Summer mercato 2009

Food For Thought: Are AC Milan Over-relying On Ronaldinho?
Goal.com's Subhankar Mondal casts an eye at the major footballing stories making the headlines on Friday in his 'Food For Thought' column.....
18-Jul-2009 9:19:55 AM
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Making Ronaldinho The Fulcrum Of Milan - A Gamble?

As this columnist had observed long back, Ronaldinho and Kaka cannot play together in the same team at the same time and the latter's departure to Real Madrid earlier in the summer must have given Ronaldinho the space, both literally and metaphorically, to explore and re-ignite himself at AC Milan.

The former two times FIFA World Player of the Year has been woefully out of form for the past two seasons and although he did excel in the beginning of the 2008-2009 campaign, a variety of factors contrived to put him back onto the bench and relegate him to the Ronaldinho of 2007-2008.

Milan coach Leonardo has already stated that the 29-year-old Brazilian international shall be given a new start and Milan have not made any moves to buy a deputy for Ronnie in the creative department.This is a clear indication that next season Milan are planning to build the team around Ronaldinho, or at least make him the creator-in-chief of their team.

Which is a gamble, isn't it? As much talented Ronaldinho is and as much he retains the audacious ability to turn the game on its head in the twinkling of an eye, the Brazilian has been off his game since the end of the 2006-2007 season and there are genuine beliefs that he is past his prime and would never become the player he was between 2003 and 2006.

So, what if Ronaldinho fails to reactivate himself? Who would enact the role of a playmaker for Milan then?

Ronaldinho, though, is already working hard to get himself back into shape, lose some weight and become fully fit again. In the last couple of seasons the man who was signed by FC Barcelona in 2003 only because they failed to land David Beckham has suffered major fitness issues and Milan have made it imperative to restore Ronnie's physical fitness.

Club supremo Silvio Berlusconi and Milan teammate Clarence Seedorf both have told Ronaldinho to work harder and it appears that the 29-year-old is following their advice. Moreover, this is a World Cup year and Ronaldinho would be eager to give his best for Milan in order to get back into the national team frame.


I.M.O, Leo better have some other tactical set-up though of, because we don't actually have anyone else worthy to play CAM if Dihno fails.....

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

Johncharles you will pick a big fight here saying that. So do I

As I said some time ago, no Italian defender(center-backs) today, would make Brazil NT, period!!!

But people want to appear more Italian than the real Italians around the Milan boards. I have some Italian friends here in Brazil, and they are really concerned about the lack of talent at the back. It´s a fact that some people don´t wanna to believe, but as I can see here with my friends, several unbiased Italians are concerned about this. Sure, Italy have some prospects, but they are what they are, prospects.

Also, my Brazil NT never had a problem with left-backs, never!! But right now, our best hope(Marcelo) is still a raw(but talented) LB that has still a lot to learn and that is playing in a wrong position.

We also never had problem with the DM position(Marcus Senna is a starter at the European Champions and wasn´t even a option here), never! But today, we only have a bunch of prospects(Sandro, Rafael Carioca, Jean), and thanks to Dunga that didn´t test them, we re going to South Africa with the likes of Gilberto Silva and Josué

Italy produced legends like Baresi, Maldini, Nesta(and others), but several of the others Cb were clearly overhyped becuase the Italian passport. One of the secrets of Italy defenses(always overlooked), is the capacity of Italian coaches to construct a amazing defensive sistem. They are clearly master of this science, and could turn good defenders into great ones...like Canavarro.

Btw, this type of prejudice is what makes European clubs purchase a player like Fabio Junior here in Brazil, and regreat big time...and all this just because he is Brazilian...and, as they said: "Brazil always produces amazing forwards"

Yeah, I have heard all this before. That was not my point. It is not about appearing more Italian or not. The fact is that if Milan are going down this cheap route, then why not spend money on Italian players, who are competent and can develop further in a bigger team. If Santacroce is really 6 million then why not make a bid for him?

