Where is the old Kurt !!!! This is not fair ! I was expecting more effort from you, young lad !

Yeah, but are Milan going to win Serie A? Players want the right balance, in the CL if you slip up you're as good as out, and if you aren't doing very well in the league you have nothing to play for for the rest of the season.. which is very disappointing. Much like we've had.

Deco, Márquez And Zambrotta Tempt AC Milan
AC Milan are weighing making a block bid to sign Deco, Rafael Márquez and Gianluca Zambrotta along with Ronaldinho from Barcelona at the end of the current season, according to a report.

The Italian giants are planning a rebuilding programme that has already seen them linked to several players joining the club and several established veterans leaving in the summer, AS state.

A deal to sign Ronaldinho looks set to be completed, but Milan could be tempted to make an offer for three other star names that may be leaving Camp Nou as Barça themselves look to make changes after another unconvincing campaign.

Zambrotta appears to be a done deal, but there has been no official announcement and the Blaugrana would welcome the chance to see both Deco and Márquez off-loaded. The Portuguese star's form and attitude has been a worry since the middle of last term and the fact that there has been little sign that he will return to his best, the club are prepared to let him leave.

Márquez too has seen competition in his positions rise with Gaby Milito coming in at centre back and Touré Yaya being signed to play as a defensive midfielder last summer. While the Mexican is still a popular figure at Barça, the chance to cash in on him and reinvest in other areas may well prove to be too tempting for president Joan Laporta and sporting director Txiki Begiristain.

Milan are set for a busy few months as their failure to compete in the league or in Europe has seen calls for an overhaul of the squad. Ronaldinho and Andriy Shevchenko are certain to join, while there is space for virtually one player in every other position and the Barça trio could well fill in a few holes.

It isn't rocket science, but Milan have suffered a lot of injuries to their key players!

Flip back a couple of pages, Bluesummers. This came up early this morning. The source of the information is an article in As....which is about as reliable as the Sun in the UK or the National Enquirer in the US. It's also Madrid-based which makes it even less reliable for Barcelona-related stuff.

The fish doll calls 'liar liar' on the writer of the original article.

“Ronaldinho wants to come to Milan and another top centre-forward is on his way too,” announced President Silvio Berlusconi.

The patron – this week elected Prime Minister of Italy – made the statements on Sky Sport Italia.

“Ronaldinho wants to come to Milan, that is clear. First of all because this club is the world champion, secondly as there are so many Brazilians and third everyone knows how well we treat our athletes.

“Perhaps we pay a little less than other sides, but we give them a lot more glory.”

The dig was at the other teams vying for Ronaldinho’s signature, as the Barcelona star is also a target for Inter, Chelsea and Manchester City.

The negotiations for the former World and European Player of the Year are confirmed and well known, but Berlusconi hinted at another transfer well on the way to completion.

“Another very important player is on the way. He is a powerful centre-forward who I shall not name.

“We are ready to sign two world class players for next season and there will be world class players in defence, too.”

The description of this centre-forward does not fit Andriy Shevchenko, who has also been tipped for a return to San Siro after his disappointing Chelsea spell.

“He had to bow down to a decision that his wife considered indispensable for the good of their children and so I supported him,” revealed Berlusconi.

“Among the fans there is a confrontation between those who believe he was a traitor and those who want him back. He did not cheat on Milan, he had to put his family first and I understood his decision.

“Now I believe that if he came back, we would welcome him with open arms. I am the first to support a return and hope he does.”

This week transfer guru Adriano Galliani also stated that Shevchenko’s arrival was “possible.”

Milan President Berlusconi concluded by leaving the door open for another comeback – former Rossoneri player and current Italy Coach Roberto Donadoni.

“I think he has done very well for the Nazionale and can see his future going in that direction. But if Milan needed a change of management, then he would be a great option, someone who was a key player for us and gave this side many victories.”

It is bound to spark further rumours over Carlo Ancelotti’s future should the Rossoneri not qualify for the Champions League.

Hope it's Gomez and Zambrotta/Zapata for the defense.

That last bit is very interesting. It's the first time I recall either Berlusconi or Galliani even so much as hinting at the possibility of a coaching change.

Deco yes...Marquez no.

So for 50 mill: Deco, R20, Zambrotta?

Sounds good.

But I would do something like this...

35 mill: R20+Zambrotta

And then the that I'am, I'd clean out Parma,

Dessena, Cigarini and Paponi. More italians for us please.

Viva Berlusconi.

You think !?

How about I tell you a fact, the management knows
After all, they have been there for 22 years constructing team after team, winning the most titles within the span of that time. And producing the the strongest teams to ever compete in Europe and locally.

For the sake of example, during the golden era of Italian football, the Italian teams invested a mind boggling 250M pounds (mind you, today that would be equivalent to 600M pounds). From English football Serie A attracted Gaza to Lazio, Platt to Juve and Des Walker to Samp. MILAN, spent the most, 50M pounds on Dejan, JPP, and Gigi Lentini.

