Thanks Danny. I seriously hope that this is true.

I was explaining to someone on a Rangers forum that Rino was better last year than he has been in recent seasons. But for some reason I thought he didn't make a huge number of appearances, when the stats say he started 31 matches.

I honestly don't recall it being that many. I remember seeing Boateng, Flamini and belatedly Van Bommel more.

Am I going insane?

At first, meaning a few days ago, I'd be for it. But considering our situation now, that's only one more player we won't be able to replace (even if some think he's useless). We should concentrate on bringing up more creative players, not making a new hole.

I wouldn't use the term "useless" i think it can be put as less effective but to be honest i think thats more to do with age than anything else. He will be used alot this season with (only my opinion) a very static and workman like midfield with 3 spaces being shared between Rino, Ambro, MVB and Flamini. seedorf and Prince possibly sharing the role behind the 2 strikers or Prince dropping back and Robinho playing there to. so i could argue 3 spaces 5 players buts that also called having a squad. Pirlo can't be replaced like for like he was/is a unique player but in order to win tight games a midfield consisting of them players would be hard pushed to create much if anything. so (again only my opinion) a playmaker of some descript would be a welcome addition, my personal preference would be to use Cassano in a slightly deeper role and then have a Ibra/Pato/Robinho trio fighting for 2 places.

I think we'll get one of Ganso or Pastore and Boateng will be pushed back to the LCM and be used as a sub CAM. Ambro/Flamini on the right, VB in the middle.

Ambro/Flamini on the left, and Prince on the right makes more sense to me.

Also I'm unsure that will happen anyway, what you point out...

This mentality is what plagues the team as well as our fans. Why can't solutions be found internally, Strasser has shown enough over the few games he's played to at least, if nothing else, be considered as a replacement. Say what you will about our youth setup, but there is no way Gattuso offer us more over the course then Strasser might. I agree this is purely speculation but Gattuso is a unidimensional player who has lost his dimension and part of his mind over the past years and to see him in 2012 wearing the red and black is almost as laughable as watching Materazzi starting (who has since retired). I have made the argument that while playing Gattuso, Ambro and Seedorf over the course of the year diminishes whatever skills they have left, it would sharpen a younger, composed player such as Strasser.

No because we need a DM to cover for Abate's runs, whereas Taiwo, as well as Zambrotta last year, aren't known (at this point in their careers) as WBs who will bomb up and down the flanks, giving us the flexibility to play a more offensive Mid on the left.

Strasser is a good replacement for Gattuso. If Gattuso stays, Strasser should be loaned out (Lecce it was?), because of lack of playing time here. If Gattuso leaves, Strasser should stay and no replacement needed. I agree with il dia... that Strasser is good/showed enough for that. That leaves us with Van Bommel, Ambrosini, Flamini, Strasser, and also our promising Primavera player Calvano as DM's. I like that. (Flamini is welcome to be replaced by Vidal though.)

I actually believe Strasser is more on par with Gattuso and Flamini than most people think.

But how often do you think they will play Strasser unless they co-own him?
They aren't that bad a team, but i mean even Bertolacci, who's also a pretty talented young mid (co-owned with Roma IIRC) only played about 10 games for them... If management was smart, Strasser would be getting more minutes here then he woill probably end up getting at lecce IMO.

The best case scenario would be Strasser getting minutes at Milan, yes. Shame Milan still got both Flamini and Gattuso who will make sure Strasser won't see the pitch. I don't feel like Flamini and Gattuso are worth it holding Strasser back. And we also got Calvano coming, so he probably will face the same problem.

I have no problem with Flamini he is far from a world-beater but he is still a DM with good ability and who offers alot more going forward then Rino & ambro. He has played well and is by far the coolest head of all our aggressive mids. He has a wicked shot and understands how to move off the ball. He doesn't do to much when in possession and will do his fair share of running up and down the field. IMO Strasser should have been the #2 behind MVB or our #2 RDM. But we kept 3 players with a combined age of 102. Leadership is important in a team sport, i get it, but we have: Seedorf taking defensive liberties that cost us games, Rino chasing after 60yo ex-Rossoneri players trying to *****-slap them in the face and, finally, Ambro who i can best describe at this point in his career as a whiney, over-confidant, reckless, static version of his former self. Truth is, Rino, Ambro and Seedorf did not win the 2010-2011 Scudetto for us, not by a long shot. Considering these geriatrics will probably earn a combined 9-10M next year, I don't think taking a chance on playing Strasser will ruin our reputation, performance, image, shirt sales, unity and tactical positioning as much as some of the nostalgic, optimistic, older fans will have you beleive.

