[amancik]

A bit of a side note, I think Montella has been pretty quiet these past few months, don't you think? Granted it's still early days, but I really have little idea about how we're gonna play next season and how the transfers so far actually fit into Montella's plans.

[Jack Sparrow]

A bit of a side note, I think Montella has been pretty quiet these past few months, don't you think? Granted it's still early days, but I really have little idea about how we're gonna play next season and how the transfers so far actually fit into Montella's plans.

It has been off-season. I don't think we'll hear him talk officially till pre-season beings.

[Danny]

A bit of a side note, I think Montella has been pretty quiet these past few months, don't you think? Granted it's still early days, but I really have little idea about how we're gonna play next season and how the transfers so far actually fit into Montella's plans.

I also wonder how many of the signings are actually his.

[han2503]

I'll say this, while this thread is the only active one, the quality of debate here is really good. Except from me, my opinions suck.

No they don't Danny. Just because we disagree, it doesn't mean anyone's opinion is either right on wrong.

That's the beauty of being unique. And I think it's great that there's so much discussion on the forum

A bit of a side note, I think Montella has been pretty quiet these past few months, don't you think? Granted it's still early days, but I really have little idea about how we're gonna play next season and how the transfers so far actually fit into Montella's plans.

He's been on vacation for the last few weeks. We'll only hear from him once the pre-season kicks off

I also wonder how many of the signings are actually his.

I don't think he's picked any of the individuals himself tbh. I think he's okayed the transfers and had his input on what profiles he likes. But in terms of singling out a player and wanting the club to go after him; I think that's been very minimal. The only player he reportedly asked specifically for is Kalinic, but I don't think he's the one who actually wants him per se.

I think the management want an experienced Serie A striker we can rely on since Andre is going to be new to the league and is still very young, and Kalinic is probably the best and most realistic striker we can take out of another Serie A side, especially if he'll primarily be a back up

[Danny]

No they don't Danny. Just because we disagree, it doesn't mean anyone's opinion is either right on wrong.

I was being a little deadpan my dear friend. I hold my opinions dear as you do yours. As we all should. But we should all be open to change.

That's the beauty of being unique. And I think it's great that there's so much discussion on the forum

The board is dead. Long Live the Board.

He's been on vacation for the last few weeks. We'll only hear from him once the pre-season kicks off


I don't think he's picked any of the individuals himself tbh. I think he's okayed the transfers and had his input on what profiles he likes. But in terms of singling out a player and wanting the club to go after him; I think that's been very minimal. The only player he reportedly asked specifically for is Kalinic, but I don't think he's the one who actually wants him per se.

I think the management want an experienced Serie A striker we can rely on since Andre is going to be new to the league and is still very young, and Kalinic is probably the best and most realistic striker we can take out of another Serie A side, especially if he'll primarily be a back up

Then there's just no point in him over Bacca. They're too similar. Bacca is a great striker in the right system - season before last wasn't he Serie A's top scorer outwith the on fire Higuain and Dybala in much better teams than Bacca was in? That system suited him, but Montella's 4-3-3 just doesn't.

No point signing someone else who can't give more than Bacca if he's going to stick with 4-3-3.

[maldini03]

I think for me that's the thing. Bacca is completely 1 dimensional. He is a poacher, a guy you don't see coming who pops up in the box and buries the ball. Kalinic is different. He is an outlet to hold the ball up and bring his teammates into the game, he is a towering presence, AND he buries the ball.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Kalinic part of a two man system with Ililcic operating as an SS/Playmaker. I think they see Silva as that type of player, so the two would be able to operate in a 4-2-3-2 system.

[Danny]

I think for me that's the thing. Bacca is completely 1 dimensional. He is a poacher, a guy you don't see coming who pops up in the box and buries the ball. Kalinic is different. He is an outlet to hold the ball up and bring his teammates into the game, he is a towering presence, AND he buries the ball.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Kalinic part of a two man system with Ililcic operating as an SS/Playmaker. I think they see Silva as that type of player, so the two would be able to operate in a 4-2-3-2 system.

