THAT IS NOT A FACT.

personal attacks? your saying the best RB in the world is trash and overrated. If galliani could he would have signed him over zambro any day of the week. And no eto stated that he will not take wage cuts thats why tottenham pulled out. Chelsea had other views and we could not afford him and mourinho didn't want him.

stats say otherwise freind.

He's not the best RB in the world. That's a personal opinion. Stop stating personal opinion as fact. I think he's overrated. I went too far saying he's trash. But he's not worth 30 million. Perhaps 10-15 million at most. No. I would have signed Zambrotta (one of my favorite players). Eto'o wouldn't take wage cuts... Tottenham? There were other teams in the running including Arsenal and Chelsea. We couldn't afford him? Milan pay large wages to its players by the way.

La Liga and Serie A are far different leagues. And stats? No.

Ok tactical exercise...Barca vs Milan....

I imagine Barca's formation to be like this..

Alves---XXX---XXX---Abidal
--------Yaya----------------
-------Xavi-----Iniesta------
---Messi---------Henry-----
-----------Eto'o------------

Milan play...

Oddo---Nesta---God/Calamity---Zambo
----Rino/Ambro/Flamini---Pirlo---Zee-----
-------R80----------------Kaka---------
---------------Pato/Sheva--------------


Barca launch an attack down our left(messi and alves), on an overlap, they are running smack into Zambrotta and our DM yes? If that attack breaks, one switch of play cross field, brings Seedorf and Kaka and possibly Pirlo into play onto Barca's left in a counter, forcing Yaya into action.

At this point, I would expect Ronnie, on our left flank (Barca's empty right) to be virtually unmarked and waltz into the left centre.

I think it's child's play for one of the three players who launch the counter (Zee/Kaka/Andy) to switch that play through to the left/left-centre to a waiting Ronnie. While, the other two push forward in attack, forcing Yaya and Xavi into a dilemma. Do I cut down these two advancing down the (Barca) right, or push back to take on Ronnie who has the ball.

Don't forget that Ronnie has either of Sheva/Pato in front of him to combine with as they take on the defence. This along with the onrushing attackers (Kaka/Zee)


*Of course, it might not work. The defenders might get the tackle off. Our passing might be awry. But it's fully within the realm of possibility for this counter to work. Leaving R80 or Kaka unmarked with space to run into is just not a good idea.


Of course, Barca could play that double pivot with Keita and Yaya. But then one of Iniesta/Xavi/Henry would have to sacrificed. Still they lose offensively, inspite of Alves in the line up.


But against a team lesser than Milan, say a Mallorca or even a Valencia. You're right..it is a superior formation Barca have.

That's exactly the problem I still have with Barcelona... even a team like Real Betis demolished them on the counter-attack in the La Liga last season. They are not capable defending. And they play almost arrogantly... thinking the lesser team would not be capable of counter-attacking. That's why they dropped so many points towards the end.

And spending 30 million on Alves does not help the serious defense issues they have.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pY48G7txHI

They also got messed up by Mallorca later on. So Mallorca is not to be underestimated. Look at the 2nd goal in particular. Look at how they were caught badly on counter-attack. Look at how poorly their defenders cleared it...

I don't know guys but Alves is still young to be considered the best RB in the world. He still has to play 2-3 seasons of CL football on a high level and have at least one great tournament with Brazil. He could be the best, cause I remember him, how he owned Ronaldinho in several occasions when Sevilla met Barca. But right now? Zambrotta is much more experienced and if he manages to come back to his prior form (which btw. was very consistent over many years with Juventus) there's no doubt who's the best RB in the world.

um actually...although i cannot give a quote verbatim, there were many times when i was watching Daniel Alves or Maicon during the champions league, Serie A, La Liga seasons and clearly remember the words Daniel Alves and Maicon are "widely considered" to be the two best right backs in the world. I did not hear this once from just one commentator, but many times from quite a few different commentators..and to that you really can't argue. Keep in mind Maicon essentially cemented his spot in Inter's starting XI as their right back WHILE Javier Zanetti was still in the squad.

I'm not saying that what the commentators said was fact, because it probably was opinion..but so is EVERY evaluation of players. People who work in the industry with all the football information they please at their finger tips "widely consider" Alves and Maicon to be the best.

Now..with that said..i assert that NEITHER of them are and that honor belongs to Spain and Real Madrid's right back Sergio Ramos...IMO.

