Summer mercato 2009

De Silvestri is better than Zaccardo for example ... and he is only 20 years old, not 25.
We can buy him to be the sub for Flamini (if we keep him as a RB).

And what you say Siregar is the kind of reason that would have made us missing some players: just one for example, Pirlo ...

Originally Posted by GeoTav

So I don't know why he made this comment about Genoa and said he hopes they will qualify for the next CL because they play very well ...

Isn't there any D.Alves type of player on the left flank of the defense in any club in the world ?? Or at least, any potential one ??
About Santon, he will probably be the best in his position in some years ... or maybe he is already (no mistake against MU despite his lack of experience). Let's not forget that we still can try to get Maxwell ?

Nowadays, the two best RBs are Alves and Maicon, they are outstanding, then there are plenty very good/good RBs, or potential WC ones but who will have to confirm with years.
It's true that for the LBs, we can hardly find one outstanding player, and it's certainly not Grosso who is. He's not that good at defending (except with a very good defense alongside him, but this way, even Janku looks like a good defender), and he even doesn't cross anymore. If we take Grosso, you will add a player to bash in the team because he can't perform well more than twice in a row, and then he disappears for 10 games. Just look at what happened to him in Inter, and then look at his performances in Lyon.

For some reason there doesn't seem to be as many great LB's as there are RB's at the moment. The closest thing you come to an Daniel Alves as a LB is probably Marcelo from Real Madrid if you ask me... He's immence going forward, and is also in the Brazilian NT, but he's not even close to being as good as Daniel Alves at defending.

Perhaps there's just more right-legged players than left-legged. Maybe it's time to have left-legged RB's and vice-versa. With all the Messi's and Robben's around who 99% try to cut inside, it might not be such a bad idea. Fullbacks could cut inside aswell.

About the full-back position, I agree that Zuniga seems like an excellent choice. I haven't watched every Siena game, but he's been very impressive in the one's I've seen. I still remember against us where he made a fool of Jankulovski, and probably was the only good player on their team. He seems like a very complete player, but as far as I know Inter, Juve, etc. are all after him aswell.

About the Brasilian CB's, I don't see it as a problem having two Brasilian CB's, perhaps the only thing would be to have two players playing together who have never played in Italy before. It would be optimal to have Nesta there to help them adapt, and provide some experience, but we still have to see if that can be possible.

It does sound foolish for an Italian club to pick up foreign defenders when Italy is famous for creating defensive prodigy's, but we have to remember that Italian defending isn't as good as it once was. If I'd have to name the five best defenders in the last 20 years, then I'd probably pick five Italian's, but the fact is that Cannavaro, Nesta, Maldini, Baresi and Costacurta haven't been probably replaced. The two biggest talents are Chiellini and Santacroce, they are great no doubt, but they have alot to live up to.

First of all, I meant to say De Silvestre is over-rated at the moment, just like when Zaccardo, Barazhi, Bonera and Legro were when they were at his age. Ofcourse, De Silvestre can prove me wrong but unless he plays regularly for his team and is solid throughout like Santon, to me DS is still a youngster and not a future star.

Having two Brazilian CBs could be a great thing, as long as those CBs are quality. Name top 10 current CB for the past three years and I am sure you will find it hard not to have 2-3 Brazilian names there. The thing is that if Juan, Alex, Lucio Breno, and T. Silva are playing for us now instead of having Bonera, Kaladze, Senderous Darmian and Favalli, do you think we will still be second or won the league already.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but last match I saw Kaka played like a Striker, paired with Pippo.

If we can convert Kaka to a FC, that will be wonderful that:
- We don't need another Striker: Pippo, Pato, Bori and Kaka are more than enough.
- We can use Dinho as ACM, that means Kaka and Dinho can really play in a team, because they play in different positions.
- Kaka is great at finishing, through ball and short-range crossing. He hasn't used his longball skills since coming to Milan. So a support striker will suit him well.
- Gourcuff can compete with Dinho/Seedorf for ACM postion, which is easier than with Kaka. And he can.

