[dst]

And his big contribution to securing the CL spot in the early stage, allowed us to concentrate on winning the CL.

God's words! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif)

[Rossoneri7]

With the options that Milan currently has, it is really difficult to predict how Ancelotti will play, but one this is certain, there will be a triad up front.

Ka-Pa-Ro ... I think Italy has yet to see what this devastating combination on paper can do on the pitch.

I mean, with a so & so fit Ronaldo and Pato's first season, Milan showed it had grave potential and was a threat to any defense. But now with Ronaldinho; IMO Milan has the capabilities to unlock any defense in Serie A!


As for the midfield, Milan has proven yet again to not change something that is running pretty well. Pirlo, Seedorf, Gennaro and Ambrosini would be considered First team quality for any side ... You would just have to see their pedigree, world champions and two times CL winners. Add to that Flamini, whom all of the coach, the Milan technical staff and Capello have applauded.


The defense, I find it to be sound. You have Nesta and Maldini .. The later will be playing his final season and I am sure he will let the curtains drop on yet again one of his best performances in recent years!

Maybe the 2nd line of defense on the bench isn't of the quality of Nesta and Maldini, but then again who is ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)



Gkeeping ... I still have faith in Dida! He has shown signs of decline, YES! But, it is my belief and that of the Milan technical staff, that he still is one of the best. Anyways, a lot consider him finished, so there is nothing I can say except what he will be proving on the pitch!





All in all, Milan have a very strong squad at the moment. No team is 100% complete. Milan on the other hand is one or two signings from being such. If I was to choose a line up, I would leave the team as it is; with Zambrotta on the left, the triad up front and a midfield 3 of Pirlo, Seedorf and Ringo OR Ringo Pirlo and Ambro

[kurtsimonw]

As for the midfield, Milan has proven yet again to not change something that is running pretty well. Pirlo, Seedorf, Gennaro and Ambrosini would be considered First team quality for any side ... You would just have to see their pedigree, world champions and two times CL winners. Add to that Flamini, whom all of the coach, the Milan technical staff and Capello have applauded.

Gotta disagree with this bit. I'm not sure how Milan 'proved' that they didn't need to change it. Our midfield was very weak last season, only Ambro showed that he was deserving to be in the Milan team. Definitly the weakest part of the squad and the biggest culprits as to why we finished 5th - even more so than Dida.

[Rossoneri7]

Gotta disagree with this bit. I'm not sure how Milan 'proved' that they didn't need to change it. Our midfield was very weak last season, only Ambro showed that he was deserving to be in the Milan team. Definitely the weakest part of the squad and the biggest culprits as to why we finished 5th - even more so than Dida.

Last season was a dull season in terms of quality. Milan simply didn't show up, until the season was all but over.

Ambrosini is a very good player, I rate him highly as a DM. His PLUS, was he remained injury free and that gave him continuity.

But to say that the rest of the midfield was very weak, is not stating a fact per say. I mean, YES they had a one off season, but that doesn't mean that all of Pirlo, Gennaro and Seedorf are the reason behind Milan's 5th place finish.


Milan finished 5th place because of several factors. Fatigue, injury, and a lack of depth. For this midfield has won so much, you would just need to look at their records to grasp what kind of caliber you are talking about.

If you want to wipe them out, just because of one season .. then that is your opinion. But mine remains that they are world class.

[han2503]

I don't agree. If it wasn't for his goals and general contribution we probably would have failed to qualify for last season's CL.

And his big contribution to securing the CL spot in the early stage, allowed us to concentrate on winning the CL.

Very true and as misha said, because of him we managed to concentrate more on the CL because he was assuring us goals in the league. Had we bought Ronaldo from the beginning of the season I think we would have had a much better shot at Seria A, but instead we got a more expensive Oliveira (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

As for the formation, I'm not quite sure yet. I would personally still prefer Seedorf in the midfield 3 especially in the league where we struggle to un-block defences with the 2 defensive mids, both are not needed for those types of games, and still don't understand why Carlo kept insisting on it last season and the one before that despite it proving to be a failure in practically every game we played against the mid table and bottom of the table teams. But Flamini should be a starter imo, he's not a pure defensive mid he's more box to box, he can win the ball back but still do something like make a great pass or even moving forward and shooting, he showed that yesterday in the friendly and countless times last season at the Arsenal

[Tennie]

Y'know, I really am rather enjoying this thread. For the first time in a while, there are actually options for the starting lineup.

It'll be interesting to see who really does end up starting this season.

[kurtsimonw]

Y'know, I really am rather enjoying this thread. For the first time in a while, there are actually options for the starting lineup.

It'll be interesting to see who really does end up starting this season.

It should be very interesting.

I still don't believe this is the 'complete squad', even if I do believe we will not sign anymore players this summer. For the start of the 2009/10 season I'm sure we'll have even more players that can cope in the first team, and that's when we'll push for the leage title in my opinion. I'm not sure we're quite ready yet, making the CL should be our priority.

