First half of the season was entirely down to Ibra pulling goals out of nothing which usually came from long balls.

Another point to note is that the competition was pretty much non-existant last season with Inter struttering thoughout the first half of the season, Juve being laughable and same goes for Roma

I know you're being reasonable, but I find it intolerable when people put down a league title saying the league was weak that year.

I guess the same applies to the past 4 or 5 years when Inter won it - they won it because we and Juve were weak?

Toddlepop! They won it because they were the best team in Italy and deserved to win it. Last season we won it because WE were the best team in Italy.

Can't we give ourselves SOME credit, or are we always going to say the competition was poor?

both things can apply at the same time... Serie A was weak and we were the best team in a weak Serie A... saying it was a weak league is not taking anything away from Milan in my view... it's just what it is... Milan were eliminated by Tottenham in the CL after all we can't have been such a great team!

and of course it has been a weak Serie A the past five seasons though Inter did have a very good team last season under Mourinho.

True Danny, but Man. Utd and Barcelona made it to the final, and Real to the semis. We couldn't get passed a weak Tottenham, bad night or not. And also look at the group stage. We collected only 8 points out 18, being the team qualified for the knock-out round with the least amount of points. Comparing leagues is useless. The Champions League is where the important clubs show their worth, and we were far from being worthy.

So,...transfers... ..anyone?

I like the sound of Hansik and Ganso given the hype they're getting on here - but I don't know a huge amount about them.

Actually Hamsik is not really someone everyone here is drooling over but he's better then staying as we are and more realistic then someone like Fabregas

Yet I saw a price quoted of £90M. Not exactly cheap!

Delusional BS imo

So,...transfers... ..anyone?

So are you undermining our league title or...tbh I'm focusing less on the CL and more on the Scudetto which was our 100% priority last year.

Which might actually explain the CL exit in the last 16.

Not undermining our scudetto. Simply stating that we're inferior to most top European clubs unless we sign two quality midfielders.

I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS MORE ON SCHWASTEINGER SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE EL SHAARAWY, BOATENG FOR THE ATTACKING MIDFIELD ROLE AND SEEDORF IS STILL WITH US...SCHWASTEINGER WILL HARNESS, ADD FLAIR AND SOME DEFENSIVE VALUE TO THE TEAM MIDFIELD AND THAT WILL SURELY BE A RELIEF TO THE AGING VAN BOMEL. THE MONEY THAT WILL WANT TO TO USE FOR EITHER GANSO/HAMSIK OR BOTH OF THEM, SHOULD BE USE FOR SCHWASTEIGER ALONE.

I've seen it said on here that Man Utd have a poor midfield - are they a top European club?

I've also heard it that Chelsea's midfield is too old. Are they a top European club?

I'd say we are a top European club, and the improvement of midfield would make us simply better.

I mean, seriously, who are significantly better than us? Other than Barca and maybe Real?

You think Dortmund could easily beat us? I know Chu will agree with you, and they really are a wonder, but that is just exaggerated. IMO it would be a wonder - if BVB would beat us.

Because you usually rate young and fresh players above everything else.

You think Dortmund could easily beat us? I know Chu will agree with you, and they really are a wonder, but that is just exaggerated. IMO it would be a wonder - if BVB would beat us.

Allegri has asked Galliani to close for Schweinsteiger. He costs €35 million, and we want to sell Antonini and Flamini to PSG to cash in.

Link

meh, too much and we'd still need some else for the AM position, while losing Flamini who is a great squad player to have.

not for what he (Flamini) is earning in my view. We were right to go for him at the time but right now he does not deserve the money he earns. if we do let him go though we'll have to replace him which is tricky.

Maybe you're right. I just don't see us competitive enough in Europe yet.

I agree there, which is why the management should re-negotiate a short to mid-term deal from his with a lower salary

While I agree with you I would certainly be willing to sacrifice Flamini for Schweini. I love his game and he would increase the quality of our midfield drastically. We can find a cheaper alternative for Flamini later.

meh, too much and we'd still need some else for the AM position, while losing Flamini who is a great squad player to have.

The idea that Bayern would let go of Schweini to me is just ridiculously improbable. 35m wouldn't even begin to cut it. And imo it's not worth it if we're going to create another hole in the midfield (by selling Flamini) and still having a position yet to fill (AM) after spending all that money on a single player.

Flamini leaves a hole behind? He's not even a starter, nor is he in your guys 'dream' midfield I see posted here.

And if Flamini goes, we can easily get a replacement for very cheap.

And you can't know signing Schweini means no new AM. You can't know that. It's just an assumption.

Well, if Schweini does come, I guess our midfield would be the same as last season's, with him replacing Seedorf. Van Bommel, Gattuso and Boateng being the other pieces. Honestly, I'm still sold on the Ganso-Hamsik idea.

Flamini is our go-to guy in the midfield when we need to change things around or there's an injury, playing Rino or Ambro shouldn't even be considered. So selling Flamini would mean bringing in another squad player to take over his role. There aren't many players who will come on te cheap to take that spot.

