Summer mercato 2009

Yeah but i guess i will never accept the fact that Milan fans should be content with 4th spot and maybe CL quarterfinals.
My point was kinda that if Milan really needs to fear Sporting for CL spot then it is really a shame.
I have nothing against those teams , atletico and celtic are strong clubs but club of Milan's stature shouldn't really be scared if they are due to play Panathanaikos.
I dont know , with lack of signings that will probably be the case.
Nothing to say, just lamentations.

I see what you're saying King, but I think the worst thing a club can ever do is to underestimate any club. The best teams are the ones that treat Sporting the same as Man Utd.

I don't think the Milan players would actually fear Sporting now, it's not that there has been some massive transformation in the club to make it some small minnow. I think Milan fans and people who hate Milan like to describe us as somehow being a suddenly "small club," but the reality is that we are a massive team, and have tremendous history without having to rely on glory hunting fans like Man Utd, Real Madrid, and the like.

I honestly expect Milan to make the CL our primary concern rather than the Serie A. Is this unfortunate? Sure, but, I'm not sure the squad is designed for the Serie A as much as it is designed to win the CL. With a few more signings, and I'm talking 2-3, Milan could return to being a real force in Europe.

It seems Juve has their heart set on the Serie A, and I don't think Moratti, considering how much money he likes throwing around, is giving the tools for Mourinho to succeed in Europe.

However, I have hope because I don't think the squad preformed like they should be able to because of the insane schedule we had for pre-season. I also think Huntelaar will really change the dynamic of this team. Having a real goal-threat other than Pato changes things, puts the other team in an odd position, and puts us in the driving seat.

But the thing that really will put my hopes down is how Milan preforms in our next pre-season game. We've had time to train now, and while it is to be seen whether Huntelaar will even play in that game, as Borriello seems to still be very rusty, but it will be interesting to see how Milan responds to being able to actually train together and actually have some rest before they play.

I think a FB is important, I'd rather have the stability of Zambro on the left then getting someone new for the left side. If it is De Silvestri, then so be it, it means that Milan will be bringing in another young player to blood for the future. Sure, he's not at his best right now, but, if the club is willing to go for him, they obviously see something, right?

I just hope it doesn't come at the expense of Abate, I'm glad that many here see his value, and I hope that Abate will get a fair chance because while he might be listed as a winger, I think Abate's true worth is part of a midfield three. Abate--Pirlo--Flamini would be a great midfield core for a tough game, as Flamini and Abate have tremendous pace and running power.

I just hope the transfers don't stop with Huntelaar, but I think Galliani has hinted that it won't.

I can't hide my excitment. Im soo happy we got this guy.

Now i really hope we do some swaps for:
Oddo
Kaladze
Kalac
Borrielo (only if its someone good)

Any Pesimists starting to feel a little better?

I see what you're saying King, but I think the worst thing a club can ever do is to underestimate any club. The best teams are the ones that treat Sporting the same as Man Utd.

I don't think the Milan players would actually fear Sporting now, it's not that there has been some massive transformation in the club to make it some small minnow. I think Milan fans and people who hate Milan like to describe us as somehow being a suddenly "small club," but the reality is that we are a massive team, and have tremendous history without having to rely on glory hunting fans like Man Utd, Real Madrid, and the like.

Regarding to my posts before, im not underestimating Sportings potential or something, the fact is Milan has a better team, and if we ever meet odds are in our favour. Thats why its better to get Sporting than Barcelona as opponent.

The second part is right 100% some of my friends who are Milan fans and some of people on forums now have view of Milan as a club on the level of Europa League clubs and that is not true.
But if B&G continue with their "no plan lets buy the cheapest player around" strategy that may be the case.

if we could somehow find a way to get Fabiano Santacroce to start at RB this year, I think that our defense would be very much improved. He would also be the heir to Nesta when he retires, and that also makes us a stronger club for the future.
I worry very much about R80, and i dont think he is as committed as he needs to be for this club. the lack of depth behind him is also worrisome. I think it is a shame that Alessandro Rossina is in Russia now instead of an Italian team, and for 7.5 mil he would have been a excellent backup player to R80. I hope we invest in someone who can help if R80 fails or gets hurt.
for how much he costs, Hernanes is almost a must buy. Our midfield could do with some young talent, outside of Flamini and Abate it is limited. Hernanes would allow for Pirlo to be rested at certain times, and in general in would help us heading into the future.