...and about that comment that Sheva has lost his pace? Sheva wasn't incredibly pacy in the first place. Sure when he was really young he was..but it was never his PACE that made him prolific. It was his amazing heading ability..and the ridiculously accurate and powerful shot he possessed on both feet. MOST, not all, but most of his goals were one-touch and shot..or a ridiculously instinctive box finish with the head or cleverly slotting past the keeper. With the technical prowess that Kaka, Seedorf, and Dinho posses..Sheva will get MANY opportunities to take one touch and shoot..something he RARELY ever got at chelsea..any chance Sheva got at Chelsea was either a half chance or something he had to create on his own. But it was his movement up front that allowed Drogba and Lampard space..Sheva's movement is still brilliant..

and with this signing he immediately steps into the team as the best finisher we got. Pato's got real potential, but in terms of sheer volume i would rather Sheva take most of our shots on goal up front rather than any of the other strikers we got...he is REALLY intelligent, like Pippo, in the positions he takes up, and he's a more versatile goal getter than pippo..He has the technical ability to play up front on his own if necessary, and is a perfect complementary striker for Borriello/Pippo to play along side..we all know how good Gila was next to Sheva.

And this other comment that Sheva isn't what we need? He actually is. He is old enough to contribute nicely and effectively for 2 more years..and who better than Sheva to show Pato the ropes..and tell him that he should never leave us..AND teach him a thing or two so when Sheva's done Mr. Alexandre Pato will be 22 and the new world phenom..

again, (i gotta clarify this..) IMO Sheva is the perfect fit! Hey, we got Sheva back..and if he hadn't left we prlly would have never gotten Pato! so no more complaining!!

Wow...I can't believe this. Everyone on this forum is happy with the team. Cr@p...now I have no windmills left to charge.

Relax, I'm not happy, I don't want Sheva!

more sheva less barca here

sheva came on loan that mean we got him for cheap

Well, one mystery has been solved.

Shevchenko's contract has been deposited with Lega Calcio. He's at Milan on loan.

link to Lega Calcio site. Click on the team name and the list of new players in will pop up.

'Definitivo' = Full transfer
'Temporaneo' = Loan
'Partecipazione' =Co-ownership

Then why I just kept thinking it's a full transfer? probably a loan transfer with option to buy, right? I can't see Sheva leaving Milan again...

Whether or not Alves is the best RB in the world is debateable...however:
1)He is waaaay faster than Zambrotta (and everybody else too )
2)He is a FAR better offensive playmaker
3)He takes a nd scores free kicks (you know like Oddo used to)
4)He is much younger and has FAR more potential
5)He is sound defensively ...maybe not as sound as Zambrotta but certainly solid

^If those FACTS can't comvince you that Alves>Zambrotta then you're not into the truth.
Similarly there are players who like Alves would have fit in perfectly to the DEMANDS or NEEDS of
Ancelotti's system. He's not stupid. That's why he wanted Ribery sometime ago....because Milan needs width in our wings because we have the best central play in the world.

That brings me to $heva....he once refered to himself as a WINGER.....is it at all possible that Carlo might deploy him there ?? I think $heva would be most effecitve up front (and that isn't saying much) because I doubt he has his old searing pace to take on defenses on the wing (like he did for a short time when playing behind Inzaghi as a 2nd striker)

That would be oh, so bad! Unless it' back to Dynamo Kiev. Leaving Milan for 'any' other club (unless his performance is horrible) would be just about the worst thing Sheva can do. To himself. And to his career.

Kiev I can understand, maybe 3-4 years later.

Yes, he is. The Alves of today is better than Zamborghini of today. The Alves six years down the road and the Zambrotta of six years back is an entirely different matter altogether. The Brazilian is young, and about the best alternative of Cafu one can find anywhere.

It would have been way, way cool if say we bought him instead of Barca. Would have fixed all our problems at the right for the next decade.

Without you, my life would be purposeless. Thank you, my friend!!

He is not better than Zambrotta in any sense. Zambrotta is a better world class player, and he's better defensively than Alves. Alves is inadequate defensively. Barcelona still have the same problems as before. I think Zambrotta all around is the better player.

And for someone to say he's like Cafu... wow... not a chance. Alves is overrated, overpriced and certainly not the player we need!



Alves would never fit in Ancelotti's system. We have the players to fit in our system. We have all the appropriate players. You are never happy with the transfer season because there is always something to complain about for you.

I'll have to disagree on Alves/Zambrotta there. Zambrotta has done nothing but give poor performances for both club and country since the 2006 World Cup finished, while Dani Alves has won quite a few trophies with Sevilla, helping them to 3rd in the league in the process. He's undoubtedly been better than Zambrotta the last 24-months and has the potential to get even better.

