What do you think our first 11 should look like? Here are the 27 gems you have to pick from:

Goalkeepers:


1. Christian Abbiati
2. Gianluigi Donnarumma
3. Diego Lopez
   
   Defenders:
   
   
4. Cristian Zapata
5. Alex
6. Alessio Romagnoli
7. Philippe Mexes
8. Rodrigo Ely
9. Luca Antonelli
10. Ignazio Abate
11. Mattia De Sciglio
    
    Midfielders:
    
    
12. Nigel De Jong
13. Giacomo Bonaventura
14. Andrea Bertolacci
15. Andrea Poli
16. Riccardo Montolivo
17. Antonio Nocerino
18. Jose Mauri
19. Juraj Kucka
    
    Attackers:
    
    
20. Suso
21. Jeremy Menez
22. Keisuke Honda
23. Alessio Cerci
24. Luiz Adriano
25. Carlos Bacca
26. Mbaye Niang
27. Mario Balotelli

Can't believe we kept Nocerino. Benched at West Ham, benched at Torino, only played in a bankrupt Parma. Useless, useless player.

Anyway, my starting line-up would be:



That's right, 4-4-2. We don't have the trequartista to play 4-3-1-2. Also, the fact I'm putting Montolivo there just makes it more obvious how utterly craptastic our midfield is. I shed tears.

With the utter rubbish we have, I agree with X that 4:3:1:2 is not viable. I disagree with 4:4:2 - we don't have the wingers for it. In fact his team looks, with all due respect, disgusting.

We also don't have the players for the next selection, a 4:3:3.

Horrible to say it but the squad is an absolute joke and isn't neatly built for any system or tactic.

Our best XI is Lopez, Abate, Alex, Zapata, Antonelli, De Jong, Bona, Menez, Balo, Bacca, Adriano. Those are our best players. But look how imbalanced it is. Even accounting for Mexes, Romag, MDS and maybe Cerci?

That's right. Two midfielders, a selfish winger/false 9, a egocentric striker, and two pieces of quality up top.

This squad is the most imbalanced load of shite in my Milan-supporting lifetime.

It's awful, truly awful. Some quality in places but overall honking. Only we could spend 100M and make the squad worse.

In short: we don't have a best XI. We just don't.

Yep, that's the way to put. We don't have a best XI. Mihajlovic will struggle to find the right formation and line-up, and he will fail to do so because there ain't no right formation and line-up. He will eventually be sacked at the end of December after a poor first half of the season, and then Galliani will be sacked at the end of the season for having spent 90M and still finishing up 10th.

That's my prediction. Unless Miha somehow works a miracle..

Hmm, I don't think a 4-4-2 is a viable option though, neither is a 4-3-3...

I'd personally keep that same line-up but go with the diamond still. Who knows, maybe Miha can find a way to make it function. Mine would probably be



I'm tempted to go with Balo instead of Adriano as he has more of a creative spark in him plus he can sometimes score goals out of nothing, which I don't see Adriano being able to do. But I'll give the Bacca-Adriano pairing more of a chance

It will also be interesting to see what Miha does when Menez returns

the thing is on paper we can put a decent first XI really..that can challenge most teams in Serie A. The problem here is on the field though. We have good individual players.

Though, I'll agree with Han here for trying out Montolivo. He just came back from injury and I think you guys are being too harsh on him when he hasn't been on the field for a long time. I don't like him either but yeah I would still try him out.

The options in attack are great to have..I won't argue with that.

I just don't agree.

The balance of the squad is all wrong and it's relying on 'oh let's try Monto' or 'oh maybe Menez is the answer' or 'Cerci deserves a shot' yadda.

Nothing is particularly reliable and the squad doesn't allow us to try different things except those which make no formation sense.

Imbalanced.

I think its worth giving Monto a shot to nail down a starting spot, theoretically he is the type of player to help ease the logjam that is our midfield. Hopefully he can come back and make a good impression. I'm also for giving Cerci a chance, last year he was crap but at Torino playing as a second striker he had his best year. Pair him with a finisher in Bacca and he might fare better.

I also believe that Balo will eventually put Adriano out of the first team. If what everyone is saying about Balo is true and he has realized this is his last shot, he has more potential than any other player on the team. He could end up as a true steal a few years down the line.

Potential is applicable to a 19-year old. Even up to 22.

But Balo's 25.

He's past the 'potential' stage. Well past.

The thing with Balo is that we all know how good he can be (not saying he's a top player, but he's certainly not as bad as the last year with Liverpool made him out to be). If he can get his head straight, he can be a useful asset. The one million dollar question though is, will he be able to do that? I'm personally skeptical, as I think once a donkey, always a donkey. That's why players like Cassano, Adriano etc. were never able to excel in their careers.