I'm not sure if Milan is really going after the cheapest player, just because they have suddenly become cheap. I think the biggest issue is that Berlu is Prime Minister during an economic crisis, thus spending money on his football team will not bode well for his political future.

I think Milan is a team that is hated by many other fans. Not in the same way the world hates Real Madrid, but in a different way. You see, everyone hates Real because they spend money without caring, they are a team perfect for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Milan, on the other hand, we have always been a great team. In the last decade, we have not exactly set the transfer market alight. Sure, we've spent a lot of money on some players, but it seems our best buys, were some of the cheapest. Stam, Cafu, Pirlo, Seedorf, Kaka, Flamini, are just some of the players that have come in for miniscule prices, if not for free.

When people complain that Huntelaar was our third choice, what choice do you think Pirlo was? How about Seedorf? Sure, they might not be the same players today, but, Pirlo was traded for Andrés Guglielminpietro, while Seedorf for Francesco Coco. Cafu came in for free, when he was supposed to swan song in Japan, but he served Milan for 5 very good years.

The spine of Milan's success under Ancelotti was built with the underpinnings of the previous era's linchpins, and I think we'll see the same thing with this new era. Our future will be based upon the spine of Thiago Silva-Flamini, Abate-Pato, Paloschi, Huntelaar. The gaps will be filled in, little bit by little bit, just like they were under Ancelotti.

I'm hopeful for this season, but, I don't expect the world. I think our new era will be based upon the players I mentioned above, because that is a good core of players to work with. But who knows, maybe we'll thrive with being a dark horse, and Beckham's return in January will hopefully give us an extra boost for the second-half of the season.

We're not complete yet, but the future should look bright, and the rebuilding process hurts, but as the Carlo glory years show, when the good times come at Milan, they stay for a long, long time. Forza Milan!

@Samaldinho

I think, people complained about Milan opted to buy the cheapest (last) option. Not really his price (coz it is cheap enough for a striker) but that Milan took the 3rd. option (not the first or second option). Whether he will be success or not, it is another thing.

I dont know who was there 1st 2nd or 3rd options. Thats what the news said. I think we got the best of the 3.

ibra>eto@ Inter. Eto will do well but not even close to the dominance of Ibra @ Inter. IMO.

Originally Posted by OCmilano

I dont know who was there 1st 2nd or 3rd options. Thats what the news said. I think we got the best of the 3.

ibra>eto@ Inter. Eto will do well but not even close to the dominance of Ibra @ Inter. IMO.

Ibra isn't replaced by Eto'o only but by Eto'o and Milito ... so Inter will change their way to play, and I'm a bit afraid that they will be a lot stronger because they will have more weapons ...

Last year, without Maicon and Ibra, Inter was nothing ...

If Inter buy cassano or hamsik than they will be a real force to be reckoned even without these players they still have mancini and quaresma to attack down the wings these players may be complete flops at inter but they are talented players and very creative. You never know Milan could surprise everyone next season hopefully lol.

I'm not sure if Inter have really addressed the major issue for them: That is creativity in the middle. Their midfield consists of players who would be equivalent to us playing a midfield of:

Gattuso--Redondo--Ambro
---------Flamini

I know Redondo doesn't play for us, but he's the closest thing to Cambiasso. Even then, Cambiasso is far less creative than Redonda ever was, so again, the comparison is not exactly correct.

At the end of the day, Stankovic is going to grab that spot behind the forwards. Sure, Stankovic isn't terrible, and he's actually a pretty good player, he is not exactly suited for that 1 spot in the 4-3-1-2 that Inter plays. They are missing someone, and I'm sure they would love to have Ronaldinho.