I can't fathom the desire to get rid of a 20+ goal man for a 15 goal one. It's just nonsensical.

Silva isn't going to deliver them - and the guy ahead of him must. Bacca has far more chance of doing so in concert with a SS than Kalinic. And Illicic had four assists last season. Four. FOUR!

We're going from mediocre to ... Fiorentina haha.

[maldini03]

Bacca adds nothing to the build up. He can't dribble, he is an awful passer, and he is offside more than anything else. Kalinic isn't perfect but he is at least multi-functional. I think management is trying to build a team that is flexible and Bacca is possibly the least flexible player on the team. Plus his nasty attitude is something we don't need. The guy pouts like a kid when he gets pulled after doing nothing all game.

I don't hate Bacca but he is a luxury player who we cannot afford. Plus Bacca had (in Serie A) 18 goals last year and 13 this year which includes penalties. He isn't a 20+ goal striker. In Serie A in two years Bacca has 31 in 69. Kalinic has 27 in 68. Not too much difference. Plus Bacca is the highest paid player in the team.

[han2503]

I was being a little deadpan my dear friend. I hold my opinions dear as you do yours. As we all should. But we should all be open to change.

The board is dead. Long Live the Board.

Then there's just no point in him over Bacca. They're too similar. Bacca is a great striker in the right system - season before last wasn't he Serie A's top scorer outwith the on fire Higuain and Dybala in much better teams than Bacca was in? That system suited him, but Montella's 4-3-3 just doesn't.

No point signing someone else who can't give more than Bacca if he's going to stick with 4-3-3.

The board might be close to dead, but it's hasn't been this active in a while

Look, I'm not someone who's advocating the Kalinic transfer, in fact, I think it's an absolutely terrible move considering what Fiorentina want for him. But, Kalinic is definitely a better overall player than Bacca, simple as that, and he'd fit into a 4-3-3 seamlessly as he's a target man who's great at holding up the ball and bringing team mates into play, he's probably better at that than he is at outright finishing.

Bacca is simply a no-go. And please do not mention the formation/system. A player who is top class like you claim Bacca is would manage to make any sort of situation work out for him. But he simply isn't, so he struggles when he doesn't have a system around him that caters to his very specific needs.

Also, it's pointless to mention how he did under Miha, simply because I think he was physically much more in shape than he's been in a while, he had a good turn of pace and he was new to the league, so he caught teams out more, now every team knows how to neutralize him easily and add to that he's not even that quick anymore so whatever edge he had, he's lost it

I can't fathom the desire to get rid of a 20+ goal man for a 15 goal one. It's just nonsensical.

Silva isn't going to deliver them - and the guy ahead of him must. Bacca has far more chance of doing so in concert with a SS than Kalinic. And Illicic had four assists last season. Four. FOUR!

We're going from mediocre to ... Fiorentina haha.

But that's the point, Bacca is not a 20+ goal man either he's barely a double figures man if you take away the penalties!

[maldini03]

I don't think that Kalinic is the right solution either, definitely not for 30 million, but that being said he is a step in the right direction from Bacca.

[Danny]

The board might be close to dead, but it's hasn't been this active in a while

Look, I'm not someone who's advocating the Kalinic transfer, in fact, I think it's an absolutely terrible move considering what Fiorentina want for him. But, Kalinic is definitely a better overall player than Bacca, simple as that, and he'd fit into a 4-3-3 seamlessly as he's a target man who's great at holding up the ball and bringing team mates into play, he's probably better at that than he is at outright finishing.

Bacca is simply a no-go. And please do not mention the formation/system. A player who is top class like you claim Bacca is would manage to make any sort of situation work out for him. But he simply isn't, so he struggles when he doesn't have a system around him that caters to his very specific needs.

