Summer mercato 2009

The one thing that still remains a mystery to me is why R80 plays well in the beginning of the season, then fade away as the season progresses.

Some will of course point out that it's because of Seedorf: in fact, some will always say that it's Carlo's infatuation with Clarence Seedorf that makes Milan tumble for the past 2 years.

It is as if with Carlo and Seedorf out, Milan is reborn; much like because a new president is elected to rule a country, the country will be able to climb out of a deep s*it that they have created by their very own man.

Yet problems are likely to persist without change, and with change anything is possible.

But one change is not enough. You need significant changes and other factors to take into account.

***

And then somehow things will go better, and people will romanticize the new president for doing a 'good job', without realizing that they have committed the all so common cognitive heuristic bias called "regression to the mean".

If your average score is 90, and this round you get 100, and 100, and another 100, you'll likely to get a much lower score in the next, and probably the round after next.

If your average score is 90, and this round you score 40, 40, then you are bound to get a much higher score in the next, and probably the round after next.

***

Then of course, some players may have only an average score of 70, but performed like 100, 100, and 100, we are bound to get 40, 40, and 40 (e.g., Adriano).

The question is: Do you want to take the bet where the average is?

J

Jeff, will all due respect, what the hell are you talking about?

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

Why not, I don't trust Dida and most importantly, he no longer believe in himself like he used to.

The defense had nothing to do with it, just watch the Roma game again.
And quite frankly, if Gila is actually a better finisher, the result of our last game might be very different.

Defense has NOTHING to do with it in the game against Roma? I honestly don't know if we are watching the same game, Gabriel. I admire all the posts you make, but I'll have to disagree on this.

The first goal is an unnecessary tackle from behind by Pirlo, and I think we have already discussed this and you disagreed with me, citing that Maldini and Favalli are too slow to tackle.

The second goal? A MUCH BETTER and faster DC will be able to close down the striker quickly and easily.

And we know what happened with the third, with Dida taking most of the blame but, alas, it's someone who gave up a freekick again.

***

And if Kaka` and Pato have been more clinical this season, we wouldn't even be struggling for the third place.

Yet no blame is on these guys.

***

Of course, they are the most adorable and loved by the fans of the Rossoneri.

J

Jeff, my point on DIda was not so much on the build up behind the goal but more on the actual goal itself.

For the first one, I will admit that maybe even Great Buffon cannot save it.
But for the second one, Abbiati would have at least had a hand on it.
While no need to point to the third goal as it is a great textbook material on how important positioning is for a GK.


I find your post about regression quite interesting. The thing is, it really goes both ways.
For example, Pirlo, maybe when Pirlo was on fire a few years back was due to him overachieving, and now he is at his level. Or his true level is actually a few yrs ago while he is just in a slump now.

Originally Posted by OCmilano

R80 is not done. Why have people shut him out. Like Blanc opened up Gorky, Leo will open up r80.

Maybe building the team around him (cringe) isn't such a bad idea. That way, he'll have no excuses left if he starts to feck up on a regular basis.

Originally Posted by Jeff

And if Kaka` and Pato have been more clinical this season, we wouldn't even be struggling for the third place.
Yet no blame is on these guys.
Of course, they are the most adorable and loved by the fans of the Rossoneri.

+1. Some guys on the squad are Teflon-coated no matter what they do.

Originally Posted by Blacktop

You really want Dida to leave now, with no guarantee of Abs picking up from where he left off after major surgery and our chances of signing a new GK now pretty much close to nil thanks to Berlu's BS? And forget his contract.

I can't speak for Gabriel, but for me, HECK YES. I would cry tears of utter and sincere joy at his departure.

and you can't say that Berlu wouldn't authorize a GK signing.
Remember, at one time there was: Abbiati, Dida, Kalac, Coppola, Storari, and if I remember correctly some Brazilian GK (Felipe?). Since some of them have moved on since that time, and if more were to leave - I do think a GK signing would be a probability.

True, maybe not world class, but heck, we're comparing vs Dida here so the bar is not high at all.

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

I think Mariga, Pisano and Bochetti won't cost us the bank, just by cutting Seedorf and Dida can finance those deals(as those two wages are like 18mil combine)
Hernanes and Santacroce are great which will cost us about 40mil.
As long as we sell Pirlo-25Mil+15Mil from Gourcuff, thats the 40mil we need.

