I wont cross this post with ease. This is it. Brief and true. Excellent post, as usual.


Modric? Hmh, Lyon, Barca, Chelsea, Bayern. Probably it'll be something unexpected. I hope Milan. Chances are..about 5%. But after the EC, if he stays unattached, he could be our target.

After looking at some of the proposed lineups for next season, I don't understand why people want Kalac and Fiori (huh?) to stay while Dida is automatically the one who should leave.

No. It wasn't different.

We were playing Red Star away (2nd leg) and in the same day Inter finished the deal.

Later, Galliani and Berlusconi confirmed Ibrahimovic would be a Milan player if we had the CL confirmation earlier.

It would be for the best if all three of them left. That said Kalac is decent as a backup for next year, although i would prefer Dida to go and Kalac too

we've already lost a lot of fans if you didn't notice. In the summer here in canada i saw so many people with kaka jersey or ac milan jersey; now its all c.ronaldo or man u.

Probably cause they think Dida is the only one who would mind be considered as No. 2. But I don't think we should force or wish players to go. We only should players to join and add up the squad.

Exactly the onbly reason why we haven't signed any great players excluding Pato is because we didn't want to sign anyone. Not because players rejected us, we have the money, we play in a top league and we are Milan.

And these days if you show a player the right ammount of $$$$ then he will sign.

It's just us trying to be greedy keep all the money and still expect to win.

Fact is with the squad we have we are not good enough

I personally am expecting these signings to happen:

Top quality keeper - it all starts with a great keeper and we just don't have that, if we don't get a great keeper then we might as well not bother to sign anyone else

Top quality defender - we have no one that can partner Nesta, Paolo is going to retire next season and we can't keep playing Kaladze, he's just a sorry excuse for a defender

Zambrotta - this is one player that I absolutely want to play for Milan, we should have gotten him 2 seasons ago but this summer we have to get him, he can play on both sides and can even play as a winger if we are really desperate

Midfield back ups for both Pirlo and Kaka

Top quality defensive mid - De Rossi or Flamini come to mind. Rino has just been woeful this season and Ambro aside for his arial technique has been nothing short of disasterous, both don't have the legs to play like they once did especially Rino.

Top quality striker (Benzema/Eto'o)

Replacement for Gila - I'm one of the few on here who has backed him all the way and I will keep backing him as long as he is putting that shirt on but I think we all know that he will never be to Milan what he was to Parma, and maybe he will get back his form if he goes somewhere else and we will say "oh we should have kept him" but I don't think that will happen while he's at Milan. In the interest of both parties I think it would be good to part ways, maybe give him to either Fiorentina or Roma and exchance him for one of their players (Mutu if we send him to Fiorentina would go as a direct swap and we wouldn't have to think about getting a replacement for him with that deal)

And it goes without saying that guys like Brocchi, Favalli, Emerson, Serginho, Cafu and Pippo should be released

The least 3 I know they've been great for the club but there comes a time where you just can't let imotions and past glory get in the way of future success and this is definately that time

@han2503:

Like I said earlier: Cafu, Sergio and Pippo are a non-issue for me. Simply because they just want to be part of the team, and when used judiciously still contribute heck of a lot.

I don't think they've been used as excuses for not getting a player either. If so we could have had Cafu and Bonera, and never brought Oddo.

What worries me is our reluctance to buy players, in the mid-field. Earlier in the glory days of Carlo (this season by the way is his first 'failure' , which is why I still don't say he should go...1 failure in 7 years ain't so bad), we would always...always win the battle in the midfield....


Take a look at this mid-field...

---Rino--Andy--Seedorf -------Rino----Andy----Ambro---
-----------Rui---------- ----------Kaka--------Seedorf---


Now theoretically, our current mid-field should be stronger. But I think, believe it or not, this mid-field places way too much work load on Pirlo. Pirlo is not a shirker. But what he is a swiss clock. Or like a metronome. Give him space, and he'll give you brilliance all day, every day...tick tock tick tock. But when he's being manmarked like heck, and Rino's not got his back anymore, there's little he can do. He doesn't have a higher gear see? He's just always consistent. He's not like say a Zidane or even a Del Piero(in his heyday)

In the earlier mid-field, we had Seedorf close to Pirlo as a creative option open for Andy (instead of Rino and Ambro) and then Rui as well.

