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Olympique Marseille defeated Inter 1-0 with Andre Ayew's last gasp header in the UEFA Champions League last-16 first-leg tie. OM won the game beating Nerazzurri at their own game.
Claudio Ranieri's starting eleven revealed clearly his game plan:defend deep and counterattack. (You can do it with Walter Samuel back in the defensive line).
Inter's coach chose the good old diamond in midfield: Stankovic in Thiago Motta's central spot, Zanetti on the right, Cambiasso on the left, Sneijder in his favourite trequartista position behind the two forwards Zarate and Forlan. A brave gamble to pick this duo. By technical and tactical points of view Ranieri's decision proved to be correct: in the first half the attacking pair created four goal opportunities, two each: Zarate at minutes 5 and 37, Forlan at minutes 10 and 22. Ranieri wanted fresh legs and the long rest (Forlan played only few minutes since his arrival; Zarate has not been in the starting line since November) guaranteed he got them at the price of possible rusty finishing. And he got it too: those four chances were not exploited at best by Zarate and Forlan.
If Inter did little, Marseille did nothing. A total zero until the minute 78 when Ayew's header signalled the homeside's first goal attempt. Abedi Pelè's son was the only menace in the final minutes and it's hard to understand why Chivu was Ayew's designed marker for the final corner. Concentration is not one of the former Ajax sweeper main strenghts: the way Chivu allowed Ayew to jump and head the ball in the corner is another piece of bad defending that will be added to the mountain of mistakes Nerazzurri's defence made this season. A healthy Inter would have never lost this game, a healthier Inter would have no problem to win by two or three goal margin in San Siro. But after four consecutive defeats without scoring, you wonder how long will it take to see this team playing with confidence again.
UEFA Champions League 2011-12 – 1/8 1st leg
OLYMPIQUE MARSEILLE-INTER 1-0
Olympique Marseille: Mandanda; Azpilicueta (80′ Fanni), Diawara, N’Koulou, Morel; Diarra, Cheyrou (84′ Kaborè); Amalfitano, Valbuena, Andrè Ayew; Brandao (73′ Jordan Ayew). Coach: Deschamps
Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon (46′ Nagatomo), Lucio, Samuel, Chivu; Zanetti, Stankovic, Cambiasso; Sneijder; Forlan, Zarate (63′ Obi). Coach: Ranieri
Referee: Cuneyt Cakir
Goal: Andrè Ayew 93′
Yellow cards: Diawara; Stankovic, Zarate, Chivu
Comments
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Posted by Mustafa on 02/23/2012
@Gianni
Hey!! Good news!! Barcelona and Chelsea's blog are open for application. Could I use you as a reference saying that I'm a good writer?
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Posted by Anonymous on 02/23/2012
we dont have a finisher period.
we should not have sold eto'
it is nice to see paZZINI ON THE BENCH for a change, i hope ranieri seats him for the napoli game, i think that inter will win the second match with a bit of luck, the question is what is the game plan for next year????
FORZA INTER
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Posted by Matt on 02/23/2012
Ranieri leaves a substitution on the table when the existing lineup wasn't doing anything. It was clear that he was playing for a tie rather than going for the kill with the win.
Forlan stays in at the end of the match without providing anything. Yet, the only player that has been able to score goals, Milito, sits on the bench. He could have easily put in 20 minutes of quality work.
This season just continues to frustrate.
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Posted by IS - inter on 02/23/2012
I'm so tired of all this hating on sneijder and forlan. Forlan has barely played and he was making great runs completely isolated up there in france. Sneijder can be frustrating but all this talk about his attitude and second-guessing his skill is just ridiculous. The guy is world class.
The lineup that ranieri put out there yesterday was blatantly designed to keep a 0-0 scoreline and it nearly did. So close to do just that. We can't complain that we didn't score yesterday because we never intended to score. You don't put zanetti, cambiasso, and stankovic out in the mid if you are looking to score.
Let's see when sneijder was amazing, when under mourinho, under a 4-2-3-1, he was the center of the "3" with etoo on one side, pandev on the other, and milito up front. I don't know what we expect him to do when he has no offensive players to play with and link up with. Zarate was miserable yesterday, he gives up the ball WAY too much.
Also, i hate to say it but i don't know if we can...
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Posted by Inter -IS on 02/23/2012
continue to play both cambiasso and zanetti in the midfield. It just doesn't give us enough flexibility in the midfield, and no creativity. What is the point of having attacking LBs and RBs if they don't attack. we haven't gotten anything out of maicon or nagatomo in months!!! Just put zanetti back at LB or RB so he can lock down our defense and then someone else like poli or alvarez or palombo or faraoni or guarin can move into the midfield and help link cambiasso to sneijder... ugh such a frustrating season.
i refuse to believe we don't have the talent or we don't have the players. We need to have a PLAN and be a little patient to get it going.
