as we didn't have such player. Dida was in a very bad form, Kalac was worse and Abbiati was still in doubt regarding his quality.

This is NOT a knock on Abbiati or Dida and is not only specifically about Buffon either but in a general sense you don't pass up on the best if you get the chance (he is available for cheap, wants to come, or whatever else reason)

Gasperini is an absolutely fantastic coach and it would be a loss for Serie A if he left Genoa. We need strong teams like that in Serie A and he is probably one of the ONLY managers in the world that uses his ENTIRE squad fairly. He really uses squad rotation and I would love to have him in Milan, but I would be saddened to see Genoa weakened as he is the reason Genoa are where they are right now.

With Gasperini we would be able to see our entire squad perform and players like Yoann and Mattioni will be getting their chances to shine, and players like Seedorf will be on the bench. However, I highly doubt that Milan are searching for a new coach for this summer.

While I'd like to see G.Rossi joining us, he seems to be a Genoa fan as he commented the way the club plays and said that he has tried to watch most of the games of Genoa, to follow them. So I'd like him to come back in Italy in Genoa (before coming to Milan ...), playing alongside Milito, that would be great for Serie A, and of course for Genoa.

Reza is right: if you have the opportunity to buy the best player in his position, no matter where he comes from, you have to take him.
Let's take an example ... we have a lot of midfielders, let's imagine that Gourcuff comes back too, and let's say that we have the opportunity to buy Gerrard, I'd say that there is no way we wouldn't buy him, even if we already have many midfielders. Same for Buffon.

PS: In my list of former players of Ligue 1, I forgot Cech ...

Adebayor didn't performe last night? good news! It means his market value will go down,maybe we can cash in r80 plus M5 to get him.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

I don't understand why you want Alex to leave because he doesn't want to be the 3rd choice. My question is: why do you think he's going to become again a 3rd choice ? Actually, it's the logical way that leads you to say that Alex will be on the pitch only with Hiddink and that when a new coach will arrive, he will be benched again, it's what I don't understand ...

Ok, Hiddink decided to use him instead of Carvalho, and Alex is doing great performances, so the next coach is maybe just going to use the same defence actually ... so the one to be sold will be maybe Carvalho (come back to Portugal for example) instead of Alex, no matter who will be the next coach. If the goal of the club is to make the team younger, so keeping Alex and Ivanovic is their best way to reach that goal.

I got your point, GeoTav...there goes a little history.
Last season, with Mourinho as a coach, Alex was the fourth choice, behind Ben Hain...after some time, Mourinho come back to earth and promote Alex a the 3rd choice. After that Mourinho saw the door.

When Grant became the coach, the same BS happened...Terry or Carvalho were injured, and Avan Grant benched Alex for Ben Hain against M. United. Poor performances from Ben and Alex was promoted again.

After that, Alex was always on the starting-11, as Terry and Carvalho couldn´t stay health. Last season Alex was the defender with most minutes at Chelsea, and Chelsea had the best defense in Europe(number wise) until the last 2 or 3 games(Alex was on the bench again). Heck, last season he had a much better season than the actual. This year Alex had a stretch of 5 sub-par games and he almost lost his "3rd choice job" to Ivanovic. Last season he was much more consistent. But only this year he´s gain recognition, because Hiddink benched Carvalho for him...

So, back to the point, even outplaying Terry last season(this year is Carvalho), Alex was benched at the final of that England Cup against the Spurs(and stay there until one of the starters injure). In Chelsea, at the back, they have guys that are not only great defenders, they are legends there, and I can´t see a new coach(besides Hiddink, Carlo or Capello) benching one of these Chelsea legends for a Brazilian defender...this type of things doesn´t happens often, and I doubt Alex will wait to see and put in even more jeopardy his chance to play a World Cup.


He used to it in Chelsea...so, if you are a player that was always benched, even outplaying one of the starters, and has a propose from a big club, would you stay there even if the only coach that promote you is leaving?
I don´t think so...

But as you said, maybe I´m wrong. Never mind...

Originally Posted by Snapster

Are we going for a first 11 of Brazilian players? Not that I don't mind getting a player if he is the best in that position, but I think the constant South America shopping is a bit of overkill.

A back four of Brazilian's doesn't inspire much confidence in being balanced, and better at defending than the current shambles, will they be able to hack it in those games you have to be solid and grind out a win?

Yep, those World Cups(and Libertadores) that Brazil won(some with the best defense) they import some European defenders to help us to hack it in those hard games...