Well that's a bit unfair to Bacca and indeed nearly any player who plays the game. Stick Messi in as a target man in a 541 formation and he will struggle. Put Ronaldo in as a partner striker to Suarez in a 4-4-2 and he will struggle. Why? Because every player has strengths and weaknesses and lugging in aerial balls for Messi and expecting him to hold up play or trying to do one twos with Ronaldo just isn't going to work. No matter how good that player is.

Also find it a bit depressing that you're determined to advocate Kalinic as better than, well, anyone given he was Blackburn and Dnipro within the past six years. The guy is utter average. But if you are fair look at Bacca's career stats:

2006–2011 Atlético Junior 97 (50)
2006 → Barranquilla (loan) 27 (11)
2007–2008 → Minervén (loan) 29 (12)
2008 → Barranquilla (loan) 19 (14)
2012–2013 Club Brugge 45 (28)
2013–2015 Sevilla 72 (34)
2015– Milan 69 (31)

It was only because of how rubbish Milan were last season and how bad the system was for fitting him and the rest of the squad that he had so few goals for the first time at a club since 2008! That's a decade ago. Sorry, but you give him the right system and actually make him feel wanted and he'll give you goals. Fact. If you disagree with that then I'm truly done even if you don't like him. I don't mind your bias against him, we all have that about some players - but if you disagree with facts then there's no point continuing.

Also, it's pointless to mention how he did under Miha, simply because I think he was physically much more in shape than he's been in a while, he had a good turn of pace and he was new to the league, so he caught teams out more, now every team knows how to neutralize him easily and add to that he's not even that quick anymore so whatever edge he had, he's lost it

Absolute nonsense. Sorry Han but this is your weakest argument in a long time. He was no good because everyone had figured him out and he was out of shape?! You're just making this up now. More to the point, even if he was out of shape, all he has to do is get back in it! And you're telling me he's lost pace over the course of three months? Wtf happened to him? Someone shoved a tonne weight under his shirt overnight?! Everyone figured him out? Did they figure out Higuain, Dybala out?

Two things happened to Bacca which made Rossoneri fall out of love with him (remember the hero he was under Miha - DON'T JUST SAY IT DOESN'T COUNT): the failed move to China, the change in formation. He lost form through the latter and lost love through the former.

Now he seems to be public enemy number one - the new Zapata/Muntari/Allegri.

But that's the point, Bacca is not a 20+ goal man either he's barely a double figures man if you take away the penalties!

So penalties don't count? Maybe ask Balo and Ibra that.

[Danny]

I don't think that Kalinic is the right solution either, definitely not for 30 million, but that being said he is a step in the right direction from Bacca.

From BrilliantsVille to MediocresLand? Sign me up, I want a plot of land!

[Forza Milan!]

Not thrilled with Kalinic either, but Bacca is indeed too one-dimensional. Also, one of the biggest problems we had last year is that we were way too "predictable", and Bacca was a big part of that. We need a system as well as players that can "mix things up" and adapt to whatever situation we are facing. Hopefully this is what we are trying to accomplish.

[Forza Milan!]

(And I have two big Fiorentina fans in my family, so please be nice :-))

[Jack Sparrow]

At 3 MM a year, I hardly think Bacca is overpaid in today's world. Like I said, I'm happy to keep having him and see if it works out with Silva. Especially if we beef our midfield up.

I'd go so far as to say, if we're shipping out Niang AND Lapadula, there's no reason we can't have Borini and Kalinic both come in, so we have 4 forwards - Borini, Kalinic, Bacca, Silva - fighting for two sports and presenting lot of tactical options in the front line. Target man + SS. Target man + Goal Poacher, Target Man+Wing Forward, Wing Forward+SS.

Yeah. I don't really care about Bacca vs Kalinic debate. I care we don't overpay for Kalinic. He's a 20-25 MM striker for me. Not more.