I believe that EPL is a bit overrated these days. Sure, it's been the most successful league in Europe in the past two years but that doesn't make the EPL style to play football the one and only way to win silverware.
When we faced ManU in 2007 we didn't adapt to their style. Both teams game was based on accuracy, technical perfectness and brilliant passing. But it was more like a Rock band (ManU) facing a classical orchestra (Milan). ManUs game was based on raw physical power, strength and speed, while Milans the key point of Milans game was the flow. The ball wasn't simply passed from one player to another, it circled around based on a blind understanding between each and every player.
So what I basically want to say is, there is not only one truth. After all, the English teams hat little competition in the past two years. Milan lacked fresh blood, Juve will suffer from Calciopolli for some more years, Real is not the club it used to be during the Zidane era, Barca was in transition and Inter...well is Inter. It'll be really to see how the eglish teams cope with this CF Barcelona.
Plus, if the EPL style would be that dominant they'd rule the UEFA-Cup as well, which they don't. It's mostly the big 4 in England being that dominant.

What do you guys think of Metzelder?

http://goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/04/1...madrid-decision


He is supposedly "available"

28yrs old...experienced enough but not too old

Could be pricey though

He makes Seedorf look like Speedy Gonzalez. Good player but really quite slow.

Injury prone too right?

Metzelder was very poor in the Euros. Some people commented that Metzelder+Mertesacker is the weakest central defense Germany has had in its entire history.

I'd personally love to see Agger in Red & Black. This kid can also play as a left back and has a powerful left foot. He had Adebayor in his pocket for almost 90 minutes in the league game against Arsenal. He also possesses a penchant for attacking. I have noticed that he sometimes dribbles the ball all the way up to the opponent's area.

Welcome Vivard!

Agger does seem to be quite skilled. Don't understand why Benitez doesn't use him more, but I won't complain if that means he comes to Milan. I like him too.

skrtel has been more consistent.

altough i think agger would do well for us.

This is why they are conceding 4 goals with 3DM in 1 game.

Daniel Agger and Thiago Silva will form a formidable partnership in Cb's,Maxwell will solve problems in left back.Zambrotta will perform better.in midfielder,Who deserves he will play.Mariga and Hernanes will solve many problems,in GK,Marchetti will bring competition.Dzeko is the one that we need in attack,Keirrison or Neymar would be nice signings for attack.

We have many players in the squad who passed their best.Now its time for a chance.otherwise next year wont different from this year,im sure we will give up on scudetto until November and will say goodbye to Cl whenever we get a strong team.

i think bruno alves (porto) could be a great adition to our team, i liked his style of play, a good header, got technique, speed...and his play just gives you coolnes i think, he can lead the defence, the kind we need to replace Maldini and also Nesta after all...

Kaka urges Milan to bid for Gerrard

Kaka has urged AC Milan to try to sign Steven Gerrard, despite the England midfielder recently agreeing a new contract with Liverpool.

"A cycle is ending. The time has arrived to re-energise a group which has many players at the end of their contracts," the Brazil playmaker told Italy's Sky television on Wednesday.

"If it was up to me, I would take someone like Gerrard, who for me is a complete player and can play anywhere. I could see him fitting in really well at Milan," added Kaka, who almost joined Manchester City for a world record fee in January.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id...and&cc=5901

I'd buy Stevie G. Just to see Pana bust a blood vessel in rage. We could put up the video on youtube.

i hope that Galliani got Kaka's message.A cycle is ending and we have to start new one with world class signings.i'd also take Gerrard,Our midfield lacks someone like Lucho Gonzalez or Gerrard,Gattuso/Flamini,Hernanes/Pirlo and Gerrard or Lucho,would be awesome midfield.Probably we wont see them at Milan,next year our midfield will be same,they will just add Dzeko and Agger to squad,some young players from young,then everything will be same.

we are so lucky to have someone like Pato,who is Messi's only rival in my opinion,just them can decide a game like this.he is just 19,one of the best players in the world.

Anger? Think again... can you imagine how many 'fool fans would be disappointed if that happened? It'd be one of the best days of my life!!

You got it. I've always maintained we lack a genuine deep mid-field goal scoring threat. I thought Flamini would be it, but not convinced actually. But then again, he's Argentine and might not help. We would probably choose Hernanes over him. But I don't think that'll happen either. It's going to be like you said. We'll buy one target man and one CB, and then hope that Carlo can figure out the alchemy to make Kaka and R80 work together. I would think play R80 on the right seems like the easiest thing to try out first.

Maybe we might not even get anyone, if we're bringing Yoann back.

I also think it's time Milan toyed with the idea of having an alternate 4-3-3 formation, with two wing forwards. We could use Abate and Pato if we need. Tune it in the Coppa Italia. And we can use it against the smaller teams in the league.

It's about time for it. Our fullbacks are not capable of giving us width on a consistent basis, it's time for a change.