Your comment(that isn´t a question) is so full of prejudice and arrogance...can you say why they aren´t balanced?? Just because they are born in Brazil? This is so arrogant

It´s funny people can live(I can´t) with a Brazilian trident on offense, even with the lazy and useless Ronaldinho there, but can´t cope with a Brazilian defense, even if the(possible) new guy is performing as one of the best in the world since the PSV times...and the new one is already being praised by his Italians teammates.

Also, Luis Pereira isn´t a legend in Spain, Aldair doesn´t have his number retired at Roma, Julio Cesar wasn´t the first black player to be a captain in Juve. Also, Lúcio did nothing in Europe. Alex isn´t a legend in PSV and don´t benched a Chelsea legend like Carvalho. Juan(besides injure prone) wasn´t the best defender at Rome. Chris and Caçapa did nothing with Lyon in Europe. Luizão, David Luiz and Sidney do nothing in Benfica. And I´m not even put some legends of the 50´s and 60´s...But, they are Brazilians, right?

C´mon, at least give a real reason besides this prejudice...

Originally Posted by Siregar

Brasileiro, what do you think about this news? Is it worth for Milan to go after him? This is the player that confused some members here months ago with Thiago Silva, right?

http://www.channel4.com/sport/footba...lia/may5e.html

I hope we stay away from him.
Good player(at best), but to spend a non-Eu or even if gain his passport, on Alex Silva isn´t a good choice. You can find a defender of the same level in Europe.

Look, the W. Class defender that Galliani said that will purchase for the next season needs to be a real world class players. The pressure for the defenders next season will be big...

I can´t see in Alex Silva the man to lead our defense. Bottom line, this guy is overrated!!

WHAT ABout having Lucio?

Ideally, I would love Santacroce to come in but I think it might be better for Lucio to come for a few yrs then sign Santacroce in three yrs. That way, we all have something to talk about for the next few years.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

While I'd like to see G.Rossi joining us, he seems to be a Genoa fan as he commented the way the club plays and said that he has tried to watch most of the games of Genoa, to follow them. So I'd like him to come back in Italy in Genoa (before coming to Milan ...), playing alongside Milito, that would be great for Serie A, and of course for Genoa.

G.Rossi is a Milan fan! he said this many times, and its even on his official website!

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

Your comment(that isn´t a question) is so full of prejudice and arrogance...can you say why they aren´t balanced?? Just because they are born in Brazil? This is so arrogant

C´mon, at least give a real reason besides this prejudice...

The reason is in the mentality and culture. Brazilians love to attack that's why they grace the world with such attacking football as they prefer to outscore the opposition, just like Italians are known for their defensive qualities.

Having an entire back four with such a mentality would be suicide in the Italian league and possibly Europe. One or two I would consider balanced, particularly full backs as the modern fullback should know attacking and defending, but I would also balance that with some good solid central defenders, ie a Stam, a Nesta, a Maldini etc, you need solidarity at the back.

Just list the top ten/twenty defenders of all time and look just how many are from that region, let alone known and applauded for their defensive qualities. There has yet to an abundance of shining examples and many have yet to be convinced by a Brazilian central defender to be 'solid' in the modern game, even Alex.

You think a back four of Brazilians would all start attacking at same time? You cannot define an entire people with one mentality.

I'd rate Alex over any current Italian defender of similiar age & experience.

Right now there are no WC defenders available for the prices Milan will pay.

A def of Alex & Silva would be better than a def of chiellini & Bonera.

Originally Posted by Tony75

You think a back four of Brazilians would all start attacking at same time? You cannot define an entire people with one mentality.

I'd rate Alex over any current Italian defender of similiar age & experience.

Right now there are no WC defenders available for the prices Milan will pay.

A def of Alex & Silva would be better than a def of chiellini & Bonera.

Yes I honestly think that an entire back four would run past the midfield and all attack at the same time. It's not about defining an entire race, but more of an open generalisation of a random sample. Alex and Silva might be fine in their own right but you cannot guarantee they will be a balanced pair and who would you have at fullback beside them? Like any country you get good players in each position spread around the clubs, be it proven by their own performances or your weaknesses hidden by other players around you, does not mean they can work together. Take Gerrard and Lampard, two similar central midfielders at club level they are regarded (by some) as the best at what they do, yet put them together and they just don't function. Ronaldinho/Kaka anyone?

As you know there's very few WC defenders around generally, let alone the top rated and overpriced ones which Milan will never pay, probably even less so as Berlu has other things to worry about regarding his soon to be ex wife.