Who Will be Milan First Goalkeeper: Dida, Kalac, Abbiati, or Storari?
By Anna
Italia
What a major dilemma for Milan Coach Carlo Ancelotti!
After Dida was replaced for injury by second goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac and Kalac earning a place as the first goalkeeper, the competition is between 4 goalkeepers all claiming to be ready to be Milan's first goalkeeper.
Question is who deserves the starting place? Will it be based on hierarchy or performance?
If I were Ancelotti, I will pick the first goalkeeper based on latest performance from the four goalkeepers becasue Milan must start the Season winning, period.
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Dida might be in disadvantage because he did not play much as he was injured. However, the tough competition will be between Storari and Kalac. Storari being called up by Milan after he was on loan with Cagliari since January 2008 and practically saving Cagliari from relegation.
Best bet for Ancelotti is to start checking the condition of each goalkeeper during the Pre-Season training starting on July 16 to start making his decision.
By the way, if Storari is not picked as the first or second goalkeeper, I would ask Milan to allow him to go to another club where he can be the difference isntead of remaining wiht MIlan without playing and just warmimng up the bench. Actually, I was surprised Storari left Cagliari where he was the undisputable king. Now, Cagliari signed goalkeeper Federico Marchetti from the Serie B to replace him.
Out of the 4, the advantage right now is for Zeljko Kalac and I will definitely start with him not only as a loyal gesture for having helped Milan when Dida was out but also because he is more adjusted to the team and the players might feel better with him right now than with Dida, Abbiati, and Storari.
Who will you pick as Milan's first goalkeeper, second goalkeeper, and why?
ItaliaWhat a major dilemma for Milan Coach Carlo Ancelotti!
After Dida was replaced for injury by second goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac and Kalac earning a place as the first goalkeeper, the competition is between 4 goalkeepers all claiming to be ready to be Milan's first goalkeeper.
Question is who deserves the starting place? Will it be based on hierarchy or performance?
If I were Ancelotti, I will pick the first goalkeeper based on latest performance from the four goalkeepers becasue Milan must start the Season winning, period.
w Dida might be in disadvantage because he did not play much as he was injured. However, the tough competition will be between Storari and Kalac. Storari being called up by Milan after he was on loan with Cagliari since January 2008 and practically saving Cagliari from relegation.
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By the way, if Storari is not picked as the first or second goalkeeper, I would ask Milan to allow him to go to another club where he can be the difference isntead of remaining wiht MIlan without playing and just warmimng up the bench. Actually, I was surprised Storari left Cagliari where he was the undisputable king. Now, Cagliari signed goalkeeper Federico Marchetti from the Serie B to replace him.
Out of the 4, the advantage right now is for Zeljko Kalac and I will definitely start with him not only as a loyal gesture for having helped Milan when Dida was out but also because he is more adjusted to the team and the players might feel better with him right now than with Dida, Abbiati, and Storari. Who will you pick as Milan's first goalkeeper, second goalkeeper, and why?
Man, tough for Dida because he is used to be the #1 but it has been a while since he lost his sharpness.
Since we must think about the team and not for personal favoritism, here are my choices:
First goalkeeper Kalac
Second goalkeeper Storari
Third goalkeeper Dida
Fourth goalkeeper Abbiati
The thing is that Dida has a high salary and i don't think they want to keep him on the bench. What's your take guys?
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Agree with the order. Why keep Dida on the payroll?
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Dida has the contract and also for loyalty for his past contribution, but he cannot be the first goalkeeper right now. What's your take?
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Hi Pietro,
Loyalty... Look at what that gave Toldo at Inter. On the payroll almost never plays. I think it makes them feel worse.
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First of all, let me start by saying that it is sad that a great club like Milan is not able to buy a world class/ reliable goalkeeper. Every big team in Italy and Europe has a goalkeeper that can be a game winner. Roma has Doni,Inter has Julio Cesar,Juventus has Buffon, Fiorentina/ Frey, Real Madrid/ Casillas, Man U /Van dar saar, Liverpool Reina,et al. And what do we have? The 4 mentioned above!!!!
Dida was a good as the ones mentioned above, but not anymore.
Abiati, had an Ok season with A.Madrid, but is that not good enough for Milan.
Kalac for the second part of the season and after Dida's Injury was superb,but is not the kind of goalkeeper that can carry a team like Milan on his shoulders if need be. Storari had an excellent season with Calgiari, but is he good enough for Milan? Time will tell.
Of the 4, I would go with Kalac or Storari first, and then Abiati. Dida needs to recover, and concentrate on getting better. As far as I’m concerned we only have 3, average or above average goalkeepers for the next season combined with a shaky back line.
Galliani should have bought a goalkeeper, and at least two young defenders.So far all he did is call back players that were on loan. The only good signing is Flamini.