When Milan turned down Luca Toni, they had Gilardino a player they invested (more than money) their faith into him. Had Toni been bought, Gilardino would have been picking up the balls, if you get what I mean

Moreover, why are you questioning the management on certain financial decisions ?! They are the experts in this field, so you should not worry     Then there is the thing about player's moving to BIG clubs, and Milan is as BIG as it gets   Pato choose Milan over Chelsea, Ronaldinho (will) choose Milan over Chelsea, inter etc ... Sadly though if you take this year as a complete failure (as it is, to an extent), and completely disregard what this current team has done over the span of these six years ... Your clearly not seeing the BIG picture. Which is Milan will bounce back harder than ever next season! Don't take my word for it, history is the teacher

Then on Arsenal. Where were they before Arsene Wenger ?!  in fact, where will they be when Arsene Wenger leaves ?! they have a handfull of local cups and league titles. But that is about it. They play great football, so true !! And I enjoy watching them. But an all time great, not a chance.
p.s. It is illogical to conclude that Galliani, Carlo etc don't know what they are doing. They have been proven their worth, even before MF was even established here! The former has seen Milan rise and Milan fall so many times, he has a blueprint in the back of his head on how football politics work. He wont need any of our advice (sure it's a forum and I wont hold you back from venting, but logically speaking..).

On Carlo, let me give you a brief example on a common fixation you might have with him bringing on a defensive mid when a win is needed or playing two defensive mid fielders. (I watch Don Cesear's comments after every game as he is the most experienced Milan figure available to me)! The presenter asks him the question you all ask; "Why does Carlo insist on playing two defensive mid fielders .. Then even when he is still loosing, he subs a defensive mid fielder with another?" Don Cesear replies: "He was a pupil of Capello, a master tactician in Italian tactics, a defensive mid fielder (at times) is more helpful than an attacking player in certain situations. Seeing as they steal the ball back from the opposition and if they do that then they hold on to the ball longer, which gives then much more chances to attack than the opposition. A tactic that both Lippi and Capello are famous for."
Hence, I conclude that not everything is as black and white as it seems.

Yes agreed
{Stands up and applauds}
That was outstanding!!!

For what little it's worth, I found the interview/statements in the original. The translation into English is accurate.  The commentary on the original article thinks that the powerful center forward Berlusconi mentions is Drogba.

For what little it's worth, I found the interview/statements in the original. The translation into English is accurate.  The commentary on the original article thinks that the powerful center forward Berlusconi mentions is Drogba.

link

There's the link. 

For what little it's worth, I found the interview/statements in the original. The translation into English is accurate.  The commentary on the original article thinks that the powerful center forward Berlusconi mentions is Drogba.

Drogba came to my mind too but I don't think he wants to play in the UEFA Cup when he only has a few good seasons left and has not won the CL...

It seems that we definitly will have 5 attackers for next season :

WHo that Berlusconi said + Pato + Inzagi + Ronaldo + Shevchenko

for me it is optimal becuz the first 2 are our regulars , other 3 are the ones who want and will play nonregular . 

Calcio Debate: Should Milan Sell Gattuso?
The Italian press has been full of reports in the last few days that Milan will sell Gennaro Gattuso at the end of the season. Carlo Garganese asks whether this will be a wise decision…

For many years Italy always appeared to lack a certain type of centre midfielder, a strong and fearless bulldog who would launch himself into tackles, get stuck in, fire up his team-mates, and really wear his heart on his sleeve. 

There was never a shortage of technical or tactical quality, but if you ever watch over videos from the 1994 and 1998 World Cups you will notice just how fragile the Azzurri could be in the middle-of-the-park. The real strength was located in defence and up-front, and it was these two areas that allowed them to have successful tournaments. 

This all changed when Gattuso burst onto the scene. When he was recognised as a regular in 2004, Italy finally had themselves a player who would offer some real steel in the centre of midfield. Tactically and technically he was average, but he brought something to the Italy team, a kind of British spirit, that had been missing for many years. It is no coincidence that two years later, La Nazionale would go on to lift the World Cup. 

Gattuso was equally crucial to the Milan team who dominated the Champions League for half-a-decade. 

Like Italy, the Rossoneri have not been short of tactical or technical quality. Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Kaka, Andriy Shevchenko, Rui Costa – these are just a few of the wonderfully gifted offensive players that the Diavoli have had at their disposal. 

However without Gattuso, Milan would have been like Italy during the 94 and 98 World Cups – they would have been fragile and brittle in the centre of midfield, and it is debatable, despite all this talent above, whether they would have been half as successful as they have been. 

This season Gattuso has been a shadow of his terrier-like self. At the age of 30 it appears that his advancing years are starting to take their toll. Gattuso’s whole game, as I explained in a Calcio Debate several weeks ago, is based around “aggression, stamina, and closing down the opposition. In order to do this, Gattuso needs to be in tip-top physical shape. His pace, acceleration and energy levels have certainly dropped this year, and as a result he cannot make the tackles he once was able to.” 

