Witsel wouldn't have fixed all our problems, no. But he would have been a start. We still need a proper regista desperately and if we had signed Witsel we maybe could have gone for someone in the winter window with that position being the only real crucial area to fill.

Sure we still need a great AM and also a great experienced CB. But I think we can wait until next summer for them. Without Witsel and a proper regista this team will struggle in most games we'll play this season

Witsel was the only one we were getting. And that failed. So forget the regista notion, not happening.

My post was focused purely on him because he was the only one who looked like he might come.

And now we don't have him I have to concede we're not really that much worse off.

If we had got him we'd still have a shite defence, and a shite midfield 3. The only place we'd have been half decent would be AM, plus the strikers.

Still woefully imbalanced and ultimately we're barely that much worse without him.

Abate-Mexes-Romagnoli-MDS/Antonelli is not a shite defense, especially if it was backed by a capable midfield. But our midfield sucks so much that our defense is exposed wide open to any attack. And it not being a top defense, it gets to look worse than it actually is.

I can make the same argument about our attack. Bacca, Adriano, Menez and even Balotelli is a decent enough line-up, but sometimes they look too isolated because the midfield doesn't help them.

Our main problem has been the midfield from the get go, for a few years now. Yet we never try to fix it. We get average players with different characteristics than what we need. We lack a true regista, a couple of creative players actually. It's as obvious as the air we breathe, but we completely ignore it. And we all know whose fault that is.

#GallianiLeave

Completely agreed. We have to tackle this problem coming this winter. All our midfielders should be under evaluation and reassessment. Then we should sell 2-3 of them and sign us at least two fresh a creative players.

What I don't get is why we don't double our scouting efforts here. It's so evident that Serie A lacks that kind of creative players, but also England and France. So rather then spending small money on useless copies of players we already have or pay overrated fees, we should be able to find a few young, fresh, talented gems out there. Look at Inter, how much they profited by signing Kovačić in the first place.

You've just cited a back four that Miha hasn't even used yet. How can you evaluate it either way? On paper?

My comment was related to the depth that we have there. MDS is being used as RB, Abate's on the bench. Cr*p start already.

Central defence sees the unreliable Mexes/the constantly injured Alex/the unpopular Zapata and the totally underwhelming Romagnoli. Oh and Ely. MEH!

It might not be 'shite' but it is far from good.

This post has been edited by Danny: Sep 2 2015, 11:29 AM

Mexes isn't used because he's still not match fit. Once he regains that, he should be a starter. Abate is a question mark to me. Why is he sidelined in favor of MDS?

Are you telling me that Abate, Mexes and Antontelli haven't played together before? The only new face there is Romagnoli, and given his characteristics, Mexes would be the ideal partner from the players we have. Hence, why that line-up is the best we can field and it's not so bad.

Mexes' agent: "He wanted badly to go to Fiorentina. He feels that Mihajlovic does not consider him important. There was indeed a genuine interest from the viola, but there never were any negotiations because Berlusconi placed his veto and nothing could be done afterwards."

Link

Well now...

Was that really necessary now? Also, hasn't he recently signed an extension?

He did, but that was on request from Silvio. Apparently Miha never really wanted him.

Miha will cave to the powers of Mexes just like Allegri, Seedorf and Pippo had to do before him

IMHO the problem is not limited to Galliani. Galliani will do what will keep him in good terms with Berlu, which I believe explains his obsession with forwards. Berlu also complicates matters by halting transfers in apparent conflict with coach and management alike. Mostly this has to do with sales (think Mexes, Monto, and going back a few years Pato), but it looks to me like he also decides to close the purse strings at random times, mostly to make a point. But AFAIAC Berlu's biggest mistake is continuing to rely on Galliani.

As for Galliani, it is quite possible that the best way to describe his current state is the Italian term "rincoglionito".

Gonna be a long year, and my expectations are low. Best hope is that we will wake up in the Winter transfer window and find a way to fix our midfield mess. It is also possible that Miha may be prove to be a better coach than I give him credit for, and may get the current lot to perform decently. In any case, hope is all we are left with right now, 'cause reality looks rather disappointing ...

That made me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) .

Wouldn't that be a sight. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) As long as he doesn't play Zapata. Man, his misplaced passes and basic defending mistakes are legendary. Not sure I can stand another season of them. At least, we got rid of Abbiati with his direct goal kicks to opponent forwards, those were cruel too.

Zapata gets too much shtick in here. He's not so bad.