Without any addition, Milan can play:

------------------Pato/Pippo/Bori-----------------Kaka----------------
--------------------------------Dinho/Gorky/Seedorf-------------------
-----Max/Janku---------------Pirlo/Seedorf-------------Beck/Rino------
---Zam/Janku/Anto----Nesta/Kala-----Silva/Bonera----Fla/Felipe/Anto---
------------------------------Dida/Abbiatti----------------------------

The "best":

-------------------Pato------------------Kaka----------------------
-----------------------------Gorky---------------------------------
------------Rino--------------Pirlo----------------Beck-------------
---Zam------------Nesta-----------------Silva------------Flamini---
-----------------------------Abbiatti-------------------------------

We just need one CD if Nesta can't not recover as expected. My prioritied list:
1. Santacroce (no need to explain)
2. Mexes (most possible), Kjaer, Zapata (maybe injury-prone)
3. Alex (expensive, hard to get), Lucio (after CL with Leverkusen and WC2002, he seemed lost his World Class title, the performance in Bayern was not convincing)

If we don't want to buy Felipe Mattioni (6M), Oddo can be good sub.

If Gorky won't be back and Beck, too, we need to buy one dynamic MC like Hamsik (we have 15M from Gorky, right?).

Aficio, if you ask me that's the only possibility of Gourcuff accepting Milan, sticking him on the left of midfield for example won't work and he won't be happy. I am sure Kaka can/has/will do as well as any in the more forward position.

You invent many names, but, as (reportedly) British says, "wait and see". :)

Originally Posted by GeoTav

De Silvestri is maybe well loved there, but he didn't get as many chances to play this season as the other ones ... so ...

That's true, but at his age, he's got the potential to make a step up. That said, it can't be argued he's lost his place to Lichtsteiner, who has done well for Lazio.

Originally Posted by Siregar

If this is true, I don't see the reason we should bring this guy to Milanello. He could have big talent but if he didn't get chances like stated above (maybe there were many reasons for that), why should Milan buy him?

Milan need a ready player otherwise I'll choose to use Flamini as fullback and bring in player from youth (or young player) as backup.

It depends on what we want really. I think De Silvestri is really talented and does have the quality to become a big player. At the same time, as I said above, it can't be denied he's lost his place in the side.

The reason I brought him up is because at his age he has plenty of room to grow, and so it's a possibility we could nurture him into a very good player. However, even I have questionmarks over him and whether he's worth the investment, but I think it just goes to show the lack of talented and available fullbacks in the game right now.

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

First of all, I meant to say De Silvestre is over-rated at the moment, just like when Zaccardo, Barazhi, Bonera and Legro were when they were at his age. Ofcourse, De Silvestre can prove me wrong but unless he plays regularly for his team and is solid throughout like Santon, to me DS is still a youngster and not a future star.

Is he really that overrated? Nobody really talks that much about him and I only made a suggestion he's a possibility. Most of what has been said about him is he's got a lot of potential and has done very well at both youth and senior level.

Zaccardo was a disappointment, but I don't think he was overrated, I simply don't know many people that spoke of him that highly. Barzagli may be overrated, but he isn't a bad defender. Solid and reliable.

Bonera wasn't overrated imo. He's always had a lot of talent and has shown in his time in Parma and in Milan that he's not a bad player in the slightest, even though he's never reached his potential, or the hopes people had for him.

Legro is another that's like Barzagli. Possibly a little overrated, but the guy isn't a bad defender. His initial failure when signed by Juve effectively ruined his career and he's had to rebuild his reputation.

Simply put, it's the risk faced with signing any upcoming prospects. Sometimes they fail and fall into oblivion. Sometimes they fail initially, but have the mental strength to comeback. Other times they succeed and be great all the way.

