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"We will keep fighting for the third place til the very end. Why giving it up earlier?" said Andrea Stramaccioni at the end of Fiorentina-Inter. A goalles draw in Florence is not enough to stop Inter coach's will to fight for a Champions League spot, but more than enough to spread the word about a pre-agreement reached between Moratti and Claudio Prandelli - the Italian national team current manager should head towards Appiano Gentile after Euro 2012.
Good news? Bad news? Not so important at this stage. The only certain thing is that talking about Prandelli or anyone else it will not increase the team spirit and determination for the last mile of the race for the CL spot. But it seems that the board is more worried to stop players and fans' requests of a permanent contract for Stramaccioni than of being out of Europe next season.
Fiorentina-Inter poor display of football, could have been a serious contender for the worst show offered among serie A's fixtures. A game which offered nothing. Unless you can say worthy to be mentioned the few notes I saved during this match: Inter starting with a 4-2-3-1 formation instead of the recent 4-3-3; Forlan behind Milito; Stankovic on the bench; Zanetti injured and substituted by Nagatomo; Julio Cesar's saving a not-so-well-kicked Ljajic's penalty; Milito's skills and quickness in his only shot of the game. Nothing worth recalling, actually.
But Fiorentina-Inter's misery was outclassed by Genoa-Siena's. What happened at Marassi wasn't an out of blue moment of collective madness but just another chapter of the steady Italian football decline, already marred by match fixing scandals. That game sent three terrible and very embarassing postcards: 1. menacing fans; 2. police doing nothing but staring and listening; 3. players scared to death, half naked, head down with shirts in hands. Postcards that could have been sent from nearly any other Italian stadium. It could have happen anywhere and that says it all about the state of the art of Italy's top league. Rotten and hopeless.
Serie A 2011-12 / Day 34
FIORENTINA-INTER 0-0
Fiorentina: Boruc, Camporese, Natali, Nastasic; Cassani, Kharja, Behrami (67' Salifu), Lazzari, Pasqual; Cerci; Ljajic (72' Acosty). Coach: Rossi
Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Chivu (83' Ranocchia), Zanetti (46' Nagatomo); Poli, Cambiasso; Alvarez, Forlan (54' Sneijder), Zarate; Milito. Coach: Stramaccioni
Referee: Valeri
Yellow cards: Nastasic, Acosty, Pasqual, Lucio, Cerci; Chivu, Lucio, Milito, Julio Cesar
Comments
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Posted by Sia on 04/23/2012
I'm yet to see Forlan play a good game? I think Sam, Tony, Conner or someone wrote weeks back that Forlan was not the right purchase for Inter style of game and maybe that is the problem here? But players need to adjust to new format and style of teams; I haven't seen anything from Forlan that is great yet at Inter?
Wesley also is beyond out of form, he had a season like Milito's previous season full of injury and his touches on the ball are bad, speed and movements bad as well, many passing mistakes.
Let’s hope we look better against Udi on Wednesday!!!
This is the second time that Genoa stadium had fan issue problems I think? Euro qualifying Italy-Serbia was the other incident, but I might be wrong?
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Posted by Sam on 04/23/2012
ARGGHHHH What happened. After happily noting after inters first game with the new coach how good it was to see them playing more direct football we have fallen back into this 'possession if king' style. IT DOESNT WORK for us! How many coaches do we need to try this before one realises that it doesnt work and it is boring. Every coach since Mou has tried it, passing it slowly around the back, not having any shots but getting 70% possession then saying we dominated. The only team this style works for is Barca who are gifted with the worlds best player and players suited to running one touch football. Personally I find it boring.
Inter need to revert back to direct football, getting the ball to the forwards and letting them work their magic. It suits Milito, Sneijder and most of the team to play this way.
As for the Genoa incident, what a disgrace. Serie A is heading down down down, something needs to be done before Inter, Milan and Juve are begging to join Ligue 1!
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Posted by Mustafa on 04/23/2012
Another three points dropped. Yes, dropped. At this point, any game that's not won is a game lost. Sneijder was ineffective in the hole. We lacked coordination and communication. Hopefully Sneijder will be better by the time were are in Udine. I really like Guarin. I also like Deki and Poli. Let's just say Sneijder's lost his ways. Our defense wasn't so bad after all. We need to reflect on the positives and see what we can improve on from them.
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Posted by Sam on 04/24/2012
@Mustafa
I agree with your sentiment that it was two points dropped. Mainly because I think that we were superior to a very limited Fiorentina and should have won.
As for Sneijder I am not so sure he has 'lost his ways' as much as is sick of playing in a system that clearly does not suit his game. Sneijder loves to play the killer ball but because we play this hopeless slow possession game there is never any space for him to play into.
I wonder if Moratti is telling his coaches that he wants Inter to play this possession style. I hope not as most successful team in Europe (Madrid, Man U, Bayern, and many more play a faced paced, exciting, direct style with pacy wingers and a central playmaker. We should be looking to copy them as our players are better suited for it. And in my opinion is it better to watch than 100 passes on half way.
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Posted by Pietro on 04/24/2012
@ Mustafa. I think Deki presence is vital for the team but not on the pitch.
@ Sam. I think Moratti has no tactical desires, his only concern is about not winning. I agree with you that our team is more similar to real than barcelona.
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Posted by Sam on 04/24/2012
@Pietro: I dunno, I think Moratti has a desire to see 'attractive football' at Inter and has told his coaches that. Inter were blasted as being negative after Mou and I think after he left he told coaches he wanted an Inter that controlled games and possession.
