Winter Mercato

Originally Posted by drucurl

We already have the missing link in Gila

I always tought Oliver Kahn was the missing link

Originally Posted by Nordahl

Why not? Agüero is fast, inteligent and skilled, why not sign him, or at least a player like him, which can bring so much needed freshness to our attack?

We have. He's called Pato.

Originally Posted by Nalx Sijabat

It's not about size otherwise we would have signed Lokvenc or Koller. This kid has quality that neither Gila nor Pippo has i.e. he can dribble. The problem is about his price tag, but if we are to spend lots of cash I think he deserves it

So he can dribble? Big deal. We never sign short attackers and Argentina have an ABYSMAL record for producing quality strikers in recent years in fact over the past 2 decades the only great ones are Crespo, Batistuta and Cruz. And what do they all have in common? They're not midgets, they're all over 6ft. Everyone talks about how great Argentina's attack is with Messi and Tevez but look at the Copa America and look how their attack completely fell apart once Crespo was injured. Look at the players who have topped the scoring charts over the years in Serie A - Totti, Lucarelli, Toni, Trezeguet, Gilardino, Shevchenko, Vieri etc, etc. The last midget who had a phenomenal scoring rate in Serie A was Signori. To succeed in Serie A strikers need to have a physical presence, Aguero doesn’t.

Maybe we dont need them to lead the scoring charts, maybe we just need someone to get the team going and move well. Aguero could be used as a midfielder you know. As much as I'd like him here, unfortunatley it makes no sense for him to come, there is no space for him in this team.

If Milan were to go for a young talent like Pato, it would be someone in the Pirlo position, or any of the back 4 (or GK as well).

Originally Posted by Mehdi

So he can dribble? Big deal. We never sign short attackers and Argentina have an ABYSMAL record for producing quality strikers in recent years in fact over the past 2 decades the only great ones are Crespo, Batistuta and Cruz. And what do they all have in common? They're not midgets, they're all over 6ft. Everyone talks about how great Argentina's attack is with Messi and Tevez but look at the Copa America and look how their attack completely fell apart once Crespo was injured. Look at the players who have topped the scoring charts over the years in Serie A - Totti, Lucarelli, Toni, Trezeguet, Gilardino, Shevchenko, Vieri etc, etc. The last midget who had a phenomenal scoring rate in Serie A was Signori. To succeed in Serie A strikers need to have a physical presence, Aguero doesn’t.

I'm afraid you missed my point my friend. I'm talking about a player whose quality appears to be what we're lacking of lately. It's a fact that most succesful strikers you mentioned above have physical presence, but that doesn't mean the shorter ones won't be useful at all. It's like saying all midfielders must have skills like Seedorf, and players like Gattuso are rubbish. We need them both as they complement one to another.

Players like Trezeguet, and Gila are center forwards who can only score if somebody serve them with good passes. That somebody can be any midfielder or more ideally his tandem up front. In Juve the role was succesfully played by Del Piero. And you can see how Gila struggle without having a player like Sheva beside him.

And by the way, Crespo only played in two group matches before he was injured. Then his place was taken by Diego Milito, who was accompanied by Tevez or Messi. In the final Crespo was able to play, but Argentina was beaten by Brasil where Dunga often fielded Wagner Love and Robinho up front. The top scorer of the tournament is Robinho. Quite a midget huh?

They might be smaller in size, but that doesn't necessarily mean they weak nor feeble. All in all, my friend, it's the quality that counts. Aguero can be useful, but for this moment we must be satisfied with the players we have.

Let me play devil's advocate. What about Del Piero? His contract talks with Juve have hit a brick wall, according to Football Italia. Reunite him with Pippo??

Originally Posted by Debs

Let me play devil's advocate. What about Del Piero? His contract talks with Juve have hit a brick wall, according to Football Italia. Reunite him with Pippo??

First Emerson. Now Del Piero. Who next Nedved? Where's my gun??

I cant believe Debs even suggested that. Pippo, Del Piero, Gila all on the same team? OMG. We just need to bring back Vieri and we're set for the next 5 years.

I understand Debs point. Milan is mot much of a nurturing ground for up-and-comming stars. ADP will serve as useful backup to Kaka or Ronaldo in the event of an injury. He won't cost that much and he has the necessary experience to fit into a big team right away. He isn't a trouble maker and won't go to the press every 30s with "I want to play more" rants. However I'd never buy him because:

1) I want Aguero who can do the same AND is fast as hell

2)ADP and Pippo Hate eachother

3)ADP is a symbol of Juve and is far too classy imho to join such a hated rival....he'd retire first rather than join us.

4)drucurl would have to stop making his "I support Juve because my pusher would kick my a$$" jokes

5)Milan fans would get pissed off to see YET another past-it-oldie

Debs' idea was one i have been thinking of for a day or two now. Del Piero can still create opportunities even though he is slower than a sloth running through treacle. Ok, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but he's not that fast anymore.

Dru raises 2 good points (numbers 2 & 3), so i can't see it happening and also given his threats about wanting to play more for Juve, he might have a hard time accepting less of a starring role. But he's one of the few older players i would welcome here. The point about him rather retiring than playing for us is a bit short of the mark though, i think he'd grab the chance to play for a CL team again. Who'd have thought Baggio would leave Juve and then go on to play for Inter & Milan?