Now here we have Kaka, who unlike Rui is I'm sorry to say not too good with tight spaces(one of the reasons he doesn't make my top 4 list of current Milan players ). So now this I think is why Carletto plays Seedorf , so upfront with the 2DMs instead of in the centre mid per se. So that Seedorf can do something else, when Kaka is man marked tight. Or even pull people off Kaka (something Gila and Seedorf do rather well).

Now the problem is neither Seedorf nor Kaka have the vision that Rui did. In those days we had both Rui and Pirlo with that divine play making vision. Now it's just Andy.


I've always said that Kaka was the thrusting tip of the spear nothing more. The impetus needs to come from elsewhere.


So while this might seem wierd....I don't care about getting new goalkeepers. And Kaladze can stay or go, Bonera can partner Nesta.

My choices:

Fullback: Zambrotta, one young Pato of the fullback world
CM: Aquilani/Cigarini, Dessena/Montolivo, Neves (in case you want a Kaka replacement)
Attack: Somebody who likes playing in tight spaces. No one better than Ronaldo, but I haven't seen enough of Gomez. Berbatov would be nice too.
I suppose Borriello is coming in. Don't know enough of him though.

Out:

Gourcuff: Loaned to Ajax (please...this is very important)
Brocchi: Sold to Fiorentina + cash for Montolivio (yeah right )
Favalli: Retires hopefully. He's really been a good buy for an old Bosman transfer. And I'd hate to have to release him

Gila: Unless we really are going to let him play as the free roaming penalty box striker he was in Parma, he should go. This converting him into a target man, so he holds up the ball, and pulls defenders off shite, is not working. hes not even making the Azzuri.

I agree with you completely but old player like zambrotta should not be injected into the team again. Lahm is a good option he is younger and versatile also. Barzagli is younger and better than kaladze. why not sign him? Diego or neves should replace some aging player in the midfield and back up for kaka, either Flamini or xabi Alonso will be a good addition in the defencive midfield area. Benzima or gomez most be included in the attack.
CAFU, FAVALLI, SIMIC, BROCHII, EMERSON, SERGINHO, AND INZAGHI should be living by now. MALDIN should retire with honour and GILARDINO if there is no right offer, he can be included in deals like offering him and cash to lyon or stuggart for BENZIMA or GOMEZ respectively. goucruff should be loan out for more playing time.
There are many players that meet our demand if only we will sign them. Stingy galliani he spend less and want to win more with wareout old soldires.

Mostly I agree with Cap'tn (which is not unusual), but I'll have to add some points:

Seedorf, Pirlo and especially Gattuso are older, which is an important factor. Other then that, we've lost our wing options. The big matches were in the past allways decided by Rui, Andy or our strikers. But many of does small teams broke exactly on Cafu's spark of idea, space feeling and speed, or Serginho's intelligent moves and runs. Janku and Oddo are good, but not really adding up as a constant option.

One more thing is Pato's unexperience and still not perfect SS-player movement. Sheva done it better cause off his experience, and this is still to come with Pato.

Also, Pirlo, Seedorf and Gattuso have no pressure from the bench. We had a problem with the teams depth, on first we lacked of quality subs and alternative solutions. But now the depth problem spreaded as our 4 midfielders became "untouchable". Whatever Pirlo makes, misses a penalty, kicks an owngoal or stops running, he'll be fielded next time. This is a psychological problem that cost us, and the players very much. In the word's of the 90ties capitalistic ideology, we need healthy concurrention.

We have 2 scenario

1-First is keeping players like Favalli,Serginho,Cafu,Ronaldo,inzaghi,Emerson,Brocchi and Gilardino,adding Zambrotta,Cesar,Shevchenko to them so that spending not much.

2-The second is,Signing 2-3 big name for first team,quality squad player and letting Favalli,Serginho,Cafu,Ronaldo,inzaghi,Emerson,Brocchi and Gilardino go.

i think Berlusca and Galliani would go for first but im hoping for the second.