Zambrotta at his very best in his career > Alves at his best so far. But Zambrotta hasn't seen those 'very best' days for a while now.

Zambrotta certainly has got his spark back and he was one of the best Italian players in the Euro 2008. While Italy did not win (mostly having to do with the absence of Pirlo), Zambrotta was one of my favorite players.

To say he hasn't seen those very best days again is a tad bit misleading, and I feel that he could really make an impact one he gels into the team (which appears to be happening).

I think Zambrotta is poised to make a big comeback, and I think this whole discussion about whether we should have got Alves will be put to rest. As I said, Alves is overpriced, overrated and it was more Sevilla as a team that won those trophies, not just him.

Shevcento !! literally

nice to see them together !!

Really nice..Sheva and Ronnie in the same team..WOW...

Add Kaka to that and we have 3 golden ball winners on board

I really thought I would never see that before... Sheva and Ronaldinho in the same team...

Sheva looks really happy...

Those two will be a handful for Serie A

And tell me this happens at other teams

Forza Milan !

I bolded some really doubtfull parts out. Far more potential? How much potential do you expect a 31 year old defender who's won everything there is to win (except the EURO) has? I mean, at this point, the 14yold kid in my backyard has more potential. Potential is a relative parameter, and has nothing to do with facts.

Solid? Solid also does not cover anything special. 70% of the RB's are defensively solid.

But all does points (I wouldn't call them facts) you pointed out are not telling that much. Take Dario Srna for example - he surpasses Zambrotta in all points from 1 to 4, and Alves especially on points 3 and 5. Does that mean he's better? I'm not sure.

Dani Alves NOW maybe is in a better form. As you said, he has potential, talent and did very good in Sevilla. But I said that while Zambrotta allready proven as a world class player who played great matches with Juventus and Italy for over 7 years, Alves didn't exactly play for Brazil on a major tournament (except the Copa America), or for Barca in the CL (yet).

I just won't be to hasty with comments. Zambro is a proven class IMO. Out of form? Yes. But he's unquestionably a champion. Alves? He still has much to prove.

Current form suggests otherwise....If zambrotta's assist to Scholes and performance in the Euros doesn't grab you, I'm hoping that Alves being both the Player of the Season for Sevilla's Uefa Cup winning season and his subsequent MVP for the Super Cup may change your mind...not that a silly thing like logic ever messed up your arguments



fast, right-back, skillful, a leader and brazillian....yip you're right he's NOTHING like Cafu

you're right....Carlo's system dictates that since the centre midfield is packed...the wingbacks should be the ones to establish width. These wingbacks should be FAST since the buildup play in midfield is slow (Seedorf and Pirlo ) and someone has to make the over-lapping runs...phew good thing we didn't get Alves - he's NONE of those things

Yep, but it would have been far better if they were on the same team about 2-3 years ago But we'll see, maybe both can regain their form

btw, sorry to interrupt the whole Zambrotta/Alves discussion but can we please just leave it to rest? Or at least take it over to the Zambrotta thread

Zambrotta never fit into Barcelona. And besides the game against Romania, Zambrotta did quite well throughout the Euro Cup. I think Chiellini was the best defender, but Zambrotta did quite well. Alves is overrated in my eyes and nothing you say will convince me. And no it doesn't change my mind.

Logic? You use logic? where exactly? I'd like to see it. And your arguments have been messed up countless times in the past. You refuse to listen to other opinions and then if someone says something different than you, you get nasty.

Alves and Quaresma are so over-rated and there are many better players than either of them out there.



Opinion, opinion and more opinion. Cafu was one of the best Brazilian defenders ever... Alves has nothing on him.



There you go again. Complaining and complaining and complaining. That's all you do. Alves simply is not appropriate for Milan. There are better players out there. Your logic is poor too. Too many assumptions.

But this is a thread about Shevchenko. I see you still have personal problems with me. I suggest you private message me, or let this be done with.

Can Alves actually defend?

NOOO!!!!!

Don't do that Tennie, now this discussion will start all over again from the beginning

Absolutely not.

Lets get back to Sheva... anyone else have pictures of him training or perhaps kicking the ball some in red and black? This seems almost surreal...

Here got something for you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2hogfvrFFY

click here Not bad for an overrated guy huh?
BTW is it me or does $heva look kinda old and thin ?

I'm with you on this one. Obviously, he's no way near the legend yet, but if he wasn't the Selaco wouldn't have given him Cafu's position - they obviously would have found a better alternative. It's too soon to tell whether he'd have the same impact as Cafu, but he's certainly on the right track to fill the legend's boots.

guys just stop the argument over alves. Giancarlo clearly is biased on the issue and will not change his footing. He will eat his words in a few years.

last note for you giancarlo go look up both their stats from last season and you will see why one is price tagged at 9mil and the other at 30m.

