[Fillipo Simone]

Let's see how we can manage this one. I assume Milan will be in better shape considering we have van Bommel, Emanuelson and especially Cassano all avaible.

[han2503]

This happens whenever we have some young guy on the roster that doesn't play a whole lot.

I've seen a ton of the "play Merkel" contingent on here as of late and it's rather tiresome, actually.

Agreed

Agreed,I would rather play a prospect,and let him learn and adapt to the Serie A instead of playing players past their prime who don't offer anything better.

I'm all about giving him a chance, but he's just not ready for high pressure situations, and playing him in games away from home where he is put under immense pressure is just not ideal, look at how he crumbled against Catania once they singled him out as the weak link in midfield

[acid911]

I'm all about giving him a chance, but he's just not ready for high pressure situations, and playing him in games away from home where he is put under immense pressure is just not ideal, look at how he crumbled against Catania once they singled him out as the weak link in midfield

While what you said is true, how do you think he will improve? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) We have to feed him to the fishes one time or another. If he makes a mistakes or two, in no way should that hurt us more than when a veteran with finished leg makes a mistake in a big game. For all it's worth, I'd take his crumbling against Catania than Seedorf against Tottenham standing there ball-waiting, any given Sunday. Seedorf (or anyone else for that matter) is the bigger crime. At least, the youngster will learn from the experience and who knows, maybe improves.

Of course, if we did not have stupid coaches these past few years, they would have integrated and eased these players into the first XI without much trouble. Had at least one of them play/start in all matches, at least easier ones, and we'd have had some sort of a new generation ready by now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) When we have talentless hacks like Bonera, Antonini, Abate (depending on who you ask) playing regularly, and making mistakes all through the season, it would not have hurt trying Strasser, Merkel (he is quite young still, I'll give you that), and other such players. There was absolutely no point in loaning out the likes of Astori and Paloschi.

If we had played our youngsters the right way these past few years, we would not have been asking the question of whether to give them some game time in a tough away match like Chieve - they would either be ready by now, or not. In the case of the later, they'd be out of the club if the management found them weak.

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Kind of see both points in this. Merkel is young, has talent (though not as good as people make out) but he has got potential, he isn't going to get better by sitting on the bench though. He has to get time on the pitch, if Milan feel he's anything for the future, if not he needs to go out on loan somewhere (where we actually get him back after).

This is kind of the problem with Milan now with the lack of youth, we don't give them a real chance, bar Pato. As I've said before with Gourcuff as a good example we just let him go without a wimper, ok so he's not absolute top-notch but would he be playing in our team instead of Seedorf now? Of course he would.

Though this constant bombardment of Merkel being some saviour is a bit OTT, we've seen him, as I said he has talent/potential but he's certainly no superstar yet. Yes he should start games but people really need to reset their expectations. Just like this 'Ganso' rubbish, it takes years for them to develop, from what I've seen he is not Kaka V2, I highly, highly doubt he would be here a few weeks and be one of our main starters, just look at Pato it's taking him time to develop. I heard all this hype with Augusto a few years back and he's hardly set the world alight.