[KingKaka]

so we are going to need 1 or 2 new defenders next summer as it's maldini last year and not too much left in nesta who's the man for the job who do u want to be our new world class defender?

[dst]

There's a thread for this but well... it's never boring to talk about Kolo Toure! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/king.gif)

[Zed.D]

Kolo Toure??... is he capable of replacing God? [I'm just asking, don't kill me for saying this]


I think I'd go with Mexes even though he's not 100% solid and makes mistakes sometimes. but he can improve as a defender.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=922142

[KillerMax]

Toure is a great choice. But I'm not sure if we have been linked with him and I don't think Milan are keen on him anyways. Ramos is just a fantasy and to be honest, I want him to stay in Madrid. I like Ricardo Carvalho and I think he is a realistic choice and can be a great addition to our squad.

[dst]

Kolo Toure??... is he capable of replacing God? [I'm just asking, don't kill me for saying this]
/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=922142[/url]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) You think I have it in for you because we tend to argue quite often? We're cool from my side mate!

So is Kolo Toure capable of replacing God? No. Nobody is. Maldini is not just any player and I'm not talking about his qualities as a footballer. When he is on the field he leads Milan. I don't mean that he simply is a good captain, I mean that his mere presence on the field (even when he is not excellent) drives the team, he gives them an extra push, more courage... I don't know if you get what I mean but you'll surely see it if you watch the Man. United Vs Milan 1st leg semi from the 06/07 season. Focus on how the team as a whole played with him and how they did without him in the second half. Their passion, their courage, how much they focused, how deep the back 4 stood when we had the ball... things like that.
And even clearly on footballing terms there is no player like him out there. Personal opinion.

But Kolo is a great CB, an avid fighter and a leader. Plus he can play as a full-back if needed, he's very good at it. But the most important thing is that he's not mistake-prone. I prefer a player that can play at 7 and not make kaladzities than on that plays at 8 and does and Kolo when needed plays at more than 7 too!

Mexes is the latter. He can pull off amazing interceptions but if he's in a bad day... I'd run to Kaladze...

Toure is a great choice. But I'm not sure if we have been linked with him and I don't think Milan are keen on him anyways.

Ramos is just a fantasy and to be honest, I want him to stay in Madrid. I like Ricardo Carvalho and I think he is a realistic choice and can be a great addition to our squad.

No it does not seem as if Milan are interested in him but I would not exclude the possibility because of that.

While I think Ramos is a great player I am not a fan of him and would not like to see him in the Milan shirt (not that I'd be disappointed, I'd just look elsewhere, also because of his price tag).
Yup, Carvalho would be a very good choice. I think he's at the same level as Puyol and I'd welcome both of them.

[PatitoFeo]

Yeah Mexes is awful at defending setpieces, be it club or international level. WHen was the last time Maldini let his marker get by him? Maybe a club training session when he was 16, but the last 20 or so years he has been Captain consistency.

[TriniKing_CE]

I don't know if you get what I mean but you'll surely see it if you watch the Man. United Vs Milan 1st leg semi from the 06/07 season. Focus on how the team as a whole played with him and how they did without him in the second half. Their passion, their courage, how much they focused, how deep the back 4 stood when we had the ball... things like that.
And even clearly on footballing terms there is no player like him out there. Personal opinion.

I agree with this almost fully, and I remember that match almost as clear as day and I remember the differences within the team's 1st & 2nd half performances!

While I think Ramos is a great player I am not a fan of him and would not like to see him in the Milan shirt (not that I'd be disappointed, I'd just look elsewhere, also because of his price tag).

+1
I don't like Ramos' attitude but should he arrive one day which I don't see happening anytime soon (I can't see myself finding much personal problems overall with his arrival aside from his possible exorbitant transfer fee)

Yup, Carvalho would be a very good choice. I think he's at the same level as Puyol and I'd welcome both of them.