Just look at Chelsea. Roman told all his coaches after Mou to bring in beautiful football despite not having the players for it. Chelsea went downhill as the players could not adapt and only now, with de Matteo and playing boring counter football are they actually challenging again.
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Posted by Pietro on 04/24/2012
@ Sam. You are right about Chelsea. Surely Abramovich wanted attractive football but he got results only with Mou, Hiddink, Ancelotti, Di Matteo not with Scolari or AVB. Moratti, imo, just wants to win. But maybe I am wrong and you are right about our Inter too
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Posted by Pietro on 04/24/2012
Wow. Comments working again!!!
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Posted by Sam on 04/24/2012
Yeah! It is much better. Definitely makes things more fun!
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Posted by Sam on 04/25/2012
I seem to have commented on this post a number of times but after watching the Chelsea Barca match I thought I would add another comment.
The game saw Barca with mountains of possession, dominate the game but lose. In my opinion this shows that the possession game passing around the back etc as practised by Barca is a highly flawed model and can only work for Barca because of Messi. Our coach must see this. Our players are slowly, less technically gifted and unable to play like Barca and if Barca cannot beat a limited Chelsea side at home playing this way then how is Inter going to beat anyone doing it?
Inter must change back to a direct style, using counter attack and OUR players strength and not worry about possession. I hope we see this against Udinese and I hope our coach watched Barca control 80 odd% of possession yet only muster up 6 shots on target.
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Posted by Pietro on 04/25/2012
Sam I saw the Chelsea game and I think you're right again. I think also Stamaccioni thinks you're right as he changed back vs Udinese to a more direct style and we got three points again.
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Posted by Sia on 04/26/2012
Well Wesley proved me wrong, he looked so much better against Udi than Fiorentina, I still don't think he is 100% in form, but I was happy with his performance. Lucio, Alvarez, Guarin all looked good, our Defense looked more awake and responsive. Let's hope Inter gains all 6 points before facing Milan on May 6th. Under Strama this team could go further than most people can imagine. Wrong coaching selection early in the season destroyed our chances of both Scudetto and CL.
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Posted by Marcelo on 04/26/2012
Huge win from Inter! Listen guys, it's no suprise that with Alvarez, and Sneijder near full match fitness that Inter play the way they did against Udine. This team, without them, has no creative spark. Guarin seems to be legit, and can add to that spark, but it will be determined by if he can stay healthy (he has had many injury spells). As for next season, if Strama gets us to 3rd .. it would be an absolute disgrace to discard him for Prandelli. I sense greatness it Strama, and he is brought up through our home grown system which I like. Moratti needs to stop getting involved, he does more harm than good. If he wants to contribute, then sell Chivu, Maicon, and Ranocchia and go get 2 stellar defenders that we DESPERATELY need. I would say lucio too but he already resigned, unfortunately.
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Posted by Angel on 04/27/2012
Great win against udi, that formation needs to be used for next season, and years to come. Sneijder, Guarin, and Alvarez in the midfield is KEY for success. Next season with countinho back or lucas as an addition will be a formidable force in Europe, no doubt.
On defense tough, Rannochia just doesn't seem to fit in, in my view at least. Great win overall, I love this team!
Forza inter!!!!!
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Posted by Tony on 04/27/2012
I am pretty excited by what I saw against Udinese but my excitement is dampened by the fact that the near perfect lineup will likely never be seen again. We all know that Zanetti will return to the lineup and that will leave us unbalanced. I know it is an unpopular stance to take but what if we play without him, what harm could be done? I do realize he has been the most consistent player this season (most seasons actually). I am just curious what we might look like without him in the mid-field. Just a thought....like to hear yours :)
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Posted by Sia on 04/27/2012
@ Tony
I think Zanetti could do well in the fullback outside positions instead of midfield and that will leave midfield open to others. When Maicon was out Zanetti did well in his spot, I also think he can be as effective on the left side to replace Nagatomo.
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Posted by Bellal A. on 04/28/2012
Zanetti is a legend, he deserves to atleast play as RB
I wouldnt mind if he retired and joined the coaching staff, as i am sure his presence brings up the players
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Posted by Tony on 04/29/2012
@Sia
I agree that Zanetti could play left back. We are very weak in that area and I would not mind him there at all providing cover to Alvarez or whomever plays that side of mid field. Prefer to keep Maicon playing as long as we have him.
@Bellal
Javier will be part of Inter in some capacity forever. Likely as a sporting director of some sort
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Posted by Tony on 04/29/2012
@Sia
I agree that Zanetti could play left back. We are very weak in that area and I would not mind him there at all providing cover to Alvarez or whomever plays that side of mid field. Prefer to keep Maicon playing as long as we have him.
@Bellal
Javier will be part of Inter in some capacity forever. Likely as a sporting director of some sort
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Posted by Gandom on 05/10/2012
Man, what a ridiculously dessrpeing blog. It's amazing to remember that we could have shipped out Balotelli, Milito and Maicon for a grand total of 55-60 million not a year and a half ago. That would have meant maybe 3 or even 4 world-class young players who could have been a part of the squad for over a year now. And then the ever-inured Sneijder could have fetched 30 million-plus just this last summer. That's another two players, or one superstar. Instead we've seen Jonathan, Alvarez, Biabiany, Ranocchia, Nagatomo and the ghost of Diego Forlan join the club instead. Just kill me now already.
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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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