I was bored at work the other day (pre-Roma & Madrid) and started thinking about how badly our squad needs a total overhaul. Okay so I can understand people thinking otherwise given the last two results but I was pretty merciless when putting myself in a 2010/2011 pre season Galliaini/Leonardo post and came to this conclusion when finally piecing this 23 man squad together. Keeping in mind the Leonardo 4-3-2-1 come 4-3-3 formation he's adopted the last two weeks, this is my squad for next summer.
Squad 2010/2011
01 - Carlos Kameni (Espanyol & Cameroon) - GK
02 - Davide Santon (Internazionale & Italy) - RB, LB
04 - Luca Cigarini (Napoli & Italy) - CM
05 - Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa & Italy) - CB, LB
07 - Alexandre Pato (Milan & Italy) - RF, LF, ST
08 - Gennaro Gattuso (Milan & Italy) - CM
09 - Filippo Inzaghi (Milan & Italy) - ST
10 - Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal & Italy) - RF, LF, ST
11 - Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg & Bosnia) - ST
12 - Stevan Jovetic (Fiorentina & Montenegro) - AM, RF, LF
13 - Alessandro Nesta (Milan & Italy) - CB
16 - Mathieu Flamini (Milan & Italy) - RB, LB, CM
18 - Alan Dzagoev (CSKA & Russia) - AM, RF, LF
19 - Carlos Eduardo (Hoffenheim & Brazil) - CM, AM
20 - Ignazio Abate (Milan & Italy) - RB, RF
22 - Daniele Dessena (Cagliari & Italy) - CM
23 - Massimo Ambrosini (Milan & Italy) - CM
24 - Davide Di Gennaro (Milan & Italy) - AM, RF, LF
25 - Daniele Bonera (Milan & Italy) - RB, CB
30 - Christian Abbiati (Milan & Italy) - GK
31 - Marco Storari (Milan & Italy) - GK
33 - Thiago Silva (Milan & Brazil) - CB
77 - Luca Antonini (Milan & Italy) - RB, LB
To Sell
(If they're not on this list, they're in the Primavera)
01 - Nelson Dida (Milan & Brazil) - GK
04 - Kakha Kaladze (Milan & Georgia) - CB, LB
05 - Oguchi Onyewu (Milan & USA) - CB
10 - Clarence Seedorf (Milan & Holland) - CM, AM
11 - Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Milan & Holland) - ST
15 - Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan & Italy) - RB, LB
18 - Marek Jankulovski (Milan & Czech Rep) - LB
19 - Giuseppe Favalli (Milan & Italy) - RB, LB, CB
21 - Andrea Pirlo (Milan & Italy) - CM, AM
22 - Marco Borriello (Milan & Italy) - ST
31 - Flavio Roma (Milan & Italy) - GK
44 - Massimo Oddo (Milan & Italy) - RB, LB
80 - Ronaldinho (Milan & Brazil) - AM, RF, LF, ST
Well I told you it was merciless. If Milan could go to such extreme measures to overhaul this squad, I think we would be in a much better position than we are now. The average age I think here worked out at around 25, a severe plummet from our current age. Yet I still wanted to keep big Milan personalities in the mix, Gattuso, Inzaghi, Nesta, Ambrosini are the heart and spirit of this side and shouldn't be forgotten. Whereas I think we can move forward losing the likes of Seedorf, Dinho, Dida and Huntelaar. Let's get into the breakdown of the squad.
The goalkeeping position has been causing us major headaches for some time now, this is compounded by Dida's recent fault against Madrid the other night. There are many front runners and I am sure many are capable (Boruc, Frey, Lloris) but I've gone for Kameni in this role. I've been mighty impressed with the Cameroon number one, and at just 25 can only get better. I'd keep Abbiati and Storari around for cover due to their Italian links. Roma at 35 is a pointless "must have", which earns him a place on the "Out" pile. Extra cover can be seeked out in the Primavera.
At the back, Nesta & Silva are starting to make waves as a partnership but I'd like to build around that by putting a little pressure on Silva, bringing in young Italian starlet Bocchetti. He's pushing his way into the Azzurri setup and is perfect as a third centre back, if not first choice alongside Nesta. At full back, Abate on the right and a surprising choice in Santon on the left. We must all agree this lad doesn't belong with the Inter Merda enemy, and a well timed swoop for the young Santon would certainly bolster our ranks. Flamini would act as cover for both full backs with Antonini as a last ditch resort at full back and Bonera providing similar cover for the CB's.
Midfield. A three man midfield, with one of the three given the reins to support the front 3, as is current right now with the Pirlo/Ambrosini/Seedorf. I'd still keep Gattuso around (because he's a character and when he does play, gives his upmost for 60 minutes. Still a fantastic player). Aside from Rino & Ambrosini, it's a new look. In come youngsters Cigarini, Dessena & Eduardo. The five midfielders would battle for two starting places with the third "Seedorf role" contested between Jovetic & Dzagoev. Both these men have the ability to add goals to our midfield and despite what many may think about Jovetic positionally here, I know as a young man he has the brains to work in this kind of position and it is perfectly suited to him. Most importantly, he has the legs to get back and assist the duo behind him. Jovetic and Dzagoev can also play further afield so there's a chance for all players to get games under their belt.
Front 3. Huntelaar has been a flop so he's out the door to make way for the man we wanted in the first place. The Bosnian Hitman, Edin Dzeko would lead the line, flanked by Pato and Rossi. Rossi would replace Dinho on the left with Pato on the right. Inzaghi would provide excellent cover for Dzeko (even at the age of 36) and as well as keeping Di Gennaro around for cover of the wide men, Dzagoev and Jovetic could also play in more advanced roles if necessary.
Phew. Got through it there. What do you guys think? It's all opinion here of course and this is how I'd like to see Milan move forward. I could have gone further in depth (such as other targets should a bid fail) but I don't wanna put you to sleep. I'm sure many of you already are if you read this long post. Haha! Anywho, hope some of you enjoyed the post and have similar notions on how you'd like Milan to improve when playing this formation.