I think what will happen most likely at the end of this season is that.


1)Ronaldinho will be gone. We brought in Robinho to compensate for dinho's imminent departure. We can't compete with the states and the Arab countries. He would make too much. At this point only one player can make over 5mand imo that should be ibra.


2) Inzaghi will retire as soon as he breaks the record he wants so it could be this year or it could be another year added on.

3) Seedorf is an interesting one. It will depend on how merkel is feeling. If allegri is our coach next year and sees merkel ready enough to step up then we'll most likely either offer seedorf little money for a renewal which will he will refuse or we will renew him if we have no better options. I think seedorf is done this year as he will be 35 when the campaign is over.

4) Pirlo and Gattuso are here until 2012 so they're contracts will not be tampered with.

5) Ambrosini will get another year extention with a wage cut.

6) Nesta will get an extention as well for another year if he accepts another year. He might retire at the end of the campaign. It depends on how healthy he is. If he's injured alot this year, we could see him call it quits. If he stays relatively healthy he might do another year.

7) Roma's contract will be extended. Our 3rd string keepers usually stay around for years. He'll probably retire here.

8) Amelia's loan deal. It will be interesting what we will do. It all depends on abbiati. If he gets injured and amelia fills in and does good we might end up signing him permanently. But if abbiati is healthy the whole year I doubt we'll sign amelia.

9) Boateng will most likely be bought out. He's staying. Fans love him, coach loves him and he doesnt make too much. Good deal.

10) Jankulovski out.

11) We will not buy out montelongo. He'll end his loan and go back.

12) Onyewu could get sold or loaned.

13) Some of the guys out on loan/co-own could be brought back.



Team next year most likely imo:


GK: Abbiati, Amelia, Roma = 3

DEF: Bonera, Zambrotta, Oddo, Antonini, Sokratis, nesta, Darmian, Silva, Yepes [new signing] =10

MID: Ambrosini, Gattuso, Pirlo, Flamini, Boateng, Strasser, Merkel, Abate, [new signing] = 9

FW: Paloschi, Verdi, Robinho, Ibra, Pato, Odu =6


=28 players

I think Oddo is leaving. We shouldn't need more than 25 people right?

What I wish we did though was this:


GK: Abbiati, Amelia, Roma

DEF: Bonera, Antonini, Sokratis, Nesta, Darmian, Silva [New Signing *2]=8

MID: Pirlo, Flamini, Boateng, Strasser, Merkel, Abate, [new signing *2]=8

FW: Ibra, Pato, Robinho, Paloschi, Verdi, Odu=6


=25 Players. Less is sometimes more in football.


Oddo and zambrotta have contracts that run out until 2012. They had their current contract that ran out in the summer extended for another year and the money they'd recieve in 1 year they'll recieve in 2 instead.

Galliani buying time for youth to come out. Especially some quality fullbacks we have coming up.

Zambrotta staying I can understand...he plays for us..and does a decent job. Oddo is not even considered 90% of the time. He really should do a Kaladze.

I really don't think R80 will leave either..unless his dynamic with the team changes a lot.

I just don't think he'll stay another year.


The fanastic 4 thing never ever works out and someone always ends up leaving. I think it will be either Ronaldinho or Pato.

Abs recently turned 33 and is a long-term question mark because of his recent injury problems. (Weren't we saying the same about Dida not too long ago?) It's only been three games, but he hasn't been anything special so far. Therefore, attempting to keep Amelia beyond this season might not be a bad idea.

Agreed

Word. We'll be needing a worthy keeper soon enough. Abbiati and Amelia are A, the club deserves an A+. Someone like the caliber of Dida, Buffon, Caesar, Casilas. Someone who can save us 5-10 points through the course of a season. And did I say soon?

My wishes for next season:

OUT: Onyewu, Oddo, Jankulovski, Gattuso, Ambrosini, Seedorf, Ronaldinho, Inzaghi.

IN: Rafinha, Paloschi.





Yes, I've had it with our boiled, old players and am willing to give our Primavera a big chance. It'd be youth mixed with experience, just like we love it.

That's a very weak second string.

Frankly, I'd rather have them than Oddo, Gattuso and Seedorf.

Ok.

OK, maybe I overdid it a bit with the youngsters. But the oldies must leave!

Ok.

Wait, no Ambrosini ?! Let's just say Flamini/Boateng/Pirlo breaks his leg just one week before CHL final. Who'd you play instead of him ?

We need a RB, CB, DM, Playmaker and one CM.

Apparently Merkel or Strasser? No, I agree with you.

