Internazionale Main Thread III

[Lombardiamia]

[Totally FRANK]

I think he is talking about Inter and fiorentina. MI, I am not sure why there is bad blood between Moratti and Della Valle (may be Lomba can brief us on that) but its been going on for a while. We were supposed to buy Toni but Fiorentina point blank refused to sell him to us and he ended up at Bayern. Even during this pre-season Della Valle has been forcing Moratti to explain the Calciopoli situation in a one-on-one meeting but Moratti has been refusing to do that. Fiorentina have already resigned to the fact that they are going to lose Montolivo so they will do anything not to do us and Moratti any favors.

Anyway, I hope he has an agreement with us and not Milan. Him and Kucka can form a good midfield partnership, a good passer alongside an aggressive all-round midfielder.

[Lombardiamia]

The situation ticked off exactly with that issue about Toni. Della Valle clearly wanted Toni to stay, and he found it offensive that a club talked directly with the player before having an agreement between clubs. TBH he was right on this issue. From then on it was an open war between 2 people. This year there also was the Mihajlovic issue. Della Valle wasn't happy with Mihajlovic, Inter wanted a new manager after Leonardo, Inter insisted to have Mihajlovic after getting refused from other coaches, Mihajlovic wanted Inter...everything seemed in order to have an agreement which would eventually please all parties...yet Della Valle would rather die than trade with Moratti and same goes for Moratti. We ended up getting Gasperini.
War between millionaires..

[Messinterista]

Sorry, I did mean the relationship between Inter and Fiorentina. O well, we potentially could be getting Montolivo for free, poor Fiorentina.

[Messinterista]

Ranocchia out of CSKA match

Andrea Ranocchia has pulled out of tonight’s Champions League game with CSKA Moscow after the Inter defender suffered a thigh strain.

The Italian international was expected to start at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, kick-off at 17.00 UK time.

The official club website announced Ranocchia was taking part in the warm-up on Monday evening when he pulled up with an injury.

Tests have now shown he has a left thigh strain. Clearly he is out of tonight’s match, but it remains to be seen how long he’ll be out for.

New Coach Claudio Ranieri already has to do without Wesley Sneijder, Douglas Maicon, Dejan Stankovic, Thiago Motta, Ivan Cordoba, Emiliano Viviano and the cup-tied Diego Forlan.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/sep27a.html

[RomaShield27]

http://www.corrieredellosport.it/calcio ... o+speciale

[kros]

Excellent first half ... just playing the current players in the right position is already enough to be pretty decent.

What a goal by Zarate ... the guy may never be a champion but man he has talent. All he needs is a coach that can discipline him.
I didn't mine Alvarez in the first half too although he was clearly too tired in the second. Great Cambiasso (finally finding a decent physical condition) and a brilliant Chivu on the left.

Saturday's game comes at the right time to see what Ranieri's Inter is made of ...

[RomaShield27]

Great result for Inter alright. What a start Ranieri has made, who would have thought he'd have such an impact?

[Messinterista]

[Messinterista]

CSKA 2-3 Inter
Lucio 6 (I), Pazzini 23 (I), Dzagoev 45+3 (C), Vagner Love 77 (C), Zarate 79 (I)
Luzhniki Stadium

Inter threw away a 2-0 lead against CSKA Moscow, but Mauro Zarate secured the tight 3-2 victory.

Claudio Ranieri made his debut on Saturday to earn their first win of the season and now hoped to pick up the pace in the Champions League after Gian Piero Gasperini lost the opener 1-0 to Trabzonspor. Wesley Sneijder, Andrea Ranocchia, Dejan Stankovic, Thiago Motta, Douglas Maicon, Ivan Cordoba and Emiliano Viviano were missing along with the ineligible Diego Forlan, Sulley Muntari, Luc Castaignos and Andrea Poli.

CSKA had their own problems, as they were without goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, Keisuke Gonda, Viktor Vasin, Tomas Necid, Georgi Schennikov and Mark Gonzalez.

