The Rumour Commode XXXV: Champions Edition

[Kmoney]

We're only two years in the Maldini/Massara project and went from barely 6th placed EL team to 2nd placed team in Serie A to serious Scudetto competitors while still building towards an even stronger squad.

Look, you're not wrong, but how you people constantly try to see a lack of ambition, or even worse, no upward trajectory, is hilarious. For you there's nothing but now, now, now! Get some new perspective ffs.

For the record: Today, after 32 match days, we have two points more than last year at the same time.

2019 to now has been fantastic, no question. On both the commercial and sporting side of things.

But, if you compare last season to this, there hasn’t been an upward trajectory - as you had mentioned, just 2 points.

My point is, we need to make investments sooner rather than later or we risk losing the impressive core that we have built. Last summer was disastrous by all accounts, however hard we try to defend it by looking at the larger picture

 

[Longbowman]

Hi Guys
I tumbled upon this forum during the Jackson Martinez saga window and has been a constant lurker here since the Commisso takeover saga.
I am supportive of #DaPlan but not to the extent of brk/Sam.. I do think the management could have made a Scudetto push given we were second last year.. but at the same time we splashed a lot over Tomori and Tonali in the summer and hence don't think it was possible given our finances to spend any further.. I do agree that it is a miracle that we are still in Scudetto race given we did not sign an AM or a competent right wing.. but it should also be noted that there were no good AM or RW that was available for our budget either in summer or in Jan..
But I am waiting for the renewal of Bennacer and Leao to be confirmed to be fully on board of #DaPlan

 

[Hitchens]

 

[Kmoney]

So they're signing long term deals to leave? They're signing up to be part of something. They all talk about it. Leao, Bennacer, Kalulu, Theo, Maignan, they all are buying into what Maldini is selling them.

When did we sell someone we didn't want to sell under Elliott? There is a project and it is ambitious, otherwise, Maldini wouldn't put his name on it.

There is no doubt that we are missing pieces, but the massive difference between when Maldini took over and now is huge. I don't see how you look at the place we started under Maldini to now and don't see something special. I just don't.

Look, I see massive progress since Maldini took over. I’d be a blind idiot to deny that. Not just in the pitch but in terms of the structure of the club and how we have been modernized on and off it.

That being said, Last season to this wasn’t progress in my view. The statistics point to that. Any ambition we are seeking outside of just being a top 4 club has yet to be realized and acted upon. It’s more fan fiction at this point.

Let’s see what this summer has in store, I hope our management is ready to take the next step.

 

[Hitchens]

Look, I see massive progress since Maldini took over. I’d be a blind idiot to deny that. Not just in the pitch but in terms of the structure of the club and how we have been modernized on and off it.

That being said, Last season to this wasn’t progress in my view. The statistics point to that. Any ambition we are seeking outside of just being a top 4 club has yet to be realized and acted upon. It’s more fan fiction at this point.

Let’s see what this summer has in store, I hope our management is ready to take the next step.

This is a laughable post considering the season isn't over yet and we're 1st. If we win the Scudetto you can wrap this post and eat it. Wait until the season is over before assessing.

 

[Kmoney]

We were in the toughest ever CL group and didn’t qualify because of the ref. We’re first in the league after a season of catastrophic injuries. We still haven’t fully built the squad.

What, exactly, are your expectations that haven’t been met?

There are 2 ways this can go: we build patiently and our stars stay and grow with us, or we continue with several sideways moves that don’t really push the needle.

20/21 to 21/22 was precisely that - sideways, which can be seen in our points total. The gaps were clear and obvious, but we chose not to invest, despite the possibly of a major monetary gain - through sponsorship bonuses and prize money - by aiming for the scudetto.

A team that refuses to invest depsite Brahim/Alexis/Messias being staters, with the scudetto within reach, doesn’t exactly scream ambition to me.

Is a top 4 team which doesn’t make losses annually the end goal? Well I certainly hope not, but based on the Invetsments carried out this year, we don’t have proof to believe otherwise.

 

[Kmoney]

This is a laughable post considering the season isn't over yet and we're 1st. If we win the Scudetto you can wrap this post and eat it. Wait until the season is over before assessing.

I’ll be more than happy to

 

[Pingu]

I’ll be more than happy to

@Hitchens will print of every negative post you've made on this forum, mail you it in the post, and force you to record yourself eating every sheet of paper.