-Zambrotta-he is already 31,also considering his fitness and injury problems he had at Barcelona,i wouldnt consider him as a super signing but at least he will improve our options in midfield.

-Vargas?would be really quality signing for the squad,he is defensively worth 100 Favalli,in attack he is worth 200 Favalli,he costs as much as Zambrotta,Also Juve and Valencia is after him.Antonini,Dossena or other options could considered as well.Antonini is our boy and had a good campaign at Empoli this season.

Flamini?Rino is 30 years old and however he needs a bit challenge from the bench,if Rino continues to play like he did so far,Flamini is more than needed.Good signing also considering he is free and can play in side backs as well.

Aquilani?(or Hamsyk,Kallstrom/Montolivo)He need a player who can play 2 part of the game,creative,have continuity,who can defend as well when Left side back was on the attack,Aquilani would be really great signing for first team,if Roma doesnt sell him to us,Kallstrom or Hamsk would be good signings.

Frey?(or Lloris) we need a WC gk,as Kalac is not,We need a gk who can win games to us,Kalac would be good for the bench.(Swap with Gila also considering Corvino was warm over this swap)

Samir Nasri(or Di Gennaro/Menez) Nasri would be really good signing for the squad as Seedorf is now 32 years old,Nasri would add pace and creativity to our midfield which is sometimes is limited on creating.

Karim Benzema(or Adebayor/Berbatov)i would rather to have one of this guys,all of them are hard to handle for any defense,one of them with Pato would be world's best attacking duo,if they are not on the market,i would go for Jo,cheap option but he is less risky than Gomez,Gomes is very weak in arial game compared to the likes of Drogba,but he can drible and uses his body well.

Borriello?i would sell or swap him only if we get Benzema/Adebayor/Berbatov +Jo,but in this case,he should stay at squad.

Mexes/Zapata,one of them should be signed,considering he dont cost more than 15 m euros.

==============Frey======================
Zambrotta=====Nesta=========Mexes=====Vargas=
=====Gattuso/Flamini===Pirlo=====Aquilani========
============Kaka=======================
====Benzema===============Pato===========

Team 2

===============Kalac=====================
Oddo====Bonera==========Kaladze=====Antonini===
=======Gattuso/Flamini====Ambrossini==Seedorf=====
===============Nasri======================
========Borriello==========Paloschi============

OUT
Dida,Jankulovski,Favalli,Serginho,Cafu,Brocchi,Digao,Simic,Ba,Emerson,Gourcuff,i
nzaghi,Gilardino,Ronaldo.

estimated costs.

Frey swap with Gila
Mexes 15 m euros
Zambrotta 7 m euros
Vargas 8 m euros
Flamini 0
Nasri Gourcuff+cash(depents on renewing the contract,if he renews the cash will be around 15 m euros,if he dont renew,will be much less.)
Benzema 40 m euros.
Antonini
Borriello 10 m euros.
Aquilani swap+Cash(likely Jankulovski consideirng Roma is looking for a LB)

Gourcuff's ajax connect is totaly unrealistic,i know Bocchi well who created this news for La Gazzetta dello sport,she is someon who uses his logic to create this stuff,as Van Basten declared that he would like to sign some players from Milan,Ajax needs a player like him after VDV and sneijder and Ancelotti doesnt rate him and wants to get rid of him.

There's something REALLY BAD happening in AC Milan!!!

After every defeat we can listen to our coach always talking about concentration, concentration and concentration. This means that:

1.) Our players are partying before the games;
2.) That the coach is not good enough in motivating them;
3.) Our players are lacking motivation.

I choose numbers 2 and 3.

We can CLEARLY see that there are some players in our team without the motivation a young player has when he is starting his career and hasn't won anything.

We know Kaka is motivated because he is young and because we now know that he decided that he wants to become a legend.

Pato and Paloschi are motivated because they are young and they want the taste of glory.