I would offer Ambrosini an one year extension on lower salary, but if he refuses the offered lower wage he can go and leave. Most older players can leave no doubt.

Imo that is way too weak, certainly not Serie A/CL winning material. If you want to win those you need depth and experiance, and outside of the first 11 we don't have that.

Imo if we have this squad for next season we'll be real contenders

GK: Amelia, Roma, Abbiati

DF: Nesta, Sokratis, Zambrotta, Thiago, Antonini, Bonera, RB, LB, CB

MD: Seedorf, Pirlo, Ambro, Boateng, Flamini, Abate, CM, DM, AM

FD: Pato, Robinho, Ibra, Dinho, Paloschi, Odu



Imo this is real strength in depth, depth that would carry us throughout an entire season. Seedorf, Ambro, Zambro, Dinho, Pirlo, all imo are still top class as long as they aren't burnt out, like they are now.

That new DM you got should be Strasser, han. He is one of our better youngsters, and he along Ambrosini and Flamini, we got good DM options.

I agree, but he needs to be given a chance, if he's constantly going to be overlooked then I'd prefer we'd go on the market and buy one, then play some ridiculous formation in order to avoid playing the youngster

Well, I would agree with you on the spot, but I really can't see our board making six new signings like that.

Well those are signings we need. And if they neglect them again for another season we can have God himself in attack, it really wouldn't matter.

We'll see what happens. Most pobably we'll be seeing the same old midfield trio for another season, huffing and puffing without accomplishing anything. The tragedy that is Oddo still in the team, etc, etc.

All those youngsters you mentioned are never going to be considered direct second choice, and imo I doubt there are more then 3 players that you mentioned who will even be good enough.

...so, just as a little market research, are there any good coaches currently unemployed?

none. Still too early. I say give allegri until november. its still has only been 4 games.

No man, let's give him time until January. Hell, let's give him time until May!

Last season, at this point, Leo done better than Allegri by having a much more pathetic team. Says all.

There is no one else available who could coach milan right now. Who do you want Tassotti?

I don't want anyone. I just don't find it logical you saying "Let's give him time until November". By then, Inter will be throwing darts at us from a 20 point difference. Allegri should provide results now, and fast!

Not going to happen. He's shocking and its shown he should have went to lazio or another mid table club first.

Its clear hes not ready for this level of pressure yet. Right now our only option is to hope that things get changed and quick.


If we sack him we'll be in a far worst position if we bring someone of equal calibre. Only way we can sack him is if there someone of ancelotti or mourinho level available. Someone like hiddink but he doesn't like Italy so he's not in the picture.


Sacking him and bringing Van Basten won't make a difference.

Capello. I made a post in the match thread about it.

I think people are just over reacting, had we won the last three Serie A games, they wouldn't be discussing the state of the midfield/defense.

It is the start of the season, form has always been low at this point and picks up by the end of September. Sure we could have won all the games, but form would still be low.

I agree with the notion that Seedorf and co. should give way to younger players with more to give, but younger players don't have the vision to release Ibrahimovic (Lazio v Milan 66min) like that. And hence bias could be derived from hindsight.

I think the fact that Boateng had broken into the first team speaks volumes in the direction the club is taking when bringing in fresh legs to aid the team.

Moreover, people are pointing out the short coming of Allegri, someone who has never held the rains of a massive club like ours. He needs time, his ideas are fresh while the fact teams we faced so far defend in numbers is not enough for us to pass judgment on him just yet. Last season, we only realised Leonardo's ability when we faced Madrid, prior to that we were a midtable team at best.

In closing, we just need time for form to pick up, the team and Ibrahimovic to familiarize, and Allegri to perfect a line up and formation.

Yes I agree. But at some point we need to say this much time and no more. Which is pretty much why bluey and I are saying November.

Get a new coach in, so that by December, he's got an idea of the team and any shortcomings can be remedied.

I think Capello is best..but probably impossible. And not better in the long run. Rijkaard is unavailable. Hiddink doesn't like Italy. Anyone wants to call Tabarez back? Maybe he'll be better this time round.

You're not considering Van Basten and/or Donadoni seriously right?

-1 v. Basten and Donadoni...

Yes guys, all you've said is true. But criticism of Allegri is definitely in order, mainly because most of it is completely unrelated to the new signings. Boateng on the wing, the unexplainable late subs, his devotion to Seedorf and Bonera... If it were up to me, I wouldn't sack him after 3 bad games either. But still.

Oh, and anybody feels lucky enough to open the Genoa thread? I would, but I don't think I've been here long enough...

