[X-Offender]

Here is Simikan in 1-on-1 situations against Mbappe (link)

Obviously can't judge a player from a 2 min clip but I like what I see.

[Danny]

Obviously can't judge a player from a 2 min clip

Which is why I never watch such clips.

[Forza Milan!]

From NonEvoluto forum:

"Problemi di liquidita' per l'Inter, ancora non pagati 4 mesi di stipendi arretrati. Marotta e Antonello chiederanno tempo alla Lega. Zhang disposto a cedere la societa' per 960 milioni, ma ce ne sono altri 600 da aggiungere per il debito"

"Financial problems for Inter, still not paid 4 months of back salaries. Marotta and Antonello will ask the League for more time. [NOTE: if you are behind by more than 3 months you are considered in violation.] Zhang ready to sell for 900M, but there also is 600M in debt."

For anyone unhappy with Elliott and the financial constraints that have been imposed on us, this is a reminder that financial stability is the basis for growth. Zhang gave Inter the illusion of stability, but the last couple of years have put them in a bad place.

[Fillipo Simone]

Agreed.

But our management has to speed up things. Negotiations for completely unknown players are taking way too long and we're losing out.

[X-Offender]

Agreed.

But our management has to speed up things. Negotiations for completely unknown players are taking way too long and we're losing out.

+1

[Fillipo Simone]

Wrong thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[Forza Milan!]

Agreed.

But our management has to speed up things. Negotiations for completely unknown players are taking way too long and we're losing out.

I can sympathize with the frustration (I will be very unhappy if we do not add a few players soon), but I am less concerned about it than most of you seem to be :-).

As I understand the way we operate, we assign a max value to a player and do not go past that in negotiations. On the negative side, this means we will miss opportunities. On the positive side, we will not get caught up in bidding wars, and we are less likely to overpay for players (like we did with F&M and later with Leo).

As for "completely unknown players", I guess Kone' fits the description. Simikan is a little better known. That said, I believe we will continue to focus on relatively low cost players with future potential and allow them to adapt slowly to our system. This will include "unknown players" ... like Kjaer and Saelemaekers. This means we are unlikely to find "instant solutions", but (if all goes well) we will keep building strength over time, and will become an attractive destination for young talent. In other words, we are playing the long game.

Should add that "instant solutions" often are not that. Look at Inter with Eriksen and the players that Conte insisted on getting (like Vidal and Kolarov). Or Milan with Bonucci and Higuain. Of course, you also have players that make a big difference (like Lukaku for Inter, Ibra for Milan). However, players like that come with very high salary and (in most cases) huge transfer fees. As we have seen, if things do not work out these deals can prove very costly (expensive player sitting on the bench and no way to unload him to some other team).

Like it or not, we cannot lose track of financial reality. Look at Inter. After celebrating the "unlimited financial strength" of Suning for the last few years, they are doing all that well. CM confirms what was posted on the NonEvoluto forum yesterday (Inter financial trouble) and they are also being sued for not having paid Eriksen's agent yet (source). Taking a wider view, lots of clubs are in deep trouble due to COVID (several weeks ago there were talks of Ligue 1 shutting down). And yes, there also are clubs that appear to be in good shape (Juve, RM, Bayern, all of EPL, etc.). However, these are clubs with real deep pockets (RM, Juve) or clubs that are built on a solid financial model (Bayern).

Bottom line, the current situation can be frustrating to all Milan fans (me included), but I prefer this to what we experienced for the last couple of decades.

This post has been edited by Forza Milan!: Jan 9 2021, 06:09 PM

[X-Offender]

Looks like Torino's Meit? will be our signing in midfield.

AFAIK, he's not part of Giampaolo's plans, not even called up for tonight's game. No idea how good he is, though.

[William405]

I can sympathize with the frustration (I will be very unhappy if we do not add a few players soon), but I am less concerned about it than most of you seem to be :-).

As I understand the way we operate, we assign a max value to a player and do not go past that in negotiations. On the negative side, this means we will miss opportunities. On the positive side, we will not get caught up in bidding wars, and we are less likely to overpay for players (like we did with F&M and later with Leo).