But from what I've been reading, he's really taken things seriously this time. He knows that this is his very last chance to redeem himself. If he fails again, he'll plummet into mediocrity for the rest of his life. Last I read, Mihajlovic requires all players to be present at Milanello at 8:30 for breakfast. Balo is always there at 8...

Well yes, but my point is we DO know what he's capable of.

There's no more 'hidden potential' at his age.

And we've seen him at his best, and yes, it's pretty good. But, as you say, the question remains as to whether he will unleash his best and stay there with a good attitude, or just piss it all away, as he has done the past decade or so.

Been having a think about this, and injuries and personality notwithstanding, this is about the best Milan 'team' I think there is.

-------------------Lopez

Abate-------Alex--------Zapata---------Antonelli

-------------------De Jong

-------Bona------------------Poli

--------------------Menez

-----------Adriano-----Bacca

The diamond formation is the only one we have that best fits the players we have. Menez is the ONLY option for trequartista - he's the only player with the talent and intelligence to create and see, but needs to get rid of the selfish streak for it to work.

I stand by my feelings on defence - I wouldn't bother with Mexes, Romagnoli or Ely. And MDS I'd keep miles away from the squad.

Midfield is...hard working, I guess. Bona showed quality last week and was a game-changer, while Poli is a kind of hybrid of him and De Jong. It's miles from good, but it's the best we have. I wouldn't have Kucka, Monto or Berto anywhere near the XI.

And up front picks itself.

It is, on reflection, about the only vaguely reasonable team I think we have.

Slim pickings.

Romagnoli and Bertolacci will play regardless because we spent 45M on them. And honestly, they're both better than Alex and Poli. At least in my opinion. Alex is super slow and unreliable nowadays. He had a terrible, terrible pre-season, and I'm sure he's one of the players Miha was referring to after the Mantova game. Whereas Poli has regressed a lot from when we signed him. He seemed like a potential prospect back then, but has gradually turned out into another Nocerino.

Berto, on his displays thus far, is nowhere near as good as Poli.
Romag, on his displays thus far, is mediocre and not as good as Alex.



Berto had a good one and has been a complete disaster since the real stuff started. Pre-season displays from individuals are far from representative. Plus Alex's head was all over the place - he was leaving 3 times.



He hasn't played very much, bit unfair to judge him on fleeting sub appearances. He was never a first-team pick either. But he's been pretty reliable when he's come in.

But this, all this just shows how flaky the squad is - it's mediocrity and painful to witness.

Berto nowhere near as good as Poli? You make it sound like Poli is Marchisio. And if Romagnoli is mediocre, then he's better than Alex who's just plain terrible.

If we're going 4-3-1-2, then my picks would be:



Though if Montolivo continues his crap form, then I'd swap him for Bona and play Menez as AM. No Kucka, Poli or Nocerino please. They add absolutely nothing.

Your anti Romagnoli bias is getting a bit crazy. I have no idea where you're getting this. Besides the penalty, which was a 50-50 decision, he has looked pretty solid. Especially considering the partners he's had and the midfield in front of him, I think he's looked very promising. We paid a lot for him but I think he'll be good value for it over time.

I think that's probably the best possible XI but I'm intrigued by the possibility of playing Balo in the treq slot and Bonnaventura in the midfield over Bertolacci.

Poli's ok. But Berto, on his displays thus far, is beyond hapless. Ergo Poli's better than him. And calling Alex 'terrible' is utter codswallop.

I'm not anti-Romag, I've just been unimpressed. He has not played like a 20M defender. Nothing like it. Soon as he does I'll joyously bound around the room regaling his virtues.

But let's not lie and say he's done anything worthy of note.

I'm intruiged as to your persistent mispelling of Bonaventura!

As for the best XI - I stand by my position - we don't have one. But I would have Bona in there over Berto every time. Berto looks like he's utterly lost.

Yes, Berto has been poor, but don't think that Poli will do any better. At least we know from last season that Berto can perform. As for Alex, he has been nothing but terrible in the pre-season. Should have left.

I think he has big club mentality. Has the ability but not the mentality to execute it under pressure at a giant club like us.



So you're just ignoring everything I said comparing him and Mexes favourably two weeks ago (which you completely agreed with back then) and talking of their positive attributes?

And pre-season is NOT the time to judge individual displays, especially given he had no idea if he was staying or going.

Can't remember what you wrote two weeks ago, but regardless, I stand by my opinion that Alex should not be played.

Agreed on the line-up, I'd probably try Balo over Adriano though

As for Bona in the midfield, I don't think it's a good idea when you have Berto on the other side of De Jong, it creates the type of scenario we saw against Fiorentina and that's just asking for it.

