Summer mercato 2009

I disagree, I don't think the team needs as much restructuring to challenge for a title. I think the concern right now really is depth, not in midfield, the issue with the attack is not that we don't have adequate backups (Borriello seems a good backup to me) but that we don't have a 40 game starting striker (which would be Inzaghi had this been six years ago).

It is the defense that worries me the most. Ronaldinho, even when he has played poorly in our pre-season, has been serving through-balls and scoring chances on silver platters. Pato even apologized, and I think Borriello needs to do that by actually hitting some goals.

The defense, as I said earlier, has too many "ifs" surrounding its success. Nesta has shown that class never fades, and I think Nesta has always been able to be at his best when there was a very physical CB to partner him. Thiago Silva is this player, and it's about his ability to press, his speed, and his commitment that make me think that we'll have a great pairing in the back. Zambro is not the same player he was, but, he still provides consistency and stability, which is what we need.

The ifs are however, much more numerous. Can Antonini step up? Can Bonera step up? What does Onyewu do for us? What is Favalli's role? Does Oddo stay, if so, how will he play? What can Janku bring to the table, is it in defense, or midfield? I don't even want to contemplate Kaladze.

I don't think we'll get another CB, Onyewu was brought in to increase Milan's visibility in the very lucrative and mostly untouched (by non-English teams, at least) North American market. Nesta's fitness is the gamble, Bonera's extension was supposed to be his incentive, but I really think a FB is needed. Not necessarily a LB, because Zambro is great on either side.

We've all talked about Milan going through a new stage, well, it seems obvious that Seedorf was for sale, Pirlo obviously is for sale, and I don't think the management is keeping Kaladze, Kalac, and company for the fun of it, I think it's for team chemistry (Seedorf, Kaladze, etc), a characteristic of Milan's loyalty (which is annoying for us now, but is a major reason why players want to come to Milan), but also, we frankly can't get rid of them. Ajax offered to grab Seedorf, but he didn't want to go.

This year will be a transition year, but I think that if our players get motivated, they can punch above their belt, even if the odds are against them. Listening to the players, whether it is Pato, Gattuso, or Zambro, they all seem to plead for faith in their abilities. I think as fans, we have to do that. The players want additions too, but for the players that continue to wear this shirt, we have to support them, because others fans are going to ridicule them for free, so why should we do it to our own players as well?

The biggest reason I don't want to sell Pirlo, is because I am convinced we won't buy anyone to replace him. Seedorf will occupy his role in front of Flamini, Gattuso, or Ambro, and Milan will simply wait until Beckham returns in winter to take Pirlo's place as midfield passer/playmaker. If Beckham was here with Milan now, I honestly would not be as worried, but I don't know how I feel about Milan's first half of our season when it seems the only player who can really fill Pirlo's boots (and will likely even come to Milan) is Beckham, and that won't be until winter.

About Abate, yes, he is not going to be the next Figo, but I think he really does have a bright future in him. He is not exactly an out-and-out winger. He really seems designed rather well for a midfield 3, and I wouldn't mind us playing:

-Abate--Flamini--Gattuso
-------Ronaldino

I think Flamini can pass better then we think, and Abate has shown that he can really push forward. Plus, Ronaldinho is supposed to be running the show, and the way our attacks are supposed to be formulated in this system is to have our full-backs charging forward, meaning that the midfield has to be able to hold possession and be able to track back and cover should our full backs get caught forward.

Beckham is a fraudm a media creation. If you think a ponce like that can replace Pirlo, then you don't know football. If Beckham was 10 years older he'd have about 20 caps for england as Waddle, Barnes, Gascoigne would all play ahead of him, and if he was 10 years younger he'd be on loan at Preston or someone as he wouldn't have ousted Ronaldo @ manure. One of the most limited, over=hyped players of all time. I'm disgusted with alot of Milan's recent signings, and beckham is one of those.

Are you kidding me? Beckham was one of the biggest reasons that Milan was able to recalibrate and make a credible push for the title following the various injuries that plagued Milan once Milan lost the lead in Serie A.

I think Beckham proved his doubters wrong here at Milan, he was professional, and always has been a professional. He has never had the pace or the dazzle of other players, and that might make him seem more pedestrian than he actually is.

However, it is not just his near-flawless crossing or menacing free-kicks that are what Beckham brings to the table, he is one of the most accomplished passers of his era. That is the reason why Beckham has been able to play so well, in that he always worked very hard, and has made sure that the technical side of his game would be the best that he could possibly make it.

His passing was superior to Pirlo's last season, and I'm not sure the point of saying that "if Beckham was 10 years younger or older," because do you think that Ronaldo would have been able to grab a spot in Portugal's lineup in the heyday of Figo, Rui Costa, et all? Who knows? I don't see the point is talking about that, because Beckham can only beat the opposition in front of him.

