The Rumour Commode XXXI: The Panther Era

[vB9]

Bigggest mistake was actually talking about Scudetto. Even sitting at the top of the table we should've kept saying to the public "inter and juve are favorites" and "we hope to qualify for CL"

Completely diffuse any pressure that might be facing the squad. Somehow every time we're in sniffing distance of an accomplishment we want to talk like challengers. Reality is we haven't done shit since 2011, and need to relax and concentrate on improvement (like we have with Pioli up until these last couple of weeks) and not pretend that we deserve to be title challengers yet. Its all about mind games, and we fucked ourselves by putting pressure on the minds of our young squad.

A win this weekend will do a lot for the team going forward. Lets hope we fix ourselves

I regret the Milan, 9 juve's, Milan again post of mine.

 

[vB9]

why must Italian? dude you're not even Italian

do I have to be Italian to support this club?
can a non Italian have chance at this club?

this is racist

All the big clubs have at least 1 cb from the country.

 

[Ronin]

 

[Berlusconi]

Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara are evaluating a few names ahead of the summer along with the scouting department. One of the names is Donyell Malen, who has scored 13 league goals for PSV this season.

 

[Berlusconi]

The Rossoneri are ready to renew Calabrias deal until 2025 and will increase the salary from the current €1.1m per year to €1.7m excluding bonuses

 

[Hitchens]

 

[Ronin]

The Rossoneri are ready to renew Calabrias deal until 2025 and will increase the salary from the current ?1.1m per year to ?1.7m excluding bonuses

He could easily be asking for 2m, but I think he will accept without any fuss. Our future captain

 

[Pingu]

Both hilarious and terrifying

 

[VultureSheva]

Paolo Maldini and Ricky Massara are evaluating a few names ahead of the summer along with the scouting department. One of the names is Donyell Malen, who has scored 13 league goals for PSV this season.

Send Mandzukic back to Qatar

 

[Samaldinho]

I don't rate Romagnoli that highly, but I think he's better than people say. I think if he's going to become a great defender, it will be as a late-bloomer.

That being said, to defend him a little bit: lots of the time, Romagnoli is covering the positional mistakes of Kjaer, Tomori, Theo, etc. Everyone makes mistakes, so, it's not so much that (I don't think Romagnoli is particularly error prone) it's really more that I think most of Romagnoli's problem is that he's just slow. He is so slow. I think a lot of issues with Romagnoli that are seen as him lacking strength are really more him not having the physical quickness to adjust his body.

The only way for him to really overcome this is to have the sort of skill, purely as a defender, which require anticipation, positional awareness, defensive vision, and other aspects--he has these things, but he doesn't have enough skill to overcome his lack of pace, particularly when he makes the wrong read.

The same Kjaer who people are lauding is the same player, who at Romagnoli's age, was floundering. If you mentioned Kjaer after he left Palermo and before coming here, I would imagine the word "fodder" would appear quite often. Acerbi, Barzagli, and others have been able to develop their game away from the glaring light of a big club and flourished as they got older.

Tomori and Kjaer make positional mistakes, a lot. Our RCB also does not have to handle the much lesser defensive cover that Theo provides. I think Theo is getting better, but there are games where Theo's absence really puts Romagnoli in uniquely tough positions. Romagnoli being put in this spot should be accounted for, in fairness to him.

Perhaps I don't attach as much emphasis on Romagnoli's status as our captain, particularly with Ibra on this team. As far as I see it, Ibra really is the captain of this team, and so Romagnoli's captain status isn't as massive in my mind, so perhaps that sort of "lowered expectation" might play into how I look at Romagnoli.

Romagnoli does a lot of good, it's just not fancy, that's the thing. It isn't flashy defending. It's being in the right place, at the right time, and upholding positional placement to ensure the defensive structure works. We (including myself) like and value Tomori because he is able to intercept, and he (and Kjaer and Kalulu) tend to do this with physicality and speed. Romagnoli does it with anticipation and watching the play develop. The issue is that Kjaer and Tomori are using their physical gifts to compensate for a mistake they've made, and many of the goals that people have given to Romagnoli as the one at fault, you can see that he's trying to cover for the mistake of someone else, but because he's the player who is last near the player who scores or whatever, people just assign him blame.

Anyway, these are my long-winded thoughts. I actually really like Tomori, think we should get him (so far) and I like Kjaer, and I want every player to become world-class at Milan. That goes for Samu, Hauge, Leao, anyone, including Romagnoli. I just think Romagnoli gets a little too much crap than he deserves, especially as we are in an era of really bad defenders.

 

[VultureSheva]

It strikes me how all the fans speak about 1st and 4th place like 2nd and 3rd don’t exist. We lose a game and they say “Ok, now our objective is 4th place”. How?