Carletto is not flexible. He uses one system and that's it, no matter the players. It may look different sometimes but it's in essence the very same. And this particular system Carletto loves so much needs great full-backs to produce good football. We had that with Cafu and Serginho while our current fullbacks cannot even be compared with them.

edit: what do you think of Adriano? It seems that Inter are going to release him. Would you sign him on a free? I think it's a big gamble. I would not do it.

Galliani has categorically denied that Milan plan to or will make a move for Adriano. For the sake of my sanity, I'm choosing to believe him this time.

i wouldnt mind adriano i still think he is a very good players and if he can overcome his problems then why not for free

If I took him, it would be simply because of my earnest belief that Inter flops rock on the Red side of Milan. I hope they cancel his contract, he gets his 'two months' off football, and then the Brazillian army at Milan work their magic.

I'd take him if and only if Inter had rescinded his contract. It would be a gamble, but one with little to lose and lots to gain.

The only way Adriano should come near Milan is if he buys a ticket. No way in hell should he ever suit up for us.


I wouldn't go that far just yet. He still has many kinks to iron out.

Gerrard or Lucho will give much contribution,First of all they will give us more strength in midfield,something we lacked,arial game,they will give more tecnique,they are very good defensively,as our midfield will be solid,not soft like today.they are great passer,great shooters,they will make contribiton to scores,they will make assists,goals,they are agresssive and skilled,we will keep possesion more with them.above all,we will have more continuiy with them,stronger team defence,then Gerrard is a great leader.thats something our midfield lacks e.t.c.

Regarding Adri,he would be good addition but our target should be Adebayor if we just sign one striker and CB,if we are signing 2 players,just 2 players,at least for them we should go for Adebayor and Vidic.

i think one of the problems is Ronaldinho,we dont know how he will perform,this year sometimes he did well sometimes not.if we will play 4-3-2-1 next season with Kaka and Dinho,thats a big problem for the team's continuity,as you know Kaka is less decisive when he doesnt find enough space,Gourcuff has more continuity,if you depent on Kaka and Ronaldinho for all season,it will be a big problem for continuity,recalling Gourcuff would be very positive.i repeat it,for Serie A,depending on Kaka,will be a problem for continuity for long season.

Marek is not that dynamic,if you give a player who is not that dynamic all wing for one player,you shouldnt expect him to make wonders.Maxwell is someone dynamic and skilled.on defensively we can have some problem but offensively he can do great job.

i hope to see Milan solve the midfield problem.otherwise it will be a big headache for us.

Agreed the midfield needs a little sprucing up and I would be in favor of selling Ronaldinho to whoever will buy him, but right now I think the most urgent concern is the defense.

montolivo, aquilani, hamsik, modric, kranjic, moutinho, etc all great options that are young and can slot in our midfield.

fabregas would be my dream.

Torres tempted by Serie A
Thursday 16 April, 2009
Liverpool goal machine Fernando Torres has surprisingly declared a desire to play in Italy.

The Spaniard has been magnificent for Liverpool since signing from Atletico Madrid.

And while Torres has fallen in love with Anfield, it seems he may one day play in Italy.

“One day I could play for a great club like Milan or Inter, then I would be able to say that I have played in the three most important Leagues in the world - the Spanish, the English and the Italian,” Torres told journalists.

“Who knows, maybe one day I could even have the option of the Bundesliga…”

However, Torres was keen to nip the rumours in the bud and stressed his contentment at Liverpool.

“I want to stay at Liverpool for many years yet,” he said. “I feel at home here and I have another four years on my contract.

“This club has been fantastic to me and has treated me like Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher.

“I'm hoping to repay this warmth by winning the Premier League - a title that has been missing for so long.”

The former La Liga star concluded by making it clear that he would never be tempted by Real Madrid.

“They are a club that don't interest me,” Torres claimed. “Not least because of everything I went through with Atletico. I don't see myself playing for Real.”

channel4.com/sport/football_italia/apr16t.html

there are reports that Milan is trying to sign Diego Lugano, he is a free agent in summer and i think it would be nice to sign him with no compensation, but i also think that he is not good enough to be our 2nd central defender, maybe 3rd or 4th yes it would be excellent to sign him but than we need Nesta back or Mexes and with Lugano that would be nice to rotate and rest our players....

We should have signed Torres when he was still young and unknown back when Albertini (at that time playing for Atlético) suggested we should do. Unfortunately Milan do not seem to care too much about what their players have to say in regards to transfers as Costacurta has also revealed his suggestions have been ignored.

fixed

who's kranjic ???? you mean either kranjcar or pranjic....

new rumor from milannews: Milan are interested in Buffon - asking price is 30m + Flamini.

my fav keeper but the price is not rite

I'd take it, but maybe like this - 35 + Abbiati?

They have Manniger, so I don't think they want Abbiati (especially injured). They tried to sign Flamini so I can see why they want him, although they do have Sissoko and Marchisio in midfield already.