The reason Beckham is so highly valued by top professionals, is that he delivers in big games, small games, every game. There isn't the sort of "oh this is Catania, or Murcia, or Wolves" to his game. No matter who he plays against, Beckham works hard, and is also the only player in contention for a place in England's squad who can actually pass the ball.

Lampard and Gerrard simply hit the ball hard, and hope some mindless player running will get to it. Gerrard smashes it to Kuyt, who runs like a horse, and never tires. Lampard just kicks it long to Anelka or Drogba, and when it comes to the England setup, neither have ever been able to stamp their authority for England, and frankly, Beckham has. He has saved England before, and there is a good reason why he is the only English player to successfully move abroad (save Owen's brief Madrid spell).

If you want to understand why Beckham is such a great player, watch him play against Real Madrid in the Champions League of 02-03. He played incredible, off the bench, and willed his team forward. He did this for Madrid, where he was the defining impetus for Madrid's La Liga push.

If you ask me, I'd rather have Beckham in his prime than Ronaldo now, at least that way I'd have a player who can actually show up in big games.

more reliable, that is...

I agree 100% with Samaldinho about Beckham, although the bit about Ronaldo was a bit of an exaggeration.

I'm still hoping for a Hernanes, Huntelaar, FB summer.

Originally Posted by Tony75

Beckham is a fraudm a media creation. If you think a ponce like that can replace Pirlo, then you don't know football. If Beckham was 10 years older he'd have about 20 caps for england as Waddle, Barnes, Gascoigne would all play ahead of him, and if he was 10 years younger he'd be on loan at Preston or someone as he wouldn't have ousted Ronaldo @ manure. One of the most limited, over=hyped players of all time. I'm disgusted with alot of Milan's recent signings, and beckham is one of those.

I think this is an extreme version of a loose truth. He is extremely overated, but at the same time he is a massive over achiever. The one thing no one can deny, is that he has an unbelievable amount of determination and self belief. Something Ronaldhinio is in desperate need of.

Never the less, he overrated and wouldnt drive us to success at his best, nevermind at the end of his career. And by no means is he a better player than Ronaldo. When we talk big games, Beckhams most memorable contributions to world cups and european championships have been metotasil injuries, penalty misses and red cards. While at club level his European Cup medal, he was hardly the driving force that ronaldo has been.

Ronaldo was the champions leagues top scorer and also the premiershio from the same position as Beckham. That kills any comparison!! He also scored United's only goal in the final.Ronaldo was also one of the stars of Euro 2004 scoring in the semi final against Holland. Two years later at the world cup, Portugal lost to Zidane's France in the semi final where there is no shame at all. Again he was one of the stars. In Euro 2008, arguably his worst major championship, he went out in the quater finals.

Lets just be clear, if we were offered Ronaldo for Beckham, everyone of us would throw Beckham straight at Real

He is only considered to be "over rated" because of the Hollywood circus that follows him wherever he goes. I think if Beckham was not as famous people would have a very different opinion of him.

To say that Beckham's only memories are penalty misses and red cards denies his penalty against Argentina, his free kicks that kept a lackluster England in the hunt in a tournament they should have never had a shot at to begin with. It also was Beckham who willed England into 2002, while England's failure to qualify for Euro 08 was a result of many people getting the sort of England team that they wished, and it was Beckham's play that gave them even a glimmer of a chance towards the end.

Fabio Capello has shown himself to be one of the most astute managers, he has had to bring Beckham back into two squads, from the sheer will power of Beckham. The funny thing about Beckham is that for all the glitz and glamor that surrounds him, he plays like someone who is ugly and talentless. He clearly has talent, you don't go from Manchester United, to Real Madrid, and get signed by AC Milan, by good looks alone.

The reason why we look at Beckham's missed penalty is that he has always been so assured under that sort of pressure. The reason why those are the highlights, is because he was able to preform all the time, in big games, he has always delivered when asked to by his team.

Ronaldo has not played the same position as Beckham either. When they did play the same position, early on in Ronaldo's career, Ronaldo was criticized for his insane amount of pointless tricks, and terrible crosses. Ronaldo still is horrendous crosser, and his tricks have come into some use, but, the reality is that his pace and his instincts seem to make him more of a second striker than anything.

In fact, this last Champions League final, Ronaldo was literally placed as a striker in the game. The season before that, he did not play in any sort of position that resembled the role of David Beckham's stay at Man Utd. Ronaldo might have scored, but he missed his penalty, and other than his goal, he was anonymous, like he was when big games came.

Regardless, I have to say that Beckham showed his class when he came into Milan's squad this past season. He passed very well, ensured that other players could be brought into the game, and as he has throughout his career, has been a model professional.

