Pre-Season Squad Analysis

This is going to be an extensive and comprehensive series of posts about how our squad is shaping up ahead of the new season. First I'll start with the basics and then I'll move to some more analytical discussion.

POST #1

Our Current Squad

GOALKEEPERS
Amelia - GK - #1 - 29yo - 187cm - 78kg - Italy
Roma - GK - #30 - 37yo - 191cm - 83kg - Italy
Abbiati - GK - #32 - 34yo - 191cm - 92kg - Italy

DEFENDERS
Taiwo - WB - #3 - 26yo - 188cm - 84kg - Nigeria
Mexes - CB - #5 - 29yo -187cm - 82kg - France
Nesta - CB - #13 - 35yo - 187cm - 79kg - Italy
Oddo - WB - #17 - 35yo - 185cm - 75kg - Italy
Zambrotta - WB - #19 - 34yo - 181cm - 76kg - Italy
Abate - WB - #20 - 24yo - 180cm - 74kg - Italy
Bonera - CB - #25 - 30yo - 183cm - 74kg - Italy
Silva - CB - #33 - 26yo - 183cm - 79kg - Brazil
Yepes - CB - #76 - 35yo - 188cm - 86kg - Colombia
Antonini - WB - #77 - 29yo- 182cm - 70kg - Italy

MIDFIELDERS
van Bommel - CM - #4 - 34yo - 187cm - 85kg - Netherlands
Gattuso - CDM - #8 - 33yo - 177cm - 77kg - Italy
Seedorf - AMF - #10 - 35yo - 176cm - 76kg - Netherlands
Flamini - MID - #16 - 27yo - 178cm - 67kg - France
Ambrosini - CDM - #23 - 34yo - 182cm - 72kg - Italy
Boateng - MID - #27 - 24yo - 182cm - 79kg - Ghana
Emanuelson - MID - #28 - 25yo - 176cm - 68kg - Netherlands
El Shaarawy - AMF - #92 - 18yo - 180cm - 73kg - Italy

FORWARDS
Pato - FWD - #7 - 21yo - 180cm - 71kg - Brazil
Inzaghi - ST - #9 - 38yo - 181cm - 74kg - Italy
Ibrahimovic - CF - #11 - 29yo - 195cm - 95kg - Sweden
Zigoni - CF - #17 - 20yo - 190cm - 80kg - Italy
Cassano - CAM/ST - #18 - 29yo - 175cm - 81kg - Italy
Paloschi - ST - #43 - 21yo - 175cm - 68kg - Italy
Robinho - CAM/ST - #70 - 27yo - 172cm - 60kg - Brazil

NOTE: Some younger players who are technically part of the first-team squad, but are virtually unknown to most non-Milan fans have been excluded from this list:
Piscitelli - GK
Ferreira - DEF
De Sciglio - DEF
Valoti - MID

Basic Statistics

Total number of players in squad: 28
Goalkeepers: 3
Defenders: 10
Midfielders: 8
Forwards: 7

Average age: 29.21yo
Youngest player: El Shaarawy - AMF - #92 - 18yo - 180cm - 73kg - Italy
Oldest player: Inzaghi - ST - #9 - 38yo - 181cm - 74kg - Italy

Average height: 182.82cm
Tallest player: Ibrahimovic - CF - #11 - 29yo - 195cm - 95kg - Sweden
Shortest player: Robinho - CAM/ST - #70 - 27yo - 172cm - 60kg - Brazil

Average weight: 77.07kg
Heaviest player: Ibrahimovic - CF - #11 - 29yo - 195cm - 95kg - Sweden
Lightest player: Robinho - CAM/ST - #70 - 27yo - 172cm - 60kg - Brazil

Number of Italian players: 16
Number of foreign players: 12
Most numerous foreign country: Brazil (3), Netherlands (3)

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More posts to come... :study:

awesome work.

great work mate...

POST #2

Player Status

FRINGE PLAYERS UNDER 25

The following players are young players with potential to do great things in years to come. Naturally, I'll write a bit of background information for these guys.