Well, you cannot be sure, because Strasser did not play even 3 games in a row. My post has nothing to do with Strasser anyway, my point is - Allegri seems not to be considering Strasser as a first team player or even a player that might fight for his position. We got rumors all over ourselves that Strasser will be leaving on loan, to Novara, Torino, etc.

Now let me try to speculate - basically, if Rino leaves, I can't see us sign 2 or 3 new midfielders. Most probably Allegri will be pushing for more muscles, cause that's how he likes it, and then we'll end up spending more then we got...for a DM or working midfielder.

I know it's very opportunistic to praise young talents and players here, but gee, we really have to be clear on that we are not Arsenal. We've been preaching around and around about great prospects who should have played - like Marzorati, Darmain, ect. Did anything change?

Yeah, we went from bad to worse. Quality youth is the way forward, whether the club likes it or not. And from the look of things they didn't like it much a few years back, but now I can smell the winds of change. B&G are putting more focus on young players, either moving them around and about, or transitioning them to the first XI.

Quality youth, yes. Problem is, they are at the source, they know better then us. What was the last youngster that failed at Milan, but turned out to be great? Viera? Davids?

{1}Ordinarily, I would fully appreciate your argument, if it were not for the everlasting reluctance to play youth over the fossilized legends of yesteryear. We have had some talented kids come through our ranks recently. Think of Matri, Miccoli, Abate, Paloschi, Astori, Strasser, Merkel. Even youth international setups know to trust our Primavera in the cases of Albertazzi, Zigoni, Desole, Ghiringhelli(Spl?), Beretta, Verdi, De Sciglio, Novinic, Fossati, Pontons Paz(i won't pretend to know him), Calvano and Piscitelli. In most teams, playing internationally at a youth level is a good indicator that unless you really screw up (Di Gennaro), you are essentially pretty well off compared to your peers, proving you are worthy of your country's shirt.

How many people hav complained that we let players go on co-own-loans only to have to pay more to buy their full rights again; is that not a indication of talent? I do however appreciate that, outside of Games started, you seem to not knock on Strasser and, correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe you have stated that he is in fact our top youth player. If such is to be said, i as much as many here would like him to play more and i think the problem lies with Berlusconi. Because of the Big 3 men in charge, he is the nostalgic one that enjoys seeing his now-dusty gladiators jog around with a sense of accomplishment that insists upon more glorious times for the club. Galliani goes through the trouble of scouting and signing these youths, which i can only assume would mean he wants to see them succeed. Big AL has always been one to play/encourage the kids, granted he has never really had the kind elaborate talent pool to pick from as he has now, but still, he understands that players don't get better the longer you leave them on the shelf.

{2} Rino is not that good that we should replace him IMO. I mean, would i enjoy a Nainggolan-type player to replace him, sure, but i think he is as dispensable as an Oddo or a Jankulovski. Wages are what kills this team, and the fiscal gap between Rino and Strasser is much more astronomical then the gap in talent. I don't even necessarily agree that we absolutely need a LM/AM. I like that we got talented kids in the summer and addressed the LB situation, which was all we really NEEDED to do IMO.

{3}I'd be the first to agree that we are not Arsenal and that our 17yos don't have 700 first team starts under their belts. That being said between Milan's policy over the past 5 years and modern day arsenal, i do strongly believe that there is middle ground to be explored.

At the bold part

wait we bought him in a co-own and spent 20M +Merkel? he is worth 40?!

10million plus Merkel for his first half.

We paid €10m for 50%of his rights, while Genoa paid €5 million for half of Merkel’s rights.

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2011/06/mi...-transfer-deal/

Argentina has crashed out of the CA, meaning its time for Pastore to decide his future. I believe him to be a very realistic option for us, despite what Galliani has been promoting.

I dont have a lot of time currently, but I will do the best I can to update the transfer section.


Here is a basic summary of what the media thinks is going on.


- Man Utd are close to signing sneijder. 35m pounds.

-Inter in return are after Fabregas as a replacement.

-We are interested in Pastore if the price drops. Same with Hamsik if there is a price drop.

-We are still linked with Fabregas, with the media claiming that milanfans are now demanding him.

-We are linked with kaka.


-Barbara is looking to separate Milan from Finivest. She is becoming the president as Berlu will be stepping down soon and she does not want Milan to be owned by any private companies.

