[kurtsimonw]

4th highest scorer in Serie A and he's only started 13 of 28 games. Give any striker in World football those same opportunities and I'm not sure many would better his goal rate. Even his overall play is better than what I could've hoped for.

[milanbuf88]

4th highest scorer in Serie A and he's only started 13 of 28 games. Give any striker in World football those same opportunities and I'm not sure many would better his goal rate. Even his overall play is better than what I could've hoped for.

He has been far better than I could have expected. He's really carried the scoring load recently along with Balotelli as El Shaarawy entered a bit of a scoring slump. As an added bonus he makes the game a little dirty every time he scores with his celebration (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[han2503]

There's no way unwanted Pazzini, who I think was not even a regular and rarely scored in Serie A was worth Cassano + 7m... how can anyone really argue with that?

This

[Rossoneri7]

There's no way unwanted Pazzini, who I think was not even a regular and rarely scored in Serie A was worth Cassano + 7m... how can anyone really argue with that?

Technically speaking it was a two part deal.

Cassano to leave for EUR4.4MM and Pazzini to arrive at EUR11MM, the net effect is Cassano + 7MM(approx) = Pazzini

Source

This post has been edited by Rossoneri7: Mar 9 2013, 10:11 AM

[Fillipo Simone]

Anyone knows why Pazzini celebrates his goals with that finger gesture?

[acid911]

Anyone knows why Pazzini celebrates his goals with that finger gesture?

Maybe it's because he's an out and out poacher? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif) Even though he backtracks a fair bit when needed, he's a classic #11, and this probably is his way of telling others to keep an eye on him or risk a goal. I can't think of any other reason, unless it's something personal like Totti's, etc.

By the way, speaking of gestures, the worse ever goal scoring gesture is of Del Piero. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Bah!

[kurtsimonw]

he's a classic #11

Left winger?

And as for the swap. Based on this season, I don't see how anyone could argue that Cassano and 7m is worth Pazzini.

[acid911]

Left winger?

No, this is actually a modern #11. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) Classic in this case is one ahead of the CF (#9), right in front of the goal. Inzaghi, Huntelaar type player. Not terribly talented, not very physical, but great eye for goal and good positioning sense. Very few players like these left now in the game.

But as I said above, he does more back tracking for the team than he is required to do, which is a good thing. I was very impressed how he peskily kept Barcelona defense honest and under pressure. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) And even though I was a Pazzini neutral (maybe even less than 50% due to his price), but his value is going up in my book.

The first half of the season I did not even pay attention to what he was doing, because well, I was of the view if we need a poacher, we could just have brought Paloschi back and integrated him in the team. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) But all said and done, I see where you are coming from when you support Pazzini, and he's a good 70% in my book now. Impressive!

Same with Allegri, by the way, solid 60% from him for me at the time of this writing. Still think he's slow to react, not very good at managing people, and has the Small Club Mentality™ bug inside him. But he's making the most of his limited talent (Balo or no Balo), so that approval percentage will go another 5% up if we dispose off Barcelona.

And as for the swap. Based on this season, I don't see how anyone could argue that Cassano and 7m is worth Pazzini.

True, true. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Can't argue with this even if I tried. While I never would have paid 7 million for him, not even by the technicality R7 posted above, and still think it was a bonehead moment from Galliani in terms of finances. Cassano is always worth 7 million more than Pazzini, and for a player Inter did not want? Nah!

But I'll end this by saying that the guy is earning everything on the pitch. And for that, respect, respect!

[acid911]

By the way, modern wingers have just made the #7 and #11 positions their own now. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) And well with the way clubs and players deal with numbers these days, it's just not like the good old days now. So glad, and so lucky, I was a witness to the old school way of numbering and playing positions.

With the various 32s 74s, 80s 92s, 99s (this one though forgivable), no charm left in numbers now. Which was one of the best thing about the game of football. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I always enjoyed how Italy gave the #10 to the most handsome player on the team, how main goalkeepers were never any other number than #1.

How a #9 shirt always spread fear amongst opposition defenders, usually worn by the most talented striker and center forward of the team. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) How #10 in other teams used to be worn by a supporting striker with the best vision. Ah, the small joys of classic football. The very joys of classic football. Lost forever.

[dst]

And as for the swap. Based on this season, I don't see how anyone could argue that Cassano and 7m is worth Pazzini.

Yeah but we paid the money before the season...

At that time it was not a good deal. But I don't really care, it's not my money anyway and I don't believe it affected our plans in any way.

[kurtsimonw]

Yeah but we paid the money before the season...

So? Transfers are judged on how they perform after. Balotelli was a great deal at the time, but if he got injured and never played a game for us, I don't think we'd be saying the same thing.

[dst]

So? Transfers are judged on how they perform after. Balotelli was a great deal at the time, but if he got injured and never played a game for us, I don't think we'd be saying the same thing.

You're talking about a different thing. We did not overpay for Balotelli and that's not gonna change whether he gets injured or underperforms. The amount we payed at the time was fair. The amount we payed for Pazzini at the time was not fair. If it turns out that he was worth it is a different thing. The fact that we overpayed for him does not change. No one would care anymore but the fact remains.

[kurtsimonw]

You're talking about a different thing. We did not overpay for Balotelli and that's not gonna change whether he gets injured or underperforms. The amount we payed at the time was fair. The amount we payed for Pazzini at the time was not fair. If it turns out that he was worth it is a different thing. The fact that we overpayed for him does not change. No one would care anymore but the fact remains.

Fair enough, I don't think the initial deal was even 'bad'. Cassano is better. But he's also a trouble maker, wanted to leave, older and had less time to run on his contract. At most the deal was about 2m out.

If Pazzini is happy to keep the role he has for us now, I'd love to keep him for a while. He could be our new Pippo.

[X-Offender]

He could be our new Pippo.

I just noticed, Pippo was 28 when he joined us. Who knows, maybe it's a good indication for Pazzo. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

[kurtsimonw]

X-Oracle.