As for "completely unknown players", I guess Kone' fits the description. Simikan is a little better known. That said, I believe we will continue to focus on relatively low cost players with future potential and allow them to adapt slowly to our system. This will include "unknown players" ... like Kjaer and Saelemaekers. This means we are unlikely to find "instant solutions", but (if all goes well) we will keep building strength over time, and will become an attractive destination for young talent. In other words, we are playing the long game.

Should add that "instant solutions" often are not that. Look at Inter with Eriksen and the players that Conte insisted on getting (like Vidal and Kolarov). Or Milan with Bonucci and Higuain. Of course, you also have players that make a big difference (like Lukaku for Inter, Ibra for Milan). However, players like that come with very high salary and (in most cases) huge transfer fees. As we have seen, if things do not work out these deals can prove very costly (expensive player sitting on the bench and no way to unload him to some other team).

Like it or not, we cannot lose track of financial reality. Look at Inter. After celebrating the "unlimited financial strength" of Suning for the last few years, they are doing all that well. CM confirms what was posted on the NonEvoluto forum yesterday (Inter financial trouble) and they are also being sued for not having paid Eriksen's agent yet (source). Taking a wider view, lots of clubs are in deep trouble due to COVID (several weeks ago there were talks of Ligue 1 shutting down). And yes, there also are clubs that appear to be in good shape (Juve, RM, Bayern, all of EPL, etc.). However, these are clubs with real deep pockets (RM, Juve) or clubs that are built on a solid financial model (Bayern).

Bottom line, the current situation can be frustrating to all Milan fans (me included), but I prefer this to what we experienced for the last couple of decades.

Sure. But at a certain point, you're leading the Serie A, and you need reinforcements to keep pushing that way...which at worst will get you a CL qualification. We need to try and sign a player or two who are dependable (De Jong/Van Bommel style). There's no point of getting a youngster at this point in the season. For me there is no logic behind it at all. In the January transfer season, you need to go for experienced players who will help you. Ibrahimovic and Kjaer last season were the perfect example of that.

[William405]

Looks like Torino's Meit? will be our signing in midfield.

AFAIK, he's not part of Giampaolo's plans, not even called up for tonight's game. No idea how good he is, though.

No idea who he is?

If he's not part of Giampoalo's plans, then maybe he's actually good. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Why don't we snatch Belotti as well!

[X-Offender]

Soualiho Meite, 26-y-o CM they signed from Monaco two years ago for 12M. He's been a regular for them ever since.

[Fillipo Simone]

My toughs exactly. If Giampaolo thinks he's no good, maybe he's good.

[William405]

Soualiho Meite, 26-y-o CM they signed from Monaco two years ago for 12M. He's been a regular for them ever since.

He seems interesting. Why not?

[Forza Milan!]

Looks like Torino's Meit? will be our signing in midfield.

AFAIK, he's not part of Giampaolo's plans, not even called up for tonight's game. No idea how good he is, though.

I know he has been associated to Nkoulou (for example). Of course if you are not fluent in Italian you may not get the point of the rather juvenile play on words :-)

Beyond that, I believe he can play in the double pivot and does not fit in Giampaolo's system. I see this as a somewhat underwhelming move, but I have come to trust Maldini & Co (and I could not care less of Giampaolo's opinion).

EDIT: Opinions on the NonEvoluto forum are mixed. Supporters of the move point out that "he may be on the bench now but he was a starter last couple of years", "he is suffering from lack of faith but he is not that bad from a physical and technical perspective", "strong physically, not great technically but effective, kind of like Kessie though not as good".

This post has been edited by Forza Milan!: Jan 10 2021, 01:13 AM

[Forza Milan!]

Sure. But at a certain point, you're leading the Serie A, and you need reinforcements to keep pushing that way...which at worst will get you a CL qualification. We need to try and sign a player or two who are dependable (De Jong/Van Bommel style). There's no point of getting a youngster at this point in the season. For me there is no logic behind it at all. In the January transfer season, you need to go for experienced players who will help you. Ibrahimovic and Kjaer last season were the perfect example of that.

Well, last year we added Kjaer and Saelemaekers. Fans were not impressed, yet they both made a difference (Kjaer right away, Saale took a little longer). I think the system we have in place works well for us. It is mostly about building for the future, but it can benefit us shorter term as well. Our roster may not look impressive, but we have been winning consistently for close to a year. Have faith :-)