Internazionale Main Thread III

[Messinterista]

Muntari set for Sunderland move

Sulley Ali Muntari looks set for a return to the Premiershit with Sunderland, after he was considered surplus to requirements at Inter.
The midfielder has barely featured this season, especially after he showed obvious irritation at his substitution earlier this month.

It was confirmed by the club hierarchy that Muntari would be released if a suitable offer came in.

The likes of Tottenham and Sevilla had been suggested, but according to the latest reports from Italy, he will join Sunderland.

It’s claimed the Ghana international will finalise the transfer on Tuesday.

This represents a return to England for Muntari, who played for Portsmouth in 2007-08.

Source: http://football-italia.net/jan22s.html

[Messinterista]

Merging with General Talk / Off Topic topic.

[Messinterista]

Hi All,

I have merged the following topics into this thread which was known as Tutto Nerazzurro - Inter Main Thread.

Internazionale news
Official Transfer rumours thread
UEFA Champions League Thread

This will form the basis of the future Internazionale Main Thread III considering they were all threads that involved our beloved club.

I will reopen once we hit the 300 pages mark in our Internazionale Main Thread II.

Cheers,
Messinese Interista.

[Messinterista]

Hi All,

I have merged the following topics to the General Talk / Off Topic thread;

Malta
Herrera ed altre leggende...
For Italian readers only

This was done purely for a historic view of all our old off topic threads and posts, in one place which I find neater. Anyway, as we all agreed on this thread will be locked as well. If you want it to be unlocked, pm me or shout at me in our latest Internazionale Main Thread.

Cheers,
Messinese Interista.

[Messinterista]

Udinese - Inter Preview
Stadio Friuli

Two of the most in-form teams of 2011 clash in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off as Udinese host Inter.

Orphans of their Coppa Italia elimination, Udinese will be hoping their game against Sampdoria, which saw them play extra-time and lose a penalty shoot-out, won’t penalise them this weekend.

Coach Francesco Guidolin prioritised the visit of the reigning European and world champions and left defenders Maurizio Domizzi and Mehdi Benatia at home midweek, and the pair will almost certainly line up in the three-man backline with Cristian Zapata – all in front of goalkeeper Samir Handanovic.

With Antonio Floro Flores loaned to Genoa, Guidolin is likely to abandon the three-man attack and replace it with a pair of strikers and these should be Alexis Sanchez, the man several big clubs are after, and Antonio Di Natale, the Serie A top scorer.

Inter continue to fly high since the arrival of Leonardo, but the feeling is this may be the first real test for the new Coach. And although the results are coming, the problem of injuries is still not completely eradicated.

Diego Milito lasted just 18 minutes in the midweek game with Cesena and tests have highlighted a first degree strain to his left hamstring. He won’t be available for this weekend which could be worrying when considering the negative change the Nerazzurri’s play suffered when the Argentine was replaced with the young Jonathan Biabiany.

But Inter will look to Samuel Eto’o for their goals. The Cameroonian is in formidable form and will start up-front with Goran Pandev and Dejan Stankovic behind them as the highest point of the midfield diamond.

While Milito is a problem up front, Wesley Sneijder is a problem in midfield and Julio Cesar in goal. Consolation for Leonardo comes from the defence, where the established back line will start again this weekend, with Cristian Chivu and Maicon the heroes of the midweek game when, as full-backs, they linked up for the winner.

Keep an eye on: Alexis Sanchez (Udinese) – With Chelsea and Inter keen on the player, this game may be the one that convinces Massimo Moratti to make an effort to beat the Blues’ competition. Udinese are, however, reluctant to see the player leave, particularly after Antonio Floro Flores’ departure, hence why they have slapped a £20m price tag on his head.

Last five in Serie A: Udinese (W L W D W) Inter (L W W W W)

Last season: Udinese 2-3 Inter

Top tip: Very good going forward and somewhat leaky at the back. That refers to both teams. Since the start of 2011 these two teams have been in seven Serie A games, and these have featured 33 goals – just shy of five goals a game. And as for the outcome, bookies still hold Inter as favourites.

Stat fact: Leonardo v Guidolin. The two Coaches met twice last season but sat on different benches from their current ones – Leonardo at Milan and Guidolin at Parma. So far they have one win each, having won their respective home games last season.

Udinese (probable): Handanovic; Benatia, Zapata, Domizzi; Isla, Pinzi, Inler, Asamoah, Armero; Sanchez, Di Natale

Inter (probable): Castellazzi; Maicon, Lucio, Cordoba, Chivu; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Thiago Motta; Stankovic; Eto’o, Pandev

Ref: Morganti

Source: http://football-italia.net/sa1011/udi-int.html

[Messinterista]

Changes;
Split this topic at 300 pages and merged the pages after this one to the Internazionale Main Thread III.
Messinese Interista.

