i thought traore would...

This year will be intersting for our strikers,we've had el sharaawy who had a good season showing true potential,but I wonder if he will step up.IMO he all the characterstics for a future Milan champion,it's not just the skills...zarate has that...but he has the righ mentality.If Pato stops being injured then that is always another plus,I hope we can develop a 4-3-3 system at least as a second plan.The thing is that Allegri states a lot is that he's afraid of losjng the midfield battle,he needs a certain balance.It's obvious that his views about that position is a player eith high workrate,decent passing skills etc..And in our set up where Nocerino is basically used as an attacking threat,Seedorf was used as a playmaker,and Van Bommel as the mastermind.He had his bad choice,i'm not saying otherwise but he's had his hands tied down...My thoughts about the midfield are clear,Montolivo with aquilani as a backup,Nocerino with Flamini as a backup,new DM with Ambro,strasser as backup.Boateng in the attack midfield position is the best solution,not only since we can't afford a true trequatristra..Allegri can play Cassano,Robhino,el sharaawy there if he wants vision,passing,touch.But,if only Allegri is convinved that he can find the right defensive balance,it needs a reconfiguration,no longer can Nocerino attack this frequently etc...Our CBs are okay,I'd be more happy if we signed a young startlet like Obganna though.In the fullback position,it seems like we quantity,but not much quality,there is potential though.Vila had a good season as some are saying,emmanuelson would be a great attacking threat on the wing,but his defense is doubtful.Abate is our usual,he'll stay there even if his attacking game is almost zero.Honestly,In a 4-3-3 system,I'd much rather have a stable backline,and let that trio do the magic

^ Constant is a natural trequartista, so we can consider him as Boateng's sub.

Mediaset claims we're after Sahin to replace van Bommel. Alternatives include Lass, Gago, Cigarini, De Jong and Strootman.

Link

Sahin in front of the defense? It wouldn't work, not in Allegri's system.

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Taiwo will be loaned to Benfica.

Link

Why do we keep loaning him? Just sell the guy! Any club would sign him for €5 million.

If Flamoney can either play left-back or get left back

That way he shows his alleged commitment to our team, gets to remain in a big team and fills a massive hole that has been widening for years (no homo)

In other news Sahin is just what the doctor ordered for our midfield...which probably means that he's the last thing we'll get. I got too excited about Fab last year. I'll keep my hopes very much in check this time around

One quick question: on what basis do people here get excited about Şahin?

On the basis that we have freaking Montolivo as our play-maker for next year.I'm always optimistic,but wasn't he average most of his career?

1. Good passer (will instantly become the best passer on our team)
2. Good shooter (instantly better than everyone in midfield other than perhaps KPB)
3. Decent in defense
4. good vision
5. good attacker and off the ball mover
6. overall good distributor
7. mobile
8. youthful with a high ceiling for improvement

yeah sahin is quality but i doubt mou will just let him go that easily.

Sahin definitely has the skill set to succeed at Milan. If we bought him we'd still need a DM though. Sahin, DM, KPB (CAM), and Montolivo would be a very good starting midfield comparative to what we've had in the past.

Droping our best player last season for Montolivo isn't such a good idea.I would say just make Montolivo,Sahin's backup.But,I'm satisfied with a good DM at the moment,and signing back Aquaman.

Dropping our best player last season for Montolivo? Who, what?

Nocerino

*eyes are dropping out*

eh... didn't expect this

I honestly can't see Şahin as a MvB replacement. He's a more of a CM in my eyes. I'd rather get a natural DM, like Strootman.

hehe,well best midfielder

Yep, I'd want Sahin if Flamini were to not resign and Aqui was not a possibility, but atm, a VB replacement is imperative, and sadly, no matter how great a player he is, Sahin does not fit that bill

Didn't know where to put it,sorry.

are journalists that bored?

That seems to be missing the most important part of the article:

Haha...dammit football-italia.net embarrassing me like that..

Im excited for constant, last season wasnt his best but before that he was an up and coming name. loads of potential, can play almost anywhere in the midfield, good pick up.

i'm skeptic about constant. To be honest i think, if used correctly, Montolivo will be our best acquisition...

After his performance with the azzurri last night, I think so too.

So we make a judgment based on one performance?

No judgement, just being optimistic.

So,reports are claiming that we renewed with flamini for 1more year for 1.6m/yr wage.We still need an anchorman,get nesta back and our work here is done...and i'd take aquaman back for free :S

I think it's official. Laura Esposto told me so. But how Mattie earns 1.6 while Muntari earns 3 m a year is beyond me!