And jack football is not so easy to describe it on a formation front otherwise every team would deploy their fastest winger on the left and supposidly outdo alves who can't defend

I find some of you guys funny in how you say he can't defend yet hes in LA LIGA playing for BARCELONA. All i can say is alot of people here will be in for quite a few surprises. Porty if your there help me with this one.

i'm happy to see ronaldinho with sheva, no one would have imagined this last season thats forsure. bravo silvio and galliani.

Sorry, one last post on this one. Alves is good. Very good, even. Best in the world in his position? Not so sure. I don't personally think he's all that strong defensively (which isn't necessarily all that bad in a wingback). Can't say I like him much, to be honest, but that may just be my feeling that not all Brazilian footballers are worldclass by birth.

He's angry with us all. Are you not, Porty? But yeah, enough with Alves talk - this is a Shecvhenko thread after all.

Bluesummers..well said.

Good summary.

I may get blasted for it, but I think Sergio Ramos is currently the best RB in the World. He's a very under-rated defender, just because he gets forward alot and scores goals people tend to just think he's a typical Madrid all-out-attack kinda player. I've seen enough the last 24 months to suggest he's the best there is right now. RB is a very weak position overall though, there isn't that many very top class players in that position.

9 million is over-rated. At least judging by the Zambo I've seen in Barca. Which doesn't necessarily make him a bad player. He has two feet, and knows how to use them both. That's an excellent quality to have. He's still my best Italian right back of all time (sorry Oddo).

But all this doesn't take away from the fact that we paid a tad more for him than what he was worth at that point in time.

Summed everything up right there and then, Kurt. I actually like to call Ramos one of the best defenders in the world, not necessarily the best right back. Which he is. But he also has extraordinary defending skills, which most other RB/wingers lack. Completely.

exactly. Judging by zambro's season he was worth no more than 7 mil but ofcourse barca like always dont budge no matter how hard you push.

Sheva Identifies Winning over the Milan fans and the most difficult task awaiting his return to Milan

Andriy Shevchenko has identified winning over the fans as the most difficult task awaiting the forward on his return to AC Milan.

The 31-year-old arrived back in his adopted homeland at the weekend and although admitting that claiming a starting place ahead of the Rossoneri's eight other attacking players would not be easy, it was satisfying the disillusioned supporters that posed the biggest challenge.

Now at Fox Soccer Shop He said: "It's important that the team wins. If all the players get on well together, then we'll have some fun.

"[Carlo] Ancelotti will have many options, he will be able to change tactics even during a match, which is important in order to be successful and I have no doubts that he knows how to move in these situations ."

However, the Ukrainian striker added: "The most difficult challenge now is to win over the people who were disappointed when I left. Now I'm back I'll try my hardest, it's all I know how to do."

The arrival of the former Chelsea player has made for tense competition for one of the three attacking places in Carlo Ancelotti's favored Christmas Tree set-up, which could see Clarence Seedorf team up with Ronaldinho behind Filippo Inzaghi in the season's opener at the San Siro against newly-promoted Bologna on Sunday, with Sheva given time to resettle in.

Meanwhile, the lack of opportunity to secure playing time at the Milan giants may see Alberto Paloschi loaned out for a year with Torino Genoa and city rivals Sampdoria interested in taking on 19-year-old forward.

foxsoccer.com

kurt. look back a few pages...i beat you too it. i agree. sergio ramos IS the best right back in the world. Daniel Alves is the SECOND best right back in spain. Ramos is a world class CB, but is so good coming forward they can use him on the wing too. If you look objectively and throw out the Real Madrid bias..Ramos deserves that title..

Welcome back

But what makes 7MM the bench mark for what should be paid and not for the purchase of Zambrotta ? I know you were just trying to devalue the actual figure that should be payed when the price is mind boggling ... In general and not entirely directed at you, but I don't see the point in slapping price tags on players ... They are not cattle you know

Milan don't over pay and Milan are not hustled for anything ... There is a great structure that handles these deals, and if any shared doubts over Milan's ability to conduct a successful transfer session after a dry period of 3 years ..

Well I guess Milan did it and with a really tight budget, I think it was done very well. Both Shevchenko and Ronaldinho are a moral boost for the whole squad. And what did Milan get for it ? Judging from Milan's past at bringing players to their best again, I would say it was a bargain.

And if one should think that Zambrotta is on the decline, there is always the Cafu example