It doesn't matter if the team revolves around him.

With Zlatan off the field, teams can play a game where the defense plays deep and narrow, what're we going to do to combat that? We get space wide, sure, but who're we going to cross it to?

With Zlatan on the field they can't afford to play deep as it'd enables us to just launch balls to him and we'll be close to goal. It forces teams to either play narrow and give us lots of space wide so we can give him service, or if they want to play wide to cut off the service to him, it gives him space in the middle.

One dimensional means only being good at one thing. With Zlatan off the field, we have no target man.

This whole Milan are relying too much on Ibra that we hear all season is annoying really... the guy is a beast in Serie A so why shouldn't we rely on him? If he got injured and we begin to look awful upfront then it means that we can't play any other way but as long as he's healthy and playing well I can't see why we should be playing any other way!

Your argument is way too generic. Whether teams play wide or narrow has got nothing to do with Zlatan's presence. And even if we assume they do play deep and narrow when he's not playing, we have enough quality to penetrate their core through the quality of players like Pirlo, Seedorf and Cassano, and the insertions of Boateng, Robinho and Pato. Playing wide is not our forte because we have no quality fullbacks. So, we either launch balls at Zlatan when the situation is dire, hoping for some magic to occur, or we play it in the middle like I already mentioned. Zlatan is important because he's a world class striker than can make the difference any moment, but other teams don't limit their tactics only to stop him and thus ignoring the dangers that might come from our other players.

I think you're missing my point completely based on what you said here.

I never said they don't try to stop other plays. Which is exactly why I said without Zlatan it's likely teams will play narrow as they no we aren't to create anything from the wide positions without Zlatan - to restrict with our other players can do.

We'll just agree to disagree on this one. I think Zlatan is massively important and without him we'd really struggle if it was for an extended period.

This post has been edited by kurtsimonw: Feb 21 2011, 04:34 AM

Fine by me! only 2-3 years from now when Ibra is in his 30s and probably not up to it anymore while Balo is probably more mature, both his personality and his game, and worth investing in.

Giving Pato away for Balo would be suicidal IMO. huge risk. because sooner or later there will be a problem with Ibra (either a falling out of some sort, or just the age factor) and you never know with Balo. we could end up with nothing in a few years' time. but for me at least, we're guaranteed to have a world class finisher in Pato, minimum.

This post has been edited by Zed.D: Feb 21 2011, 10:45 AM

The way things seem, it looks likely that Pato might be shipped out. I don't agree with it, but logic dictates that with Ibra/Cassano/Robinho included this season, and that all three of them have performed at a decent rate. Pato could be placed on the market to fund for other areas on the pitch. Moreover, you have Allegri, who has a preference to the other three strikers.

I hope it doesn't turn out this way.

Hopefully you're wrong on that. Allegri is really starting to annoy the hell out of me. He basically lets Zlatan run the show, likes to play favourites and isn't even that good a coach...

Pato on the bench doesn't make any sense, numbers wise, he's our best striker and imo should be playing, and in terms of looking ahead past these next 3-4 years, Pato will be the one still standing out of the 4, he'll be the one that would cost a bucket load of cash, he'll be what Kaka and Sheva and Paolo were to us in a few years time (in terms of star quality not talking about Maldini's leadership here)

If we sell him now the management will arguably make their biggest gaff since taking over. Pato is still on a really low salary compared to the others, he's still got a lot of time to go before even reaching his peak. If he's worth 30 million now, imagine what we could get 6 years from now when we've taken the best out of what he can offer, just like we did with Sheva and Kaka.

I really don't believe the management will sell him at this point in time, as mentioned above the Kaka and Sheva deals were both deals where we cursed players and Galliani for selling them etc, but in the end we ended coming out of the deal smelling like roses with extra cash to boot, while the players and the buying clubs didn't really benefit from it in the end. So I'm hoping Galliani's recent masterstrokes won't end up making him make such a huge mistake by selling Pato, to get a nut job like Balotelli

as for the not playing Ibra argument, I agree with both sides, but for it to work all those players need to have the ball at their feet, launching the ridiculous long balls will only isolate all 3 attackers, thus rendering them useless. If Allegri continues to insist on a midfield that doesn't even contain an iota of technique then he shouldn't even bother with it because it won't work. I believe Ibra needs a rest, the Bari game is a great time to do this, but Allegri needs to get the team playing some sort of football instead of this Serie C2 training ground cr@p e're putting out every week barr the Parma game

Gee, I like you when you are angry Han. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) You don't make spelling mistakes when you are angry!

Anyway, agreed with everything you have said (which is in fact, the exact same thing I have been harping about for a couple of pages now). Allegri does seem to have zero personality. I am sure he has one, but it looks like it is hidden in the shadow of the massive stars we have signed up this season. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Mostly Ibra, and to a lesser extent Robinho and Cassano. He also does not have job security at the moment, which could be another reason for his seemingly spineless decisions.

My biggest gripe is not benching Pato (could be one of the reason the kid has no pressure at all, and seems to be scoring right off the bench), but his over dependence on Ibra, to the extent that he does not sub him out during games even when it looked like he needed to be fresh. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) If anything, what we need from him are good tactical decisions, and showing the players who is the boss. While keeping dressing room harmony.

Go on. Ask him out. He likes pink bunnies and leather underwear. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Go get him stud.

Inter lost in chievo, Napoli lost in chievo, roma and juventus got one point each in chievo...MILAN won

Chievo games are hard and winning this, even though hardly, means Milan is giving out a warning that they're keeping the lead for the whole season....

Pirates! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) I meant that in a good, healthy, brotherly, non-menacing, sort of a way. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I really don't believe it means anything. The big tests start next weekend against Napoli, then come Inter, then Juve. Those are the games that will make or break our season. If we lose against Napoli I will really start worrying about losing this league title.

@ Jack, he'll have to do better then that, I demand flowers and chocolates before negotiating a date

But he has a hairy chest...and a reaaalllly looooong and thick......


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I can't believe we are even talking about Balotelli, this guy has been nothing short of disruptive in the past 2 years. Sure he had talent when he first burst on the scene, but really, I don't think he's as good as he is being made out in all honesty.

I'd rather have Zlatan for years than some obnoxious, egoistical little kid who's yet to really prove himself, we already have Cassano & Robinho for that. Until Balotelli actually looks like he wants to play football for a career I'd leave him well alone, he's damaged goods.

We weren't talking about Balo. We were talking about setting up han and acid on a date. Whatcho been reading Ash?