Anyway, my more than 10 Italian friends here say the exact opposite: Italian clubs do not rely on enough Italian players in general, and Italian defenders in particular.

I didn't say Brazilian defenders are bad or inferior. They may be the best in the world. After all, Brazil is the best footballing nation in the world.

There are too many Goal.com articles being posted on here. That website has limited credibility. They are almost as bad as Tribal Football...

Originally Posted by Hasan Rossonero

Rick: how can you put a positive spin on the Cissokho deal?

I don't see how Cissokho moving to Lyon should make any difference to us one way or the other. His deal with Milan was finished weeks ago and as far as I know Milan was no longer interested in him. Apparently Lyon paid them 15 million euros, which was more than Milan really should have been paying for him even before the dental problem showed up (I had said during the negotiation I figured Milan would end up paying 10-12 million). So since I had already quit thinking about him as a potential Milan player, I'll certainly not lose any sleep over his move to France.

Originally Posted by Hasan Rossonero

Rick: how can you put a positive spin on the Cissokho deal?

Let me adding some thoughts.

If it is right, if he does move to Lyon, that means either Lyon's medical is not as good as us, or is not Milan material.

I trust the judgment of the MGT here; if it is true that all the dental problems has been set up by MGT, that for me only means that the MGT in truth did not really rate him at 15M. He's just not worth it. Time will tell.

We should probably close this thread. So many hundred pages and not one purchase. Maybe it is us who is the jinx, not B&G.

Originally Posted by Xudong

We should probably close this thread. So many hundred pages and not one purchase. Maybe it is us who is the jinx, not B&G.

Good post if your purpose is to destroy Zigoni, Beretta, and Onyewu's morale if they read this post. Not counting them as a signing, eh?

tell me something....is "dental problem" a new "incurable" disease like AIDS? is it a bad tooth?... i've see players play on bad knees or ankles with pain killers... lame excuse B&G gave us... Sissokho is a very talented player we just let slip through our hands...

Originally Posted by ZvonimirBoban

Good post if your purpose is to destroy Zigoni, Beretta, and Onyewu's morale if they read this post. Not counting them as a signing, eh?

thanks

P.S. You also forgot about Oddo, Barbini, Del Compare, di Gennaro, Storari, Abate, and Diniz (for probably a few days). Wow, I just cheered myself up. We do rule the transfer market.

I am frustrated,

Not with the fact that we have got nothing, but with the fashion how we fail. (I can't recall from the past two decades, any other summer that was so depressing and humiliating for us, the club and the fans.)

Not that we sold Kaka (maybe we do need to balance the books) or that we got "only" 65M (I am OK with that amount), but the shameful way that we knocked on Madrid's door and basically begged.

Not that we couldn't get back Gourcuff (which I am ok with), but that Gourcuff chose Bourdeux over us and probably knowing that Kaka was leaving (I guess that Kaka was set to leave, and Gourcuff was probably informed of that as we tried to get him back).

Not that we wanted to pay cheap on Cissokho (which I am ok with), but that Galliani's claim about "the good relationship with Porto".

Not that we paid nothing on Onyewu (which I am cautiously happy with), but that again Galliani bragged about "the good relationship with Liege". (Seriously, what if this "good relationship" didn't exist yet the player wanted to come, and happened to have no contract? Why does Galliani have to brag about it? it looks stupid to me.)

Not that we can't get Hernanes or that we might lose out to Fenerbache (which I don't care), but that Sao Paolo laughed at us in a way that our club's reputation was seriously tarnished. And we had Galliani to thank for.

Not that we can't get Dzeko or Fabiano, but that we manipulated them into publicizing their intention to join Milan before deserting them.

-------

For those who know me, I am always optimistic (I still am. Even with this lousy mercato, I still believe in the team.) and was always supportive of the management (namely, B&G) until now. It is just that this summer has been, eh, very different, to say the least.

I know that you could always say the summer is long, or that maybe we will buy someone in August. Yes, all that might happen, and I am hoping for that to happen, but so far, I haven't seen any sign of that happening and I can't convince myself of that. I start to think that maybe it is true that we do only have 15 million's budget after all. If so, there is no shame in admitting it, or you don't have to admit that, but you've got to stop flirting around. Fans will be sad, but not mad.