Buffon has not looked as great as before this season, and 30M is too much for Gallani, GK doesn't matter if we don't have a good defense so that money should be spent on a CB.

I wouldn't accept it...Buffon is already old...Flamini isn't going anywhere..we're really good with Abbiati..He's been way better than Buffon this season!!

I'm curious! kenny, it seems that you don't much like any player approaching or over 30, sticking them with the 'old' label. Am I correct in that assessment?

haha ya i mean kranjcar, i was thinking of pjanic as well when i wrote that.


btw i hear good things of pjanic still pretty young though.

Way better then Buffon? What has Buffon done so terrible this season to be labeled as way worse then Abbiati, except that he was injured for about 40% of the matches?

close but not really...Its just that these old players take up the spot of our really young players...Old players don't really have things to offer like the young players...Still playing Nedved over Giovinco...Nowadays, its about the young players who have the stubborn urge to run and fight to win games...Majority of milan's players are really slow and it affects our game..I personally wouldn't want Buffon here..He isn't better than Abbiati as of right now maybe before but not right now...I also dislike the fact that players says i'll love to end my career in milan after they've played majority of their careers while competitive..Like torres said he'll love to join milan in the future...He prob could decide to join us at mayabe 32....why? It seems they'll take us for a joke...They won't come when they were really hungry to win trophies but rather come after they've won all the trophies there is to win..Thats one of the reasons why i don't really like old players...Nowadays, football is fast and we don't possess that..bringing old players make it worse for us..It really does...Tennie, i'm sure u understand where i'm coming from!!

I wouldn't take it. not because Flamini is included, but because Buffon has been nowhere near world's best 'keepers this season and who knows, he might not become the #1 again. of course, if he were to come for a cheaper price I'd be all for it, but 30m + Flamini is ridiculous.

why spend so much on buffon, when we could get akinfeev for 20-25m range, he coud easily be our no.1 for 10 years.

He just keeps conceding cheap goals. no more jaw dropping saves anymore. not bad for an ordinary 'keeper but for Buffon... one expects more than this from someone who was world's #1 not very long time ago.

I have no wish to get into an argument, but I will note that I disagree very strongly indeed with this comment. I think it's wrong, basically.

Players 18-25 may in general terms be really fast. But players 25-30 have experience and that's by no means worthless. I think that it is dangerous to overgeneralize.

By the way, Ronaldinho is now 29. Would you label him old and useless?


As for the Buffon rumor, I think 30m is crazy money given his recent form. Fishdoll +1 to Hab's suggestion about Akinfeev though he notes that Samp's kid, Fiorillo, might also be worth prying away.

he has lots of potential but at the end of the day would milan ever consider playing a 19 year old in goal? akinfeev is still young but has tones of experience on the big stage considering his age (uefa cup and euros) meaning he could play right away for us.

One would also give extra credit to a injured player who's been out for quite a long time.

I mean...gosh we're rigid!

A man makes 7 great seasons in a row at least and then stumbles a single season (with a very plausible explanation) and suddenly he's a gamble, or a question mark. So best choice is get a 17 year old keeper who had 1 good season, right?

What's the criteria we're using? Current form? Then please, buy Dzeko and Adebayor. He scored a lovely goal just recently.

Tennie, to be honest, i really don't have anything against old players but the fact that we keep signing and keeping old players and welling our young players for old players is really bad...Having 5-6 old players in a squad of 28 isn't bad but when majority of the old players outweighs that of young talented players is really bad...Ronaldinho is a talented player and still has things to offer...We kept signing a lot of old players constantly..From Favalli to Oddo, to brocchi to Beckham, from Emerson to Amoroso, From Ronaldo to Buffon? I mean common, its really getting out of hands...There are prob some other old players that we've signed that i can't remember right now..But its really not good...We need to build for the future!!! Common Tennie u know what i'm saying!!!

And I think you're wrong, kenny. That's what I've been trying to say. You're welcome to voice your opinion just as I am welcome to voice mine.

I think it is not right to generalize based on age and then backtrack when one of your favorite players falls into the wrong group. Then again, I don't think said favorite player should have been bought in the first place.

Ok...so u still want us to sign old players?

I want milan to sign GOOD players.

even if they're old right?

Kenny, why do you have this unreasonable dislike of anyone over 25? Did someone aged 30 steal your puppy or something?

The prejudice is also...well, a little hypocritical given that you make exceptions for players you like (Ronaldinho, for example, who by your definition would be considered old) and then go on massive rants about those you don't.

Fielding a bunch of teenagers BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUNG isn't the way to win championships. Ask Wenger (sorry, Locke). Fielding a group of players BECAUSE THEY ARE GOOD AND WORK AS A TEAM might just do the job.

Feel free to continue the rant, but I'm done with the bickering about it.

Good players are always good. This is a quite rediculous discussion. A no-young players team would be idiotic just like a non-experienced/older players team. The point is in the balance mixed with quality.