Winter Mercato

Originally Posted by mrki

With Gallas,Zambrotta and Buffon we wouldnt actually concede any goals
But we do need few players up front also. at least one midfielder and one forward. Or Ronaldinho can play both places at the same time!

But just a question for some discussion: Who would you guys choose, Gallas or Alex?
Alex is younger and plays great as a CB, and will improve more with Milan. But Gallas is more experianced and can laso play on fullback position as well as a CB.

why do we have to choose?

If Maldini decides to retire this summer, there will be space for both of them and they won't step on each other's toes as Gallas can play in all defensive positions - RB, RCD, LCD, and LB - so there will be plenty of games for everyone to be happy ... if not, showing the door to troublemakers is as easy as 1,2,3

Given that Maldini will play for at most 1 more year, it would be nice to secure both Alex and Gallas, if the become available that is.
If paolo decides to play next season too, I say go for Gallas now given his versatility and make sure that Alex refuses to extend his contract with Chelski, which is presumably due to expire next summer

I think Alex is a superb player although I don't particurlarly like Brazilian defenders........the term "brazilian defender" is a bit of an oxymoron
I would have liked Barzagli / Terry / Gallas. Just like Italians have a reputation for being solid but not necessarliy brilliant players...Brazilians always seem prone to a huge gaff now and then....This isn't very noticeable as attacking players...because Ronaldinho could miss a clear chance now then score a wonder goal and all is forgiven...but Lucio could be playing brilliantly all game and one bad move causes his side to lost the game...Italians generally choose the route of safety and this mentality is what you want in a defender.......of course I am using massive generalizations here and there are many notable exceptions...like Emerson who is a "safety first" player and Baggio/ Cassano who have scarcely played a minute that lacked flair.

Wing backs are a different story though...don't mind South American wing backs...esp Brazilians
Who I really like though is Diego...he is surely going to be in the class of Kaka...perhaps almost as good....perhaps as good...or maybe even better than Kaka ...he would be a dream signing and Just what we need in midifeld
If I had to pick four signings I'd pick : Alves; Galllas/Terry; Diego; Huntelaar/Torres/Sobis/ Pato

alex is overrated, i dont like him

Originally Posted by MOOD

alex is overrated, i dont like him

OK, then we won't buy him

I would think any chance of us getting Gallas is linked heavily to wether Wenger stays as coach at Arsenal.

You're right Zlat, i did enjoy seeing us linked to William, just as much as i liked seeing us linked to Zambrotta today

i see Manu , juve , inter, real ,.... send representatives to clubs to contact them towards their players while berlusconi is being cought in a scandal and some silly ronaldinho rumours i don't see real work in the transfers issue and i am afraid we are pushed to sign some last gasp- players like RO but i think also that Zlat could snap up Galliani's transfer list !!!!!

Originally Posted by drucurl

I think Alex is a superb player although I don't particurlarly like Brazilian defenders........the term "brazilian defender" is a bit of an oxymoron
I would have liked Barzagli / Terry / Gallas. Just like Italians have a reputation for being solid but not necessarliy brilliant players...Brazilians always seem prone to a huge gaff now and then....This isn't very noticeable as attacking players...because Ronaldinho could miss a clear chance now then score a wonder goal and all is forgiven...but Lucio could be playing brilliantly all game and one bad move causes his side to lost the game...Italians generally choose the route of safety and this mentality is what you want in a defender.......of course I am using massive generalizations here and there are many notable exceptions...like Emerson who is a "safety first" player and Baggio/ Cassano who have scarcely played a minute that lacked flair.

Wing backs are a different story though...don't mind South American wing backs...esp Brazilians
Who I really like though is Diego...he is surely going to be in the class of Kaka...perhaps almost as good....perhaps as good...or maybe even better than Kaka ...he would be a dream signing and Just what we need in midifeld
If I had to pick four signings I'd pick : Alves; Galllas/Terry; Diego; Huntelaar/Torres/Sobis/ Pato

Nothing personal against you, drucurl(just taking your post to talk about this) as you´re clearly generalizing...but this prejudiced argument that I read in some boards does not have sustentation in the facts. People talk about brazilians defenders, but look for the facts: Alex, Luisao, Cris, Juan, Lucio, Caçapa, Pepe, Naldo an others, all have success in the Europe. Cris for a example, was a joke in Brazil, and came to Europe to be regarded as one of the best in the position. Miracle? No, the fact is that in Brazil they play without the protection that an CB for a example, play in Italy, and as consequence are more exposed...

Look at Canavarro playing without so much protection in Spain...a JOKE!! I will go more further...the labeled great italian defender Canavarro was a joke in Inter also. But people forgive all the gaffs and flaws and are high on this guy because he´s a "italian defender" If Canavarro was brazilian, after the Inter season(I´m not that bad person to put the R. Madrid season here), he will be playing far from a big club in Europe!!
And as I hate bias, the same prejudice never is used to brazilians fowards/OMD. People are here so high in Sobis just because he had a few great games in the final part of Libertadores. If Sobis wasn´t brazilian, I really doubt he had the same hype. Sobis is a good player, but until he shows more, he´s far from Milan material...

