A fish without feet would still do a better job then Oddo, so yes

Imo, they are our only RBs.

You're buying into the club's scams to make us think we're covered in all areas, when in reality we have major problems.

Sure Sokratis can play at RB, and sure Abate and Bonera can be wedged in there as well, but can they do the job well? Hardly.

I gave an example of this a few days ago. Look at Sokratis' 2 games in the Emerites Cup. One where he played at RB (against Arsenal), the other he played at CB (against Lyon). He was made to look like an idiot against Arsenal while he looked a completely different player against Lyon. This obviously is because he's not a natural RB, thus he does not feel comfortable playing in such a position.

THAT was what you remember most? You do recall he hit the Cup winning penalty against France, right?

I'm buying that?? Wtf?? How often am I not complaining about us needing a RW/AMC???

Sokratis, Abate and Bonera are better RB's than Oddo is. So stop saying Zambro and Oddo are only RB's. It doesn't make sense! Surely a better RB is very welcome, but you speak nonsense with Oddo being our 2nd and last RB.

Yeah... I think that's a much more realistic depth chart. That's how Allegri will use them at least. He could be forced to use the other guys there due to injuries or sub situations in game... but I think Oddo is basically second choice RB right now.

I'm not particularly happy about it. I just think you're ignoring the facts. They just signed Oddo to an extension... do you think they really have him 5th on the depth chart? The other guys you listed are either wingers or CBs playing out of position... and are either as bad as Oddo in general, or in the case of Papa, looked pretty bad in the time they spent at RB so far.

I don't think its a great situation, but I fully expect Allegri to use Oddo that way.

the hab is currently in milan right now and is very excited to go visit the san siro tomorrow and the milanello!! btw the fishdoll should know he was also in florence for 4 days and that city is awesome. he also had some florentine steak which is the best hes ever had

also i hope to see boateng tomorrow hehe

OOOOO! How cool! Hey, lots of restaurants and stuff are closed but the Football Pub on Via Valpetrosa should be open in Milano. A pizza + 1 pint of Stella = 10-12 euros (depending on the pizza. the one with parma ham is more). Hope you're having a super time in Italy! Post pictures and stuff when you get back!

Also, +1 for having the steak in Firenze. It is awfully good, innit?

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

AC Milan let sign Oddo an extension because what he earns over 2 years now is about the same as what he did before in just 1 year. The extension doesn't mean Oddo is suddenly 2nd choice RB. No. No. No.

I am not ignoring the facts. What facts? Abate is awful as right winger. RB is his best position. Pre-season actually showed someone like Sokratis is preferred over Oddo as RB. So WHAT FACTS?? I'm with X-Offender on this one. Every player that can play RB should be preferred over Oddo, and I believe at least most of them will be preferred by Allegri.

How long do you stay in milan...
And how many shops are closed?

Pity there are no games when i visit milan next week..
Though it's also good cos i'm going with an interista lol...

Of course I remember, also that game-saving penalty against Australia was due to his work. But his celebration after the goal against Germany was something to remember for a long time.

I believe Allegri will use Oddo in some matches throughout this season. The fact that he didn't leave him at home like he did with Jankulovski and Kaladze (although we have more players for RB position than LB) means Oddo is part of his plans.

If Oddo was useless in Allegri's opinion (like he is in some of yours) he would have kept Jankulovski and not him, since we are not covered enough in LB.

P.S = I don't like the guy, I think he is useless in my own opinion

Ben Arfa link

http://www.milannews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=32115

It'd be great if we signed Ben Arfa..I think.

Yes you are, you're saying that the CBs that can "play" in the RB position count as RBs, when in reality they don't. I'm not saying that Oddo is better, where did you see me saying that exactly?

I'm saying that Oddo and Zambro are our only RBs, I'm not saying that one is better then the other, but just stating facts.

Sokratis and Bonera are CBs who can play at RB. Sure they can play there, but like I said before, being able to play the position vs actually playing the position well are 2 different things. And let's not get started on Abate playing there, he got ripped apart last season everytime he faced a mildly fast/skilled player on his side.

In the RW/AM psotions we actually have no one as backup, while in the RB area, you're going along with the Galliani excuse that we are very covered there because Abate, Sokratis and Bonera can be played there. This line has been used for years now in order to avoid having to buy an actual RB.


Why go through the trouble of getting stuck with him for another year when at the end of the day he'll still be getting the same ammount of money off the club?

