Milan's next coach

Rijkaard would've made more sense, plus they keep the family atmosphere with him.

Even though Leonardo's proposed 4-3-3 does look exciting, it's still a huge risk to put someone like him in charge. At least Seedorf won't be an automatic starter now.

Pirlo wrote:Ancelotti is a great manager, a great person, good psychologist, works his players well, great man-management skills, and the best tactician in football at the moment in my opinion. His autobiography and work at Milan only reinforces these traits.

We were usually out of the running for Serie A at those times, so gave up on it and focused our attentions on the Champions League.

From his autobiography;

My first full season at Milan, 2002-03, was all about the Christmas Tree. And it happened by chance. The transfer market had delivered two fancy presents: Clarence Seedorf and Rivaldo. And it was my job to find a way to shoehorn them into a line-up that already featured Andrea Pirlo and Rui Costa. Those four guys had to play, the club's philosophy demanded it - entertainment and good football had to come before anything else.

Once again, from his autobiography;

I don't know if it was my rant that did it, but that game represented a turning point. We clawed our way back into a Champions League spot. I did pay a price, however, because you can't treat every player the same way.

Demetrio Albertini, who had been my team-mate and friend until a few years before, came up to me at the end of the season and said: “I never expected this from you. We played together, I thought our relationship was different. This is the end of everything.” And, with that, he left us that very summer.

One Scudetto in his time. 2003 final was against a weakened Juve side without the player of the year Nedved and it took us to penalties to win it. Athens, Liverpool were the better side.

I'm just looking at it from the other side. Yes we enjoyed some great successes but I welcome this change, Carlo had a long time coaching Milan and I think a change was needed, whether Leonardo is the man we shall see but he deserves our backing.

The thing is, Carlo is a proven top-class tactician. I'm pretty sure that he will win a CL again soon if he goes to Chelsea or Real. He basically won 2 CLs with little to no freedom when it comes to the market and the management not investing as much as they should.

Now, as I said in the past, I too wanted a change. Mainly because after so many years some new ideas are welcome, also because a new manager would mean players would have to fight for their spots(there were signs of complacency during the last 2-3 years). I remember an interview with Billy a while ago and he was saying that change would serve Milan well.

However, the club appoints Leonardo as a manager. Leo is a hell of a scout. But he hasn't coached a team in his entire life, he doesn't even have a license. Bring in an established coach, someone like Prandelli or even Rijkaard for example, and I'm all for it. Moreover, if Ancelotti was criticised for being too friendly with the players and a yes-man who took B&G's crap without complaining(and to an extent this is true) then Leo isn't much different. Why do you think he was appointed? It certainly isn't because of his coaching achievements. He too won't raise his voice against the management and he is also close friend to some players(Kaka' for example).

I know that change does bring some positives and I hope Leo does well, but what Milan needed was a manager whose 'status' would demand investment and who would instill some discipline and eliminate complacency from our ranks, because these are our true problems. Berlusconi, as we've seen, wants to run Milan using very little money and in Leo he has employed another yes-man that won't oppose him and will do as he's told.

The real problem of this club is him (and his sidekick Galliani) and until he sells we will have to put up with crap like this.

I hope the dark ages wouldn't continue

Pirlo wrote:Ancelotti is a great manager, a great person, good psychologist, works his players well, great man-management skills, and the best tactician in football at the moment in my opinion. His autobiography and work at Milan only reinforces these traits.

Ancelotti missed all of his objectives in the last 2 years. If he needed new players why didn't he say more? I'll tell you why: because he couldn't let his friends (Seedorf, Maldini, Favalli, etc.) out of the team. At Milan Ancelotti created a famiglia, if you know what I mean. Maybe he is a good coach but he couldn't do anything more for Milan. He had to leave. I don't know if Leonardo is a good coach or not but let's give him a chance. He has an eye for players, knows most of the players in this Milan team and he could do a Pep (Is Tassoti still there?).

Cirque du Barcelona wrote:

Pirlo wrote:Ancelotti is a great manager, a great person, good psychologist, works his players well, great man-management skills, and the best tactician in football at the moment in my opinion. His autobiography and work at Milan only reinforces these traits.

(Is Tassoti still there?).

I believe so. I think Ancelotti is taking Galli with him.

Thank you Ancelotti for a Scudetto and 2 CLs. All the best.

Cirque du Barcelona wrote:

Pirlo wrote:Ancelotti is a great manager, a great person, good psychologist, works his players well, great man-management skills, and the best tactician in football at the moment in my opinion. His autobiography and work at Milan only reinforces these traits.

Ancelotti missed all of his objectives in the last 2 years. If he needed new players why didn't he say more? I'll tell you why: because he couldn't let his friends (Seedorf, Maldini, Favalli, etc.) out of the team. At Milan Ancelotti created a famiglia, if you know what I mean. Maybe he is a good coach but he couldn't do anything more for Milan. He had to leave. I don't know if Leonardo is a good coach or not but let's give him a chance. He has an eye for players, knows most of the players in this Milan team and he could do a Pep (Is Tassoti still there?).

Pretty much my viewpoint.

--The Duck-- wrote:

Cirque du Barcelona wrote:

Pirlo wrote:Ancelotti is a great manager, a great person, good psychologist, works his players well, great man-management skills, and the best tactician in football at the moment in my opinion. His autobiography and work at Milan only reinforces these traits.

Ancelotti missed all of his objectives in the last 2 years. If he needed new players why didn't he say more? I'll tell you why: because he couldn't let his friends (Seedorf, Maldini, Favalli, etc.) out of the team. At Milan Ancelotti created a famiglia, if you know what I mean. Maybe he is a good coach but he couldn't do anything more for Milan. He had to leave. I don't know if Leonardo is a good coach or not but let's give him a chance. He has an eye for players, knows most of the players in this Milan team and he could do a Pep (Is Tassoti still there?).

Pretty much my viewpoint.

Thats what I have been saying for a while... Milan NEEDED a change, like Achilles needed a metalic shoe!! It was time to stir things up, so that no player can take the coach for granted...

That said, I can understand a part of Pirlo's anguish - Leonardo is untested, and too close to the "family". Milan needed someone is NOT friends with the players, and who has the spine to stand up to Galliani. Pirlo's fear is that Leonardo does not really represent "change", while at the same time has untested managerial skills.

All I say is give the guy a chance. Let's see if Milan gets players this summer (I think Milan will make some interesting signings) before talking.