so i'm assuming your assertion is based on pure fantasy?

Or maybe undying love for the club? Either way, we can do that only if we sign some players of the caliber of R10, Bezama, Gomez, or Drogba. The base is still there (Kaka, Pirlo, Nesta, Zamborghini, and of course Paolo), we've just got to build on it by injecting some new players. Lots of new players, now that I think of it.

Can't see us at the top, otherwise. Seriously. 3-4 at max with the current squad.

yep but if you let it get in the way that much ur opinion means *****.

you can never just look at a squad on paper and evaluate them that way, because the same can easily be said about inter. they just added mancini who will fit in well there and their system.

the current squad has shown it's run out of juice, add zambrotta and a couple of other plugs and suddenly we make up the 21 pt gap plus more, come on very credible

Naughty term removed.

You are right, we'll need more than plain band aids, to make it back up to the top. It will take more than one season, and it will take someone with infinitely more brain cells than Galliani has between his ears. In simpler words, it will be a gradual process - one that takes both time, energy, planning and most of all money.

Then again, we can't use last year's result as a basis for analysis. The last 2-3 seasons have been absolute shtick, some with things beyond the management's control. Had we had Ronaldo fit and firing for the whole season last year, we'd have finished first. No two words about that. Had Pato been born a week earlier, then too, a team like Viola wound't have stood a chance at being fourth. If Carlo wasn't one of the most stubborn coaches in world football, then too, we'd have been safe. Remember the whole bunch of points we dropped against smaller teams. Or what if Gorcuff was bred the way he should have been, so as to help our creativity? Or Kaka not being on the hit list because he won the Golden Ball? Pirlo missing that last minute penalty? How on world did he do that? We lost 3-2. Heck, even if Pirlo and Gattuso had gotten back their form through the middle of the season, you and I wouldn't even be discussing this.

Then again, these are all ifs and butts. Point is, the 21-point gap isn't what it seems like. A lot of factors went into it, including the fans, the management, the coach, the team, Mr. B, the media, in no particular order. Granted our squad needs changes - that's for everyone to see - and I have no doubt in my mind if they are done, no one can touch us this year. The keyword is changes - how and when we do that is what counts. Get someone like Adebayor, then don't expect anything. Carefully select the right players, mix them up with the current squad, and we'll be back to the very best. We aren't the first ranked club the the world for diddlydum! Afterall, we still have the best XI in world football - no one else comes close:

Dida
Zamborghini, Nesta, Paolo, Oddo,
Gattuso, Pirlo, Seedorf,
Kaka, Ronaldo, Pato

It's the bench that suffers. Remember what happened to Napoli 5-2. That was when we were playing total attacking football, with someone like Ronaldo leading the attack. Sadly for KaPaRo, it lasted a whole of one match. How about the last inter derby, which we won? Seedorf, Gattuso and Kaka were really something in that match. Or those 5 goal combos in those away matches? Can't forget that, last year. But for some weired reason we couldn't and didn't sustain that. Pity.

Now am I as optimistic as R7. Goodness no, sunshine! But even I can see everything takes time, as long as you're on it. Build another winning squad by 2010. But for Pete's sake, start now. As in today!

Great post, and I agree with most of it.

One thing I disagree with it this: Time. The teams at the very top should never need to rebuild if they're being run properly, it's a gradual process between generations. I think this is the only thing we've lacked recently, we've just not really prepared for life after these players, and we're suffering. Of course there has to be a reason for this, whether it be Carlo's stubborness to change the team or the higher ups not having/wanting to spend the money, we'll never know!

Milanchannel

All of it, please. There can't be one reason for the kind of mess we're in. And yes, completely agree with you with regards to time. A top team should never have to go through this. There are cycles of success, yes, to an extent. Eras, if you will. But there has to be at least one world class signing, plus two regular signings every summer if you want to stay at the top. Instead we got people like Brocchi, Oliveria, and friends, who were not necessarily bad, but nor were they world beaters. In the midst of all this, we let pass people like Ribery, Ibra, etc.

We were in this mess in 1999 when we didn't qualify for the CL. An era came to and end then, and another began with the likes of Dida, Kaladze, Nesta, Sheva, Kaka, Rui Costa, et all. It's a shame we didn't learn from that, and dragged ourselves into the same fuss again now. First Sheva leaving, then some bad signings, and then no signings at all. Like you said, Kurt, we'll never know the real reasons behind it, and that's a shame.

Then hopefully we learn from it next time. When the likes of Ambro, Pirlo, Rino, Seedorf, Oddo, Zambrotta all go, hopefully we'll have ready made replacements to make it feel as there is no change at all.

I wouldn't bet on it, as long as the man in my signature leads the club. Bring on Leonardo.

Don't understand why Roma keep selling their best players to their direct competitors, making Inter stronger while they get weeker doesn't seem very wise to me. First Chivu now Mancini...

