I've heard he's a bit of a wild cannon. A bit defensively suspect. Didac Villa and Taye Taiwo needs to be put on the Abate development programme, copyrighted by Tassotti.

Yeah, you see the vast improvement in Abate, it wasn't long ago we were all talking about him like he was Merkel. Possibly the most improved player this season? I'd say so.

Hopefully Taiwo will offer us a bit more pace at full-back. Heard he can take a free-kick or two too, another option for that now Pirlo's no longer here.

watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUPWzNLzs0M



Taiwo:

Strenghts:

-strong physically, one of the strongest defenders in the world
-has one of the most powerful shots in the world. Compared to Adriano in terms of power.
-fast and fit.
-free kicks
-heading
-long distance shooter


weakness:

-positional
-too aggressive
-error prone
-doesn't have a quality cross
-loose marking
-decision making.

Definitely. The guy shoots scorchers, great free kick option. Another one would be Honda, but not sure why Milan did not move for that, the guy has all sorts of positives and could have been an ideal SS.

It's amazing. When I saw him(Abate) play last year, I mentioned even that he'd take 2 years to reach the level he's playing at NOW!! I actually thought we'd need to buy 2 new fullbacks.

I think it's a combination of his own drive to succeed at that position as well as the management's attitude to help him out.

I have no clue whatsoever how good he is so I can only say welcome and wish good luck to him!

I'd have preferred Cissokho over him, but since we signed him for free I can't really complain. He's certainly an improvement to Zambrotta and Antonini.

Oh, and here's hoping he takes the #2 jersey and not some random #85 BS.

I think he has the #2 jersey, I think.

^^
Couldn't agree more!!

He had #3 at Marseilles.

If those are really his weaknesses he's crap.

From what I hear (talked to some Marseille fans) he really isn't defensively reliable, but has the work rate of a Gattuso. Now, that could be a problem, because Abate is similar. I concur with all the statements above regarding Abate - he's really shown up, but he still makes some dangerous defensive errors. Same goes to Taiwo. On the other hand, both are offensive, but lack the finesse of a Serginho. That could turn into a problem.

Thank god, we have Zambrotta here who'll certainly help out.

Let's watch him in action before we jump to conclusions, OK?

His flaws can easily be improved by good tutor from Nesta, Tasotti (and Zambrotta?)

I hope he gets shirt #2.

I am pretty sure hes confirmed numero 2 this coming season pretty sure

I find #2 weird for a left-back.

I don't follow you. The likes of Thomas Helveg, Christian Ziege, Winston Bogarde, Mauro Tassoti and Christian Panucci used to wear the Number 2. What's the problem?

I like odd numbers for positions. like when gallas had 10 for a CB or Number 5 for zidane in Midfield or 6 for Tuncay in Wolfsburg

Personally I can't stand the use of large numbers, 99, 70, etc for first team players

+1 Indeed. It's nothing but stupid. Remember Zamorano? That was also stupid...

That's my problem as well.

I like the large numbers if they arent like 71,49,58,46. more so like 88,99,45,44,77
And i loved the 1+8 Of zamorano. It was more a number you remember like down the seasons. if zamorano was just 18 then......not like you would remember much

Well, for example 22 or 21 were not so special numbers before Andy and Ricky came along.

So very true, Fillipo. Well I don't really have too much of a problem with really larger numbers, heck my second most-favorite player had to wear 99 here. But anything under 23 is pretty much the norm. For sure-fire starters, I like to see numbers 1-11, or something like that in our case (because of the number 3 and 6 being retired).

Still, K22 and P21 weren't too shabby as far as shirt numbers go!

20s I can handle, but once you go past 30 then it gets irritating unless it's a youth player

back on the subject....i firmly believe that Taiwo won't be a regular starter...i think the LB slot will go to Urby esp after reading what Allegri said about Urby and the fact the Mr.X is a left sided midfielder so it rules Urby out of that position. I think because he was free they got him he will be used as cover and TIM games but thats it.

I disagree. I don't think Allegri has much consideration for Urby, especially as a fullback. We wanted to include him in the Fabregas deal after all, supposedly. Taiwo will be the regular starter, in my opinion.

Indeed. I don't think Allegri has a plan for Urby at all. As a fullback certainly not.

of course you disagree...seems everyone does with what i say now a days

That quote doesn't say anything about Furby playing as left-back. Furby won't be our starting left-back, because he is pretty bad at that. All the season Ajax had Furby, they had a major left-back problem. How is that possible if Furby is a good left-bacK? Well, because he isn't. It's for a reason Furby moved to left-wing, and a right-footed small Anita played left-back isntead who now is used as a midfielder. Anywho, bottomline being, Furby is a pretty bad left-back. I've seen him play as left-back a lot of times, and me and many others got very frustrated of that.

How often have you seen him as left-back?

Emanuelson is a midfielder, not a defender. A nice backup for midfield, that's all.

i've seen him play left back many times....Blind is now playing left back for Ajax and he's not a natural there either so that says nothing either. the quote wasn't meant to say were he'd be playing i was just using it to say he'll be used more next season as i didn't see him in midfield i was just guessing he'd be used there

just a opinion thought i was allowed one sorry

No, Boilesen is playing as left-back now...... (Blind is meh anyway)

And who was talking about natural positions? And Blind not a natural left-back? Really?

I meant with saying Emanuelsin is a midfielder, not a defender, that he simply sucks in defender/left-back..

not sure what all the ?????? is about but hey you young kids have your own way of making a point...anyways time will tell who will be our left back ???????

Not appreciated.

Stop with this trolling.

was trying to end the conversation on a light hearted note...sorry if my sense of humour doesn't come across well or you don't understand it either way before you edited your post i found that offensive.

Although I agree on seeing Emanuelson rather as a midfielder, this reasoning of yours Chu is a bit too much simplified for my taste:

To be honest, he sounds more like he's trying to patronize Emanuelson than putting blind faith on him.

oh yeah thats the sort of thing coaches do to there players isn't it?

Haha, perhaps I should have used another word there. Not patronize as in a condescending manner, but simply to defend him from the critics after a not-exactly-stellar debut with Milan.

Critics? I didn't catch up any critics on Emanuelso. Well, what was he supposed to do?

I have.

...

BOT

Go Go Bot Deleter.

Taiwo's agent says that the player is recovering much faster than initially presumed, and that it's probable he might be available against Barcelona.

Link

Fingers crossed!

hmm, not sure I want to see him coming up against Messi and the like

Still hasn't convinced me defensively