Internazionale Main Thread III

[Messinterista]

Sneijder: ‘Reserves not strong enough’

Wesley Sneijder has suggested that Inter’s struggles in the League are due to a lack of strength in depth within the squad.

The Nerazzurri are spending the November international break in 17th place having won just two of their opening nine Serie A matches.

Despite a change in Coach, the side’s inconsistency has remained and Sneijder, who has appeared in six League matches so far this season, has a theory as to why that is.

“At this time, the difference between the reserves and the first team is too much, that is what the problem is.

“We are the team with the highest average age to have ever played in the Champions League.

“But I am confident that if a couple of teammates come back then our form will improve. Nevertheless, I am very happy, the team can improve.”

The No 10 was speaking from the Netherlands’ training camp.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/node/12741
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We are so lucky to have some one like Sneijder sticking around with us. A player of his talent deserves a better squad and a team with ambitions. Something we are severely lacking.

[red]

You could argue that he owes Inter since they took him off Madrid, when no-one else was interested, and turned his career around.

[Messinterista]

[red]

That's a little different as Maicon passed the 30 mark, which tends to rule out big transfer fees. He's also struggled for fitness and form for about 18 months.

Sneijder was, and is, very much in his prime.

It certainly now looks like a pretty big mistake from Inter to not sell Milito and Maicon just after winning the treble. Not that I blame Inter for not doing it, as it's not easy to decide to sell off key components of a team that just won everything.

[zafferano]

© foto di Giuseppe Celeste/Image Sport

Il Corriere dello Sport pubblica stamani un'intervista a Claudio Ranieri: "L'Inter è ancora da scudetto, ma serve un centrocampista dal mercato. Inoltre, in Europa ce la possiamo giocare contro tutti. Balotelli? Lo accoglierei a braccia aperte, ma credo in un grande recupero di Forlan.


WHO is fucking kidding ?

[Lombardiamia]

He's never won a Scudetto, so he doesn't know what he's talking about Briz..

[Messinterista]

Just echoing Briz's post;
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Ranieri hails ‘stupendous’ Balotelli

Inter boss Claudio Ranieri admits he’d love to have Mario Balotelli at his disposal, but his side really needs new options in midfield.

The Manchester City forward last week noted that he’d consider a return to Inter at some stage in the future and Ranieri clearly rates the player.

“I’d welcome Balotelli with open arms,” the tactician told the Corriere dello Sport. “He’s a stupendous talent.

“Balotelli could become one of the greatest players in the world, but it is all down to him. He has to decide how convenient it would be for himself to be a rebel.

“The rest of the squad’s reaction to Balotelli? I haven’t spoken to the players in the changing room to see if there would be any aversion to him being here again.”

Balotelli, who scored his first international goal for Italy against Poland on Friday, is unlikely to return anytime soon though so Ranieri will have to make do with new signing Diego Forlan.

“I really believe in Forlan,” the Coach noted. “He arrived at Inter and he was already tired.

“The recent injury has been useful for him as it has given him time to regenerate and he’ll do well as he did in Spain and England.”

Questioned on the January transfer market, the man who replaced Gian Piero Gasperini in September hinted that he would be getting some new players.

“If there is a need for Moratti to open his wallet then he will. We have a lot of players in attack. Perhaps we are missing something in the middle of the park…”

Inter have had a disastrous start to the season, but the former Chelsea, Juventus and Roma man is remaining optimistic.

“I’m a positive person and I’m convinced that I have a team that can do well. I’d still bet on us for the Scudetto,” he commented.

“Would I like a Champions League Final against Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho? Send me to the Final and then you can pick our opponent. I’d just like to get there.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/node/12829

[red]

Real struggle to come up with enough stories to fill a paper during international breaks.

[forzaitalia]

Long way to go before you can start talking about being Scudetto favourites Claudio.

Never mind speaking of the CL final - would be bordering on a miracle if this Inter team got there, really.

[Messinterista]

We will win the scudetto and the champions league. We will do the double this season. [/sarcasm]

[Messinterista]

Inter lose Lucio for Cagliari

Inter have named a 21-man squad for the Cagliari game – but Lucio isn’t in it after picking up an injury.

The Brazilian is suffering from a knee problem and joins Douglas Maicon and Yuto Nagatomo on the sidelines.

The former Bayern Munich player will be replaced at centre-back by Andrea Ranocchia after he returned from his fitness issues.

Inter take on Cagliari at San Siro tomorrow evening. Kick off will be at 18.00 hours local time.

Goalkeepers : 1 Julio Cesar, 12 Luca Castellazzi, 21 Paolo Orlandoni.

Defenders: 2 Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, 37 Marco Davide Faraoni, 42 Jonathan, 23 Andrea Ranocchia, 25 Walter Samuel, 4 Javier Zanetti.

Midfielders: 11 Ricardo Alvarez, 19 Esteban Cambiasso, 29 Coutinho, 8 Thiago Motta, 20 Joel Obi, 18 Andrea Poli, 10 Wesley Sneijder, 5 Dejan Stankovic.

Forwards: 30 Luc Castaignos, 22 Diego Milito, 7 Giampaolo Pazzini, 28 Mauro Zarate.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/node/12962

[Lombardiamia]

Wow Poli has managed to get a call-up for an official match. We should ask the Vatican to investigate this and pronounce it a miracle...

[Messinterista]

Inter 2 - 1 Cagliari
Thiago Motta 54 (I), Coutinho 60 (I), Larrivey 88 (C)
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza

Inter rattled the crossbar twice before defeating Cagliari 2-1 on Davide Ballardini’s debut with Thiago Motta and Philippe Coutinho on target.