The heart and determination of Gattuso is definitely still there, but the body just will not follow. As ‘Ringhio’ is not the strongest of players tactically and technically, his game really suffers once his physical strengths diminish. 

It is no coincidence, given Gattuso’s importance to Milan over the past six years or so, that with the midfielder having a poor season, the Rossoneri have also had a disappointing season. 

There have been strong reports that Milan are looking to begin a new era at the club by selling Gattuso in the summer. 

Given what has just been explained above - is this be a good idea? 

Well providing Gattuso can rediscover his physical sharpness, then certainly he must not be sold. 

However it is very debatable, given his age and what the law of physics tells us about bodily decline, whether he will ever be back to his old levels. 

Gattuso is not Roberto Baggio, who once he had lost his pace, could use his incredible technique and guile to adapt his game and still be a top-class player. This is just not possible with Gattuso, as is the case with many modern footballers, who are only good while their athletic capacity lasts. 

Perhaps the time is right for both sides to go their separate ways. At the age of 30, Milan could still command a reasonably good fee, and there is sure to be a long-list of suitors. Indeed Real Madrid are rumoured to be prepared to table a significant offer. 

A new challenge may also do Gattuso some good. After nine years at Milan, perhaps things have become a little stale, and a new experience abroad may revitalise him. 

As a replacement Milan surely can look no further than Arsenal’s Matthieu Flamini. Arsene Wenger seems resigned to losing the midfielder, who has a scarily similar style of play to Gattuso. The Frenchman is also available on a free transfer, and if he were to arrive at San Siro, there is no doubt that he would be a class act. At the age of 23 he has his whole career ahead of him, and would also provide Milan with some much-needed young blood. 

What are your views on this topic? Should Milan sell Gattuso? Is he the same player he once was? Who should be brought in as a replacement? Flamini? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…

goal

Cannavaro Recommends Drenthe To Secco
Real Madrid star Fabio Cannavaro has recommended that Juventus transfer chief Alessio Secco sign Royston Drenthe.

Cannavaro, who won two (revoked) Scudetti during his two years at Juve from 2004 to 2006, had dinner with current Bianconeri sporting director Secco. 

There he told the much-maligned transfer man to launch a bid for his out-of-favour Real Madrid team-mate Drenthe. 

The Whoopi Goldberg lookalike, who can play at full-back or on the wing, only signed for the Spanish giants last summer for €14m from Feyenoord. 

Despite scoring a brilliant goal on his debut against Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup, Drenthe has found first-team action hard to come by, and has largely been used as a substitute. 

Brazilian youngster Marcelo, and the Argentine Gabriel Heinze have emerged as the preferred left-back options, and Drenthe has been heavily linked with a move away from the club during the summer. 

It has also been reported that Sebastian Giovinco and Claudio Marchisio, who Secco was considering releasing to Palermo as part of the Amaurio deal, will both return to play for the Bianconeri next season after completing their loan spells at Empoli. 

Raffaele Palladino meanwhile is almost certain to be sold, with Fiorentina a possible destination.

In my view, Seedorf should be benched. If he cannot put up with that then he should leave. But I don't see why he should be in our starting line-up for next season and I don't see why he should not be benched... Rui Costa is not a worse player than the Dutchman and he did not refuse that role!

Interesting new rumor this morning. Dida on loan to Lazio in exchange for Lorenzo Di Silvestri, who's a pretty good right back.

Milannews.it has an article listing the possible 'big striker' that Berlusconi hinted about the other day. Their options: Drogba, Adebayor, Gomez, Borriello, and Toni. They didn't really make any decisions on who they think it might be but they noted that the one Milan fans would probably like best is Toni.

Interesting new rumor this morning. Dida on loan to Lazio in exchange for Lorenzo Di Silvestri, who's a pretty good right back.

Milannews.it has an article listing the possible 'big striker' that Berlusconi hinted about the other day. Their options: Drogba, Adebayor, Gomez, Borriello, and Toni. They didn't really make any decisions on who they think it might be but they noted that the one Milan fans would probably like best is Toni.

Yes, which adds to the frustration, and also adds to the reason that some of us have no faith in the management when it comes to transfers.

Plenty of people on here identified depth as a big problem for a poor Serie A campaign last season, but our management did nothing about it, which is very frustrating, especially since that played a huge part in our disappointing season. Players are always going to get injured, that's part of football, preparing for it is what helps you get away with injuries here and there, but we never prepared.

If Real put Drenthe on sale I think we should step in! I really like this guy.

It's all well and good praising them for what they do right, but they also deserve the criticism when they do wrong.

By the way...what is the general opinion on Arsenal now? 6 months back...Wenger was a genius...now he's the funniest sig in the universe.

So you have a problem with me saying what I believe, yet you're happy to listen to Galliani repeat the same old sh!t about transfers? The management are the reason Milan have been a great team the last 20 years, but they're also the reason we're in this sh!t right now.

It's all well and good praising them for what they do right, but they also deserve the criticism when they do wrong.

But that sig is class, in fact, I think i'll put it back up.