-----------

I don't know whether it is still possible, but my wish list is short: Dzeko and one strong fullback (say, De Silvestri). We are competitive without them but I truly believe that those two will complete us. Of course, we will need luck in a healthy Nesta, a motivated Pirlo, and a healthy and motivated Ronaldinho, if we want to achieve something major this season.

IF we had got Cissoko earlier, and somehow managed to convice Gourcuff to stay, I would have said due to the current economic conditions, that it would have been a "good" transfer season for us.....

It won't take much too trim milan of its deadweights and add some much needed youth and talent..... I am sure promising youngsters wouldn't cost us in the region of 15 million or so (the region where Milan is too scared to go past), so in that perspective, we should have done more in the area. How do we save money for the future? Get a team that can qualify for the Chmapions League for the next two seasons (we already have a good base), and whilst that is happening, have promising youngsters develop either on loan or on our bench.... By the end of the two year period, you will have atleast created two or three young ones who have what it takes at top level, which would save alot of cash..... Zigoni and Beretta? Good, but we need more, as so we can choose the best from our youth pool after a two year period for our first team. Ones that simply don't make the cut, are just sold off....

Originally Posted by Rick

I don't see how Cissokho moving to Lyon should make any difference to us one way or the other. His deal with Milan was finished weeks ago and as far as I know Milan was no longer interested in him. Apparently Lyon paid them 15 million euros, which was more than Milan really should have been paying for him even before the dental problem showed up (I had said during the negotiation I figured Milan would end up paying 10-12 million). So since I had already quit thinking about him as a potential Milan player, I'll certainly not lose any sleep over his move to France.

If the entire squad boycott Milan joined Inter in protest and we had to play with our primevera you wouldn't loose sleep either....you'd just say they weren't good anyway so I don't see your point...you're like a relaxed Giancarlo

Originally Posted by ZvonimirBoban

Let me adding some thoughts.

If it is right, if he does move to Lyon, that means either Lyon's medical is not as good as us, or is not Milan material.

I trust the judgment of the MGT here; if it is true that all the dental problems has been set up by MGT, that for me only means that the MGT in truth did not really rate him at 15M. He's just not worth it. Time will tell.

realy? So I'm guessing that Santacroce isn't worth the 6M or Rosina isn't worth the peanuts or Hernanes the bananas etc?? Riiiiight

Originally Posted by ZvonimirBoban

Good post if your purpose is to destroy Zigoni, Beretta, and Onyewu's morale if they read this post. Not counting them as a signing, eh?

No I DON'T count them...not yet anyway....you don't plug a leaking tank with an unfinished stopper...we needed new players four years ago. The team is hemorrhaging fans, results and money and the best you could come up is wait longer?

Originally Posted by HO-YOUNG

tell me something....is "dental problem" a new "incurable" disease like AIDS? is it a bad tooth?... i've see players play on bad knees or ankles with pain killers... lame excuse B&G gave us... Sissokho is a very talented player we just let slip through our hands...

We also disgraced ourselves in the process....the honourable thing would have been to not front and be humble about our mercato if we really didn't have the money. Milan fans are a classy bunch. We might have gotten mad for it but we would have understood. Now they go treating the guy like he's a slave *sigh*

Originally Posted by Xudong

thanks P.S. You also forgot about Oddo, Barbini, Del Compare, di Gennaro, Storari, Abate, and Diniz (for probably a few days). Wow, I just cheered myself up. We do rule the transfer market.

Don't forget the return of Digao

AC Milan ace Ronaldinho: Ancelotti wouldn't let me play
19.07.09 | tribalfootball.com
Ronaldinho is determined to recapture his best form with AC Milan this season.

“I feel something far more important than responsibility. I feel the faith of my teammates, the club and everyone around me,” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Responsibility is just a consequence of that. It is very pleasing and in no way a cause for concern.”