But at the same time we can see players like Seedorf who aren't motivated at all. We have seen what he is capable of doing when he is motivated: bicycles, long range shots, excellent passes, etc. But that only happens on few games not in all of them. He gets tired? Then he should be on the bench. Gattuso (with tears in my face) is not playing well and the most desperating thing is that now he is actually attacking and shooting!!!!

We have no fullbacks at all!!!

Young players and players that come from teams that haven't won a major competition are thirsty ... they want glory.

The bad thing is that a negative attitude or an attitude of accepting the level of play we have can be transmited to players that still have the desire. This transimission can lead to an equal mentality or to a negative one. This type of attitude is the one that makes players decide to switch teams because they feel no HUNGER in their teammates.

This evidences a fact. That our coach is not motivating and focusing our players anymore ... they reached a certain level with him but know it's time for a change. Look at what Real Madrid went through with "Los Galacticos". They made the changes and now they are heading up again.

We need changes ... even if they don't guarantee and instant Scudetto or an instant CL trophy. It doesn't matter ... we need a team of hungry players not lousy ones.

We need fullbacks that can give us flank attack, attacking midfielders and multitasking midfielders, we need somebody Benzema, Huntelaar or Jo. We need hungry guys not spoiled ones.

We can either stick with Carlo and get several new guys or change the coach ... otherwise it's not going to work anymore.

Intertoto ... here we come!

what is intertoto?

The Intertoto is something you appy for mid-season - Which Milan will not have done - and it's just a precaution managers take if they think they'll mis out on Europe. The highest placed team in the league who does not qualify for Europe, that applied for the InterToto, play a two-legged game against a team from another country. The winners get in the UEFA Cup.

its too late for that isn't it?

It's interesting how people mostly tend to focus on Seedorf's motivation, were in fact the bigger issue is Pirlo's. While we all love Andy and give him much credit, we oversee his week character. He's a fine player and a calm and rational person, but he also tends to be nonchalant, in both the good and bad meaning. He's started to do that to often, nonchalant passes and errors. No competition or contender who could replace him ensured his position and made him even more casual and careless.


Agreed


Yeah, the Roma game proved that point, right? Anyway, I understand, and yes, we need changes and competition in team.


Could apply for last season. This season it will be (1-x)+(2-x+y)..

A competition to be chancelled in 2009. For teams that 're ambitious but week


I don't think we need that kind of sarcasm. It's enough that we talk like Milan's been in UEFA cup for sure, this one would be too much,..

Mediaset says we're gonna sign Cesar! The Inter player! For free obviously. We're gonna offer him a 2 year deal.

Plus, we're renewing with Serginho and Favalli.

This is getting better and better.

He's a decent player, but clearly isn't the answer if we want to challenge for the title, or even the top 3.

What's the point of Serginho? He's injured like the whole season and plays in some Coppa Italia matches. That's what Cesar and Favalli will be like next year too.

Renewing Favalli and Serginho and adding Cesar to them.

Antonini is a LB and had good campagin this season with Empoli,i really wonder why we dont call back him and sign Cesar who is already 34-35 years old.

Didnt Berlusca said that we will reduce the number of players to 22-23?Howmany LB that we need to have?Favalli,Serginho,Zambrotta,Cesar,Jankulovski.

5 players isnot too much for one spot?

By the way,Favalli has already a contract with us until 2009,it seems Gallaini will gave a pay rise to him so that prasing his Atalanta game
?As he was perfect.

He offensively did nothing,defensively did great errors,as missed Pinto in first goal,then in second he was not in defense as he didnt return quick from the attack.

Serginho is always injured,Cafu is dead player since PSV semi final in 2005.Favalli is a Serie B player for midtable teams at his best.

if we continue to renew the likes of Favalli and Serginho and add Cesar and Shevchenko to them,it seems our aim for next year is intertoto cup.everyting is getting worse year by year.

Only Positive signing is Pato in the last 3-4 years as we see the likes of Oliveira,Emerson e.t.c.

the worst one is we want to renew Ronaldo too.who want to renew Ronaldo's,he should pay his wages from his pocket,Milan doesnt need to pay 5 m euros to a player who cant give nothing to us,Then inzaghi,he should have retired after Athens but still continue and every year he is worse than the year before,his wage is 3.5 m euros a year,we are really spending too much for transfer but in wrong way.