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Posted by Inter -IS on 02/23/2012
JC
zanetti - lucio - samuel - nagatomo
cambiasso - palombo
poli - sneijder - alvarez
milito
and if alvarez is injured throw in faraoni or nagatomo up there. hell, even put forlan up there but lets atleast try and score a bloody goal
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Posted by Sia on 02/23/2012
I like to add took Milito few months to get in form, so we can't really blame Sneijder or Forlan, plus Forlan hasn't played much with this team, so he needs more time to connect with the team.
I personally think it was a better Inter than the one we saw against Bologna or Lecce, not having Rannochia in the back helps, he makes too many mistakes, I think Zarate was the wrong player to get for inter, I also would of liked to see Poli in midfield for at least 45 mins replacing Stankovic, by pushing Cambiasso back and have Poli on the attacking midfield. Also would of liked to see Zarate out and Milito in for last 25 mins.
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Posted by Levi on 02/24/2012
There were a lot of positives in this game. I think certain people proved they deserve to play, and others not so much. Samuel and lucio did a much better job at the back, its a real shame the very last touch was a goal. Zanetti was solid as ever, I love watching him chase down at 38, Though there is something to be said about him at LB/RB. I also think that forlan proved that he is a world class player. I know people will shake their heads because he muddled his two attempts at goal, but if you watch his placement and his running, he knows always where to be. He was the only threat. Repeat. Only threat.
There were three big let downs - Zarate. He can't create, and pazzo is a better finisher. Why keep him? Stakovic - he is not Motta and he can't control the pace of the game, especially as he ages. And dare i say it: Wesley Sneijder. There is an interesting ESPN article about him. He was world class only for one year. The world cup performance wasn't world class. It comes down to this:
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Posted by Levi on 02/24/2012
Wesley Sneijder: if he can't control the midfield and feed the strikers, he can't play. He let the back and front down with shoddy defending and no service. Almost ALL of the playable balls for forlan came from cambiasso, stankovic, and zanetti. That shoudn't be the case. Especially with all the great runs from Forlan. Pazzo needs to sit, as there isn't enough service from behind or beside to justify his place as a box striker. It should be he and Milito in the front with alvarez behind. Sorry Sneijder.
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Posted by footyfetish on 02/24/2012
We haven't scored in 6 games out of the last 7, and that's the only stat you need to know. Real allowed a goal in the last minute, too, but Mou didn't seem too troubled about it. Why? They can score at will. Why is Milito on the bench? Very puzzling. I thought our defence looked pretty good, too, for 92 minutes!
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Posted by Sam on 02/24/2012
Another disappointing loss despite the plan of simply going for the draw. Almost a given that it was the man Chivu was given to mark that scored the goal. Who else would it be after all. For all the good work Chivu can do he is responsible for an act of madness, stupidity or laziness at least once every two games that leads to a goal or a sending off. Unacceptable in my book.
The thing I find sad about this game was that Ranieri wanted fast players who could play on the counter which is why Forlan and Zarate was chosen. Fair enough. I just wish that faith had been put in Castignos for this monumental task, an up and comer, rather than Zarate who is on loan and shown nothing but petulance and disappointment. But no Castignos was left out of the squad completely and therefore ineligible. Another piece of great planning. I remember when Castignos scored a winner a couple of months back and I thought, this could be a great chance for this young fella to get some confidence and find his
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Posted by sam on 02/24/2012
feet at Inter but instead he was sent to the wilderness, left to rot on the bench like a piece of lamb in the midday sun, only to be given the occasional bit part roll in lost causes, further draining his confidence as the boos from disgruntled fans echo around the stadium.
You simply cant treat young players like that. This is not a policy that will help either youth players from the academy or any that we bring in for sizeable fees.
Inter played to its strengths in this game, counter attacking, playing deep etc but still failed to get a result against opposition that IS weaker than us. In my humble opinion if we get knocked out of the CL before the semis and dont make top 3 in Serie, we have not only wasted a year but probably two or three because of the damage done to the potential future Inter players. That would be sad indeed
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Posted by Angel on 02/24/2012
Inters poor run of form and lack of motivation is all result of a bit of bad luck, and lack of chemistry within the team.
Both Forlan & Sneijder are top players, no one can deny that. Forlan has had issues with injuries, and that is the same case for Wes. It will take time for them to understand each other on the field, but we can't question their quality, it would be foolish.
Against Napoli, Coach Ranieri MUST put Milito in the starting lineup, he has been the only forward that has had any success in creating goals and making them. If Milito is put up front alone, he will have more chance of scoring then Forlan, Zarate and Pazzini all put together lol.
Against Olimpique Marseille, Inter had chances to score, and were playing their best defense since the AC Milan game they had wayyyyyy back when. If Coach Ranieri moves Zanetti to LB or RB, and incorporates Poli in midfield...then inter might just turn this ugly season around.
