Internazionale Main Thread III

[Messinterista]

Chinese investment back for Inter?

Reports have returned indicating that Inter are on the verge of agreeing to sell a 15 per cent stake in shares to a Chinese consortium.

Reports first emerged over the summer that a group of Asian-based investors had agreed to take a minority shareholding in the Nerazzurri, as part of wider plans to help finance a new ground for the club.

The Gazzetta dello Sport belief that the club are now close to finalising the deal for the Chinese to come on board, albeit with a change in who is leading the consortium, in a bid to speed up the process bureaucratically.

It is believed that a series of meetings between each party’s legal staff will resolve any outstanding issues that have so far slowed down the move with a view to completion by early 2013.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/28305/ch ... back-inter

[Messinterista]

Strama opts out of Viola visit

Andrea Stramaccioni will skip the latest part of his UEFA Pro Licence training, as it is a scheduled visit to watch League rivals Fiorentina train.

The young tactician is undergoing the final stages of his qualification, a step required for him to coach in Serie A.

However, he has been granted special dispensation to miss today’s scheduled trip to watch Vincenzo Montella’s team train, out of respect to La Viola.

Part of the course overseen by Renzo Ulivieri at Coverciano sees prospective Coaches visit clubs to sample specific training methods and see theories put into action.

The decision today has been taken so that Stramaccioni is not be seen to gain an unfair advantage in accessing behind-the-scenes work at a fellow League rival’s facilities.

The Nerazzurri currently sit second in Serie A, five points and four positions ahead of Montella’s Fiorentina.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/28342/st ... iola-visit

[Messinterista]

One more minute for Cassano

Antonio Cassano will reportedly receive a healthy €200,000 appearance bonus should he play any part for Inter against Lazio.

The playmaker switched across from city rivals Milan in the summer and was handed a contract that is believed to contain a number of performance-related clauses and bonuses.

Whilst one of these is widely believed to pay out €200,000 should Cassano score or assist a total of 20 goals for the team, the same amount is understood to be due to the player upon making 15 League appearances.

Cassano, who is currently sat on 14 appearances in Serie A for Andrea Stramaccioni’s side this season, could be involved in his 15th game on Saturday in the Nerazzurri’s trip to Lazio.

The Gazzetta dello Sport believe that the 30-year-old, who just over a year ago underwent minor heart surgery, needs just a minute on the pitch to make sure of the contract obligation.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/28344/on ... te-cassano

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He deserves it

[Messinterista]

Inter track Cagliari duo

Inter are reportedly taking steps to find cover for striker Diego Milito by opening talks with Cagliari over two of their forwards.

The Nerazzurri are understood to be planning a big-money move next summer for Borussia Dortmund’s in-demand striker Robert Lewandowski.

As a result, the club’s desire to find a short-term solution as cover for Milito for the closing half of the current Serie A season is matched with a budget.

Subsequently, sporting director Marco Branca is reportedly testing the water in Sardinia, trying to initiate talks with President Massimo Cellino over Cagliari’s strikers Mauricio Pinilla and Victor Ibarbo.

For injury and technical reasons the duo have barely featured for the Rossoblu this season so far, and Inter believe, according to the Corriere dello Sport, that they can catch at least one of the pair this January.

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/28347/in ... gliari-duo

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Yeah right! This is the first I have heard of this and if he were to leave Dortmund, it'll probably be to Madrid or PSG.

[Lombardiamia]

[red]

I'm really not sure where Lewandowski would go at this point.

Clearly, he won't join Inter. He's been linked with Juve and I can't imagine that happening either.

He's not compatible with Ibrahimovic, so would he go to PSG?

Real Madrid is possible, but they've already stuck with Benzema and Higuain longer than I expected, so may continue to do so.

Chelsea, maybe?

There's going to be space at Man City when they freshen up there attacking option this summer.

Wouldn't say there's an obvious club for him.

Hope he stays at BVB.

[Totally FRANK]

We can only dream of getting big name players like Lewandowski from other teams. Those used to be the good old days pre-2010

De Sanctis and Campagnaro is more like it.

[Messinterista]

[RomaShield27]

Why wouldn't Inter be able to get Lewandowski? His contract is up in 2014, which isn't too close, sure, but he's made it clear he won't be extending with Dortmund so they'll have to cash in him, so he won't really command an astronomical fee like say Falcao. Inter will need a top-class goalscorer to replace Milito, who despite being great probably wouldn't cut it next season.