[Bluesummers]

It should be very interesting.

I still don't believe this is the 'complete squad', even if I do believe we will not sign anymore players this summer. For the start of the 2009/10 season I'm sure we'll have even more players that can cope in the first team, and that's when we'll push for the leage title in my opinion. I'm not sure we're quite ready yet, making the CL should be our priority.

for how much money we have we made some good signings. Flamini is sick, boriello we can judge in 4 days, zambrotta needs no intro and ronaldinho we'll see in august. For what a 30 million transfer fund that was pretty good.

[acid911]

I don't agree. If it wasn't for his goals and general contribution we probably would have failed to qualify for last season's CL.

+99 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cry.gif) Like you mentioned, Paolo said it in his last interview that if it weren't for R99 and his contribution to the team, things could very well have been different. I'm not saying we wouldn't have won the CL, but at the very least we had someone leading the attack and had a peace of mind in the league (unlike this season). Every player contributes in his way; can't discount Ronaldo's contribution, just like we can't do the same for anyone else who wears the Red&Black jersey.

And we shouldn't forget he was Pato's idol. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif) Ronaldo - along with Kaka and Leonardo - is the reason we're able to say Quack Quack. Brazilians absolutely adore Real Madrid, and I have reasons to believe Pato may (or may not) have headed to Spain if he had a larger array of choice. Scouts for clubs like Chelsea, Madrid were of course interested in him. So in a way he passively contributed in netting us Pato, even if a small amount. For the same reason, I'd very much welcome Benzama (as he has wanted to play alongside R99), only if our management was interested in him. The Frenchman too is about a complete a forward as they come.

If no other strikers arrives, and Ronaldo wants another try at the Milan challenge, I'd take him in a heartbeat. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif) Provided he is ready and wants to play top flight football. We don't have to play him in every match, use him like Inzaghi. Time will tell.

[gal_kenny]

Milan Choose First Choice Keeper

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has appointed Zeljko Kalac as the first choice goalkeeper for next season.
Christian Abbiati, Nelson Dida, Zeljko Kalac: those are the three goalkeepers currently under contract at Milan, and all three, for better or worse, could potentially be the first choice for next season. But it seems coach Carlo Ancelotti has picked his starting goalkeeper now.

"The hierarchy of the goalkeepers has been decided by Carlo Ancelotti," announced vice-president Adriano Galliani. "I think that at this point we can say that we start with Kalac, then comes Abbiati, and we are waiting to verify the conditions of Dida, who is following a recovery program."

Galliani then talked about Alessandro Nesta's conditions: "It's nothing serious. He does have this problem to his back. We had him checked by some specialists and they said an operation isn't necessary. He should recover soon enough."

Last season Dida started in goal for Milan, but a series of blunders saw him drop out of the team and replaced by Kalac, who become the new first choice, after Christmas.

Now i guess there is no question about what goal keeper we'll start with considering our formation...

So i guess it'll be something like this

------------------Kalac----------------

-----Bonera--Nesta--Kaladze---Zambrotta---

-----Gattusso------Pirlo------Flamini

--------------Kaka-------Ronaldinho------

--------------------Pato/Borriello--------
www.goal.com

This post has been edited by gal_kenny: Jul 26 2008, 08:54 PM

[acid911]

Yeah, there is a thread about this in the News section. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Anyway, Kalac should start. And deservedly so. The only thing that bugs me is that I remember a player mentioning that Dida is training hard, and is getting back into form. And now Galliani comes back to say that Dida is on a recovery program.

I don't remember him being injured that serious, honestly.

[gal_kenny]

Yeah, there is a thread about this in the News section. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Anyway, Kalac should start. And deservedly so. The only thing that bugs me is that I remember a player mentioning that Dida is training hard, and is getting back into form. And now Galliani comes back to say that Dida is on a recovery program.

I don't remember him being injured that serious, honestly.

I really don't trust Dida anymore...He needs to prove to milan once again that he's still as good as he used to...Ma bad Acid 911, i felt that the Kalac article would match in the thread considering milan's formation for next season...

[acid911]

I really don't trust Dida anymore...He needs to prove to milan once again that he's still as good as he used to...Ma bad Acid 911, i felt that the Kalac article would match in the thread considering milan's formation for next season...

No worries at all mate! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I appreciate you taking time out to post it here. And oh, feel free to call me Acid. Hehe.

[kurtsimonw]

Agree with the Kalac thing, but no Ambrosini in the predicted line-up. Why does he even bother?

[gal_kenny]

No worries at all mate! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I appreciate you taking time out to post it here. And oh, feel free to call me Acid. Hehe.

lol..Aight....Acid it is..

This post has been edited by gal_kenny: Jul 26 2008, 09:22 PM