Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Summer Signings Report Card: Arsenal and Chelsea
Monday, March 22, 2010
Summer Signings Report Card: AC Milan
1.Thiago Silva: The big Brazilian from Fluminense had signed earlier but could only start playing this season. Milan were truly struggling in the central defense position as there was no one decent enough to play alongside the ageing but still classy Nesta. Enter Silva, a no-nonsense big strong classic center back and Milan's problems decreased considerably. He is very effective in the air, a good marker and hardly has any concentration lapses. His speed is on the slower side, but for a league like Serie A it is more than enough. Silva's highlight of the season has been his penetrating forward runs which has unsettled many oppositions. A consistent player, he has contributed 2 goals to Milan's campaign this season.
Overall Grade: A- , effective but not spectacular.
2.Ignazio Abate: Not a true summer signing as he has been a Milan player since his early days, but was sent on loan time and again. His performance for Torino as a right winger earned him plaudits and Milan decided to give him a shot in the first team. But, due to Milan's tight and narrow formation, he had to be content sitting on the bench for most part of the early season. As Milan struggled with some stability at the right back position, Abate was drafted in and has since been solid if not excellent. He is now a regular at that position, but he is not a natural defender and is badly exposed if any side plays half-decent wingers.
Overall Grade: B- , not spectacular and only just about effective. If you don't need a winger, you don't sign one.
3.Oguchi Onyewu: Onye who? That was the reaction from most people when Milan signed this US international for a free transfer. Having spent a major part of his career with Standard Leige and a short loan spell with Newcastle, I think Milan signed him on the basis of his very successful Confederations Cup campaign with USA. He is tall and strong but has struggled for form with the Milan outfit. In his defense, he has not been given enough opportunities either with Bonera being preferred as the backup DC.
Overall Grade: C , not a bad player but not Milan quality either.
4.Klaas-Jan Huntelaar: A personal favorite, the "Hunter" was one of Europe's top marksmen before leaving Ajax. An inconsistent and dry spell with Madrid lowered his market value and he was sold to Milan for 15M euros. I thought well, at least now he will get more playing time and can shine once again. But that was not to happen. Huntelaar's not played enough and has lost his confidence. His goals still speak volumes about his class but they aren't as often as they should be. A return of only 6 goals in 21 appearances is dismal to say the least.
Overall Grade: B- , right thinking as Milan needed a striker like him but he's been a flop.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Can the Spurs challenge the Big Four??
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Defensive Reinforcements
1. Alvaro Arbeloa to Real Madrid
The versatile Spanish defender, who is primarily a right back but can effectively play anywhere across the back, has recently completed a 4m euro transfer to his youth club Real Madrid. He is part of Perez's objective of including more Spanish players in the squad and can fit right into the left back spot. Though not a world class player and not good enough to challenge Sergio Ramos for the first choice right back slot, he is surely capable of staking a claim for the LB spot where his competition is with the rash and inconsistent Heinze and the (supposedly) talented Marcelo.
A squad player at best, I don't see much difference between him and another Madrid youth product Miguel Torres. But he comes cheap and gives the manager more options, so I would rate this transfer a modest 6/10. Nothing great about it but nothing bad either.
2. Kolo Toure to Manchester City
The pick of the three transfers is that of the last remaining of the Arsenal ""Invincibles"" to cash land aka Manchester City. Kolo's transfer had to happen as he had reportedly handed over a transfer request early this year after a bust-up with the temperamental Gallas. The fee of 16m pounds, which I may add is peanuts for City, will be a welcome addition into the Gunner's dried up coffers. The move gives the Sky Blues'lineup much needed balance but has weakened an already ailing Arsenal defense.
Mark Hughes said that there will be a top class addition to the club's backline and he has duly delivered. Toure has proved his worth at the highest levels in the Premier League and would prove an impressive transfer. I rate this 7.5/10 as 16m for a defender is still high. But well, this is City we are talking about.
3. Martin Caceres to Juventus
This is my favorite transfer as I made the exact same one while playing Football Manager 09 as manager of Juventus (and he went on to form a rock solid partnership with Chiellini). Well, my fantasies aside, Secco and co continue their marked improvement in the transfer market with this transfer which is a loan deal with an option to make the move permanent later on. This guy impressed a lot of people with his performances for Recreativo and that lead to his transfer to Barcelona. But there he has fallen down the pecking order with Guardiola preferring Pique whenever he changes the central defense partnership. A versatile player, he is young, has height and pace, and I feel will surely make his mark at Juventus.
As I said earlier, I have a soft spot for this transfer and will rate it at 8/10.
Friday, July 24, 2009
There's something fishy at Milan
But things looked to change for the better when Galliani announced, rather ambitiously, Milan’s policy to reduce the average age of their squad. The cash impetus from the sale of Kaka opened the doors for some serious rebuilding under a new manager.
First it was Aly Cissokho, then Edin Dzeko and now Luis Fabiano. These were players AC Milan needed in their squad and the fans must have been overjoyed with their club being linked with them. But it was not to happen, and that too in the most puzzling of circumstances.
It was first announced that Milan and completed all formalities of the Cissokho deal and the move was only pending a medical. This medical we are talking about was also taken by a 28 year old fat and out of shape Ronaldinho and a certain aging Favalli. And this was the very medical Cissokho failed to clear because of a problem with his teeth. Hmmm interesting. Right after that, it was announced that Milan wished to sign the player on either a lower transfer fee or on a loan with a view to sign later. This gives added credit to the news that it was actually money which caused the deal to fail.
The case of Dzeko is a well documented one. The player is in phenomenal form and AC Milan were spot on in targeting him as a partner for Pato in their squad. But Wolfsburg were not at all in any requirement of money and stubbornly refused to even consider any offers from Milan. Again, here is the fishy part, Dzeko has reiterated time and again, that he does not want to play for Wolfsburg the coming season and it’s Milan where “his heart lies”. History is evidence to innumerable instances when if a player wishes to leave, the transfer does happen against the actual wishes of his parent club albeit at a higher transfer fee. Thus, the implication that Milan might have been miserly here too.
It was announced yesterday that Milan have broken off all negotiations with Sevilla for Fabiano. They were not ready to budge from their valuation of 14m euros and Sevilla are not ready to accept that bid. 14m euros for a profilic goal scorer?? Are you joking!! And this is Sevilla, known to take the best out of a deal (I am referring to Del Nido ofcourse).
Whatever the true reasons may be, I sincerely hope that Milan overcome them and manage to assemble a reasonably fit and fighting team. Kaka’s and Gourcuff’s departure will sure count as negatives but they have world class talent in the form of Pato and a certain Tabare Viudez. Till then, I think the Rossoneri fans can only pray for some sensible dealings by their beloved club in the transfer market.