We are signing 5 LB for one spot and paying enormous wages to them(Favalli 2,janku 3.5,Serginho 2,Cesar will be more than 2)instead of that why dont we sign 2 proper LB and getting more contribution from them?Pay less and get more.

there is no one who is amazing that would play for milan right now. Only alves but he doesnts fit serie A.

What about Vargas,Dossena,Antonini,the LB of Sao Paolo,Adriano,All would be an upgrade over Favalli,Cesar and Serginho combined.

Rafinha,De Silvestri e.t.c would be upgrade over Cafu.

Dani Alves is a dream for us,our management and president know better and renews Favalli,Cafu,Serginho and add Cesar and Zambrotta to them.

Best signing is 32 years old,injury prone Zambrotta who passed his best and however having fitness problems.

You're the first person I've seen that actually isn't all too pleased about Zambrotta! Tennie will not be pleased.

( The fish doll might have to deny cookies!)

However, it's a valid point about Zambrotta: he hasn't looked particularly good this season playing for Barca. The fact that he's not happy there (and perhaps more importantly that his wife isn't happy there) is a mitigating factor for me.

I still think Zambrotta is a good buy because he can cover either wing. But we need someone ELSE, too. Vargas is one option, I still like Chiellini even if he does have Zebra cooties. De Silvestri is a good young player too.

Chiellini is out of the question. Vargas: considering we might need that EU spot for the 'star striker'...I don't think he's coming.

We'll just have to see about the new ones coming. I don't care if we make a million free transfers. We're obviously not going to be paying them like Kaka salary.

And whoever said Ronaldo was earning a regular paycheck?? I suspect he just gets living expenses. He was insured anyway, so the club probably lose zilch in terms of cash.

I'm so sad to hear all this stories of contract extensions for Serginho and Favalli. I still love AC Milan but I'll wait to see what happens at the end of this campaign. If we fail to go into the CL I don't care but I'll really pay attention to our transfers. I'm an ambitious fan and I want to see how ambitious my team is? We've had two years struggling to earn a CL spot and we've been far away from the top teams in our own league. I cannot stand this for another year. I will not cheer for another team but I will not care to watch our games if I see that the managment doesn't addresses our deficiencies which are pretty evident and clear.

If they don't care why should bother worrying so much before each game, praying, cheering, ahhhhhhhhhhhgggggg. I don;t wanna go through this again if the owners don;t care.

I'll wait and see what happens before the next campaing.

sad..but im starting to feel the same way. our management is awful, and pardon me for generalizing but given the way things have been, i wouldn't be surprised if the reason we aren't shelling money out for any worthwhile talents is because there is some shady business dealings going on within management..how else can someone honestly explain this sort of indifference to the mediocrity of our squad? if our team still plan on using cafu, ambro, emerson, favalli, serginho, pippo, and gila as first team players next season..im sorry, but thats a f***ing joke.

The way to keep a team competitive is to keep talented young players and veteran starting XI players in the squad. that way the old guys are always at the edge of their competence - their constantly fighting for a place in the squad. our management is acting amateur!

If we do not end up signing either Benzema/Gomez/Berbatov/Huntelaar, Neves/Hernanes, Cigarini/Montolivo, Zambro/Rafinha/Antonini, Llloris/Diego Alves...i will be disappointed, to say the least. EVERY big team signs some good players every off season, we sign emerson and favalli..WHY! my blood pressure rises everytime i post nowdays.

Don't make me change the team I use on PES to Roma!

^^^

Try Valencia. I've just switched to them on Fifa 08. What a beautiful team they are to play with.

I out-pass the real life Arsenal and that too playing for the first time in World Class Difficulty And possession is almost always greater than 65%. The only change I made in the team was to sell Morientes for Gomez (who is not too good in Fifa 08 ) and Gareth Bale from Tottenham in as LB (and this boy is spectacular!!)

