[Jack Bauer]

The summer thread was too depressing (at least for me) so let's start a new one.

What do you expect to see (besides Honda) ?

[han2503]

Oh yeah, true, I was talking more in creativity terms. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy.gif) While I do think a midfield of Montolivo, Honda, Kaka, Poli, Saponara is highly creative, guys like De Jong and Nocerino (hopefully he stays and picks up his game) can take care of guard duties.

Balotelli also has that touch of creativity, and with Abate and DeScig, goal scoring at will ought not be a problem. And that's even without throwing Shaarawy into the mix, who granted is not creative or creates, but is a good finisher. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Only part of the puzzle that remains is Allegri. To him I say, man up or man out!

But overall, in terms of creative potential this midfield is miles ahead of the dry seasons of Ambrosini, Flamini, De Jong, Nocerino, Boateng, Gattuso and then Muntari. More than two of these guys should never have played together, if were were planning to outscore oppositions. And guess what, when they did, we did not.

Agreed on that bit, I'm mostly worried about what even 1 injury to that midfield could do to us at this point. I guess when Honda comes we'll have more depth as he can play in a more retreated role in midfield.

And yes, personally I'm seriously worried about Allegri. All of Gazzetta's predictions have Matri as the 1st choice striker next to Balo. If he drops SES to accommodate his personal idiotic signing, I'll be seriously p!ssed off, even more than I am when I see Muntari constantly starting, and that's saying something.

Dropping him last Sunday for Robinho was just a slap in the face, he said it's because he hasn't played the new tactical set-up but that's really not an excuse, the kid is a striker more than he is a winger, he'll have no problem playing there and I'm sure he'll do great there.

SES was the player that saved Allegri's @ss last season because if it weren't for his goals he'd have been fired before November. I seriously do hope that he won't treat him as he is known to treat certain players with the typical 4 minute sub. Because that's just the most disrespectful thing, I'd rather he hadn't brought him on last Sunday than seeing that, just disgusting

Don't know if this was posted but...

Damn it! Can't we for ONCE just sell a player FFS? Have we actually sold a single player this summer for outright cash?

@ Jack, do the 2 years include this coming season?

Also, we have a host of players who'll be on their final year of contracts this season, namely Abate, Abbiati, Urby, Silvestre and Coppola.

Aside from Abate I think all should be let go. But we seriously need to get on extending Abate's contract. Just ridiculous to let it even run down this long

[acid911]

And yes, personally I'm seriously worried about Allegri. All of Gazzetta's predictions have Matri as the 1st choice striker next to Balo. If he drops SES to accommodate his personal idiotic signing, I'll be seriously p!ssed off, even more than I am when I see Muntari constantly starting, and that's saying something.

Dropping him last Sunday for Robinho was just a slap in the face, he said it's because he hasn't played the new tactical set-up but that's really not an excuse, the kid is a striker more than he is a winger, he'll have no problem playing there and I'm sure he'll do great there.

SES was the player that saved Allegri's @ss last season because if it weren't for his goals he'd have been fired before November. I seriously do hope that he won't treat him as he is known to treat certain players with the typical 4 minute sub. Because that's just the most disrespectful thing, I'd rather he hadn't brought him on last Sunday than seeing that, just disgusting

Yeah, now that you bring it up, I'm scared of the fact that there is some trouble brewing between Allegri and Shaarawy. There have been some reports that suggested this much, you have the coach regularly saying that things are fine between him and the player, even Shaarawy said so once. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) No it's not alright, from what I see it.

If it were, no one would be talking about it or denying it. Fire, smoke, something like that? Be interesting what he does to the Pharaoh this season, how Allegri treats and plays the kid. But I already sense it that the Matri signing was just Allegri's way of laying the smack down on El Shaarawy.

I hope I'm proven wrong, a few matches into the season. But he pulled his shtick on Pato, he can do it to anyone.

[kurtsimonw]

I hope I'm proven wrong, a few matches into the season. But he pulled his shtick on Pato, he can do it to anyone.

Pato was terrible and rightfully dropped and sold.

SES has been terrible for 6 months or so and players need to be dropped. Matri over SES? Yeah. I'd have Robinho in the team over SES at this point.