A new cycle begins

Great changes have taken place at our beloved AC Milan in the last six months. Such changes are set to continue as the club seeks to replace the old guard with the new. Such changes are for the better, though, with the changing of the old guard who really have given us fans so much to cheer about it will not be without a tinge of nostalgia. But it is time for the club to move on. It is time for a truly new cycle to be set in motion. The plans of the club now, therefore, is to bring in some much needed youth whilst gradually letting the older players leave. Such plans I applaud even though the board took their good time in coming to this decision, a decision that honestly should have been made following our Champions League triumph in 2007. But, all such sentiments aside, at least the plans are now set in motion and now a new cycle is upon us. So who will remain part of this new era and who will be let go?

Well, the contracts of Dida and Favalli will end come the close of the current season. A time that really has not come soon enough. Inzaghi’s contract is also set to expire in May but it is expected that the club will keep him on for another season.

There are number of Milan stalwarts whose contracts are to run out by 2011. The list includes Nesta, Kaladze, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Seedorf, Zambrotta, Oddo as well as Ronaldinho and not all these contracts are expected to be renewed. Letting all these players go at once, however, would be suicide. The changing of the old guard for the new needs to be a gradual process. We have already seen the effects of great change over a short period on the team’s performances. It took Milan more than two months, more still if you include the preseason, to settle in to life following the loss of Kaka, Maldini and Ancelotti.

Not all the players from this list should be allowed to leave either. Well, one for sure must remain and that is Alessandro Nesta. He has shown in recent months that he is still one of the best defenders in the world. He is arguably one of the best defenders Italy has produced in the last twenty years or so, up there with the likes of Maldini and Baresi. His experience at the back and for the team in general will be invaluable as he is a natural leader. His partnership with Silva is also developing more with every game and he therefore remains a crucial player for the club and therefore must remain.

Considering who else should stay and it is hard to argue for the stay of any of the remaining players. Most definitely, Zambrotta, Oddo, Kaladze and Gattuso must be allowed to leave. Gattuso is a shadow of his former self as is Zambrotta. As for Oddo and Kaladze, both these players have at times been more liabilities than anything to the squad, though Kaladze in his early days for Milan was more useful.

Ronaldinho also does not need to remain at the club beyond 2011. For sure his form has improved markedly but by the time 2011 comes around Ronaldinho will be 31 years old and by that time, with little doubt, Ronaldinho will surely be passed it.

As for Seedorf and Ambrosini, these two players should stay if not merely to make the transition from the old guard to the new more smooth. But I do believe Ambrosini and Seedorf to be natural leaders. Their presence in the squad will enable them to pass their experience and knowledge on to the next generation of Milan players. They will help foster in the new and young players that arrive at the club just what it means to play for AC Milan and to be part of the AC Milan family and this will be invaluable to the club.

The process of bringing in new and young players starts pfficially this January with the arrival of Dominic Adiyiah. The Ghanian under 20 national was the best player at the under 20 World Cup and his arrival is exciting news. He is apt to playing in the roles currently occupied by Pato and Ronnie and will therefore be a terrific replacement if needed. Perhaps Pato could even be shifted into the center if Adiyiah makes an early impression.

A host of other young players have been linked to the club. Edmund Hotter, Gustavo Pereyra, Nicolas Otamendi, Jonathan to name a few. While Astori and Paloschi have all been mooted to be returning soon. But it remains to be seen who will arrive and I will not bother speculating on what really are only rumours currently.

With so many of the players listed entering their twilight years or beyond, it can be expected that many will leave in the next year and a half. Therefore, in order to make the transition smooth, the board will have to be highly diligent and bring in new players in a timely fashion. It will not be easy to ensure a smooth transition given the little time we have. A result of the boards indecision over the last few years to look to the future of the club.

One thing that the board has to be wary of and that is not to make our new ‘youth’ policy too far reaching. By this I mean, lets not bring in too many young players otherwise we may end up like Arsenal. A team of young and promising talents but unable to win anything due to a lack of experience at the highest level.

With times changing at Milan and with the board committed, at least now, to delivering a new set of players to start a new cycle at the club, it is interesting times ahead for Milan and now there is at least some hope that the future may yet still be shine bright in red and black.