Summer mercato 2009

We've signed a few under 23 players. Gianmarco Zigoni, Giacomo Beretta, and Matteo Barbini. Plus, the loan returns of Abate, and Di Gennaro.

It seems Abate will be the only one trusted with any sort of first-team action this year.

I really hope that Leonardo and Galliani being coy about transfers wasn't because of Roma.

But at the same time, I really wonder if transfers is going to change things. Why do I say that? Have you watched Pato play? I mean, he's really only done something meaningful once this pre-season, against Benfica. I'm scared Pato will play poorly this season.

Originally Posted by Samaldinho

I'm scared Pato will play poorly this season.

If he does, I wonder how many will be b1tching that Milan should have taken Chelsea's 45 million pounds and used it to buy Rossi and a few other players?

M84, which site had historical formations listed for teams?

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Yes, current Milan certainly can't compete even in our league, much less in CL. However, I think we can get back to being competitive with a few transfers.

We have Pato and Hunt up top, two great players. However, it is a waste if we cannot feed them good passes in the last third. Dinho can't cut it for an entire season. He is very good when playing up top with his back to the goal, ready to make that killer pass into the box. But now he is dropping back to get the ball from midfield, and losing the ball before he can make a move.

Because of this, I think we should put a higher priority on G Rossi. Otherwise, Pato/Hunt will be wasted and soon get very frustrated. Pato may want to leave at the end of next season if this continues.

In midfield we cannot play with two DMs. There is no creativity, and no connection to attack. This is why Dinho constantly drops back to get the ball and makes himself vulnerable. Also, Pato gives us the ability to play the long ball. As you saw today, without Pirlo, this option is not available.

Also, full backs are not providing any width. Zammy was good vs. the Swiss, but it was the Swiss. Antonini is terrible, Jank is not much of an improvement.

De Silvestri would be a good addition here. He's certainly not WC now, but has great potential at least.

So, to summarize:
- Buy Rossi, sell R80 (we could probably do this with 0 investment)
- Swap De Silvestri for Oddo (probably cost us 7-8M)
- Buy a creative box to box midfielder (15M)
- If we cannot figure out a way to play Pirlo with another MF + DM, then we need to sell Pirlo, move the DM to the middle, and get yet another MF for the side. (even trade)

Roughly 23M and the starting XI of that team will be formidable. Backups are still worrisome, but it's definitely a good starting point.

I'll just tell you one thing. Having Pirlo or Dinho on the team greatly limits the tactics we can use. Having both in at the same time significantly limits us. I'm not judging Leo's abilities for better or worse, but I admit his hands are almost tied at this point.

Honestly, I think our issues are beyond transfers.

It is straight-up tactics. We are playing poorly in pre-season because of tactics.

I mean, Pato playing poorly in the begining of pre-season was understandable, even expected. He had a honeymoon, he hadn't played for a while, blah blah blah.

Today, Pato was useless. Sure, he had some nice turns, like he should, but, since he was dropping back to be the "seconda punta" he thinks he is, he constantly lost the ball once he got past the first two or three defenders.

Our midfield was destructive, but, aided little in the attack, except for Abate's surging runs, which usually were clogged up with Oddo's odd positioning and terrible assistance.

The only place I really think we need transfers is our fullbacks.

Otherwise, we simply have not played the right players in the right positions, or even at the right time.

The only time we've done so was against Chelsea, and we played brilliant. I'm sorry to say, but I think Leonardo's tactics are the bigger problem, our transfers are really the secondary issue.

this is terrible... I think what we really need is ALOTTTT Of improvement in the midfield.. id take a couple good midfielders at this point who can give good balls and score some goals rather then strengthning our defence. if we can do both GREAT but if not id take the midfield over defence, ESPECIALY replacing r80..

Samaldinho, you are very very VERY repetetive with your posts... I must have read at least 5 posts that said the same thing. Cut it out, one post is enough.


So now we have 2 losses to Inter in pre-season, and one loss to Juve and probably another one coming soon, and our management are still optimistic about next season? Can't they see that this team is a damn disgrace and a shame to Milan's history? Even a baby would be able to figure out that this team is in major need of ALOT of reinforcements. Come the fk on Berlusconi, open your damn wallet or get the fk out. The biggest problem for me is that he knows a problem exists but he choses to ignore it and hope everything turns out good. This sucks!

Originally Posted by Samaldinho

Honestly, I think our issues are beyond transfers.

It is straight-up tactics. We are playing poorly in pre-season because of tactics.

I mean, Pato playing poorly in the begining of pre-season was understandable, even expected. He had a honeymoon, he hadn't played for a while, blah blah blah.

Today, Pato was useless. Sure, he had some nice turns, like he should, but, since he was dropping back to be the "seconda punta" he thinks he is, he constantly lost the ball once he got past the first two or three defenders.

Our midfield was destructive, but, aided little in the attack, except for Abate's surging runs, which usually were clogged up with Oddo's odd positioning and terrible assistance.

