Forget Ronaldinho - buy a new squad

Forget Ronaldinho at 75 million Pounds. AC MIlan need at least EIGHT new palyers

Its seems Berlusconi will cough up a hefty amount of money for new players come the end of the season. But 75 million pounds on Ronaldinho could be better spent.
While any team would be delighted to have Samba superstar Ronaldinho on their team sheet, surely the money could be spent on fixing the problems Milan have all over the pitch - like an aging defence, a predictable midfield that lacks width, a strike force that is lacking in potency, and goalkeepers who are providing blooper after blooper.

If I was in charge of the Rossoneri with 75 million pounds to spend, I would first look to our goalkeepers. Zeljko Kalac would be shipped out for whatever he could fetch (half a million, maybe?) and I would look for a young goalkeeper. I'm a huge fan of Igor Akinfeev, but there is a lot of interest in him and I'm not convinced he would want to come.

I would also buy Marco Amelia, slightly older and in my opinion not quite as good, but with Serie A experience, a World Cup winners medal and being Italian (thus avoiding possible homesickness problems) Amelia seems to easily be the best choice. I think he could be netted for between 12 and 15 million pounds. I would also sell Dida for, hopefully, 3 or 4 million pound and bring Abbiati back off loan.

Now moving into the back line. I would let Giuseppe Favalli, Serginho, Cafu and Dario Simic go. Hopefully their exit could bring about a million pound in. I would then buy Andrea Barzaglia from Palermo who still has a lot of seasons left in him and would hopefully flourish at the San Siro. I think a price tag of 10 million pound would be enough to secure his signature. On the right I would bring in Barzaglia's current team-mate Cristian Zaccardo for 8 million pound.

In Midfield I wouldn't sell anyone but I would bring in Riccardo Montolivo and Alessandro Rosina. Montolivo would probably cost around 8 million pound although lack of first team football this year may mean he jumps at the chance to move clubs and force Fiorentina to settle for a bit less. Rossina could probably be brought for a similar price. Both are promising players for the future and have a fair bit of versatility.

Up front I would hold on to Ronaldo and Ricardo Oliveira. I want to see if Oliveira can come good and Ronaldo has had such a great influence on the team. Filippo Inzaghi would be sold along with Marco Borriello for whatever price we could get, hopefully 1 or 2 million pound. Alberto Gilardino would also be shown the door for 20 million pound. This would mean about 55 million pound left for strikers. I would buy Vincenzo Iaquinta for about 15 million pound or a bit less if possible. But my big signing would be Fernando Torres.

So my preferred starting XI would be: Marco Amelia; Massimo Oddo, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Barzaglia, Marek Jankulovski; Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Yoann Gourcuff, Kaka; Ronaldo, Fernando Torres.

Or alternatively: Marco Amelia; Daniele Bonera, Alessandro Nesta, Andrea Barzaglia, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Yoann Gourcuff; Riccardo Montolivo, Alessandro Rosina, Kaka, Fernando Torres.

Or if ravaged by injuries to first team players: Christian Abbiati; Cristian Zaccardo, Paolo Maldini, Kahka Kaladze, Leandro Grimi, Massimo Ambrosini; Cristian Brocchi, Clarence Seedorf; Kaka; Vincenzo Iaquinta, Riccardo Oliveira.


I hold some of the same sentiments. Hope it was okay to make a new thread.

Buying a new squad is just as bad as just buying ronaldinho....worse even!
We need shaking up no doubt but not a 9.0 earthquake

We have good keepers in Dida and Storari

Defenders: Simic is a decent backup for Nesta / Paolo / Oddo
Favalli, Costacurta should go and Maldini is thinking bout retirement

I'd say we get one CB (terry, alex, chris) and a left back (Alves)

in Midfield, if we could get one or two creative players (sneijder, Diego), that would be terrific. Perhaps we could get Robben.

In attack two players would be great, but one will do just as well. If we get a young hungry striker like Pato /Huntelaar we would be set.