It seems indicative of their dearth of creativity that Maicon, who is a great attacking FB, is one of their principle creative forces. I mean, can you imagine relying upon Zambro, hell, Cafu, or even Maldini? Maldini was an all-time great, but can you imagine pinning your attacking force upon his creativity?

I think Juve are the more dangerous team to Inter in terms of attacking talent. However, when it comes to their backline, they are suspect. It's not even that Cannavaro and Chiellini form their center, it's their FBs that are the issue. Molinaro and Grygera are average, so is Zebina. Caceraces is a wild card, and he might turn up, he might not, but again, he's not exactly a sure thing. Legro is not exactly happy to even have Cannavaro there and there are questions over Canna's compatibility with Chiellini.

I think the only major question for our backline is whether Nesta stays fit, and who will play on the other side of Zambro? Thiago Silva needs experience next to him, but, I think he'll be a pretty good CB, I haven't seen any horror shows during pre-season, and it seems he'll actually be able to improve, unlike Onyewu.

I don't think Milan is exactly in the perfect place, but, while we may have more "if's" to our squads, what Juve and Inter lack are different to our shortcomings. Inter do not exactly have "ifs" but are simply missing players they need. Juve's "ifs" are not whether or not their players will be fit, but if they will preform. I honestly think we have a better FB core then they do.

Anyways, my opinion could change very much on this season and maybe I'll be proven wrong. I think Milan needs a few more players, but, I don't think we're that far behind Juve and Inter, not as far as everyone else says we are.

I think we need to give Onyewu a chance before we write him off. Thiago has been doing pretty well so far. but dont forget we had him Playing in games and he practiced with this team much longer than Onyewu.

Onyewu will work his @ss off and i hope he can prove his worth to this great team. And i really think Onyewu will be way better than Bonera.

My opinion of course.

You know, OC, I really hope Onyewu can play well for Milan. Hell, I hope that anyone who wears a Milan shirt plays well for the team.

However, the thing that bothered me the most about Onyewu so far is that during these pre-season games, he didn't seem to show any sort of urgency. He did not play with the sort of enthusiasm that I thought a new signing would play with, and that was personally very dissappointing.

There is a good chance he simply was exhausted from this summer, but, at the same time, he did show flashes of commitment and that he was strong in the tackle. I guess I just don't like that he seems to give up when he knows he makes a mistake, but, again, he's just started, so I don't want to pass judgement from a few poor games on Milan's part.

Originally Posted by OCmilano

I think we need to give Onyewu a chance before we write him off. Thiago has been doing pretty well so far. but dont forget we had him Playing in games and he practiced with this team much longer than Onyewu.

Onyewu will work his @ss off and i hope he can prove his worth to this great team. And i really think Onyewu will be way better than Bonera.

My opinion of course.

the CB situation is important but not urgent. what we need is FB and central midfielder thats a must
we need sneijder/hernanez and a very good left back. i mean its good if we get de silvestri but its not gonna help since he is not a huge upgrade over janku and antonini. Grosso would do the trick for this year but we need to invest in order to avoid having the same problem next year.

to count milan this year we still need to get 2 player for immediate impact other than that we are still short on our goals.

I think its all nerves. US player huge european club, I think when he is playing this is the things that he says to himself "dont mess up, dont mess up, etc"

Let him settle down and we will see. I feel the same way as you, anyone wearing our colors i hope does well. But if he still messsing up half way through the season then bench him. And use him only when needed. But im happy that Leo gives players a chance, he believes.


Honestly guys i have new energy new passion for the club again. I love being the underdog, fine let Juve and Inter and other take us lightly. As long as the players that Leo fields show hunger and passion i think we will be the team that suprises others this year. CL is a diffrent story, i think the youth might hurt us there but this year is just the begining of the rebuild, next year is when im expecting bigger things. Just give me my top 3 finish this year and a nice strong run in the CL. Then next year i want the scudeti 100% ..sneijder

Yes i do hope we sign sneijder too.