ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - FC Inter Milan

Posted by Gianni Serra on 05/04/2012

Some thoughts about last weekend and the next. Inter lost 3-1 at Parma. Now third place is highly unlikely but still possibile. Three points away. Quite incredible to say after such a negative season.

- I had written Inter off for a Champions League spot, quite early this season. I thought that Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio, Udinese, Napoli and even Roma were more motivated, hungrier and better balanced. Something changed but not that much. I thought Inter couldn't finish higher than 5th or 6th and still believe so. At Parma Nerazzurri wasted another golden opportunity to reach an undeserved third place. Maybe it's better for Inter to miss this target as it could have led Moratti to save too many players who should leave.

- Lucio has been great for years. A true warrior, never afraid of anyone, always there to help and to take risks if needed. But, quoting Eamon Dunphy's Only a Game? (my favourite football book), it's shocking to realize how rapid the descent is from pinnacle to valley. Sadly Lucio, but also Maicon, Chivu, Stankovic are already below sea level.

- Many pundits said that Parma defeat cancelled Stramaccioni's slim chances to keep his job permanently. I suspect he had none. The 3rd place, which means playing Champions League football, would have helped Stramaccioni's cause and made life harder for the board but an agreement with Claudio Prandelli was already reached.

- Stramaccioni turned out to be a good coach. Capable to sort out straight away Inter's most evident problem: at the time of his appointment Nerazzurri simply couldn't score against any team. He fixed it. He also understood the potential of Obi; managed to combine the different talents of Alvarez and Sneijder; until was fit, used Zanetti on the flanks; tried to accomodate as many offensive players he could, trying to lift pressure from the defense. Lots of things in a very short time. The risk to see Stramaccioni flourish somewhere else is nearly a certainty. A remake of what happened with players like Santon, Viviano, Destro, Biabiany, Jonathan (both good for Parma last Sunday).

- Derby time. With only two games left, Inter players are likely to be the ones who will hand the Scudetto to Juventus or to AC Milan. Tertium non datur. No escape, not a third way. One of the two rivals will be pleased by Nerazzurri performance. I have heard many Inter fans who prefer losing the Derby than helping Juventus to win the title. Not so strange, it happens. However, Juventus played serie A's best football this season, just like Udinese's did one year ago. If they manage to stay on top, Bianconeri would be worthy winners. I am talking about the coach and the players. The third star argument raised by Juventus' board confirmed Agnelli & co. as a bunch of arrogant puppets still in the hands of Moggi & Giraudo. Even relegation still too much for all of them.

Comments

Posted by Sia on 05/04/2012

Gianni, I like your blog for two important reason, 1- Inter making third place (If they do which is a slim chance) probably will gave Moratti another delusional view that current team is good and he will not spend money to replace the old Champions of Inter with new players, that will destroy another season for Inter.

2- I absolutely agree that Udi was the best team last year perhaps followed by Napoli, but somehow Milan end up with the Scudetto last season??? I believe Udi and Napoli both were robbed last year unfairly. I also think by far Juve playing much better football than Milan, if we scratch out eight games that Milan has won this season with the help of PKs and only by one goal difference, Milan in reality should be 12 or 14 points behind Juve, I know it is hard to believe, but those marginal Pks did help Milan throughout the season. I watched Milan’s wins week after week thinking how can a team be so lucky with calls???

FORZA INTER

Posted by Mustafa on 05/04/2012

Very noteworthy statements, Gianni. I do agree that Serie A hasn't been up to par with other seasons...

It was like torture for us Interisti. I did not like many results, and our game of the season was probably the derby. We have reason to be concerned with Inter, and I honestly think we won't be back in the Champions League for a long time, hopefully by 2013/2014 season, before the World Cup.

We have been unmesureably miserable. We did have positives, but they have been covered by the negatives.

Zarate, Alvarez and Obi have been good. Forlan, Pazzini, Lucio and Stankovic have not. Maybe we can upgrade this summer. If we see any talents emerge in the EUROs, I urge Inter to make good signings.

For me, I'd rather lose to Milan than Juventus. Over the years I know many moments that have infuriated me, mostly with the Derby D'italia. They win most. I'm not really an Ultra, but really? No true Interista would choose Juve over Milan, right? Forza Inter

Posted by Mustafa on 05/04/2012

Very noteworthy statements, Gianni. I do agree that Serie A hasn't been up to par with other seasons...

We have been unmesureably miserable. We did have positives, but they have been covered by the negatives.

Zarate, Alvarez and Obi have been good. Forlan, Pazzini, Lucio and Stankovic have not. Maybe we can upgrade this summer. If we see any talents emerge in the EUROs, I urge Inter to make good signings.

