[Forza Milan!]

Linked with Thiago Maia

[Forza Milan!]

There's yer reasoning! He was mediocrity and the fact we've made 100% profit is great business. Well done to the club on this one.

Yeah, but we have replaced him with even more mediocre mediocrity :-).

[Danny]

Yeah, but we have replaced him with even more mediocre mediocrity :-).

Must admit the Borini thing has me bewildered.

[Danny]

I'm not even continuing this any more!

PS hard to judge Silva tonight. Combustible and argues his way into the book while missing a relatively open goal. Not exactly blown away by him so far.

Ok looking at this objectively - 21 year old who has an oddly good record for Portugal (8 in 11) but a shite one for his club - 17 in 42.

We've just paid 40M for this. And tonight all I saw was a wasteful whining kid who looked barely any better than Niang did for us and played about as well.

Can't help feeling this wasn't a good signing.

[maldini03]

Danny we are paying for potential. He will have a lot to prove but we need to be patient with him, he has a natural feel for the game and though his finishing needs work, he moves well without the ball and is adept at finding teammates in the final third. These are things that make him a natural SS which is why they are interested in Kalinic to do the rest.

As for Borini, he is probably better than Ocampos and he is coming to fill the same role. Plus he's Italian and he can play anywhere across the front. I would also be happier playing the younger guys for the role that he will fill. However, I think that 20+ games in Serie B is better for a player than a few Coppa games here and there. Borini will be a sub, nothing more.

I prefer Kalinic to Bacca simply because of the shite attitude Bacca displays sometimes. Bacca's bad attitude and penchant for sitting offside, combined with the fact that he is ONLY a poacher with diminishing skills and I would rather have Kalinic for the same money. Initially, I was skeptical but, Kalinic could tutor Silva in all of the things he isn't great at. Kalinic is both a poacher and a target man, and he contributes to the build up which helps the team a lot.

We definitely need a star signing, something to really put us on the map. I don't think that signing is Biglia. However, I think he would come here an provide a lot to this 'young' potential midfield. Krakowiak will also fill this role IMO. 15M for either one is a good bargain

[Danny]

Call me demanding but I don't want potential. I want guarantee. I don't want a 40M experiment which might not work. When was the last time we signed a player at that age, for a huge price, on the basis of potential?

And Han seems to think he's going to be just fine up front alone - must say by your account and what I saw last night, that isn't the answer.

tbh, him behind Bacca wouldn't be the worst outcome. The last time we tried a striker pairing it worked great - Bacca and Adriano, so naturally Miha ditched it after a match or two and never went with it again.

I'd be happy to see us try a partnership again, with Bacca (or someone) as the goal getter because I cannot see Silva filling that role.

[amancik]

Ever since the Donnarumma debacle, transfer news have not been great. I'm not that thrilled with the news we are being linked so far (except for Conti); i.e. Kalinic, Calhanoglu, Borini. We need super signing in midfield and so far there are no moves being made which is quite a let down.

After Conti, we need to secure a good winger/left forward and a world class midfielder. I don't think we need another striker as I feel Andre Silva would come good but I understand if we want to have another one, someone who's more of a penalty box striker.

[Fillipo Simone]

Call me demanding but I don't want potential. I want guarantee. I don't want a 40M experiment which might not work. When was the last time we signed a player at that age, for a huge price, on the basis of potential?

And Han seems to think he's going to be just fine up front alone - must say by your account and what I saw last night, that isn't the answer.

tbh, him behind Bacca wouldn't be the worst outcome. The last time we tried a striker pairing it worked great - Bacca and Adriano, so naturally Miha ditched it after a match or two and never went with it again.

Why are you so eager to jump to conclusions? That's only one match yesterday. Also you cannot expect what isn't there. You're right, Milan needs guarantees. But out team also needs prospects. So Silva goes in that category, and we shouldn't expect any more or less right now from him.

[Jack Sparrow]

I'm okay with Borini. I see him as Niang without the attitude issues. Look, these are all coach's asks I guess. It's been sometime since I saw our club listen so intently to the coach. If we gave the coach a contract, I guess it behoves us to support the coach in his demands.

Regarding Biglia - I'm fairly sure it is strong arm negotiation on our part because this is a player who wants to leave and we can possibly drag it out to get a lower price even if it's just 2-3 MM less - the money saved pays a year's wages right?

