Not Galliani's fault this one. Ibra rejected us.

He also said that we seemed desperate.

well in-directly he should have worked towards alternatives but in the end signed balo.. not his fault that ibra didnt come. But he is at fault for zero planning

http://football-italia.net/72493/milan-are-not-desperate

Galliani nowadays is a giant liability and a loss of precious time. The man is simply overrun by history, he can't handle the modern-day era. That's understandable, but fatal in our case, because he tends to eliminate everyone who gets into his way.

He has no plan, just momentary flings and very down-to-earth fantasies. He sees the movie Moneyball and thinks it's about him: hence his brilliant-free ideas of signing players like Essien. He knows people like Arsenal, for they present maybe the last shred (I'm not in agreement with this, but I see people tend to think so) of "sexy football" Milan helped inventing with Gullit and co. Therefore he calls the Milan project as the "next Arsenal"; in fact Milan does not have the facilities, the skilled worldwide scouting network, the incomes and the organization necessary to maintain such a model.

It was Capello back there a few years that rejected a backroom Milan position of grounds that "we don't have a plan". And this is the core of Galliani's problem. He doesn't have a feasible plan, he picks his subordinates and co-workers (not to mention coaches) by his own criteria, which in the end means they'll be satisfied with what he gets. The rest can go work in Spain, like Braida, who we wrongly sacked.

This is also true (IMO) for the transfer strategy. Things should be solved fast, swiftly, with a plan. If Ibrahimović didn't want to move to Milan, we could have known that at the beginning of the summer not wait until the last minute and then snatch up what's left. Balotelli has zero value right now, so it doesn't take a genius to sign him instead. But it does take a little bit of thinking, planning, gluing and sticking this goddamn team together.

But I agree with those of you who say Galliani is only part of the problem. A big part, but nevertheless just a part.

Lost in translation apparently. He meant our interest was intense.

Galliani is definitely a major part of the problem, but he isn't the sole problem. With the past few coaches we have had, there has been more and more input from Berlusconi. Until we have a coach whose record speaks for itself t will be difficult to limit his input. In some situations I agree with the moves he makes, such as keeping Mexes, but overall the coach has to be able to built his own team.

The problem comes down to not having any semblance of a plan. A few years ago we were starting a "great youth movement" that was abandoned within 6 months when there was an older player available on a free transfer. I think the problem started with the hiring of Leonardo as coach, he was one of our best South American scouts. Thiago Silva was the last player we brought out of Brazil. We need more concentration in the smaller leagues to find deals. Players like Shevchenko and Kaka didn't come from big leagues. Our scouting system is broken.

I actually think the lost in translation meaning has more truth in it. We really seemed desperate to sign him.

As someone put it, the best way to show you're desperate is to beg the agent to say you're not desperate...

Can't believe we're paying that much for: Montolivo, Kucka, Nocerino, Cerci, Alex...

Still, it's not as bad as it used to be in the past.

Like x-off said, it was more horrifying in the past when we had Dida, Rino, Ambro, Pirlo, Cafu, Serginho, etc all earning close to 4m or even above that and they were on their last breaths.

Also, why do you think we can't get rid of Nocerino, Matri, etc? Their extravagant wages. Smaller clubs don't want to pay that kind of money while the players don't want to lower their demands and rather wait out their contracts at Milan to earn that cash.

As for Monto, Miha better use him now that he's staying and we're paying him that much. It's stupid to leave him on the bench over a personal grudge and play Kucka or Nocerino instead

You really think Miha is not playing Monto because of personal reasons? I don't think so. Monto hasn't played simply because he's crap.

You really think it would be better for us to include Nocerino, Kucka or Poli instead?

At least Monto has a basic level of understanding in how to pass a ball and keep a bit of rhythm. The other 3 are useless

From what I know, Monto is still out of shape.

Don't buy that, he's been training regularly with the squad since the Raduno. Miha and him had problems during their time at Fiorentina, and it's obviously carried over here.

Also, I saw your best 11 in the other thread and you agree that Monto is the best option for now, so why are you even arguing with me?

I'm telling you why Monto isn't playing right now, because he's out of shape and has been overall bad in pre-season. His relationship with Mihajlovic has nothing to do with it. Stop buying into that.

Yep, it's good progress, but I simply fail to see how some of these players warrant these kind of contracts. Oh well.

True.

Majority wouldn't earn even half of what they're making at Milan with other clubs, sometimes I just don't understand what goes through Galliani's mind when he hands out these huge deals. We've had so many problems with offloading players because of these contracts.

Once again, it boils down to him never learning from past mistakes.

I'd say probably only around 5 or 6 players are truly worth what they're earning with us

What's the total now? I'm too lazy to count.

50.36 million.

Really? Wow, that's quite a decrease.

And cheers.

101

Nah, it's 101. You should take into account taxes. GdS reporting it's 101 million.

Nothing to it. And aye, that's a massive decline from the 160m, or even the 130m that we were paying to plays. In hindsight that seemed a bit high back then, but only because some heavy contracts were handed to a few individuals that did not deserve it. Others did, the likes of Ibra, Silva and Nesta.

I believe we will see minor increases for some of our current players if they keep on performing, and we achieve our objectives of Europa and then Champions League entry. But so far, so good.

Well, of course, we have to fork out around 101 million to end up at 50.36 for these tax dodgers. It's been always the case, ever since the 50% tax rate was implemented in Italy. Back then we had to pay 320m or 260m to cover our salaries, hence our red accounts and early losses.