El Shaarawy - AMF - #? - 18yo - 180cm - 73kg - Italy

He started at Genoa at the age of 13, making his first team debut in Serie A against Chievo in 08', albeit for only 10 minutes. He was loaned to Padova last season, becoming a key playmaker for them as well as a source of goals; he scored 7 goals in 25 apps for them. He has also featured in Italy's U-17 and U-19 sides.

Will he be moving up the ranks at Milan soon? Unfortunately, probably not. Our club's grand aspirations for next season in Europe may mean that the Pharaoh gets more playing time in lesser Serie A matches and cup games as players are rested, however, as is often the case, opportunities will be limited for someone so young unless he really impresses Allegri.


Zigoni - CF - #17 - 20yo - 190cm - 80kg - Italy

This towering forward was more than prolific in his youth career, scoring literally hundreds of goals. His first team experience has been severely limited though, both at Milan and at Genoa, who got Zigoni in the co-ownership deal that saw Sokratis Papastathopoulos join us. A poor deal for all concerned, I think it's fair to say.

Zigoni continued his dominance at Primavera level for Genoa, but they loaned him out to Serie B club, Frosinone, that gave him only 6 matches to prove his worth. He scored only once during the season, and the club was subsequently relegated. He has scored 6 goals from 10 games at national level.

What next for Zigoni? Well, on one hand he's young and relatively inexperienced to be playing any important matches, but conversely something about Galliani forking out $3.5mil to buy the other half of his contract from Genoa says that we'll be seeing Zigoni getting some opportunities, especially in cup games.


Paloschi - ST - #43 - 21yo - 175cm - 68kg - Italy

Paloschi is, in my opinion, the most interesting player of the three. Practically every Milanista remembers his goal scored against Siena on debut, just 18 seconds after being subbed on for Serginho, back in '07. He scored one other goal that season.

He moved to Parma on a co-ownership for 3 years after Ronaldinho arrived at Milan, limiting his game-time. In those 3 years he appeared 57 times and scored a respectable 16 goals. Last year he also scored 2 goals for Genoa from 12 appearances, after Parma's share in the player was transferred to them.

Will Paloschi's return be as spectacular as his debut? The only thing of note that Paloschi has done is score a nice volley against Solbiatese (that Serie D team we played before the Audi Cup). Apart from that he's been quite unremarkable. Nevertheless, it's almost inevitable that Paloschi will be the weapon of choice along with Super Pippo (nearly 20 years his senior) should any of our main men up forward need a break, or get injured.

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Stay tuned for post 3, which will arrive... sometime in the future...

I will put my left testicle on the line and say that Zigoni will not play all season.
Paloschi will play.
El Shaarawi? We septn 10mil on him and since Allegri is a believer in his teams youth (Merkel, Strasser and has shown confidence in Valoti), The Pharaoh will see some good playing time. And I don't think he'll play against all the lesser teams, I could see him getting a chance against Udinese, Fiorentina or even Napoli.

Great squad analysis also!

BiasedMilanFan3 wrote:I will put my left testicle on the line and say that Zigoni will not play all season.
Paloschi will play.
El Shaarawi? We septn 10mil on him and since Allegri is a believer in his teams youth (Merkel, Strasser and has shown confidence in Valoti), The Pharaoh will see some good playing time. And I don't think he'll play against all the lesser teams, I could see him getting a chance against Udinese, Fiorentina or even Napoli.

Great squad analysis also!

Thanks,

I could personally see Zigoni getting some apps in, but betting that he won't isn't outrageous at all, he's certainly the least likely to get time of the 3. If I were Allegri and I needed a big man to play without using Ibra, I'd be tempted though.

I think you guys have shown a tendency to underate El Shaarawy. You have taken a player that is probbably the hottest Italian prospect, certainly in his age range. A player that with Pasquato last season was of the of the best players in Serie B last season fullstop; for a player so young in his first 'proper' season that's impressive.

People snigger at the fact he did well in Serie B, as if that means little. But it's valuable experience, the likes of Del Piero and Baggio trudged the same path, the difference being if anything that Stephan did it far more impressively...

You long for 'Mr.X' some foreign star probably, but if he steps up to the plate and stays injury free Mr.X is already in Milan!

