Football Season Guide

According to an old saying, a winning team should never be changed and this is the attitude Milan, the Italian defending champions, took during the transfer campaign. In fact, they opted to let a few seasoned players go and called in a bunch of hopeful youngsters. The problem is that, sometimes, one tends to throw out the baby with the bathwater. So, Pirlo was allowed to sign in for Juventus a bit too hastily. In fact, Milan's midfield looks a bit old and tired: Ambrosini, Gattuso, Seedorf and Van Bommel are all well in their 30s. Flamini and astonishing Boateng are of course younger but one cannot expect Milan to fight for the Scudetto, the Champions League and the Italian Cup with such limited options in the middle of the park. The last days of the transfer campaign will thus be fundamental: there is still time for skilled players like Montolivo or Aquilani to join in Allegri's group. On the other hand, the defence was certainly renewed by the arrivals of Mexes, Taiwo and Diniz. Mexes will be an excellent alternative for Nesta as Thiago Silva's partner at the centre while Taiwo will give Zambrotta the opportunity to rest, taking his place as a left-back. The attack, which proved to be decisive for the final win of the Scudetto, has not been touched. Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Pato, Cassano and the new-comer El Shaarawy, not forgetting Inzaghi, give coach Allegri the chance of sleeping safely. They will provide goals and dangers to all the opponents.