As I've asked before but never been given a straight asnwer. Name me two players who are on that level, are affordable for us and available, personally I'm coming up with a huge blank.

Once again, I think you're terribly under-rating both players. Aquilani would be our best option because I don't see that Pirlo/Seedorf level player coming in any time soon. However, once Aquilani is out of the equation should an injury happen then what? Maybe Seedorf but he cannot play more then once a week, especially if these injury issues crop up during those months when games come in tick and fast. That is why I believe we need both. Had we brought in Cesc, we probably wouldn't have had any money left over for any signing, and we'd still be in the same position should he get injured. That's why for now I'd accept 2 good players instead of one top class player.

I personally believe that Kaka would be a bonus, a really great bonus but imo we can do without him, Robinho, Cassano or Boateng, even Seedorf could all play in the AM position and as they've demonstrated last season, they could do it to great effects. While the situation in midfield cannot be as easily brushed off.

We have plent of players with quality and experiance, some wih toooo much experience (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) We need to make steps ahead. and the midfield imo is our only real achilles heal. Great attack, great defence, good players in the midfield will be enough for now to do better then last season, maybe nt win the CL, but do better. And maybe that makes me someone without any ambition, but personally I beleive that had we bought Cesc we still wouldn't have won the CL anyway so...

And it wouldn't be a Fiorentina esque midfield because we brought in their player. We have a top class DM and a top class box-to-box man, but no craft. That is imo, the missing puzzle, and big name or not, if that missing piece is filled we'll do great things this season. That is what I believe.

I guess as you say we cannot know. A lot of what ifs go into it. We cannot know how a top class player would fit in, or whether a Monto/Aqui combo would do better. You can easily spend ridiculous money on a player and he'll turn out a big dud for you, as has been proven time and again in big money transfers. I think the only player that lived up to his transfer fee imo has been C.Ronaldo.


Personally I think we'd need all 3 for a huge push this season on all fronts. But Kaka is mostly the bonus from that package imo. We don't have the creativity or the depth in creativity in our midfield. You campaigned a lot for Cassano in attack, simply because you saw that we needed the depth in attack, because now we might have a lot of striker, but an injury or 2 and we'd be in a problematic situation. Same goes o our midfield, we might have a gazilllion DMs, but Seedorf is the only creator, and maybe Aquilani if he comes, which I'm still not sure will happen seeing as a couple of days ago Monto was the sure thing according to the media, who imo at this point know nothing more then us.

Should the hypothetical Aquilani get injured, then everything falls on Seedorf, and it's already been agreed by the absolute majory that he cannot handle that kind of work load.

Also it has to be said, that both players can occupy the position behind the strikers, so should there be injuries in attack, one of them can always take over in that position.

My point being that if we do bring in Aquilani, then we'd need someone else for the midfield, Kaka or no Kaka.

Kaka's father is his agent, so if he takes a mega wage cut his father will take a mega wage cut as well. It makes sense that you would run something like that by a family member before you do it.

Realistically though, that story was probably made up by some guy bored in his office ready to go home.

I get your point han, but still, I'd rather take Kaka' + Montolivo/Aquilani then both the latter ones. We need a world class player to push the quality meter in our midfield, someone who can win you games single-handledly. Ricky is that sort of player. Granted, he's not the Kaka' of four years ago, but class doesn't age. If he's fit, then he'll do the trick. I would be very happy if we signed him and one of the two Italians (possibly Montolivo). That means Boateng would occupy Ghosttuso's spot, Seedorf would get plenty of rest and Ibra and Pato would be backed up by a world class trequartista. Our attacking power would be doubled.

Yeah fiorentina didn't like our no cash deal so they basically told us to F off. He won't go anywhere though, bayern just said they're not buying anyone.


If he stays in Fio, we'll sign him in Jan no problems.

(IMG:http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/7731/nenews1.jpg)

-Milan haven sent Mino Raiola to Manchester in order to begin the process of balotelli`s transfer to Milan.


-Galliani is set to attempt a loan deal for aquilani. If the loan bid fails, he is expected to bid around 8m euros for his full transfer.