If you don't believe, then send him to Turin please, I'd have given a limb to see him at Juve

This "he doesnt play for a higher league" thing is so annoying.in the end its a field,11x11,ball,ref etc ffs....

I hope he can play as a cam,as i said numerous times,i cant stand boateng as a AM.

Excellent post/thread. I'm almost certain Shaarawy is number 92. I know that is his regular number (birth year) but I think I read that it was confirmed to be his number for Milan.

Ganso wrote:This "he doesnt play for a higher league" thing is so annoying.in the end its a field,11x11,ball,ref etc ffs....

I hope he can play as a cam,as i said numerous times,i cant stand boateng as a AM.

Who El Shaarawy? He can play CAM, it's probably his best position. SS and a sort of inside forward are also possibilities. He's a classic Trequartista.

If he gets game time and shows his true ability, well, I'm not sure another CAM will arrive for the forseeable future. He can be huge...

arabprince wrote:Excellent post/thread. I'm almost certain Shaarawy is number 92. I know that is his regular number (birth year) but I think I read that it was confirmed to be his number for Milan.

Yeah, he said he'll keep the #92 jersey

El Shaarawy is best on the wing. His best position is definitely not CAM. Zigoni won't play all year, he'll be sold at the end. Paloschi is someone we could offload but you never know he may play.

By the way great work.

IzzyC08 wrote:El Shaarawy is best on the wing. His best position is definitely not CAM. Zigoni won't play all year, he'll be sold at the end. Paloschi is someone we could offload but you never know he may play.

On the wing?

As a actual winger? I don't agree, maybe as the player on the left or right of a attacking trident, in the same way you could line Pato up out there, or like Baggio or Del Piero were certainly placed in their career. But that's hardly the role they'd play.

If required I have no doubt he could probably adapt to that role well enough given time, but of what tactical use would that be to Allegri?

He's a Trequartista by trade, it's not necissarily the sole role he played in his time at Padova, but it's his natural one nonetheless and from what I've seen of him he has everything to make that role his own at Milan. Only time will tell.

We must agree to disagree

Isn't Ibracadabra 195cm? And like in the 90 kilogram range?

You can check on the AC Milan website. Not 192cm, 84kg. Rather: 195cm, 95kg.

BiasedMilanFan3 wrote:I will put my left testicle on the line and say that Zigoni will not play all season.
Paloschi will play.
El Shaarawi? We septn 10mil on him and since Allegri is a believer in his teams youth (Merkel, Strasser and has shown confidence in Valoti), The Pharaoh will see some good playing time. And I don't think he'll play against all the lesser teams, I could see him getting a chance against Udinese, Fiorentina or even Napoli.

Great squad analysis also!

Yep. I have to agree here. If zigoni plays I'll eat my shoes. You guys can hold me to that. Great work mate btw!

:{Mr.Mustachio! wrote:

IzzyC08 wrote:El Shaarawy is best on the wing. His best position is definitely not CAM. Zigoni won't play all year, he'll be sold at the end. Paloschi is someone we could offload but you never know he may play.

On the wing?

As a actual winger? I don't agree, maybe as the player on the left or right of a attacking trident, in the same way you could line Pato up out there, or like Baggio or Del Piero were certainly placed in their career. But that's hardly the role they'd play.

If required I have no doubt he could probably adapt to that role well enough given time, but of what tactical use would that be to Allegri?

He's a Trequartista by trade, it's not necissarily the sole role he played in his time at Padova, but it's his natural one nonetheless and from what I've seen of him he has everything to make that role his own at Milan. Only time will tell.

We must agree to disagree

I won't argue with you because I also believe he can play the CAM role to some degree

But he clearly showed last season that he is fantastic on the wing.
He's sort of like a Kaka-Cristiano hybrid considering his role on the pitch and his playing style.

:{Mr.Mustachio! wrote:I think you guys have shown a tendency to underate El Shaarawy. You have taken a player that is probbably the hottest Italian prospect, certainly in his age range. A player that with Pasquato last season was of the of the best players in Serie B last season fullstop; for a player so young in his first 'proper' season that's impressive.

People snigger at the fact he did well in Serie B, as if that means little. But it's valuable experience, the likes of Del Piero and Baggio trudged the same path, the difference being if anything that Stephan did it far more impressively...

