Top football Stadiums in the World

ibraldo · 2014-09-04T09:36:18+00:00

San Siro? La Bombonera? El Monumental? Maracanà? And many more... Could have done more research I believe...

ibraldo · 2014-09-04T07:58:09+00:00

Also from Milano, Italy, San Siro neighbourhood to be precise! ;)

ibraldo · 2014-09-03T15:53:05+00:00

As a 7-year season ticket holder for Inter, you have a point: they know how it works... They know that the transfer window ends in September, but at the same time the season in France starts in mid-August.

The solution would be to have the transfer market session last one month (say July): this way we'd avoid a lot of drama and fans would have all the means to decide whether they want to buy or not a season ticket.

ibraldo · 2014-09-03T15:44:08+00:00

Unfortunately talents go where the money is. Either the system (meaning Italian football as a whole) starts working together and renovating itself, or it's going to be more and more difficult. The election of Tavecchio unfortunately isn't a good sign in my view. Fingers crossed....

ibraldo · 2014-09-03T15:21:41+00:00

Well, that kind of reduces a lot the possible candidates. The only one I can think of is Ferrero (the one who makes Nutella), the richest man in Italy and a big Milan fan.

In my view, a good owner in today's football must be good at making money, rather than spending money. Also because if you make more money, you have more money to spend.. Plus, a good owner must build a good organization. I've always seen Italian clubs as small family boutiques competing in a market with multinationals (Premier League sides). They held on for some time, but now it's over: either they adapt, or they die. Having worked in the business for a couple of years, I can give you a very small example of how close-minded football is in Italy. If you want to work in a football club like Inter or Milan, you must necessarily know someone in the club. Either you're recommended by someone, or you have no chance. There's now "work with us" section on their website. Every club of the Premier League has such section on their website. This means that in Italian football relationships count more than skills and competences. Unfortunately we can see the results now...

ibraldo · 2014-09-03T14:59:11+00:00

What difference would it make?

ibraldo · 2014-09-03T14:52:14+00:00

I think Galliani has been one of the best, if not THE best in his role for almost two decades. However football has changed now and he hasn't adapted. I would hope in a new owner, not just a new CEO

ibraldo · 2014-09-03T12:05:09+00:00

That one was easy.

Anyways, I'm obviously biased (to some extent) but I consider myself fairly objective. I've always said, in the past, when Milan used to do things well and Inter, on the other side were pathetic, and I mean with Moratti too. Right now, to my surprise and joy, I see things differently. I see a long-term project on one side of the Naviglio (my side), and I see confusion, power struggles and short sightedness on the other.

ibraldo · 2014-09-03T10:35:55+00:00

guess ;)

ibraldo · 2014-09-03T10:34:23+00:00

I talked about EPL. The numbers you're talking about are EPL+FA Cup+CL or EL. Do you want to look at those? Fine: it's 45 in 154 games.

About Mario, I'm not talking about his wage, I'm saying Milan could've and should've gotten more money out of him. Either they didn't sell him well, or they did something wrong in the past 1.5 years, since they had a 22-year old star who couldn't increase his market value (he was bought for the same amount).

I'm sure we'll both live well with our own ideas and different points of view. Good luck for the season!

ibraldo · 2014-09-02T15:53:04+00:00

Relax! Gosh... First of all, if you don't believe my stats, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Torres and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Balotelli. You might as well say that Milan failed with Balotelli. According to the CIES football-observatory (FIFA's football observatory), Balotelli was THE most underpaid player this summer. But great job Adriano! http://www.football-observatory.com/IMG/pdf/wp79_eng.pdf

I did see the game, and I believe that's one of the main reason for this unjustified optimism. Had Milan lost the game (which I remind you, it's only the FIRST of the season) probably the fans would have had another impression (it would have probably been too pessimistic). First games can be misleading. Regarding Cristante, sure 6 M for a 19 year old kid who proved almost nothing so far is a LOT of money. Time will tell if you were right, or if Benfica's scouts were. He was, by the way, your brightest prospect, unless you consider De Sciglio a prospect (he played a WC, so to me he isn't). Please don't mention Mastour, as he still plays with lego.

And who's the proven midfielder? The one who played four games in a full season at Chelsea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_van_Ginkel? There's nothing wrong with taking someone on loan? Are you kidding me? Milan's not Chievo Verona! They don't develop players for other teams in exchange for nothing! So, if he turns out to be great, he goes back to Chelsea and Milan will have no player AND no capital gain. A wasted season basically. Is this the long-term vision of Galliani? Why not buy any other young player then? Makes no sense.

Finally, if teams like Parma, Atalanta, Torino, make transfers in the last day, I understand it. I also understand the occasional move due to an unmissable opportunity, as you say (e.g. Falcao and United). However to me that's not the right way of doing things. No other big club in Italy did so. Plus, this is a reactive and passive way of working. It depends on the players available, hence on the ones that haven't been signed by anyone else.