I think we had to close Andre Silva quicker the same reason Bayern had to close Renato quicker. The risk that he had a good Confed Cup and his value goes up another 20MM would have been an issue.Hopefully, he doesn't end up being a flop show like Renato has this season.

My main concern is on who we're offloading now? We still seem to have a few players who we're not sure about. Niang, Bacca, Montolivo, Kucka, some of the youth products in the periphery and so on. Shouldn't the coach have an idea on who he can play to rely on.

[Fillipo Simone]

Offloading - Han's number one topic. Good punchline Jack (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[han2503]

OK, that's your opinion and I respect it. Personally, I think Calhanogu would be a very good signing and I'd welcome it. We're not ready yet to sign the Fabregas' and James' of this world, so less acclaimed but yet talented players like Andre Silva and Calhanoglu are exactly what we can afford.



Wishful thinking, Han. Wishful thinking.

Maybe it's because I haven't seen enough of Calhanoglu, but I just want to see one really great signing to be made in midfield. We absolutely need that to make the leap forward we need to make to be certain show-ins for the CL places. Atm, with the squad you posted, a top 4 spot would still be a question mark imo

There's yer reasoning! He was mediocrity and the fact we've made 100% profit is great business. Well done to the club on this one.

Disagree. Lapa was great coming off the bench. Honestly, I don't get you bias towards him at all yet you constantly advocate for Bacca, who was an expensive ghost last season. Lapa would have been perfect to keep on the bench. He's on low wages, doesn't complain, always gives his all, provides goals coming off the bench and works much better in terms of general build up. On the Contrary, Bacca is on high wages (highest in the team), acts like a pre-pubescent teen girl when he doesn't get his way, gives practically zero contribution in build-up, and absolutely lost his scoring touch last season which basically makes him useless.

Borini on the other hand is just terrible so bringing him in makes absolutely no sense.

Call me demanding but I don't want potential. I want guarantee. I don't want a 40M experiment which might not work. When was the last time we signed a player at that age, for a huge price, on the basis of potential?

And Han seems to think he's going to be just fine up front alone - must say by your account and what I saw last night, that isn't the answer.

tbh, him behind Bacca wouldn't be the worst outcome. The last time we tried a striker pairing it worked great - Bacca and Adriano, so naturally Miha ditched it after a match or two and never went with it again.

I'd be happy to see us try a partnership again, with Bacca (or someone) as the goal getter because I cannot see Silva filling that role.

Bacca and Adriano worked well together for basically a single game, then they were bad next to each other, which is why Miha used Niang next to Bacca as the season went forward and he switched to a 4-4-2.

Also, Bacca is not going to be staying and it would be a mistake to keep him as his price will continue to plummet by the day.

Andre Silva is an SS. Most of the people who I've talked to that have been following him have said that his finishing is actually his weak spot right now, but his overall game is very developed for a player his age. I didn't watch him yesterday because I had to go out, but he impressed me in the earlier games. But are you saying that his general movement and involvement in the game are bad? Because from the games I saw, those are the things which really impressed me

Also I don't see us playing with 2 strikers tbh. The only way I can see that happening is if we play 3 at the back. Which we don't have the depth in defence to cover that kind of formation

Ever since the Donnarumma debacle, transfer news have not been great. I'm not that thrilled with the news we are being linked so far (except for Conti); i.e. Kalinic, Calhanoglu, Borini. We need super signing in midfield and so far there are no moves being made which is quite a let down.

After Conti, we need to secure a good winger/left forward and a world class midfielder. I don't think we need another striker as I feel Andre Silva would come good but I understand if we want to have another one, someone who's more of a penalty box striker.

Yeah, the Snake really put a wrench in things for us. Hopefully this can get sorted either way

I think Conti could be done today (fingers crossed the meeting we have with Atalanta goes well). Talks for Calhanoglu seem to be advanced going by reports, but there's still a bit of distance between the 2 parties, so I think we can probably see it being concluded next week. Biglia's agent also confirmed that he's flying to Milan next week, so we can see some movement there as well.

I'm dreading the Kalinic deal tbh. I don't want us to buy him. Not because I don't like him as a player. I think he's a good striker, better than Bacca or Lapadula imo, but Fiornetina want too much. And I don't want to see us wasting so much money on a striker when we can easily keep Lapa for the bench and use that money on a great mid

[han2503]

My main concern is on who we're offloading now? We still seem to have a few players who we're not sure about. Niang, Bacca, Montolivo, Kucka, some of the youth products in the periphery and so on. Shouldn't the coach have an idea on who he can play to rely on.