It is reported that President Silvio Berlusconi made Ronaldinho stand on a table during a team dinner and pledge to perform to the best of his abilities this season.

“Last year I started out well, then hit a brick wall because of my injury and then as [Carlo] Ancelotti wouldn’t let me play any more.

“This time I want to have a great season from the first game to the last. My objectives increase, a bit like Milan.

“Last term we wanted to qualify for the Champions League, but this time around we want to win it.”

Originally Posted by HO-YOUNG

tell me something....is "dental problem" a new "incurable" disease like AIDS? is it a bad tooth?... i've see players play on bad knees or ankles with pain killers... lame excuse B&G gave us... Sissokho is a very talented player we just let slip through our hands...

If they were geniunely concerned mate, they would have withdrawn from negotiations completely. But when they tried to lower the price, it was obvious Berlu wasn't happyabout spending such money....

Originally Posted by Brasileiro

Johncharles you will pick a big fight here saying that. So do I

As I said some time ago, no Italian defender(center-backs) today, would make Brazil NT, period!!!

But people want to appear more Italian than the real Italians around the Milan boards. I have some Italian friends here in Brazil, and they are really concerned about the lack of talent at the back. It´s a fact that some people don´t wanna to believe, but as I can see here with my friends, several unbiased Italians are concerned about this. Sure, Italy have some prospects, but they are what they are, prospects.

Also, my Brazil NT never had a problem with left-backs, never!! But right now, our best hope(Marcelo) is still a raw(but talented) LB that has still a lot to learn and that is playing in a wrong position.

We also never had problem with the DM position(Marcus Senna is a starter at the European Champions and wasn´t even a option here), never! But today, we only have a bunch of prospects(Sandro, Rafael Carioca, Jean), and thanks to Dunga that didn´t test them, we re going to South Africa with the likes of Gilberto Silva and Josué

Italy produced legends like Baresi, Maldini, Nesta(and others), but several of the others Cb were clearly overhyped becuase the Italian passport. One of the secrets of Italy defenses(always overlooked), is the capacity of Italian coaches to construct a amazing defensive sistem. They are clearly master of this science, and could turn good defenders into great ones...like Canavarro.

Btw, this type of prejudice is what makes European clubs purchase a player like Fabio Junior here in Brazil, and regreat big time...and all this just because he is Brazilian...and, as they said: "Brazil always produces amazing forwards"

You're right and wrong imo. No Italian CB right now (other than maybe Nesta if fit) would be able to make the Brazilian national team. However, I don't think Italy lacks young talent.

There was a generational gap with Italian CBs I'd say. There was the last great generation lead by Nesta and Cannavaro, but after that Italy didn't have any breakthroughs. Bonera, Ferrari, Legrotagglie and Barzagli were all meant to follow the footsteps of Nesta and Cannavaro but not one has managed to step up. Most were probably not good enough, though I still think Bonera has never fulfilled his potential. Another factor one must remember is that Italian defenders are renowned for their man marking abilities, which is no longer as widely used as in the past. Great defenders can adapt to the modern zonal methods, but others won't find it as easy.

Ultimately, this has now lead to skepticism about the Italian defenders. However, these days you've got guys like Santacroce, Bochetti, Andreolli and Chiellini all coming through and there's a lot of promise shown by them, and they can aptly play zonally, rather than just the traditional man marking system.

Italy's biggest problem now is giving these guys their chance to break through. Chiellini, Motta and Santon are three names who broke through at the highest level and they now have the trust to move onto bigger things. Bochetti is another quickly establishing himself as a quality defender who needs to soon move to the next level. Santacroce has it worst though, as he's shown the most promise of all, but ultimately is looking likely to lose his spot as Napoli's starter to Campagnaro. The man needs to play first team football, but this is the problem in Italy, youngsters don't get given their chance at a consistent rate to develop.

Originally Posted by Hasan Rossonero

ACMILAN1983: I am laughing in disgust at Milan, not at the credibility of the story.

Meh, that's a daily chore these days