AC Milan general spiel 2.0

[RomaShield27]

What other promising young players have Milan signed this mercato, SP? You have signed a lot of youngsters, so I gather. Do you have a list or any detailed info on them?

[San Paolo]

check here Ed, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010–11_A.C._Milan_season#In

[San Paolo]

Kaladze's goodbye message:

I think it’s time to say goodbye to the Milan family, as now a new part of my career and of my life is about to begin. I arrived in this town, at this club nine years ago from Georgia. I was given a great reception, I felt your support and encouragement. I felt at home at Milan year after year. We went through all kind of things together: wonderful moments, difficulties and great victories. I’ll always remember what I gave to you and what you gave to me. Thanks for everything to you all! I wish good luck to the club, my former teammates, all Milan employees and of course to the fantastic Rossoneri fans!
Best regards.

In other news Seedorf might be off to Dubai or MLS in january/end of the season.

[San Paolo]

Milan boss Max Allegri says he could play all four of his high profile attackers against Cesena this weekend.

There is a great desire to see Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Alexandre Pato and Ronaldinho play at the same time.

“Hopefully during the game there will be the chance to play all four, but we need time,” Allegri said.

“They have only just arrived and the team has worked for two months finding its balance, so we now need time to find it again.

“Ibrahimovic is fine and he'll play from the first minute. Cesena run a lot, concede little and can spread fear on the counterattack.

“Games are never won before you play them. I said that last year with Cagliari when we played against the big teams and I say it now that I coach Milan and we play the small teams.”

[p_maldini_3]

Berlusconi won’t interfere at Milan
Friday 10 September, 2010
Milan patron Silvio Berlusconi insists he will not interfere with Massimiliano Allegri’s team selection after spending big in the summer.

Berlusconi got his wallet out after a couple of lean years and brought in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho to great fanfare.

Interviewed in La Gazzetta dello Sport, Berlusconi was asked why he had suddenly fallen in love with the club again.

“It’s not true that I have re-found love for Milan, because I always had it. But in the last two years, I didn’t share the way with which the team was put on the pitch, first with Ancelotti and then with Leonardo.

“I have always respected the role of our Coaches, but I felt pain seeing that the resources available to them weren’t used opportunely.

“In some games we didn’t even have a shot in a half, because instead of being close to goal Ronaldinho and Pato were 45m away from it.”

Berlusconi was also keen to take the spotlight off his galacticos and turn it on some of Milan’s unsung heroes.

“Further to Pato, Ibra, Ronaldinho and Robinho there are other class players like Pirlo and Seedorf, but it will be up to Allegri to decide who play on the basis of form and the health of everyone.

“I am not the last person to arrive in football so I believe that I am able to say my piece. I have spoken with Allegri. I have told him what I think and he knows that I wanted to set up a very spectacular Milan, capable of entertaining, in which all the best players can play together if they are well. But, as always, he has the last word.”

When asked if he agreed with Ibrahimovic’s sentiment that Milan are now stronger than Inter, Berlusconi said: “I’ll let the others say something on that.

“I only know that, as always, we are aiming to be protagonists in Italy and in Europe. If there aren’t any injuries, our squad is of the highest order. It was last year and it is even more so this year.”

Finally Berlusconi gave his reaction to reports linking Inter with a move for former Milan talisman, Ricky Kaka.

“If Kaka were to go to Inter I’d also applaud Inter because he has always been a great player,” he concluded.

[vtec]

[The MAN]

OK, I found the 2 pieces about Allegri and Silvio a bit reassuring...so apparently Allegri is not planning on playing all 4 as a first-choice formation, and it looks like Silvio will not force the issue too. So far so good.

Looks like I won't be able to watch the game tomorrow live, but I'll get it on PVR though. It looks like Nesta,Seedorf and Flamini might not be avialable for this one. That said, it would be a letdown if we cant get a solid win there after all the hype though.

[The MAN]

http://www.football-italia.net/sep10h.htm

Anyway we can use this to rescind Oddo's contract?

[p_maldini_3]

allegri said that nesta and seedorf are being rested for the champions league game on tuesday, so hopefully they'll be back in time for that game.

[p_maldini_3]

and its a good idea to christen the new and young blood soon, aka sokratis. once he gets some confidence from one match, he should be good to go.

we also shouldn't forget that sokratis is probably the fastest centerback on the team, so that should help against the much-talked-about speed of cesena's counterattacking moves.

