Yeah you should never let it run under two years really. Unless they are a bad, unwanted, player.

Agreed, however this seems to be our new "strategy" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Can't wait until they renew Bonera's and Abbiati's in the summer...

He earns €1.5 million if I'm not mistaken. If his request is below the €2.2-2.3 million figure, then he should be given an extension. Otherwise, sorry, you're simply asking too much Igna.

It's been reported he wants 2m.

But really, I'd go as far as 3m if we're really pushed before applying the cut off. I don't think we can get a RB as good as him with the little money we can spend on players and it's not like quality RBs are growing on trees, and even if they were, we wouldn't even be able to afford the fertilizer for that tree (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

So atm I think we should at the least try our best to keep hold of our best assets on this team

It's interesting how a player can change when he feels motivated and wanted by the coach. Both Abate and Honda (especially Abate) were marginalized by Seedorf, but Pippo gave them their confidence back and so far they've been two of our best performers. Abate with two assists in two games even!

Honda's case is a little different, though. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Last season he had to share the spotlight and the pitch with Kaka, and not to mention Balotelli was still here creating havoc. With both gone, the guy has come into his own. I just hope this form continues, and Honda is able to build upon this. He's a good chap, this guy.

But like I said, you need half a season to gauge any player these days. At least six months.

Agreed, especially about Abate.

Abate has been very consistent for us as a defensive performer since 10/11 imo (minus when he meets Milito (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ), no he hasn't been great at assisting but I think for that you have to look at the tactics we played as well, it's not like any of our other FBs have half decent assist stats either. It's kind of hard to make an assist when there's no one to aim your cross at in the box half the time.

And yeah, he definitely struggled a lot under Seedorf, there clearly was some sort of rift there, although he was always one of our most consistent performers under Allegri who also always trusted him and was the one who really helped in giving him his chance and helped mature him as a real RB. I think this is one area where Allegri excelled, Abate finally coming into his own as a FB was under him as he was a total mess and liability during both Carlo's and Leonardo's reign and he was also the one who plucked DS out of the Primavera and gave him his chance

Fanboy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Not a mention of Honda.

Well, because I think with Honda it was very many factors which were effecting him negatively last season.

I don't think there was a particular problem with Seedorf tbh.

The man has been playing football constantly since before the Confed Cup, he came to Milan after playing that and a full season with CSKA in the Russian league, played another half of a season with us, went to the World Cup and came back in early pre-season. Add all that with coming to Milan while we were going through a horrible moment when the entire team was under performing, in fighting in the upper management, 3 coaching changes and being played out of position on top of all that.

The man is just an amazing professional and I always truly believed that he would come good, even when people were already starting to turn their back on him and labelling him a failure and only a marketing asset

Yep, same here. Never lost my faith in him.

Agreed with everything that's said above. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) And I was, of course, joking. I was on the Abate bandwagon, until he stopped developing. Always wanted him to start ahead of other seniors we had at that time. Now? He's one of the better players we have, period. For what it's worth, one of the first names on the team sheet.

As for Honda, again, another player that I wanted Milan to sign, ages ago. The proof is in the posts. I actually factored in the untapped marketing potential, which we still don't seem to be going after, in the Asian region. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Honda is, for all intents and purposes, the best footballer in Asia.

And well, he's a great type of guy to have in a team. Keeps his head down, and gives his best, every time.

I love Honda. He is my new favourite Milan player. Might be getting a jersey.

Meh, I prefer Mazda...

Cheesy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

I think Honda's better than the catastrophe he was last season, but I can't say he's totally won me over yet. Still feel he doesn't influence matches as much as I hoped he would, and for me I'm not yet subscribing to the love in over him now.

He's improved, yes, but not enough for me to want him to start every match.

Menez proved me wrong, hopefully Honda can too.