What Beckham brings to the game are the things that most spectators overlook, a sort of Claude Makelele type of player, not in that he is some sort of defensive wizard, but that his passes are the sort that coaches dream about. Opening up space, making defenses think twice about coverage, shifting the play, the sorts of things that England is terrible at, and Beckham has shown his abilities to do this are simply world-class.

He does not have pace, tricks, or the sort of physical dominance of Ronaldo, but he does have the ability to make a team tick. There are also many times where he has literally taken a game by the scruff of the neck and taken charge, like I said, the game against Real Madrid in 02-03 is a shining example, but while I might be exaggerating my preference for Ronaldo over Beckham, the reality is that Beckham has always preformed without the meteoric rises and falls, and without the histrionics of Ronaldo or the tempetuouness of the crying Portuguese.

Whats FB mean?

OFFICIAL: Blackburn Rovers Sign Franco Di Santo On Loan From Chelsea

Originally Posted by Bosniaco

Whats FB mean?

Full Back probably.

Originally Posted by Samaldinho

He is only considered to be "over rated" because of the Hollywood circus that follows him wherever he goes. I think if Beckham was not as famous people would have a very different opinion of him.

To say that Beckham's only memories are penalty misses and red cards denies his penalty against Argentina, his free kicks that kept a lackluster England in the hunt in a tournament they should have never had a shot at to begin with. It also was Beckham who willed England into 2002, while England's failure to qualify for Euro 08 was a result of many people getting the sort of England team that they wished, and it was Beckham's play that gave them even a glimmer of a chance towards the end.

Fabio Capello has shown himself to be one of the most astute managers, he has had to bring Beckham back into two squads, from the sheer will power of Beckham. The funny thing about Beckham is that for all the glitz and glamor that surrounds him, he plays like someone who is ugly and talentless. He clearly has talent, you don't go from Manchester United, to Real Madrid, and get signed by AC Milan, by good looks alone.

The reason why we look at Beckham's missed penalty is that he has always been so assured under that sort of pressure. The reason why those are the highlights, is because he was able to preform all the time, in big games, he has always delivered when asked to by his team.

Ronaldo has not played the same position as Beckham either. When they did play the same position, early on in Ronaldo's career, Ronaldo was criticized for his insane amount of pointless tricks, and terrible crosses. Ronaldo still is horrendous crosser, and his tricks have come into some use, but, the reality is that his pace and his instincts seem to make him more of a second striker than anything.

In fact, this last Champions League final, Ronaldo was literally placed as a striker in the game. The season before that, he did not play in any sort of position that resembled the role of David Beckham's stay at Man Utd. Ronaldo might have scored, but he missed his penalty, and other than his goal, he was anonymous, like he was when big games came.

Regardless, I have to say that Beckham showed his class when he came into Milan's squad this past season. He passed very well, ensured that other players could be brought into the game, and as he has throughout his career, has been a model professional.

What Beckham brings to the game are the things that most spectators overlook, a sort of Claude Makelele type of player, not in that he is some sort of defensive wizard, but that his passes are the sort that coaches dream about. Opening up space, making defenses think twice about coverage, shifting the play, the sorts of things that England is terrible at, and Beckham has shown his abilities to do this are simply world-class.

He does not have pace, tricks, or the sort of physical dominance of Ronaldo, but he does have the ability to make a team tick. There are also many times where he has literally taken a game by the scruff of the neck and taken charge, like I said, the game against Real Madrid in 02-03 is a shining example, but while I might be exaggerating my preference for Ronaldo over Beckham, the reality is that Beckham has always preformed without the meteoric rises and falls, and without the histrionics of Ronaldo or the tempetuouness of the crying Portuguese.

Im tempted to pick apart you post and reply, but in all honesty I am just not going to get into a debate that doesnt exist. If you actually believe David Beckham is better than Cristiano Ronaldo then I am happy for you. Forget swine flu, Galliani flu is in full effect!! ;

Originally Posted by pirlofanusa

if we could use the money we get from Dida, and offer it + Oddo to Lazio for Di Silvestri, i would be so excited haha. we would lose two deadweights and gain a talented RWB.

I'm not sure, do we really want this guy in our club?!?

http://habs.theoffside.com/files/2009/05/lds051609.jpg

Id be more worried about what is happening in the bottom left or the guy playing with him self on the right.

Yes,because we need a FB and Di Silvestri fits the profile:young,good in attack and solid in defense,talented AND italian.He is rated highly.....WTF do you want more? Anyone has fresh transfernews

Huntelaar to Milan for 11m, Dida possibly off to Genoa and Eboue or Di Silvestri possibly coming to Milan (according to Milannews). The first two leave me salivating at the thought and the last, well, nothing too exciting tbh.