Awesome... but, it states from next year, so I am assuming that this article is old given your statement?

Hah. Wonder if Totti knows what he's talking about or if he's just trying to cause trouble in advance of the game -- as memory serves, he and Cassano are hardly the best of friends.

http://football-italia.net/dec18a.html




http://football-italia.net/dec18e.html

Yes, a few months back. This season he can play for us (hopefully), if he does sign up!

Nice!

Right, and you've brought very strong counterpoints to state your opinion.



That's great, but are you sure it's not starting from next season?

Who cares if he's cup-tied or not? we're not gonna win the CL anyway. but he can help us where we got a chance.

Personally I want the Scudetto more than the CL. if we don't win it, that means either Juve or Inter will. now who would want to see Inter having 2 more Scudetti than us, or Juve putting another star on their shirt? no way. we must win it.

+1

But I'd like us to get at least to the quarters of the CL.

Well the Reuters news bit was from Mar 24, 2010. That's before the start of this season's Europe competitions. I am quite sure that the rule change starts from this season. And what a lovely coincidence that Sampdoria of all clubs was eliminated from the preliminary rounds of this year's CL. Maybe this match was made in the heavens, after all.

I have always appreciated Cassano's talents but never liked him in such way to see him in Milan colors. Surely not at the expense of a (motivated) Ronaldinho. Mr. B seems to think like this too, he said he prefers R80. Ideally, Ronaldinho should have his wages slashed to half and get his mojo together. But if it comes to it, and Antoni comes in, then I guess parting would the only logical choice.

milannews saying the cassano deal is in the final hours there is intersting suggestion to the 5 million that real could reduce that figure to 3/4... To be honest even 5 m should not be a issue specially if dinho leaves to LA we will make some money from that deal both in term of transfer money and wages

Bahh,what's friendship for...

I don't know why we're so worried about players when we need a new coach.

No. We don't actually. Allegri irritates and has obvious flaws, but the thing Milan does not need right now is a change in approach. If we wanna win, we must keep Allegri. He's the modern-day Zaccheroni.

what makes you say that?

Because this is reality, and not a game, where you simply enter delete and put in new instructions. Because our team has, in the recent years, become quite accomstumed of defeat, or at least of the second place. Now, that we finally stand first and hold this position for a considerable period, it is important to hold on to whatever lead us to that position, maintain the course and keep the stability. If we were 2nd, I'd say we could sack Allegri and try force a positive shock, but with this constellation, we must keep on hanging with Allegri and hope he will reduce his falws in the process.

If you meant by the Zaccheroni comparation - well, he was always a coach who's maximum was winning the league title. Milan never could have gone far enough with him at helm in Europe. Elimination by Galatasaray, and finally, elimination by Deportivo via that non-existing penalty Helveg supposedly made. Zaccheroni's only credit came because he managed to win the scudetto miraculously. I think that's the path Allegri is heading as well.

I think tonight's game evidenced more clearly than ever that we desperately need one or two quality fullbacks + a trequartista. As soon as Pirlo gets injured, we're left in the despair of having to cling on Seedorf for creating quality, which is unacceptable. Not to mention the "brilliant" performances of Abate and Antonini cost us the goal. I hope Galliani gets his act together and signs what the team needs the most, and not what Berlusconi craves for.

My view of things after some transfers:


So let me explain this lineup:

Coentrão would attack a lot,so Flamini would cover him.
Zambrotta is good defensively but in attacking wise,he ain't any good no more.So Boateng would help him both defensively and would attack from his side.Pirlo is the playmaker,though he will have defensive duties too.Obviously,when we don't have the ball Pirlo and Ganso should defend in the center of the field.

Now when attacking,we can attack from the left with Coentrão,our weakest attacks would come from the right with Boateng(maybe Robinho in that position would work).Our best attacking plays would come from the center of-course.

Backups:

Goalkeepers:Amelia,Roma.

Fullbacks:Antonini,Abate,Montelongo,Oddo.

Center backs:Sokratis,Bonera,Yepes,Onyewu,Albertazzi.

Midfield:Ambrosini,Gattuso,Seedorf,Strasser,Merkel,Verdi.

Strikers:Robinho,Cassano,Beretta.

Great work, William, I like this a lot. Only change I would make is shipping Seedorf via DHL to either the States or back to Holland. His time here is finished, and him overstaying would only undo all good work he had done over the years. I really hope the management understand this before the sign up players like Ganso and Cassano.

It's way more likely we will get Sakho than Coentrão. We seem to approach Sakho at the moment. Did Coentrão actually snub Milan by the way? There are strong rumours when it comes to Lazzari, Sakho and especially Cassano. If we actually sign all three of them.