Abate is a RM not a winger or a RB. He's aweful at RB since he cannot defend if his life depended on it, that in itself should cross him off the 'quasi' RB list...

Allegri has played Oddo in the RB position more then he has played Abate, Bonera and Sokratis combined during this pre season, so what makes you think that he prefers Sokratis and Abate to him playing that position? It's obvious he wasn't impressed with Sokratis' showing against Arsenal, were Gibbs and Arshavin literally tore him a new one. He's just not a RB, simple. Wedging him into a position he's not comfortable playing in will only cause more trouble for us down the road when Zambro is injured and we either go for Oddo or the CBs that make mistakes playing in a position they're not comfortable in


Exactly

It'd be great if we can get both Ben Arfa and Boateng...a striker, a fullback after these two deals will surely mean we're good enough to compete for Scudetto...

Sorry han, but I can't see Allegri preferring Oddo over the likes of Sokratis, Bonera and Abate throughout the season. In the end, no matter how you see it, we're more covered on the right than we're on the left. On the left we only have Antonini and Zambrotta (Jankulovski is out of the club's plans), both of whom are not natural LBs, even though Antonini might be better suited for that position. Thus, if I were to choose between a RB and a LB, I'd easily choose a LB any day.

As for the Ben Arfa rumors, I would say yes to a swap with Huntelaar.

305 pages

If Ben Arfa went though, this would be my preferred line-up, assuming they all adapt well.




If this line-up stayed healthy, I think a Scudetto would'nt be as far off as we might think. Not saying it would win it, but this lineup would give it a better shot.

the christmas treeeee!!!!!!

Good or bad, and why?

well, whether it's good or bad depends entirely on the personnel.

In 07, the Christmas tree was a smart alternative in Europe after losing Sheva, and with Nesta/Maldini, 2 DMs (ambro and rino), a useful Cafu/Oddo/Janku/Serginho fullback situation we were solid in shape and defense. And a brilliant Clarence/Pirlo in CM, with smartly timed runs from our wingbacks combined to unleash Kaka and earn us the Champions League crown, but still a 4th place finish in league.

In 07/08, with our shallow roster (Nesta, Cafu, Serginho), a knock to Seedorf saw us exit the CL in the round of 16 against Arsenal. In league, due to a lack of squad depth/creativity from Ancelotti, the Christmas tree was deployed in Serie A and we SUFFERED for it. The 3 defensive mids saw us constantly dropping way deep into our half to defend, Kaka/Seedorf/Pirlo's inability to maintain consistently high-level performances saw Gilardino and Inzaghi have forgettable seasons. Gourcuff's development was stunted by the necessity for 3 defensive mids, Pato wasn't played (at times inexplicably) and all CL glory from the past year was drowned away with a 5th place league finish.

That year in particular, this forum was polarized and vigorous debates over the formation selection, and whether or not Ancelotti had lost the plot ensued.

Since Ronaldinho in, Kaka out, Christmas tree has basically been abandoned as a tactical formation of ours in favor of the 4-3-3. The dynamic, pacy attacking mid/forward play that Kaka used to provide that allowed us to attack smartly despite having 3 DMs has not (and at his current age cannot) be provided by Dinho. Therefore, a Christmas tree with Ambro, Rino, Pirlo, Dinho, Seedorf + CF would be full of relatively immobile midfielders and our lone striker would starve.

HOWEVER.

With a Ben Arfa up there with Pato making pacy runs, Dinho playing closer to Pirlo - both being supported by a Boateng who performs both defensive attacking duties (all of whom can provide a decent ball), Ambro/Flam being the midfield cover, and at least some support from Zambro-nini, I actually think the Christmas tree could work again...but we haven't signed Ben Arfa and I don't bet on us doing so.

The reason for the crazy smiley was cuz the christmas tree reminded me of all the raging debates on football tactics and Ancelotti's competence that happened the last time the 4-3-2-1 was under consideration.

Ah, I see you are open to the 4-3-2-1, while I am also. (I so hope we sign some attacking midfielder / right winger.)

everyone now a days is using 4-2-3-1 or some form of it. Therefore, x-mas tree is out of the picture.

The only time I'd use it would be if we are wanting to defend against a team and counter attack the whole game. However, we don't even have those kinds of players, therefore its pointless.

Well, my 4-3-2-1 is only how it would look on paper. The natural pull of each player would turn it into a 4-3-3 during play.