 

[Longbowman]

Btw I think the management is planning for a 4-3-3 formation next year.
The reason we went for 4-2-3-1 was :-
1. It brought the best out of Calhanoglu and Kessie
2. Suso was sold for capital gain. His work rate was not feasible in a 4-2-3-1

Now why I think the management is looking for 4-3-3 is that:-
1. Rumours of Brahim returning to Real and Kessie leaving
2. Lack of good AMs
3. Bennacer and Tonali are being under utilized in a 4-2-3-1.. Tonali's explosive runs and Bennacer's creativity is being stunted with a deeper role
4. Adli seems better suited to a CM role. He does tend to loose the ball in dangerous areas to be trusted in a double pivot and a bit slow to be AM
5. Pobega and Krunic are best suited as box to box
6. If Renato is coming he is also best suited for a box to box role

So instead of finding a top AM, we need to sign a young player who could act as a substitute along with Adli, Pobega and Krunic while Renato- Tonali - Bennacer would be starting

 

[Kmoney]

@Hitchens will print of every negative post you've made on this forum, mail you it in the post, and force you to record yourself eating every sheet of paper.

A small price to pay for the Tricolore

Don’t throw me into the negative brigade just yet though, I have a fair amount of posts praising this project as well. Just frustrated as hell with our recent performances

 

[Congo Powers]

 

[Hitchens]

Can someone like brk unpack Origi from a stats perspective?

 

[Hitchens]

A small price to pay for the Tricolore

Don’t throw me into the negative brigade just yet though, I have a fair amount of posts praising this project as well. Just frustrated as hell with our recent performances

I'm just as frustrated.

Let's all get together for a win on Friday

 

[mrki]

Btw I think the management is planning for a 4-3-3 formation next year.
The reason we went for 4-2-3-1 was :-
1. It brought the best out of Calhanoglu and Kessie
2. Suso was sold for capital gain. His work rate was not feasible in a 4-2-3-1

Now why I think the management is looking for 4-3-3 is that:-
1. Rumours of Brahim returning to Real and Kessie leaving
2. Lack of good AMs
3. Bennacer and Tonali are being under utilized in a 4-2-3-1.. Tonali's explosive runs and Bennacer's creativity is being stunted with a deeper role
4. Adli seems better suited to a CM role. He does tend to loose the ball in dangerous areas to be trusted in a double pivot and a bit slow to be AM
5. Pobega and Krunic are best suited as box to box
6. If Renato is coming he is also best suited for a box to box role

So instead of finding a top AM, we need to sign a young player who could act as a substitute along with Adli, Pobega and Krunic while Renato- Tonali - Bennacer would be starting

Its also not bad to have options as Diaz... but I agree.

 

[Kojak]

I've mentioned it before, but it always feels like English players crave a return home. It doesn't seem that way with Tomori, but even so, how long can we keep him here? Even if we are reaching all our goals. Hopefully he'll continue to feel at home.

If Galliani was in charge, he'd be looking for buyers by now. I can't say it'd be bad business to let him leave. Bring in Bremer and Botman and probably still have cash left over!
From what I've seen from Bremer this season, I'm now convinced of his ability. May even be better than Tomori, if we are honest. If I thought Bremer-Tomori would work, I'd go with Bremer over Botman but I think they're too similar.

Ban pls.

 

[Kojak]

100%.

We're doing very well with the contracts as well. We identify the right players for the project, offer them a €1.5m - €2m a year on a 5-year contract.

These players perform well and when they've got 3 years left on their contract, we extend their contract by 2 years and bump their salary up to €3m or more.

Kalulu, for example. Currently on €600k/yr until 2025. After he's played a lot of minutes this season, Milan now know that he's a talent who can reach the top and we'll renew his contract until 2027 on a salary between €1.5m - €2m.

We never cave into excessive agent and salaries demands and that's the reason why we're running a great example of a self-sustaining business model. At times, it can be annoying that we hassle over every little penny, thus missing out on a target, but ultimately this will come to full fruition when we're able to have a €100m+ transfer window without thinking about selling any of our starters. Unlike the other club in the city..

We're also experts at allowing our best players to walk for free without collecting a dime from their sales!

 

[Mario]

yall need to relax



not even expectin a trophy for dis welcome

 

[Kojak]

The problem with the 3-4 year argument is that it assumes that a majority of core players will stay with us and patiently wait for us to eventually buy the right quality of players.

At some point, the best players in the squad are going to question the ambition of the project if we don’t show a serious upward trajectory (this season, I would argue that we haven’t).