He never really clicked with Milan. And I don't think Carlo is at fault here, because he gave him all the chances anyone could have given him. But I think what he needs is a team that plays for him more than a team that plays off of him.

It will be interesting to see how he does with Prandelli again, I wish him luck and hope his career kicks off again

Inter favorites? Of course.. But with a bit more focus on the Scudetto and a wider team roster, we can top them. No matter if Moe is their coach. He's maybe great, but he can't win against the Inter mentality..

"Technically he can't do well when he is paired up with another striker."

^^ Hmm, funnily enough he did much better when paired up with another striker. I remember we were much better when Carlo paired him and Pato we started to play much better going forward!

It seems as if Jorge Andrade is once again injured
For now it is yet to be seen the extent of the injury suffered, but like now a days its never to early for the media to begin questioning the players return.

Poor him, he's really having a tough time of it. It is a shame.

Yep, it was his debut match and he impressed (the Hajduk keeper). Split finally managed to bring up a decent team, with lots of talented young players and a few veterans (like Igor Tudor). They'll do good this season, I'm sure..

I really feel pity for Andrade. this is just terrible luck...

Oh gosh,..

RIP

Oh dear. RIP.

R.I.P.

R.I.P

23 years old...R.I.P.

1st of September ?! ..... Can't wait

Ohh Yea!

R.I.P


Melberg in Juventus shirt,it was a friendly game against piacenza
I like this guy

He just doesn't look right not in claret and blue.

do you think mellberg will be a starter?

i'm guessing chiellini will start at CB like last season, grygera at LB...

I'm not really sure, the Juve fans seem to think he'll start alongside Chiellini in the centre.

Does anyone know when the fixtures will be released?

July 25 according to wiki.

Cheers Kurt.

Mourinho Takes A Stab At Ancelotti
Inter coach Jose Mourinho responded to Carlo Ancelotti's claims that he could never coach Milan because of his less than illustrious past as a player.

A few months ago, when Inter were about to win the Scudetto and Milan were struggling, there were rumours that coach Jose Mourinho, now at Inter, was ready to join the Rossoneri to replace Carlo Ancelotti.

The Milan coach reacted to these voices by referring to Mourinho's lowly past as a footballer: "Mourinho to Milan? He can't even kick a ball..."

The Portuguese coach never got past the amateur level, while Ancelotti played for the likes of Roma and Milan, as well as appearing for the Italian national team.

During the presentation ahead of the new season at Inter's Appiano Gentile training ground, Mourinho referred to this quote and gave the following response.

"Perhaps he has forgotten that in Milan's history Arrigo Sacchi made them play the best football," he said. "And Sacchi, like me, never played football at a high level. My dentist is great, but he's never had tooth ache..."


this is Jose for us and this is only the start

Ha-ha! That'sa classic Jose quote about his dentist there...
And what Carlo said is obviously stupid...

Interesting season ahead

Ohh it certainly will be..

God I hope we can bury Inter and take Scudetto #18.

Taking inter to their usual position, second best in Milan would be sweet


And going for the Scudetto, with a very competitive league, would just make this season so special !

Are we positive Carlo even said that about him in this way?

OK fanboy, let me rephrase... that is a stupid thing to say and maybe Carlo has said it.

That's it,..

I don't recall such a thing, ever having been said by Carlo. It doesn't sound like him at all. It would be the sort of thing Mancini would say though.

If he said I think it would be one of those funny jokes of him... that are not funny... but in any case, not serious.

Carlo spoke today ... When asked about the Mourinho comment, he replied that it was a joke that he tried to say in English when he was asked by an English journalist, but was misunderstood because he doesn't speak English well and that what he said had a totally different meaning had it been said in Italian.



Man, Carlo has never taken swipes at other coaches, he was always the humble and wise man. But this is Mourinho, inter just brought the circus to Milan

Buffon: Milan for Scudetto

Juventus goalkeeper Gigi Buffon believes that Milan are the favourites for the 2008-09 Scudetto.

The Rossoneri languished in fifth place last term, but San Siro is buzzing after the arrival of Ronaldinho last night.

Buffon’s Juventus are expected to make a bid to dethrone Inter, but Buffon thinks Milan are the team to beat.

“If you want my prediction, I would go for Milan,” the Azzurri No 1 told Panorama.

“The fact that the Diavolo aren’t playing in the Champions League next year is an enormous advantage.

“As for Inter, we will have to see what the Jose Mourinho effect is.”

The former Parma shot-stopper then gave an honest assessment of the Old Lady’s situation.

“Last year we had just come up from Serie B and we had this exaggerated motivation that we couldn’t have this year,” he said.

“We need to do well and find new stimuli. I think that Amauri has the ability to make a big difference for us.

“Christian Poulsen? He may not have the technical quality of Amauri, but he is the kind of player who makes a side solid.”

Link

New inter jersey

THat's quite nice.

@ Inter's new jersey.

Only two stripes? I honestly think it's ugly!

One word crap !!

i find it looks nice on the players