All in all the absolute most players should come in is five, min is about three.

Its the same old story again...Ronaldinho or 10 players....

This is my oppinion....

Berlusconi will pay himself for Ronaldinho if Barca is ready to sell him, and the rest of the squad will be renewed by "Milan's " money, or to say - by Galliani and Braida.
Im sure Milan sees that we do need few great players in few positions, and that Ronaldinho will not solve all of our problems. The last 2 mercato's were awfull, I hope this summer will be better.

I completely agree, toothy isnt worth the price, and the squad needs refreshing..

i agree with Rosina and Montolivo.. they are both promising. Montolivo is supposed to be the next (pirlo/ Albertini) and we need a player like that for backup. again i dont think we need both brocchi and ambrosini. We should go for Maresca, even Lampard if hes going to leave chelsea..

I like Barzagli, but im not convinced by Zaccardo.. i would even consider kaladze for Mexes trade. We will need at least 3 new defenders in the summer. Well were most likely going to lose Billy, Favalli, Serginho, Cafu.. Grimi should go on loan..

Strikers i would have a clear out and only keep Ronaldo and Gila. Get Eto or Torres or even huntelaar.. And have Bianchi/Quagliarella/ Suazo 4th choice. 5th choice could be aubameyang,but really he could do with going out on loan to get experience. If Reggina go down Bianchi wont be that expensive.

just found a Quagliarella best of on youtube some wicked goals.. type of player we need.. well speed, control and brilliant aim

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh2m2Gu0cQA

Looks good. 11 goals in 22 appearances (4 as sub) isn't bad.

a guy who wrote the article should at least learn to spell who on earth is Barzaglia

To get Ronnie would be a scoop for Milan - for me that's inarguable! BUT ONLY IF KAKA STAYS. As "mrki" said, I too believe that Mr. Berlusconi will pay himself, which means Milan still has quite a big transfer budget, considering the Sheva sale and the little money we have spent the last 1½ year - and in additional to that, we have offloaded some big-wage players like, Vieri, Stam, Rui Costa, Sheva and proberly Cafu this summer.

We definitely need reinforcement the upcoming summer - especially in the defence with Cafu, Costacurta, Favalli looking finished in Milan and Maldini and Serginho not getting younger!

GOALKEEPER:
Now that Dida has just extended his contract, I think we should rest our case about a new goalkeeper. I only see one option: We don't get Ronnie - go get Buffon! Though we proberly also need a new third goallie considering the departure of Kalac and Fiore - if Amelia wanna come and fight for a first XI spot with Dida, I don't mind!

Dida, Amelia and Storadi.

DEFENCE:
I belive we need 3 players in the defence. With Janko, Bonera, Nesta and Oddo we seem to have a compettive defence line, but the depth is definitely not good enough, with only Kaladze as a class player (not knowing if Maldini and Serginho is player next season).

In my opinion, the center position is where we need to splash. Cristian Chivu has the right age and expirience and would be the perfect player in the Milan defence, also covering the left back with his great pace! I know he would be very hard to get, but I'm sure he would be worth the money! Alternatives: I agree about Barzagli, but guess he would be as expensive as Chivu!

On the right-back Dani Alves (actually playing right back "drucurl") would be a great option, but I think he fancies La Liga ahead of Serie A. I would concider the Anderlecht right-back Vanden Borre - I saw him against Milan this year in CL and he really impressed me. With only 18 years of age and a price less than half of Zaccardo's (£3 millions) - he seems a great back-up options to me! Alternatives: Rafinha (but non-eu right now)!

Considering a purchase of Chivu and possible back-up from Kaladze, Serginho, Maldini and Grimi the left back position is well covered - this means another center or right-back should arrive - preferable a player who can cover both positions! Here we have a couple of options with players like Heitinga from Ajax and Kompany from HSV as great back-up players!