To make it more intriguing, what if Juve gave us cash & Del Piero for Gilardino? Kaka behind Del Piero and Ronaldo? With Pato & Inzaghi as well, it could be interesting.

My personal preference would be if we could somehow swap Gilardino for Mutu. I don't particularly like the guy but he's a threat and that's the kind of player we need.

What our lacks

-2 Wing back who can attack and defend well at the same time,Modesto and Lahm would fill the bill.
-Kim Kalstroem,we need a player like him who can play 2 sides of the game,who have continuity.
-Nicolas Anelka,gila needs psikology treatment,give 3 monhs rest to gila for his medical treatment to regain his self confidence.
-a gk like hildebrand who can also accept the bench and howeve fight for the first spot.

Get rid of players like Cafu,Favalli,Brocchi,Gilardino,Kalac

==========Dida======================
Oddo==Nesta========Kaladze====Lahm====
========Gattuso==Pirlo===Kalstroem======
============Seedorf=====Kaka=========
=========Ronaldo====================

Team 2

===========isakson/Roma===============
=Modesto===Bonera======Maldini===Marek==
=========Emerson===Gourcuff===Ambrossini=
=============Di Gennaro==============
========Anelka========Pato============

you cant win the scudetto with no deep,you cant win the scudetto with Cafu's,Favalli's,Kalac's,Milan bench deserves better players,look at valencia bench,Sevilla bench,our bench is inferior to theirs,they are even not top class europe sides.

Simic wants out of Milan

Dario Simic has outlined his intention to leave Milan during the January transfer window.

The Croatian defender has yet to make an appearance for the European champions this season and is 'shocked' by his situation.

Simic had been a regular in Carlo Ancelotti's plans last term and is baffled by his exclusion from the team.

The 31-year-old, who joined Milan from city rivals Internazionale in 2002, is now planning to find a new club.

Nothing to prove

"I am shocked by my current situation," admitted Simic to reporters.

"Last season I played 35 games and this campaign I haven't made one appearance.

"I don't think I have anything to prove. I have made 100 appearances for my national team.

"The fact that I'm not playing is not good for me and I've decided to leave Milan in January."

Cya ...

Hmmm, i can't believe you even thought that DP could go to Milan.
It's just as possible as Maldini going to Juve.

First of all, as Jim rightly noticed, he'll be nothing more but a bench player, which is something he moaned about all the time in Capello's time ( You're wrong here Dru for saying he's not gonna go to the press moaning about not getting enough playing time. DP did it many times in his career, first in Capello era and then he did it again with Donadoni not playing him as a second striker. Jim's also wrong. Since 2005/06, Del Piero didn't make any threats wanting more playing time. The latest problem is about his wage, nothing to do with playing time because he's getting a lot of it.)

@ Jim : If he wanted CL football he would have left Juve at the very beggining. He was the first one who decided to stay with Juve in serie B and he rejected ManUtd's offer. He was the main reason for some other stars staying in Juve and he was the one who did the lobying and "forced" guys like Buffon, Nedved, Trez and Camoranesi to stay.
He accepted 2 pay-cuts in the last 1 year and now the problem is a minor one blown out of proportion by the media. The board offers him 30% pay-cut while he's willing to accept a pay-cut but not 30% one. They'll agree at certain point, just like they did in the previous 2 times when he had to take a pay-cut.

The man loves Juve way too much. The fans love him even more. There is not a single chance Juve to sell this man, especially not in Milan and there is 0,0000% chances Juve to pay money +DP for Gilardino.

This is one of those rumours (actually, it's not even a rumour, even the papers are aware how unbelievable such transfer is) that will never happen.
And also..... Milan doesn't need DP so i doubt anyone from the team will even try to get him.
The thing with Baggio was very different. Baggio never really loved Juve. He was tricked by his agent and he was kinda forced to leave Fiorentina and go to Juve. He was a professional and played very well for Juve, but it was obvious he was going to leave the second Juve decides to sell him. Baggio was in Juve for "only" 5 years and he left at 28. Del Piero is in Juve 15 years already. He is clubs best ever goalscorer who was a Juventino since the day he was born. He rejected every single offer in his career just so he could stay with Juve. He's Juve's Maldini.

So : You don't need him, Juve will never sell him to Milan, Del Piero will never accept to play for Milan and he'll never leave Juve....... i guess we're done with this

Originally Posted by drucurl

1) I want Aguero who can do the same AND is fast as hell

I saw Aguerro at the FIFA Under 20 here in Toronto this past summer. This guy is a PHENOM...he out shone Dos Santos (IMO) who I also got to see play and is great in his own right. IMO he was even better than PATO in this tournament. (although I didn't get to see Pato play live as they didn't make it to Toronto)

Aguero was/is super fast, with great touches on the ball, he was dribbling past defenders like a hot knife through butter. He was dangerous just about everytime he touched the ball. We all held our breaths when got the ball with even a little space. As you all probably know he ended up the leading scorer & was awarded the Golden Ball & the Golden Boot.

I couldn't imagine him and Pato on the same team with KAKA serving them the ball. If we have any chance of getting him...We should!

Having said all that I know that his competition was all under 20...but he seems to be KILLING it this year with Athetico Madrid.

Originally Posted by Jim_UK

To make it more intriguing, what if Juve gave us cash & Del Piero for Gilardino?

Only Inter would be stupid enough to do that
God how I miss the Pirlo+Seedorf - Coco+Guly swap