Internazionale Main Thread III

[Lombardiamia]

Well it's true that there were some games in which Juve haven't really dominated the game, but it's when you don't lose those games that makes you a little 'special'. That's mainly the difference between big teams and others who are a little less big. I honestly don't see Juve in any kind of difficulty, unless they have to rotate some players.
Pirlo is the danger man, but one must take into consideration all their midfield, especially the flanks. We need to keep hold of their wings and maybe peg them back a little (Nagatomo more than Zanetti). Close tabs on Marchisio & Vidal as they run into the channels easy. Not to mention that Vucinic (& Giovinco) will always try to pull one of our 3 defenders out wide to help the midfielders' incursions. Yes Pirlo is the mastermind, but there are so many other weapons we'll need to keep tabs on. It's important IMO that we don't play the 3 forwards saturday. We have to play a 'fake' trequartista who can link the attack when attacking and keeping close to Pirlo when Juve are trying to build play. Coutinho would have been ideal...now it's either Alvarez or Guarin for me. It's a little too much to ask out of Palacio I think.

[Totally FRANK]

Juventus have a midfield three that is better than what we have. I am not saying this because they have Pirlo but overall their midfield is more technically stronger. We have players like Guarin (who can improve a lot) and Gargano who can cover a lot of ground and graft but when it comes to thinking forward or making runs at the right moment they are lacking. And midfield being the key component in matches I am not so sure of our chances of getting a result. As Lomba says there is no way we can go with 3 forwards who don't help out in defense. I am thinking Cambiasso, Mudingayi, Guarin with Milito and Cassano upfront. Mudingayi sits backs and shields the defense while Cambiasso and Guarin alternate in providing support to the front 2.

[juventino_italiano]

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[juventino_italiano]

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I'd be miffed if that happens since I'll miss this game.

Duty (the Aberdeen game) calls.

[Lombardiamia]

[RomaShield27]

I think Inter have a good chance in this game. You have the players to counter and be able to match Juventus in wing-backs like Zanetti and Nagatomo and a strong, robust midfield to combat them too. A lot will depend, though, on if you do play a creative midfielder in there who can help out the forwards – is Sneijder fit, or Coutinho or Alverez? Or will you likely go with three more defensive-midfielders? If so you'll certainly struggle to create many chances which would be a big problem.

[Lombardiamia]

[RomaShield27]

Yeh, I havent seen much of Guarin in an attacking sense to be honest. He's a big physical threat alright, able to out-muscle a defender and get in a challenge, but not so much a creator who can make something happen for Milito. He's a bit similar to Vidal I suppose, both tough players who can dominate the middle and bust forward, although not as mobile.

I havent seen Palacio playing lately much, are you saying he's been playing centrally, behind the strikers? I thought he'd be more effective out wide.

What do you think of Juan Jesus? He's looked good few times i've seen him, does he have the ability to be a real top defender?

[RomaShield27]

[Messinterista]

EL PRINCIPE!!!!!!!!!!!!! STRAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PALACIOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! FORZA INTER!!!!!!!!!111

[Messinterista]

Inter victory ends Juventus record!

Juventus 1 - 3 Inter
Vidal 1 (J), Milito pen 59, 76 (I), Palacio 90 (I)
Juventus Stadium

Inter overcame a controversial goal after 18 seconds and potential red card to end Juventus’ 49-match unbeaten record with a shock 3-1 result in Turin!

This was a contentious clash that saw a Bianconeri goal that should’ve been disallowed and Stephan Lichtsteiner spared a second yellow card, but Diego Milito’s brace completed a remarkable comeback for Juve’s first ever defeat at the Juventus Stadium.

This Derby d’Italia was also a top of the table showdown between first and second with neither side pulling punches. Andrea Stramaccioni was without Wesley Sneijder, Philippe Coutinho, Dejan Stankovic, Cristian Chivu, Jonathan and Joel Obi, but went for it with a 3-4-3 system led by the all-star trident. Juve welcomed back Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio from suspension and injury respectively.

Something had to give, as Juve had won all their Serie A home games while Inter had a 100 per cent record on their travels and were coming off eight consecutive victories in all competition.