Good Lord, you play FIFA 08, captain? PES 2008 all the way, baby. It smokes the EA game into tiny invisible pieces when it comes to gameplay. Plus, you can never go wrong with the cool penguin, ostrich, and dinosaurs costumes, can you? At least that's what Pola plays against. He has a thing against penguins, you know.

Well I play on PC...not console..and in my experience Fifa is the better PC experience.

Maybe PES is the better console game.

Note to mods: Hijacked...oooops!!!

PES is the better PC game too.....all the way I'm shocked....

Well, some good news from acmilan.com's italian page:

Con il massimo del rispetto per il giocatore in questione, il Milan smentisce categoricamente di aver mai pensato di acquisire il brasiliano Aparecido Cesar Rodrigues attualmente in forza all'Inter. Non c'è mai stata nessuna trattativa, nè mai ci sarà

[Milan denies categorically having thought of acquiring Cesar from Inter. There was never any negotiation and there won't be.]

Cesar as in Julio Cesar, the keeper? If so, I won't mind him. If it's not the Brazilian, then that's okay.

It's their number 31. A winger I think.

I haven't got it here yet. The last PES game I played was Winning Eleven 2007. But mine is an old laptop. I don't think it has the juice to run PES. I'll try looking around for it though.

Thing is PES doesn't sell much in India. EA has a far bigger brand rep. I'll have to look see at the pirated market.

what a relieve!

Chiellini is not so special...

According to La Gazzetta dello sport of today(Laudisa and Bocci together),our first objective is renewing the contracts of defenders.Maldini is retiring,maybe Cafu would retire as well.we need new names for defense, our first objective for defense is Mexes of Roma who appeals to Berlusconi too much,but he would only come to us in a swap deal with Gila or Borriello,otherwise we go for other alternatives.Marzoratti could return from Empoli,Zambrotta has been blocked by us,Then Primavera Darmian.

Also Berlusconi declared again he would like to have Sheva,as he added there is no players on the market who could make him crazy.

By the way,L'equipe writes that Flamini is a juve player.Bye Bye Mattieu.

According to MilanNews, is Emmanuel Eboué, the target of Milan for the right defensive side of field, where Oddo has shown his limits sunday: 25 year old in June, Arsenal's defender is a personal target of Ariedo Braida, who is bringing on negotiation. Eboué, this year used in midfielder by Arsene Wenger has a contract until 2009: his evaluation (7-8 million euros) would be reachable, a motivation more for rejuvenated the defensive line, that will see also the leaving of Marcos Cafu.

indeed,Eboue would be an upgrade over Cafu and Oddo(with this form).

solid defensively,good on attack though his crosses are not much better than Oddo's.

Eboue,Zambrotta,Oddo,Antonini,i just want this 4 man for next year,Get rid of Serginho,Cafu,Favalli,Jankulovski.

Not Eboue!!!

I think we all agree we're not getting Alves. Oddo will be 32 next season. If not Eboue, then who? Maybe Zambrotta, but he is old too and has no pace. There really aren't many good right backs out there, let alone great ones.

If we're signing Eboue.. that means we are very desperate. and sadly we are. I think a lot of Arsenal fans will be relieved if Eboue comes here. He is an upgrade on Oddo though. Unless he gets a redcard

Eboue is a decent defender but he can do very little attacking-wise. I even think Oddo is better in that aspect. Also Oddo is better overall and I don't believe there are not any RB's out there that are better than Oddo...

I'd get Benfica's Nelson instead! He's much better than Eboue for sure! Maybe not so good in defence but heck, Cafu and especially Serginho were never solid in defence either!

Cafu was pretty solid. Serginho was never an LB. Nelson? He's been very quite this season(news-wise). How is he doing? I don't think Milan are interested in him though. Just as they're not interested in Alves.

By the way, I have to ask Paloschi43, what do you mean Zambrotta has been blocked by Milan?

I think 'blindato' is being translated as 'blocked'. It's a literal translation but the meaning is..a bit different. I think that what Paloschi43 is saying is that Milan have the Zambrotta transfer tied up -- that it's for sure going to happen.

In any case, if there are not better RB's than Oddo and Eboue out there then the position has been cursed!

Alves?