Safe to say I don't agree with your assesment (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) And does showing heart and spirit mean running around without any direction, getting sent off, pumping your fist and shouting??? In that case Nesta has no heart and spirit, same goes for Zambro, Seedorf, Pato etc (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Pirlo has always been a subdued guy, please don't try to make it out like he never gave a sh!t becase that is just low and an insult to many milan fans and Pirlo himself

What success exactly? Pirlo is only limited when he's left stranded in a DM position, I agree that he shouldn't be played there but he should have been kept for the left position. Ganso or someone else could alternate with Pirlo or play in the AM position, now we're limiting ourselves to Seedorf and hoping on a young player to come good. That is what our season will rest on.


When did Galliani say that? Last month, week or just a few hours ago as you read it? I'm sure it's the latter (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

And yes they're completely 2 different cases. Oddo is a mediocre patch work player who was brought in from Lazio when we were desperate and now never use. Pirlo is a top player, who would have still been an integral part of our system had he styed. Big differce. Things are not always black and white, stop trying to make them out to be as such

There were moments when he showed his old form which did indeed qualify him as one of our best players, but these moments are few and far between now.

I think it was right that he moved on.

Good point. Milan had little success the recent years. I should have said getting points and so...


Few days ago.


Well, Seedorf only gives heart and spirit when he feels like it, but when he does he is easily a better player for Milan than Pirlo is. Players like Ambrosini and Nesta on the other hand, give heart and spirit for Milan every game. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

Why do I bash Pirlo's heart and spirit? I need many words, words I have put in this reply: http://www.milanfan.com/forums/index.php?s...st&p=294333


Exactly! Moments... I don't want good moments from players, no, I want good seasons from players. And yes, therefore I fully agree with you it is the right thing Milan and Pirlo moved on without each other. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm just going to bite me tongue (or fingers in this case) and try really hard not to reply to any further of your posts in regards to Pirlo. I think that would be best...

Anyways, let's just agree to disagree on this issue it's so pointless it's become mind numbing. You obviously don't think Pirlo is good enough for Milan anymore while I do, end of story

This resembles very much the Ronaldinho debate between me and han some months ago. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Well Ronaldinho I wasn't a fan of like Pirlo, was just trying to defend him for the benefit of the doubt. Pirlo is another story.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) You got a response now! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Your rare big post, deserves dedicated replies, so here goes nothing:


I think this is changing from now on. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) You'll find that and see the difference in the next few years. This year alone, we bought and brought in what 12 youngsters. That's a dozen young guys in a year to add to our youth team. A few will make the transition to the big league I am sure of it. Add to the fact that we are only giving away 1-year extensions, and that adds further fuel to the fact.

Maybe up till a few years back Milan did not have any plans on relying on youth, I agree. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) But now I can feel the winds of change. Galliani and Berlusconi wants the club to be as self-sustaining as possible, it seems. Even if it means selling some of our players for $$$ to bigger teams. A winning combination, nevertheless. Something the fans may not like but should learn to live with. My $0.02.

It's their pockets that do the talking, and they who pay the players, after all.


I see where you are coming from, and totally agree 100%. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif) The drawing the line part was just in the general sense of the word, not specific to Pirlo. I would have loved to see Pirlo for another few years, Pirlo and Ambrosini most definitely. And mutually part ways with Seedorf and sell Gattuso. Add Nesta and Abbiati in the list and you still end up with a core group of senators. Also agreed with a captain for the 3 seasons part.

My take on Pirlo is that I would have wanted things to have work out between him and the club. They did not, and both parties decided to mutually move on. And I won't complain much here. Allegri, IMO played the major part in this, I am afraid, he I feel is the one that gave the red flag to Galliani that maybe Pirlo did not fit the plans, or was not fit enough for the team. The guy won the league, after all, how much is due to his tactics is another story.

This is probably what will happen with Seedorf too, I feel. The futures of most of the players have been decided, but the Dutchman still remains in the air. And with Allegri. If the coach feels that he does not figure in the immediate plan, I sense we may very well see him going - and two new creative players coming in: this transfer window or the next in January.