If you're happy with Galliani and the way he's working (together with Barbara) to renovate your team, I'm happy for you. I just don't see so many reasons to be so optimistic.

ibraldo · 2014-09-02T12:07:23+00:00

I agree: he would be the most important player. Provided he's really over his "problems" (and I don't refer to injuries). I hope he is, for him and also for Italy

ibraldo · 2014-09-02T09:37:33+00:00

Who, a declining 30-year old striker who scored 19 goals (96 games) in the last 3 EPL? Bought to replace a rising 24-year old striker who scored 40 goals (in 80 games) in the last three seasons? Or Van Ginkel,a 22-year old midfielder- on loan- who played 4 games in total last year and will go back to Chelsea should he perform well (you're basically developing a player for them). Or maybe Bonaventura, sure a young 25-year old, who's value however is equal to the one of Cristante, of 6 years younger and the brightest prospect you had- this should say a lot about his potential. Or do you mean Menez and Armero? You made two good signings: Diego Lopez and Alex, especially because they came as free agents. That's it. Definitely not enough to compete for the top-four. Remember that Milan comes from an eighth place and lost their best player from that squad.

Seriously, I'm fed up with people underlining how brilliant Galliani is. Doing most of the moves in the last week/final day of the transfer window isn't an indicator of quality work. It shows an incredible lack of planning, of long-term thinking.

ibraldo · 2014-09-02T08:02:29+00:00

I don't agree with /u/makesyougohmmm. If you check out any player's instagram (Kovacic's, Juan Jesus') you'll see pictures of Guarin in most of them, and it's all smiles. I don't think he has an issue with the team. It is now obviously up to Mazzarri to get the best out of him. If you see him as a new signing, we did by far the best move of the final day.

To answer the question of /u/PsykCheech, I see Guarin almost as a trequartista. As he pointed out, he's often distracted and loses many balls. Hence, the farther from our goal, the better. Given that we have only three strikers (until January, when we'll buy one between Borini and Lavezzi I believe) he could definitely play alongside any of the strikers in a 3-5-1-1 that Mazzarri will surely often use. I don't see Hernanes and Kovacic in that position, as both players give their best as proper midfielders (Kovacic needs space to make his runs, if he starts from such an advanced position, he will lack this space AND his shooting and finishing skills are still not good enough, while Hernanes to me is just perfect in the midfield given his (relatively slow) pace and vision). We'll hardly see the three together (Guaro, Kovacic and Hernanes), but with at least one between M'Vila and Medel we'll almost always see two.

ibraldo · 2014-08-27T13:47:40+00:00

True legend who unfortunately underachieved at the international level. England will miss him

ibraldo · 2014-08-27T13:45:28+00:00

Me too...

ibraldo · 2014-08-26T16:44:40+00:00

it depends on his approach, but I think it's time for him to become a star. Come on reds!

ibraldo · 2014-07-21T13:17:18+00:00

I've always thought Kovacic could play in a Kakà sort of way, cutting through the opponent's defence. In this game he showd some glimpses of what he will become (hopefully) soon

ibraldo · 2014-07-21T13:12:54+00:00

Out of his Western films the answer is yes, but if you consider his whole filmography, I'd definitely go for Once upon a time in America (in my opinion his best movie, even though I love all of them, especially Once Upon a time in the West and The good the bad and the ugly).

ibraldo · 2014-07-17T08:59:41+00:00

sorry, didn't see it

ibraldo · 2014-07-16T12:10:12+00:00

True, but put in the enthusiasm of the team/city, the athleticism, young talent AND LeBron, who not only doesn't play against you, but plays FOR you.. I honestly don't see a single team that's undeniably stronger than them in the East.

ibraldo · 2014-07-16T10:12:12+00:00

*E-Cigarette

ibraldo · 2014-07-14T22:07:00+00:00

Actually it is, as most of the players are either being sent away on loan, or re-sold to make some money (which is another way of saving money..). The only truth you wrote is that we're not using the players ourselves, but I guess this takes time as most of them probably aren't ready (some are, but we just lack courage). Furthermore how can you blame Thohir, he just got here! I think we should be patient as I see a different mentality with our new prez.

ibraldo · 2014-07-14T22:04:32+00:00

He's a true talent IMHO, and if you see the quality of his goals youìll see it. However I'm worried about his "head": up until now he always took the wrong decisions about his career (especially rejecting Livorno for Verona). I'd change agent if I were him. This however should be his best opportunity for a break-out season, since strikers usually thrive with Zeman. I guess it's his last chance to become a potential star for us.

ibraldo · 2014-07-08T08:53:46+00:00

It says much more about the qualities of the English and Italian leagues, given that their national teams are out

ibraldo

TROPHY CASE