Missed the game, how was Vergara?

The first half I couldn't really tell because it was one huge mess of people getting in each other's way, people out of position, terrible passing out from the defence in situations under pressure, etc

Second half he seemed composed on the ball, but aside from that I can't make an assessment in such a short time. So personally I'm still on the fence about him

Quote from Allegri after the game (obviously lol) Defending him which means he know he wasn't at his best

Just checked the initial line-ups. Vergara, Zaccardo, Antonini, Traoré, Muntari, Petagna. No wonder we got trashed, more than half of our squad was made of crap/inexperienced players. Whilst City played nearly their best formation.

Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrI2C0CKA0I

Wow, just look at that left side being run over by City. Muntari and Constant absolutely cringeworthy.

This post has been edited by X-Offender: Aug 1 2013, 12:29 AM

Muntari made up for it somewhat with that quality pass for the 2nd. Constant is simply not good enough. Friendly or not, even in the highlights, that's unacceptable for a professional.

Yes. I wouldn't read too much into the defeat either. I'm more worried that our players are getting hurt in these matches. I can't even be mad at Milan Lab because these are not muscular or conditioning related injuries. But impact injuries from knocks and falls and stuff. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Just realised that Vergara probably doesn't even speak Italian or even have a common language with any of our players. Except maybe Gabriel who speaks Portuguese (closer to Spanish).

The mid-field was brand new, and I think once we brought in Poli and more of our first team players the play improved. Once again my main gripes about our team seem proved true. Even with our best formation at present which would be:


Abate---Mexes---Zapata---Constant/DeS
-------Montolivo---NdJ--Poli------------
-----------Boateng----------------------
-----Balo----------------SeS


..we are hopelessly outclassed at full back and in the hole. I think the only way to make Boateng succeed is as part of a mid-field 5. We need to push SeS further back (than in that left wing where everyone knows what he will do) and play Balotelli as sole striker. I think that Genoa coach said something similar.

We are not gonna get Honda. CSKA are being complete jerks. 3.5 million for a guy on the last 6 months contract is a huge profit for them, and they're being d!cks. I think we should just get him in January. But we have to realise Honda will be coming off a full season and can't expect him to just play as trequartista and be a game changer.

Hopelessly outclassed at fullbacks? Abate and De Sciglio are probably the best Italian fullbacks at the moment, and two of the best in Serie A. I think we're more than covered in that department. And we all know Boateng can easily thrive if played in center-midfield. I think the reason Allegri is playing him as AM these games is because we have no-one else there right now.

As for Honda, I would wait. Mediaset says we're gonna try again after 5 August, as that's when CSKA play Rubin Kazan, and their president doesn't wanna let Honda go before that important match.

Depends on the comparisons you make. I've been saying for sometime now that we're definite CL position material in Serie A. I still think this team cannot challenge for any trophies this season bar a massive downfall in Juve playing form. We do have an advantage over Napoli in that we are a little bit more stable than they are, but we have to see.

If we do manage to bring Honda and Ljajic, I think we can challenge for 2nd place, and perhaps for the scudetto.

Like x-off said, as a pairing you won't find any better than DS and Abate in the league, and very few clubs have the luxury of having both FB positions covered so well.

As for title challenges, if we do manage to sign Honda and Ljajic in this window, imo we'd only be 1 great CB away from challenging Juve.

We've got some very talented young players on this team, SES, Balo, Saponara, Poli, De Sciglio, plus experienced players like Mexes, Abate, De Jong, Monto. It's pretty balanced.

Our biggest problem right now is creativity and depth. Getting Honda and Ljajic would solve the creativity problem easily. In terms of depth we do have issues there, yes we've brought in Poli and Prince would most likely be used exclusively as a CM option, but we have no one who can cover for NDJ, Pazzini is injured until December, and the CB area is very worrying if Mexes or Zapata get injured. I mean watching Zaccardo yesterday was pretty shocking, at least Vergara has the excuse of not understanding the language, being young and new to the team but Zaccardo... Is he supposed to be our first choice sub in case Mexes or Zapata are down?

So you corrected 'debt' to 'depth' before I could point it out, eh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I re-read it and I was like "WTF did I just write there?"

So I fixed it before acid or some other grammar @-hole could run their mouth off (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Amelia with the arm band. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

And how come nobody opened an Audi Cup thread???

What can I say, I'm a thriller! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/innocent.gif)


Aye. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) Same question!