I am afraid this is the part which I may not completely agree with. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Sheva went for his friend the Chelsea owner, and Kaka was shown the door out for $$$ to balance the books. At least the Brazilian can't be compared to the Ukrainian, because it was evident he wanted to stay. You don't often see grown men like these crying.

Also the bit about Pirlo, I can't agree with this fact too. The guy is a multi-millionaire and the heir to steel factories to boot. Plus was the highest paid Italian player in the Serie A too. As a successful footballer from a rich family, it is safe to assume he has enough money, at least compared to the regular Joes and players that play in smaller clubs and lower leagues. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) So can't really buy this argument that he did what was best for his family. Sure, one may argue that all the money in the world may not be enough, but still.


Right. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/devil.gif) So changing topics, how's the weather in Malta?!

Like you've said, he doesn't need the money. What does being rich have anything to do with stability really. I don't really get your point in this. Pirlo doesn't need the money, so why would he go elsewhere? The issue was clearly about he length, and imo that has everything to do with wanting stability for your family.

He may be rich but does that ensure that his kids will be in the same school come next year? Constantly waiting to see whether he's have to up and move next year or not, waiting for the club to decide his faith?

Like I said, Juve offered him a concrete stable environment for his family and Pirlo took it when Milan didn't give him that. Money never played into this.

As for Kaka and Sheva, Sheva left for whatever reasons that weren't as genuine as one might like to beleive, while Kaka had always wanted Real if he left Milan. He was happy whether he went or stayed imo. Bot options were good for him, the club sold him for the money but Kaka didn't fight it as long as it was Real he was heading off to.

Pirlo has nothing to gain from going to Juve aside from having stability. They're not even in Europe FFS, I'm sure they're not offering him a lot of money either

i think this new 1 year contract thing for 30 year old is a very good idea since no player from now on will slack since they need to impress other clubs as well as milan....pirlo should of known that if he kept his performances up then he would always end up with another deal...this new policy always worked for man united so i guess it should work for us too.

Well, this probably is a very bad example to give, but I equate Kaka's position with the guy who jumped off from the window of the World Trade center after the 9/11 attacks. He did not have many options, either get burned by the fire and fuel from the plane or jump down to certain death. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) My heart cringes every time I see or think about it. Horrible!

Kaka would no doubt have stayed with us, if G&B did not push him out. And really can you blame him if he choose Real (who still payed good money for his signature to us) than City who were paying a few million extra. I for my part could easily have seen him in our shirt till he was 32 - deteriorated player or not. Just like I wouldn't have mind seeing Pirlo stay a little longer. But hey, the management pays the bills, so they have the right to decide what's best for the club.

Am I the only one who thinks the whole 1 year extension thing is just a PR move to come under less criticism from the fans/media for losing pirlo? It's all smoke and mirrors, they will draw the attention to having resigned our "captain" who really is a trivial player with 1/8 the reputation & skill that pirlo has.It's tippy-toe economics make some small unimportant moves to draw attention away from losing a valuable and expensive asset. Common guys at least discuss the possibility of this being bull before arguing about it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

This post has been edited by il_diavolo_mtl: May 24 2011, 04:19 AM

The 1 year policy is precisely what saw the Invincible Arsenal reduced to a shadow of themselves. This new Arsenal is a f@ckin wad of spit to the face of that team. Sorry Locke...(if you're still around that is).


I know Pirlo came with a lot of deficiencies tactically. But Max's success means that the coach gets priority over the player.

I don't mind him going to Juve. I don't think it's money either. There are plenty of CL clubs who would have offered him the same or more. They'd still take him in Spain too.

I wanted Zee and Pirlo and Nesta to stay. For me they shall be backroom staff of the future for Milan. Zee with the kids. Probably Nesta and Pirlo becoming the new coaches...just my fantasy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I'm sad to see Pirlo. His style of play for me symbolised Milan's game...as opposed to the 12091920192091 stepover/seconds of CR9 or the rabbit with the tail on fire style of Messi.