+1

so why not just put 4-3-3 ????

The fact we don't got have the players for it, is the same fact that worries me for this season.

not sure if this makes sense to milanfan's very own 'special one' ( ), but i think we (or at least I) mean one of those — we defend in a 4-3-2-1 and attack in a 4-3-3 — thingys.

Our awesome 4-3-3 with 3 forwards is unbalanced. What we x-mas lovers want, is an attacking MIDFIELDER so that we have FOUR actual midfielders.

Ooooh, and Pato as CF of course !!!!

What V said.

ohhhhh! Okay!!!!!!!! Gotcha! That makes sense! I was wondering what you were talking about because xmas tree isn't an attackign formatino really its mostly counter attack.

But if we do it so the midfielders drop back and help, it might actually work and then we open up wide and attack.




Right now in our 4-3-3 dinho and pato don't really defend and that hurts us alot especially against teams that have fast wingers.


Leo's system was unbalanced in the first place and it seems allegri isn't going to change it.

Exactly. This is all I'm saying. Every indication so far has been we'll see Oddo back there every once in a while. I am NOT saying I like this or that this is what I would do. I'm just saying I think this is the way things will be.

I do have to say I don't think Oddo is completely useless. Veterans like him can be a nice steadying force and he has some uses, IMO. I would have probably cut ties with him if I was in charge, though. I think the role Allegri is envisioning for him is a good role for him - and I think on some teams he would be very helpful in that role. I just think that for Milan, they could and should have improved on him.

So some interesting news.


G G G monayyyyy Guardiola has asked the barca pimps if they can purchase the big beauty fabiano for a steamy night of brazillian ********




If Sugar plum is indeed purchased, the barca pimpin ltd. will put the swedish princess up for sale. Big Papa berlu is waiting for the sexy swedish princess to be put on the market so he can use his banana mobile and go pick him up for a very sexy time.











source:

milannews.it

now THAT is a rumor-verifying source if I've ever seen one. HAHAHA, brilliant.

Is that last picture Galliani circa 1978 or something? Sure looks like him, whoever that is.

You don't have much consideration for Borriello, do you?

He shouldn't.

To be honest, if we can exchange Ben Arfa with Huntelaar and sign rampaging leftback...we could actually pose a serious threat in Serie A and Champions League...

why not sell Borriello? Allegri would rather play huntelaar then Bori

Borriello's value is lower than Huntelaar, selling him means we can't buy anyone better with the money...To be honest, I'd like to keep Boriello, he scores some very spectacular goals....

Allegri can't wait to get rid of Huntelaar, whilst you say he prefers him over Borriello? LOL.

Me and Borriello got off on the wrong foot and have never landed on the other. Hes not a horrible player and I would rather sell the Hunter than him at this point, but I don't think hes a starter.

I'm not really good at putting values on players, but how much do you guys think Neymar and Ganso cost?

In real life? Or in Manchester City/Real Madrid life?

Borriello is our only forward who is strong and can play as a target man. Also he is a good worker with nice movement. We need him during the season. Borriello is one of the few we got who isn't a poacher.

Agreed.

You may argue that with Pippo being at the age he's in, Hunter will be a good replacement for when he retires. But with the system we're playing we really don't need a poacher. Imo, we need a more versatile striker to come in, someone who can fill in for Dinho and Pato when they get injured or be played in a 4-3-3 with the 3 upfront contantly shifting positions so they don't get marked out easily.

Ben Arfa would be that guy, but he's very inconsistant and can blow hot and cold a lot during a match...

Anyway we'll see. If we do get Boateng and Ben Arfa we would really be strengthening areas that actually need strengthening. A RB at this point would put us back in the title contender slot. But we need a really good RB, not just a makeshift one or a mediocre one.

BTW because of Ozil signing we might get a player like van der Vaart for pretty cheap or a loan maybe.

I don't understand the urgency for LB and RB. Zambrotta is still a good player and he will be our RB for sure. And Antonini is a very good option for LB. He's not very good defensively, I admit, but at least he has very good chemistry with Ronaldinho and he runs more than anyone else. (Also, he is a national team player )

We are more than covered in RB position, and with someone like Grosso, we would be more than covered in LB as well.

So I think the focus must be on strengthening the team offensively as we are short of options there, specially wide players.

--------------------------------

I prefer Borriello over Huntelaar. But if Ibra Comes, as much as I hate him, he will make us much stronger.