MN/CM/Tutto

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Expect one big player to arrive. Raiola is working on Fabregas and Hamsik. Braida is working on Ganso. Galliani is doing the other transfers.


I will say this though, its mid way through July and Fabregas is still not at barca. This is good news. Keep an eye on this deal, it will take some twists and turns.

Yeah,he's expressed his intent to leave,and Zamparini said that he's going to be sold.Pastore also said that he'd prefer to play for a bigger club,and to stay in Italy.He also flirted with us directly

@ il_diavolo_mtl - essentially we agree - I also don't think we need an extra Dm or Gattuso replacement, but I think Allegri isn't in agreement with us. That's what I mostly fear.

Also, Allegri is too often considered as a coach who gave the kids a chance, while in fact we forget that he really had little options to do other then that.

I'm sure his price can be dropped now. Yesterday he tried to score so forcefully, but in the end only managed to become utmost irritating whit his shooting.

I have a feeling that he eventually might go to merda as Sneijder replacement.

They've already signed Alvarez for that.

In addition to the fact that Sneijder isn't sold yet.Stankovic even bet a pizza and a beer that Sneijder would remain at Inter!Now either Stankovic is a cheap man,or Sneijder is really moving to Man.U

We're now being heavily linked with Montolivo.

Yup he probably will be our midfield signing

As long as we don't include Cassano in the deal I'm ok with it. It's better then nothing, especially when looking at our current midfield.

+1

Which will probably happen.

What? You don't rate ambro & ringho anymore

sarcasm right?

I was mostly talking about our midfield in general, which is all brute force with no creativity

You never, know, man. You never do know, LOL.

links with Montolivo continue... the price mentioned is less than 10 million 5.5 plus 50% of paloschi (2.5 million).... i really dont like him but this is pretty cheap..
http://football-italia.net/jul19e.html

you think 10m is pretty cheap and you really don't like him?

The reported price is 5.5million plus a half of paloschi's contract.So,the deal is worth 8million approximately.I hope we don't sell the other part of paloschi again...Montolivo's contract is due next year,and he won't renew it so they can either give us montolivo for a reasonable price 6-7million or risk losing for nothing next year.I think he'd be a good buy;of-course he still needs a lot to become world class,but at the current circumstances(Berlusconi's debts) and at that price,it would be a good buy.It also would open up the space for a big signing like Pastore.

Yea 10 million for football transfer now days is cheap and he is rated overall.... i never got impressed with him but i think 10 million is ok considering players like hamsik and ganso cost around 25 million plus

OFFICIAL: Strasser on loan to Lecce.

As expected, we're going to loan/co-own every one of our "promising" youngsters. I wonder why the management even bother to spend money on these kids when they never really give them a fighting chance

Loan is much better than co-ownership. Besides, loaning Strasser for this season was the ideal thing to do. He wouldn't have any chance of playtime with Van Bommel, Gattuso, Ambrosini and Flamini starting ahead of him. Next season, when (hopefully) both Gattuso and Ambrosini say goodbye, we can get him back.

+1

Try telling dst that.

I agree with you

But my main point is, why bother to begin with? Strasser imo was the most matured out of all the kids, the only player who culd be trusted on a more regular basis, even if his position, is as you say, over crowded.

I can't see him getting in anytime soon, this season he was loaned out, next it will be a co-own or another loan. And he'll get lost in the shiffle like the rest of the kids the managment bring in. The management are spending a lot of money on these deals for the Primavera, yet I don't see any changes on their behalf to try and give these kids a decent chance

You bother because when he goes on loan to Lecce, kills it, and his value goes up 10mil you have made a massive profit or a quality signing for cheap. And if he turns out to be a dud, then you havn't wasted any money paying his salary. The only cost of your poor business decision is the purchase price, which in this case is minimal.

That's one scenario, but another is that he'll show that he's ready for Milan after being a stater in a mediocre team and will return in a year or two. Just like Abate or, if I may go a little further, Albertini. If he's good enough,he will prove it there. It's better than keeping him on the bench most of the season.

Sure we had some kids that got lost but it's a given that not many of primavera have enough potential to make at Milan level and the odds are against them. We strated to invest in youth just in recent years after a long time of not caring. We'll see in the future whether it was worth it.

To both replies; how many times does that actually happen? Once in a blue moon, and it's usually us who get the short end of the stick, such as the Boriello deal.