I think this is the list of players on their way out (going by general consensus coming from the transfer market reporters who have generally gotten things right about Milan so far this summer)

• Paletta - Could be off to Toro by the end of the week, we probably won't get anything for him, but I think this is mostly being done to soften relations with Cairo for when we swoop in for Belotti next summer
• De Sciglio - Most likely off to Juve - Last reports were that they could meet this week or early next, we reportedly want 20m for him Juve offering 10m. I say milk them for all they're worth after how they f@cked us over with Pirlo and Matri
• Vangioni - We obviously want to get rid of him, but the wages Galliani gave him could be a problem
• Bertolacci - Fiorentina are interested, latest reports are that he could be included in the deal for Kalinic
• Poli - Off to Bologna for free - will most likely be confirmed this week
• Kucka - Trabzonspor want him and have offered 4m, we want more for him, hopefully we aren't too picky and we take whatever money we're being offered for him and run like hell
• Pasalic, Mati, Ocampos and Deulo - All loans ended and we have shown zero interest of signing any of them
• Lapadula - Genoa could be readying a bid in the region of 10 to 14m last I read
• Bacca - Marseille and Sevilla are interested, let's hope we can at least pick up 20m for him
• Niang - Last reports were that we'd agreed all terms wit Everton for 18m but the f@cker is stalling and waiting for Arsenal (like they'd ever go for him ((IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) delusional at best). Hopefully he gtfo by next week and agrees to go there
• Monto and Abate - I don't know what will happen with these 2, but they're obviously not being considered for starting spots. Their wages will obviously be big problems if we're planning to move them along. I'd personally keep Abate and try to sell Monto

Offloading - Han's number one topic. Good punchline Jack (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I love offloading the mediocrity (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Please refer to my offloading list up top ^^^ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Forza Milan!]

Yeah, the Snake really put a wrench in things for us. Hopefully this can get sorted either way

Worth noting that after the Euro, Real is no longer all that interested in Dolla. So this backfired majorly for him, so much for Raiola acting in the interest Dolla.

As for the rest of the news, not overly thrilled by recent signings but to me this year is about building the foundations. If we qualify for CL, we will be in a much better position to attract real talent.

[Jack Sparrow]

I think this is the list of players on their way out (going by general consensus coming from the transfer market reporters who have generally gotten things right about Milan so far this summer)

• Paletta - Could be off to Toro by the end of the week, we probably won't get anything for him, but I think this is mostly being done to soften relations with Cairo for when we swoop in for Belotti next summer
• De Sciglio - Most likely off to Juve - Last reports were that they could meet this week or early next, we reportedly want 20m for him Juve offering 10m. I say milk them for all they're worth after how they f@cked us over with Pirlo and Matri
• Vangioni - We obviously want to get rid of him, but the wages Galliani gave him could be a problem
• Bertolacci - Fiorentina are interested, latest reports are that he could be included in the deal for Kalinic
• Poli - Off to Bologna for free - will most likely be confirmed this week
• Kucka - Trabzonspor want him and have offered 4m, we want more for him, hopefully we aren't too picky and we take whatever money we're being offered for him and run like hell
• Pasalic, Mati, Ocampos and Deulo - All loans ended and we have shown zero interest of signing any of them
• Lapadula - Genoa could be readying a bid in the region of 10 to 14m last I read
• Bacca - Marseille and Sevilla are interested, let's hope we can at least pick up 20m for him
• Niang - Last reports were that we'd agreed all terms wit Everton for 18m but the f@cker is stalling and waiting for Arsenal (like they'd ever go for him ((IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) delusional at best). Hopefully he gtfo by next week and agrees to go there
• Monto and Abate - I don't know what will happen with these 2, but they're obviously not being considered for starting spots. Their wages will obviously be big problems if we're planning to move them along. I'd personally keep Abate and try to sell Monto

I love offloading the mediocrity (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Please refer to my offloading list up top ^^^ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Great list. The only name you've missed of any 'potential' is that of Jose Mauri. I guess our other loanees like Vergara,Ely, Gabriel etc. are fodder to be sold.

[Danny]

I'll say this, while this thread is the only active one, the quality of debate here is really good. Except from me, my opinions suck.