We can't loose hope on the team
Forza Inter!
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Posted by Mustafa on 02/24/2012
Quick facts:
-Inter Milan haven't scored since February 1st.
-Inter Milan have 36 points out of a possible 72.
-They are trailing AC Milan by 14 points, and they are at 50.
-4 teams are within 6 points, and that gain could result in the last Champions League spot.
-There are 14 games left in the season, with 42 points possible.
-Inter haven't won since January 22.
-They also have a 4 match losing streak.
-6 losses in the last 7 games, with 1 draw against Palermo.
Now is this the state of this current Inter squad?
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Posted by Inter -IS on 02/24/2012
Take a look at the lineup that was most often used when we wont the CL 2 years ago:
JC
maicon - samuel - lucio - zanetti
cambiasso - motta
pandev - sneijder - etoo
milito
This was the perfect defensive/counter-attacking lineup/formation. We conquered barcelona with this lineup!!
On the lineup, aside from the decline of some stars, the biggest loss is etoo and motta. Etoo, i believe, is nearly impossible to replace, but motta i believe, can.
This is what we should look like in my opinion
JC
maicon - samuel - lucio - zanetti
cambiasso - poli
alvarez - sneijder - forlan
milito
i'm not going to be one of those fans who always wants to manage the team, but i'm just using this as an example of why we are having so much trouble this year scoring. Now that our defense is playing better, we have to have more attackers out there.
again, i just don't understand why obi and stankovic play if zanetti and cambiasso are already in the midfield
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Posted by Bellal A. on 02/24/2012
^ Wow thats a nice formation, i could see us doing some damage with that but i think Alvarez will be the weak point as he is weak with his right
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Posted by Bellal A. on 02/24/2012
And i saw the champions league game Forlan wasnt too bad i just dont understand how ranieri cant learn from his mistakes, he should have taken off stankovic for Poli and switched Forlan with zarate and sub zarate with Milito
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Posted by Levi on 02/25/2012
I dont think zarate belongs on the squad at all. It may sound harsh but I don't think he can create chances or finish them. He gives the ball away more than he passes, let alone shoots. I think the strikers should consistently be milito and forlan. Also, I think alvarez should get significantly more playing time than he does. Wes is hurting the team with his lack of form. You're right though, poli for stankovic definitely. Or possibly bounce zanetti to replace Deku inside to hold with cambiasso and have obi on the outside.
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Posted by Mustafa on 02/25/2012
@ Levi
I honestly think you are wrong on that one. At Atletico, Forlan played his best as a lone striker, and is simply a finisher. It would cause a conflict if Forlan were to decide to shoot instead of assist Milito. As for Zarate, he is a classier option than Pazzini, and can play with Milito or Forlan. Given that before playing against Marseille the last time he started was in November against Juventus. Does a lot for his confidence, right?
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Posted by Anonymous on 02/26/2012
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Posted by Sia on 02/26/2012
I will be surprised if Ranieri will not be replaced after today's game against Napoli...
Inter needs a mental lift and Renieri is not provoiding that, so any change will be better than no change at all I think? At least before it is too late and we keep on moving down in the table!!!
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Posted by Tony on 02/27/2012
@Sia... Ranieri cannot be blamed for players inability to pass the ball, nor the lack of heart to defend, or the attitude of Wesley to do whatever he chooses to do on his own. Its already too late. What is the difference if we finish 6th or 12th? No big time coach is coming to save us this season. Play the youngsters from here on out and all of next season after selling as many of these current old players as possible. Look towards 2013, it is the end of a cycle and we need to accept it. It was a good run. Its over.
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Posted by Sanat on 02/27/2012
We are 9 points behind Lazio...in all likelihood the UCL place is gone. I don't think a Europa league place is worth chasing after. I hope we courteously request all our veterans to take a break and keep their feet up until the penultimate game of the season and let the youngsters in our team and from the Primavera take their place. Get all the oldies back for the final game of the season and give them a send off that they are due..
It hurts me watch these greats being ripped apart like this (I know the players are to blame as well) but the management is more at fault here. The signs were there for all to see when we defeated Lazio by fortune more than anything- yet we continued playing Cambiasso and co who looked all but empty by then.
If the management and owner(s) expected any other result other than what we are seeing now, then Branca and Moratti are either dumb, ignorant or have a master plan for the summer and next season
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Posted by Yomar on 05/11/2012
I'm looking frroawd to watching La Liga this upcoming season Forlan at Atletico Madrid; Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Villa, etc at Barcelona; and we'll see if the Galacticos at Real Madrid can get it together this year.Does this mean I have to pony up for GolTV? Or does it mean I'm bringing Ashok over to your place a lot more often this fall?
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About
Gianni Serra is a European football journalist. He currently writes for lechampions.it, covering international club competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, the Copa Libertadores, the CAF Champions League, the O-League. You can follow him on twitter: @gianniserra20
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