If Monto is utter horse sh!t (IF) given the chance, than Kucka would be my pick for that other slot in midfield, he's better than either Poli or Nocerino

Also, to those wanting Poli to start, let's not forget that he's the type of player that runs like a headless chicken for the entire game and gets burned out fast, he should only be used as a sub, just like Nocerino who should only be used as an emergency sub.

Also, I think we should seriously give Honda a try as a Mezzala if Miha has completely shunned Monto out of the side. I think he'd be decent there, and some of his biggest weaknesses won't be as exposed as they are in the trequartista position


Nah, I don't think Balo should be used as a trequartista, that causes too much of an imbalance and leaves our already fragile midfield too exposed. Best way to go imo would be to go for 4 mids, all of which capable of dropping back and being dynamic in how they approach the game. That's why I think Bona is the best option there. He can easily drop back into midfield and help out defensively while also being a decent extra man in attack to help out the strikers.


Going for Zapata and Alex instead of Mexes and Romagnoli is a bit of a stretch. Zapata is a huge liability. He's careless on the ball and prone to mistakes, especially when he doesn't have someone solid next to him. And Alex has proven to be far from solid during the summer and from what I read on boards was also a bit of a horror show in the Mantova friendly on Friday as well. Why insist on 2 players who each seem to be carrying a mistake in them during each game? Especially when you could go for a much simpler and easier solution in Mexes and Romagnoli?

Sure, sure, Mexes is a risk because of his temperament, but as I said to you before, statistically he's not the red card magnet you paint him out to be, with only one straight red during his entire time at Milan and 3 overall.

Han, give the Zapata hate a rest. It's actually f*cking boring now.

Could say the same to you about Mexes.

Only I don't hate Zapata, I just don't rate him and don't think we should risk playing him when we have better options

If I was slagging him off in a convo, yes, you could, but I haven't in some considerable time.



You do hate Zaps. I was talking about Romag and you start whining about Zapata. You can't resist a pop at him. Compared to you I've been worshipping at the shrine of Mexes.

Nope I don't. Like I said, I abolutely do not rate him as a defender because he's a liability, one we don't need added to an already fragile set-up.

Also, I talked about Zapata because you included him in your line-up which to me makes no sense. I also talked about Alex but you jumped on me for mentioning Zapata...

Also, the fact that you'd choose a terribly underperforming Alex instead of Mexes says it all for me.

No, for slagging Zapata off, as usual. Your hate for him is old, boring, and f*cking boring. The insults about Alex at least weren't a cliche on your part, even if you've used X's posts as ammo to suddenly hate him too.



At this juncture, your opinion on our central defence is no longer valid if you're literally going to use second hand accounts of performances in friendlies to come to it and change your previous opinion (you were happy with Mexes or Alex before) purely to attack mine.

As I said before, I'm happy with either/or, but I have a preference for Alex. If I dare mentioned he or Zaps you now go on the offensive. Whereas you'll never see me attack Mexes unless he, like anyone else, has a sh*t match in a competitive fixture.

Cliche?? How is pointing out his obvious shortcomings a cliche? And seriously, you labelling that I hate this player or that so you can make a point is what is getting so cliche here.

I repeat one final time, I don't hate Zapata, when I've hated Milan players in the past like Muntari for example I was 100% honest about it, and there were legit reasons for that. You saying that I hate Zapata just to make your point is getting old.

Point is, he has flaws in his game which can be a serious detriment to our team. What I'm saying here us based on pure fact, not based on bias, like you do with Mexes for example where you consistently label him a red card magnet when he doesn't even average 1 red card per season for us.

And now I hate Alex? Are you serious with this Danny?


Wow, can you get any less tolerant of other's opinions when they don't jive with yours?

My opinion is no longer valid? Thanks that's good to know...

Alex has been terrible throughout pre-season, that's a fact, not some made up whim just because I suddenly apparently hate him too. He's made mistakes, looked unfit and completely out of it at times as well. These are not things that will suddenly change once he plays an official game simply because it's official and not a friendly.

I was happy with either/or as well, but Alex atm is simply not looking like he's fit to start, simple as that really.

Again, why would you go for 2 players who have shown they can be serious problems for the team during games? Especially when there's an easier solution in Romagn and Mexes?

Because you never advocate his strengths. EVER.



It's also true.



Then you'll have to prove you don't hate him by showing positivity now and again. You have in the past occasionally, but suddenly you have nothing but criticism of him.



Prove it. Prove your point. Show how many times he cost a goal, a point or a win.



I label him combustible, not a red card.



Given the tirade you're on about him and Zaps all of a sudden there's few other conclusions to draw. I was talking about being unimpressed with Romag, nothing more, and from absolutely nowhere you start bitching about Zaps and Alex.



Yes it will.



