[kurtsimonw]

Cassano's lack of fitness has been shocking to me. I gave him far too much credit in the beginning.

He was the same last pre-season. I remember people wanted him gone he looked so out of shape. Come September he should be fine.

[X-Offender]

Why should he blame Berlusconi? Galliani is the one who takes care over the wages, and the transfers. If he didn't give so many players such huge and long contracts that don't reflect their quality, he has only himself to blame that now he has little to spend.

Because it was Berlusconi who decided to sell Thiago and Ibra, not Galliani.

[X-Offender]

He was the same last pre-season. I remember people wanted him gone he looked so out of shape. Come September he should be fine.

Or maybe he plays like crap because he doesn't care about this club anymore and wants to leave.

[Fillipo Simone]

Or maybe he plays like crap because he doesn't care about this club anymore and wants to leave.

The more time passes, the more I believe we should sell him right away.

[acid911]

Guys like Cassano, if they get out of control during a season, can bring down the house. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) There have been many such prima donnas in clubs over the years - the big ones had backup, while the smaller ones usually dispose off them the first chance they get. I really hope he boards the right train before the season starts, Cassano.

He's always been a peripatetic (wandering from club to club, without definition or purpose), but now he's turning out into a major liability, one that will become hard to manage and could have a negative effect on our season.

[Rossoneri7]

Guys like Cassano, if they get out of control during a season, can bring down the house. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) There have been many such prima donnas in clubs over the years - the big ones had backup, while the smaller ones usually dispose off them the first chance they get. I really hope he boards the right train before the season starts, Cassano.

He's always been a peripatetic (wandering from club to club, without definition or purpose), but now he's turning out into a major liability, one that will become hard to manage and could have a negative effect on our season.

Agreed, but in his own right he has not done badly for us so far, and his request for an improved contract could very well be his last chance on the same. So although I dont find a single flaw in your post, I just cant shake off the notion that he is looking over his personal interests as is Milan. Who knows, maybe a 1M or 0.5M increase could make the difference and turn Cassano's motivation indicators to an all time high? Afterall all, most forwards reach their prime in his age bracket. However, if he expects us to tamper with the wage-cap to satisfy him, then he can go **** himself.

[Jack Bauer]

(IMG:http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426866_369929599707276_346938122006424_1196273_2034202608_n.jpg)

[drucurl]

This might be the most unpopular opinion on the forum but I think Galliani is absolutely right.

$h!tlegri simply does not understand how to coach a BIG CLUB

^Granted, the term "big club" should no longer be used in the same sentence as us given the woeful quality of our squad.

The GAPING HOLES (no homo) are there for all to see and everyone and their dog knows that we need a CDM who can pass, a LB (been missing since Maldini/Serginho), and either a competent RB or a technically sound CM/CAM who can assist with supply to the forwards.

BUT to go to the f**king USA and lose by such a margin in front of an international fanbase is completely unacceptable. I laugh hysterically at anyone who thinks this defeat could have been worse (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

q: How many cr@p clubs has Milan, Barca, Real etc played and failed to defeat them?
a: a LOT!!

q: How did the cr@p clubs do it?
a: Lots of defending + sticking to good tactics

$h!tlegri is responsible for the bold part and it's clear that they weren't right....subbing in our fodder to get burnt in the fire of Real's attack (further) exposes our weakness and until Milan find some way of getting back on our feet this does not help our situation....it hurts....a LOT!

If you were a player thinking of coming to a big club and saw Milan get utterly thrashed by Real....would you feel to come? $h!tlegri is just making Galliani's job harder. It becomes a vicious cycle.

It's like you're going through real tough economic times, but you're on your way to a business conference to try getting some investors, but your wife wears her oldest most dingy dress, your kids keep stuffing the refreshments in their pockets and your dog walks in and inhales deeply so everyone can see his ribs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Sure the situation might not be ideal at home and much of it might be your fault but they're definitely not helping the situation.

Please understand that I don't think:

1) We're fine as we are (not even Galliani thinks that)
2) We're anywhere near Real's level
3) We're not in for a world of disappointment

[acid911]

Agreed, but in his own right he has not done badly for us so far, and his request for an improved contract could very well be his last chance on the same. So although I dont find a single flaw in your post, I just cant shake off the notion that he is looking over his personal interests as is Milan. Who knows, maybe a 1M or 0.5M increase could make the difference and turn Cassano's motivation indicators to an all time high? Afterall all, most forwards reach their prime in his age bracket. However, if he expects us to tamper with the wage-cap to satisfy him, then he can go **** himself.

I personally am against it, he should earn the extra 1 million or 0.5 million. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Show his worth this season and earn a new extension with a higher wage, how hard is that. For me, Milan giving up now would just stroke his ego to no ends, but if you believe it's worth a try, then I can understand that. I won't be against it.

In the end, the management will decide what's best. What if after earning a new extension we are treated to the same old, same old by Cassano. Bad boy that he is, he (and his agent) knows that he is practically the biggest fish in the pond. Even though he's not the face of the club - Pato is - the guy knows he can out-muscle the management.