I was trying to nominate(besides Nesta and Maldini) the same numbers of Italian defenders playing at the same level of that small list of brazilians defenders in Europe, but I can´t. I just remeber Barzagli, Bonera, Ferrari and none of these guys are anything better than Alex, Luisao, Caçapa, Lucio, Cris in Europe...and look, IMO, only Alex, Luisao and Lucio are Milan material. But Lucio is just to "offensive" and crazy for the italian(and my) standard.

Back to the topic, what I like in Gallas is the versatility...and as zlatanov said, even if Maldini stay one more year, we can bring both(Alex/Gallas) because gallas versalitity would give games for everybody be happy.

Just to finish, if Alex da Costa was named Alex di Costinni, and born in Italy people will have no doubt to nominate him the best defender in Europe right now. Alex is playing at a level in Europe(for 3 straight years), that of general form, a defender only shows at his prime(28/29 years old), and he´s only 24. BTW, at least 2 Italian coaches also see Alex qualitys...as Capello ask Mijatovic to purchase Alex, and both teams(RM and Chelsea) reach a agreement in january...and our Carlo claim Alex the best defender in Europe...The strange thing is that both are coaches of the "land of the defenders".

Gallas' versatility is a nice bonus, but i would only play him at fb if absolutely forced to.

Brasilero I meant no disrespect. Please accept my apologies if you took it that way Not that matters but my favourite player of all time is a Brazilian guy called Ronaldo...you might have heard about him...personally I think he is the best ever...better than Maradonna, MVB, Zidane, etc etc.


I said that I was generalizing so please don't take it harder than I meant it. I also said that Alex was great ...so no need to lecture me about how good he it (actually I bought him for Milan in manager mode )

With reference to the "gaffs" I am refering to the numerous occasions Roque Jr, Cafu, Lucio, and most of all Roberto Carlos have made crucial mistakes that have cost their respecctive teams big time.

As far as some of the others I was on a Chris rampage for a long while...nobody listened....All i meant was that the best defenders are Italians and we should probably go italian for defence if we influencing our attack with heavy brazilian flavour

I love Sobis!!!! He isn't doing that well at Betis but then again All Betis' best players have left so he is really struggling for service

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

Gallas' versatility is a nice bonus, but i would only play him at fb if absolutely forced to.

when a team is doing well, players are usually happy puppies ... and maybe the environment at Milan will help him settle down ... if not, as mentioned, showing him the door would be as easy as 1,2,3

Gallas hasnt exactly been a hit at Arsenal so I could see him departing with the team, however you know the rules that make Alex unavailable for chelsea would that affect milan? or is it cuz of the whole structure of the EPL?

Originally Posted by Milancelotti

Gallas hasnt exactly been a hit at Arsenal so I could see him departing with the team, however you know the rules that make Alex unavailable for chelsea would that affect milan? or is it cuz of the whole structure of the EPL?

those rules have to do with the EPL only and do not apply to Serie A ... alex would still be counted as non-UN player in Italy, though.

Ronaldinho won't come here, from calciomercato.it

Originally Posted by drucurl

Brasilero I meant no disrespect. Please accept my apologies if you took it that way Not that matters but my favourite player of all time is a Brazilian guy called Ronaldo...you might have heard about him...personally I think he is the best ever...better than Maradonna, MVB, Zidane, etc etc.


I said that I was generalizing so please don't take it harder than I meant it. I also said that Alex was great ...so no need to lecture me about how good he it (actually I bought him for Milan in manager mode )

With reference to the "gaffs" I am refering to the numerous occasions Roque Jr, Cafu, Lucio, and most of all Roberto Carlos have made crucial mistakes that have cost their respecctive teams big time.

As far as some of the others I was on a Chris rampage for a long while...nobody listened....All i meant was that the best defenders are Italians and we should probably go italian for defence if we influencing our attack with heavy brazilian flavour

I love Sobis!!!! He isn't doing that well at Betis but then again All Betis' best players have left so he is really struggling for service

Don´t worry, drucurl...
I never take your post as a disrespect, or or something seemed. Does not needs to apologies
As I said in that post:

Nothing personal against you, drucurl(just taking your post to talk about this) as you´re clearly generalizing.

So, accept you my apologies if my poor english made you to think this
As we said in Brazil: I only "caught the hook" in your joke, to relieve what I read in some Milan(and genaral) football forums, about brazilians defenders, goallies or wing backs...Forum like this:
http://forum.acmilan-online.com/
Here in MM we can agree and disagree in a high level(most of the times ) , and just for that reason I still post here.
One more time, sorry for the misunderstood

BTW, what the opinion here about Schweinstiger???