That's my point. When you have a midfield that can't link up with attack, attackers will drop back to get the ball. That's why we need to reinforce midfield.

what i saw was a mess..
the team was cut in 2 in both "games"..
abate is not the right man at any chance..this preseason shows me how important are pirlo and seedorf for this team,if they are motivated we can be a whole different team..

plus we cannot rely on dinho,isnt it clear already???..
we need a lb obviously(as antonini is not stable on his performances)
a gk(even abbiati is a? for me),btw storari is beter than roma for me..
and i wonder how none of you is mentioning the lack of a cb too(onyewu,favalli,bonera,kaladze=crap)!!

all my "pessimistic","b1tching",booming and glooming" posts all this summer are coming true one by one..

i wish i was more optimistic,and i will be if things change,but for now i think that we are not even close to compete for titles..and i am just being realistic..

Originally Posted by hitmannq8

Samaldinho, you are very very VERY repetetive with your posts... I must have read at least 5 posts that said the same thing. Cut it out, one post is enough.

This doesn't only apply to Samaldinho. If everyone should only state their meaning once, this thread would be 200 pages tops and not over 700...

I think it's too late for anything to be done now. The transfer and coaching philosophy was set probably even before Carlo left. Even if Berlu were to have a change of heart now, who could we get with 2 weeks to go til the end of the transfer market. Secondly, tactics-wise, if we had a change of heart and decided to install an experienced coach, what's the point in doing it now?

I'm resigned to the fact that this season will be a test of the Berlusconi/Galliani "balance the books" and "focus on youngsters" and "Leonardo has great potential" philosophy. Of course, I hope it succeeds and we can prove something to the football world, but if it flops, then the year goes to waste and we do the real re-building work next year.

Originally Posted by Saliwonczyk

Thiago Silva Excited About Milan's Prospects For The Season
The former Fluminense defender is upbeat about the Rossoneri's chances in the coming months after a disappointing pre-season...
13 Aug 2009 11:40:28
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Thiago Silva - Milan (Grazia Neri)
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Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva joined Milan from Fluminense last January in a €10 million deal, but was unable to play for the first-team due to the limit on non-EU players. However, he is now ready and raring to go for Leonardo's side after a bright pre-season for him personally in which he scored twice.

"To arrive in a great club like Milan was my dream," Thiago Silva told Il Corriere dello Sport.

"I'm happy because I've found an excellent atmosphere here; I'm training with lots of champions and I have the chance to learn a lot.

"[Scoring goals from defence] happened there too, but I have had more opportunities here than I had in three years at Fluminense. I have the advantage that Leonardo always wants me in the opposition penalty area when we have a set-piece."

The 24-year-old went on to praise Ronaldinho's commitment, as the former World Player of the Year attempts to rediscover his form of 2005/06.

"He is working hard. It has been some time since I saw him concentrate so hard. He is very attentive to what he does on the pitch, but also to what he does off it. Like me, he has a tendency to fatten a bit, so we must always be on a diet."While the Rossoneri consider moves for Gareth Bale and Royston Drenthe, Thiago Silva went on to make his own suggestion for Milan's search for a left-back.

"Junior Cesar. He's a friend of mine, we played together at Fluminense - now he has gone to Sao Paolo. He would do well in Europe," he concluded.

I know you want to help a friend. Thiago...but, c´mon!?!?!

Originally Posted by hitmannq8

Samaldinho, you are very very VERY repetetive with your posts... I must have read at least 5 posts that said the same thing. Cut it out, one post is enough.


So now we have 2 losses to Inter in pre-season, and one loss to Juve and probably another one coming soon, and our management are still optimistic about next season? Can't they see that this team is a damn disgrace and a shame to Milan's history? Even a baby would be able to figure out that this team is in major need of ALOT of reinforcements. Come the fk on Berlusconi, open your damn wallet or get the fk out. The biggest problem for me is that he knows a problem exists but he choses to ignore it and hope everything turns out good. This sucks!

i feel exactly the same.. pre season or not this is our current milan its still not too late for them to realize we need alot of improvement.. i wish theyd open there eyes

Our problems are not going to be instantly remedied with transfers, contrary to popular belief.

Half of the battle is also working with what you've got, and we sure as hell ain't doing that right now.

Originally Posted by Ryo

This begs the question though, why would Barca be interested in him now, then? One summer is hardly enough time to develop your football, given most players are on holidays and all that. What do they see in him that we did not?

Could it be that despite Milan being able to spot talented players, we don't actually have the means or confidence to develop them from a certain age (say early 20-ish) into their full potential, whilst teams like Barca do? Pique would be my prime example here, he was considered surplus to Man Utd, and yet won it all at Barca, and didn't play too badly there either.


On a side note, Juve take game one v. Inter

So you trust Barca's scouts 100%? Not all players who were targeted by big clubs are good.

Originally Posted by Rick

If he does, I wonder how many will be b1tching that Milan should have taken Chelsea's 45 million pounds and used it to buy Rossi and a few other players?

Surely a lot of them, who are only fans when we're winning, would do that.

Originally Posted by Patistico

Wake up Berlusca. Buy Rossi and sell your toy to Man City.

i would be so happy if that happened, i have wanted that move for a while, i hope it happens