One thing I notice about that and made me realize is that Kaka can be push as a forward with Pato, thus with Polashi, Pippo and Borreillo. We will have enough forwards for the next season.

Pirlo isn't for sale, so I'd rule that out already (I'm pretty sure Pirlo has said he intends to stay). However, we have Oddo who should be sold and if we can sell Seedorf (though it looks likely he'll stay), we'd have some reasonable funds. I'd be happy to sell Kaladze if I'm honest, we can still get some money for him and his performances don't match his value.

Originally Posted by mrki

Now, if Milan is CAPABLE of keeping Kaka' and signing Hernanes THEN we did something great. Seedorf is not needed in here anymore, but he is called "irreplabible" by Galliani and Silvio...

Astori, Albertazzi...all not good enough right now.

And, where did you hear the Santacroce news??

Astori shouldn't be recalled, but I'd be happy for Pisano or Bocchetti to come instead. Albertazzi maybe should get a chance to train with the first team squad like Darmian has done.

Santacroce news is in the Gazzetta report Kalstroem6 posted.

Originally Posted by brk

Also, I think when Leo said he likes to play with wings, he didn't mean wingers, he meant attacking full backs, like how Brazil always have. So no Malouda.

Good point about Leo's thoughts on wing play, it's not with natural wingers and very much wing backs as you say. I would still keep a couple of wingers in the squad, as it adds depth and options for Leo. Janku for the left and Abate for the right seems plausible to me.

Originally Posted by Kalstroem6

The source is GDS for all reports.

Thanks.

correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like R. Madrid offered for Kaka: 65M euros + Sneijder + Robben...

Originally Posted by ZvonimirBoban

correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like R. Madrid offered for Kaka: 65M euros + Sneijder + Robben...

Doesn't seem possible to me, but if it's true it's definitely worth considering. Although I would still prefer keeping Kaka. Having Kaka in your team, well, it's just something special. But maybe Milan would become more of a team without Kaka.

Originally Posted by ZvonimirBoban

correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like R. Madrid offered for Kaka: 65M euros + Sneijder + Robben...

Ah, well, there have been press reports that Madrid has offered 65 plus Robben or 50 plus Robben and Sneijder (both of which would actually be great deals for Milan and foolish deals for Madrid). But I've learned not to believe anything I read in the papers until there's something officially confirmed.

Originally Posted by Rick

Ah, well, there have been press reports that Madrid has offered 65 plus Robben or 50 plus Robben and Sneijder (both of which would actually be great deals for Milan and foolish deals for Madrid). But I've learned not to believe anything I read in the papers until there's something officially confirmed.

Great deal ?
Robben is always injured half a season ...

Corriere dello Sport:
Berlusconi: ‘Kaka is the one who wants to leave’

Tuttosport:
Berlusconi to the fans: Shame on you!

Originally Posted by _MaJi_tz

Corriere dello Sport:
Berlusconi: ‘Kaka is the one who wants to leave’

Tuttosport:
Berlusconi to the fans: Shame on you!

on the contrary.......

Berlu is playin` some serious mind games!!!

Originally Posted by Christian

Perez just wants every big name player he can think of, the guy knows nothing about football. He made an absolut fool of himself in his first term when he sold Makalele.

We will not miss Makélélé. His technique is average, he lacks the speed and skill to take the ball past opponents, and ninety percent of his distribution either goes backwards or sideways. He wasn't a header of the ball and he rarely passed the ball more than three metres. Younger players will arrive who will cause Makélélé to be forgotten.

- Florentino Perez

That is the second funny thing I have read today. I didn't know that. To add that Beckham was brought in to fill for Makelele

The first one was on Goal.com by a absolute DUMB called Sulmaan Ahmad. Whose Top-50 English players of all time included Gerrard at 18, Shearer at 15, Super Frank Lampard at 39 and the Hollywood boy, Mr. Beckham at 13

He would put the remaining 12 names tomorrow (I guess) and considering how foolish that guy is I won't be surprised to see Wallcot at 1, Crouch at 2 and Ramsey at 3.

Top 5 of English must include Frank Lampard, Alan Searer and Steven Gerrard (Lampard above Gerrard in ratings) + the 2 Bobbies of their WC winnnig team of 1966. Thats what I call 'A Perfect Rating'