[X-Offender]

Based on what?

Based on the fact that they're our best central defenders? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I mean, do you rate Bonera or Yepes better than Mexes and Zapata?

[Fillipo Simone]

Based on the fact that they're our best central defenders? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I mean, do you rate Bonera or Yepes better than Mexes and Zapata?

I don't know, I cannot rate Zapata till I see him play. How can I say he's our best defender when I haven't even seen him in training, let alone play a match.

Same thing was with Taiwo. People tend to project a players success at another league/club with automatism. Last season everyone harped how Taiwo is our best leftback, how he will be a starter. Well...the guy turned out to be a big mistake and made...5 or less appearances.

[X-Offender]

Well, I can only assume that we signed Zapata to replace Silva. Based only on that assumption, he should be a starter. Besides, you cannot compare his situation with Taiwo's. Zapata has 6 years of Serie A experience, where he's been a very reliable defender. Just one bad season with Villareal in a foreign league doesn't automatically turn him into a question mark.

[Fillipo Simone]

Well, I can only assume that we signed Zapata to replace Silva. Based only on that assumption, he should be a starter. Besides, you cannot compare his situation with Taiwo's. Zapata has 6 years of Serie A experience, where he's been a very reliable defender. Just one bad season with Villareal in a foreign league doesn't automatically turn him into a question mark.

1) Well, that assumption is peripheral. We signed Oliveira as Shevchenko's replacement. Was he a starter? Ever?
2) Agreed, there are differences. Yes, Zapata has experience, which gives me a lot of hope. Still, this is his first real big club, and we'll see if he steps up or not.

All in all IMO we cannot give an assessment whether Zapata should be a regular starter or not, because we haven't seen him yet. For all I know, Mexes and Yepes are the best defenders we have at the moment. Maybe Zapata will step in, and take one place.

[X-Offender]

I rate Bonera higher than Yepes.

[acid911]

Maybe Zapata will step in, and take one place.

Then again, maybe Mexes will leave. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) And Zapata would have no trouble stepping in. Thank heavens, Yepes signed on for another year. Losing three top defenders (two of them ultimate in class) in one season?! Get out of here!

[Fillipo Simone]

I rate Bonera higher than Yepes.

Really? When did that happen? I think Yepes was and will be better.

[Danny]

I don't rate Bonera at all. He is nothing more than a decent squad player, useful in injuries or when we play Coppa. Nothing more.

I did forget about Zapata but I'm on Filipo's side here - just because you sign a theoretically good player does not mean he will fit in at your club.

Look at KJH - has a quite mercurial record with every club he's been with - even did decent at Real Madrid - but it just did not work for him at Milan. Taiwo too is another example - a bright player from Marseille but failed horribly here.

Let us see how Zapata gets on, but calling him a replacement for Silva is like calling Oliveira a replacement for Shevchenko.

[Milan Are Brilli...]

Let us see how Zapata gets on, but calling him a replacement for Silva is like calling Oliveira a replacement for Shevchenko.

+1

[CHU-LIP]

Calling anyone a replacement for either Thiago Silva or Nesta will always be an insult in the first place. We have to continue with others though. I want Yanga-Mbiwa as replacement for Thiago Silva, and Zapata then will be replacement for Nesta/Mexes (depth wise along with Acerbi who also is new). Mexes leaving seems almost inevitable, but Yanga-Mbiwa would be worth it. He looks so very good, especially for his age. So focused, confident, good with the ball, pace, a quality defender. We really need him now Thiago Silva is gone. I hope him being captain at Montpellier reflects him having leadership. He already has played many games so he's not inexperienced.

I eye this as our new starting pair (backups): Zapata and Yanga-Mbiwa (Yepes, Acerbi and Bonera)

This post has been edited by CHU-LIP: Aug 17 2012, 06:09 PM

[Fillipo Simone]

It's still miles away from where we were last season - which wasn't perfect at all. I don't know, it looks rather grim.

[maldini03]

I feel we have no real leaders left, save for Ambro and Noce. I feel that a 20 goal haul from Pato and a year free from injury could help push him into that category for us.

This post has been edited by maldini03: Aug 18 2012, 04:42 PM

[Fillipo Simone]

Yeah, right, no leaders. That's what hurts as well, combined with a desolated defense and a uninspiring B-league midfield.

[m1ke]

If he can stay injury free, why not? He's clearly got the talent. The extra responsibility on his shoulders following Ibra's departure could work in his favour - but his consistency has always been the issue for me. It's frustrating because we've all seen what we can do when he's at his best.

Saying that, his scoring record is still very impressive for someone who's spent more time at the club in his teens than in his twenty's. I'm still not even sure where his best position is - I used to want him to play more as a deep lying forward. But a lot of the time he goes missing when he's doing that, and seems to do more damage when he's as close to the goal as possible.

Time will tell. I'd go as far as saying it has to be his year.

[han2503]

If he can stay injury free, why not? He's clearly got the talent. The extra responsibility on his shoulders following Ibra's departure could work in his favour - but his consistency has always been the issue for me. It's frustrating because we've all seen what we can do when he's at his best.

Saying that, his scoring record is still very impressive for someone who's spent more time at the club in his teens than in his twenty's. I'm still not even sure where his best position is - I used to want him to play more as a deep lying forward. But a lot of the time he goes missing when he's doing that, and seems to do more damage when he's as close to the goal as possible.

Time will tell. I'd go as far as saying it has to be his year.

If the club can get him a proper AM to support him, then he'll explode this season (if he stays injury free that is). If not, then I can't see how we'll get anything good out of Pato, or any of our attackers tbh.