system was not the problem true but there was no backup system in case the players got injured for which leo cannoth be fully blamed bcoz there is no depth in the squad

And I'm not getting into the whole argument with you about your Pippo hate again, han. You clearly disagree but I think he's a valid option if fielded properly - which won't happen under the rigid one-way only system that Leonardo insists on (I think the lack of flexibility is a major flaw). Even Huntelaar would be mroe likely to perform well if fielded in a system that better suits his skills. So too would Abate, Pirlo, and a host of other guys.

Frankly, at that time, any coach would have played Pippo instead of Pato. He was a beast! He scored something like 9 goals in the last 7 games.

Yeah, but only during that purple patch month he usually has every season, it usually hits at the end of March, I was really waiting for it to happen this season but it never came, he just kept missing one shocking chance after another.

And still, if Pippo was in such good form Calro could have easily removed on of the DMs from the xmas tree, pushed Seedorf into midfield and played both strikers, but I gues Leo is not the only guy with the rigid system, right my fishy friend? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Also I don't hate Pippo, but I hated the fact that Carlo would bench Pato in order to play Pippo, Seedorf, Rino and Ambro all in one formation, even while Pippo was in terrible for at the beginning of the season. At the end of last season, sure he couldn't really bench Pippo as he was banging them in but he could have easily played both Pippo and Pato but still chose to play the rigid xmas tre, which was far more 1 dimemsional then Leo's 4-3-3 ever was. The fact that only Kaka and Pippo (when on form) managed to actually thrive in it should say enough.

And what could Leo really change the system to when we barely had a team? And in reality the system was still working as we were still creating a lot of chances in most games but where failing to convert them, that doesn't really depend on the system but the competence of the strikers.

System or not, I saw Pippo miss a mess of chances this year that normally he would nail. I would actually pick Borri over Pippo personally. (Shocker!) His position on the bench was rightly earned, I think.

Lets not deny that most of pippo's goals came from Kaka's assists which were all almost silver platter chances. Its pretty hard to miss in the six yard box on a tap in.

No kaka this season, pippo doesn't do s***

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: May 12 2010, 06:19 AM

News:

According to sources in Brazil, we have signed a brazillian CB named Rafael Toloi (19 yrs) for 9m euros. They claim he's the best CB to come out south america in quite some time. We beat the usual hosts (barca/madrid etc etc) to his signing. There are some reports saying that Serginho had been watching him since January and had recommended us to pick him up this summer. - esporteinterativo

Bayern have bid 10m and gomez for Deko- Goal.com

Guti: "I like italy" -milannews


Carlo has said Pato is impossible to sign and he's not going to bid for him. Goal.com

Dzeko's agent says that there a bunch of different interests in Dzeko but no club has sent a concrete offer for dzeko. He says his transfer will be done between may 22-31. - milannews


and heres a blast from the past, said in the january transfer window. I wonder if this will be true as this guy is usually spot on regarding his comments on market:

a

This post has been edited by Tennie: May 12 2010, 11:24 AM

It just struck me..that hyping a player up..saying the transfer is not done yet..and making him 'hotter' property would increase media attention..therefore sponsor's attention. And then when you finally land the player, he's the hottest thing since sliced bread and the sponsors come ringing.

yup, true that. I don't know if we'll get dzeko though. I've been reading around and it looks like that we really have signed this brazillian kid. Braida is going there after the season's over to finalize the negotation but serginho has pretty much completed most of it. The only part I find hard to believe is the 9m. Its probably alot less than that.

It might be 9 million including bonuses etc.

What I don't get is how every kid is the best <position> to come out of South America. If this kid is the best CB to come out then what's Thiago? His wiki stats seem to indicate he's a goal scoring defender though. Interesting.

I think they imply for his age jack. The best defenders from brazil right now are undoubtedly Lucio and Silva.

But whats really interesting is this:

next year:

Koldrup
yepes
toloi
darmian
albertazzi
pasini

all CB LOL, all new players LOL


I'm guessing this is whats going to happen:

kaladze
favalli

are peacing out.

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: May 12 2010, 10:55 AM

But jack what really is surprising is the nature of these signings. It seems alot of people around Italy think Berlu is going all out this summer for one last time. Not ridiculous spending but enough to secure us for the next 5 years. Most of the signings will be really good youth with maybe a big signing like dzeko or krasic etc..


I'm going to be crazy and say berlu is going to spend 60 M from his own pocket this summer.

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: May 12 2010, 11:00 AM

Hmm. Favalli was obviously expected to retire. I think he was initially given the extension solely to function as a training ground partner..help the youngsters out etc. But then our injuries meant, he was pretty much first team XI.

I reckon he'll take a backend job..though he might go to Lazio even. I have a hunch Favster will make an excellent coach.

I don't want to guess at the figures...but it's my guess...that what we're doing is 'jumpstarting' our youth system. We've neglected it for some time now, so to start from the grassroots is to start from way behind. However buying 60% completed players, and converting our academy to a European league finishing school is a much better business proposition.

I think in the long run,we make less wrong choices as well. We're buying the elite..but they're elite youth. The question is how we can reconcile youth with experienced 'winning' players with the right mentality. I mean, I have no doubt that a youngster would learn tons with Nesta or Pippo or R80 even. But would I want a youngster apprenticed under Zlatan. Not sure.

Tuttomercatoweb reports that Milan may be buying back Ardemagni (striker who is former primavera and who's now co-owned between Cittadella and Triestina), if only to be used as a technical counterpart in summer transfer moves. (link)

Tuttomercatoweb quotes Tuttosport as saying Milan is after Corinthians midfielder Jucilei. (link)

Tuttomercatoweb quotes a Gazzetta article (not in online edition, only print edition) noting that the following players have contracts that expire at the end of June: Abbiati, Jankulovski, Nesta, Oddo, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf e Ronaldinho (but incorrect, as Ronaldinho's ends 2011). According to the article, Dida and Favalli won't renew, Pippo's waiting for Leonardo to leave before renewing for a year. Kaladze is of interest to Napoli and Parma and Flamini is of interest to English clubs while Huntelaar will probably be sacrificed to keep Pato. (link)

Tuttomercatoweb also reports that Milan are seriously interested in Velez defender Otamendi. The only stumbling block is his estimated 12 million cost. (link)