After spending all that money on one player I can't see the managment spending another sh!t load on an AM
So it would have to be Boateng behind the strikers, and the right-side left to Rino or Ambro :headslap:

The only really positive thing I can say about him is his other half is outrageously attractive.

You probably didn't expect us to sign Robinho after we signed Zlatan, like kinda everyone.

And lol at you for wanting Rino and Ambro not even be considered. That really is something.

We'll see how that goes when they once again get their @sses handed to them in big matches because they can't keep up anymore. I realy don't know what your obsession with these 2 is. Mind boggling really

Why do you two have to go to extremes? They are squad players for god sake - not indispensable nor the best, but also still players who contribute. Let's cut it here, I still think that we can threat them with respect?

And as I said earlier, if Flamini leaves for Schweini, it won't be a big blow. We can manage to fill this position with one of the other DM's we have and sign maybe a fresh one this winter or next summer.

AC Milan swoop again
Yes from Ganso but in January

Contacts have been renewed since a 2nd non-European can be signed, but Santos aren't making any discounts. Raiola has lunch with Galliani


MILAN, 7 July 2011 - It all boils down to the FIFA Club World Cup. Santos have had a taste of success after winning the Libertadores and now they are bent on keeping their place at the table of the successful clubs by trying to add the Club World Cup to their trophy room. To do this, it goes without saying, they need to hold on to all of their stars. The fact that many of these come into the future plans of many European clubs is of no importance whatsoever to Santos. Or rather it won't be at least until January when the Club World Cup will be over and done with. Only then will the board of the Brazilian team start looking at their financial situation and it's more than likely that some talented players will be packed off to European destinations. But not beforehand. This is what has happened to the future plans of Ganso and Danilo, two players who are being closely watched by AC Milan. And not just since permission to take on a second non-European was given.


Raising the Bar — Obviously the turnaround made by the FIGC, the Italian football controlling body, regarding non-European players has rekindled ambitions at AC Milan. The Ganso saga was considered old hat in via Turati until recently when talks began again with Santos and Sonda, who hold the rights to the player. The problem is that once word had reached Brazil about the possibility of Italian clubs signing another non-European, they decided to raise the bar and now won't be moved. As at the beginning of the story, the tangle involves the €50 million buy-out clause: over the last few weeks Santos seemed to be relaxing their attitude to the price, but now they are sticking to their guns.

Guarantee — Ganso and especially AC Milan will just have to accept it. It makes much more sense to think that the deal will go through in January rather than in the summer transfer window. Whatever happens is fine if we consider that up until two days ago federation regulations meant that the deal would have been impossible. The Rossoneri are now considering their options, but they have two advantages: number one is that they can take their time and don't have to rush the deal through and the second is that, if the deal isn't signed until after Christmas, they have time on their side until January to see how the player is recovering from the various fitness and injury problems he had during the year. let's call it a sort of guarantee of the product. And in the meantime Neymar has joined in too. Yesterday in Brazil's training camp he made a statement to the effect that he wanted to stay at Santos to play in the Club World Cup. A desire that will probably appeal to and be copied by Ganso and Danilo, who may be attracted by the prestigious trophy and are very much aware that their club has no intention of releasing them before January .

Raiola in Milan — Meanwhile yesterday morning, just back after his meeting with Balotelli's Manchester City, Mino Raiola met with Adriano Galliani to give him an overview of his clients' situations. This was another opportunity to follow up other South American trails, like alternatives to Ganso and Danilo, and to discuss the Hamsik situation. There are no likely changes to his position in the near future, but AC Milan as usual, will continue to monitor any developments discreetly.

Why do you two have to go to extremes? They are squad players for god sake - not indispensable nor the best, but also still players who contribute. Let's cut it here, I still think that we can threat them with respect?

And as I said earlier, if Flamini leaves for Schweini, it won't be a big blow. We can manage to fill this position with one of the other DM's we have and sign maybe a fresh one this winter or next summer.

Because wanting either of them to start is not going to take us anywhere, and that is what would happen if Flamini is sold and only Schweini is brought in. Rino or Ambro playing on the right.

I'm ok with them being backups for Serie A games when they're needed, but not as starters, it's just ridiculous, haven't we seen enough of the once great Gattuso getting nutmegged by mediocre Cagliari, etc players. And then trying to contend with a player like Ronaldo. Just ridiculous.

This is not about respect. I respect what they've given this team just as much as you. But imo they're finished as players and I want what is good for the team first and foremost before thinking about the player, no matter his histroy with the club. And letting either of them play regularly is not good for the team, simple.

Yeah, but who said that? I said squad players, again, not first team players or starters. If Schweini comes we will have a midfield of Boateng-van Bommel-Schweini + a AM player. What's the problem?

And I seriously mean that Flamini isn't that far away from a "almost finished" Gattuso and "finished" Ambrosini. Sorry, the guy had a few good moments last season, but all in all he's not starting material for Milan, nor do we need to be sad after his departure.