He was great for Italy that is.

I know you rate him highly but no one is Nesta's replacement, let alone a Serie-B rookie.


That's to see. Most certainly not Nesta level. If we let go of Yepes we must bring in another good CB with more experience.

LOL, of course he's not Nesta level. Nobody is, not even Thiago. But he's a really promising defender, and would be a great sub for Mexes and Thiago, which I consider our starting CB pairing for the next five years.

By the way, TMW reports that we want to sign Aquilani permanently, but that we want to spend less than the €8 million initially agreed upon with Liverpool (which is to be paid in two years).

Man, are we really that desperate that we can't spend a measly €4 million this summer on a decent player like Aquilani? What is Galliani thinking???

Well, if you ask me, he's worth less. I don't care at this point, he really isn't something special. And if Allegri gets sacked and we get a normal coach, he'll ask for a creative midfielder like any sane person would.

He's not something special, but he's a decent player, and more importantly, he's a playmaker. Though, if what you said a few days ago becomes true, that we are going to sign someone better in that department, then I'd gladly send Aquilani back to Liverpool and sign Montolivo as his substitute.

Agreed he is a raw talent, but under the tutelage of Thiago Silva, he could be special...

If I wasn't getting married next weekend I'd have surely chosen you bro (no homo)

I've been saying all the above since day#1 if I remember correctly and people have been insulting me and labelling me as a simple troll.


Now the gloss of the Ibra donated scudetto has worn off and the team is in turmoil and more importantly the RESULTS have dried up everybody is suddenly noticing the cracks as if they were new.....Naaaah bro they were there since a loooong time now....Before EVERYBODY who had issued with $#!tlegri was supposed to be the bad guy...the troublemaker but now after he has had documented issues with Dorf, Dinho, Superpippo, and he has set up Pato (no not talking about the injuries ffs) and Taiwo to fail....has ignored El Shaarawry, etc etc the cracks are now gaping holes (no homo) in the structure of our beloved team


This is not to suggest in any way that our team is in any semblance complete or as competitive as it should be...but if you can't see the utter discontent then you are blind. Pato, Taiwo and now Flamini have complained about Allegri pulling a Pep (without the trophies of course) and NOT SPEAKING TO THEM!!!

In summary...n00b coach, n00b reactions, n00b man management and n00b tactics. GTFO $h!tlegri


what's that iBra if Pep comes you go....AWESOME

More rumors about us signing Keita as a free agent this summer. It would be a fantastic move if it happens, considering van Bommel will probably leave to PSV.

Bommel is miles better, but yes, I know, regarding our situation Keita would be good. I sure rate him above the so much mentioned Lass.

Well, Van Bommel overall is the better player. But he's 36, and considering our situation, like you said, Keita would be great. Fingers crossed.

+1 If we can't have MvB, then I won't mind Keita.

If lazio doesnt make it to CL, they may sell Hernanes for a low price..

And we should try and lure him here. Him and Cassano should combine well. The thing with Hernanes is that he can play most anywhere on the pitch. With hopefully Aquilani/Montolivo behind him, and Cassano up front, at least, we'll be able to create something at will. Not absolute world class, but still much, much better.

Why would they do that? They didn't sign him for peanuts at first place, so I don't see it happen.

His contract runs to 2015 too, so I don't see them selling him cheap for another 2 years.

Has anyone a list of contracts in Serie A where we could get a glimpse on who will be free agent this year and the next one?

Edit: If you ask me, Astori, Cáceres or even Samuel would be nice signings for free.

goal.com should come up with something like that soon.

Well, we have been linked in the past. And i think Hernanes will want to play CL becos he is a great player.

But yes, it does look unrealistic.

EDIT: better yet Modric would be much better since he wants to leave Spurs

There's been hints throughout the season that when Modric wanted out before the season, that he and the board came to an agreement that he'd remain there for a little longer if they made the CL, but would be allowed to leave if they didn't.

PLEASSE!!!! Modric is Exactly the person I would take. A bit fragile..and fatigued easily. But a good addition over the Aquilanis and Montolivos. Quality..and not quantity.

Martin Caceres is going to be free this summer?

I don't know. Every time I see Astori he is either getting red carded or scoring an own goal. I just don't see the deal in this guy.

I don't want him. But maybe I'm wrong.

According to transfermarket, yes.

So he'll be out of contract with Barca? At this point Juve would be idiots not to pick him up on a free after the way he's integrated into their squad this season

If we manage to re-sign Nesta and get Ogbonna in. I think we'de be more than ok in the CB area. With Ogbonna coming in and Yepes going out. That would be a great roster for the CB position. Plus Bonera to cover any possible cracks should any of Nesta, Thiago, Mexes and Ogbonna get injured

As for the bosman list. I think one was posted earlier on in one of the transfer threads. But there are some pretty good names to pick from this summer. We've already fished out Monto from the list. We'll most likely get another one

Tevez has said he wishes to remain at City after his apology and the fans receiving him warmly. So there goes that bus. Jury's still out on Balotelli though, so we might go for that. Not a good idea, especially considering Ibra and Balotelli's history.

Thanks, but no thanks

We already have a sh!t storm going on with the senior players and others not getting on with the coach. A nut case like Balo would just be the straw that breaks the camel's back

If we're not getting Tevez, than that money has to be invested in a top quality AM

I don't know if AM is the right word.

What we need is that player who plays the pass that makes the assist if you know what I mean. We have Cassano, Ibra, SeS...all of whom are assist men plus goal-scorers. But we're not getting the ball enough and consistently into areas where they can cause damage.

Yesterday if Cassano hadn't scored that goal off the mistake, then we would have had another long slugfest of attrition.

