Thanks for opening the threads! Just haven't had much time lately

SLACKER!

No problem, I'll do the others as well in time

This is the one I have the most question marks about.

To be quite frank, the only players I really have no question marks are Bonucci and Rodriguez. All other players are either one-season-wonders to be seen, potentials like Calha or complete question marks like Silva.

For me it's

Sure of success: Bonucci, Musacchio, Rodriguez, Biglia

Almost completely sure of success: Kessie, Conti

Question Marks: Silva, Calhanoglu

Sure of failure: Borini

Yes, very logical. I'm still waiting to see more of Conti, Musacchio and Kessie. But Silva, man, I'm really unsure about him.

I think he will surprise a lot of people. Probably the player I have most hopes for.

I love Borini. He's my new Gilardino. I swear to protect his honour, till he completely pisses me off.

Musacchio for me is a sure thing. The only issue with him is whether or not he'll be able to stay fit the entire season or not. He's played at a very high level for a while and has been part of a very solid defensive line at Villareal.

He was a very highly rated defender that was wanted by a lot of clubs before he broke his leg which subsequently pushed a lot of his suitors away.

As for Silva, no doubt he's a gamble at the price we paid, but if he comes off for us. He has super star potential for sure.

I think he has definite talent, some players just show it instantly when they're on the pitch, and Silva definitely has that touch of class in him. But I don't expect him to hit the ground running. He'll need a bit of time to acclimate with his team mates and the league


In that sense, I'm with you, I have high hopes for him. But I'm not going to put too much pressure on this idea I have of him succeeding, because we could just as easily be let down if he isn't an instant success this season


At least Gila knew how to score. Can't even say that about Borini

Hmh. Touch of class? Are you sure? When or how did you see that?

And for me it is:

Sure of success: Bonucci, Musacchio, Rodriguez,

Almost completely sure of success: Kessie, , Biglia, Calhanoglu

Question Marks: Conti

Sure of failure: Borini, Silva

We disagree on so much. So it's refreshing to see this post is a carbon copy of what I'd have said. Agreed entirely on every choice.

So, we agree or we dont?

I will play too!

Sure of success: Musacchio, Bonucci, Kessie

Almost completely sure of success: Biglia, Calhanoglu, Rodriguez

Question marks: Conti, Silva

Sure of failure: Borini

A bit on the fence on Rodriguez to be honest, but I think he'll succeed.

On this one, we do

So, you're not alone on Silva after all, Danny...

Poor Hakan, completely hijacked his thread...

Fine. We're hijacking this thread, but I'm a mod who likes to watch the world burn...

Sure of success: Kessie, Biglia

Almost completely sure of success: Bonucci, Mussachio, Rodriguez

Question marks: Conti, Silva, HK10, Borini

Sure of failure: han2503 picking up a girl on a wild Saturday night out.


Bonucci is not a sure thing for me - first because the expectations of this transfer have become too astronomical, second he's not the greatest stopper in the world. His ability to playmake is often used as cover for his less than stellar defensive ability. But he performs well in a unit and I think his partnership with Mussachio is one I'm keen to watch. Mussachio has amazing anticipation for someone playing in a new team.

I'm not considering Borini a failure because we knew precisely what we were getting with him. He's not been brought in to score goals. He's been brought in to work like a dog and tire out the flanks and the defenders while our creatives and scorers take advantage of it.

Score goals? I think Borini scored as much goals in 10 years as Gilardino in two seasons, no?

While we're hijacking, why are folks so unsure of Conti? I thought he was quite good last year for Atalanta. Is it because his attacking runs leave him exposed sometimes?

My list:

Sure of Success: Kessie, Bonucci, Musacchio
Almost Completely Sure of Success: Biglia, Rodriguez, Conti
Question Marks: Hakan, Silva, Borini
No Cookies for You: Anyone in an Inert shirt.

Yes. Easily. Gilardino was like Belotti level next big thing after that season at Parma actually he had two epic seasons where he scored 23 goals back to back. And then he was with Milan, where in his first season he scored 17 goals in 34 games.

But this was my point, Borini was not brought in as a goal scorer. He'll play for us in our less important matches, and maybe in the Coppa Italia games and such.

Good point. Bonucci is a great defender, but I think his signing has been massively overhyped by both media and fans. He's neither Nesta nor Cannavaro. I can see why he'a considered one of the best if not the best CB around at the moment, but the quality of centrebacks nowadays has declined massively compared to 10-15 years ago. Modern football is all about attacking and less about defending.

That being said, I see no reason why Bonucci won't succeed. Of course his performance will be tightly linked to that of the team as a whole.

Borini's work rate last game was not bad at all.. i think he will be a good squad player , sure he failed in England but he never really fit in that league not many Italians succeed there.

Well the Bonucci transfer has been hyped because of two factors, not just one; that he's obviously a great player and top 3 in his position imo

But it's also because we took him off of Juve. After years of getting Ls from them, with the Tevez saga, the Matri transfer, the ghost Mustari goal, Pirlo, etc, etc. We finally got one over on them and man does it hurt them.

I think that's a major factor of why fans have been so overjoyed about Bonucci, it's because he represents so much more for Milan than just getting a top class player (which we didn't think we'd be able to get before the summer started, and not just Bonucci but any top tier player)

Bonucci is a great signing in several ways. We get a top player, a commander and player with a winning-mentality which we were lacking for years and all that brushed off from our main opponents. I'd call this a real good deal, no need to whine over it.

No whining, except for Ry4n. But when this topic came up, we'd just bought Bonucci and it was peak of Fassobelli mania. People were talking as if we were going to win the scudetto as a matter of course.

Can't disagree with this. Defending isn't what it was 10 years ago. The world's best defender? Bonucci is among them but the best now are simply not comparable with the guys you mention above.

Bonucci is a great signing. The impact will be huge, he adds experience and leadership.

The issue will be in the team as a collective. I dont expect the team to mount a title challenge from the off and expect struggle so time is needed for them to gel and form a bond.

This could take a while.

I still say that while it was a colossal signing, it was a strange situation because either we go three at the back or we bench one defender. And it'll never be the captain and I can't see Musacchio being here to be benched so it's Romagnoli.

And he will not be content with that.

IMO it's completely inappropriate, comparing them or mentioning them at all. Another time, another football. Today we don't have Cannavaro or Nesta and no one can know how they would do against Ronaldo, Messi, etc. Bonucci is one of the 5 best defenders in the world right now and that's what matters.


Well, these are the situations a coach should handle. So far Romagnoli has been out with an injury. We'll see how things evolve.

I think we've seen how Nesta does against Messi

And this was during the twilight of his career while Messi was about to hit his peek

Indeed. So the assessment cannot be conclusive. And I remember Messi putting in one or two goals as well. So, there's really no debate here. Different times, different tactics and plays. The fact that Bonucci can pass and build up the game from behind like a defender-metronome is what counts in today's tactics. If it were oldfashioned tactics and criteria to be implemented, I'd probably argue that Ciro Ferrara, Billy Costacurta, Beppe Bergomi, Paolo Montero and a few other cats like them are much better then Bonucci. But old arguments and criteria really don't count here.