Summer mercato 2009

is there any credibility to the pato-chelski rumors? and if so, why god, allah, adonai, buddha, shiva is this happening to us?

Back from the TIM SUPER CUP. It was an awesome experiences, may I just add that I was sitting with the press as my friend works for Sports channel in China, thus for a span of 5 hours, I worked as his assistant-did nothing but talking to players and coaches.

I must say JM is one smart ass coach, he is indeed arrogant(kind of fun watching him lose the game), but man he is really great at press conf, and interviews. Something I believe most IT coaches lack, also something they need to work on if Serie A wants to promote itself.

Impressions on players:

Eto is not as big as I thought.
MIlito really looks like INspector Gadget
Lucio and Maicon are really awesome, always smiling and signing autographs for fans.
Zannetti is class, he is really the next Maldini, you just don't have players like him anymore.
Brocchi is like a comic character.
Cruz is a huge fan favourite in Beijing-actually beside JM, he is byfar the most popular person-from a fans perspective.
Zarate is also smaller than I thought.

The game:
I don't think it was a good ref. for the season as the heat was really unbearable.
Inter really is a near complete team, I would say a better team than last year. Lucio, if he can stay healthy will be the key for them, as he offers so much more than just being defense for the team. Eto's speed and Milito's size will cause problems to any defense in Europe. Their one weakness will be midfield, as they need another two way midfielder who can defend and score(long range), someone like Xabi.
As for Lazio, they will just be like last year, they will win games here and there, but they are still way off for being a top 4 teams in Serie A.

Anyhow, beside Hunter anything going on?

Originally Posted by Gabriel489

Back from the TIM SUPER CUP. It was an awesome experiences, may I just add that I was sitting with the press as my friend works for Sports channel in China, thus for a span of 5 hours, I worked as his assistant-did nothing but talking to players and coaches.

I must say JM is one smart ass coach, he is indeed arrogant(kind of fun watching him lose the game), but man he is really great at press conf, and interviews. Something I believe most IT coaches lack, also something they need to work on if Serie A wants to promote itself.

Impressions on players:

Eto is not as big as I thought.
MIlito really looks like INspector Gadget
Lucio and Maicon are really awesome, always smiling and signing autographs for fans.
Zannetti is class, he is really the next Maldini, you just don't have players like him anymore.
Brocchi is like a comic character.
Cruz is a huge fan favourite in Beijing-actually beside JM, he is byfar the most popular person-from a fans perspective.
Zarate is also smaller than I thought.

The game:
I don't think it was a good ref. for the season as the heat was really unbearable.
Inter really is a near complete team, I would say a better team than last year. Lucio, if he can stay healthy will be the key for them, as he offers so much more than just being defense for the team. Eto's speed and Milito's size will cause problems to any defense in Europe. Their one weakness will be midfield, as they need another two way midfielder who can defend and score(long range), someone like Xabi.
As for Lazio, they will just be like last year, they will win games here and there, but they are still way off for being a top 4 teams in Serie A.

Anyhow, beside Hunter anything going on?

another tim cup and we will lose a good poster to inter forums

Originally Posted by rt9

A player like VDV is not cover for anyone. This guy is starting material and will come at that sort of a price range. At present our "cover" is Di Gennaro, who honestly is looking like crap. I'd rather we play Pirlo as trequartista every once in a while or give our young Nigerians (Harmony and Odu) more chances.

VdV doesn't have to be cover for anyone, he would play the same place Hernanes was going to play if we bought him. Pirlo + 2 DM's has not and will not work in Serie A because there isn't enough creativity in the lineup to break down the tight defenses. We could play Pirlo, DM, VdV, Dinho in the midfield. This should be good enough to provide Huntelaar and Pato with enough opportunities to score especially if we buy a fullback(De Silvestri?) which we are supposedly pursuing.

Abbiati; De Silvestri, Nesta, Silva, Zambro; Flamini/Gattuso; Pirlo, VdV; Dinho; Pato, Huntelaar.

With some luck on the injury front, this doesn't look too bad at all. I know people are concerned about where our captain Ambro will play but I guess this will just be one of those cases where the captain has a lesser role like Neville at Man-U. Unless Ambro plays well enough to bench Flamini AND Gattuso.

Honestly, if VDV comes, Pirlo will be sold to Chelsea. As I really don't see VDV would be coming to Milan, knowing he will be on the bench in a WC year.
Unless Milan plays with one striker, which I doubt.

Why would we have to play with one striker if we got VdV :s I see no reason why we can't incorporate him into a team with two strikers like I just suggested. Unless you're a firm believer in the two DM lineup.