Never had to pay that much. 160m for example was the amount we paid with taxes included. Gazzetta always list the amount the players make after taxes but the total they put up top is the amount the club pays overall - including taxes

Sneaky bastards. Never noticed. Makes sense, though, because when Ibra was here, we had started on our austerity measures and clean up the mess that started after our 2007 CL win. But all things considered, while I like this current overlay, it's going to jump by a steady amount if we sign more talent.

Say, something around 80m for a side with top world class players, will be okay, if the results start arriving.

Are you talking 80m before or after taxes though?

Becuase for us to have a truely top side, we'd probably need to shell out over a 100m in total for wages. Probably around 110 - 120m.

Still I think this can be more controlled if wages are handed out based on merit and talent. Not because we signed someone as a free agent so we offer him a sky high wage, like we did with Mexes and Flamini in the past. Or giving out wages to players like Zaccardo or Matri for example high wages for absolutely no reason.

If you look at our wage list that could almost be halfed if contracts to the likes of Nocerino, Montolivo, etc were reduced or completely removed off the bill. As I said, very few of our players are actually worth what they're earning. And it's not like other clubs are clamoring for their services, so keeping them on high wages makes even less sense.

80m before, of course. A couple more quality signings, say two or three world class player, and this current wage bill swells to this amount. Get in some real top talent, and we can cross the three figure mark. Something that wins us the league, and also the Champions League.

That said, I do believe, this is going to be gradual process, say two seasons, provided we go the right way.


Agreed. That gets us some of the more high profile names on the market.

I think we're talking about 2 different scenarios here though. 80m before taxes would swell the wage bill up to 160m, which would put us in a situation similar to what we were in during 2010.

I simply don't think a Serie A side can really afford that. Not long term anyway. Simply because the revenues do not match up, no matter how much potential money Bee and his investors could pump into the club, that kind of number is not feasible. At least not until we have our own stadium and bigger revenue streams in Asia which is what Bee will be in charge of making happen.

I think for us to be succesfull in Serie A and a strong team in the CL as well (maybe not at a Barca/Real/Bayern level) but regular quarter finalists at the least, the max wage budget we can go for should be around the 120m million mark (that is including taxes) any higher and we risk facing the problems we've had in the past imo.

Btw, this number I'm throwing is what Juve are paying for their players. It all comes down to balance. Giving high wages to the bench warmers and reject makes no sense, but that is what we're doing and it is what makes getting rid of these players so difficult later on. And giving the players who will really make the difference a good contract.

I think if we manage to trim a bit more of the dead weight in the winter and next summer (like get rid of Nocerino and Cerci and send some players like Suso and Mauri on loan), we'll be in a good position to sign top players who have big wage demands without pushing our wage total over the edge.

Also, let's not forget that these Gazzetta figures don't include wages of players we have on loan that we're still paying parts of their wages like Matri and probably even Torres

Soriano, Baselli and Saponara have been super in this start. Saponara could have easily been the trequartista we so desperately need, even though I know Fillipo will come and say that he's not big club material.

Interesting article, talks about a potential exchange of de Jong and Asamoah. Assuming it is for real, what do y'all think? (Personally, I would go for it.)

I wouldn't. De Jong, all his minuses considered, is a much better player then Asamoah. Also, I don't think he'd be the player we need right now anyway.

And yes, X-O, you're right about my sentiment regarding Saponara

Asamoah would really only be just another added body to a stacked midfield chock full of average players. We need two types of mids, a regista and a trequartista, and both need to be of a certain level of quality. Anything else and it's just another pointless signing

I would lose De Jong only if we get Witsel instead. Big no to Asamoah.

Agreed.

Witsel would be the more dynamic all rounder that would fit in better in the current set-up than De Jong imo. Although we're still in need of a top regista to push Monto out, if we do get Witsel, he'd be a huge added boost and would make our main priorities for next summer just be the regista, AM and another CB.

"We're fine as we are" - cit. Adriano Galliani

I would take that type of deal the only problem I would have is that Asamoah is injured very often. To me De Jong is great and I love his spirit, but he is one dimensional. He breaks up play and last season he contributed with a few goals but his passing leaves a lot to be desired. I would prefer to have a regista accompanied by two box to box players who can help break up play. Plus I always liked Asamoah.

Talk of a certain Euro list compiling the 23 best youth players and monitoring them. Good specially for long term.

http://football-italia.net/73496/calhanoglu-milan-euro-list

Definitely liking the sound of this.

So, what's the list? Anyone knows?

Kevin-Price Boateng will start training with the team tomorrow (yes, I mean our team) and we may sign him afterwards in January. He's currently club-less.

FFS!!

Didn't he fail something like 10 medicals just this summer??

It's not like he's an upstanding person in the locker rooms, someone the younger players can look up to. He's mostly trouble and some more trouble, add Balo, Niang, etc to the mix as well. WTF is Galliani thinking 100% of the time I'd really love to know

What's he smoking though, I'd like to try some of that..

Would be something if we could rehabilitate him then sell him on for a profit.. again. If he doesn't fall in line Miha will cut him down, this is a strong willed coach we are talking about not a rookie

His reputation is well known, I doubt there's any club out there willing to pay good money for him.

No one wanted him for free, I doubt they'd want to pay actual money for him

Apparently now Emanuelson wants to train with us as well.

Yes, let's give him a contract as well, I mean after all the trouble and effort we went through to get rid of him, giving him another contract is only the natural thing to do

So stupid.

He's still at Roma?

No, dude. He left Roma last January, played the second half of the season with Atalanta and has been clubless since summer.