What bruh's fail to realise is that we have a 4m salary cap which will be triggered once keys players (currently on low wages) renew e.g. Leao, Theo etc. Therefore, it will be difficult to extend their deals (unless we scrap the cap) or keep hold of them as they continue to improve and the big clubs come sniffing offering 2-3x their Milan salaries.

 

[Kojak]

I for one am PLEASED that we've hit a dry patch and are struggling to score goals. Why? Because it will force management to finally address the issues we all identified last summer i.e. relying on two grandpa's up front, novice AM and a pizza maker + delivery boy @ RW. Once these issues are finally resolved Milan will be practically unbeatable as we already have one of the best defences in Europe BEFORE Botman joins.

 

[Kojak]

Momblano (Juve insider who's pretty reliable except for the epic Guardiola miss ) claims that Maldini had an 'exploratory call' with Dybala to feel out a potential transfer.

 

[ROSSONERI7]

Momblano (Juve insider who's pretty reliable except for the Guardiola miss ) claims that Maldini had an 'exploratory call' with Dybala to feel out a potential transfer.

Yup, and Maldini even shat his pants during the call. He was terrified!

 

[Casualista]

We were in the toughest ever CL group and didn’t qualify because of the ref.

Milan got outplayed in 4/6 games. Didn't deserve to qualify anyway.

 

[Longbowman]

And once Kessie leaves not a single signing from that era will still be in the squad despite 250m spent. Unbelievable.

I think it is the reason why Maldini and Massara has focussed on the personality aspect as well.. Mirabelli signed Calhanoglu who was at the time penalised for a transfer fraud; Kessie who ditched Roma and CL football despite agreeing terms for a higher salary; Bonucci who ditched legendary status at Juve because Allegri shouted at him at half time in CL final.. also I think why we ditched Faivre was due to his unprofessional interview

 

[Nalim]

From what I saw - we were away against the best team in Europe. Especially when they play at home. In our first game in Europe in years, with an XI that probably had less than 10 UCL games combined under their belt. We gave as good as we got. The goal that actually gave them the lead was a very lucky deflection. We didn't let that hurt us and we fought back to take a lead. They stepped it up and edged us.

Serie A is rubbish? Pretty sure Inter didn't disgrace themselves against Liverpool. Getting the win at Anfield. Juventus beat Chelsea. Atalanta should've got more from their two games against United, scoring 4. Were the better side in both games..

Inter did well against Liverpool but were never really close to progressing. We were comfortably outplayed by the same team.

We finished last in our group behind Porto who dominated us twice.

Atalanta were the better team yet didn’t manage a win against an awful Manchester United team.
Ended up losing qualification to Spain’s 7th best team who went on to also knock Juve out.

Juve won 1-0 against Chelsea and were beaten 0-4 in the reverse fixture.

Napoli were humiliated by Barca.

Roma have failed to beat Bodo-Glimt of Norway in three meetings, losing two of those, one of them 6-1. 10-4 is the goal tally across those 3 meetings in favour of the Norwegians.

Come Friday there like won’t be any Italian teams in any of the three European competitions.

Serie A is rubbish

 

[Kojak]

Yup, and Maldini even shat his pants during the call. He was terrified!

Momblano is usually pretty accurate except for the Guardiola debacle (his SMS) and was the first to predict CR7 to Juve, Paratici leaving etc.

Therefore, brace yourself for pretty Paulie arriving and splitting his time equally between San Siro and Milan Lab

 

[CapitanoMaldini]

Mundo Deportivo - Milan ready to offer 10 million for Bernabé of Parma

 

[Kojak]

I have a feeling that this guy will explode (like Tammy) IF we get a quality AM + RW and Leao/Tonali/Theo/Kalulu etc continue to improve.

 

[Kojak]

Mundo Deportivo - Milan ready to offer 10 million for Bernabé of Parma

No moar Spanish midz plz.

 

[taura]

Mundo Deportivo - Milan ready to offer 10 million for Bernabé of Parma

longo confirming that moncada was present at the brescia - parma match to scout him out

Exclusive @cmdotcom : Moncada was in Brescia last Monday to follow the match between the Lombard players and #Parma . Scouting work and particular attention to talent #Bernabe



kid is 20 yr old playing as a cm..came to parma last season from city (where he played as a cm/lm/lb in prem youth league)

 

[Kuroha]

Mundo Deportivo - Milan ready to offer 10 million for Bernabé of Parma

Parma is our fodder club now?