Javier Zanetti made his 143rd UEFA club competition appearance, putting him in the all-time top five. This game was played on a synthetic pitch.

Inter waited just six minutes to break the deadlock, as goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov flapped at a Ricky Alvarez corner and it fell to Lucio for a tap-in at the back post with the aid of a deflection.

It was almost 2-0 soon after, as Giampaolo Pazzini shrugged off Aleksei Berezutski to cross for Joel Obi, whose header was well palmed off the line by Gabulov.

Seydou Doumbia scuffed his shot from a dangerous position in the box, while Diego Milito pounced on a poor clearance to test the goalkeeper with an over the shoulder volley.

Doumbia went over a Lucio challenge in the box, but the Scottish referee was very close by and waved play on.

Inter doubled their lead when Yuto Nagatomo got down the right, nutmegged Aleksei Berezutski and crossed for Pazzini to tap in from five yards.

CSKA suddenly woke up with two great chances in quick succession on the half-hour mark. First Alan Dzagoev spun round for a shot on the half-volley that Julio Cesar palmed out from under the bar. From the resulting corner, Doumbia got in front of Esteban Cambiasso and Diego Milito for a header on to the upright.

Vagner Love drilled wide from outside the box, as the Nerazzurri increasingly sat back on their lead. Sekou Oliseh was tripped just outside the box for a free kick in stoppages and this gave CSKA a chance to get back into the game. Dzagoev curled a wonderful free kick over the wall and under the bar despite Julio Cesar's best efforts.

The hosts came out fighting for the second half with a series of corners and Dzagoev drilling just wide of the upright. Mauro Zarate replaced Pazzini, who hadn't recovered from landing awkwardly on his ankle in the first half.

Cristian Chivu was clear on goal when halted by a dubious offside decision, then Zarate spun between two defenders for his shot parried at the near post.

CSKA again threatened by pouncing on a poor Nagatomo clearance, but Julio Cesar rushed off his line to close it down.

Dzagoev and Zarate tested the goalkeepers with solo efforts, while Gabulov parried a Ricky Alvarez snapshot just past Milito from point-blank range.

CSKA went very close on 71 minutes, as Dzagoev flashed a ball across the six-yard box, but Doumbia and Vagner Love were a moment too late to get the easy tap-in.

The Russians were pushing and got a deserved equaliser, as Vagner Love cut in past Lucio to thump a right-foot angled drive into the far bottom corner to wipe out the 2-0 deficit. CSKA had also fought back from 2-0 down to draw with Lille in the group opener.

The situation lasted barely 60 seconds, as Zarate chested down a Cambiasso chipped pass over the top, but back past his marker and smashed a low shot past Gabulov from the edge of the box.

It was still in the balance, as a CSKA corner whipped across the face of goal with nobody able to get the final touch.
CSKA Moscow: Gabulov; Nababkin, V Berezutski, Ignashevich, A Berezutski; Aldonin; Oliseh, Dzagoev, Vagner Love, Mamaev (Tosic 68); Doumbia

Inter: Julio Cesar; Nagatomo, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu (Crisetig 92); Zanetti, Cambiasso, Obi; Alvarez (Jonathan 83); Pazzini (Zarate 49), Milito

Ref: Thomson (Sco)

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/eurogames/csk-int.html

[Messinterista]

Lovely run by Nagatomo that lead to Pazzo's goal and Zarate's goal is the reason why we got him. He has some moments of brilliance in him.

[Messinterista]

Nagatomo: 'We all like Ranieri'

Yuto Nagatomo has given the credit for Inter’s turnaround to Claudio Ranieri. “He’s a good man and a great Coach. We all like him.”

The Nerazzurri have won both their games since Ranieri took over from Gian Piero Gasperini, beating Bologna 3-1 and CSKA Moscow 3-2.

“He’s a good man and a great Coach. I like him a lot. We all like him a lot,” said the Japanese international.