You long for 'Mr.X' some foreign star probably, but if he steps up to the plate and stays injury free Mr.X is already in Milan!

If you don't believe, then send him to Turin please, I'd have given a limb to see him at Juve

It's refreshing to see someone who rates El Shaarawy. Seriously this kid is the hottest Italian talent right now after Balotelli. Being the best player in Serie B at the age of 18 is no joke, seriously I think he has the potential to be a starter at Milan this season. Shame he was injured at pre season.

El Shaarawy will surprise everyone, just watch. People have said this before as well as me; He was the best player in serie B at 17 years old, not 18. That's something that's no joke, he is the real deal.

Update 1: Ibra's stats, officially are 195cm, 95kg.
Update 2: Old news now- Paloschi has gone on a season-long loan to Chievo.
Update 3: El Shaarawy's number is indeed #92.

You will notice these changes have been made in the squad list, although I've left Paloschi there.

Thanks for the responses.

The next post will look at the future of key players under 25.

POST #3

Player Status

KEY PLAYERS UNDER 25

The following players are young players who are already pivotal parts of the team.

Abate - WB - #20 - 24yo - 180cm - 74kg - Italy

What is there to say about Abate that hasn't already been said? Whilst we've all engaged in seemingly never-ending praise of him, it's not often that we critically analyse his performances anymore. The reason for this, is that after having an indifferent season under Leonardo (who still must be credited for moving him from RM to RB), under Allegri Abate has grown remarkably. His crosses used to be the subject of jokes, his running was described as misguided and he appeared unable to defend without the help of Gattuso.

After some serious improvements he was finally rid of his Gattuso-dependency and he effectively cured our RB weakness which had, along with our LB weakness, destroyed our chances of winning anything in the seasons prior. His pace combined with his new-found tackling skill has meant that the "speedy and agile" type of attacker is no longer able to exploit our defence so easily. Abate can still clearly improve by become a better defender and gaining a greater positional awareness. He should build on his solid performances by getting forward more often and making more assists (without getting caught out by a counter!). I see him being an important player for years to come.

Boateng - MID - #27 - 24yo - 182cm - 79kg - Ghana

He may just win the category of best loan/co-ownership deal in Europe for last season. Boateng was brought in from Portsmouth via Genoa to add some dynamism to the team, and that he did, but that's not really the whole story. Once establishing himself as a starter, Boateng has been the most versatile of our midfielders, playing as a CAM, CM and RM.

Boateng has proven to be strong in a contest, with good stamina and now an important assist maker as well, particularly via long passes. Furthermore, he's scored some vital goals against Brescia, Bologna and Napoli. Milan purchased his full rights on May 24, 2011, from Genoa. He looks set to build on his brilliant debut season with Milan this season with 8 goals in 8 games already.

Pato - FWD - #7 - 21yo - 180cm - 71kg - Brazil

"The duck" is the youngest of the three players, and arguably the most naturally talented one. He's scored 57 goals in 126 games since 2007 (about a goal every 2 games). His precision has often been lauded in comparison to Robinho, however there is certainly room for improvement next season for the youngster, particularly concerning the chemistry between Ibrahimovic and Pato which will be crucial for next season. In reality though, Pato's biggest vice is ending up on the treatment table (for over 10 weeks last season!). So if MilanLab can get his hamstring right, we should see more of (Ms.) Berlusconi's favourite star in the making.

i see that u are dedicated to this work which is excellent, these stats can come in handy for me, no need to visit wikipedia anymore

sick of hearing constant news about Cassano being too fat. If Allegri and Galliani don't want him just put him on the market.

CASSANO AT 80+ KGS >>> THAN ANY PLAYERS LINKED SO FAR

just my rant of the day

BigBoban wrote:sick of hearing constant news about Cassano being too fat. If Allegri and Galliani don't want him just put him on the market.

CASSANO AT 80+ KGS >>> THAN ANY PLAYERS LINKED SO FAR

just my rant of the day

Proof is that Prandelli confired that Fantantonio actually lost 3.5 KGS in pre-season training.

Cassano will stay.