Striker worthy the place of Andriy Shevchenko

Guys, i think you're judging Torres on the match against Ukraine. And if u think that was a good game, then you should have seen him in Atletiko. I watched him a lot in last years, and he has much more than he has shown on this WC so far.
He's incrediblly fast, fantastic technique, dribbling, shoot. And not only he's a great striker, but when Martin Petrov didn't play for Atletiko (btw, i wonder how noone ever mentioned Martin Petrov here ?!.. Imo, he's one of the best 5 wings in the world), Torres was sometimes playing even as a wing.
If i had to chose a replacement for Sheva, it would be Torres !
His only problem is consistency. Sometimes he's briliant, but sometimes he's invisible on the field !

If this is a done deal, then it's great for Milan, but if it's not, you can expect a big fight from Manchester UTD.
They allready offered 25 M Pounds (37-38 M Euro), and now, with Milan in the game, we can expect another offer, with Van Nistelrooy included possibly

I also expect that deal to be already sealed, Torres is BY FAR the best forward available on the market.

And if Man U are ready to offload RVN, we can give Seedorf or Inzaghi to the spanish side, for instance.

Originally Posted by Tony 29

when Martin Petrov didn't play for Atletiko (btw, i wonder how noone ever mentioned Martin Petrov here ?!.. Imo, he's one of the best 5 wings in the world)

Well, I know his game well 'cause we are compatriots but don't mention him because people would probably think that I am biased or something. Plus we rarely play with wings, although the one player he reminds me of is Serginho.
Furthermore, petrov is probably a bit too hot tempered and tends to cause lots of controversy on the field - ususally with the refs - which often leads to unnecessary dismissals. All in all, i think he has more than enough quality to play for Milan but lacks the discipline for this level.

Martin Petrov is simply off the hook, great mention... and I guess Milan will benefit for another 'bad guy' on the side, we have to much sweer boys.

Originally Posted by zlatanov

All in all, i think he has more than enough quality to play for Milan but lacks the discipline for this level.

So did Stoichkov, but still, he was the best player in the world in mid 90's.
M.Petrov is maybe the fastest player in the world, with great cross and incredibile power in his left leg. I watched him live ( twice in Sofia) and many times on TV , and if i have to compare him with someone it will deffinitely be Pavel Nedved.
He signed for Atletiko last year, and he was never mentioned in any transfer roumours, and also i very much doubt he'll ever play in Italy, but with Capello, Ancelotti or Mourinho as his coach, i'm sure this guy would make an immediate impact in any big club !


Sorry for off topic

meazza, somehow you most people seem to have missed your great walk-through of our options for a Sheva replacement. I, however, read it and really, really appreciated it! Please post the second part so I can add to your reputation some more!

Thanks for a great post! I wish I had the time and knowledge too.

Let's cross our fingers and wait faithfully, a new era is rising for Milan!

Originally Posted by 10

meazza, somehow you most people seem to have missed your great walk-through of our options for a Sheva replacement. I, however, read it and really, really appreciated it! Please post the second part so I can add to your reputation some more!

Thanks for a great post! I wish I had the time and knowledge too.

I'm just getting on it. Thank you very much.






The Player: Alessandro del Piero
The Pros: An older player, who seems to fit in this Milans recent tradition of trying to rejuvinate fading talent. He was linked with us briefly in the past so is obviously on Galliani and Berlusconi's radar. Coming to the end of his career so Juventus' possible demotion could see him leave so he can at least have another shot at picking up some trophies in his twilight years.
The Cons: The rumours surrounding him died a long time ago and have never resurfaced and it was unclear whether he had any real fans beyond Carlo in the milan heirarchy. Plus, we're talking about a replacement for Sheva, not a useful bench player and it's doubtful whether any top team regards Del Piero as a viable starter these days. Should juve be demoted he could choose to stay on given that the more famous strikers will leave and he will be awarded a starting spot at a the club he clearly loves.
The Verdict: 2/10. Very unlikely, the days of Del Piero being considered as the sort of player you couldn't leave out of the first 11 are well and truly over. It's unlikely milan would buy him with a view to replacing Shevchenko.



The Player: Luca Toni
The Pros: Fantastic season at fiorentina, undoubtedly the offensive player of the year. Surely would have to considered capable of providing a similar return to Shevchenko, a good world cup could also provide an indication he could do that on the european stage aswell. His price dosn't seem too hefty and would leave major money to be spent elsewhere within the squad.
The Cons: Inter are clearly in pole position and entering a bidding war for his services could well obliterate any chance of getting him for a price that would still allow major investment. Plus he is not the type of player milan are looking at and would be more of luxury combined with our current strikers. His preformance at the world cup is, so far, is demonstrating that he is a doubtful preformer at the highest level. His age too isn't quite right, leaving virtually no room to develop.
The Verdict: 3/10. Unlikely. Inter have him marked and he dosn't appear to be worth the risk. At the estimated 12m he may leave money for other players, but we would arguably still need to invest in another more appropriately aged and specifically skilled striker.