Would love a Modric or someone like the old Ballack. Someone who doesn't need to be quick, but can change the tempo of the play- make a quick release of the ball into space, or put his foot on the ball and calm things down when we get out of shape...

Currently we have no one in the squad who can do that except Seedorf. And he can't do it consistently on his own.

Agreed. But we still need a proper AM for the assist imo. KPB is just not an AM that plays the final ball. While deeper in midfield we have no one to control the tempo, as you said, play a quick ball into space and slow down tempo when things are not going well.

Yeah...but our current tactics don't require our AM to be a distributor to the forwards. He is seen more as the first line of defence to pressure high and force the mistake. and the second target man. He also drops back to form a back 4 when we need to defend. This is why Boateng has been such a success.

It is our second striker who does the assists. And it works too. Makes it extremely hard for the defending team to have a point of reference. You can't mark anyone.

I can see the logic in not having a pure #10 playing in the hole. Where I can't see the logic is in having a midfield three of runners and tacklers. You need only one destroyer. One passer and one runner/holder. Or you could dispose of the destroyer altogether and player one of the other.

It is the foolishness of our mid-field that makes our #10 seem so ineffective when it's not his job in that setup to create.

EDIT:
Read this from an article and it seems to echo what I'm saying:

Those are mostly Allegri tactics though. You have no gaurantee that he'll be our coach next season

And any other coach would most likely want a proper creator behind his front 2.

Or who knows? A coach that plays a less rigid formation such as a 4-2-3-1 comes in. God knows we need some sort of change happening

I'm almost 80% certain he will be our coach next season. If he screws up next season as well..then he is out.

Why so sure? I think it's up to Berlusconi and he's pretty unpredictable.

As for Modrić, naah, he's out of our price range. PSG, Chelsea and United mentioned here, meaning he'll go for a big fee.

We are only getting Montolivo on a free. And I think the contracts of a lot of senators are up and won't be renewed. I don't think the finances will hit us as badly as you might think.

Other than PSG, I think the other two clubs are stocked up. Man Utd are going for Kagawa mainly. Chelsea already landed Marin to partner Mata. So Modric would struggle for space.

I think we can compete with PSG. They have the money we have the pride. But I don't think we will go for him. Though I have an idea how it will work.

and he does not like Alleggri at all... lets see what happens i think Silvio will go for big name coach like cappelo possibly..

The Kagawa thing isn't sure yet. Marin on the other hand is a winger, Chelsea still IMO need a brain in the center to pair with Ramires. We can compete with PSG, that's true however.

We can't afford Modric, so forget about him.

Who we'll be signing this summer depends on whether Allegri will still be our coach next season. If Berlusconi confirms him, then we'll continue with Boateng behind the strikers and signing the various Keita, Montolivo etc. to substitute Bommel, Seedorf and so on. But if we hire a new coach, then I can see Boateng used as RCM and us focusing on signing a pure trequartista, like Eriksen or Ganso. So yeah, until the fate of Allegri is decided, we can't really predict what our moves on the market will be.

I see us signing Del Piero to be honest. He's confirmed his exit, and I think Milan will now try to sign him. We always wanted him with us.

Other then that I hear Mourinho seriously wants Ibrahimovic at Real (allegedly there was a phone call between the two) and Podolski will be signed by Arsenal (meaning RVP could leave).

Ibra at Real.. that'd be Milan, Juve, Inter, Barca and Real. Has a player ever played for all those teams?

As for ADP, I'd be amazed if he ended up anywhere but the MLS.

Signing Del Piero would be the ultimate step back.

I was going to say Ronaldo, but he didn't play for Juve...

Ibra should go to England. Select his team carefully and win the EPL.

That would mean a hattrick of the top leagues in Europe. Has anyone ever achieved that?

I think people have won league titles in 3 different countries, just not Italy/England/Spain.

+1. True.

Surely a first time.

Add Ajax to that and it'd be playing for 6 different European cup winners. I don't know if that's not been achieved before though.

And how many times he's won an European cup himself?

So i guess hes not moving

http://www.football-italia.net/18296/ibrah...own-real-option

That player is none other than PHG - Paulo Henrique Ganso. He is not very quick but oftenly plays the intelligent ball, a good dribbler, can hold the ball and goal scorer too..

Why do we even mention Ganso? Isn't it obvious that he isn't up to the big level. I've watched him so many times fail in a crucial moment, I really don't think he's for Milan. I'd rather sign Eriksen, even Hazard.

and he will carry inflated price as well.. I think hazard is not even an option he will end up in England.. our best shot probably be eriksen but i doubt Silvio will be intersted in someone like him (if he decides to spend).

To be fair, Kaka was often thought of as a big game choker (no iBra) until he became our superhero.

It's incredible what a change of environment does to some players. think about Henry at Juve (super choker) then at Arsenal (iBra level choker - can win the league but nothing else) then at Barcelona (finally wins CL).

Or Elber/Kluivert/Davids/Vieria at Milan then wherever they went. In ALL of these cases the TALENT was undeniable but the APPLICATION was not so apparent.

In Ganso's case there's no disputing his talent and most deliciously, his vision. The simple jack little passes from the Gattuso's and Muntari's will not cut it (pun intended) at the top level.

Ideally I'd appreciate a Hernanes/Hazard or even Kaka more. They all have more mobility than Ganso and have proven it at a higher level. But he would be an infinite upgrade over what we have at present with all due respect to prince.

Wait Elber was a Milan player? Really? Somehow, it slipped me.

But I agree, change of environment (in both human and tactical/strategical terms) is sometimes very productive; Pirlo would be my best example. Problem with Ganso is that I just don't see it in him plus he's very injury prone at a young age already.