Internazionale Main Thread II

[Dejan-Stankovic]

As embarassing as it is to say Frank, we need them to show some mercy and not put us to the sword in the second half. The worst part is I can actually picture this turning out like Tottenham - Wigan with 9 past Cesar and we can't do shit about it.

Cambiasso's three worst performances of the season have been against Dynamo home and away and this game. He just doesn't have the legs against the teams who play such high tempo football. No comment needed about Zanetti. We need a midfield revolution the same way we did it to the striking dept.

Edit: Cambiasso just got hooked for Muntari at the half. So that means either Zanetti or Muntari is playing at CDM. Dont think this is going to be pretty...

[Messinterista]

Can't watch the game (At work), but after reading your comments guys, doesn't look like I missing out on much. Hope the score doesn't blow out...

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Totally FRANK]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Totally FRANK]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

You're right to be disappointed about Cambiasso. Everything falls down at him; he couldn't defend, run to create a triangle option, keep the ball, find a target, start an attack or tackle. Therefore, Zanetti and Motta get drawn back because they need to help the defense and to actually get the ball, meaning Stankovic/Sneijder can't get the ball, meaning Eto'o and Milito can't get the ball. It's all a knock-on effect from Cambiasso's position. It's why we couldn't even create a counter, let alone build play. The CDM position being purely for a destroyer is dead imo. The perfect example of how that position should be played is Essien. That should be our main transfer target for next season; someone with those exact same characteristics.

I don't think the team doesn't try though, I think they try quite a bit. But like I just said, the team is asked to play a game it actually cannot play. This is part of the interview he gave after the game: "I was expecting a different approach, a team with less fear. Barça played at a much higher tempo than us, both in attack and defence, and in attack with Xavi or Iniesta there's no one better in the world."

Look through pretty much every single CL interview he's done and he mentions the term high-tempo. I believe next season, he'll do exactly what he did with the striking dept; Mancini, Quaresma and Vieira will be let go and he'll bring in Coutinho plus another 2 midfielders.

[Messinterista]

[Lombardiamia]

The good thing about yesterday was that we played a whole 65 mins. without conceding a goal....though I'm quite sure that it was more thanks to the fact that they didnt want to spend their energies, considering they have Real Madrid on Sunday rather than because we improved...
No improvement since the first match, and that is totally disappointing.

[red]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[red]

[Totally FRANK]

Come on guys, leave Zanetti alone. He is not even remotely close to the person to be blamed. Its those playing around him. We all know that Zanetti was never good technically and never will be. I am sure none of us expected him to suddenly ride two challenges and create something for the strikers. What he does is he always gives 200% out there and thats what is expected of him. If I was Mourinho I would have done the same thing, especially with the way Cambiasso and Vieria have been playing. At least with Zanetti in I know what to expect from him and he gives that every single time. I would rather start Zanetti and sit in the bench knowing what to be expect rather than Cambiasso or Vieria expecting the worst and worst is what you get from them in pressure cooker matches like yesterday.

It was not Zanetti's stage to step up. It was time for the Cambiasso's and Maicon's and they failed miserably. Come to think of it, what did Maicon do all game except for the last 20 mins. Zanetti is there to cover Maicon's ass but his ass needed no covering as he was sluggish and was not even close to the Maicon we know. Instead Zanetti had to bail Cambiasso out by playing deeper.

There is no use making Zanetti the scapegoat. Mourinho clearly knows what to expect of him and he always gives his best. He is 36 and I am not sure what more to expect from him. Ideally, he should be benched for the CL games but it is impossible with our midfield line up. It was time Cambiasso, Stankovic, Maicon and Eto'o to deliver but yesterday none of them stepped up to the plate.

[Messinterista]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Dejan-Stankovic]

[Messinterista]

[Messinterista]

Blog: Jose’s Giants

Inter are going to need a colossal effort in their final Champions League match to keep their European dream alive. Steve Wilson wonders if they can do it

Some will look at it and think it is easy, nothing to worry about. Others will be quaking and checking who the major contenders are in the Europa League. Whatever their view, there is no doubt that every Inter fan will constantly have the Champions League Matchday 6 fixture against Rubin Kazan on their mind for the next fortnight.

The simple maths of the situation are this: If Inter defeat their Russian rivals at San Siro then they are in the last 16 of the European Cup. That seems straightforward, after all you should always win your home games in continental football and the Tatar side are minnows at this level. However, the truth is a far different scenario.

Rubin Kazan have already travelled to the Nou Camp – home of European champions Barcelona – and won, why should they fear the Scala del Calcio? Add in the fact that Inter have won just one of their last seven home games in the competition and it becomes a game that should send a shiver down every Serpenti spine.

Another Scudetto seems almost inevitable, even at this early stage, but Jose Mourinho must now start to deliver on the European front as well and another failure at that level would be unacceptable. With underdogs Fiorentina qualifying from a group containing heavyweights like Lyon and Liverfekkin'wankscum it would be unthinkable for Inter to be eliminated from a softer pool.

What Mourinho needs is his big name players to stand up and be counted. He needs a massive performance from Samuel Eto’o. The Cameroonian is probably the most experienced player at the club when it comes to the Champions League, yet he still has not celebrated a goal in the competition. He must step up on December 9.

He needs to see Wesley Sneijder back to match fitness. The Dutchman can weave magic with his left or right boot and he will be required to put in a top-notch exhibition in order to keep the Nerazzurri’s European dream alive. Inter are a hard-working and strong side, but Sneijder provides the elegance and beauty they have sometimes missed. It will be necessary if they are to progress.

Julio Cesar, Douglas Maicon, Thiago Motta, Diego Milito all impress at Serie A level, but that is no longer enough. Praise is lavished on Inter week in and week out so it is not too much to ask for these players to live up to their hype on European nights. If Mourinho cannot coax a giant effort for this crunch game he may not get another chance to conquer Europe at San Siro.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/blogs/sw113.html

[Dejan-Stankovic]

I want to get to the knockouts just to get the cash bonus and that's all we can hope for, barring a minor miracle. Make no mistake; Juventus, Inter and Milan will all get knocked out in the second round.