EDIT: He's already on the bench at Madrid...who have also added Xabi Alonso to their team which = less playing time.

or if we got VdV we could sell Dinho...

How about Flamini's place in starting lineup? Are there any signs that Leo will be willing to include him as starter?

If he is, then our midifield is Pirlo - Gattuso - Flamini with Dinho in front of them, and VDV will be backup for Dinho or Pirlo. It is actually good.

Some news from goal.com:

Leo says (or hopes?) that transfer market for Milan isn't over yet. Good. http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/200...coach-leonardo


We now know who was and is Kaka's fav player... Meh. http://goal.com/en/news/12/spain/200...yer-cristiano-

Ancelotty formally denied Pato's arrival. Good. http://goal.com/en/news/10/italy/200...arlo-ancelotti

The point that I am trying to make is that VDV wants to go to a team that he knows he will be starting in order to make the Holland team for WC.
If those reports are true, he actually wants to play in Germany, which makes sense b/c he had success playing in that league.

To me, if Leo is playing with 2 strikers with Dinho behind them, while also playing with Pirlo, then 2 DM is a must.

^^ I understand that you're worried about our defense since Pirlo is a defensive liability, while Dinho does little to no tracking back, but at the same time if we plan on playing a possession game then two DMs just won't cut it and we'll have the same problem of the midfield and the attack being disjointed.

If the team is organized properly and the space between defense and midfield, and between midfield and attack minimized, then we can defend and attack as a unit.

The reason why two DMs are required for the system to work, is that you will simply invite an increased level of pressure and lose the midfield battle. Control of the midfield is the second most critical thing after establishing that you have a solid defense.

With players like Pirlo and Ronaldinho who are a defensive liability, and who do not track back, like you said, then how are you supposed to provide support to your two strikers while making sure that you can hold possession in the midfield?

Our game against Benfica highlighted what happens when you don't have DMs in the midfield, and we lost the battle, Abate and Pirlo were overrun.

Our midfield has to have Flamini and Gattuso in it, and what they lack in attacking prowess, they make up in being able to protect Pirlo, allowing him to dictate play, and ensure that there is a steady stream of possession for Pirlo and Ronaldinho to play.

Furthermore, our full-backs, in Leonardo's system, are critical towards providing width and extra creativity. Zambrotta against Benfica illustrated the effectiveness of that idea, very well.

Meh. The 2 dm system isn't a guarantee of success. We played our best football in pre-season with Seedorf beside Pirlo & Flamini vs chelski.

Only one dm is required, or sometimes none. You invite the pressure with 2 dm also by limiting effective possession. They are not ideal for maintainig the ball as they lack the nec technical skills, and they can't just win the ball and pass to Pirlo who'll just become marked better, and considering the likelyhood that our best player Pato will prob be doubled teamed in att, then we really do need a box to box mid who'll make runs into box, and that's not Rino or Flamini.

We could play Flamini - Pirlo - VdV as 1st choice, as I believe VdV will oust Seedorf who only wants to play AM.

As for this being a WC year, every other big team has quality subs, and we don't. Players understand rotation, they don't like it, but if Vdv comes and plays circa 30 games he'll be picked for Holland.

Take the player and let R80/Seedorf deal with it. Right now they don't have to raise their game due to lack of pressure, but add a talented player like VdV, and it could ehlp us more, by getting more from R80/Seedorf.

I think some of you are reading too much into the term DM.

If Milan plays with 2 strikers with Dinho behind them and Pirlo in the middle.
The other two midfielders must be more toward defensive duties than offensive duties.
Those two could still be offensive players but must have the workrate to track back in time and play defense with positioning. SOmething that Beckham did well while playing in the RM role last year. Seedorf also did well when he feel like playing that role, ie the Chelsea's game.

Thats why a midfield three of Flamini-Pirlo-VDV will not work, as VDV is not known as a two way midfielder. A midfield three of Flamini-Pirlo-Xabi Alonso will work. As Xabi does track back.
Or Flamini-Cesc-VDV will also work, b/c Cesc does track back.

As for the point about being a WC year, well, if VDV have a choice, won't he move to a team who he knows he will be a starter than a team he is unsure whether he can start or not.
Do remember that, MIlan is not the only team going after VDV.

Originally Posted by ZvonimirBoban

How about Flamini's place in starting lineup? Are there any signs that Leo will be willing to include him as starter?

If he is, then our midifield is Pirlo - Gattuso - Flamini with Dinho in front of them, and VDV will be backup for Dinho or Pirlo. It is actually good.

Flamini didn't start last friendly due to a tendon injury..... So far, he has been a starter and if he can recover, Leo will use him!