Man Utd have been strongly linked with Lewandowski, too. Ferguson is a big admirer and has scouted him a bit, although not really sure if they need a new striker with all the options they currently have. Chelsea is a likely destination as well I think, even if they are relying on Torres they're still very short up front.

[Lombardiamia]

Will this guy cost anything more than say, 13-14 Million euros & expect a wage of not more than 2 million a year? If not, than he's out of our radar.

[Totally FRANK]

Except for Man City, Chelsea and clubs in Italy, I don't see where else he could go but I don't think he will end up at Inter. Inter are not in the CL and why would he leave BVB to join us. Since he wants to move, it means he is moving to a richer club more than anything else.

A replacement from South America looks like a more realistic possibility

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/20 ... lternative

[Messinterista]

What about relying on Miltio and Palacio and in the interim try and give Livaja and Longo their best chances at becoming the replacements. I know its a big ask but are we not trying to spend as least as possible and develop internally?

[Lombardiamia]

Seems obvious that both Livaja & Longo need at least another good couple of seasons playing regularly at high levels in order to develop their potential. We all know that a team like Inter cannot afford allowing that..At Inter you are either ready or you're not.

[Messinterista]

Lazio 1 - 0 Inter
Klose 82 (L)
Stadio Olimpico

Inter rattled the woodwork twice and tested Federico Marchetti, but Miroslav Klose got the late goal as Lazio won 1-0.

These two sides have been among the surprise packages of the campaign and while the Nerazzurri made their intentions clear by beating Napoli to go into second place, the Aquile were still dark horses in the Scudetto race. Ederson was injured with Pedro Cavanda and Libor Kozak suspended, but Miroslav Klose returned from the start. Inter switched to a four-man defence with Fredy Guarin as trequartista behind Antonio Cassano and Diego Milito.

Senad Lulic stepped in for Antonio Candreva and threatened a goal when running on to a ball over the top, but was flagged offside. Some desperate Inter defending from a corner saw several shots charged down until it was eventually turned wide.

Javier Zanetti rushed back to stop Stefano Mauri turning in a Klose assist, then Cristian Ledesma drilled wide after a poor Andrea Ranocchia clearance.

Samir Handanovic smothered a Hernanes effort, but at the other end Guarin’s shot was deflected just past the post for a corner off Michael Ciani, from which Ranocchia nodded over.

Inter again rode their luck after Abdoullay Konko flashed a ball across the face of goal, but Mauri just failed to get hold of it and Klose’s shot was charged down behind him.

Lulic went on the counter and set up Mauri, but Walter Samuel got a crucial touch in to turn it out for a corner. From that set play, Klose’s header came off Giuseppe Biava to go over the bar.

Klose was furious on 41 minutes, as he felt that Alvaro Pereira clipped the back of his heels as he tried to get on the end of a Mauri cross in the box, though it could be argued they were both looking at the ball and got tangled.

In first half stoppages Mauri should’ve smashed it when in space on the edge of the box, but hesitated and tried to pass instead, giving possession away.

After the restart Federico Marchetti had to punch a dangerous cross off Diego Milito’s feet, while Hernanes blasted high and wide on the counter-attack from a promising position.

The game was finally opening up and Guarin drilled just wide between four Lazio players in the D. Esteban Cambiasso limped off for Rodrigo Palacio, moving Guarin into a deeper role. Stefan Radu was lucky not to score an own goal when putting a long pass out with nobody around him. Handanovic flapped at a corner, but Mauri’s overhead kick was penalised for dangerous play.

Guarin came so close to giving Inter the lead on 66 minutes, as his daisy-cutter from distance surprised Marchetti to crack against the base of the far post. It just dribbled inches past the goalkeeper’s fingertips and the Lazio man was glad to see it bounce back out.

Handanovic did well to read a Hernanes free kick and pluck it out of the near top corner.

However, there was an incredible double chance at the other end. Marchetti got a fingertip to Cassano’s curling shot to turn it on to the post, then got back up immediately to parry Yuto Nagatomo’s follow-up from point-blank range.

Palacio curled just wide from the resulting corner. Candreva cut in from the left to also fire past the upright.

Klose really should’ve scored on 79 minutes when he sprung the offside trap from a Mauri cross and was clear on goal, but tried to take a touch rather than shoot straight away and ended up prodding it meekly into the arms of Handanovic from eight yards.

