Flashbacks to February 2001?

Originally Posted by Warro Bantan

My thoughts on the "crisis-talks" held by Galliani in the aftermath of our exit from the uefa cup, and the similarities with 2001:

It is slightly ridiculous that our management (if the rumors of the coach out at season's end, mass player exodus and wage slashing are to be believed) would take this approach.

After failing to properly invest, and failing to acknowledge said failure, its now the "fault" of the coach and players?

Are they really serious?

I won't go into the individuals who I feel are certainly not good enuf to play for Milan, instead, I will certainly ask what are these purported statements going to do for team morale?

If I were a Milan player, especially one with "star" status, I would certainly go ahead and put in a transfer request right away.

I don't think any of our players are underperforming on purpose...I think that there are too many of them that just aren't good enuf @ the highest level.

We have aging/decrepit superstars that have outlived their usefullness, yet seem to be a fixture in the starting 11...and if there is one thing that we do know about our team selection policy, its that the coach doesn't always decide who plays.

Ancelotti for me, is a gentleman, and maybe, just maybe, is too much of a gentleman for this club.

I recall my dismay at his arrival, my constant put-downs of his selections and tactics, yet in my time as a Milan fan, only Capello has been more successfull...and we saw how our owner treated one of the best coaches on the planet...

To change coach now for me would be a mistake. Many will disagree with this, and say its time for a change...but if we look @ the club (Man U) that has been a consistent protagonist domestically and in europe, then surely he should be given more time, especially if he gets this lumbering, creaky old squad to 3rd place or better in the Serie A.

The opposing model of club management: Real Madrid, has achieved arguably an equal measure of success, yet has only really done so with ridiculously huge amounts of money (which Berlu is no longer willing/able to do) being thrown at problems as they arise.

Wage slashing? Mass sell outs? Is management really for real? How motivating is that? Much can be said for the "carrot and stick" model of management, and indeed, "failure" cannot be rewarded...but this threat must be taken seriously...as from a business point of view, it makes sense.

We cannot continue to pay stars UCL wages if they are only capable of getting to the uefa cup.

My way forward:

a) I suggest that management reverse their "experience first" recruitment policy in the first instance, then
b) clinically assess the under/inconsistent performers, and rid ourselves of them ASAP. c) Keep Ancelotti (though I agree his tenure must be contingent on getting into the UCL next term...and I am quite sure he is capable of this)
d) Continue to invest in young, proven talent, in the following positions:
i) Centre forward / Striker: eg Benzema
ii) Attacking/Central midfield : eg Gourcuff
iii) Goalkeeper (Abbiati and Dida are both long in the tooth)
iv) Defensive back: Zambrotta needs an understudy, as does Marek.
v) CD: (eg Santacroce, Mexes)

With this, Milan can renew, and challenge on all fronts.

We have a good core of young players, and players still @ the top, or close to the top of their game...so we don't need the threatened wholesale changes...

I jus hope Carlo remains at the helm next term...we need the continuity, and hopefully the players will respond to this "challenge/threat" in a positive way.

In the end, a very similar situation to the 2001-2002 season, hopefully with some key changes to the modus operendi.

Some good points here but i actually disagree - i think continuity is the very problem. Ancelotti has clearly run out of ideas, he has his midfield and tactical setup and i dont think he would change this. I read his recent interview where he mentioned about seedorf beckham and how much he likes them etc, therefore next season he would have a new defense but still the same midfield and attacking lineup. he is loyal to his players which is fine but unfortunately now we need change ambro, seedorf , pirlo are all under performing especially pirlo but i guarantee he will play all 3 of these players if they are not injured. change is needed and this can now only happen with fresh ideas and a new coach. i like ancelotti and have nothing against him. But i watch every game and he plays the same predictable tactics no matter what his squad is. time for change i say and this is something ancelotti struggles to do.

In regards to ACMILAN1983

Cant agree with you more, gourcuff, oddo situations were handled terribly as to flamini so far. he is a star but i notice under ancelotti if you dont play well in your first game then look out he losses faith - BUT this only applies to midfield attack.

how he could approve the loan signing of senderos is a joke. and look at bonera he is terrible. i guess there is the argument of who else do we have in defence but we have had players , antonnini etc but we see favalli playing way too much.

anyway good post ACMILAN1983 - lets hope for change and some fresh players not 33 year old beckham running our midfield.

Guys all what you said is definitely true but the fact is that the management realises that our whole team needs rebuilding but they are not willing to do it. Finnivest controls everything the president has and they are not willing to invest (remember summer 2006)? so add to that now credit crunch, now they have every reason to ignore milan. the best possible way is to sell some shares in order to finance any plan. we are talking about 8 to 9 players and we are taliking about releasing some players too.

Knowing how the management thinks will leave us with the following
1- bringing 1 defender (Agger, alex, ivanovic, lucio or Cris) bet on CRIS
2- renewing for favalli
3- keeping the dream and hopes that nesta will ever recovers and gain old form
4- selling Gourcuff to finance buying a defender
5- re-Signing beckham on january 2010
6- pretend to be heroic again when at the last seconds kaka deals falls through (kaka resta al milan)
7- Keeping senderos and $heva ( family business)
8- milan will get out from group stages (UCL)

and finally we will get the chance to realise once again that we are the most titled club around the globe so WTF life is peachy

scary but possibly true