Well he did say right at the beginning that he was trying to for the 4-4-2. We needed to see if it would work..and we know it does and doesn't.

In a way it works, because the problem the 4-3-3 has with counters is solved, and it doesn't because once again the conduit from defence to midfield to attack is not there.

Our biggest problem right now is the mid-field. This is where we're losing the battle...and this I think is our biggest problem.

Allegri imo is trying some weird systems out that arguably do not work.


He's trying to do the impossible. He's trying to fit in a system thats fluid with a static team. Something that won't happen.



our best bet for points has always been this. Defend with the midfield and defence, Counter with the attackers.


----


4-4-2 quick run down:


-x--x---x---x
-x---x--x---x
-----x---x----



Most common formation in the world. Easiest to stop.

Points of attack.

1)Down the wings via ground or air.

2) Strikers via ground or air.


Requirements:

1)Fast wingers

2)Fast forewards

3)Mobile midfielders with technical ability

4) Zonal defending




----

If we wanted to pull it off it would look like this at best:

-zamb-nesta-silva-antonini
-abate-boateng-flamini-robinho
----------pato--Odu




Fast wings, mobile mid with ability and fast up front.



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


with the line up in the lazio game, this wouldn't work.


Okay next on the line is 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-2-1.


We'll see how those work out. He'll try one of them this weekend forsure.

Time to go back to the 4-4-2 diamond.

I don't think we will win Serie A nor the Champions League, not this season at least.

Capello wont coach any other team along with the England job; he has a clause on his contract with England which stipulates that.

I agree with you, in that enough is enough when our stride is not found come November. But that is premature as of yet, since our performance yesterday was an improvment to the previous outings in Serie A this season (Bar 1st game). I believe the team will perform better as the season progresses, but I rule out any winning medals.

Diamond is an interesting one. I for one would be interested to see how it would work.


--x---x---x---x
-------x-------
----x-----x----
--------x-----
----x------x----



Zamb-nesta-silva-antonini
----------Pirlo-------
--Kevin----------Flamini-
--------Seedorf-------
-----Ibra------Ronaldinho-



What we lack is a good AM. If dinho could adjust their it would be brilliant.

Either that or a 4-2-3-1 with Pirlo in his youth team role as a playmaker.


--------------Ibra-----------
-----R80--------------Pato--
-------------Pirlo-----------
--Ambro/Flam---Flam/KPB
LB------CD------CD--------RB

The key is not in the formation, it's in the way we play it. Pirlo must play almost 70% of the time in the opposing half...also important is how well we press in the opposing half.
Pato and Pirlo can also interchange positions, seeing as how Pato running in diagonally with Pirlo shifting to the right gives us huge passing options as well as pulling defenders off.

Ideally we miss Rui Costa.

Boateng MUST play. Ambrosini and Flamini can fight for the DM spot.

I fully agree. That's what I ALWAYS think.

Pirlo shouldn't be THAT often in the opposition half. He also needs to contribute in defending, so without possession he shouldn't be so much up front.

He needs to press hard...but in the other half as far as possible. If we can't defend with 2 DMs then it's hopeless.

You want 4 of our players to barely defend? 2 DM's are just 2 players...

Well obviously I don't want Silva and Nesta to be chilling out and sharing a beer.

Seriously, guys, I say go after Sergio Ramos. He's a good defender, plus he can score and recover for counters quickly. Plus, with Real going nuts on the transfer market, they've got to get rid of somebody.

If they get Maicon I can see them letting him go, but we won't spend the cash needed to bring in someone like him. Imo it could easily be a swap deal plus added cash with Inter for Maicon.

It's certainly not going to be Ramos.

Maicon - Ramos - Carvalho - Cole <-- That's what Jose wants, in my opinion, so even if he gets Maicon, I can see him keeping Ramos. Otherwise they'll be stuck with Pepe who's pretty dreadful.

Well the only time I've seen Ramos playing at CB in recent memory was on their opening matchday this season and he had a nightmare of a game there...

'Pastore is the new Zidane'

Great.

Ronnie says...no problem son, i'm here !

We should somehow try to steal Pastore.

I'd say kidnap him, he's that darn good. Or maybe we should have gone in for Hernanes when we had the chance and we'd have had our own new Zidane. By the way I terribly hate these stupid little comparison, new this and new that. We frigging have a new Pato as well, apparently. Pure disrespect not only to the legends, but the players themselves, not to mention the added pressure which can do without.

Having said that I do agree with the Palermo president, Pastore is a gem, and he's only getting better!