[The MAN]

Meh, I agree, its better to have Sokratis playing against the likes of Cesena rather CL games....good to see Allegri already picking up the Milan mindset of CL games come first and formost lol

The Nesta-Silva is a strong point for us, yet its a weak point in the sense I don't see us having good backups to them at all when either of them are out...specially when Nesta is out, the defence totally loses a commanding presence that even Thiago doesn't have yet...not many strong CBs available but I think Milan would be right target Mexes...sorry romanisti
Milan has to think of an eventual replacement for Sandro, and while I don't think we can find a CB on the same class, a strong 3rd CB is needed nontheless

[San Paolo]

Milan have lined up a January signing of Uruguyan CB Sebastian Coates he currently plays for Nacional in Uruguay and even played in the Libatadores cup for them.

[San Paolo]

Cesena Coach Massimo Ficcadenti tells Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Milan “we won’t just defend, as we can get a positive result” this evening.

Ibra is set to make his debut in a Rossoneri jersey when his side travel to the Stadio Manuzzi for a 19.45 UK time kick-off.

“Milan are galvanised by the arrival of Ibrahimovic, but we’ll counter them with our sharpness and will certainly not make the mistake of just defending ourselves,” said the tactician.

“We too have experienced players, so with the right humility and playing at our full potential, we can have a great performance and earn a positive result.”

Cesena were absent from the top flight for nearly two decades, but caused an upset in Week 1 when holding Roma to a 0-0 draw at the Olimpico.

“On a psychological level it won’t be a problem for my players to have Cesena’s first Serie A home game in 19 years,” continued Ficcadenti.

“If anything it’ll be an absolute pleasure playing in front of so many fans. We want to prove to them that Cesena can fight to stay in Serie A.

“I still have a few doubts on the line-up, but there’s nothing to say I won’t confirm the same starting XI that held Roma.”

[RomaShield27]

Ouch:

Milan were favourites in Istanbul too, goads Benitez
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com – 10 Sep 17:01:00 2010

Inter Milan coach Rafael Benitez has hit back at speculation big-spending AC Milan may now be stronger than last season's treble winners, reminding the Rossoneri about his hand in one of their darkest ever days. Benitez was Liverfekkin'wankscum boss in the 2005 European Cup final when the Premiershit side came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 and win the Istanbul final on penalties.

"Football has changed a bit. This week I have heard it said that the Rossoneri are favourites to win everything," a smirking Benitez, who succeeded new Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho at Inter in the close season, told a news conference. "They said the same in Istanbul when I faced the Rossoneri with Liverfekkin'wankscum. They said it until the end of the first half of that match, but then something changed."

A lacklustre Inter drew 0-0 at Bologna in the first game of their Serie A title defence before the international break robbed Benitez of time to work with his players. The European champions, who decided not to buy in the transfer window against Benitez's wishes, host Udinese in Serie A on Saturday when right back Maicon is again an injury doubt.

Milan also play on Saturday because of next week's Champions League commitments but coach Massimiliano Allegri doubted he would play both new forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho from the start at promoted Cesena. "Ibrahimovic is fit and will play from the first minute," he said of the Swede who will lead his three-man attack. "Robinho could be a substitute for Ronaldinho or Alexandre Pato."

Both coaches were trying to get on with business as normal despite Serie A players announcing a strike on Friday for a fortnight's time in a collective contract dispute.

[p_maldini_3]

this idiot will get ostracized faster than jose if he continues this crap. this isn't the premiershit you dumbass.

[The MAN]

Weren't Liverfekkin'wankscum kind of the favourites in Athens too?

At any case, I check the bookies all the time, Inter are the favourites for Serie A...in CL, I placed a small bet on Milan winning the whole thing when our odds were 34/1 (tied with Tottenham lol) at the end of August...these are ridiculously long odds for a club like Milan and while its unlikely we'd win it I still think its worth going for it...now, without even playing a game in CL yet, it has been slashed to 16/1

[maro]

Actually, I thought that was pretty witty from Benitez - certainly much wittier and more understated than anything Moaninho ever managed. What did you expect him to do? Come in and start off on how much respect he has for Milan and how he'd have been just as happy managing them?

[p_maldini_3]

he already did that maro. benitez used to come to milanello a lot back in the day, and a month ago he was praising the exceptional organization of the club (milan).

[maro]

Well, then, you should only expect a little bit of sharp wit as he tries to get his feet under the table in the other side of town. You guys are just too sore about Istanbul (understandbly). I mean, apart from anything else, the idea that the team which has won the last 78 titles and hasn't actually lost any of their key starters wouldn't start as the team to beat is simply silly. Let's hope MIlan give them a run for their money and who, really, cares about 'favouritism' anyway. Still, it was a fairly spicey answer to a silly question.

[San Paolo]

former Inter star, Mario Balotelli, this week confessed the fact he supports the Rossoneri.

“Let’s just say Balotelli is fairly... creative.” said Tronchetti Provera.