Posted by Sam on 05/04/2012

Great blog Gianni. I agree 100% about the 3rd place thing. I have never given the team a chance this season either. We have done nothing to deserve that honour and to get it would undoubtably brush over what has been a terrible season.
I would love to see Stramaccioni given the chance to have the team without the noose hanging around his neck and it is sad that Moratti is too short sighted to see his talent. Unfortunately this circumstance is the same as with our playing squad for a long time now. We have had young capable players but they have never been given the chance to prove themselves. The ones you mention are a prime example. I hope this changes as our youth academy is consistantly winning now and we have some of the best players around coming through. Theyhave to be allowed to have bad games though. A luxury rarely afforded them.
I can only hope whoever coaches next season is encouraged to use some of the young talent we have or that list could be much longer soon!

Posted by Sam on 05/04/2012

Posted by nima on 05/04/2012

Good blog but I feel the decision by the board and technical directors are in place regardless of the 3rd place finish. So ideally 3rd would be good as it would encourage Moratti to stay with this system and approach .. it also indicates that this merger of 80% youth and 20% old guard is the way to go with more attacking as opposed to the inter counter. I just can't see inter and CP winning anything and I would prefer to give Strama the chance to build youth then have Pep take over and have Stram as assistant coach. I feel thus approach would br more beneficial in the long run. Forza beneamata.

Posted by nima on 05/04/2012

Posted by Tony on 05/04/2012

@Gianni Great comments. I had written off the squad months ago as being worthy of a CL place. The old must go and be refreshed by the young, it is as simple as that. Stramaccioni would be an ideal coach to guide a youthful team with some of the old guard through a season with smaller expectations and EL play. This would give both the coach and the young players experience going forward in 2013 as that is the year for our re-birth. Ciao Lucio, Deki, Maicon, Forlan, Wesley, Chivu...thanks for the effort. And Ciao to Alvarez, Juan, Coutinho, Faraoni and others....it is your time to show your value. Forza Inter!

Posted by Ameri-Inter on 05/04/2012

Sneijder is only 27, which is the prime of many players careers. Has been off lately, but scored 3 times in the past 2 games and is showing great movements. Sneijder shouldnt go anywhere he is a world star and will remain to be. OF course he would probably be more suited playing in the epl and if they made an incredibly bid for him that is the only way i could see him going, and that is only to trade 1 player for many new players.

Posted by Bellal A. on 05/05/2012

This summer is going to be interesting indeed...i would rather we go for the Europa League under Stram than Prandelli... Stram seems like a coach who needs some time to blend his tactics and team.

Posted by AlexTdot on 05/05/2012

I think someone has break the scoop to you!

Niehter Juventus ( the club) nor Juventus fans want any help from Inter..some of us might even throw it in a garbage bin if it comes down to a point where Inter will be of any assist to us in winning it.

Here is HOW we lift this one: A win against Cagliari and another one against Atalanta to follow.

Quite frankly Juventus really doesn't give a damn what Inter and Milan do between them. They Can both "you know what" each other!

Posted by Sam on 05/05/2012

Gotta love Juve fans, classy lot, they always manage to lift the level of conversation with their insightful comments, down to earth attitude and general knowledge. Thanks AlexTdot for that little gem, its something I will cherish forever.
ps Bought any refs lately?

Posted by Greg on 05/05/2012

Sam, of course. Who needs to buy refs when there's obviously no better team than Juve in Italy. Let me just remind you, we haven't lost one game this whole season, and we've won against every top team this season, playing at home. We've got the best possession statistics in Italy, and the 3rd best in Europe.

I guess that pretty much sums it up; but whatever gets you through the night.

ps. watched any football lately?

Posted by Sia on 05/05/2012

@ Greg

Juve is playing well, there is no question about that, but frankly throughout the history of Italian Calcio in past 80 years or so, Juve has been the most corrupt organization and has been caught in many occasions with match-fixing, there are publications and books about it, these are facts we can NOT run from it or hide from realities of Juve purchased scudetti. Also 27 scudetti and so little success in CL show how Juve only inside Italy with purchased Italian Referee and media can lift trophies. Let's hope the era of cheating is done for Juve and Juventini and perhaps this season of being undefeated has been earned and not purchased like many others in the history of Juventus??? Normally the cat gets out of the back later about this season of Juve's success!!!

Posted by Greg on 05/05/2012

@ Sia

I agree Juve don't have the cleanest record, however you're wrong about their CL experience. Get your facts right, look at how almost every time Juve's been playing in Champions League, they finished first in the group stage, have beaten up teams like Real Madrid almost every chance they've got, and I'm talking 2000 onwards.

The era of cheating is definitely done for Juventus, and as much as I don't like to talk crap about other teams, why don't we take a look at Milan this season? How many fictional penalties have they been awarded? I'm going to give you one true example: Fiorentina. And believe me there are so many more.