Again, I was talking about Romag and Romag alone, you were the one to whine about Alex and Zapata and starting worshipping at the shrine of Mexes. If you were wanting to address my earlier comments about A&Z you might have wanted to quote the stuff you were replying to.

PS I gave the conditions of your opinion no longer being valid - if you were indeed taking second hand accounts of performances in friendlies as the basis for them then, yes, your opinion on that is worthless.

Example:

Person A: 'this dude was rubbish in that friendly'
Person B: 'in that case that player is rubbish'

I prefer to judge on competitive action, which is why Berto has been painful in the competitive stuff but was actually ok pre-season.

Jeez, you guys are worse than a married couple.

I want the car. He can have the house, the cheating b*stard.

Yes, I have more than once, I've also said that his cons outweigh his pros (fast, good tackler) and that's why he should not be a starter. I think he's a good backup, but why risk starting him when there are better options? Simple as that really.


No it isn't and you're being childish here just for the sake of not admitting to being wrong


Like I said, I've pointed out his good attributes more than once, selective memory on your part does not change this fact. Problem for me is that I don't think his positives outweigh his negatives. And I have criticism for him as a starter, which is what you want his role to be. I'd be very happy with him as a back up, he's solid and a good option coming off the bench. However playing him frequently is a huge no for me as he has a mistake in him for each game he plays, so limiting that number is what's best with him


Are you serious with this? I don't need to prove anything! His mistakes are obvious for all to see. I don't need to be going through match tapes just to prove something to you that you already very well know and majority of Milan fans also already know. Also, the fact that no one else besides you trusts him as a starter should be enough of an indication.

Also, just for the sake of indulging you a bit I'l try to find a couple of gifs of him f@cking up and passing the ball straight to the opposition. Btw, Saponara's goal last week was down to him as well so...


Tomatoe Tomato


Tirade? You're the one that jumped down my throat as soon as I said I wouldn't play either of them, you accuse me of over reacting when people mention Allegri yet you're doing the same thing here. Also, I was talking about the fact that you would choose Zapata and Alex in your starting 11 because Romagnoli wasn't "convincing", yet you disregard the fact that Zapata made a bigger mistake against Empoli than the 50-50 call penalty Romagnoli gave away


No it won't. Fitness and form doesn't automatically get switched on and off because it's a friendly or an official game.

Alex has looked out of sorts in all the games he's played so far. That has nothing to do with it being a friendly


I was replying to all of it, Romagonli and the fact you'd want Zapata and Alex starting ahead. It all ties in together


Again, form and fitness have nothing to do with it being a friendly or not. You think Miha doesn't take into account that he's made mistakes in the friendlies or that he's looked a couple of steps behind the rest?

Because I assure you, he will and does. After all that is what friendlies are for.

And again you're being a general @sshole to me just to prove your point which makes absolutely no sense. Respecting someone's opinion goes both ways.

That's right, me and acid had a lot of fun in that house (we also took the car for a spin every now and then )

They might as well be They talk/argue with each other more than my parents. XDD

We can chat again when you cool off. And I'll be taking the family dog. (wondered what those stains on the back seat were)

All you need is:

Monto, Mexes, Alex, Zapata and it's like litmus paper.

(SES & Allegri can also be used)

Like I said, I'm not the one who needs to cool off, you've just literally said that my opinion is invalid because it doesn't go in line with yours.

What do you think you were being there? A perfect wife?

Take the dog!! Me and acid will get a cat!

I'm more of a parakeet person, but let's get the cat.

No, I said it's invalid because you based on it a second-hand opinion, and of a friendly at that.



You two...we are SOOOOOOOO over! Just wait till I release the videos on YouPorn - why do you think I never filmed myself?

I'm disappointed in the treachery here. No cat for you, I'm going to block off all p*ssy.

Makes me wonder, though, if we will ever get Mexès and Zapata playing at the back this season? Wouldn't that be something? We probably will if the injuries and the chop chop at the defense keeps up. Need to see this pair again going at it at the CB spots.

Probably will only if Romagnoli gets an injury.

Mexes and Zapata did well together when given a good run of games so I'd be okay with it if Romagn gets injured and Zapata steps in

Mexes or Alex and Zaps is a partnership I'm happy with. If Romag picks up and starts to impress I'm happy with him too, but only with Mexes or Alex, and not with Zaps.

I'm not comfortable with Ely anywhere on the pitch. He, for me, is a total disaster.

He had one bad half a time. He's not a disaster, just inexperienced.

Once again, you're too quick to judge players. Sure Ely had a rough time against Fiorentina, he's just young and his inexperience showed when getting that red.

Also, the idea that Romagnoli won't start is a far fetched one. As long as he's fit, he'll start, just like Bertolacci

Yes, but this is about opinion. In my opinion I'd choose Alex/Mexes and Zaps. I know that won't happen, but I'm allowed my own conjecture.