I think if Pirlo had been given 3 years...none of the seniors (and this is where I disagree with Chu Lip) would have raised a fuss. He's more than a colleague to them, and they wouldn't grudge him that. We would have a top quality player, who granted would need a different system and couldn't play as a mid-field shield.

The kind of tactical flexibility he offers would have been mind boggling. 4-3-1-2, 4-3-2-1, 4-5-1,4-6-0, 4-1-2-1-2, maybe even a 4-4-2.

Now it all hinges on a new signing (possibly from another league) coming in and settling right from the word GO. This new bloke is gonna be under so much pressure, he HAS to be the new Kaka+Pirlo+ vice-Seedorf all in one. DO YOU GUYS REALISE WHAT THE HELL THAT MEANS??!!!

Sell Pirlo...sure....coz players with that persona and talent are just falling off trees.

Now we're FORCED to get 2 new players probably costing 20 million at least in wages (not incl taxes put a combined 7-8 mill for 3 years) plus 20-30 million in transfer fees (if we're lucky)....when we could have kept Pirlo for another 3 years for a grand total of 9-10 million easily.

Bought a nice little fellow like Lamela, give him plenty of time like we did Pato and Silva...and when Seedorf and Ambro ride off into the sunset, this boy steps in as cool as you please....


But this is just me..and I'm just a fanboy of the greatest mid-fielder I've seen play since Zidane. The best CM for Milan since Albertini...and I might be wrong.

Thank you!


I'm not so sure yet. Milan still relies heavy on veterans and when they're gone, not many homemade players will be here to even try to fill their shoes.


Ahem...no. We really cannot know it, but it wasn't just G&B it was his entourage as well - the wife, the father, etc. I don't think it's just as simple as you put it, and I don't think he was a victim of this clubs will.

But, let me say a few final words on the contract extensions thing. The problem is, you see, I'm not sure how far we'll get with this 1-year-contract policy that is implemented so strictly. Because what have we got from it now: the players who IMO have little to give the club and in free agency conditions would likely hardly find a club in Italian Serie A to play for stayed: Oddo, Roma, Ambrosini and to an instant Pippo (mostly because of the uncertainty of his injury). However, the players who still could bring in some difference, like Pirlo and Seedorf, are either gone or likely to leave. Only Nesta differs. This is the main result of our policy (of course, not the only factor: first team football, playing time, new motives, etc.). And I'm a bit surprised that we decided to break off with our "family" policy of keeping older and respected players so harshly and fast. We've endured watching Dida play and get payed like he was a world star while struggling to keep his No. 1 spot with Kalac. We endured Kaladze and Jankulovski, Brocchi and many others because of the same policy. We even played Sheva's handout when we were needed. And now we decided to radically turn the policy? Does that mean our management, in the light of their newest success, recognized defeat? Defeat of a policy that was implemented for almost a decade?

I can't say, but I'm interested to see some other thoughts.
As far as the Pirlo thing goes, I think we could have secured for 3 more years a brilliant midfielder and creator, and a captain for the team, a true gentlemen leader. But no, right now we've got a midfield full of hard workers waiting for the new Mozart to step in - and this new Mozart will experience the pressure Albertini and Seedorf managed to reduce for Pirlo, Rui Costa for Kaka. Now, and especially if Seedorf leaves, we've got nothing but first team football, great expectations and even greater pressure to offer to kids.

Agreed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) But part of me thinks this is just the start, and how this new policy takes shape and what results it brings will be evident in a few years time. For what it's worth we pretty much sold our soul when we bought in Ibra and his man-eater of an agent. The the addition of more enigmas: Robinho, Cassano, etc

Riola is good friends with Galliani, and I dread to think if he has a hand in this new policy, any hand, small it may be.

Agreed, imo it's all just BS to cover someone's shortcomings. Whether that's Allegri's or the management's I don't know. I'm inclined to believe that it's more Allegri's doing, he doesn't know what to do with Pirlo, so the easy solution is to remove him from the equation, same thing happened with Dinho and I can see it happening with Cassano as well



Great posts!!!