Bench: Amelia, Zambrotta, Bonera, Flamini, Lazzari, Boateng, Pato

Though, if you look at other backups, we are good in defense, also in midfield with Strasser and Merkel, but in attack we have no one really anymore. So I would say we can use another forward. Paloschi could have been that player.
Ambrosini and Gattuso on the bench? Surely surprised with Ambrosini on the bench. I would say Ambrosini in the middle, Pirlo to the left. Also, I think Abate should start as right-back. Sadly, he's our best full-back nowadays.

Ganso, Ganso, Ganso... The mesiah himself. Beside the brazilian posters here, I'm very interested to see who's watched even a single full match by Ganso.

And Seedorf. Well, it's up to him. I wouldn't say based on one match that he's finished. Yes he's slow, yes, he isn't first team material. But he's a team player, an important part of Milan. He'll go when he wants.

Sakho, Coentrao, Cissokho... I don't care who we sign as long as we sign a quality fullback. Ganso would be the dream trequartista, though I hear this Lamela kid is quite the next new thing as well. But the important thing is that we actually sign someone, and not just talk about it.

I have. We do get the Brazilian league on our local cable. Besides, directors from Milan have been attending and watching Ganso matches for quite some time now. Anyway, the point is like X-Off put it, that we actually sign some one. Hernanes has been quite a buy for Lazio (he even scored today). It will be good if we can get someone as well.

Hernanes actually was who I was thinking about when X-Offender said that. Milan has been following Hernanes for ages. First he was so expensive, and eventually he left for peanuts to go to freaking Lazio. Now Milan still have to play Seedorf... what a shame!

Agreed. Hernanes is a good, hard-working player and would have been absolutely perfect for us!

Didn't you know, Filipo? the only players worth buying are from Brazil.

That is true.

I do it from time to time. It's a Denny Crane.

Most people don't see those Brazilians play, hear great stories about them, picture them as flawless superstars (while having former Brazilians superstars in their thoughts). The power of imagination.

Quit being so arrogant and watch him play instead of just running your mouth about him with no knowledge whatsoever of what this player is capable of.


This kid isn't touted as the next great for nothing; He is that good. He will easily walk into our AM position. I would consider him at the age of 20 to be better than seedorf is now.

Nahhhh, brazil don't create good players at all. I mean look at their history, all just a bunch of lazy overrated flops

Exactly! They've won every single world cup, all the ballon d'or awards, and CL winning teams have at least 9 brazilians in their starting lineups!

Is this Mourinho speaking or maybe Giacinto Facchettis reincarnation?

I guess this guy is good on Football Manager.

I watched a Youtube vid on him, looks decent, then I watched one on R.Oliveira at Milan he looked good, then I watched one on Gilardino at Milan in the CL, WOW what a player.

Gremio hope for Ron return
Brazilian superstar could head home.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11854_6602686,00.html

I can only hope and pray that if this happens Galliani factors in Ganso SOMEHOW to the deal.

There i said it.

"Baldy!! Bring me ganso!!!!......NOW damnit!"

Hopefully we sign Ganso and Lazzarri as his substitute. That's right, I don't want Seedorf even as sub after last night's performance. He crossed the line of mediocrity.

I'm with you, bro! Seedorf will be 35 a couple of months before the end of the season. Not everyone can be consistently good at this age at a club like Milan. Not everyone is Paolo Maldini. I just wish he gracefully exits (like Rui Costa, that man was a pure gentleman) and makes way for someone younger.

Fact is, right now there is no Kaka who could bench Seedorf with the same lightness he benched Rui Costa.
And well, Seedorf does not need to be compared to Maldini either; we know it's a different story. It's needless to cross him off too, he's still a good sub.

Yes, we saw last night how a very good sub he is.

Almost everything he did against Roma was wrong. personally speaking, it was the worst game I'd seen from him in my life! I was watching the game with headphones on, I could clearly hear some of the fans losing patience with him and jeering him (of course, it had happened to him before).

BUT, is Seedorf always this bad? NO! next game he could come on as a sub and do well. you know he could. on Saturday he was having one of his terribly off-day games which hadn't happened since the Real game at the Bernabeu. as long as he's not a fixed XI player, I can live with that.

Yes, we saw that - but if the criteria to keep players would be 'after one horrible match, you're out' then we'd have a roster of 15 players.

Last season Bonera was horrible against Man. Utd., but did that mean he's finished or we had to release him? No, tbh (even though I dislike him) he's been more then fair for us this season.
Or Gattuso - against Inter, he played like never before last season, an reached a new low point; but this season he even deserves praise.

Why should one match be the criteria? I think we all can agree that Seedorfs season so far was fair and that he still can be useful.