Moments later Klose found space through the middle and went on a mazy run, but he lost his balance and went down. The move continued and at the other end an Inter three-against-one was stopped by a Milito push on Biava.

Klose made up for that earlier error by giving Lazio the lead. The German veteran ran between two defenders on a Mauri through ball and at full stretch anticipated them to fire past the on-rushing goalkeeper.

Philippe Coutinho almost scored with his first touch, nodding over totally unmarked from a Cassano free kick. Antonio Candreva was booked for going through the back of Palacio in a very late tackle. Inter poured forward, as Ranocchia's overhead kick and a Coutinho half-volley were charged down in the same move, but Lazio held out for all three points.

Lazio: Marchetti; Konko, Biava, Ciani, Radu; Ledesma; Lulic (Candreva 64), Hernanes (Dias 87), Gonzalez, Mauri; Klose (Floccari 85)
Inter: Handanovic; Nagatomo, Ranocchia, Samuel, Pereira (Coutinho 86); Zanetti, Gargano, Cambiasso (Palacio 60); Guarin; Milito, Cassano
Ref: Mazzoleni

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/SerieA/match/22267

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Dang it.

[Messinterista]

Strama: 'Inter didn't deserve to lose'

Andrea Stramaccioni concedes Lazio were better in the first half, but felt “Inter deserved to take the lead” in their 1-0 defeat.

Miroslav Klose scored the only goal of the game after the Nerazzurri had already hit the upright twice.

“Lazio were the better team in the first half, as we were never able to threaten, even though we didn’t concede any real scoring opportunities either,” the Coach told Sky Sport Italia.

“After the break we put in a great performance. Inter deserved to take the lead, but incidents went against us and Klose is a champion. That’s football, we didn’t deserve to lose.

“We were missing something in the first half and a lot of that was down to the way Lazio played, but we showed that we were a great team.

“We were unlucky with incidents and a few decisions that went against us. We are not stronger than the incidents, that is all I’ll say.”

The Nerazzurri players were furious at the final whistle, as they thought Andrea Ranocchia was held back in the box by Michael Ciani.

“Incidents were unlucky,” repeated Stramaccioni. “Even in the counter-attack when it was three against one, the referee called a foul from Diego Milito on Giuseppe Biava...

“As I said, we are not yet stronger than the unlucky incidents. I am not just talking about refereeing errors, but also hitting the upright and wasting chances.”

Strama changed his system again at the Olimpico by adopting a 4-3-1-2 tactic with Fredy Guarin as trequartista.

“I chose four at the back to ensure our centre-backs wouldn’t be under too much pressure and stop the wide men going too deep. I’ve never seen Lazio in such difficulty as they were in the second half against us.

“I’m not saying Inter deserved to win as such, but we didn’t deserve to lose either.”

Source: http://www.football-italia.net/28482/st ... serve-lose

[red]

Just a case of things balancing out for Inter, I thought.

Last week they beat Napoli, even though Napoli created more chances.

This time round they lost a fairly even game.

Thought Lazio were the better side, though, and were in control for most of the game. It was only a brief flurry from Inter after Palacio came on where they looked in any way threatening.

[zafferano]

yes red everthing you say is true
one thing you never mention ,for some reason italian refs
keep kissing the merdas ass ,
but you been a merda fan never see that even if you try
is just in the merdas DNA
all teams get hard done ,all the favors go to the teafs of italy

[zafferano]

yes red everthing you say is true
one thing you never mention ,for some reason italian refs
keep kissing the merdas ass ,
but you been a merda fan never see that even if you try
is just in the merdas DNA
all teams get hard done ,all the favors go to the teafs of italy

[red]

Meh.

I've long since stopped bothering getting worked up about refs not doing anything about shirt pulling in the box.

Except of course for the cunt of a ref who gave one of them against Aberdeen the other week for considerably less than standard penalty box jostling.

[Lombardiamia]

Until we become stronger than the episodes, we will never win anything. That is not saying that we are being hard done or anything, but that's a fact. When you are winning 2,3-0, you dont bother about a mistake here and there and you don't hear any complaints.
In other words, we have to first do our (by our I mean Inter's) share of work and get a competitive side, than we can call ourselves challengers. Mistakes will happen, but you simply have to be better to get results.