I think the most appropriate positon for Gorky is ACM, and I've just show it in my "formation"

If Kaka plays there (ACM), no chance for Gorky. So pushing Kaka higher maybe a solution.

Gourcuff played in 4-2-2-2 sistem withFrance NT, right ? As I remember it was him and Ribery + 2 forwards in the team. For Milan that is also acceptable if the other two dm's are strong, and we have strong dm's in Ambro, Rino, Flamini. Pirlo is a different story and special player, with him the 4-2-2-2 needs to be converted a bit. Also, Aficio showed a good picture where Rino plays on the left, which he used to play in some parts of old Lippi's squad that won the WC.

Adebayor - he lost some of his raw power and speed, I dont know why. Maybe its just a dip in the form, maybe his good season was just a glimpse. Im not following him so closely. But now and then he shows some brilliant reactions inside the box. And if he can raise his form like he had last year then for sure he can play for Milan. I still remember how fit Nesta had problems marking him ( aldough NEsta won, al always ).

And to be fair, Adebayor didnt do much as simply Arsenal were much inferior to United and didnt really press at any moment. Adebayor had few good hold ups of the ball, few dribblings, but he was completely isolated in both CL games and was playing 1 on 2 defenders all the time.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

And what you say Siregar is the kind of reason that would have made us missing some players: just one for example, Pirlo ...

That is a different story. Pirlo was not reguler BUT it was in Inter. He played regularly (starter) when he was loaned by Inter to Brescia.

What I meant is why should we bring a player that is not YET good enough to be a starter in a small team such Lazio if we need a ready player in (left) fullback position.

If Silvestri has big talent, we should then buy him and loan him out next season.

on italian news they say Grosso wants to play in serie a again ( coz of the WC aguess ) and that Milan and Juve want him. I wouldnt be surprised if we replace Favalli for Grosso and buy one more CB. Grosso still plays very good football.

Geo Tav, have you seen Grosso in some games in France, how is he doing? For Italy he plays well as far as I can see.

Backline of Grosso-Thiago-Nesta-Zambrotta A bit old(except Thiago ) but for sure quality is not missing.

Originally Posted by mrki

on italian news they say Grosso wants to play in serie a again ( coz of the WC aguess ) and that Milan and Juve want him. I wouldnt be surprised if we replace Favalli for Grosso and buy one more CB. Grosso still plays very good football.

Geo Tav, have you seen Grosso in some games in France, how is he doing? For Italy he plays well as far as I can see.

Backline of Grosso-Thiago-Nesta-Zambrotta A bit old(except Thiago ) but for sure quality is not missing.

I reply you by quoting myself as I said what I think about him on the previous page:

Originally Posted by The Amazing GeoTav

It's true that for the LBs, we can hardly find one outstanding player, and it's certainly not Grosso who is. He's not that good at defending (except with a very good defense alongside him, but this way, even Janku looks like a good defender), and he even doesn't cross anymore. If we take Grosso, you will add a player to bash in the team because he can't perform well more than twice in a row, and then he disappears for 10 games. Just look at what happened to him in Inter, and then look at his performances in Lyon.

Sorry man, I missed that post aguess. Again, I only see Grosso when he plays for the Azzuri, and he does well there. So I cant say more.

"The Amazing GeoTav"?!?!

I think you should stop predicting results for a while. If you hit one more, you will become unbearable to read.

Just kidding, Geo, keep up the good work, always a pleasure reading your posts.

Originally Posted by El Fre

"The Amazing GeoTav"?!?!

I think you should stop predicting results for a while. If you hit one more, you will become unbearable to read.

Just kidding, Geo, keep up the good work, always a pleasure reading your posts.

Sorry, I suddenly lost all my modesty ...
Back to more serious things, a Milan fan who doesn't have Internet and watched Barcelona playing for the first time tonight would probably think that it's better to call back Oddo even if we had a chance to have Alves !!