“We played well in Moscow and are improving. It was important to win this game and we did it, so that’s fine.”

Inter are now second in Group B on three points behind surprising Trabzonspor with four.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/sep27bb.html
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It's good to read that the players are happy again. If they are happy then we will see the results on the pitch.

[RomaShield27]

[/color]

The new structure looks more coherent than Gian Piero Gasperini's 3-4-3, but persistent individual errors must be a concern to Ranieri at his new club

Posted by Jonathan Wilson – Wednesday 28 September 2011 11.20 BST – http://www.guardian.co.uk

[Totally FRANK]

Lucio has been making a lot of individual errors of late. I mean, he has always been error prone but its more blatant the past few games. I don't know if its fitness or its just age. We should be better when we get Ranocchia and Maicon back, moving Nagatomo to the left.

We are always nervous and suffer in the Champions league so its no surprise we threw away a two goal lead. It would be better if we could rotate our midfield players bar Cambiasso but unfortunately everyone is injured right now. Hopefully, Poli can step it up when he gets back to full fitness.

Pazzini is injured and probably out for the game against Napoli, which is quite a blow since he has scored 2 in 2. No Ranocchia as well so we have to continue with Lucio and Samuel.

[RomaShield27]

Pazzini out of the Napoli game, and Cavani is out, too. So that about evens it up. Although Cavani is more of loss for them, I'm sure you'd agree.

[Messinterista]

Should be a great match. I expect Forlan to score a goal.

[Lombardiamia]

[Messinterista]

Inter have Pazzini and Maicon back

Giampaolo Pazzini, Dejan Stankovic and Douglas Maicon are in Inter’s squad to face Napoli.

Pazzini was a major doubt to feature after spraining his ankle during Tuesday’s 3-2 Champions League victory against CSKA Moscow.

He had initially been ruled out, but the ankle recovered quicker than expected and he is in the squad, although it remains to be seen whether he’ll play.

Stankovic has been out of action for several weeks with muscular problems and is ready, while Maicon receives his first call-up of the season following surgery.

Andrea Ranocchia is suspended, while the injury list still includes Wesley Sneijder, Thiago Motta, Emiliano Viviano, Ivan Cordoba and Andrea Poli.

Inter squad: 1 Julio Cesar, 12 Luca Castellazzi, 21 Paolo Orlandoni; 6 Lucio, 13 Maicon, 25 Walter Samuel, 26 Cristian Chivu, 42 Jonathan, 55 Yuto Nagatomo; 4 Javier Zanetti, 5 Dejan Stankovic, 11 Ricky Alvarez, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 20 Joel Obi, 29 Philippe Coutinho, 77 Sulley Muntari; 7 Giampaolo Pazzini, 9 Diego Forlan, 22 Diego Milito, 28 Mauro Zarate, 30 Luc Castaignos

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/sep30k.html

[Messinterista]

Inter 0 - 3 Napoli
Campagnaro 43 (N), Maggio 56 (N), Hamsik 75 (N)
Stadio Meazza

Napoli's thumping 3-0 victory at San Siro is their first in 17 years, but 10-man Inter were furious with the referee. There were doubts over Joel Obi's dismissal and the penalty that broke the deadlock, but it was the perfect way for Walter Mazzarri to celebrate his 50th birthday.

This Scudetto showdown had both teams fresh from impressive Champions League victories. Claudio Ranieri hoped to continue his 100 per cent record since replacing Gian Piero Gasperini. Wesley Sneijder, Thiago Motta, Ivan Cordoba, Andrea Poli and the suspended Andrea Ranocchia were out, but surprisingly Giampaolo Pazzini and Douglas Maicon (his first start of the season) were picked despite fitness issues. Napoli had to do without top scorer Edinson Cavani, so Inter-owned Goran Pandev took his place, moving Ezequiel Lavezzi to centre-forward.

Napoli's record at San Siro was appalling, as they had lost all seven visits since a 2-0 victory in 1994.