 

[vB9]

2nd 3rd 4th... it?s same

 

[Il grande Milan]

I hope Romagnoli is MotM on Sunday. Clearly.

Against lukaku? It's like saying leao will run 15 Km in one game

 

[Tantalis]

Against lukaku? It's like saying leao will run 15 Km in one game

Gay

 

[Master Smurf]

Long winded thoughts.

If Ibra was performing as good as / slightly better than Colombo or Mandzukic and Hakan was interchangeable with Diaz and Krunic would you be fine with it and not care? The whole point is that he is expected to be our best defender and currently many would prefer to even see Gabbia or Kalulu being fielded because Romagnoli doesnt make them feel assured. Please tell me you understand that? Then you couple it with the fact that he is a high earner and possibly about to make more while the fact that he is captain makes him hard to be replaced so even if others are better they are likely not to play. All of that makes the criticism more intense.

Leaf also with the strawman - Bonucci was supposed to be a star and leader and when he failed he got blasted. Romagnoli is entering that time of his career that if he doesnt perform he is going to hear about it. Life isnt fair and star players / leaders get the plaudits and the fire.

 

[Tantalis]

Being italian romagnoli can't be properly judged until he's 35

 

[Il grande Milan]

Gay

And yet, somehow, your pokemon look doesn't charm me.

 

[Tantalis]

And yet, somehow, your pokemon look doesn't charm me.

Super gay

 

[ROSSONERI7]

Great elaborated post as awlays

I don't rate Romagnoli that highly, but I think he's better than people say. I think if he's going to become a great defender, it will be as a late-bloomer.

That being said, to defend him a little bit: lots of the time, Romagnoli is covering the positional mistakes of Kjaer, Tomori, Theo, etc. Everyone makes mistakes, so, it's not so much that (I don't think Romagnoli is particularly error prone) it's really more that I think most of Romagnoli's problem is that he's just slow. He is so slow. I think a lot of issues with Romagnoli that are seen as him lacking strength are really more him not having the physical quickness to adjust his body.

i don't think he has to cover for others mistakes more than others have to.
and you've said it yourself, in addition to lacking speed and aggressiveness, he does not have enough of the other characteristics to make up for what he lacks

----------------------

The same Kjaer who people are lauding is the same player, who at Romagnoli's age, was floundering. If you mentioned Kjaer after he left Palermo and before coming here, I would imagine the word "fodder" would appear quite often. Acerbi, Barzagli, and others have been able to develop their game away from the glaring light of a big club and flourished as they got older.

do you think it's worth waiting for him to reach his later career years to develop? rather than trying to get money from him and get someone better suited? who provides better integrity to the defensive structure while also progressing now rather than in his 30s (since we're buying young)...someone who (obviously is a quality young cb, that why he'd get signed) but can use characteristics, like speed, aggressiveness, anticipation to be very effective in the now...all while improving other aspects as he gains experience.

business wise (big salary drop, transfer fee to improve the team earned) and even sporting wise (improved team) ...it seems to me is the right thing to do.
ofc the situation is more complex than that because of the contract.

i mean, yourself paint a really grim picture of how he could improve by saying this:

The only way for him to really overcome this is to have the sort of skill, purely as a defender, which require anticipation, positional awareness, defensive vision, and other aspects--he has these things, but he doesn't have enough skill to overcome his lack of pace, particularly when he makes the wrong read.

--------------------------------

Tomori and Kjaer make positional mistakes, a lot. Our RCB also does not have to handle the much lesser defensive cover that Theo provides. I think Theo is getting better, but there are games where Theo's absence really puts Romagnoli in uniquely tough positions. Romagnoli being put in this spot should be accounted for, in fairness to him.

i think that's what building a team is about...if we want to progress... get pieces that fit together. we have a very attacking LB so we get a CB on his side that can provide adequate cover when he goes up to what he does that is very important to the team's play.

i don't see as him being "put on a spot" ... the way we play, that's the job description of the position...can you do this job?

everyone makes mistakes.
-------------------------------------

Perhaps I don't attach as much emphasis on Romagnoli's status as our captain, particularly with Ibra on this team. As far as I see it, Ibra really is the captain of this team, and so Romagnoli's captain status isn't as massive in my mind, so perhaps that sort of "lowered expectation" might play into how I look at Romagnoli.

that's why Kjaer and Ibra were brought in.
but a team should have a few leaders not just one with the armband...so i don't mind his armband in this case...
the problem with his armband is that it skews meritocracy at CB position.
he has much more leeway even when not performing well to remain in the team.
while others after 2-3 not so good performances too close to each other have to go to the bench and earn the position again ... we see it with our wingers.
will it be the case, as everybody gets healthy?
-----------------------------------