Not sure If I would rate Carvalho and Puyol at the same level (not because I disagree tho, simply because I never thought of it) Either way I would welcome them both, the 1st one seeming more realistic, even though Puyol himself once said if he ever left Barcelona it 'would' indeed be to Milan! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[vnata001]

**large post - started with a small thought, and then just snowballed! haha, must be a sensitive subject..**

The IDEAL situation would be that we buy 2 defenders. One for the present and one for the near future. Something like a Branislav Ivanovic/Daniel Agger and Fabiano Santacrocce/Thiago Silva.

Nesta starts when he's fit, next to Agger/Ivanovic. When Nesta needs a break we have Kaladze (aging), Silva/Santacrocce, Bonera.

Bonera would be our utility man and also provide cover at right back. Janku and Antonini on the left.

As soon as our defense tightens up we'll return to Il Grande Milan. We were spoiled watching the Maldini, Stam, Nesta, Cafu back 4 in their primes...I think two impactful youth signings and we're the best team in Calcio once again..

with a solid defense, we can afford 5 attack minded players on the field and move away from this 2 DM formation that is responsible for this 2 season long poor run of form in league, and the mismanagement of Gourcuff! Carlo first did that when we had a shortage of attackers, post Sheva and for a while it made sense. Its no longer like that anymore though. we have the attack, but Carlo fell in love with the Christmas Tree because of all the CL gifts it provided him and loaded up on DMs - Emerson, Brocchi, and now Flamini.

I think it was because of the Christmas tree that we won CL true, but that was largely all thanks to Kaka, Pirlo, and Seedorf cuz Gila/Pippo pitched in sparingly. but its also the reason Gourcuff wasn't introduced properly. We were SHITE in league, and playing with extra focus in Europe. Therefore Yoann was ignored across the board. Never got into league matches cuz of christmas tree, and no space for him in the tense CL campaign. Ever since Sheva left our league performances have been sub standard with the Christmas tree. Last season speaks for itself. The squad is good enough to contend for the Scudetto but Carlo needs to end his affair with DMs.

and to contend for Europe next year? We need those defensive reinforcements. Make it happen!

[Jack Sparrow]

I thought bots were extinct on milanfan. I want only the pornbots, keep out the rest please.

[Jack Sparrow]

AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini has registered his concern over the sliding standards of defending not only in Italy, but the world over...

Since Italy's disappointing displays at EURO 2008, serious questions have been asked regarding the quality of players currently plying their trade in the rearguards of Serie A.

Some pundits believe there are few, if any, truly gifted Italian defenders coming through the ranks; and with Fabio Cannavaro likely to join Maldini and Alessandro Nesta in international retirement fairly soon, there is considerable anxiety as to who will lead the Azzurri back-line in years to come.

Maldini, who played 122 games for La Nazionale, agrees that there is a worrying shortage of top-class stoppers, although he insisted the problem is by no means restricted to Italy.

“It is true there aren’t that many great defenders now, but that is not just true of Italy, it is a European and even world issue,” the San Siro hero told the Corriere dello Sport.

However, Maldini does not subscribe to the belief that there is a dearth of raw talent, as he reckons there are plenty of youngsters waiting for their opportunity to shine.

The 40-year-old said: “There are some good young talents out there. Domenico Criscito (currently at Genoa) is great to watch, you can tell he has something special. He just needs to improve physically and gain experience.”

To hell with Toure and Puyol and whoever. God has spoken. Stop the press right now. Sell Kaka buy Criscito.

[dst]

Criscito is owned by Juve... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Cause when we were sleeping they made business!

This post has been edited by dst: Oct 21 2008, 12:33 PM

[Jack Sparrow]

Sell Kaka buy Criscito. As long as we have Kaka we can trade for whoever we want.

[dst]

I thought Kaka was good... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Jack Sparrow]

Well yeah kinda...so I guess we'll just co-own him then... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Have you ever seen Kaka man mark? He sucks... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Jack Sparrow]

And just when I mentioned, tribalfootball had cleaned up it's act, it came up with a brilliant article claiming a deal with Mexes was all but done with Roma. 8 mill cash, with Bonera and Janku going to Roma. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)

Of course acmilan.com has come out and shot down the rumours.

Some good stuff on the site.