Like I said, the best bet would have been both parties agreeing to a wage increase at the end of the season, depending on Cassano's performance output. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) This coming from him now, is practically blackmailing. It's not that he's got a long contract, pull in the numbers in the next few months and earn the right to an upgraded extension.

[William405]

This might be the most unpopular opinion on the forum but I think Galliani is absolutely right.

$h!tlegri simply does not understand how to coach a BIG CLUB

^Granted, the term "big club" should no longer be used in the same sentence as us given the woeful quality of our squad.

The GAPING HOLES (no homo) are there for all to see and everyone and their dog knows that we need a CDM who can pass, a LB (been missing since Maldini/Serginho), and either a competent RB or a technically sound CM/CAM who can assist with supply to the forwards.

BUT to go to the f**king USA and lose by such a margin in front of an international fanbase is completely unacceptable. I laugh hysterically at anyone who thinks this defeat could have been worse (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

q: How many cr@p clubs has Milan, Barca, Real etc played and failed to defeat them?
a: a LOT!!

q: How did the cr@p clubs do it?
a: Lots of defending + sticking to good tactics

$h!tlegri is responsible for the bold part and it's clear that they weren't right....subbing in our fodder to get burnt in the fire of Real's attack (further) exposes our weakness and until Milan find some way of getting back on our feet this does not help our situation....it hurts....a LOT!

If you were a player thinking of coming to a big club and saw Milan get utterly thrashed by Real....would you feel to come? $h!tlegri is just making Galliani's job harder. It becomes a vicious cycle.

It's like you're going through real tough economic times, but you're on your way to a business conference to try getting some investors, but your wife wears her oldest most dingy dress, your kids keep stuffing the refreshments in their pockets and your dog walks in and inhales deeply so everyone can see his ribs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Sure the situation might not be ideal at home and much of it might be your fault but they're definitely not helping the situation.

Please understand that I don't think:

1) We're fine as we are (not even Galliani thinks that)
2) We're anywhere near Real's level
3) We're not in for a world of disappointment

In my opinion,we were playing downright pathetic first half.It doesn't matter how many goals we conceeded.In the first we couldn't maintain posession for more than 10seconds.Yes,we hooked up for one goal...maybe the subs did contributed to the goals conceeded.But,I think we did almost equally bad both halves,with madrid pulling the plugs in the second.

This post has been edited by William405: Aug 10 2012, 05:14 PM

[Rossoneri7]

In my opinion,we were playing downright pathetic first half.It doesn't matter how many goals we conceeded.In the first we couldn't maintain posession for more than 10seconds.Yes,we hooked up for one goal...maybe the subs did contributed to the goals conceeded.But,I think we did almost equally bad both halves,with madrid pulling the plugs in the second.

We lost a lot of weight in our midfield, and a lot of experience to top it off. Our ball retention in the first half put me straight back to sleep. Seedorf was definitely missed from what I saw. That connection that linked our backline to forwards was disrupted. Surely the team will coupe and evolve, I just hope Allegri can make an omlette out of his egg basket (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[X-Offender]

In my opinion,we were playing downright pathetic first half.It doesn't matter how many goals we conceeded.In the first we couldn't maintain posession for more than 10seconds.Yes,we hooked up for one goal...maybe the subs did contributed to the goals conceeded.But,I think we did almost equally bad both halves,with madrid pulling the plugs in the second.

What did you expect from a Flamini-Ambrosini-Nocerino midfield? Constant and/or Emanuelson should have played instead, but Allegri went for his usual "all muscle, no brains" midfield. It just goes to show you how desperately we need a new playmaker.

[William405]

What did you expect from a Flamini-Ambrosini-Nocerino midfield? Constant and/or Emanuelson should have played instead, but Allegri went for his usual "all muscle, no brains" midfield. It just goes to show you how desperately we need a new playmaker.

Well Montolivo was injured.And,we needed a DM that can distributed the ball well...like Van Bommel.

[acid911]

I just hope Allegri can make an omlette out of his egg basket

Or his goose is cooked, eh?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Zed.D]

A friendly, in Italy I can understand.

This is a 60,000 packed stadium in NEW YORK. Definitely having US media coverage, lots of money but some place the football market has not been able to break.

And Real Madrid vs. AC Milan is never 'just a light' training match. That's why you face Olympia and all those other clubs, so Allegri can try out all the various tactics they want.

This is mostly to sell high-level European competition to the US audience and losing 5-1 does not do that.

I think we are worse off than Madrid, absolutely.

But we are NOT 5-1 worse, if you know what I mean.

Well, as kurt said La Liga teams are always ahead of Serie A team in terms of fitness so maybe it's not a good idea to plan such friendlies with the strongest of them?

We're not 5-1 worse, sure. but on a bad night we could easily lose 3-1 or 4-1 to them even with our best/smartest XI. they're just too ahead of us. I'm not saying this defeat shouldn't be looked into but Galliani's reaction was unnecessarily strong. maybe he should've told Allegri to take it seriously BEFORE the game!