The Nerazzurri knew they had to get back on track after disappointing results, but had to revamp the defence without Lucio, Douglas Maicon, Yuto Nagatomo and the suspended Cristian Chivu. Other absentees were Diego Forlan, Sulley Muntari and Emiliano Viviano.

Wesley Sneijder was due to start, but picked up a problem during the warm-up and so was replaced at the last minute by Philippe Coutinho.

Cagliari sacked Massimo Ficcadenti last week to make way for Davide Ballardini, their third Coach of the campaign.

Albin Ekdal stepped into the trequartista role for the injured Andrea Cossu, while El Kabir, Davide Astori and Sebastian Eriksson were also out.

Ekdal had a chance after six minutes as he won back the ball and burst into the box to fire wide, but the game took a long time to get into gear.

It exploded into life at the 20th when Giampaolo Pazzini gathered on the edge of the box and spun round to hit an absolute screamer from the edge of the box that Michael Agazzi flapped on to the crossbar. The rattle of the woodwork made it clear just how powerful the finish was.

Inter were again denied by the frame of the goal a few minutes later, as this time Mauro Zarate’s free kick curled over the wall and was again fingertipped on to the top corner of the crossbar by an impressive Agazzi.

Esteban Cambiasso was allowed a free header from nine yards, but nodded over, then a set piece was not cleared effectively though no Inter player could get the final touch.

Claudio Ranieri surprised many when replacing Zarate at half-time with Ricky Alvarez, who was originally not even on the bench until Sneijder’s injury.

Inter finally broke the deadlock when Coutinho earned a free kick down the left channel. Alvarez whipped into the box for Pazzini to glance it into the path of Thiago Motta, who controlled and tapped in from close range. However, replays show he was offside and may well have also handled.

Moments later, Coutinho’s daisy-cutter skimmed the base of the near post as Agazzi had it covered.

Coutinho did get Inter’s second goal in similar fashion and again Alvarez was involved. The Argentine threaded through for Coutinho, who picked his spot and rolled a right-foot low strike into the near bottom corner before Daniele Conti could complete his sliding block.

Joaquin Larrivey had a chance for Cagliari, but Julio Cesar comfortably smothered. Larrivey thought he had pulled one back, but he was flagged offside for a very tight position. Victor Ibarbo’s effort was charged down.

A spectacular Dejan Stankovic scissor-kick volley from the D was well-captured by Agazzi.

Cagliari did pull one back in the final minute, as Radja Nainggolan released an angled drive and Larrivey sprung the offside trap to redirect it from seven yards with the tip of his boot.
Inter: Julio Cesar; Jonathan (Faraoni 87), Ranocchia, Samuel, Zanetti; Stankovic, Thiago Motta, Cambiasso; Coutinho (Obi 68); Zarate (Alvarez 46), Pazzini
Cagliari: Agazzi; Pisano, Canini, Ariaudo, Agostini; Biondini (Rui Sampaio 79), Conti, Nainggolan; Ekdal (Ibarbo 64); Thiago Ribeiro, Nené (Larrivey 58)
Ref: Damato

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/9679

[Lombardiamia]

A win is a win...nowadays that's what's the most important. Glad to see Coutinho start, play good & also score. He can become an excellent player in the future so I hope we dont undersell him too early.

[Totally FRANK]

[Lombardiamia]

[Messinterista]

Sneijder thigh strain confirmed

Wesley Sneijder has been diagnosed with a second-degree thigh strain and will also miss Inter’s Champions League trip to Turkey.

The Dutchman pulled out during the warm-up of Saturday’s 2-1 victory against Cagliari.

Today the official Nerazzurri website confirmed tests showed “a second-degree straight of the right thigh.

“The injury does not allow Sneijder to be available for the Champions League game against Trabzonspor.”

It is not clear for how long the midfielder will be out of action, as he has suffered from muscular problems throughout the campaign, but a second-degree strain is likely to sideline him for three weeks.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/node/13022

[Messinterista]

Inter rejected Cambiasso offer

Galatasaray have revealed that they failed in a summer bid to sign Esteban Cambiasso from Italian giants Inter.

Coach Fatih Terim, formerly of Fiorentina and Milan, made the claim during an interview with Tuttosport on Tuesday.

“It’s true,” he stated. “Cambiasso was a player who we wanted because we thought, we still think, that he is an excellent player.

“Inter, however, didn’t want to sell him and the player made it clear too that he was happy in Milan and wanted to stay.”

The Turkish giants could make contact with the Nerazzurri again in January though after being linked with Sulley Muntari.

“Muntari? He’s an excellent player…” added the former Turkish national boss.

The 27-year-old Muntari is expected to be sold after Christmas.

Cambiasso, meanwhile, is a 31-year-old central midfielder who joined Inter in 2004 after spells at Independiente, River Plate and Real Madrid.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/node/13073

[Lombardiamia]

It's funny that we've actually managed to place first in a CL group when we have the worst squad in these past 6-7 years. Probably it's because we had arguably the worst group in these 6-7 years...but still.
After Coutinho, we got the first Alvarez goal. This should help the kid to have more self-confidence...but damn I have rarely seen a professional football player moving & thinking this slow..Hope something is done about this aspect of his fast, since he is technically well above average.

[Totally FRANK]

Its kind of a tiny miracle especially after losing the first game. I did not see the game yesterday but did we start in a 4-2-3-1 formation? With our aging midfield I think this formation gives us the best cover for the defense, with the wide players tracking back.

The worrying factor for me is that everyone expect our strikers are getting the goals. Generally, its one striker who goes through a bad patch but it looks like ages since one of Milito, Pazzini or Zarate has got a goal.