Romagnoli does a lot of good, it's just not fancy, that's the thing. It isn't flashy defending. It's being in the right place, at the right time, and upholding positional placement to ensure the defensive structure works. We (including myself) like and value Tomori because he is able to intercept, and he (and Kjaer and Kalulu) tend to do this with physicality and speed. Romagnoli does it with anticipation and watching the play develop. The issue is that Kjaer and Tomori are using their physical gifts to compensate for a mistake they've made, and many of the goals that people have given to Romagnoli as the one at fault, you can see that he's trying to cover for the mistake of someone else, but because he's the player who is last near the player who scores or whatever, people just assign him blame.

and, you have just summed up the problem. it's his style of defending. you have just described a reactionary defender ("passive" might be too much). which unfortunately is a problem if you want to play forward...might be great for Mourinho though.

while the other defenders use their aggressiveness to knock the ball away from the opponent.sticking their foot in. his mindset is about blocking the shot or pass...so instead of going in he is backing up, pretty much escorting the opponent to our box.

and when he does block the shot or pass it comes as a last ditch save...but it shouldn't have been if he had gotten the ball away 5-10 yards before the box where they first met.
(respect for the legitimate last ditch save he makes)

every once in a while he decides to be proactive but it's not his nature, so it doesn't last.
----------------------------------

Anyway, these are my long-winded thoughts. I actually really like Tomori, think we should get him (so far) and I like Kjaer, and I want every player to become world-class at Milan. That goes for Samu, Hauge, Leao, anyone, including Romagnoli. I just think Romagnoli gets a little too much crap than he deserves, especially as we are in an era of really bad defenders.

you're a good guy and don't want to see player especially our player get criticized in what you feel is an excessive way...

 

[Raz]

Lol @ people who think Romagnoli will improve in his 30s. If he's slow and weak now, what do you think he's gonna be in 5 years?

 

[Il grande Milan]

Super gay

Change your diaper man, it's time

 

[Il grande Milan]

Being italian romagnoli can't be properly judged until he's 35

Yes, the mysterious case of romagnoli button. The guy is making terrible mistakes like every single game. Maybe you should watch a game for once instead of brainstorming who you gonna give your pathetic awards to

 

[Tantalis]

Change your diaper man, it's time

Gay

Yes, the mysterious case of romagnoli button. The guy is making terrible mistakes like every single game. Maybe you should watch a game for once instead of brainstorming who you gonna give your pathetic awards to

Bro everyone knows italian defenders aren't prime until their mid 30s. Romagnoli is still a prospect. A raw talent that only someone who doesn't understand the big picture of calcio can't comprehend.

Lol @ people who think Romagnoli will improve in his 30s. If he's slow and weak now, what do you think he's gonna be in 5 years?

He'll be in his prime and average atleast 8kms or 4 knots faster than he currently is. I guess you would know what weak is though.

 

[Raz]

^^If I didn't before, then I sure do now.

 

[Wild]

3rd or 4th. I expected Juve and Inter to finish ahead of us. Napoli if they stayed healthy might have a 50% shot to finish ahead of us. The rest where a big wild card but I expected 1,2, then a gap for 3rd to 7th.



I was expecting finishing 3rd or 4th and securing champions league 100% so we have overachieved to be where we are now. But just losing the next 2 games could move us from overachievers to underachivers as we drop out of top 4. If we didn't achieve CL come end of the season it would have been a monumental failure

We are six points away from all teams you have mentioned.
I will assume we loose to Inter , Roma & Napoli & even then we will be on par with all of them with majority of hard games behind us.... i think thats a pretty good deal since those teams are gonna face each other.
Even if that worst case scenario happen we would be still on track.

What better way to secure 3rd or 4th place better than competing for first place leading the table for half the season ?

 

[Wild]

The fact that you used Roy Keane as your example captain means you shouldn?t post here anymore.

Keane was an insane leader , a cunt but still a welcomed force.

 

[Tantalis]

^^If I didn't before, then I sure do now.

We both know you knew prior.

 

[Il grande Milan]

Bro everyone knows italian defenders aren't prime until their mid 30s. Romagnoli is still a prospect. A raw talent that only someone who doesn't understand the big picture of calcio can't comprehend.

That's great, I'll give bonucci a call and tell him it ain't too late yet, according to the calcio connoisseur. He gonna be thrilled to hear the news.

Defenders tend to peak around 32, but that doesn't mean romagnoli still will transform into the next maldini. The signs signs simply aren't there.

 

[Raz]

We both know you knew prior.

Oh, I forgot about the time when you were crying over some spiritual bullshit with shrooms or something. That was gay af

 

[Wild]

I think a middle ground for us is to sell Roma now & then get him after five years when he reach his potential.... k , great.