The Player: Carlos Tevez
The Pros: Enormously talented player, of exactly the type we're looking for. Fast, strong and skillful, 3 south american player of the year awards at 22 are surely a glowing endorsement to a player who has, so far, impressed in the world cup. He's surely on the lookout for a move to europe and milan have had great success importing players from south america.
The Cons: Perhaps being brazilian would be more appealing to our brazil-centric squad. There have been no ties with him to us and given his quality this could indicate more than purely footballing matters (for example it's strongly suggested he is already promised to Chelsea) his price could be a stumbling block given that Cornithians are extremely rich right now and there would certainly be competition.
The Verdict: 5/10. Had there been transfer rumours surrounding him I would be far more optimistic but it seems that he's either not for sale or someone else has already obtained first option on him. Or it could simply be that the management are not as taken with him as the rest of world. Still, he mustn't be written off completely, transfer rumours on the whole have been suprisingly scarce involving him and he would surely interest any big team, especially one with money and a strikers space.

The Player: Kerlon Moura Souza
The Pros: Hugely talented and brazilian. A combination that milan in particular savour. Skillful striker in the mould we are looking for.
The Cons: Far too young to be any sort of first team option. As with every young south american talent the questions will be more about his phyisique than skill, sure he may be able to control and shoot well but could he handle a large italian centre back?
The Verdict:2/10. No sort of replacement for Shevchenko, he's one for the future though, the best I could see us doing is using the money to secure him for a move in a few seasons. certainly not a priority buy for a club that has a lot of priority buys to make.

The Player: Fred Chaves Guedes
The Pros: Brazilian, young, talented, the usual. However comes with Champions league and european experience.
The Cons: Lyon probably hold him in higher regard than his suitors, convinced of his talent and that he'll be worth a lot more money in a few years. He's not quite made the impace to be considered a real first team player at a huge club. A good world cup would change that but also drive his price into the stratosphere.
The Verdict: 2/10. As he's known now he'll be regarded as too young and inexperienced any change to that view provided by the WC will make him an insanely expensive risk. Lyon to hold onto him for a few more years I think.

The Player: Eidur Gudjohnsen
The Pros: well, he was available.
The Cons: Barcelona aren't likely to sell someone they just bought.
The Verdict:0/10 only marginally more likely than us convincing Van Basten to return. He's a barca player now.


The Player: Dirk Kuyt
The Pros: Would likely be reasonably priced given that he's a relative unknown. I certainly know nothing about him.
The Cons: Suffers from the same dilemma as Fred: do nothing at the world cup and remain a very risky unknown quantity at the hignest level or emerge as a huge, capable talent and see the price go astronomical.
The Verdict: 3/10. Despite knowing nothing about him I can't speak for Milans scouts and they may decide this is the guy to go for, unlikely though.


The Player: Javier Saviola (added at my own discretion)
The Pros: Has experience beyond his years and seems to have evolved into a very capable support striker given that he was originally percieved as support man. He is defiently on the move as Barca, rather foolishly, told him he was of absolutely no interest to them before he lit up the world cup as one of argentina's best players in the best preformance of the world cup so far.
The Cons: We haven't been linked with him in the past and despite his world cup his league preformances in spain do cast a lot of doubts, if not on his ability, his consistency.
The Verdict: 5/10. We may have not been linked but no one else has either really. I expect a few clubs to be sniffing about soon and I can see no reason why Milan wouldn't be one of them.


All in all, I believe Torres is the most likely, but I think our management would be foolish not to at least ask about Cassano and look at Saviola and Tevez.

Once upon a time we did look at Tevez... I don't what has happened since then though.

I was hoping for Ibrahimovic since he is more seasoned, and has had success in Serie A, but Torres, especially if he can unleash his potential on a consistent basis, will be a welcome addition. I also think we should get cassano back to Italy. He is wasting in Madrid. If Ancelotti can get through to him and he matures slightly, then we will have 4 offensive players under the age of 25, in addition to the ageless wonder that is pippo.

Now there is a news in spanish papers that Berlusconi insists on Cassano. Also, Milan will go for Torres this summer. Torres will cost us around 30 mil, with Cassano around 7-10mil. Having Gilardino,Torres and Cassano in the same lineup looks promising but it also means we need to work with them in a proper way so they can upgrade their play in Milanello. Wel thats all for now... Imagine we sign Buffon, Gallas, Oddo, Gourcuff, DM ( someone ), Cassano and Torres in same summer! that would be something wild! and just to say - its not impossible this year.

Kerlon is the next best thing. The things he does with the ball are more impressive than what Ronaldinho used to do with Gremio at the same age.

Petrov was mediocre at best playing for Atletico Madrid. Please. I know he has talent and ability, but he has yet to prove he is a very good player. And we dont use "wings" on our system.

Originally Posted by mrki

Imagine we sign Buffon, Gallas, Oddo, Gourcuff, DM ( someone ), Cassano and Torres in same summer! that would be something wild! and just to say - its not impossible this year.

It will be simply WONDERFUL!!!

Originally Posted by Maevious

Kerlon is the next best thing. The things he does with the ball are more impressive than what Ronaldinho used to do with Gremio at the same age.

I guess Messi is better than both, I hope we'll not see all 3 on Barça!