[Messinterista]

[Totally FRANK]

[Totally FRANK]

I can't say I am totally surprised or disappointed by the result, it was bound to happen sometime or the other. I did not expect us to lose but with Udine in such fine form and Morganti as the referee I should have known better. The second and third goals resulted from free kicks which Inler one and on both occasions he tripped on himself rather than a foul from our player.

Our boys looked really tired in the middle and they were scared stiff of Udinese's pace on the counters. Credit to them they utilized the space on the flanks wonderfully. I thought we would give it a go at least in the second half but it was a timid performance reminiscent of Benitez's days.

Finally, if this game doesn't show that we need another striker then I don't know what does. It is really unrealistic to expect a super human performance from Eto'o every three days.

[maro]

Wow. You guys were comprehensively spanked. 3-1 was flattering. A timid performance reminiscent of Benitez's days indeed. Who'da thunk it? I guess even Leonardo's golden touch isn't enough to overturn the disastrous impact of Benitez just like that. Or something like that.

[RomaShield27]

[Messinterista]

Yeh not suprised by the loss, we were expected to come crashing down to earth after a great start by Leo, but geez not by that much lol. I just hope this doesn't cause another form slump like we had under Rafa. Will be a good test to see if Leo can make the guys bounce back.

[Lupa]

[Messinterista]

We really need another forward. Pandev clearly isn't going to cut it.

[Lombardiamia]

I've honestly expected a defeat before the game even started. I was actually surprised when we went 1-0 up. This Udinese is a hell to beat by anyone right now, and especially for a team like ours who has players really struggling to get into decent form. It's hard for some to accept, but Benitez wasn't our only problem. We should concentrate on getting a CL spot for next year instead of wishing for Milan to slump with the hope of regaining the Scudetto. Right now, I cant honestly see that as a logical possibility.

[RomaShield27]

[Lombardiamia]

[Totally FRANK]

I think we can still finish second and secure automatic qualification for the Champions League. I would be happy if we can do that and get to the at least the quarters in the CL by beating Bayern.

[Messinterista]

Inter reveal plan to sign a striker

Inter's chief technical director Marco Branca has revealed his plans to sign a striker as cover for Diego Milito.

The Argentina international has frequently been injured this season and the sale of Mario Balotelli last summer means Inter are short of options up front.

“We have to be competitive on all fronts. If there is the chance to rest someone for some games, it can be an advantage to get certain results,” Branca said.

Leonardo also backed the club's stance on the matter “if someone can become a resource and give us a hand. We will not buy for the sake of buying.”

This morning's La Gazzetta dello Sport has linked Inter with Juventus' Amauri, Brescia's Andrea Caracciolo and even Bolton Wanderers striker Johan Elmander.

Sevilla's Luis Fabiano is another name said to be on Branca's shortlist, although Inter would face competition from Juventus.

In the meantime, it looks likely that Inter will tie up a deal to sign Feyenoord starlet Luc Castaignos in the next few days.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/jan24d.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apart from Fabiano the rest are Inter material? Please.

[Messinterista]

Inter all'assalto per Pazzini, Branca: "Lo stiamo valutando". E c'è Kharja!

Il mercato dell'Inter è più attivo che mai. Nella giornata dei premi ricevuti al galà degli Oscar del Calcio, il club nerazzurro non si è fermato a veder luccicare i numerosi trofei vinti ma si è tuffato a capofitto alla ricerca di una punta che serve come il pane a Leonardo viste le defezioni di Milito e i problemi di Pandev. La novità clamorosa arriva in serata da Sky Sport, che tramite l'esperto Gianluca di Marzio annuncia di contatti intensi tra Inter e Sampdoria per Giampaolo Pazzini. Il contatto ci sarebbe stato già in giornata, i blucerchiati per ora resistono ma in Corso Vittorio Emanuele pensano all'inserimento di contropartite per sbrogliare la matassa. Il nome più caldo è quello di Jonathan Biabiany, ma anche qualche altro giovane interessante come Denis Alibec potrebbe finire dalla sponda Doriana di Genova. La conferma che sia proprio il Pazzo il vero obiettivo dell'Inter arriva da Marco Branca, direttore sportivo nerazzurro, il quale ha affermato a Sportiva che "si sta valutando la pista Pazzini". Inter che comunque tiene attive altre piste in alternativa come Luis Fabiano e Castaignos, ma non solo (per Di Vaio, dal Bologna, è arrivato un secco no). Nelle prossime ore si tratterà, ma di certo l'arrivo di Maccarone alla Samp sblocca un posto importante. Unica pecca, Pazzini in Champions non potrebbe giocare, ma questi ragionamenti saranno fatti successivamente.

Intanto, rimbalza sempre da Sky un'altra indiscrezione sul centrocampo: visto l'addio imminente di Sulley Muntari, l'Inter si sta catapultando su Houssine Kharja, centrocampista in uscita dal Genoa. Per arrivarci, si sfrutterebbe il canale preferenziale con Enrico Preziosi: la formula potrebbe essere quella del prestito, ma se ne parlerà nei prossimi giorni.

Source: http://www.fcinternews.it/?action=read&idnotizia=37189