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I agree the goalkeeper situation is a bit of a mess. Dida is done, after last years performance I'm suprissed he is still with Milan, Kalac is a great Backup keeper but he is not a starter at least not for a club like Milan. You are 100% with your analysis of Storari, and as for Abiati I don't know what to think. I don't agree with you on the backline, I think Bonera is going to have a breakthrough year, Nesta is healthy, and the addition of Zambrotta will certainly help.
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Bonera is good; however his reckless fouls can see us playing with 10 men, risking a penalty, or dangerous free kick. Zambrotta is over 30 and so is Nesta,Favalli,Maldini,Janku,and KK. And I'm sure you realize Dario Simic doesn't count. That sounds pretty shaky to me. I hope I’m wrong though for Milan’s sake.
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Nina, the addition of another defender wouldn't hurt, but minus Maldini and Favalli, who both would probable be coming off the bench the age of the backline isn't that bad. Nesta and Oddo are 32, Janku 31, Kaladze 30 and Bonera is only 27. Not sure if Zambrotta is 34 or 31. As for Bonera, he has had 2 yrs. to settle in and I'm sure he has picked up a thing or two from Maldini. Almost forgot Digao, Kaka's little brother who is 22, not sure if he would see any playing time.
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I'm not counting Oddo cause he is horrible, specially his crossing. Ancelotti himself said that he needed to improve, and Digao is a disaster, I’m sure you watched him play. Milan Vs. Catania in Coppa Italia? You might be right about the age not looking that bad now, but in 2 years, it will all catch up with us. This season how many times did we have the lead and lost or took a draw because we weren't able to keep it? This is Milan that we are talking about. A team that in one point in time would have unbeaten run of 58 games! And Milan defenses that have what still is a record in serie A of more than 900 minutes without conceding a goal. We need that kind of defense or at least close to that.
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Bonera is good; however his reckless fouls can see us playing with 10 men, risking a penalty or dangerous free kicks. Zambrotta is over 30 and so is Nesta,Favalli,Maldini,Janku,and KK. And I'm sure you realize Dario Simic doesn't count. That sounds pretty shaky to me. I hope I’m wrong though for Milan’s sake.
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Nina, Minus Maldini and Favalli who probably will be coming of the bench. The average age of the backline isn't that bad. Nesta and Oddo are 32, Jankulovski is 31, Kaladze is 30 and Bonera is only 27. Not sure if Zambrotta is 34 or 31. Not the youngest defense but not bad, almost forgot Digao, Kaka's little brother 22, not sure if he would see any action this year. As for Bonera he has had 2yrs to settle in, and I'm sure in that time he has picked up a thing or two from Maldini. I agree with you that they will have to start looking at the age of their defenders but they should be fine for this season. Don't get me wrong it wouldn't hurt to add another defender, but if they are unable to get the right defender it won't break their season.
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I'm not counting Oddo cause he is horrible, specially his crosses. Ancelotti himself said that he needed to improve, and Digao is a disaster, I’m sure you watched him play. Milan Vs. Catania in Coppa Italia? You might be right about the age not looking that bad now, but in 2 years, it will all catch up with us. This season how many times did we have the lead and we lost or took a draw because we weren't able to keep it? This is Milan that we are talking about. A team that in one point in time would have unbeaten run of 58 games! And Milan defenses that have what still is a record in serie A of more than 900 minutes without conceding a goal. You are absolutely right, they need to look at the age of the defenders.Let’s hope it doesn’t break the season even though I have a bad feeling that our defense combined with our keepers will be the reason we finish at 3rd or 4th place next season instead of winning the scudetto which is the objective. I hope I’m wrong.
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Paul and Nina i think we agree on the goalkeeper situation and prefer
1. Kalac
2. Storari
Abbiati not convincing me and Dida, his best years are gone. Man, Storari had a a good season with Cagliari but i don't think he is ready for Milan. What's your take?
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Agree, the best years of Dida seems over. I have more faith in Kalac right now and then on Storari.
Yet, I agree with Nina that MILAN should have a TOP GOALKEEPER like Juve, Inter, Roma,,,, we had that when DIDA was fit but we lost him.
As much as I love Marco Storari and have been following since his playing time with Messina, I don't think he is --at least in this moment -- ready to be the first goalkeeper for the rossoneri.
I might change my mind if he shows consistency in the first 4 matches and prove to be versatile and flexible to make saves. How I long to see Storari shining in the big scenario. Here is his chance with Milan to prove it. It is up to him, so he should be training as of now and praying to "Saint goalkeeper Gigi Buffon" for guidance.
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I hate it that Dida lost his place, but he was the one that is responsible for losing it! I would choose Kalac if I was Ancelotti!
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GUYS WHICH TOP GK IN THE WORLD WOULD WANT TO COME TO MILAN WHILE THEY ARE NOT IN CL????
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We might not be in Champs this season but the prestige of being Milan goalkeeper with such honor would be enough.
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Your right Pietro, but we are fans not the players themselves, its different!
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