Juve have beaten Napoli with 3-0, and Napoli didn't have a single shot on goal. Juve has won over Milan, and they barely had 3 shots on goal the whole game. 2-0 with Inter, another great success. Talking about match-fixing with these facts in front of you is pure non-sense. Let's give credit where credit is due and admire what Conte was able to do at Juve.

Posted by Sia on 05/05/2012

@ Greg

I'm with you with Milan's PKS, if read my first entry above it does talk aboutit. As I said with all fairness I think Juve is playing great football and deserves the Scudetto this season.

Posted by Sia on 05/05/2012

@ Greg

I'm with you with Milan's PKS, if read my first entry above it does talk aboutit. As I said with all fairness I think Juve is playing great football and deserves the Scudetto this season.

Posted by Nathaniel on 05/05/2012

I am an Inter fan and to restate all that has been said thus far, this season has been very disappointing. Third place is impossible now, as the last two games are against Milan and Lazio. I doubt that Inter's "Old Guard" can replicate their performance against Milan earlier in the season, so it won't even matter if we beat Lazio.

As for Juventus, I would much rather them win the Scudetto than Milan. I justify this as an Italian soccer fan in that since Inter cannot win, I would like to see Alessandro del Piero win a domestic double in his last season in Italy than to watch the scumbags Gattusso and Ibrahimovic lift a second consecutive trophy. Del Piero is indeed one of the greatest players of his generation, a living legend, who has stuck with his team even through relegation, being a true sportsman in victory and defeat. I can firmly say that with the football that they have been playing this season, Juventus deserve it, while Milan look more and more like the old Juve!!

Posted by Tony on 05/05/2012

I hardly care who wins the title between Juve and Milan. The bigger picture is what is important and what I care about. Will the third place team actually make a commitment to being successful in CL next year? Napoli will but Lazio and Udinese never commit the resources necessary to achieve success. I believe if Inter have to play EL that they will try to win it, they tend to respect such competitions. The lack of respect shown to EL and to some extent CL recently has put Italian football behind the rest of Europe. Having only 3 CL spots is embarrasing! Not fielding full squads in EL matches is even more embarrasing. UEFA co-efficients DO matter, ask the Germans ;)

Posted by Bellal A. on 05/06/2012

@ Greg, i agree Juventus are a dominant team this season, i hope top teams like ours dont have to worry about Caliopolli and things like that in the future but maybe some good football instead

and yes i noticed AC milan being awarded so many pentalty kicks this league season

Posted by sam on 05/06/2012

@Greg: fair call. Like most on here I think juventus deserve this years title for their play. They have been the dominant side and have played some of the best football. As much so hate to say it. It can only be good for Italian football to have a strong clean juventus. Especially in the champions league. A for Milan they are owned by the most corrupt man in football and should be 15 points off the lead. Congrats on your teams title. They deserve it.
As for inter. What a win!

Posted by sam on 05/06/2012

Posted by Anonymous on 05/07/2012

@ Greg
Do you honestly think and aging and slow Pirlo can keep up with German and English opposition in the Champions League? That's the reason why Milan sold him to Juve in the first place... Juve will figure that out soon enough.

Other than that, they are capable to reach the quarterfinals or even higher, in my opinion. As long as they bolster their squad and add an interchangeable trequartista, one with quality that can be used in the Champions League, so Pirlo can spend the rest of his years in the Serie A... Juve need a Javier Pastore or a Luka Modric of sorts to add even more dynamics.

Congratulations to Juve. My family watches Juve all the time, and my brother is a Juventini. He is obviously happy and all, because Juve is a historic club and they almost went a decade without winning a Scudetto. 9 years since 2003. I've always made fun of my brother for being a Juventini, but now his team have found success. Grazie Juve! But for me, Forza Inter!!!

Posted by Mustafa on 05/07/2012

Posted by Greg on 05/07/2012

Thank you Sam and congratulations on your massive win yesterday. I couldn't help but admire Maicon's amazing goal, and the way Inter was able to turn things round, even though Milan were awarded a penalty, that just was not a penalty in the first half, and the quick goal right after the break.

@ Mustafa, I totally agree with you, Pirlo is aging and physically he's going to have a hard time dealing with English/Champions League players, that are strong physically. He's losing many balls at times, but he's still got that brilliant touch and can easily make the difference with one of those pin point passes or his great free kick abilities. Good that we have strong players like Vidal and Marchisio who can cover for him in the back. Anyway, enough Juve talk - I didn't even notice at first I was on an Inter board, but I give you thanks for a welcoming experience.

Good luck, Inter is on the right path and I believe next season we'll be back on top, battling for the first spot together.

Posted by Auth on 07/24/2012

Good job! Thanks for such topical wrtiing on the Internet as I have been able to discover here. I agree with most of what is written here and I'll be coming back to this website again. Thanks again for posting such great reading material!

Post your comment

Name:

Email Address:

Comments:

characters left