-Fiorentina director has said that montolivo can only leave to a team outside of italy.


-We are linked with Lugano (cb)


-Albin Ekdal moves to Cagliari on co-own Official.


-Adebayor to tottenham nears completion. Should be done next week.


-Tottenham have reached an agreement with Real Madrid for Lass Diarra. 10m is the fee.


-Forlan deal is done with Inter and will be announced when Eto officially leaves.




-Mata close to signing with Chelsea


-Tottenham and Arsenal are now after montolivo


-Roma have officially put up Borriello for sale; as a result we are now after Borriello.


-Galliani is set to have a final meeting with Silvio in order to finalize which targets we will go after. The expected names are Balotelli, Borriello and Aquilani.


-Allegri: "We had found our Mr X and we tried to sign him but we were unsuccessful. Now we will go after another midfielder."


-Aquilani was spotted in Tuscany yesterday. This suggests that he is liverpool exit is imminent.


-We are interested in exchanging flamini for crouch


-We are linked with Ivo Pekalski (20 years old malmo midfielder) for 2.5m euros


-Barcelona have enquired about Marco Ezio Fossatti. Milan have not responded yet.


-Arsenal have joined us in the race to Sign Kaka. Wenger has set his sights on him after having a 20m bid for M`vila rejected.


-Manchester United are preparing a final bid for Sneijder


-Eto to Anzhi has been agreed in all parts and should be official on monday.



TMW MN CM Corrierre FI FP

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Aug 21 2011, 12:04 PM

I don't believe the rumors regarding strikers (Crouch, Borriello,...) and defenders (Lugano) a bit. It would be madness and a total waist of funds.

If they wanted to sell Borriello this summer,so why on the earth the made that loan deal permanent?

Wasn't it required by law. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) It was not just a loan deal, it was a permanent loan deal with the obligation to buy. It's jut that the transfer fee was to be paid later down the road. They still will need to pay for it (one way or another) or risk a whole bunch of problems with the authorities.

I'm sure our installment for Borriello as well as Kaka has already come and gone the Robinho and Ibra way.

Aquilani to Milan is almost done

Agreed, I read a piece on TMW yesterday where Allegri flat-out said that we won't buy any strikers, only midfielders if the conditions were right.


Good.

As for the Kaka + Monto/Aqui thing, the Kaka rumours seem to have completely died down. I don't think there was ever any solid basis for them and we are going into the final week of the transfer window. So it looks like just Aquilani will be coming. Which is why I said I wanted the 2 Italians, because just Aqui is not enough imo.

We'll see what happens, can't wait for it to be over so we'll know how we'll look for next season. We can always go for Monto in January and get him on the cheap then.

Buttermilk biscuits! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) I thought Monty would arrive first and then Aquilani. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) That's because Aquaman, after all, is an injury prone player. But I'll take it the other way round. Having said that, I surely do hope we can get Monty as well as Kaka - that's 3 creative players, 2 of them injury prone, for 1 position. We'll be well covered all round.

If only Aquilani is coming right now, then hopefully we'll sign Ganso in January.

Ah, personally I prefer Aquilani to Montolivo (talent wise) so I can't complain. hopefully he stays away from injuries.


How dare you, he's awesome!

I'd sell (/let go) Yepes and bring Lugano. as unfair as it may sound to Yepes, but he's too old. it's probably a matter of time before he becomes a liability.

Agreed. If Fiorentina want to play hard ball, then so be it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) Though I do very much buy into the Kaka rumors.


Point. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I've grown to like Yepes, but against Lugano he doesn't stand a chance. Not at this age.

Well he played something like 33 games for Juve last season so he's not as injury prone as he's made out to be. At this point I'd take whatever, as long as it's 2 players and not just one. Monto and Aqui imo would give us more options, but Kaka is sounding great right about now when we still have not made any signings for areas that actually need players.


I think it's more likely we'll see montolivo in January, who'll be extra cheap. While Santos will want an arm and a leg for Ganso.