Diego Forlan horribly scuffed a volley in a fast and furious start to the match. The Uruguayan smashed another strike just past the far post, while Pazzini at full stretch saw his attempt deflected over by Hugo Campagnaro.

At the other end, a cross found Juan Zuniga at the back post unable to steer his header accurately. Gokhan Inler's free kick was well over.

Pazzini thought he had scored on 23 minutes. Morgan De Sanctis only parried a Javier Zanetti screamer and Pazzo tapped in the loose ball, but was ruled offside in a very tight decision.

Moments later Joel Obi's cross went past three players in the middle - Maicon, Cristian Chivu and Lucio - unable to get the final touch.

Zuniga's cross to the near post was inches away from Lavezzi's head. Lavezzi was livid with the referee when he went on the counter and fell under pressure from Zanetti just outside the box, but play was waved on.

Lavezzi took a free kick quickly to send Pandev through, but he got the ball caught between his feet and bundled it out of play.

On 41 minutes, the game changed. Obi had already been booked, very harshly, when he clattered into the back of Christian Maggio for a penalty and second yellow card. However, the foul appeared to start outside the box. With Cavani absent, Marek Hamsik stepped up and Julio Cesar parried it, but only into the path of Campagnaro for the tap-in. Campagnaro and three Inter players had encroached.

Cristian Chivu also limped off to make way for Yuto Nagatomo. The tension got to Inter, as Julio Cesar was booked for dissent and carried on his protests for some time, as several players had to push him away.

Ranieri also joined the protests at half-time and was sent off. Inter were still in it, as Pazzini pulled back from the by-line and Ricky Alvarez got in front of the goalkeeper, but failed to get the decisive touch.

Lavezzi wasted a great counter-attack situation by prodding over the bar.

Moments later, Napoli got their second goal! Substitute Giuseppe Mascara chipped a pass over the top for Maggio's run and he got in front of a distracted Nagatomo to flick it over the stranded Julio Cesar. Inter were simply caught napping.

Napoli incredibly failed to get a third, as Hamsik sprung the offside trap and rolled across for Zuniga, who somehow ballooned well over from six yards.

Moments later De Sanctis rushed off his line to close down Pazzini.

Hamsik did put the result beyond doubt when he again caught the Inter defence by surprise going through the middle on Lavezzi's pass and drew out Julio Cesar to side-foot past the 'keeper.

Pazzini was the last to give in and his header skimmed the upright in stoppages.
Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Samuel, Chivu (Nagatomo 42); Zanetti, Cambiasso, Obi; Alvarez (Stankovic 61); Forlan (Zarate 67), Pazzini

Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica (Fernandez 86); Maggio, Inler, Gargano, Zuniga; Hamsik, Lavezzi (Chavez 78), Pandev (Mascara 50)

Ref: Rocchi

Sent off: Obi 41 (I)

Missed penalty: Hamsik 43 (N)

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/sa1112/int-nap.html
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This ends our honeymoon period with Ranieri. Interesting to see if and how he is going to bring our boys back.

[Messinterista]

Inter: Two banned, three fined

Inter have been hit with suspensions and fines following their protests in Saturday’s controversial loss to Napoli.

The Nerazzurri suffered a 3-0 reverse at the Stadio Meazza in a game where the decisions of referee Gianluca Rocchi infuriated the home side.

Midfielder Joel Obi was sent-off during the match, while boss Claudio Ranieri was sent to the stands at half-time.

Both have subsequently been banned for the Week 7 trip to Catania.

Meanwhile, Ivan Cordoba and Diego Milito have been fined €10,000 each for their protests, while captain Javier Zanetti has been handed a €1,500 penalty.

Inter, as a club, have been fined €8,000 too.

Three other players will miss the Week 7 ties through suspension – Kevin Prince Boateng of Milan, Palermo’s Federico Balzaretti and Bologna’s Diego Perez.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/oct3u.html