Janko, Bonera, Nesta, Oddo, Kaladze, Chivu, Vanden Borre, Maldini, Serginho, Simic (and either Heitinga or Kompany if Maldini retires).

MIDFIELD:
In the midfield we need cover as well - especially if Gourcuff is going on loan next season. I agree with Diego being a superb option, but think that Sneijder could a less expensive one - he can cover all the 3 positions in our midfield (even all 4 when we play 4-4-2) and in time he could take over for Seedorf.

Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf, Ambrosini, Sneijder, Gourcuff, Brocchi (we need Brocchi to fill one of the four "home grown" slots in the CL).

ATTACK:
If Ronnie comes to Milan we need to sell at least one striker - and sorry to say for all the Gilardino fans, but i think he is the one to go, for two important reasons: First off all is he the one with the higest value, which will give Milan some extra transfer funds - and secondly am I affraid that he is not able to progress beyond his current potential. In additional we need to offload Boriello aswell, leaving a striking-force of:

Ronaldinho, Kaka, Ronaldo, Oliviera and Super Pippo

For me - good enough

It think it would be ridicolous to offload Gila & keep Inzaghi. Take it we'd get more money for Gila, but Pippo wouldn't 1st choice, and has been moaning about that for some time. He's served his time, time to move on.

It seems like there is no end to the need to revamp the squad-age being the biggest factor, but also a malaise amongst the midfield like Seedorf and Pirlo. There is a distinct lack of movement forward when Cafu, Janku, Oddo, and Serginho (hopefully soon!) are not bombing down the wings.
I don't know if Ronnie is the answer. A true winger might be nice, as it would allow Kaka to roam in the middle while having options to the side straight away without having to wait for a defender. Arjen Robben (for one game in the WC) looked like he might get into that form, but he's disappointed for me this year (and I hate the thought of a Chelski player, although he is Dutch so following the fine tradition).
I'm skeptical of our front line, I do think Gila can come good but my god, we need it sooner rather than later. Oliveira looks like he can't control a ball that well. Ronaldo has been key, being active, making runs and space, and doing well holding the ball up for others to make runs. As he continues to get into shape, I think he'll do the business for 2-3 years (lord willing he's not injured).
Anybody hear the talk of Juan wanting to come? I've seen him a few times from the UEFA cup and he's pretty good, plus he's under 30 (28), thus giving us some youth. Although I'm frightened that Roque Jr. might want to tag along and try Milan again-heaven help us all! I hope that Grimi will get some time this year too. Speaking of youth, can anyone give me a true assesment of Aubameyang? He seems a possibility.
I like the idea of Sneijder coming, but since it's too early to get into silly season I'll hold off on player speculation.
Looking forward to your replies...

I totally agree with the article except for the striker reformations. Oliveira has to go because he flat out stinks and wasn't a great player to begin with. Gilardino has to stay because he is the only guy who can stay here for more than 3 years. He is the future of our attack and it is going to cost us a lot more to replace him in the future. Also, Torres might not be a great fit here considering how badly Spanish players struggled in Italy. Other than that, I agree that our team needs a complete reformation. Players such as Dida needs to get the hell out and be replaced by some younger and more capable players such as Abbiati and Amelia. It is ridiculous to insist on keeping all of those old timers who have past their prime long ago.

Originally Posted by slifersd

Other than that, I agree that our team needs a complete reformation. Players such as Dida needs to get the hell out and be replaced by some younger and more capable players such as Abbiati and Amelia. It is ridiculous to insist on keeping all of those old timers who have past their prime long ago.

Amelia is overrated and Abbiati isn't getting any younger; he will turn 30 this year.

Originally Posted by BMWTaylor

Amelia is overrated and Abbiati isn't getting any younger; he will turn 30 this year.

Amelia would be good

Abbiati is still a lot better than our 3 keepers

Fiori - kalac and storari ...... so i dont see no harm in getting him back and selling the other 3

we have too many goalies ..

Amelia is EXTREMELY overrated.

No, Amelia is even more overrated.