Moving Forward

Apparently by Monday, two of the two world class talent on the Milan roster gone, forever into the bright lights of Paris; swapping one fashion hotspot for another and never again to be seen in Red and Black.



IRREPLACEABLE DUO

On so many levels this deal is tough to swallow for any Milanista. This is a squad which grappled with countless injuries last season, and despite its relatively large number, struggled to cope. This is a squad which lost, at the end of last season, as much as six senior players, the backbone of the side during its last sustained period of domination; and its locker room leaders. This is a squad, which if maintained into next season, would have been capable representatives but not world beaters. Depriving it of its two best players would be asking a lot, even with the expected reinforcements.

Let’s get to the money, then. With this rabid press, its difficult to know what to believe. What is somehow certain is we are looking at a figure somewhere between €60-70m, no small sum. However, considering PSG bid about €46m for Thiago alone a few weeks ago, a bid which was rejected, mind you; it makes it a bit strange the both of them are being shipped for not considerably more. One gets the feeling that Berlusconi arranged a fire sale, take the money whilst its still on the table before they change their minds. Logic dictates that a second bid for Silva be considerably higher than the first, and considering the player Zlatan is, notwithstanding his age, the cash just doesn’t add up for losing our two best players. The more likely scenario is that a few parties have been planned in advance by Berlusconi, and cash is a priority right now hence expediting the deal.

Its difficult also to envision that both players really want to move to PSG. What’s been made abundantly clear is that the club views them as expendable, and for such top class talent that’s the ultimate wet blanket. To the rest of the squad too, it sends the wrong signal; if Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva are expendable, who isn’t? It should’t come as much of a surprise if the next tier of talent also start agitating for their own moves.

So who are the possible replacements for these two behemoths? Tevez and Dzeko seem to be the universally acclaimed targets, with one of the duo believed to be inevitably headed to San Siro. Another name in the hat is Mattia Destro, the Italian kid who set the world on fire last season at Siena. Personally, I say no to that one, we already have our own Italian kid, plus Alberto Paloschi is roaming throughout Italy, lost, we could bring him back. Dzeko I barely rate, not because he’s not a good player, but because we need something different upfront. Ibra was the most technically gifted forward of his time, his all round game a nightmare for defenders. Dzeko is nothing more than a glorified targetman, and unless there is a massive overhaul of our midfield, would be particularly ineffective. Zlatan carried the burden of creativity in most games, and whilst Tevez isn’t particularly the same type of player, he offers pace, passion, industry, and an END PRODUCT, unlike our resident Samba dancer Robinho. For replacements for Thiago Silva, that’s nigh impossible. The central defenders out there who could replace him pound for pound are not exactly available, whilst anything else would be a gamble on someone’s potential. Our other CB’s are all either past it, or never had it(Bonera), whilst Francesco Acerbi is largely unproven at this level. All in all, it requires a tremendous leap of faith I’m unprepared to take and has “leaky defence” plastered all over it.



DUO OF DOOM?

Other areas of need include left back and defensive midfield. If a regista is brought in, either a destroyer in the De Jong mode or a ball playing one in the Sahin mode, it would be a step in the right direction. Left back isn’t particularly critical, but someone there would be nice. If we could land Ogbonna, Tevez, Sahin, and Kolarov off the back of this sale, it could be something I could live with. Better yet, we could keep the duo and buy no one:we’ve learnt our lesson ‘B n G’, no more demanding for irrational signings. Of course, the sale would go ahead and the money spent on no one worthwhile; we’ve seen that with Sheva and Kaka.

There is a lot I’m leaving unsaid: Like how its total bullshit to say we’re saving €170m on the sale; because we’re going to sign new players who are going to earn wages; not as much maybe, but they’ll still be paid. Like how it sends a terrible message to the world if pretentious wannabees like PSG can poach our top talent. Manchester City spent a couple of seasons before they started attracting genuine top class talent, so it’s not like players always take the money and care about nothing else. PSG are not yet at that stage in their project where everyone is convinced it would really take off, so clearly Milan did little to keep our stars or they wouldn’t be moving.

There’d be no use raging like a maniac, because believe me, that’s what I want to do. It would be futile, and the best thing to do is remain calmly detached and support this team we all love. Like a marriage, we are in it for better or for worse and you can take your rage to bed and fantasize about strangling ‘B n G’ to death. I’m pretty much disappointed in the Curva for their stance on this issue, but like most folk, until it’s declared official; I would hold onto these crazy concept we like to call HOPE.