[Zed.D]

Blog: Family affair

Milan are well renowned as a family club, but Steve Wilson thinks their latest nepotistic signing has taken things too far
How far should you go to keep your employees happy? For Milan the answer appears to be to throw money at the friends and families of their superstars in order to keep them with a smile on their faces. The Rossoneri have recently offered a contract to Chedric Seedorf - the younger brother of midfielder Clarence. But is this really the way to run a successful club? For me this tendency is starting to become something of a joke.

The best punch line has already been written though by the Diavoli, and once again it involved Seedorf. Back in 2004 his close friend Harvey Esajas was offered a contract by the San Siro side while on a visit to the Dutchman, at the time he had been out of the game for three years and was working in a Spanish circus. With the signing of Kaka's brother Digão last term as well it has become something of a bizarre and all too regular trend at the club.

In 2007 the fear was that Real Madrid would tempt away Kaka, so the arrival of his sibling was a way to keep him sweet. This year the arrival of Ronaldinho reportedly put Seedorf in a spin, so again the resolution appears to have been to do the pouting primadonna a nepotistic favour. Shouldn't the honour of playing for Milan be enough for these men without having to get little treats to keep them happy? And how much self-respect can Seedorf Jnr have?

The 25-year-old has been through the youth systems at Ajax, Real Madrid and Inter - notice the common link between that trio - and his previous spell in Italy saw him at Legnano, where the chairman is his big bro's former Milan teammate Marco Simone. You can count the number of games he has played professionally on a polydactyl's hand. There can be absolutely no question at all that he wouldn't be in the Milan squad based on his own merit.

Most likely he will follow in the footsteps of Esajas and Digão and will make a cameo appearance when Milan enter the Coppa Italia in November. But what does that say to the real Primavera players who have worked hard to get within touching distance of the first XI? When pulling out of the Dutch Euro 2008 squad Seedorf spoke of wanting to protect his integrity. Where are those oh-so-important principles now as he makes a mockery again of the institution that pays his wages?

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ita...blogs/sw44.html

I can't disagree with what this article says. I think our management are 'trying to look different' to be honest... which is irritating in THIS case.

This post has been edited by zdrossoneri: Aug 12 2008, 12:40 PM

[Fillipo Simone]

Well, Milan also has Davide Ancelotti, young Maldini and a couple of years ago George Weah Jr. also was listed as a player.

But I don't like the conclusions this article is bringing up.

and his previous spell in Italy saw him at Legnano, where the chairman is his big bro's former Milan teammate Marco Simone. You can count the number of games he has played professionally on a polydactyl's hand. There can be absolutely no question at all that he wouldn't be in the Milan squad based on his own merit.

Didn't Simone play the 2001 season when Seedorf was still at Inter? They were team-mates??

[Rossoneri7]

But I don't like the conclusions this article is bringing up.

Neither do I ... Actually, the whole article is to conclude the Milan's "family atmosphere" is a joke.

Thing is, this club is run in such a way that all of Europe has bared witness that in 22 years this management has done something special. And the philosophy that has been brought forward by the management rendered the success of this club.

With that said, I think the management know how to manage a football club, more than this geezer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

[Zed.D]

I don't think we wouldn't have succeeded if we hadn't signed Kaka and Seedorf's brothers just to keep the pals happy and of course sit those poor young lads on bench and make jokes for them that they can't kick a ball properly and that they wouldn't have been Milan players if only merits and qualities were to be considered not family ties. but what we can do? we have a sentimental Don up there... let it be.

[kurtsimonw]

I don't think we wouldn't have succeeded if we hadn't signed Kaka and Seedorf's brothers just to keep the pals happy.

Exactly, so signing all these relatives/friends has nothing to do with our success, it's just silly. Fine if they're good, but they obviously aren't.

[Giancarlo]

I fully agree with the signing of Chedric Seedorf. If it keeps players happy they'll player better... and it'll reduce the risk of leaving. These signings (which I count just two right now), have a benefit for the team... even though it is not immediately apparent. They aren't silly. And I think management is far more effective than the guy writing the article would be.

[milanista1899]

Exactly, so signing all these relatives/friends has nothing to do with our success, it's just silly. Fine if they're good, but they obviously aren't.

I agree here. I'm against the principle of signing these imposters, but if it in itself (which I doubt!) is the only reason we've held onto Seedorf and Kakà, then so be it. You can't deny that we'd be a weaker team without them which probably would affect our success.

[Tennie]

I'm with the sneaky guy from Lincoln on this one.

[CrazyMilanFan]

seriously what is the point of gettign Chedric this does not make any sense

[Giancarlo]

seriously what is the point of gettign Chedric this does not make any sense

To keep Clarence happy. And if he plays better I'm all for it.

[Bluesummers]

its just the concept that milan is more of a family than a club. IF you have your brother with you in the club you have a higher chance of staying at the club because now the club has entered the family zone. Chedric costs us like digao, virtually nothing. Players like emerson/brocchi/dida is who we got to care about and wonder why they are our club because those players are teh ones whos wages is affecting us. not digao or chedric.

[MizNelson]

We should not be signing players simply to placate other players. That's just ridiculous, especially since they have virtually no chance of playing and thus waste roster space (i.e. Digao).

[kurtsimonw]

Agreed.

We're paying the likes of Kaka' and Seedorf a lot of money to play good football, we shouldn't have to pay their family as well!

[jbryant1]

The only player on the team where is makes sense is Kaka. Seedorf is replaceable, I think there are better midfielders that could fill his position and do better for our squad.

The problem is that Milan will suffer in the game of modern football for their strategies. Bringing in brothers and sisters to fill the bench is not what the game is about. Its about getting the best 11 and best bench. The bench should represent the next line of great players to fill the gap or some veterans to fill in for a few minutes.

With Milan its a collection of brothers, the wounded, and senior citizens or the likes of great prospects like Gourcuff who don't get real play time and want to leave after a season

[Bluesummers]

when you start thinking like that guys then we are no different from madrid. And if we are no different from madrid then expect alot of our players to start moving in each window.