It could not have possibly been a better start for Juventus, as Kwadwo Asamoah ran on to a Mirko Vucinic pass – when offside – and rolled across for Vidal to prod into an empty net at the back post. Only 18 seconds had elapsed in Turin.

It was so nearly 2-0 at the fourth minute, as Vucinic just failed to make contact with the Sebastian Giovinco ball across the face of goal. Andrea Pirlo’s inspired ball over the top found Marchisio clear on goal and his volley was beaten away from point-blank range by Samir Handanovic.

Inter emerged from their shells and Esteban Cambiasso fired over, then Rodrigo Palacio had the ball in the net but was marginally offside when going to get the header off a quickly-taken Cambiasso free kick.

Antonio Cassano curled inches wide of the far post from a poorly-cleared corner as the visitors began to see much more of the ball.

More controversy on 34 minutes when Stephan Lichtsteiner, who had already been booked, avoided a second yellow card for a completely mistimed tackle on Palacio. Despite the Inter protests, the Swiss winger was allowed to stay on the field.

Moments later Vidal gathered just inside the box and was cleanly challenged by Juan Jesus. Aware of the risk Lichtsteiner was running, Angelo Alessio wisely replaced him with Martin Caceres.

Giovinco got to the by-line but pulled back into Handanovic’s arms, then the goalkeeper had to palm a looping Asamoah deflected cross over the bar. In first half stoppages Vidal went clear when intercepting a pass that Yuto Nagatomo left, but Handanovic beat away the powerful finish.

Vucinic needed treatment for a calf problem in the first half and didn’t come out for the second, making way for Nicklas Bendtner. Leonardo Bonucci had a rare shot on goal, as he was allowed to progress through the middle without being pressured and unleashed a strike that Handanovic beat away.

Palacio got to the by-line and Gigi Buffon came for it, but the angle was too narrow and he hit the side-netting. Milito sparked a counter-attack with three against two, but Palacio fired over the bar.

Play was halted for a few moments as goal line referee Orsato was hit in the back of the neck by an object thrown from the stands, but it resumed after a few seconds. It looked to be a rolled up piece of card with sellotape to make it into a ball.

Nagatomo burst in-between two defenders to latch on to a Cassano pass down the left and stung Buffon’s palms at the near post.

From a Cassano free kick moments later, Marchisio dragged back Milito’s shirt as he was about to pull the trigger and the goal line official awarded the penalty. Il Principe got back up to successfully convert, lifting it powerfully above Buffon at the near post for his first goal in an Inter jersey against Juventus.

Handanovic punched away a Pirlo free kick and Giovinco had penalty appeals when he sprinted past one defender and fell under pressure from Walter Gargano, but the referee did not consider it to be a powerful enough contact on his shoulder.

The Inter goalkeeper plucked a cross off the head of Bendtner, then Juan Jesus made a crucial intervention in midfield to stop Vidal completing a dangerous Juve counter-attack.

The Nerazzurri could’ve taken the lead on 74 minutes when Palacio got away from Giorgio Chiellini and rolled across for Milito, who only got a touch under pressure from Andrea Barzagli, then it kept going for Cambiasso and a decisive last-ditch Caceres tackle managed to block his shot.

Inter’s tails were up and they completed the comeback with a second from Milito. Substitute Fredy Guarin surged forward through the middle and forced Buffon into a save with his angled drive, but Milito was first to the rebound and fired him at the back post.

Juve were on the verge of losing their 49-match unbeaten Serie A run and replaced substitute Caceres with striker Fabio Quagliarella. Milito made way for Gaby Mudingayi, as Inter shored up the midfield.

Handanovic fingertipped a Pirlo screamer round the upright, but Gargano’s poor backpass was intercepted by Bendtner who tried to curl it in from the by-line, but could not get it on target from the tightest of angles.

Quagliarella hit a fierce snapshot wide, but as Juve poured forward they allowed Nagatomo to go on the counter and he smartly put a through ball in for Palacio. Buffon got an elbow to it, but not enough to keep it out of the empty net.

Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner (Caceres 38) (Quagliarella 78), Vidal, Pirlo, Marchisio, Asamoah; Giovinco, Vucinic (Bendtner 46)
Inter: Handanovic; Ranocchia, Samuel, Juan Jesus; Zanetti, Gargano, Cambiasso, Nagatomo; Palacio, Cassano (Guarin 69); Milito (Mudingayi 80)
Ref: Tagliavento

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/26869/in ... tus-record

[Messinterista]

Strama's masterpiece

Inter fully deserved their victory thanks to the audacious Andrea Stramaccioni and Susy Campanale is grateful it stopped the controversy.

The unbeaten run had to come to an end sometime and it screeched to a halt at number 49 in the most dramatic of circumstances. Juventus are not invincible, that much had become clear in recent weeks with the Champions League and their controversial victory in Catania. After 18 seconds of the Derby d’Italia it looked as if we’d be in for more weeks of people bringing up the ghost of Calciopoli as Arturo Vidal’s goal should’ve been chalked off. When Stephan Lichtsteiner inexplicably avoided a second booking, that just added to the sense this was playing straight into the hands of the conspiracy theorists.

Thankfully, Inter fought back to win fair and square in a result nobody can contest, otherwise we’d never have heard the end of it. Can you imagine the utter chaos if Juve had avoided defeat in those circumstances? I tell you, Juve fans, it’s better to have lost than suffer through that!

Even the most ardent Juventino must bow down and accept Inter were the better team on the night. Andrea Stramaccioni deserves immense credit for having the courage and the sheer gall to bring a 3-4-3 system to Turin. It was extremely risky and downright arrogant for the youngest Coach in Serie A to take such an attacking approach, but Strama confirmed comparisons with Jose Mourinho. He is arrogant and smug, but that’s what makes him so very effective. That is what gave him the guts to break down a Juve side that had won all their home games this season.

The Inter boss even brought back memories of Mou by mocking Juve’s “we won 30 on the pitch” motto and stirring up further controversy on why he considered ‘carefree tactics’ to be an insult from Beppe Marotta. Strama might not be carefree, but he is admirably unfettered by doubt.

This could well be good for Juventus, too. They have been coasting recently and relying too heavily on their aura of invincibility to intimidate opponents – not to mention riding their luck... They must remember it’s no mean feat to dominate Serie A and every point must be earned. Maybe we’ll see better performances from now on, as they have it all to prove again.

Now the season gets truly interesting. Juve have already shown they struggle to balance the Champions League with Serie A, while Napoli are far too reliant on Edinson Cavani. Milan have left themselves too much to do, Lazio and Fiorentina are still works in progress, but then again the same was said of Inter. What will the Nerazzurri do once Wesley Sneijder returns from injury? Can too many choices become a problem for Stramaccioni? Seeing him at the Juventus Stadium, I get the feeling this Coach can take anything in his stride.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/26876/st ... asterpiece

[Lombardiamia]

I bow down to Strama. Never thought we could win, especially not when an offside-goal was given after just 18 seconds and with 3 forwards in our initial line-up. Strama is going well beyond what I'd humanly thought to be possible.

[juventino_italiano]

[Lombardiamia]

Strama yesterday showed the world the best way to cancel Pirlo and his influence from a game. Not man marking him like we all thought, not even zonal marking him. But to cancel out his passing options. No one was available for the run, no one was free to roam around..no one. He could only give a short pass to his nearest companion..
Massive.

[Totally FRANK]

After yesterday's result, its right that Strama and Milito take the limelight but I was really impressed with Juan yesterday. He did his defensive duties with so much composure and when Inter were pushing forward he was the one to come out of defense, to help out in attack. For a 21 year old playing his first season in Serie A he has been a revelation.

[RomaShield27]

Yes, Juan was excellent, he really looks the part. Solid as a rock while also very composed on the ball, very impressive. You also have to hand to Milito, he was really top class, not just with getting on the scoresheet, but the way he lead the line and held the ball up, won a few frees, really smart stuff and brilliant centre-forward play.

Stramaccioni is looking the part. We all know where he learned not only his trade, but his class. You never know, if he continues to do well at Inter, and the way Roma's season is going, he just may well be in line to come home.