Seedorf has been a matter of discussion on this forum even back in 2005 ... It does not surprise me that the same is still on going; yet when it comes to those BIG games, the ones that present themselves as the mother of all fixtures, Seedorf is the kingpin in all those games.

He has never been a fast player, nor has he been 10/10 throughout a whole season, he gives a modest 6.5 or 7 averaged at best throughout a season. Yet he remains to be one of the most capable players when the going gets tough.

Nowadays, people enjoy Barca/Arsenal type of games, where football is fluid and everyone is running around constantly ... Yet in Serie A, that approach will get you in trouble, as a tactically astute league, you need players of high tactical intelligence. As such, we have Seedorf amongst an array of midfielders ... But don't bother knocking on those who see otherwise Fillipo ... They will never see what Seedorf represents on the field; apart from having a big *** ofcourse.

I agree there, but the big game argument about Seedorf was dead a long time ago, Seedorf hasn't had a great game in a big match for quite some time. Probably against Man U in the CL in 07. He usually get's out ran and out muscled in the big games, just like we saw against Juve and Real this season.

Sportmediaset today says that:

• Cassano will join the rest of the team for Dubai next week, and will play the friendly match against Cannavaro's team on 2 Janauary;
• Ronaldinho won't leave;
• We won't be signing anyone else.

I really hope we sign at least a fullback!

Why the sudden change? Oh wait,...Antonini and Abate reassured everyone with their stellar performance against Roma...

Yeah, apparently "Roma" are not big enough for him, it seems. I hope we somehow win against Tottenham despite Seedorf, because if we don't there probably won't be a big match this season for him to show up. Now that would be severe injustice to his talents.

Seriously I'd take one motivated Paolo or Ronaldo (R99) over a hundred unmotivated Seedorfs - they always had the drive to play well despite winning (almost) everything, always showed up in every match.

Cassano is almost officially a Milan player. His contract was deposited today at Lega Calcio. The 5 million clause to Madrid will be devised equally between Milan, Sampdoria and Cassano.

Link

Welcome to Milan FantAntonio!

You're doing it again! You're mixing apples and pinapples! Maldini is out of any cathegory and Seedorf does nothing to do with it.

And Ronaldo...well, let's just say we disagree. Those sentences never end up fair in the end, because one could also formulate: "I'd take any day one strong and slow Seedorf over a hundred brilliant Ronaldos who get injured every 5 matches they play"

Well,the point is that Seedorf has been utter crap for the last month.I know having speed isn't the important assest,but for seedorf it's getting pretty pathetic.It's his body letting him down,so he should retire.


It's not like we're writing him off after 1 match,also if we want his football knowledge.Give him a staff role...

We already have the brain of the team which is Pirlo,if Dinho isn't leaving then Dinho can be his replacement there.He played in this position with Brazil,so he's more than capable.

No, I'm talking about the drive and motivation factor of the players, not their importance to the club and injury factor. Seedorf is our number 10 a very focal position in the squad. Like I said in another thread, I never doubted his talent or what he did for the club (one of our most important player when he teamed up with Kaka to win us the 2007 CL). Is it too much to ask for a defining performance from our attacking mid one that decides a match every now and then?

And frankly, how much at fault Seedorf is here is up for debate. Most players would probably do the same if my place was set and I had a bit of a free pass like he does. The fault lies with the coach and management for not either not grooming a younger understudy and in fact having a somewhat similar player in Ronaldinho in the team when we have our resident dutch maestro. These two will always clash for the place and space now that our attacking dynamics have changed with the signings of Ibra and Robinho. And for the moment that seems to be the case with Allegri favoring Seedorf ahead of R80 - some will say at the expense of the team. Against Roma it should have been Ronaldinho to come in for the injured Pirlo. And even if Seedorf came in, Allegri could have tried something different and moved KPB behind and Seedorf in a more advanced role up front.

But really it hurts me to see that a player could bring so much to the table and yet he does not - it's not his slowness that I dislike (Seedorf was never a speed-wagon), it's his easy going and lazy approach that I am not a fan of. Your perception may be different here, I will be the first to say this. And that's perfectly okay. But I want to see a bit more motivation and drive if he starts and comes in as the regular substitute - and not take his position as granted. That may yet be the difference in the Scudetto race, which is going to be one hell of a ride.

PS. Players can be off form, and that is normal. But really, I have seen enough mediocre performances from Seedorf (for his standards, that is) over these past couple of seasons (bad decisions when it comes to passing, walking on the pitch, or plain losing the ball) that I believe we are long overdue a more dynamic option. As you say, he may be okay as a sub for another few years. Problem is when the coach thinks he is more than that.

PPS. Another somewhat long post. Yikes!

Cassano!!!

...X-Off, guess you won't be too pleased with his number as he's likely to take the '99'