Lol, Muntari was given 3m per year!!!??

What a joke Galliani and Co have become. And to top it all off he got injured on his free time. What a load of BS. I would terminate his contract ASAP

Mattie has been piling up money unjustly for some years, it's time for payback.

Agreed, 1.6m is a good deal for him and for us imo.

Still can't believe Muntari was given such a sum though

Indeed, that's a good approach.

Well I don't know. Because the thing is some reports calculate your wage post tax, and some of it pre tax. So it's conceivable, that both of them are earning the same amount.

Besides with that injury, we also read Galliani is pissed and as part of the contract terms which he violated he will be on lower wages when out. Around 1.5 million.

I read that Muntari's wages might be halved...Galliani is furious about it etc...

^^Yes...but only during the injury period right?

Great.

Can we please just for once not pull this **** and let one of our youngsters stay here and grow around and learn from our champions?

Yes,I mean how reassuring is this guy...

What hurts even more than seeing El Shaarawy loaned out, is not having only Cassano but also Robinho being reasons to see him barely play. Can't we just think like: okay, Robinho somewhat disappoints, and we have this great talent in El Shaarawy, already played several very good games for us; let's go with him, and get rid of Robinho.


Not saying El Shaarawy is better than Robinho, that's not the point, so I won't even say who is in my opinion. More importantly is that Cassano benched Robinho (who earns like a starter, and is nor one for the future, so sell him and go with your great young El Shaarawy?)

Well,we used him a lot last year.He's always a starter at the Coppa Italia,and played his share of serie A games.We can't get rid of robinho cause Pato might have another injury plagued season...and then we're thinned down to 3 strikers..

Many forwards have been out often/long time. So no garantuee he will also next season. You can bet your house on it all of Ibrahimovic, Cassano, Pato and Robinho will play ahead of El Shaarawy. And if anything it's too much supporting strikers, too few (goalscoring) strikers. Ibrahimovic and Pato, but Pato often out. We want more SS+SS?

Ibrahimovic, Cassano and Pato as our our main forwards, three good earners is enough, not Robinho too, especially with El Shaarawy being excellent fourth forward. Then add someone like Maxi López (a third striker (excluding supporting strikers like Cassano(, Robinho) and El Shaarawy), good because Pato is injury prone).

We are playing a 4-3-3 or a 4-3-1-2. So we have 5 forwards for 3 positions. I think it is fine. We have 3 competitions to play in, and I don't think we have a serious luxury in that position.

Great.

We are not playing a 4-3-3. 4-3-1-2, woth Boateng as our AM, and it says enough Seedorf and Emanuelson has been backups.

5 forwards for 3 positions? You wish...

Not really...Robinho also doubles as AM at times, because he has the workrate. When Seedorf and Emanuelson were used, it was when we had Robinho, KPB, Cassano and Pato were out. Or Robinho would be playing as the second forward, with KPB, Cassano and Pato out on injury. Leaving just Seedorf and Emanuelson to play that role.




Well...I don't think this is completely true. This is an assumption as stated in the article. His asking for a payhike is fine, but all the way to 7.5 million a season post-taxes?? We're talking a 15 million salary for him.

Well at least Galliani is showing some sense

Did some reading. Thiago Silva is on 4 million a season. I'm really not sure at the moment, if his demands for 7.5 million are worth it/sustainable.

I guess we could hike it by another 1 or 1.5 million, but that automatically means mercato is closed. Especially with Mattie having signed his extension.

If I had to keep him, I'd offer something like 5 million and taking it to 6 mill with bonuses. Considering it is a long term contract that takes him till 2016, unlike Zlatan whose contract ends in 2 years, I think it's fair.

I don't think Gazzatta's theories are founded, news is slow, so they want to stir up sh!t with a tried and tested story.

I really don't think Thiago is asking for more atm. Even so, the club should still lok into tieing him down to a long term contract next season and maybe for something around 5 to 6m would be enough. He's the best CB around right now. It would be deserved imo

Yes..but he is on the longest contract that is legal at the moment. 4 years.

Yes, but he is Thiago Silva. It would only be natural raising his earnings from 4 million to 5/6 million. However, 7.5 is too much. He and his agent know of our difficult financial situation, and asking for such a huge raise would be illogical.

so flamini has extended for another year.. dont know if that cnges what gallaini was looking to odo this summer.